Debra cook, a former Church of Scientology executive, sent out more than 12,000 emails to current and former church members criticizing the current leaders of the church for “heavy-handed” fundraising practices.

Cook, who was a top Scientology executive in Clearwater, Florida, urges current members to stop giving money to the church unless it can be justified specifically by the writings of L. Ron Hubbard. Cook says that after Hubbard’s death, current leader David Miscavige has abused the church’s fundraising policies.

Cook says that the church is hoarding ”well in excess of a billion dollars” but still continues to encourage people to donate money. Cook says that the church uses aggressive tactics, like telling members that their “spiritual progress” will be slowed if they do not donate.

The Church of Scientology said in a statement:

“Ms. Cook’s opinions reflect a small, ignorant and unenlightened view of the world of Scientology today. They are not shared by the thousands of Scientologists who are overjoyed by our 27 new Churches and what they mean to the communities they serve.”

Spokeswoman Karin Pouw also said that Mrs. Cook was not a “prominent Scientology insider.” According to Pouw, Cook is a “disgruntled defector” who hasn’t been involved with the church since she left in 2007.

Pouw also brought out the heavy-handed insults and called Cook a squirrel.

Pouw told USA Today:

“The Church refers to individuals such as Ms. Cook as a squirrel. A squirrel is someone who alters the Scripture; a heretic.”

Do you think Mrs. Cook is a squirrel? Or is the Church of Scientology truly a money making machine?

Church of Scientology Has Cash Reserve of More Than $1 Billion, Says Former Member is a post from: The Inquisitr

Valeska Paris is a member of the Church of Scientology, but apparently, it isn’t by choice. Paris claims that she was held against her will on the Scientology cruise ship “Freewind” for 12-years.

Paris says that she was brought onto the cruise ship when she was 17-years-old by Scientology leader David Miscavige after Paris’ mother tried to leave the church. In an interview with ABC, Paris says that she was taking to the cruise ship for a “two week” trip, but that she was kept on board for more than a decade.

Paris said:

“I was basically hauled in and told that my mum had attacked the church and that I needed to disconnect from her because she was suppressive. He (Miscavige) decided the ship, and I found out two hours before my plane left, I was woken up in the morning and I was sent to the ship for “two weeks.”

The Daily Mail reports that Paris’ mother had publicly denounced Scientology on French TV after her ex-husband Albert Jaquier committed suicide. Jaquier, a self-made millionaire, blamed the church for swindling him out of his fortune before his death.

Paris, who now lives in Australia, says that she was never allowed to leave the ship without an escort and that she couldn’t flea because the church had taken her passport. Paris also claims that the Church forced her to work long hours at the bottom of the ship.

Paris said:

“They take your passport when you go on the ship and you’re in the middle of an island. So it’s a bit hard [to escape] and by that time I was 18, I’d been in Scientology my whole life, it’s not like I knew how to escape.”

The Church of Scientology released a statement saying that Paris’ accusations are absolutely false. The statement reads:

“She certainly wasn’t “forced” to be there. She was also never forced to perform labour in the engine room. The Freewinds is a wonderful place, as even Valeska said on numerous occasions. Her allegation that she could only leave the ship with an escort is totally false.”

According to the Daily Mail, the Freewinds Cruise Ship is used by the Church of Scientology to deliver its highest level counselling course known as Operating Thetan Level VIII.

Here’s the video of Valeska Paris talking about her experience on the Scientology Cruise Ship “Freewind” on ABC.

Do you believe Paris’ story? Was she really held captive on the Scientology cruise ship?

Woman Held Hostage on Scientology Cruise Ship ‘Freewind’ for 12-Years [Video] is a post from: The Inquisitr

When Trey Parker and Matt Stone aired the South Park episode Trapped in the Closet which poked fun at the highest beliefs held by the church of Scientology whiling also poking fun at two of their best known members John Travolta and Tom Cruise the church decided not to sit by idly and take the jabs at face value.

