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 The last time we checked on Laura DeCrescenzo’s forced-abortion lawsuit against Scientology, we learned that Judge Ronald Sohigian (who handed Laura such a decisive victory in October) had decided to retire. The case was assigned to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rafael A. Ongkeko, but Scientology filed a peremptory challenge, which automatically was granted.
So now, the case has been assigned to Judge Robert L. Hess. Some preliminary reading suggests to us that Hess has a cantankerous reputation, but then Sohigian was legendary for being a grouch, and he was won over by Laura’s voluminous evidence. Continue reading New judge announced in Laura DeCrescenzo case, and Narconon lawyers up
 At our request, Karen de la Carriere hurried to prepare part two of her interview series with Jillian Schlesinger, a woman who defected from Scientology’s inner “Sea Org” just a few weeks ago. (See yesterday’s remarkable Part One of the series.)
In this segment, Jillian talks about the snitching culture in Scientology, and about how pregnancies are still discouraged in the Sea Org. (See our big story about the lawsuit of Laura DeCrescenzo, who is suing Scientology over her forced abortion.) Continue reading Jillian Schlesinger says Scientology now ‘sneakier’ about forcing abortions
 Karen de la Carriere has an amazing video for us this week. She talked to Jillian Schlesinger, who left Scientology’s inner “Sea Organization” just a few weeks ago after 12 years of dedicated work.
Joining at only 18, Jillian says she was working 19 hour days and taking home only about eight dollars a week — and yet some of her pay was set aside in order to contribute to birthday gifts for Scientology leader David Miscavige. Continue reading Three weeks out of Scientology: Fresh information from a ‘blown’ Sea Org member
 Jon Atack is the author of A Piece of Blue Sky, one of the very best books on L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology. He has a new edition of the book for sale, and on Saturdays he’s helping us sift through the legends, myths, and contested facts about Scientology that tend to get hashed and rehashed in books, articles, and especially on the Internet.
Jon continues to examine some of the most basic assumptions about L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology. And this week, Jon takes the grand view. Take it away, maestro… Continue reading Jon Atack: Why I call Scientology a cult and not a church
 Sainte-Feyre, France Councillors in a French town have pulled out of a deal to sell land for development after revelations that investors behind the project were Scientologists. The announcement came just weeks after they had approved the sale of land in the town of Sainte-Feyre, Limousin, in central France — and just days ahead of Sunday’s local elections. Continue reading French land sale falls apart once town learns Scientologists are involved
 L. Ron Hubbard is at his campiest in a 1960 lecture that is featured in this week’s “quote video” supplied by our secret source. Hubbard was born in Nebraska, grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and spent a lot of time in places like New York and Los Angeles for his writing career. But where he picked up his odd way of speaking is really a mystery. He was a product of his time, for sure, but that doesn’t really explain all of his verbal tics. Get a load of how he says “autoMOEbeel” for example. Once you notice it, you can’t shake it.
Continue reading Video Vault: L. Ron Hubbard at his campiest, in 1960’s State of Man Congress!
 As we noted last night, we’re trying to land a breaking story this morning that’s taking some time to confirm. In the meantime, we were fortunate that Carnegie Mellon University professor Dave Touretzky sent us this fun item.
It appears someone has scrapped a bunch of E-meters. How do we know? The meter movements are available for $5 each at All Electronics. The item description says “125 DC Microampere = full-scale. High-quality 6″ wide DC panel meter. Solid plexiglass enclosure, 6″ wide x 4.25″ oval. Removed from equipment.” Continue reading What will you do with your Scientology E-meter tchotchkes?
 Claire Headley and Bruce Hines are taking us on our journey to train as Scientologists. Claire spent years working with Scientology’s “tech,” and was trusted to oversee the auditing of Tom Cruise. Bruce was in Scientology for 31 years and spent about half that time as a senior case supervisor. Go here to see the first part in this series.
Wow, we’re really getting near the top of the bridge. This week, Bruce Hines gives us some amazing insights about New OT 7. But first, let’s take a look at the materials we have on it, which are quite brief. Continue reading Finally, a last stand against space cooties: It’s Scientology’s New Operating Thetan Level 7!
 Leslie Hyman, rock star On Friday, we broke the big news that Comal County Judge Dib Waldrip had denied Scientology’s convoluted ‘anti-SLAPP’ motion which had upended Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against the church over the past few months. What we failed to point out, however, is how central to Waldrip’s 25-page order was an argument that had been forwarded by Monique’s attorney Leslie Hyman. It was Hyman who argued to Waldrip that Scientology couldn’t both want protection as a business (in a trademark dispute) and as a religion (in a free speech fight). Continue reading DOX: Monique Rathbun’s response to bid by Scientology to stop the Miscavige deposition
 If you watch Mike Rinder’s blog carefully, you can see Scientology imploding on almost a daily basis. Over the last few years, we’ve also provided plenty of evidence that Scientology is shrinking as it stumbles from one crisis to another.
But what’s been fascinating to watch is that as many longtime members flee, and as the new buildings turn out to be as empty as the old ones, there’s still one thing that Scientology never seems to run out of… Cash. Top former church officials tell us that Scientology leader David Miscavige can always count on a relatively small number of wealthy donors who write check after check to keep Scientology’s funding topped up. We tend to call these people the “whales” of Scientology, people who turn over millions to help keep Scientology afloat. The rest of the (dwindling) membership is also under intense pressure to donate money, repeatedly, throughout the year. And those infusions of money — in combination with tax exempt status and paying Sea Org workers pennies an hour — keeps Scientology swimming in dough. Continue reading Here are the wealthy people keeping Scientology alive
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The last time we checked on Laura DeCrescenzo’s forced-abortion lawsuit against Scientology, we learned that Judge Ronald Sohigian (who handed Laura such a decisive victory in October) had decided to retire. The case was assigned to Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rafael A. Ongkeko, but Scientology filed a peremptory challenge, which automatically was granted.
