Tag Archives: scientology

Miscavige Surrenders at the Alamo

Latest from Tampa Bay Times: Video of Miscavige Surrender, attorney Ray Jeffrey and Debbie Cook. 

More coverage:

Tampa Bay Times Article and Video of Debbie’s testimony yesterday

Village Voice updates from inside the courtroom

MikeBoard1200 Twitter feed from inside the courtroom

Scientology Inc.’s explains decision to withdraw injunction

Tampa Bay Times wrap up of events today

San Antonio Express wrap up of events today

Village Voice: Debbie and Wayne speak to the press

Telephone interview of Ray Jeffrey on WOAI

International Business Times article

I will be adding links to the post as they become available. -Mosey

Debbie Cook Still Servicing the Flag Service Organization

The latest commercial by church of Scientology has reportedly been played in prime time during the NFL playoffs and American Idol.  The last times such broad air buys were made by church of Scientology was in the Fall of 2009 in order to answer to ABC Nightline’s two night special on the Tampa Time’s original Truth Rundown series, and in April 2010 in response to Anderson Cooper’s follow up on the Truth Rundown series.

I would credit the latest prime time run to Debbie Cook.  More evidence that to this day she is acting in the best interest of the Flag Service Organization, Scientology’s Mecca in Clearwater Florida.   At the same time, I do not fault her for the last half of the ad which is so chock full of lies and false propaganda as to further sink Corporate Scientology’s credibility.   That you can chalk up to the insanity of David Miscavige.

 

Corporate Scientology Mercenary – Joe Grieboski

Do you want to know how David Miscavige can imprison and torture dozens of people in the morning on any given day and the same afternoon receive reports how the US State Department is enraged over Human Rights violations against poor David and his cult?   In a word, MONEY.

For more than a decade this gentleman who touts himself as a Nobel peace prize candidate has been on Miscavige’s payroll covering up Miscaviges serial, continuous Human Rights violations.  He is but one of a team of mercenaries, including a number of former US Department of Justice lawyers, who receive thousands of dollars weekly to cover up for David Miscavige’s crimes.

Joseph K "Joe" Grieboski

Grieboski is well paid to run a front group called The Institute on Religion and Public Policy.    I use the term “front group” advisedly.  Here is how Miscavige’s Office of Special Affairs (OSA, the propaganda and dirty tricks branch of corporate Scientology) refers to Joe’s “Institute”:

an identity he uses to ally individuals in the RCC and other major religions as well as political personalities.

(RCC of course is shorthand for the Roman Catholic Church)

Grieboski has laid in paid pitches for Corporate Scientology as late as twenty-one hours ago, defrauding the Huffington Post into believing they are dealing with a neutral “expert.”   In this piece entitled This Christmas Charities are in Crisis, Grieboski throws in this pitch for a corporate Scientology that may well be the most fraudulent abuser of charity status in America today:

As Americans, it is easy to take such fundamental rights for granted. The majority of us are sheltered from the daily horrors that affect Christians in China, Ahmadiyyas in Pakistan, Scientologists in Belgium and Muslims in France.

This of course forwards Miscavige’s multi-million dollar Human Rights propaganda campaign designed to divert attention from his own blatant, institutionalized Human Rights atrocities.

The Huffington Post, like many other media and officials who buy into Grieboski being some neutral expert, is unwittingly fattening Joe’s pocketbook. That is because for the past several years now Joe has been on a commission agreement with corporate Scientology.  For many years he received a flat rate retainer for pimping for Miscavige.  But, in 2007 corporate Scientology decided they would effectively make Joe a field staff member – getting paid for every close.

Here is the internal church of Scientology International program directing that Joe go onto a pay-per-product basis of employment.   Note how pervasive Joe’s lines of communication on behalf of David Miscavige’s Human Trafficking operation are.