According to internal documents which were recently unearthed by Marty Rathbun, a former Scientology executive, the church called for a “classic” investigation into the men’s lives.

That “classic” investigation is said to have included identifying the friends of Stone and Parker, performing public records checks and even going through both men’s garbage to find any incriminating evidence they could rustle up.

Rathbun says the church went through trash bins for:

“Phone records. Bank records. Personal letters that expose some kind of vulnerability. They’ll read stuff into the kind of alcohol you’re drinking and how much. Prescriptions. They’ll figure out your diet. They can find out a lot about you through your trash.”

Speaking about how much dirt the investigation was digging up Rathbun told The Village Voice:

“You can see that the commanding officer is pissed off and not enough is getting done.”

I personally find it hilarious that the church of scientology thought any dirt dug up on the creators of South Park would in same way allow them to pull strings, after all these are the same guys who make fun of mentally handicapped people, god, mormons and rednecks, sometimes all at once, bad publicity for South Park is Christmas come early.

Do you think the Church of Scientology was being petty in their attempts to dig up “dirt” on Trey Parker and Matt Stone?

Church of Scientology Spied On Southpark Creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, Found Nothing is a post from: The Inquisitr

Although stars like Jennifer Lopez have been quiet about what if any affiliation they have with the controversial religion Scientology, John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston are two high-profile members who are certainly vocal about their affiliation with the organization.

In fact, says Preston, it was Scientology- which is often criticized for its outlandish beliefs and sometimes cruel, sexist and homophobic teachings- that “saved” her following the tragic and sudden death of her teenage son, Jett. Jett Travolta was 16 and on vacation with his parents in the Bahamas when he passed away after a seizure. His passing sparked off an extortion ordeal for Preston and Travolta, and during the ensuing trial it was revealed that Jett suffered from Kawasaki Disease as an infant as well as occasional seizures.

In the dark days following Jett’s death, Preston says, her family, friends and religion kept her sane. In the upcoming issue of Health, she says:

“Johnny is definitely my rock. Kirstie [Alley] is one of my absolute best friends. My mom, my brother. And to be honest, the Scientology center. I don’t know if I would have made it through without it.”

The Jerry Maguire actress- who was once engaged to Charlie Sheen, ending the relationship when he shot her in the arm for failing to procure a cup of coffee for him- says that losing Jett reinforced her appreciation of her children:

“Don’t sweat the small things. Love your kids like it could be the last moment.”

Preston and Travolta have a daughter who is ten, and their baby boy Benjamin turns one in November.

Kelly Preston Says Scientology Saved Her After Son’s Death is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Jennifer Lopez/Marc Anthony split that came just weeks after the two danced up a storm during an American Idol appearance together has been blamed on a multitude of things, including rumored infidelities involving both Lopez and Anthony and now, a rift over Scientology.

Scientology is a somewhat popular ‘religion’ among celebrities, but it has far more detractors in general than adherents due to many controversial beliefs and practices within the organization some call a cult. Lopez has at least expressed sympathy to Scientology in previous interviews, saying she wished “that people wouldn’t judge [Scientology] without knowing what it is.”

Lopez, raised a Catholic, has never confirmed a connection to Scientology in the media and has not publicly embraced the religion like high-profile celebrities Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Still, she’s been linked with it for the past few years, and church leaders in Scientology are known to recruit high on the Hollywood food chain to win the expensive religion moneymaking converts.

The latest rumors about the Jennifer Lopez/Marc Anthony split are that a rift over whether or not a Scientology school was appropriate for the couple’s twins Max and Emma caused the fallout that drove the pair to divorce. An unnamed source has been quoted on the alleged Scientology rift:

“Jennifer and Marc couldn’t see eye-to-eye on the subject. She’s always been more into the church than him. He wasn’t a huge fan and it caused problems.”

In the past, Jennifer has said she “wouldn’t mind” the controversial church educating her children.

