SCIENTOLOGY AND THE CHURCH
SCIENTOLOGY didn't start out as a church. It was founded by a well known American writer L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard initially developed a set of ideas that he called "Dianetics", in 1950. A year later Hubbard started the philosophy of Scientology. Scientology includes a therapy technique known as "auditing". In this technique an auditor assists a subject in a conscious recall of traumatic events that occurred in the individual's past. It was originally intended to be a new psychotherapy and at the time L. Ron Hubbard hadn't even thought of starting a new religion.
Some practitioners of Dianetics reported that they were experiencing things now, that occurred in their past lives. (re-incarnation) In early 1951, the teaching of reincarnation became a subject of intense debate within the Dianetics community. Hubbard took those reports seriously and introduced the concept of the "Thetan", who is an immortal being analogous to the soul. This was an important factor in the transitioning from secular Dianetics to the presenting of Scientology as an ostenible religion. Socio-logists Roy Wallis and Steve Bruce suggests that Dianetics was about to fail due to its inherent individualism. Hubbard started Scientology, framed as a religion and established himself as the over arching authority.
Scientologists' are taught that a human is an immortal, spiritual being (Thetan) that resides in a physical body. The Thetan has had innumerable past lives, which is observed in advance (and within the movement--a secret). Scientology doctrine states that any Scientologist under going "auditing" will eventually come across and recount a common series of events from their past.
The core of Scientology is the teaching and belief that each human has a reactive mind that responds to life's traumas, clouding the analytical mind, keeping them from experiencing reality. This event forms the central mythological framework of Scientology and the attainment of a status referred to as "clear". These aspects of Scientology have become a subject of popular ridicule from the outside world.
Scientology does not preach or impose a particular idea of God. Rather, members are expected to discover the truth through their own observations as their awareness advances. Scientology does not ask individuals to accept anything by faith alone. Rather, as ones level of spiritual awareness increases, through participation in Scientology auditing and training, one attains his or her own certainty of clear. There are 10 levels of Dianetics to be reached in Scientology. Only when the seventh level (spirituality) is reached, will one discover the eighth level (infinity), and then at the tenth level, you will reach one's full potential and gain a relationship to a Supreme Being, and gain total freedom and obtain your status of clear. (Eternal life) which is the end goal of Scientology.
In 1951, Hubbard incorporated into Scientology, the Electropsycho-meter (E-meter for short), a kind of electrodermal activity meter was used as an auditing aid. The E-meter shows a person's state of mind. You might ask what an E-meter is? The device is made of two metal cylinders with wires running from them to an electro meter. The metal cylinders are held in a person's hands and the meter sends shock waves to the cylinders. Members are tested with this meter when the church feels they are not following the rules. Such as thinking about leaving the church. In 1963, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began an investigation concerning claims of the Church of Scientology using the E-meters to make a connection within the church. On January 4, 1963, FDA agents raided offices of the Church of Scientology , seizing hundreds of E-meters as illegal medical devices, and tons of literature that the FDA accused the Church of making false medical claims. The original suit by the FDA to condemn the literature and E-meters did not succeed, but the court ordered the organization to label every meter with a disclaimer saying that it is purely a religious artifact, to post a $20,000 bond of compliance, and to pay the FDA's legal expenses. |
In 1953, Hubbard was seen at a gathering of the Hydra Club, complaining of not being able to make a living on what he was being paid as a science fiction writer. Lester del Rey told Hubbard that what he needed to do to get rich was to start a religion. In April of 1953, Hubbard wrote a letter purposing that Scientology should be transformed into a religion, as membership declined in Dianetics and finances grew tighter. Hubbard had reversed his hostility to religion. His letter discussed the legal and financial benefits of a religious status. Hubbard outlined plans for setting up a chain of Spiritual Guidance Centers" charging customers $500 for twenty-four hours of auditing. In December of 1953, Hubbard incorporated three organizations called the Churches of Scientology-- a Church of American Science, a Church of Scientology, and a Church of Spiritual Engineering -- in Camden, New Jersey. (Note: Scientology isn't a religion as most believe, although Hubbard incorporated it into Scientology as a church for a profit.)
Scientology emphasizes the importance of survival. Scientologist are taught that anything that happens in your life, is your fault. The members are taught if they become depressed, they are not to seek outside help. You are to work on healing themselves. No counseling is offered. Many families loose members to suicide, because the depressed person has no where to turn or anyone to turn to. The person feels their only way out is suicide. The Church does not want children under 6 years of age in the church, because they are a distraction. If a couple joins Scientology and have children under the age of six, the children are kept in a nursery, so the parents can work. The parents sign over their rights to their children. The church raises them and the children hardly ever see their parents. (this is another policy that kept secret).