January 29, 2007
GRIEBOSKI PROGRAM
Joe Grieboski (JG) operates the Institute on Religion and Public
Policy, an identity he uses to ally individuals in the RCC and other
major religions as well as political personalities. He contributed in
this manner to the handling of several situations in Europe.
However, he is not being run for product to ensure viability and
bean return for what he is being paid. He is on a flat rate that is
being changed to payment on a “by product” basis.
This program lays out needed production that he can generate in
exchange for funding from the Church. It must become clear to
him that if he does not get products, he will not get any more
funds from us.
PURPOSE
To protect and advance religious freedom interests of Scientology
where threatened or blocked.
MAJOR TARGET
1. Get Joe Grieboski to utilize existing or develop new power
comm lines to resolve our major European situations.
2. Power commlines and OL allies in place to help open getting
Scientology into Muslim countries.
PRIMARY TARGETS
1. Assume full responsibility for Grieboski and accomplishing the
major targets.
2. Write projects for Grieboski that he can understand, agree
with and follow to accomplish useful VFPs and subproducts.3. Supply Grieboski with the policies on name/want/get, the
tech on compiling a subproduct list and the definition of
production and viability.
4. Groove in a weekly BP and report line with the guy, so he has
to work out what products he is going to get and then report
on what specifically he accomplished.
5. Work out a budget covering each of Grieboski’s projects and
get this approved by IRD and WDC OSA. This is the basis for
what is covered in the weekly FP (including the “beans” being
produced).
VITAL TARGETS
1. Maintain utmost efficiency by providing JG with easily
digestible information and documents about the sits he needs
to know about and ensure he understands the data and puts
it to use.
2. Never permit JG to overspend but enforce proper planning,
including financial planning, scheduling and production for
what is paid.
3. Keep JG aware that commensurate production of verifiable
VFPs must be present for our Treasury Authority to continue
financial outlay.
4. When JG does a trip overseas, e.g., have local OSA reps
meet with him at his arrival and brief him up on the PT scene.
Also have them meet with him at the end of each day to get
his immediate debrief and get him reoriented to the product
of the next day’s meetings.
CONDITIONAL TARGET
1. If JG has additional ideas to improve the products he can get,
this should rapidly be cleared with CO OSAI and implemented.
OPERATING TARGETS1. Brief JG on the change in funding—that he is coming off that
flat rate but will be paid on a “by product” basis—and provide
him the list of projects and have him work out how he will
get these done.
BELGIUM
2. PR to prepare a briefing pack for JG, which covers concisely
the official religious freedom violations, specifically (a) docs
about the general anti cult situation in Belgium (b) the recent
controversy concerning the “Scientology” building and (c) the
criminal case which has been pending since 10 years. Include
excerpts of EU Human Rights Court jurisprudence that show
the court’s standard for slow justice is seven years. (Any
other helpful data can be added if it really helps make the
case.)
3. CONDITIONAL: If JG requires any other data, provide the
docs or data immediately.
4. Get JG to obtain support from congressional allies (House and
Senate) in getting the Belgian, French and German
authorities to stop oppressive measures against minority
religions. (This support can be fairly loose, sufficient only to
allow him to drop names and state that a number of Senators
and Representatives are getting more and more concerned
about the situation.)
5. JG is to develop contacts to the top level of the RCC (as high
as he can get in their hierarchy) using the above data to
explain his reason for his concerns and for getting involved.
6. Get the RCC officials to agree that in the interest of religion
and religiosity in Belgium, a climate of tolerance should be
created and that they should use their influence to promote
such. (Any trip to Belgium would combine meetings with the
RCC and the government—see next section to make it costefficient.)
7. Have them formulate and articulate a plan of how they will
use their influence to preach tolerance and non-aggression with the rabid parliamentarians as well as the national
government, especially the justice sector (so as to help).
8. From the Institute on Religion and Public Policy, have JG
develop comm lines to the upper strata officials of the
Belgian national government, especially at a level from where
steps can be taken to end the arbitrary criminal investigation
into the CofS.
9. Using the examples from the prep pack and the clear and
present concern that exists in Washington about the situation,
get these officials to see that a continuation of the repressive
actions by rabid prosecutors or suppressive MPs is damaging
to Belgium’s image. Have them agree to take action to
change their policy, even if quietly, and reign in prosecutors
who have no case yet keep on “investigating.”
FRANCE
10. Put together a briefing pack that brings JG up to speed on the
scene in France—including the relapse of Mivilude back to the
“dark days” under Vivien—and which he can use (documents)
for his contacts with the French officials. The pack is to also
include the evidence on the capricious and outrageous
investigations pending against the CoS (e.g., since the 80s of
the last century).
11. CONDITIONAL: If JG requires any other data, provide the
docs and data immediately.
12. Have JG determine whom to contact in France who is in a
position to influence policy:
13. in the upper executive strata of the national government
a. in the national Senate
b. in the RCC
c. in the Protestant Church
14. Have him work out the exact plan and tactics for how he will
get to meet and ally each of these people.15. While JG is working out the specific actions, get DSA France
