1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 ⇑ Latest ↑ Later Earlier ↓ Earliest ⇓ Aug 1, 2009
The Truth Rundown: Jeff Hawkins — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Aug 1, 2009
The Truth Rundown: Shelly Corrias — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Aug 1, 2009
The Truth Rundown: Steve Hall — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Jul 31, 2009
Scientology expert describes how the church recruits and controls its members — Overnight America
Jul 30, 2009
Letters to the Editor // Scientology story didn't give faith, its leaders a fair chance — Seattle Times
Type: Press
Source:
Seattle Times The Seattle Times recently printed a story about my church that originally was published in The St. Petersburg Times [
"Report: Violence common among Scientology managers," seattletimes.com, Nation & World, June 21 ]. The story lays bare the bias that newspaper has against my faith, and with only a few quotes from Church of Scientology representatives, it didn't even vaguely give the appearance of a balanced report. It was a disappointment that The Seattle Times republished this biased story. The article uncritically ...
Jul 25, 2009
Suncoast Rehabilitation Center appeals Hernando County Commission decision — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Author(s):
Barbara Behrendt Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) SPRING HILL — Hernando county commissioners may have thought the controversy over plans to expand a drug rehab center died when they voted down the plan in June. Wrong. The property owner and construction company that wanted to expand the Suncoast Rehabilitation Center filed an appeal in Circuit Court late Thursday asking that a judge throw out the commission's decision. Toucan Partners LLC and Gulf Seas Construction Co. sought to erect new buildings at the 3-acre site off Cessna Drive to ...
Jul 9, 2009
Allegations against Scientology's leader out there, but all else is normal — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Author(s):
David DeCamp ,
Mike Brassfield Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) CLEARWATER — Allegations of physical abuse, destruction of evidence and punishment rituals in the upper echelons of the Church of Scientology left some local political leaders saying they were shocked and disturbed. But among leaders who have reached out to the church, those contacted by the St. Petersburg Times say they aren't ready to distance themselves from Scientology and its sizeable membership after a recent Times series detailing accusations from former church executives. While some in the community saw potential for ...
Jul 6, 2009
Are you there God? It's me, Madison Avenue // How to make an ad for a church — Slate Magazine
Type: Press
Author(s):
Seth Stevenson Source:
Slate Magazine The Spot: ''"You are not your name," says a voice-over announcer, as we see a series of different nametags. "You're not your job." We see people in the uniforms of different occupations. "You're not the clothes you wear or the neighborhood you live in." Images continue to illustrate the litany of things that you are not. "You are a spirit that will never die," the announcer concludes. "And no matter how beaten down, you will rise again." The tag line: "Scientology. ...
Jun 27, 2009
Letters to the Editor // Report lays bare the Times' bias against Scientology — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) The ''St. Petersburg Times June 24 editorial The abuse behind Scientology's facade proves beyond doubt that any aura of objectivity in the ''Times so-called "special report" was illusory. The report attempted to give the appearance of balance by quoting statements from Church of Scientology representatives, but the editorial exposes this exercise as a hollow pretense. The editorial uncritically accepts as true statements from a handful of former church staff without ever addressing their lack of credibility, their underlying motivations and the ...
Jun 24, 2009
Editorial: The abuse behind Scientology's facade — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) In recent years the Church of Scientology worked hard to present a kinder, gentler image to the public, claiming it had cast aside the criminal activities, dirty tricks and abusive behavior of the past that brought it widespread condemnation and sent some of its former leaders to prison. But a St. Petersburg Times special report this week revealed the reality behind the new facade: At its core, the Church of Scientology has not changed. It is an organization that uses intimidation ...
Jun 23, 2009
Scientology (Part 3 of 3): Ecclesiastical justice — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)More: Leaving the Church of Scientology: a huge step
Type: Press
Author(s):
Thomas C. Tobin ,
Joe Childs Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) The four high-ranking executives who left Scientology say that church leader David Miscavige not only physically attacked members of his executive staff, he messed with their minds. He frequently had groups of managers jump into a pool or a lake. He mustered them into group confessions that sometimes spun into free-for-alls, with people hitting one another. Mike Rinder, who defended the church to the media for two decades, couldn't stomach what was happening on the inside. The tactics to keep executives ...
Jun 22, 2009
Lisa McPherson case: events leading to the death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) LISA MCPHERSON TIMELINE: This is part of a
St. Petersburg Times special report on Scientology. For the full report, see
tampabay.com/scientology .
1994: Lisa McPherson, a longtime Scientologist, moves from Dallas to Clearwater with her employer, AMC Publishing. The company is operated and staffed mostly by Scientologists who want to be close to the church's spiritual headquarters.
September 1995: In a ceremony at the Fort Harrison Hotel, Lisa McPherson is publicly declared "clear," a state in which a Scientologist is said ...