In 1955, L. Ron Hubbard created a list of 63 celebrities he wanted targeted to convert to Scientology. In 1973, a church policy letter written by L. Ron Hubbard was found. Hubbard wrote, "The purpose of a Celebrity Centre, is to forward further the expansion and popularity of Scientology through the arts". The Celebrity Centre International was the first of its kind, and was opened in 1969. These Centre's have events to promote Scientology that celebrities are invited to. At the event the Scientology Organization is presented.
Many of the policies and practices carried out in the organization are kept secret such as the "disconnection policy" that prohibits other members from having contact with a what the church calls a suppressive person. A suppressive person is someone who is declared an enemy of the church. They are also called "defectors". The Church says defectors, who turn into critics, are declared a suppressive person. According to the church suppressive people potentially become a trouble source. The church teaches its members to move aggressively toward a defector. When a defector leaves the church, their families are told to disconnect from them. The defector is harassed by Private Investigators and sometimes their own families. The object of this disconnection is to ruin the defectors life by any means possible.
Scientologists are kept in seclusion from the rest of the world. The members are to only be in contact with other Scientologists. One man interviewed on the film, Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, said when he left Scientology, he lived across the street from his parents which are Scientologists, they owned two houses on his street and the church made them sell, because he lived across the street. His children cannot have any contact with their grandparents, because he left Scientology.
Scientologists have a "Blind belief", which is held by most followers to be of lesser significance than the practical applications of Scientology methods. Adherence is encouraged to validate the practices of Scientology through followers' own personal experiences. Family units are not valued. Children are taught to serve only the Church. Followers are taught that family isn't important. Scientology's aim is a civilization without insanity, without criminals, and without war. Hubbard described Scientology as an applied religious philosophy, because according to him, it consists of a meta-physical doctrine, a theory of psychology and teachings in morality.
In 1966, Hubbard purportedly stepped down as executive director of Scientology to devote himself to research and writing. (Who was in charge at this time of Scientology? It is said to have been David Miscavige, Hubbard's right hand man.) The following year, 1967, Hubbard formed the ship-based Sea Organization or Sea Org, which operated three ships: the Diana, the Athena, and the Flagship the Apollo. It has been said the reason Hubbard moved the headquarters of Scientology to a ship (Apollo), was because he had gotten in trouble for illegal acts. He moved the headquarters to a ship and sailed it out into international waters, where he could run Scientology with no outside government interventions. One month after the establishment of the Sea Org, Hubbard announced that he had made a breakthrough discovery, the results were "OT III", this was materials purported to provide a method for over coming factors inhibiting spiritual progress. These materials were first passed around the ships, and the propagated by Sea Org members reassigned to "Staff Advanced Organizations" on land.
The Sea Org is an organization to which the highest ranking members of the Church live and work. Some children are recruited into the Sea Org at the age of 13 or 14. If I understand correctly the ones recruited either have a high IQ or their parents have money. In Scientology money will move you up the ladder in Scientology. You have to pay to advance. The teens recruited are taken from their parents and live, are educated and work on a ship of the Sea Org. They have every thing provided for them, food, clothes and shelter. They have no formal education. They have to sign a billion year contract. Parents are not told about the contract or informed that their child has signed. The teens are told not to tell their parents. They are isolated from the rest of the members of the Church. The Sea Org includes some 5,000 Scientologist's most dedicated members, who work for low pay or no pay.
The term "Fair Game" is used to describe policies and practices carried out against people who the church perceives as their enemies. Hubbard estab- lished this policy in the 1950s, in criticism from both within and without the church. Individuals or groups who are "fair game" are judged to be a threat to the church and according to the church policy, can be punished and harassed by using any means possible. (My observation, Scientology is a very mean and unforgiving organization.)
There is a Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF) which is a controversial part of Scientology. It is a "justice system". When a Sea Org member is found guilty of a violation against the church, they are assigned to the RPF. This is a daily regiment of 5 hours of auditing, eight hours of work, often physical labor, and at least 6 hours of sleep.