to verify that the people JG intends to meet are in fact
correct targets and not a waste of time, effort and money.
16. Get him to get the meetings set up in France (to coincide
with those in Belgium so he must not fly back-and-forth
repeatedly).
17. In France, have him brief and ally these persons—using the
same approach as detailed for the meetings in Belgium—and
get their agreement to take specific action to effect policy
changes on the government’s and the legislature’s lines:
A. National Government
a. To reign in Miviludes
b. To stop harassment though bogus criminal invests
B. Senate Leaders
a. To stop the hate campaigns of specific MPs/Senators
C. RCC/Protestant Church
a. To use their influence with both the government and
the Senate to make the above targets happen.
18. Have JG get the agreement of the government officials,
Senate leaders and religious leaders, to stay in comm and
that they will tell him when they taken action and what they
did.
GERMANY
19. Prepare the briefing pack on the current scene for minority
religions in Germany, including what occurred a couple of
weeks ago re Scientology Berlin, the OPC’s actions and any
entheta media statements by the likes of Beckman.
20. CONDITIONAL: If JG requires any other data, provide the
docs and data immediately. 21. Find out from DSA Germany who in the federal government
and the pertinent Germany states would be worthwhile for JG
to contact.
22. Have JG determine whom he can contact in the German
churches (RCC and Protestants) who is in a position to
influence policy:
23. Have him work out the exact plan and tactics for how he will
get to meet and ally each of these people.
24. Get JG to set up the meetings in Germany.
25. Have him brief and ally these federal officials—using the
same approach as was detailed for the meetings in Belgium—
and get their agreement to take specific action to effect a
fundamental policy change in the federal government.
26. Make JG get them to work out what actions they will take
specifically and have him civilly challenge anything that
seems to be lip service.
27. Have JG meet and ally the state government officials he set
up to meet.
28. Get them setting up the meeting
29. Repeat this target for the RCC meetings.
30. Repeat the target for the meetings with the Protestants.
31. Have JG get the agreement of the government officials and
religious leaders to stay in comm and that they will tell him
when they taken action and what they did.
POLAND
32. Compile a briefing pack for JG that tells him about the
situation in Poland, emphasizing the government and RCC
positions and actions. 33. CONDITIONAL: If JG requires any other data, provide the
docs and data immediately.
34. Have JG determine whom in Poland to contact who is in
position to influence policy:
a. in the ministerial strata of the national government
b. in the RCC
35. Have him work out the exact plan and tactics for how he will
get to meet and ally each of these people.
36. Get him to get the meetings set up. (Make them coincide
with those in one of the other countries so he won’t be flying
back-and-forth repeatedly).
37. In Poland, have him brief and ally these persons—using the
same approach as detailed for the meetings in the other
countries—and get their agreement for specific actions to
effect tangible policy changes that will be of direct benefit for
the CofS:
a. National Government
b. RCC/Protestant Church
38. Have these officials work out and name the specific actions
they will implement and their time plan.
39. Have JG get the agreement of the government officials and
RCC leaders to stay in comm and that they will tell him when
they taken action and what they did.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF MP’s
40. Have JG survey member MPs of the International Conference
to determine what information they would most be interested
in receiving in a newsletter.
41. Get JG to launch a regular (monthly) electronic newsletter to
all member MPs around the world that keep them briefed on
key pro religious freedom developments around the world. Emphasize in the newsletter those actions that demonstrate
effective cause by legislators to provide examples and
inspiration of what can be done.
42. Have JG work with individual members (those in key
countries for our expansion are the priority, but others must
not be neglected) and have them become active introducing
pro religious freedom bills and resolutions.
MUSLIM NATIONS
43. Determine which groups and other delivery we already have
in which Muslim countries.
44. Get with ASI, SMI and ABLE and identify the other key
Muslim countries we want to move into.
45. Get JG to locate and name the high level government officials,
key legislators, religious leaders and top court judges in
these countries who are inclined towards democracy including
a liberal religious freedom policy.
46. Have JG contact these terminals and set up to meet with
them.
47. Get JG fully prep’d for the meetings with his facts as well as
with tangible examples of religious freedom policy, legislation
and jurisprudence that could be created in these countries
(e.g., from the UN or the EU Court on Human Rights so it’s
not all U.S. which is a negative button in many Muslim
countries).
48. During the meetings brief these people on the benefits for
their country of a pro religious freedom stance and ally them
to this cause. Get them to understand the precedent policies,
legislation and jurisprudence.
49. Work out with them what specific, tangible action each one
can take to generate pro religious freedom legislation and
precedents, including liberalization of the constitutional jurisprudence. Also work out a time table for the execution of
their plan.
50. Have JG get the agreement of the government officials and
RCC leaders to stay in comm and that they will tell him when
they taken action and what they did.
PRODUCTION TARGET
1. Allies made in 5 countries who activate a pro religious
freedom policy or legislation. – April 2007.
2. Newsletter launched by February 2007

