HBO Plans Documentary Uncovering Scientology Abuses, Church Gearing Up For A Fight

The Church of Scientology could be gearing up for a fight with HBO over a movie set to air that takes on the controversial church.

HBO is planning to air a documentary based on the Lawrence Wright book Going Clear, which detailed the church’s controlling nature.

HBO has moved ahead with the movie despite the prospect of attacks from the church. In the past the church has been aggressive in going after critical journalists, including a famous campaign against author Paulette Cooper.

The Church of Scientology formulated a plan — known as Operation PC Freakout — to have Cooper imprisoned or committed to a mental institution after she wrote a book critical of the church. The FBI discovered proof of the plot, and the church eventually compensated Cooper in an out-of-court settlement.

HBO said it is taking steps to prepare for a likely attack from Scientology.

“We have probably 160 lawyers [looking at the film],” says HBO Documentary Films president Sheila Nevins, who said she expects protests from the Church of Scientology.

In Going Clear, Lawrence also alleged that the church purposely drove a wedge between Tom Cruise, its most famous member, and then-wife Nicole Kidman.

“Cruise, the Church’s most visible adherent, had been drifting away. According to Rathbun, Miscavige, Scientology’s de facto head since Hubbard’s death, blamed the actor’s wife, Nicole Kidman, and viewed her as a gold digger who was faking Scientology. He says that Miscavige was hopeful that if they portrayed Nicole Kidman as a Suppressive Person, Cruise could be peeled away from her.(²)”

The Church of Scientology has already attacked Lawrence. When an excerpt of the book was published this summer, church representative Karin Pouw claimed that it was simply the work of a bitter group of ex-church members.

“The one thing ‘clear’ about Lawrence Wright’s book is that he continues to carry water for a handful of angry, bitter individuals… [who] regurgitate six decades of false, bizarre tabloid allegations about the religion’s founder, its leadership and its prominent members,” Pouw told The Hollywood Reporter.

HBO isn’t deterring from its plans to air Going Clear, and has set a 2015 airdate for the documentary taking on the Church of Scientology.

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