The "HOLE" is a prison which the church says never existed, and does not exist today. (Which is a lie.) It is a prison for Sea Org members, who have committed infractions against the church. The prison is out in the middle of no where. The property is surrounded by fences with razor sharp shards of metal a long the top. Some prisoners have tried to escape and were torn up pretty bad by the razor wire. The HOLE is on the Gold Base. The Gold Base is where offices built for the International Headquarters. It consists of two double wide trailers. Prisoners do nothing all day, but reflect on the crimes they are charged with. They are put there to get them to make a confession. There could be anywhere from 20 to 100 people there at a time. They are given very little, and bad, food and water. They mostly sleep on the floor. Hardly any bedding. They have no contact with the outside world. There is no phone service, you cannot even call 911. Some prisoners have been kept there a couple of years at a time.
"Blow Drill", was implemented as the steps taken to find and retrieve a Sea Org member who has escaped from the Gold-Base, (The Hole). This room is a prison. Mike Rinder, an ex-executive and member of the Sea Org said, the reason for the Blow Drill, is to get the escapees back into the Gold-Base. Those prisoners are privy to a lot of information about the goings on of David Miscavige, the leader of Scientology, or what happened at the international headquarters. They are considered a threat to the Scien-tology. Lots of money is spent to get these prisons back to the Gold-Base. Mike Rinder spent two years in the Hole.
"Dirty Needle" is another practice used by the Church. The needle on the E-meter indicates hidden transgressions of the member being tested. These tests are ordered quite often. The church hopes to catch defectors, before they leave. These supposed defectors are tested and then their wives or husbands are interrogated and pressure is put on them to make things right.
One of the most profitable schemes used to generate funds, was the selling of L. Ron Hubbard's books on Dianetics. Hubbard said the best way to expand membership and make a profit in Scientology, was to recruit members and educate them through his books on Dianetics. Some 50,000 and $100,000 in sales were made through the selling of Hubbard's books back in the 60s. They were in book stores all over the world. Scientologists are taught the most important thing in life is Survival of the fittest. L. Ron Hubbard stated that books are what will boom Scientology. The number of books in the hands of people, is a direct reflection of how Scientology will be doing and how quickly it will expand. When marketing got sucked up to the international base, it was all down-hill from there, says Jeff Hawkins, former Scientologist.
Hubbard and his followers engaged in a program of criminal infiltration of the U.S. Government, resulting in several executives of the organization being convicted and imprisoned for multiple offenses by a U.S. Federal Court. Hubbard and his followers targeted many individuals as well as government officials, and agencies including a infiltration of the IRS in the 1970s. Scientology also conducted private investigations, character assassinations, and legal actions against the Church's critics in the media. The policy remains in effect and as been defined by the Church of as a core religious practice. Scientology has been described by government inquires, international parliamentary bodies, scholars, law lords, and numerous Superior Court judgments, as both a dangerous cult and a very manipulative profit making business. Following an extensive litigation in a number of countries, the organization has managed to attain legal recogni-tion as a religious organization, in some countries which includes Australia, Italy, and the United States. Germany classifies the Church of Scientology as an anti-constitutional sect. In France the government classifies it as a dangerous cult.
In 1972, facing criminal charges in France, Hubbard returned to the United States and began living in an apartment in Queens, New York. When faced with possible indictment in the U.S., Hubbard went into hiding, in April of 1979. He hid first in an apartment in Hemet, California, where his only contact with the outside world was via ten trusted messengers. He cut contact with everyone else, even his wife. He saw his wife for the last time in 1979. Also in 1979, as a result of FBI raids during "Operation Snow White", eleven senior officers in the Guardian's office were convicted of obstruction of "justice", burglary of government offices, theft of documents and government property.
David Miscavige, who was Hubbard's right hand man, got himself in a position where he had the best communication with Hubbard, that no one else had, which gave him enormous authority. He began to tell Hubbard what certain people were doing and what sort of things they were doing. Or he would tell Hubbard this sort of thing or that sort of thing, was happen-ing. Coaching everything in the framework that made him look good, and others look bad. Especially the ones who were opposing his methods in Scientology.
After the death of Hubbard Mike Rinder said, "David Miscavige is now Chairman of the Board (COB). He likes to be known as the Pope of Scientology. He is the man in charge and the one who determines what is and isn't good for Scientology". Miscavige began to take over more and more, even before Hubbard died. Miscavige didn't stick with the values and doctrines of Scientology as established by Hubbard. Mike believes there will be a big falling away from Scientology and there will be more people leaving than continuing in and joining Scientology. He believes the movement will eventually end and it will be a story of the past. Leah says Miscavige is running scared.