See ongoing coverage at the Village Voice.

The New Order And Its Remedy

Here’s a little something in response to the handful of cur dogs who criticize our efforts to cease the spiritual carnage that has become in the public mind Scientology.  It is something from L Ron Hubbard, the Founder of the subject.  This is likely so obvious that it goes without saying to the majority involved in this grassroots movement called Independent Scientology.  But, I re-iterate as there are OSA bait dupes on the fringe who expend a lot of energy  on attempting to drag down folk who are taking responsibility for this thing called Scientology.  As confusion is their stock in trade, let us have a little stable data as remedy.

Excerpts from L Ron Hubbard lecture, Formative States of Scientology – Definition of Logic.

Let’s take the subject of Scientology and let’s see if there’s any logic involved with it at all.  There isn’t a mathematics that can embrace the subject of Scientology, because it is an invented mathematics.  It’s an invented mathematics that accepts gradient scales and “absolutes are unattainable.”  And it is a method of thinking about things.  And it is just as true as it is workable.  And no truer.  And is not, in itself, an abitrary, fascistic police force to make sure that we all think right thoughts.  It’s a servant of the mind, and servo-mechanism of the mind. It is not a master of the mind.  Scientology will decline and become useless to man on the day when it becomes the master of thinking.  Don’t think it won’t do that.  It has every capability of doing that. 

Contained in the knowable, workable portions before your eyes there are methods of controlling human beings and thetans which have never before been dreamed of in this universe.  Control mechanisms of such awesome and solid proportions that if the remedies were not so much easier to apply, one would be appalled at the dangerousness to beingness that exists in Scientology.

Fortunately, it was intelligently invented, and I say that without any possible bow; I say that because part of its logic was: the remedy should exist before the bullet…

…So anybody that knows the remedy of this subject, anybody that knows these techniques, is himself actually under a certain responsibility – that’s to make sure that he doesn’t remain a sole proprietor. That’s all it takes, just don’t remain a sole proprietor. Don’t ever think that a monopoly of this subject is a safe thing to have.  It’s not safe. It’s not safe for Man; it’s not safe for this universe.  This universe has long been looking for new ways to make slaves. Well, we’ve got some new ways to make slaves here.  Let’s see that none are made. (emphasis added) 

And of course, the paragraph of this lecture that was edited out in David Miscavige’s New Golden Age of Knowledge version by David Miscavige personally:

It’s a very simple remedy.  And that’s just make sure the remedy is passed along. That’s all.  Don’t hoard it. Don’t hold it.  And if you ever do use any black Dianetics, use it on the guy who pulled Scientology out of sight and made it so it wasn’t available.  Because he’s the boy who would be electing himself  “the new order.”  We don’t need any more new orders — all those orders as far as I’m concerned have been filled.

Now when it comes to logic, the logic of putting this together had as its first criterion what?  Application?  What were we going to do?  What were we trying to do?  That was fairly well thought out, we were trying to help beingness. What are we going to do?  Well, we’re trying to help beingness.  There’s a good cause and effect definition.  We sit down and we say, “now, what’s our purpose? What’s this all about?  What’s the first statement made on that?”  Well, that was it.  It wasn’t a slop around of ‘well, let’s be scientific and let’s fool around and let’s see if we can make a lot of money.’  No, it was just a simple clear-cut statement.  It presupposed one thing: that something could be done. 

Ghost of Tom Joad

Apropos of the season, a little grown up talk about lessons of Jesus, compassion and sacrifice.

Most of what the world might still consider admirable about the character of Americans was born during the Great Depression: economy, brotherhood, compassion for one’s fellows, sacrifice, alertness and willingness to fight back on principle and not for personal gain.

One major reason why Corporate Scientology is dead is because it condemns those values.

Another reason it is dead is that it long ago sold out utterly to blood-sucking, profiteering corporate America.  Every fiber of the organization is geared toward racketeering on bubble-created disposable income.

