Clearwater

White House Words with Woodward More Proof of Obama Tyranny, Say Rightbloggers

Last week we learned that a White House official got into an argument with Bob Woodward. Woodward is the biggest name in Washington journalism; he has survived seven Administrations (counting the one he helped take down with his Watergate reporting), and will probably continue to publish bestsellers ... More >>

The Voice Reads Maureen Orth's Story about Scientology in Vanity Fair

See also our Voice Exclusive: Paul Haggis reacts to Scientology's attack on Nazanin Boniadi We managed to find a copy of the new Vanity Fair today, and we've read Maureen Orth's story, "What Katie Didn't Know," about Tom Cruise and his Scientology-approved search for a new wife. As advertised, the ... More >>

Scientology's Homophobia: Even the Church's Token Gay Guy Was Disgusted

One of Scientology's enduring mysteries is that it has attracted Hollywood stars when it has such a reputation for homophobia. The sexual orientation of its top celebrities is always a matter of popular speculation, and even those with the barest understanding of Scientology seem to know that if cel ... More >>

Marty Rathbun: Scientology's Attorney "Supervised" Destruction of Records in Lisa McPherson Death

For the last year or more, Mark Bunker has been releasing short excerpts from his upcoming Scientology documentary Knowledge Report, and yesterday, he released a doozy. Bunker had told me that he'd interviewed former church executive Marty Rathbun, and in this excerpt, we see Rathbun addressing the ... More >>

Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise's Split Becomes an Advertisement (Also, Guide to Our Scientology Archives!)

Southampton, England-based P&O Cruises put this advertisement in a newspaper somewhere, and it was naturally posted to the web. We can't decide, however, if P&O understood just how brilliant its advertisement is, as it not only riffs on Tom Cruise's name, but it also recalls one of Scientology's b ... More >>

Why Do Scientologists Accept the Xenu Story?

For going on 17 years I've been writing about Scientology, and over that time there's one question that has come up again and again. Why don't Scientologists, when they've been in the organization long enough to reach the legendary material in "Operating Thetan Level Three" -- the stuff about Xenu ... More >>

Video from the Memorial of Alexander Jentzsch; Also: Scientology Commenters of the Week

Filmmaker Mark Bunker put together this video of Friday's memorial held Friday for Alexander Jentzsch aboard the ship Spirit out of Long Beach Harbor in California. It's a simple event with a few people on a boat. But don't underestimate its significance. Since she sent out a message to thousands ... More >>

10,000 Scientologists Got This E-Mail Today About "Disconnection," their Church President, and a Mysterious Death

This morning, more than 10,000 Scientologists found an e-mail from Karen de la Carriere in their inboxes, written in jargon that they will understand, and informing them of the controversy surrounding the death of her son Alexander Jentzsch. As we reported first on Thursday night, de la Carriere le ... More >>

Prehistoric Aggression: More Reasons Katie Holmes Was Smart to Avoid Scientology Marriage Counseling

In its print edition today, the New York Times is catching up to something we printed on Wednesday about the weirdness of Scientology's marriage counseling. After news broke that Katie Holmes was divorcing Tom Cruise, various news outlets relied on Scientology PR to give the impression that, as ABC ... More >>

Tom Cruise is 50: It's Time To Grow Up

You're going to hear a lot about the troubles that Tom Cruise finds himself in as he turns 50 years old today. We thought we'd take a different tack. We've often thought that Rona Barrett's 1984 interview of a pre-Scientology Tom Cruise is one of the most revealing. We see a young man with half a d ... More >>

SCIENTOLOGY ABANDONED BY L. RON HUBBARD'S GRANDDAUGHTER AND DAVID MISCAVIGE'S FATHER

Multiple sources are telling the Voice that Scientology's International Base in California has experienced stunning new defections -- Roanne Leake, who is L. Ron Hubbard's granddaughter, has "blown" the base, which was her home for more than 20 years. But just as shocking, at about the same time, th ... More >>

Scientology Plays Denver's Police Chief Like a Violin

We recently brought you footage of Sacramento's mayor, former NBA player Kevin Johnson, gushing about Scientology at the opening of an "Ideal Org" in that city. Since that fancy new building opened in California's capital, additional celebrations have occurred in places like Orange County and Denve ... More >>

Debbie Cook -- Exiled by Scientology?

Tampa Bay Times journalists Joe Childs and Tom Tobin have done it again, surprising us with yet another gem of reporting on the Church of Scientology. This time, they learned from a man named John Donley, who worked as a media consultant for Debbie Cook, that she and her husband, Wayne Baumgarten, ... More >>

Amanda Palmer Dramatically Answers Questions About Her Connection to Scientology

A few weeks ago, we noted that Amanda Palmer -- the musician who performs as a solo act and as one half of the Dresden Dolls and Evelyn Evelyn -- made a rather dramatic appearance at Kate Bornstein's book party, held at Dixon Place. Right about that same time, Palmer was also making news for taking ... More >>

How You Can Help a Film About Kate Bornstein Happen (Plus: Scientology Sunday Funnies!)