It was stated by another ex-member of Scientology, that after Hubbard died and David Miscavige took over, Scientology changed. Jeff Hawkins was in Scientology for 30 years. He was a hippie back in the day (60s) and was searching for some kind of spiritual answers. He kept moving on up in Scientology and became the Marketing guru of Scientology. Jeff says, Miscavige was a mean, very mean guy. He would loose his cool quite often. He lashed out at anyone who disagreed with him. Jeff says Miscavige assulted him five separate times. Jeff started the whole Dianetics campaign in the 1980s. He made the commercials and tv ads. Jeff says when marketing got sucked up to the international base, it was all down-hill from there. Jeff didn't like where the church was heading with Miscavige in charge. Jeff states that even though, Miscavige was being an animal, he still believed in Scientology. He had the view point like, ""Oh, that's gonna pass, and the purpose will -- will remain. Jeff finally realized Miscavige was never going away and this was the way the church was going to be from now on. When it got to that point, Jeff said, "I am out of here". He left Scientology is the late 80s or early 90s.
In the film of Leah Rimini's, Season 1, Episode 8: Leah receives a letter from the Church of Scientology, accusing her of provoking hate crimes. She meets with a man the Church claims she incited. In Episode 9, Leah and Mike sat down with Scientologist's most vocal critics to discuss how the Church deals with people who speak out against the organization. These are not very pretty stories.
In Season 2, Episode 5, Leah and Mike chat with John Brousseau, a former Sea Org member, who witnessed David Miscavige's rise to power. The church maintains that David Miscavige was appointed by L. Ron Hubbard to succeed him, although no written document of Hubbard's designation has been published. All of a sudden David Miscavige was in charge. Six months after joining Scientology, John was recruited to work for L. Ron Hubbard at his secret ranch in La Quinta, California. He was moved to different positions until eventually he became Hubbard's driver. Leah and Mike asked him to tell some of things he saw happening in Scientology. He said Hubbard was a very interesting person, someone that really believed in what he did. Hubbard was convinced, in his heart, that what he was doing was helping mankind. He was a humanitarian. (If this was so of Hubbard, why did he continue to do so many criminal acts?)
In February of 1980, Hubbard disappeared into deep cover in the company of two trusted messengers, Pat and Anne Broeker. By this time John Brousseau began working along side David Miscavige and also became his brother in law. Miscavige started taking over the leadership of Scien-tology more and more even before Hubbard died. David began removing more and more people from their high ranking positions. Mary Sue Hubbard played a priviole role in Scientology under L. Ron Hubbard and eventually served as the head of the Guardian's office. John was around for the ultimate meeting between Miscavige and Mary Sue. The meeting was at a hotel. Miscavige was wearing a microphone and so was Mary Sue. The whole meeting was being recorded on a reel to reel recorder. Miscavige wanted to meet with Mary Sue to get her into submission. He wanted her to step down so he could take over. John was outside the door and couldn't hear all of what was being said. He heard some strong objections coming out of Mary Sue's mouth, but couldn't understand her actual words. In 1981 she resigned her post. Two years later she was arrested after members of the Church was found guilty of conspiracy against the U.S. Government. She served a year in prison. Upon her release, she lived in isolation until her death in 2002.
There were two women who were high up in Scientology. Sisters, Dedee and Gail Reisdorf. One day Gail came to John B, telling him that Miscavige was threatening her and that she needed to go and talk to Pat Broeker. Broeker, in the mid 80s worked directly with L. Ron Hubbard. Gail new John had ways to get in touch with Pat Broeker. John went and talked to Broeker's driver and set up a meeting between Gail and Pat. John and Gail jumped into his car and he drove off frantically to a pay phone to call Broeker's driver. While Gail and John were waiting for a call back, 30 minutes later after the call, a black van showed up with Miscavige as the driver. The doors of the van flew open and a bunch of men jumped out, one man had a tire iron in his hand. He took the tire iron to the phone and smashed it to pieces. He ripped out the cables from the phone, where no one could use it. Miscavige came face to face with Gail and convinced her to come to a solution They agreed and Miscavige said he would take out Pat Broeker.
On January 1, 1982, Miscavige established the Religious Technology Center (RTC). On November 11, 1982, the "Free Zone" was established by top Scientologists in disagreement with RTC. The Free Zone Associ-ation was founded and registered under the laws of Germany and went by the doctrines of the official Church of Scientology founded by L. Ron Hub-bard. They said David Miscavige had departed from Hubbard's original philosophy. So the association reverted back to the original Hubbard philosophy.