The only way Scientology will survive what is here and what is coming is through a completely different paradigm than that represented by corporate Scientology.  90% of Americans cannot afford corporate Scientology.  Its doors are welded shut to the people the philosophy was created for.

In case anyone hasn’t been watching and studying, the ranks of those with bubble-created disposable income in America is decreasing by the day.  And if you’ve really studied world socio-economics you will understand that the days of ‘something-for-nothing prosperity’ are never coming back again.   Only the fat criminals who have gamed the United States government into being  their enforcement arm will continue to wildly profit.

This is not a political pitch for the right or the left.

The far right is doing everything in its power to turn America into a ghetto to rape and plunder  into abject poverty (reference: Griftopia by Mat Tabbai).  And their rank and file don’t even understand they are working against their own interests. The far left wants to create a welfare society that chokes the initiative and lifeblood out its people.  And their rank and file don’t even see it coming.

In politics, as in religion, philosophy, and life itself the best practice is along the Great Middle Path.

Unfortunately, in times such as these where so many feel the need to cling to extremes (‘desperate times call for desperate measures’), the simple, ethical minority who value integrity, principle, and humanity are labeled by both extremes as the extremists.

I tend to agree with Jesus that in the end the meek shall inherit the earth.

However, I believe it will be the principled, strong who keep them alive to see that day.

In my opinion, the ones who will make a difference in the end are the Tom Joads of the world.  Reference: Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.

The Ghost Of Tom Joad
Men walkin’ ‘long the railroad tracks
Goin’ someplace there’s no goin’ back
Highway patrol choppers comin’ up over the ridge
Hot soup on a campfire under the bridge
Shelter line stretchin’ round the corner
Welcome to the new world order
Families sleepin’ in their cars in the southwest
No home no job no peace no rest

The highway is alive tonight
But nobody’s kiddin’ nobody about where it goes
I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light
Searchin’ for the ghost of Tom Joad

He pulls prayer book out of his sleeping bag
Preacher lights up a butt and takes a drag
Waitin’ for when the last shall be first and the first shall be last
In a cardboard box ‘neath the underpass
Got a one-way ticket to the promised land
You got a hole in your belly and gun in your hand
Sleeping on a pillow of solid rock
Bathin’ in the city aqueduct

The highway is alive tonight
But where it’s headed everybody knows
I’m sittin’ down here in the campfire light
Waitin’ on the ghost of Tom Joad

Now Tom said “Mom, wherever there’s a cop beatin’ a guy
Wherever a hungry newborn baby cries
Where there’s a fight ‘gainst the blood and hatred in the air
Look for me Mom I’ll be there
Wherever there’s somebody fightin’ for a place to stand
Or decent job or a helpin’ hand
Wherever somebody’s strugglin’ to be free
Look in their eyes Mom you’ll see me.”

The highway is alive tonight
But nobody’s kiddin’ nobody about where it goes
I’m sittin’ downhere in the campfire light
With the ghost of old Tom Joad

Copyright © Bruce Springsteen (ASCAP)

Miscavige’s Idle Fraud – Taiwan

by Mike Rinder

Some of you may recall the Taiwan “Ideal Org” building, purchased by the IAS in 2005 accompanied by much fanfare and hoopla from POB himself about this being the first org in China. You may recall the CGI fly-through showing the grand lobby and the courserooms and auditing rooms.  100% smoke and mirrors.

Below are some shots taken within the last month of that building.

Not only is there still NO org, the building has sat empty since it was purchased 6 years ago.  And every year since then the IAS has paid the taxes on the building because the Mission cannot afford to pay them. Does anyone think the money they give to the IAS is being used to pay taxes on empty buildings?  Is it possible to even contemplate how much hard earned cash is flushed down the toilet in the name of POB having something to show at an event that maintains his pretense of “massive expansion”?  This huge building (far larger than what could possible be viable) was bought when the market was high for an org that did not and still does not exist (and POB personally ordered that Kaohsuing Mission was NOT eligible to be turned into an org in spite of months of work by a lot of people under Guillaume Lesevre’s direction to try to make it happen) and 6 years later they have still not even started the renovations.  It is NOT because there is a lack of available cash in the IAS.

Even More on Missions

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By Mike Rinder

This small excerpt from the IAS event provides an excellent glimpse of the entire circus performance.  Little King David in all his diminutive glory, Shermanspeaking with his strange, vaguely hypnotic cadence and almost comical accent on words, spewing forth lies and trickery almost faster than its possible to ingest.  There is another 2+ hours of this torture. But when you can slow it down, pause the video, really SEE what is being said, it presents a very different picture than the veneer of slick smoke and mirrors that gushes forth.