Jennifer Lopez’s Scientology-Related Split? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Anonymous, the group behind various online website and computer network attacks will be taking to the streets to protest Scientology. It’s a rare move for a group that typically hides behind computer screens and keyboards.

The Anonymous vs. Scientology marches will occur on April 16 in the following cities; New York City, Irving, TX, Santa Rosa, CA, Nashville and Scientology’s U.S. base, Clearwater, FL.

The group is hoping to have the practice stripped of it’s tax exempt status which has been in place since the IRS recognized the organization as a religion in 1993.

Fearing for the safety of protestors in Clearwater where thousands of the “churches” members reside, protestors in that city are asked to disguise their faces for fear of retribution at a later date.

While I strongly believe in freedom of religion, after the church plead guilty many years ago to drugging, kidnapping and then extorting money from various members they should have lost all tax exempt rights and the heads of the religion should have been jailed. Shame on your IRS and while I don’t say this very often, good luck Anonymous.

Hacktivist Group ‘Anonymous’ Taking To The Streets To Protest Scientology is a post from: The Inquisitr

Australian Senator Nick Xenophon, best known in Australia for being the country’s biggest anti-gambling zealot, has a new target that like Pokies (slot machines) also likes to suck users dry: Scientology.

In an address to the Australian Senate Tuesday night, Xenophon declared that the Church of Scientology was a “criminal organization that hides behind its so-called religious beliefs.

Xenophon went on to detail letters he had received from former Scientologists in Australia, which he said made “extensive allegations of crimes and abuses that are truly shocking – crimes against them and crimes they say they were coerced into committing.”

”These victims of Scientology claim it is an abusive, manipulative, violent and criminal organisation, and that criminality is condoned at the highest levels.”

Xenophone called for a full police and Senate investigation, and also queried whether the Church should be allowed to keep its tax-exempt status.

“The activities of this organization should be scrutinized by parliament because Australian taxpayers are, in effect, supporting Scientology through its tax-exempt status. I say to all Australians: as you fill in your tax return next July or August, ask yourself how you feel knowing that you are paying tax and yet this criminal organization is not. Do you want Australian tax exemptions to be supporting an organization that coerces its followers into having abortions? Do you want to be supporting an organization that defrauds, that blackmails, that falsely imprisons?— because, on the balance of evidence provided by victims of Scientology, you probably are” he told the Senate.

“Do we really want to be funding an organization that turns supporters into victims in its pursuit of power and wealth? That is why I am calling for a Senate inquiry into this organization and its tax-exempt status. In the past Scientology has claimed that those who question their organization are attacking the group’s religious freedom. It is twisted logic, to say the least. Religious freedom did not mean the Catholic or Anglican Churches were not held accountable for crimes and abuses committed by their priests, nuns and officials— albeit belatedly. Ultimately, this is not about religious freedom. In Australia there are no limits on what you can believe. But there are limits on how you can be- have. It is called the law, and no-one is above it.”

Under Australian parliamentary rules, speakers have “parliamentary privilege” which allows them to speak out on issues without being subject to defamation laws.

Australian Senator Calls Scientology A Criminal Organization is a post from: The Inquisitr

The “Church” of Scientology has called upon the Australian Government to censor the internet and media locally in direct response to protests from Anonymous.

In a long, rambling submission made to the Australian Human Rights Commission made earlier this year, the Church dedicates two and half pages of its six page submission to attacking Anonymous, calling Anonymous among other things “a hate group” of “cyberterrorists” that is engaged in a “malicious campaign of hate” that is “an anathema to democracy.”

The submission plays the we do nothing wrong card, stating:

In Australia Anonymous have mounted a sustained campaign of misinformation against the Church. As we are a minority religion with the vast majority of the population unaware of our true beliefs and humanitarian programs, their campaign has no justifiable purpose and violates the Church of Scientology’s and parishioners rights to human dignity and religious freedom under the Constitution.