January 24, 1986, David Miscavige at a briefing of the Scientology organization, announced the death of L. Ron Hubbard. Hubbard died at his ranch in Creston, California of a stroke. David stated: "As of 2000 hours, Friday, the 24th of January, A.D. 36, L. Ron Hubbard discarded the body he used in this life time for 74 years, 10 months, and 11 days. David Miscavige stated that L. Ron Hubbard had accomplished what he set out to accomplish. He also stated that Hubbard now has moved on to his next level of OT. If Hubbard reached OT Level 10, why did he die in 1986? Many of Hubbard's followers believe he will one day resurrect.
The Broeker's Pat and Anne managed and lived on the Creston Ranch in California along with Hubbard. The Ranch was out in the middle of no-where. They were with him when he had his stroke and died. They remained at the Ranch after Hubbard's death. One day, out of the blue, Miscavige shows up and he and some of his men raided the Ranch. Everyone was corralled up, except for John Brosseau. Miscavige come up to John and says, "You know what is happening to everyone, don't you?" John said "NO!" "Everyone is being sent to RPF. (RPF is is a place where a re-education program for Sea Org members is carried out. Pat and Anne Broeker and the other workers from the Creston Ranch was taken to RPF for punishment. John doesn't know why Miscavige didn't take him also. The Broeker's were arrested and were charged as criminals. I don't know how long the Broeker's served in the HOLE but some how Pat Broeker and Miscavige came to an agreement where he would go off on his merry way and live a simple life, having nothing more to do with Scientology. Anne Broeker was convinced to divorce Pat. Pat left Scientology in 1989, and his exact where-abouts is unknown, according to The Church of Scien-tology. Anne Broeker remained a Scientologist until her death in 2011.
Mike Rinder said it was a very clever and calculated move by Mis-cavige having Pat and Anne Broker arrested as common criminals and putting them in isolation, in complete seclusion, with no outside contact. Miscavige now had an organization and a lot of people supporting him. He also had a slew of Lawyers. He basically shut the Broeker's down. They weren't able to dispute his charges, they weren't able to stop him from taking over Scientology and there was no one else to challenge Miscavige.
Gary "Jackson" Morehead was a Scientologist for 30 years. He followed his mom into Scientology back in 1979. When he was 12 and in elementary school, him and his mom moved to L.A. so he could join the Sea Org. He was introduced to the organization's account-ibility. In 1982 at 16, Jackson was recruited to move to the Gold-Base in Riverside, California. Within a year he was assigned to the security watch for the base. Jackson reported directly to David Miscavige and was Miscavige's officer to do his bidding. Jackson witnessed Miscavige physically beating two highly ranked officers, Marc Yeager and Mark Fisher. Jackson heard Miscavige's thumps on Yeager's chest. This incident is refuted by the Church. Yeager denies being beaten by Miscavige. In Jackson's interview with Leah Remini and Mike Rinder, he told about all kinds of bad things he was ordered to do in the name of Scientology, under the leadership of David Miscavige.
The day after L. Ron Hubbard passed, a new "Flag Order" came out, says Gary "Jackson" Morehead. You might wonder what a Flag Order is? It is a written directive given by the leader of Scientology. It is printed out as a brochure and passed out to all the members of Scien-tology. The brochure is an announcement of a "New Flag Order". (at Jackson's interview with Leah and Mike, he showed a picture of the brochure.)
The brochure was entitled: "The Sea Org and the Future".
On the front was printed "The Sea Org and The Future" with a picture of a printing machine.
Inside is printed: I, LRH Commodore, am hereby assuming the rank of ADMIRAL.
The rank of COMMODORE is retired from active service in THE SEA ORGANIZATION at this time. As we move on up the track, the Commodore rank will be reinstated as it is needed.
A new rank of LOYAL OFFICER is created directly above the rank of CAPTAIN.
PAT BROEKER is hereby promoted as the first LOYAL OFFICER.
ANNE BROEKER is hereby promoted as the second LOYAL OFFICER rank.
There are several Sea Org officers they will want to promote.
The SEA ORGANIZATION will always be the Sea Organization, no matter that we may leave this surface of this planet when we're finished and operate on others....
I'll be scouting the way and doing the first port survey missions. I expect your continuing backup. You've got a little under a billion left on your current hitch, and it is hoped you will sign up again--veterans are valuable.
So there it is, You know what to do. You know how to do it. HOLD the Flag of the Seas.....
I will be in continuing communication. We will meet again later.
