No Thursday Funnies this week due to Tom Cruise the cruise. But someone sent this to me as a follow up to the earlier post I had done about the use of priest/penitent files: Scientology Violates Priest-Penitent Confidences -- When It Suits Them. What is so interesting about this issue is the lengths it goes to in order to ensure scientology can assert a privilege to withhold information being turned over in a legal or law enforcement action. This issue comes on the heels of the Christofferson trial and the subsequent jury award of $39 million. The Wollershiem case was coming … [Read more...]
Laura DeCrescenzo (Dieckman) Hammered Scientology
Some thoughts about the settlement of Laura's case. For the few Monday Morning Quarterbacks out there who think she should have gone through to trial -- please read this earlier post about Debbie Cook settling her case. Of course the circumstances are different, but the sentiment remains. Unless you have walked in the shoes of someone engaged in litigation with scientology, you should not dare be critical. I believe there are many more who have congratulated Laura for her persistence and are happy she was able to get to a successful outcome, especially in light of this: The newest … [Read more...]
Looking for ex-Sea Org Victims
I have been speaking with people about the Sea Org’s practices and about a possible lawsuit against scientology alleging abuses of Sea Org members. I am particularly interested in anyone brought into the U.S. by the Church of Scientology on a visa, and then brought to a Sea Org base where they lived and worked for little or no pay. I am looking for people who have left the Sea Org in the last ten years, and particularly people who feel they had a hard time leaving due to physical or psychological coercion. Please let me know if you or someone you know fits this bill, and would be willing to … [Read more...]
CST Wyoming Fail
Church of Spiritual Technology (CST) has reached a monumental, epic milestone of ideal fail. For some reason they purchased a property in Sweetwater County Wyoming -- presumably to build yet another vault (probably a better idea than in the earthquake zones of Southern and Northern California). Why they need another one in the US when they already have 3 of them is a mystery. I guess the rest of the world doesn't deserve to be saved when the big meltdown occurs? Or there will only be survivors in the western half of the US? Or something.... In any event, they bought this property but it … [Read more...]
Moscow Ruling
The details are skimpy so far, but the essence of it seems to be that a Moscow City Court has ordered the church of scientology in Moscow to close up shop within 6 months for being in violation of business laws. They seem to conclude that scientology must be a business because the name (and other things) are trademarked. Tony Ortega has a pretty concise summary at his blog. This order will of course be appealed by scientology. And the last time the government in Moscow refused to register the church it eventually made its way to the European Court of Human Rights which sided with … [Read more...]
Scientology Hacker Plot Thickens
See the article on Tony Ortega's blog expanding on the new story in the New York Times published this afternoon. The footbullets just keep rolling out. The "PI handlers" -- from Warren McShane to Linda Hamel and Neil O'Riley must be having a pretty rough go of things. This flap. The Ron Miscavige Snr flap. Paul Marrick and Greg Arnold finally coming in out of the cold. The Monique Rathbun fiasco of bumbling PIs. The bird house camera surveillance and buying my garbage caught on video. Just one disaster after another. Eventually, law enforcement or the IRS CID is going to get … [Read more...]
Scientology Psychiatric Hypocrisy
The hypocrisy of scientology knows no bounds. While proclaiming "the psychs" to be the "source of all evil and degradation on planet earth" amidst announcements of programs to "destroy psychiatry", "eradicate psychiatry" and "obliterate psychiatry" and promoting their "Psychiatry, An Industry of Death" "museum/exhibit," apparently psychs are A-OK as long as they are an element of "dealing with an SP." This practice is known as "Fair Game" -- and while the church claims "the policy is canceled", the PRACTICE is demonstrated routinely as a fundamental tenet of scientology. And here we go … [Read more...]
An Appropriate Commendation For Once
I was sent a copy of this report by Mike Laws and I thought it worth making more broadly known. It has NOTHING to do with giving money to scientology which is about the only form of commendation one usually hears about these days. Mike makes some important points, not the least of which is how Mike Ellis could be sent to the doctor (Megan Shields) who diagnosed him with congestive problems and an ear infection, but then just a few days later he is taken to another doctor who discovers he is overweight and has what is apparently a serious heart condition -- bad enough to prevent him from … [Read more...]
A Funny Thing Happened….
Congratulations vigilant readers of this blog. Today I received the following letter by email. I responded as follows. Dear Mr. Fransway, Thank you for your letter and I appreciate your vigilance in protecting the trademarks of your client, the University of Michigan. I am sure you are aware that the item I reprinted on my blog for satire purposes was published by the church of scientology and I was merely commenting on it. And in fact, it was readers of my blog that alerted the University to the infringement. I would disagree that anyone … [Read more...]
Scientology Shitstorm
The Tampa Bay Times has just put on their website the latest story on human rights and disconnection written by Joe Childs. This is a must read for anyone interested in the subject of Scientology that puts the lie to the church PR that there is no such thing as enforced disconnection. It will appear as the feature story in the Sunday print edition, but went online just as the sheeple were filing into Ruth Eckerd Hall. You should also read the 25 page order from Judge Waldrip in the Monique Rathbun handed down today and now on Tony Ortega's site. Judge Waldrip hoisted the church on its own … [Read more...]