Whether you’re sympathetic to the cause of Anonymous or not, what comes next in the submission is truly disturbing: Scientolgy wants the Internet and media in Australia censored to prevent any negative stories being told about the church, and more, including:

- Banning the use of domain name registration anonymity tools such as WhoisGuard by sites who talk about the church
- The introduction of criminal sanctions for “vilification of religion,” including jail time for “serious religious vilification.”
- The prohibition of concealing ones indenty with a mask by “people engaged in campaigns of harassment and vilification against religions” (which they specifically mean Guy Fawkes masks.)

The section on the media is staggering in what it asks: “Restriction on Religious Misinformation and Misrepresentation known or reasonably known to be untruthful, in the Media.” The section specifically names Australian Current Affairs Show “Today Tonight”

It is recommended that a law be enacted to prevent the dissemination of antireligious propaganda in the media, which is based on unfounded hearsay and either known or reasonably known to be untruthful. Such dissemination shall be the subject of a civil penalty provision in favour of the defamed Church, and/or its individual parishioners if they are individually named or otherwise identified.

Scientology doesn’t stop at censorship though, and finishes off by calling for a Bill of Rights in the Australian Constitution which prevents the Federal Government “from making any law, which ‘directly, indirectly or incidentally’ prohibits the free exercise of religion to the extent of such prohibition.

The full submission as follows, and details on the next round of anti-Scientology protests are listed on www.whyweprotest.net

Sub 1931

(spotted on Slashdot)

Scientology calls for Internet and Media censorship in Australia is a post from: The Inquisitr

Rant/ Rave is a relatively new group blog that offers (as the name suggests) an outlet for people to rant or rave on what ever subject tickles their fancy.

Although Rant/ Rave promotes an open door application policy, many if not most writers on the site have been approached before hand. Justin Gardner, the editor of political site Donklephant (a site I was involved in when it launched) was approached to write for the site, as I presume most others where. They offer a revenue split up front, but possibly more in private deals.

By its nature, the site does host a variety of opinion, but likewise it does promise to edit/ delete opinions that are out there, or just plain offensive. Which begs the question: how is it that the Scientology propaganda post “Put another shrink on the barbie, Cobber” is not only still published on the site, but as I write this, the most popular post on Rant/ Rave.

The post is an attack on Adam Ferrier, the founding partner of Australian PR firm Naked Communications, and a trained Psychologist. Ferrier wrote a post detailing his experiences with the Church of Scientology in Australia, noting that his results with a Scientology “personality test” showed unsurprisingly how badly off he allegedly was.

Ferrier’s post was transparent and detailed, which is far more than you can say for Jack H Remington at Rant/ Rave. Remington’s bizarre Scientology fueled attack starts from the beginning, where he writes:

A wacky Australian Psychologist has launched a bigoted and underhanded blog attack on religion and the nation of the USA. The Aussie ‘Psycho’, pseudonymously [sic] known as the Fiddler, normally exercises his penchant for insanity by such things as ‘testing’ an erectile dysfunction clinic, and writing about his experiences on his blog.

Where do you start there? There’s no pseudonym for starters, Adam is real and his name is on the post. He does however have a track record of investigating and writing about shams, and erectile dysfunction scams are big in Australia.

But it gets better, because its time to trash Australia due to an off the cuff remark Adam made about white toothed Americans. See if you can guess that this text is really about Scientology

Confirming Australia’s reputation as a nation of criminals, founded by criminals, for criminals, the Fiddler has now turned to trashing a Church and the people of the USA in his hilarious blog.

Not a church mind you, but the Church of Scientology. But wait, there’s more:

Fraudulently presented himself at the Australian Church of Scientology as a member of the public, when in fact he is a long-time Psych, the Fiddler infiltrated the Australian Church to take a free personality test.

How is turning up for a Scientology test fraudulent exactly? or is being a trained psychologist automatically disqualify you? But if it’s fanciful already, wait until you read the next bit:

Even though Mr L Ron Hubbard, as the Senior Naval Officer in Northern Australia, saved Australia from invasion in World War Two, many Australians like the Fiddler, with notable exceptions such as the great Ms Kate Ceberano, Ms Jodhi Meares, and Mr James Packer, remain resentful.