L. Ron Hubbard
In the new Flag Order, Hubbard was putting the Broeker's as the new leaders of Scientology. But they never became the leaders.
Then things changed the very next day. Jackson had to go around and pick up all the brochures from everyone who had received them. Even the brochures placed at different locations where people could walk by and pick them up. Jackson was told to shredded all the brochures. It was said later, passing out the Flag Order, was all a misunderstanding. The Scien-tologists were lead to believe they had been very close to a take over in leadership of the organization. Jackson said all of a sudden he started seeing and witnessing Miscavige's power. The very next day after the Flag Order was receded, Miscavige took over. Miscavige was now known to be in charge. The people who Hubbard had appointed in the "Flag Order" and put in charge was Pat and Anne Broeker. Miscavige had them arrested, punished and isolated from the outside world, so he could take over.
After all of that came about with the Flag Order, Jackson was posted as a security guard in a remote secondary base deep in the foothills of Happy Valley. Jackson was told to expect Miscavige, but didn't say what time. This van drives up at 2:00 in the morning. The doors opened and all of these people started coming out. Miscavige put Jackson in charge of all those people. He was told to not let the people out or let them go any-where. Miscavige told him the members had done infractions against Scientology. (This was actually the Gold-Base in Riverside, California. Of course the Church refutes all of this. (Scientology letter dated 9/1/2017)
Mike Rinder stated that in 1986 after Hubbard's death, Miscavige started removing high ranking officials from their position and anybody who was a recognized figure of the high archy of the Church, beginning with Mary Sue Hubbard then Pat and Anne Broeker Miscavige subsequently got rid of the executive tier of Scientology. Leah Remini says there were two sides to Miscavige. The nice psyoda for the public, caring, kind and concerned. Then the other side, powerful leader of the Church, mean and deceitful.
In 1987, leading Scientologists Debbie Mace and Carol Kingsley opened up the "Mace-Kingsley Ranch." They promoted it to be a place for children to receive an education in a wholesome camp way. It is a place to send children of Scientologists, who were in trouble. The brochures show nice clean dormitories, classrooms and pictures of all kinds of fund things to do, horse back riding, hiking. That is all a lie. Many children sleep on the floor, fed very little food and do physical labor all day. Actually it is a place the Church sends children who they consider troublemakers and are out of control. They are taken from their homes and sent to the Ranch. Now days there are several more of these Ranches in different areas of the country.
The BLOW DRILL was implemented. This drill are the steps taken to find and retrieve Sea Org members, who have escaped from the (the HOLE, a prison.) Gold-Base. I mentioned what the Gold-Base was like in an earlier comment. Mike Rinder says the reason for the Blow Drill, is because the people in the Hole are privy to a lot of information about the goings on of David Miscavige, and what was really happening at the International Head-quarters, and also those who seems to be a threat to the organization. A lot of money and time was spent on these people to get them back on the reservation.
Jackson Morehead and his wife were going through a rough patch. She was pregnant and was pressured by the Church to abort and not tell her husband. The Church says the Sea Org isn't set up to handle and take care of children. The Church says, Sea Org members having children put a heavy burden on the Sea Org units and inhibit their efficiency. Therefore Sea Org members having children, will not be allowed to remain on duty in the Sea Org Units. This is where you begin to see the pressure being put on the pregnant women to have abortions. Of course The Church has refuted the claims of coersted abortions. When Morehead found out about the abortion, he became a suppressive person according to the Church. He was hooked up to the E-meter for testing. There is a needle called the "dirty needle" on the E-meter that Scientologists believes indicates hidden transgressions. So Jackson was hooked up to the E-meter and a dirty needle showed up. The Church did a back-ground check on him. Between 1996 and 1997, Jackson was isolated from his wife and subjected to extensive security checks. He had guards assigned to him, one in the day and two at night. When they couldn't break him, they went after his wife. They interrogated her, putting pressure on her to make things right. Jack-son showed up where they were interrogating her. He had to push his way in past all the people there, which resulted in his badge being ripped off his shirt, and his shoulder pads ripped off. Jackson and his wife separated soon after this event. Miscavige was the new world leader and evil director and Jackson was his executioner. After that, a light switch went off in Jackson's head, "What is going on here? This is our leader? This isn't about a religion! It's not a fight about what is right, this is about holding David Miscavige accountable for his actions." In 1997, Jackson left the Sea Org and Scientology.
