This week the St Pete Times, whose “territory” includes the world headquarters of Scientology, is running a multi-part investigative series on Scientology. I’m putting a link here so that folks who are interested can follow along. The report will be in three parts and includes video interviews with “high ranking defectors”.
Chapter 1
* Scientology:
[The Truth Rundown](http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012148.ece)
High-ranking defectors provide an unprecedented inside look at Scientology, its mercurial leader and the Lisa McPherson case.
* Scientology's response: "Total lies"
* David Miscavige's letter to the Times
* Scientology: Origins, celebrities, holdings and glossary
* David Miscavige bio
Chapter 2
Coming Monday
* Scientology:
McPherson, 'We'll take care of her'
New details about the case of Lisa McPherson, who died in the care of Scientologists, from the executive who directed the Church of Scientology's handling of the case. He admits he ordered the destruction of incriminating evidence.
* The Lisa McPherson case: Key dates and events
Chapter 3
Coming Tuesday
* Scientology:
No Escape From Reality Four high-ranking defectors describe bizarre behavior and physical beatings inflicted by Scientology leader David Miscavige. They say his behavior grew more erratic in the wake of the Lisa McPherson case.
The St Pete Times is, IMO, one of the best newspapers in the country, especially taking into account the size of the market. This should be an interesting week for journalism and the clash of different parts of the First Amendment.
How is Scientology not a religion? It makes supernatural truth claims, with thetans and Xenu and all that, ordains ministers, has rituals like auditing, and so on. Hubbard might have created it as a cynical attempt to make money, and it might be cultish and exploit its members, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a religion, or that rank and file Scientologists actively believe in it.
The St. Pete Times is one of, if not the best independant newspaper in the U.S. They own Congressional Quarterly and have a solid gold reputation in the industry. They also run the Poynter Institute, a school for journalists. I’m sure they have their ducks in a row for this, although the COS will try everything they can.
Yeah, since the government is not involved, there is no clash of 1st Amendment. I see what the OP was trying to say though and it’s still a good point.
Thank you for pointing that out. I’m surprised it took so long for someone to do so in this thread. One of our most precious rights in America is the freedom we citizens have to tell our fellow citizens how stupid and wrong their religious views are.
(Seriously, when you consider that in a lot of countries you can be killed or put in jail for not going with the government’s stance on such matters, it’s a right we all need to be informed about and protect).
I read the link (to the SPT) ,and was amazed-this Miscavige guy sounds like a total asshole. My question: how does he maintain control? He regularly assaults and beats his underlings-does he have a “SS”-like force to protect himself?
My reaction of reading this was: wehave a 50+ year old cult that was founded by a delusional writer of cheap science fiction, now run by a violent psychopath! How would anybody in his right mind want to stay in this “religion”?
COS also has more brainwashed zealots who will fight for Xenu more than the St. Petersburg Times has money to buy bomb proof glass.
Thanks for the linky.
I can’t wait to read the article. I just wanted to mention those folks reading along, that the answer to other thread regarding why people are so fixated on scientology is already found on this thread.
One of the finest newspapers in the country is most likely, going to face a ton of litigation from scientology because of this piece they are writing. While comments such as bullet proof glass may be in jest, but the fact remains, scientology is dangerous.
Also, for those that do not know, St. Petersburg and Clearwater are cities right next to each other, the only indication you are leaving one and entering another is a sign. They are both in Pinellas County. The St. Pete Times is not going outside their own back yard for this. This IS their back yard. I can assure you, the vast majority of folks that live in that area, know that you do not want to piss off scientology. SPT is taking a huge risk in doing this. I can bet that while most journalists in the area would love to do something like this, very, very few would get the editorial/lawyer approval to proceed.
Makes me sad I don’t live there any more to buy 8 Sunday papers a week from them.
The article noted a couple of times where Scientologists used physical intimidation on the reporters. For instance, several executives barred the door (“stood shoulder to shoulder”) and refused to let the reporters leave until they had had their say. One of them screamed at the reporter. Christ, they are being true to form. The Times has been trying to get an interview with Miscavige for months (he’s been “too busy”), and now they’re crying foul that the Times is running the article without interviewing him.
Higher ranking members are required to regularly confess their sins, making sins up if they have to. These confessions are filed and stored. Guess what the scientologists are pulling out to prove that the sources are lying? All neatly bound and tabulated.
Since I’ve moved here, I’ve been amazed at the caliber of reporting from the The St. Petersburg Times. I was expecting something more provincial.
I look forward to reading this when I have the time.
As far as Scientology’s religious status, I point out there have been recent threads about that (and everything else CoS-related) in both Great Debates and the BBQ Pit recently.
Just FTR, The Poynter Institute actually owns and runs the paper, not the other way around. The Poynter Institute is the controlling interest of The Times Publishing Company which publishes The St. Petersburg Times, Congressional Quarterly, and a few other publications. And I’m afraid that we might not be running CQ much longer. Everyone knows the newspaper industry is slowly dying and, while we’re healthier than some of our competition, we haven’t been immune to that trend.
I think it’s worth noting that this is far from the first time the paper and the COS have went at it. There was a mildly well known dust up back in the mid 90’s between the two with the Church’s self published periodical Freedom Magazine. The details to that incident are in both of the respective Wiki articles. There have been other minor incidents since then as well.
Just in the interests of disclosure, I’ve worked for The St. Pete Times for eight years now in various capacities. Not on the content side, but on the press/transportation side. I might be a little overly cautious with this considering, but I’m going to be very careful about what I say in this thread if I end up participating anymore in it.