Filmmaker Sam Feder has opened Kickstarter funding for a documentary about recent Village Voice cover gal Kate Bornstein. Go to Sam's page to find out how you can help finish the project!

L. Ron Hubbard in his Own Words: Mr. Charisma?

In March, we brought you excerpts from this year's big LRH Birthday Event held in Clearwater, Florida. We'd been sent a copy of the three-hour presentation, and pulled out what we felt were the best portions to share with you. In the time since, we're kind of surprised that a full version of the vi ... More >>

Kate Bornstein's Amazing Voyage

America's gender outlaw takes us on a wild tour of trans-formation

Marty Rathbun is Big in the U.K., Still Waiting for Major U.S. Treatment

This weekend's lengthy profile of Marty Rathbun by The Independent's Guy Adams really brought back a lot of memories for us. Last year, we brought you frequent coverage of the bizarre "Squirrel Busters" siege at Rathbun's house near Corpus Christi, Texas. For some five months, a strange spiritual s ... More >>

FBI Investigation of Scientology: Already Over Before We Even Heard of It

In February 2011, the New Yorker published Lawrence Wright's superb 24,000-word piece about director Paul Haggis and the Church of Scientology, "The Apostate." One of the most interesting things in the story was a revelation that made news all on its own: Wright reported that the FBI was investiga ... More >>

Scientology's Future History! A Vision from 1969, and our Stats Roundup

On Thursdays, Scientologists race to turn in their weekly stats, and we like to do the same, looking at how the church has fared around the world. This week, before we get to a couple of press items, we're going to start with something special. One of our tipsters sent us something that we always ... More >>

Happy Birthday, L. Ron Hubbard! Here's Our Surprise Gift For Scientology's Founder

On this day in 1911, Lafayette Ronald Hubbard was born in Tilden, Nebraska. If Hubbard had not wisely discarded his 74-year-old meat body in January, 1986 in order to research new levels of OT somewhere else in the galaxy, he'd be a really wrinkly 101 years old today. Where is Ron today? According ... More >>

Scientology Wants It Both Ways: The Church's Opposite Legal Strategies In Florida and Texas

Back in November, the St. Petersburg Times uncorked its best expose of the Church of Scientology yet -- "The Money Machine," a look at Scientology's incredible appetite for fundraising among its members. Just three months later, two court cases are putting an exclamation point on that investigative ... More >>

Scientology Sues Debbie Cook Over Her New Year's Eve E-Mail

Monday evening, the Tampa Bay Times reported that the Church of Scientology filed a lawsuit Friday in San Antonio against Debbie Cook and her husband Wayne Baumgarten. The lawsuit, which accuses Cook of violating the terms of a non-disclosure agreement when she dared to criticize the leadership of h ... More >>

Scientology vs Marty Rathbun: An Unfair Fight?

Last summer, we brought you extensive coverage of Scientology's bizarre siege of a South Texas home. A goon squad calling itself the "Squirrel Busters" claimed to be a documentary crew making a film about former high-ranking church executive Marty Rathbun. The intimidation squad even managed to get ... More >>

Scientology's Goons: Intimidating a 71-Year-Old Missouri Grandmother

On December 29, the Church of Scientology-Missouri's media relations officer, Ellen Maher-Forney, and another executive, Jill James, drove the 40 minutes it takes to go from the church on Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis to the home of Jim and Meshell Little in Saint Peters, Missouri. When the two wom ... More >>

Scientology's Infinite Pit and Water Wall -- More Crazy Rooms in the Super Power Building!

We've gone through even more files in the massive leak of plans that describe the soon-to-open "Flag Mecca" in Clearwater, Florida -- otherwise known as Scientology's "Super Power Building" -- and we have more things to show you. In the wild "Perceptics" area on the fifth floor, there's this Heartbe ... More >>

Scientology's "Super Power Rundown:" What is it, Anyway?

Prepare to unleash your super self! Secrets ahead!​On Monday and Tuesday, we released previously unseen renderings and architectural drawings of what Scientology's $100 million "Flag Mecca" -- also known as the "Super Power Building" -- is going to look like when it finally opens. (The buildin ... More >>

Scientology and Oiliness: More Renderings from the Super Power Building

Yesterday, we made public a leak of major proportions: we obtained hundreds of new renderings and architectural drawings of Scientology's $100 million "Super Power Building" -- what the church calls "Flag Mecca" -- in Clearwater, Florida. Of all the "perceptics" installations on the building's "su ... More >>

Scientology in Turmoil: Debbie Cook's E-Mail, Annotated

Since news broke Sunday of Debbie Cook's stunning e-mail, sent to thousands of her fellow Scientologists, word of a serious rift inside the church has been appearing in many news outlets, particularly in Europe. In the meantime, we provided additional depth and context about Debbie Cook, her career, ... More >>

What is Scientology?

L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology's founder​Although we've written hundreds of articles about Scientology over the years, and other news organizations have contributed hundreds more -- not to mention the numerous books, television programs, and countless websites dedicated to the subject -- without ... More >>

Scientology Rocked By Allegations of Greed in E-mail to 12,000 Church Members

Debbie Cook: Cooked after this broadside against church management?​UPDATE: Debbie Cook has asked me to take down her e-mail, and I am complying. See note below. Very shortly after midnight last night, after the ball had dropped in Times Square to welcome in 2012, we started to receive fevere ... More >>

Scientology Story of the Year: Cast Your Vote Now!