In 1990 an article was published in the Los Angeles Times that reported that back in the 1980s the Church of Scientology used common private investigators that included former and current Los Angeles Police Officer to give themselves a level of protection incase embarrassing tactics were used by the Church of Scientology and that use became public.
In 1992, a court in Canada convicted the Scientologist Organization in Toronto of spying on law enforcement and government agencies, and criminal breach of Trust. This infraction was later upheld by Ontario Court of Appeals. The Church of Scientology was convicted of fraud by a French Court in 2009. A decision was upheld by the Supreme Court of Classi-fication in 2013. In February of 1992 David Miscavige appeared on Night-Line to defend his leadership of the Church of Scientology. Miscavige publicly denounced other high ranking officials of the Church and what happened to them, in a move to cover up his take over. He also talked about his assistant, who was kicked out of the Church for trying to bring criminal charges against the church.
The Church's assets according to a leaked tax document shows that the Church of Scientology International and the Church of Spiritual Technology in the U.S. combined had a net worth of $1.7 billion dollars of assets in 2012. In addition to annual revenues estimated at $200 million dollars a year. This does not include assets and revenues of the International Association of Scientologists.
In 2018 a film came out on Netflix entitled Leah Remini: "Scientology and the Aftermath". So much goes on in the Church of Scientology that is kept hidden from most of the members and the outside world. Leah felt the need to let the world know what a terrible and inhumane organization Scientology is. She interview lots of ex-members so they could tell their stories about being in Scientology and what caused them to leave. The Church of Scientology was asked for an interview, but refused. All through the film the Church posts disclaimers and denies the claims made by the ex-members, including Leah herself.
Leah Remini, who is an actress and starred on the television series King of Queens, became a Scientologist at the age of 14. Her parents divorced, and her mom married a man who was a member of Scientology. Leah was never recruited into the Sea Org. She remained in her home with her mother and two sisters. To be a member of Scientology one would assume you have to be somewhat wealthy. I assume money wasn't an issue for Leah's family. In one of her interviews she asked how people that weren't wealthy afford to be a member of Scientology. The person told her the members take out two and three mortgages on their homes and borrow money.
Leah was a devout Scientologist for 35 years. In the beginning of her life in Scientology, she was a big promoter of the Church. She believed in what Scientology was teaching. After years of slowly questioning Scientology....which is a no no for any member to do
....she truly didn't want to find out that what she had been taught and believed in her whole life, was a lie. Finally in 2013 she left Scien-tology. The Church says she was expelled. She wrote a book about Scientology, which the Church refutes as lies.
Here are two statements made by Leah Remini that the Church disputes:
....she desperately tried to remain a Scientologist in 2013, knowing full well she was on the verge of being expelled for refusing to abide by the high level of ethics and decency Scientologist's are expected to maintain.
....her transgressions were so egregious she was expelled, which remains
the source of her bitterness today....so says the Church of Scientoloy about Leah Remini. (Letter from the Church of Scientology 09/09/2016.
In the video, Leah's first interview is with Mike Rinder, who was a Scientologist for over 30 years. He was a high rankling officer in the Sea Org. He worked under both L. Ron Hubbard and David Miscavige. He said Scientology started going down hill after L. Ron Hubbard died and Miscavige took over. Mike states that he suffered two beatings from David Miscavige. Once he was punched in the face and another time David knocked him off his feet. The Church disputes those statements. He also was put in the Hole (a prison) for two years. That is also disputed. Mike was ordered to do some very cruel and mean stuff to members by Miscavige, because he deemed them enemies of the Church. As Miscavige continued to spiral out of control, Mike finally realized Scientology wasn't a religion and what he was doing wasn't for the good of mankind. He had enough and in 2007 left Scientology. He left behind a wife and two children. Mike was declared a defector, and his family left behind, disconnected from him. After he left Scientology he was harassed by Private Detectives and even his own family. His wife divorced him, as the church ordered her to do and then spread lies to the media and those around Mike, that he abandoned her and the children.
Mike says it was a clever and calculated move by Miscavige to get ride of Pat and Anne Broeker. He had them arrested as common criminals and put in isolation, in complete seclusion, with no contact with the outside world. The Broeker's were executives of Scientology and Hubbard moved them to California and put them in charge of his Creston Ranch. Hubbard lived at the Ranch in seclusion until his death. The last time Hubbard saw his wife Mary Sue, was in 1972. He lived on his Ranch in California with only two trusted people living with him, Pat and Anne Broeker. They were the last two people to see Hubbard alive. David Miscavige became the leader of the organization, and he had a lot of people supporting him, and a slew of lawyers. He basically shut the Broeker's down. They were not able to defend the dispute of their charges nor the take over of Scientology by David Miscavige. There was no one to challenge him.