Gabriel recently posted the Birthday Game standings from the Mission Network and in doing so highlighted the sorry state of this network.  It’s a bit harder to see from watching the video real time, but believe me, the efforts to wallpaper over the moldy, mildewed and crumbling walls of the Mission network just don’t cut the mustard.

First, just look at the stills of Mission openings that accompany the hype and you will see the following (and presumably there are many other false reports that I am unable to verify):

And remember, this is the BEST that POB and the full time Gold staff that work on events could come up with to demonstrate 10 years of massive, straight up and vertical growth:

1.  Here is a CURRENT photo of the Santa Monica Mission that is shown in his video with smiling faces at the ribbon cutting.

2. The “Old Tampa Bay Mission” is also no more.  Strange they put two Missions in the two largest Scientology fields in the world in the video and they no longer exist! Tells you how hard up they were to come up with ANY shots at all. And certainly throws a LOT of doubt on the other supposed Missions that are “flourishing and prospering” in locations around the planet that nobody can easily get to (which it seems is where the vast majority of POB’s wondrous activities occur — I wonder why???)

3.  The Dublin Mission shown as opened “since the Wake Up Call” has been there  since before 1993 (it’s in the WIS book).  And it’s not that this is a second Mission — if you look on the Scientology.org website you will find only ONE mission (and no orgs) in Ireland.

4.  The shot of the “Athens Mission” is the “Athens Org” as I believe our Greek friends can confirm – again the Scientology.org website lists only ONE Scientology org or mission in all of Greece. And its the org. There is no Mission.

5.  The Missions shown in Hungary are not on the Scn.org website (though the Mission is Szolnok was listed in WIS, probably closed down subsequently), the “Mission of Genova” is not on the website, nor is the “Mission of Montpelier”. That pretty much wipes out every “new Mission” shown in Western Europe.

6.  Pakistan is worse – the “Mission of Islamabad” is not on the website, and neither are the 4 missions in Pakistan that were in WIS back in 1993. The “Mission” in Thailand and the one in Malaysia also apparently no longer exist, not appearing on the Scientology.org website – and in fact, the Mission that was in the WIS book in Malaya seems to have vanished altogether.

7.  Africa looks sick too – the “Missions” shown in Cameroon and Mali are not on the website.  “Norwood” is, but it’s the same one that was in the WIS book in 1993.

And that is apparently the best he had to show. And it tells you they are REALLY scraping the bottom of the barrel. This is 10 YEARS of Mission expansion and to cover one minute of event time, they used numerous shots of Missions that DO NOT EVEN EXIST. I can assure you, if there were a ton of new missions being opened the level of hype would be ENORMOUS. If there was massive expansion with huge flourishing Missions, he would have shown that (and not tried to fake it with “new Missions”).

Now, for what else you DON’T see.

The ONLY Missions apparently opened in the United States are in California, 2 in Louisiana, one in Florida (no longer open) and one in Bangor, Maine.  Not one ANYWHERE else in the entire US!  There is a LOT of the United States with NO Scientology org or Mission.

And not a single Mission opened anywhere in the United Kingdom, Germany, Scandinavia, Spain, Switzerland or anywhere else in Western Europe except the phantom mission in France and the phantom in Italy.

There are whole swaths of the world not mentioned at all in this 10 years of explosive, straight up and vertical expansion.

But on top of that – here is the REAL masterstroke from the bard of bullshit.

POB NEVER talks about JUST Missions these days. It is ALWAYS “Groups and Missions” so he can SHOW Missions (as there are no visuals of “Groups” as they do not exist) and then when talking numbers, start spouting off figures of “thousands” leaving the impression he is talking about thousands of Missions. If you are a fan of David Copperfield or Siegfried and Roy, you would really enjoy this big stage style “watch me make the elephant in the room disappear right before your very eyes.”

If (and that is a big “if” given the evidence that is so easy to uncover) there are 400 or so missions (more likely in the range of 100 that are open more than 3 hours a week), the other 3400 “Groups” are even more of a mirage-than the Missions.