​This has been some year of Scientology reporting and commenting here at the Village Voice, and with the calendar about to flip, we wanted to hand out some awards. But first, we need your help. We're asking our many loyal readers to help us choose three major year-end awards for Best Sciento ... More >>

Scientology's Shame: Lisa McPherson, 16 Years After Her Death

​On December 5, 1995, a 36-year-old woman perished while several people were taking her to a hospital in Florida. Within a few years, the mysterious and strange circumstances around the death of Lisa McPherson -- who had been a Scientologist since the age of 18 -- had the Church of Scientolog ... More >>

Melissa Paris, Valeska's Sister, And Her Own Ordeal in Scientology's Cadet and Sea Orgs: Forced to Marry at 16

In December of 1996, Melissa Paris was 16 years old, and had been married for a few months to a man she says she was forced to wed. An unpleasant match, the marriage ended when Melissa left him -- and Scientology's hardcore and controlling Sea Org -- two years later. But that was in the future. In ... More >>

Scientology's Cruise Ship as Prison: The Voice Interviews Valeska Paris (UPDATED and CORRECTED)

NEW: Valeska's sister Melissa Paris tells her own story of imprisonment and unpaid, underaged labor in Scientology's Sea Org. ALSO: Our interview with Ramana Dienes-Browning, who knew Valeska Paris on the Freewinds and has her own story of hellish treatment. ALSO: A slideshow of Scientology celeb ... More >>

Scientology Leftovers: Commenters of the Week!

​We're still recovering here in the underground bunker from this week's big feast. The leftover turkey is still holding out as we look back on the past week of Scientology watching here at Runnin' Scared. We started things off Sunday morning with a look at Part 3 of "The Money Machine," the g ... More >>

Scientology's Grand Scheme of Greed Was Kickstarted by the 9/11 Attacks -- St. Pete Times

It's here -- part 3 of the new St. Petersburg Times blockbuster series about the extreme pressure Scientology puts on its members to donate money. And we're thrilled to see this video of Synthia Fagen anchoring the report about the International Association of Scientologists and its constant beggin ... More >>

The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 2: David Miscavige

On August 5, we started a countdown that will give credit -- or blame -- to the people who have contributed most to the sad current state of Scientology. From its greatest expansion in the 1980s, the church is a shell of what it once was and is mired in countless controversies around the world. Some ... More >>

The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 8: Mike Rinder

​On August 5, we started a countdown that will give credit -- or blame -- to the people who have contributed most to the sad current state of Scientology. From its greatest expansion in the 1980s, the church is a shell of what it once was and is mired in countless controversies around the worl ... More >>

The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 12: Tommy Davis

​On August 5, we started a countdown that will give credit -- or blame -- to the people who have contributed most to the sad current state of Scientology. From its greatest expansion in the 1980s, the church is a shell of what it once was and is mired in countless controversies around the worl ... More >>

The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 22: Jamie DeWolf

​On August 5, we started a countdown that will give credit -- or blame -- to the people who have contributed most to the sad current state of Scientology. From its greatest expansion in the 1980s, the church is a shell of what it once was and is mired in countless controversies around the worl ... More >>

The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology

​We're starting something new here at Runnin' Scared. From our underground bunker, where we keep an eye on all things Scientology, we've been stunned to see how hard things have been for the venerable church lately. From surveys which suggest membership is dwindling, to a mass exodus that is ... More >>

Scientology Bigwigs Get the Classic Scientology F-U

Jen earlier pointed to the many signs that we're in the End Times: earthquakes, fireballs, the Tea Party. What's it all leading to? Well, maybe to this kind of tectonic shift: Mark Bunker (aka Wise Beard Man), sent over a link to a video of Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder being stopped from enteri ... More >>

Anderson Cooper Plans Latest Misguided Slam on Scientology

The Wrap​The Wrap is reporting that Anderson Cooper will begin a four-day CNN special series Monday titled Scientology: A History of Violence. This is becoming a drumbeat now, after the St. Pete Times's excellent series last year revealed that Scientology's diminutive leader, David Miscavige, ... More >>

Jockbeat: Mets Shut Out in Halladay Contest For Distance in Florida?

​Curiouser and curiouser. The story of how NYC's two teams -- with the most potential revenue in baseball -- could have been shut out of deals involving the three best free agent pitchers in baseball seems as baffling today as it did yesterday. For now, let's focus on the Mets. According to ... More >>

Anons Mark Anniversary of a Scientology Victim's Awful Death

Scientology's Crushing Defeat

A previously unpublished saga of an $8 million check

Your Guide to a Weekend of Resistance

On the second anniversary of Shock and Awe, the anti-war movement wants you

Shock Corridor

How a Long-Dormant Law Could Spark a Hudson Valley Power Plant Boom

Green With Envy

Pataki Wrestles Spitzer for Eco-Laurels