A commercial was made after Miscavige took over to project Scientology as a kinder gentler, more understanding image in recent years. But critics insisted that the RPF camps continue to exist, which the church denies. It still does exist and is still used. Back in 2012, Debbie Cook, former Scientology Executive, swore in Baxter County Courthouse, that Miscavige had bars put on the windows of the HOLE. The entrance was guarded by security 24 hours a day. The HOLE was created under Miscavige's leadership. It was a secret location used to hold and punish some Sea Org executives. At one point Miscavige had about 40 executives physically locked up in the Hole. The Hole was a prison created at the Gold-Base offices. It was two double-wide trailers pushed together with bars on the door and windows, and a guard posted at the entrance 24/7. It is a prison for Sea Org members.
John Brosseau, one of Miscavige's enablers, helped orchestrate the plans Miscavige had for the HOLE. John, got a call from Miscavige's secretary, and he said, "COB" wants the place made secure. He wants bars put on all the doors, so no one get out, except for the front main entrance." John thought he could make it more secure by putting big, long 4-inch steel screws around the perimeter of the doors, all the way into the jam and framing. The secretary said, "No, no, no, he said "Bars". Then John got it. He wanted people to know they were in prison. So John went down to the estate's building, and rummaged around and found some nice steel bars and put a bar on the door, then he went inside and screwed blocks into the side of the windows, so they could only open about 4 1/2 inches, where a body wouldn't be able to get through. Mike Rinder said, "It is interesting today to hear Scientology claim that the HOLE doesn't and never has existed. Mike has received communications, addressed to him at the HOLE. Mike says, "People, myself included, were in that little prison for months, some for years." Mike himself was in the HOLE, for two years.
John Brosseau says, " it is a horrible state to live in around Miscavige. He's the oppressive policeman that drives you to do what you are doing, because no one would do it on their own violation". Miscavige's wife Shelly, was right there with him, as number two. Leah says, "Shelly Miscavige's name in the Church of Scientology is COB assistant, and so for a Scientologist like me, very much respected the COB's assistant and considered her, you know, this high ranking officer of Scientology, because she worked directly with David Miscavige."
John says, "I saw Shelly Miscavige get into trouble by her husband David. She would disappear during portions of the day, and I sort of surmised that she was being security checked, You know, I could see the terror in her eyes. I think she said something she shouldn't have, and Miscavige found out, and suddenly he had this person, who was his wife, would suddenly be holding electrodes of the E-meter in her hand, voiced it (confessed), and that was it. The axe fell, and then she, just sort of disappeared shortly after." Leah to John, "Why?" --- John, "Because she's been too intricately involved with him and probably knows things that he just doesn't ever want known, so he's just gonna keep her quiet." Shelly Miscavige has not been seen in public since 2005. She is mentioned once in awhile and she said to tell everyone, she is fine. The Church of Scientology refutes claims that Shelly is missing.
I could go on and on with true facts of infractions that have been done by the leaders of the Church of Scientology. The Church leadership has been fined, found guilty in courts of law by different governments. Raids have been conducted on properties own by the organization. They have been caught in many criminal acts against government agencies in different countries. The leader now, David Miscavige is out of control, with no one to stop him. There are interviews upon interviews about how cruel David Miscavige has become.
While Scientology generally refers to the Miscavige-led Church of Scientology, there are other groups practicing the policies and practices of Scientology. These groups are collectively known as independent Scientologists consisting of former members of the Church of Scientology founded by L. Ron Hubbard, as well as totally new members of the theory of Scientology.
More recently, high profile defectors of Scientology Mark Rathbun and Mike Rinder have championed the cause of independent Scientologists, wishing to practice Scientology outside the organization led by David Miscavige. Many who have left the "original church" still believe in the practices and policies of L. Ron Hubbard's Scientology. They disagree with how members are treated, beatings, harassments, and being put in the HOLE for disagreeing with David Miscavige.
I found this tid-bit, Mike Rinder still believes in the concepts of the original Scientology, as of 2021. He went with Leah Remini on many interviews of ex-members about their lives in Scientology in her video Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. The video aired in 2018. It is on Netflix now in 2021. I am watching it a few episodes at a time. It is very interesting and sad to hear of all the people who were lied to about Scientology and the practices and policies of the now Church of Scientology led by David Miscavige.
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