I’m sadly not making that last part up. Hubbard was never the Senior Naval Officer for Northern Australia. Wikipedia has his “naval” record here. His only time in Australia was on route to the Philippines, where he was held over for a month, and then sent back to the United States for “assuming unauthorized authority and attempting to perform duties for which he has no qualifications.” Indeed, even Hubbard’s own account of his time in the Pacific says nothing of him single handedly saving Australia, when he said (and this is a direct quote) “I was flown in from the South Pacific as the first casualty to be shipped out of the South Pacific war back to the States.”

Notably the Australian’s he mentions are all Scientologists as well, and no one here remains resentful, after all, it was Australian troops that turned back the Japanese army in New Guinea, not American troops. But I digress.

The bigger question is why does this tripe remain on Rant/Rave? Even for Scientology propaganda, this is beyond the pale. It does say something about Scientology though: love them or hate them, you can fairly say that they are now seriously rattled, and are lashing out at the first opportunity, and it’s all about Anonymous as well. Don’t believe me? Here’s the last extract from the post:

You are obviously acting as an agent for the cyberterrorist group “Anonymous”. You should be honest about your true intentions for attacking Scientology in this article, which is that you do not want people to get better and want to impede the creation of a saner planet.

I wonder how Australian Scientologists feel about Scientology trashing Australia?

(links via Mumbrella)

Rant/ Rave in bed with Scientology? Here’s the proof is a post from: The Inquisitr

So Katie Holmes will be moving to Australia this summer (winter there) for filming of a movie she’s starring in and her hubby, Tom Cruise, the face of Scientology, will be joining her for moral support.

While in Aus, Tom will also be bolstering support for Scientology and trying to “dispel the myths that Scientology is a cult” according to UK’s DailyMail:

Tom Cruise will launch a recruitment drive for his Scientology church in Australia.

His charm offensive will begin when he relocates to Melbourne for four months while his wife, Katie Holmes, begins work on her latest film, Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark.

‘Tom knows that he will have his work cut out as the church attracts protesters,’ says my source.

‘But he hopes his presence will help change minds and dispel the myths that Scientology is a cult.’

The state of Victoria outlawed Scientology for six years in the Sixties after it was branded ‘evil’ by a local lawyer.

Katie will begin shooting in August amid tight security. Sources say the cast will have to sign 20-page confidentiality agreements and the couple want to recruit a large ‘entourage’.

So if you live in Australia and catch a wiff of Rogaine and see a balding man resembling the guy pictured below approaching you, or he shows up at your front door trying to sell you magic vitamins out of a backback, beware.

Rogaine Scented Scientologists preparing to invade Australia is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Church of Scientology is currently on trial in France for Fraud.

Scientology is not recognized as a religion or registered charity in France so the church will not receive any protection from the French government.

Scientology Sued for $7mil in France

They are being sued for the equivalent of $7 million USD in a class action lawsuit stemming from a complaint by a woman in 1998 that she was coerced into paying more than $33,000 for such things as books and literature, purification vitamins, spa sessions, an electronic meter to measure her spiritual progress and other items.

Since the first complaint, hundreds of other ‘victims’ have come forward with similar claims, some even saying that Scientology members called them at home, harassed them and even went so far as to solicit money from them to pay their personal expenses and cosign for bank loans.

Another charge stemming from the lawsuit is being made by French authorities saying they were “illegally practicing as pharmacists” regarding the Scientologists claims about the benefits and effects of vitamins they sold.

It will be interesting to watch this situation as it progresses.

[Source: PerezHilton.com]

Church of Scientology on Trial for Fraud in France is a post from: The Inquisitr

Katie Holmes’ Scientology detox diet continues to eat away at the once great looking actress, with a new appearance showing all the ravages of a malnutritioned child in a war zone.