Those groups, for the most part, are complete fabrications: POB counts every Volunteer Minister as a “group” – orgs spend hundreds of hours every week trying to confirm these “groups” by calling Scientologists and asking them if they were “active” that week.  And that definition is malleable if not criminal – “Did you use ARC this week?” “Good, you count.”  It’s the same with the “Dianetics Groups” – they don’t need to actually practice Dianetics or deliver any auditing, just attest to the fact that they are still in agreement with the principles of Dianetics and that qualifies them for “Active Dianetics Group” status. Those 3800 plus “Missions and Groups” exist ONLY in the imagination of little King David.

But if you present it fast enough, in hyperventilating Shermanspeak, with enough asserted certainty and accompany it with rapidly changing gaudy crap on the screen surrounded by baroque frames, well…  POB is doing a pretty good job of proving that you can fool most of the people most of the time – at least those that have been guzzling the Kool Aid.

As I said in my earlier post about the “Ideal Orgs” – POB has mastered the art of turning theta into MEST. His path of mayhem and destruction is becoming harder and harder to camouflage as the yellow brick road he claims it is.  His “Golden Ages” are truly the Dark Ages of Scientology — but as with all regimes that seek to suppress truth, creativity and beauty, they eventually meet unpleasant ends. And no matter how loudly he shouts, how exaggerated his claims become, how many denials he issues and how many people he pays, the green curtain is disintegrating and the facade of the Wizard of Oz is collapsing.

Fairman vs Thorburn Analysis and Tax Deductions

 

Tony Ortega at the Village Voice posted an analysis of the Fairman vs. Thorburn case, see Village Voice Analysis.   While I think his factual speculation about Michael’s status vis a vis Independent Scientology is inaccurate, Tony raises some interesting questions.

Particularly intriguing is his idea about Independent Scientologists claiming tax deductions for their Scientology donations in the field.  During negotiations for tax exemption in the early nineties, the church was able to persuade the IRS to grant deductions for Scientology parishioner “donations” to churches of Scientology.  This was done in the face of a then-fairly-recent U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding the denial of Scientologists’ deductions for fixed fees being charged by Scientology churches for specific services,  Hernandez v Commissioner.  Hernandez is still the law of the land on this issue.

While I don’t have time at the moment to engage in a major tax research project, I will proffer an opinion to anyone affected who can afford to have a competent tax attorney delve into this area.  In my opinion the Internal Revenue Service would have a very difficult time denying a claimed tax deduction of an Independent Scientologist making a donation for Scientology services.  Particularly when those services are provided on the basis we do.  That is, there is no fixed price.  The person donates what she feels the service was worth in accordance with her own ability to donate; knowing, as I have informed those who were particularly generous on their own determinism, that their donation makes possible the servicing of others in need who are not able to donate or to donate very much.  I have no problem testifying and providing documentary evidence that such donations are in fact used in that precise manner – to service those in need who cannot themselves donate much.  My guess is that there are other Independents out there who could do the same.

It is pretty much how “charitable contributions” have always traditionally been made – with an intent to benefit others or for the general good; as opposed to a fixed quid pro quo to attain something solely for one’s own benefit (the corporate church of Scientology model).

Just some food for thought for the future.   As Ortega noted, ground breaking legal actions such as Fairman vs Thorburn could have effects down the road not only in reforming corporate Scientology but also in establishing the rights of Independent Scientologists.

 

 

 

Casablanca Redux by Michael Fairman

The day after last year’s Thanksgiving, I sojourned to Ingleside-On-The-Bay and thus crossed my personal “Rubicon”. In an odd twist of history and geography that led to Casablanca. The four days I spent with Marty and Monique began an adventure with the truth. Not only did Scientology work for me as it hadn’t for years in the church, but the time I spent with the “Kingpin” and his beautiful wife gave the lie to the torrent of crap about these two beautiful souls that was pouring from the mouths of those representing Miscavige and his sorry excuse for a religion.

As I say the Rubicon was crossed, because from then on my family and I were subjected to the various forms of garbage thrown at us by those who pride themselves on being spiritually enlightened. It also began a year of attempting to see through layer after filthy layer of what has been going on within corporate Scientology. With each revelation compounding the insanity, I decided to throw everything overboard. I was interested only in having Miscavige’s abuses come to light and acted upon. Screw everything else. Although my wife Joy had been helped by seeing Ingrid Smith, a field auditor, I, despite my earlier wins with Marty, was no longer interested — not in Solo NOTS, or being audited, or taking a course, or even reading a book; and I could no longer swallow the idea that Scientology was the only path and LRH the only and true pathfinder. I found that attitude arrogant and self defeating no matter from where it came.

But life has the continuing and annoying habit of asking us to confront it. So it was for our family of three. There was a barrage of “stuff” coming at us and we were not making great headway against it,  We had only Ingrid close by to turn to, so my daughter and I went back to her. During an amazing communication with us, Ingrid  mentioned how much fun it was for her to be solo auditing. I told her I never wanted to look an e-meter in the face again because of what a drudge it had become. She described the joy and freedom with which she audited, the ease with which things were handled, and the picture she painted was infectious. I also recalled the natural ease with which Marty had audited me. So then and there I decided on one more go-around with “the Tech” and made plans for a trip to Texas.

I left the day after Thanksgiving, exactly one year after my last visit. The symmetry appealed to me, but this time I would spend six days. I had booked my flight late in October, but by the time Thanksgiving week rolled around, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to go. But I remembered the sparkling time I’d had with Marty and Mosey, so carrying a wrapped drumstick and wing from the day before, I boarded my plane.

Marty met me at the airport as he did the Friday a year ago, and from that moment I knew things were going to be good. Aside from a couple of adventures we had shared personally during the year, his blog had kept us in continual communication. The friend I had made twelve months ago was now an old friend. I saw again that the drivel  Miscavige, his hired boobies, and the robotic sheeple spouted about Marty’s relationship with those who have left the church was truly absurd. No one kisses his feet, shines his shoes or falls before him on bended knee. He wouldn’t have it. While I was there we watched the film, “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo”. He loved the leading character of Lizbeth. Why? Because she didn’t take any shit, was true to herself, had integrity, would fight for what she believed in, and was intelligent without shoving it in everyone’s face. That’s how he hopes everyone would be, and that’s what he expects of himself.

As before, we had conversations about a multitude of subjects, always returning to the theme of freedom – spiritual, personal and political, and the paths one can take to get there. He introduced me to Victor Frankl and Frederick Douglass, both of whom I read having major cognitions. The ease with which we had our conversations were continued into the auditing room, where day after day I uncovered the lies which I had constructed long ago to rob me of parts of myself. And I came to a number of realizations. Those who disparage Hubbard’s technology, for whatever reason, no longer have any significance for me. It is what it is for them and it is what it is for me. Those who disparage Marty are also of no significance to me. I know who he is both in and out of the auditing room. And the same is true regarding the works of L. Ron Hubbard. I can accept whatever moves me forward and reject the rest.

There is sunshine at Casablanca. The star that rides the sky from east to west every day;  the sunshine of welcome that Mosey bathes you with when you are in her company; the sunshine of truth that Marty is continually searching for no matter where he finds it. Juxtapose this against the dark insanity that is corporate Scientology and I saw that it was also no longer significant.

I had a wondrous six days. In Monique I once again found a gracious, kind, intelligent and compassionate being. Thanks to Marty, who shares those qualities, I again found solo auditing and more of myself. I also found something even more valuable — what it means to walk the “middle path”. I left Casablanca with a renewed energy and purpose, a heightened love and respect for these two unique people, and the knowledge and confidence that our family of three can take on whatever “stuff” life decides to hurl at us.

– Michael

More On Michael:

Michael’s Declaration of Independence

Michael Fairman – A Resurrection Story

Michael in action

Career

Valeska Paris Guider – More on Human Trafficking

Valeska Paris Guider has added her testimony to the growing body of evidence that David Miscavige runs an elaborate, worldwide Human Trafficking operation in violation of International law.

Valeska Paris Guider on ABC Lateline.

Thank you Valeska for having the courage to speak out, in spite of the reported legal threat.  Corporate Scientology’s response that Valeska breached an alleged contract to remain silent about Miscavige’s serial violations of law is an effective admission to the facts she shares.   Virtually everyone who has witnessed corporate Scientology’s criminality and spoken out have signed their worthless, unenforceable, against-public-policy muzzle contracts.  Dozens in the past two years have been heard.  Corporate Scientology’s response has been to slime the witness with character assassination with no reference to the muzzle agreements.  Now, apparently out of desperation, Miscavige directs the response: “well, they are legally barred from disclosing my crimes.”   Brilliant.  A regular Edward Bernays (nephew of Sigmund Freud and father of the subject of Public Relations).

For more on Valeska and her husband Chris, see The Guiders.

Also see the Village Voice take on this, and its juxtaposition of what was going on in the “fancier part of the ship” while Valeska and others like her were slaving it in the lower decks, Tony Ortega’s take on  Valeska.