Holmes was pictured in Los Angeles over the weekend looking frail and disheveled as she attended dinner with husband Tom Cruise and his adoptive daughter Isabella.

Adding to the gaunt look, Holmes also had forgotten to do her fingernails, with some showing a mint-green nail varnish, while the others were bare.

According to The Mirror, Holmes is on a strict Scientology detox diet that uses herbal drinks and a purification procedure to eliminate toxic substances. If the Detox includes eating away at all body fat, then it’s quite clearly working.

(img credit: The Mirror/ XPosurephotos)

Katie Holmes Death Watch: getting close now is a post from: The Inquisitr

Hey man, this is Bart Simpson, there’s aliens flying DC-9s into volcanoes. Give me all your money.

OK, so it doesn’t go exactly like that, but the voice of Bart Simpson Nancy Cartwright is heading a robo-call campaign for Scientology, delivered in Bart’s voice.

Says Bart: “I’m now auditing on New OTVII…I’ll share my many wins…”It’s gonna be a blast, man!

Here’s Nancy Cartwright as Bart Simpson promoting Scientology.

Creepy: Bart Simpson robo-calling for Scientology is a post from: The Inquisitr

A member of Anonymous (the name applied to and used by forum users and internet activists, Anonymous is not a group as such) has raided two Scientology offices in New York, while covered in pubic hair and nail clippings.

The stunt, naturally filmed, shows a raider covering himself in vaseline and applying the pubic hair and nail clippings before the raid, and the raid itself. Walking shirtless while covered in pubic hair in New York in the middle of winter though may be more on the side of insane than brave.

The raider was arrested Wednesday and charged with burglary, criminal mischief and aggravated harassment as a hate crime.

Here’s the Anonymous New York Scientology raid clip, complete with contextual singing.

(via NY Daily News)

Anonymous Member Raids Scientology While Covered in Pubic Hair is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tom even admitted that he thought he sounded “arrogant” during his last Matt Lauer encounter, saying: 

“I’m here to entertain people. I thought about it a lot. It’s a subject matter that was important. After looking at it, I really thought, it’s not what I had intended. In looking at myself, I came across arrogant. I absolutely could have handled that better.”

Regarding Scientology, Tom told Matt that  ”I think there’s a time and place for it. [But] when people are tuning in to hear about my movie, that’s what I’m here to talk about.” 

Is this a whole new Tom, or at least the one I actually had a crush on (unthinkable!) pre-Vanilla Sky?

Tom Cruise Reels It In, Calls His Rant “Arrogant” is a post from: The Inquisitr

Scientology employees in Los Angeles have shot dead a man threatening them with two Samurai swords.

The unidentified man approached Scientology guards around noon Sunday in the parking lot of the Scientology Celebrity Centre in Los Angeles. One guard “felt threatened for his life” and fired at the man reported local police.

Detectives were questioning the guard to figure out the swordsman’s motive and determine whether the shooting was justified reports CBS13. Surveillance tape showed the man arriving in traditional Los Angeles Samurai transport, a red convertible, then approaching the guards with a sword in each hand.

No word yet on exactly what the man was wearing, so we’re not sure if he went the extra step and dressed up as a Ninja as well for good measure. The man was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital.

Answers to important questions: are Scientologists more powerful than Samurai’s? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Tom Cruise was a mess on the red carpet for the L.A. screening of Tropic Thunder, and it was up to Katie Holmes to save the day (okay, night) with un-wiglike hair and not-so-mumsy PVC and satin. She was accessorized by something else as well– her weirdly expanded belly that looks like it’s on the fence of being an F.B. (Food Baby).

Maybe Tom is just distracted by new career plans that might branch off into the world of comedy with “Food Fight,” about ” a snooty New York chef (Cruise) who must cook meals at a school cafeteria.”

Get a load of Katie Holmes’ kinda-sorta baby bump.

Image: WireImage

Does Katie Holmes Have a Baby Bump? is a post from: The Inquisitr