Jun 22, 2009
Scientology (Part 2 of 3): Death in slow motion — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)More: Lisa McPherson case: events leading to the death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson
Type: Press
Author(s):
Thomas C. Tobin ,
Joe Childs Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) The night after Lisa McPherson died, the leader of the Church of Scientology sent word for one of his top lieutenants to wait by a pay phone at the Holiday Inn Surfside on Clearwater Beach. When Marty Rathbun answered the ringing phone in the lobby, David Miscavige let him have it: Why aren’t you all over this mess? The police are poking around. Do something. "Yes sir," Rathbun said. McPherson, a 36-year-old parishioner in apparent good health, had spent 17 days ...
Jun 21, 2009
Scientology (Chapter 1 of 3): The Truth Rundown — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)More: A letter from David Miscavige , David Miscavige bio, and bios of Scientology officials who defected
Type: Press
Author(s):
Joe Childs ,
Thomas C. Tobin Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) Part ONE of THREE The leader of the Church of Scientology strode into the room with a boom box and an announcement: Time for a game of musical chairs. David Miscavige had kept more than 30 members of his church's executive staff cooped up for weeks in a small office building outside Los Angeles, not letting them leave except to grab a shower. They slept on the floor, their food carted in. Their assignment was to develop strategic plans for the ...
Jun 21, 2009
The Truth Rundown, a special report on the Church of Scientology — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Jun 21, 2009
The Truth Rundown: Amy Scobee — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) Amy Scobee Born: Washington state Age: 45 Joined Scientology: at age 14, 1978 Left Scientology: 2005 Family status: Married to former Sea Org member Matt Pesch. They left the church together in 2005. They have no children. Career highlights: Oversaw several operations sectors during 20 years as manager at the church's international base in California. Built the network of Scientology Celebrity Centres, assembling and training staff to match four-star service levels. Oversaw church's film and taping facilities. As teenager, managed kitchen, ...
Jun 21, 2009
The Truth Rundown: Marty Rathbun — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Author(s):
Joe Childs ,
Thomas C. Tobin Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) Marty Rathbun Born: California Age: 52 Joined Scientology: at age 20, in 1977 Left Scientology: 2004 Family status: Divorced from Sea Org member Anne Rathbun. They had no children. Career highlights: A top lieutenant to Miscavige. Key player in legal affairs unit. Miscavige's "detail guy" during lengthy negotiations with IRS; among those who signed settlement agreement. Inspector general and board member of Religious Technology Center, church's top ecclesiastical authority. Known for his auditing skills. Audited Tom Cruise. Coached auditors working with ...
Jun 20, 2009
Scientology's response to church defectors: 'Total lies' — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Author(s):
Joe Childs ,
Thomas C. Tobin Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) The Church of Scientology pressed vigorously Friday (June 19, 2009) to delay publication of the Times ' Scientology story. Its spokesmen and lawyers said that the few days the newspaper gave the church to respond to Mike Rinder, who only recently agreed to go public, was not enough time. The church also said the Times needs to talk to more people. Church spokesmen, executives, attorneys and others flew in from around the country to meet with reporters in Clearwater. The parade started ...
Jun 10, 2009
Suncoast Rehabilitation Center can't expand, Hernando County Commission says — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Author(s):
Barbara Behrendt Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) BROOKSVILLE — The Hernando County Commission on Tuesday turned down the expansion of a drug rehabilitation center in a residential area of Spring Hill off Cessna Drive. Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to deny Suncoast Rehabilitation Center's request to expand from 21 to 54 beds on a 3-acre parcel. Commissioners listened for more than an hour as neighborhood residents voiced concerns for the safety of children and elderly residents. Representatives of the center's program, Narconon of Spring Hill, which has ties ...
Jun 9, 2009
Hernando County denies expansion for drug rehabilitation center with Scientology ties — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Author(s):
Barbara Behrendt Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) BROOKSVILLE — After listening to concerned neighbors for more than an hour Tuesday, the Hernando County Commission squashed plans to expand a drug rehabilitation center in Spring Hill off Cessna Drive. Toucan Partners LLC, a firm with ties to the Church of Scientology, owns the 3-acre site where the facility is located. Suncoast Rehabilitation Center wanted to grow from 21 to 54 beds, but neighbors said they worried about the safety of their children and elderly residents. Michael Burmann said he ...
Jun 7, 2009
Residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation center concerns Brooksville neighbors — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Author(s):
Barbara Behrendt Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) BROOKSVILLE — Teena Fager used to enjoy her back yard, but that was before the new neighbors moved in behind her.
What really put her off was the night earlier this year when she heard yelling coming from the property along her back lot line.
"It was some guy," she said. "It was like someone being tortured."
Fager prepared to call 911, but then she heard other voices — women and men laughing.
It made her uneasy, and she doesn't use ...
Jun 1, 2009
Scientology proponents, critics banned from Wikipedia editing — Tampa Bay Tribune (Florida)
Type: Press
Author(s):
Ray Reyes Source:
Tampa Bay Tribune (Florida) Wikipedia has blocked users from the Church of Scientology, along with Scientology's critics, from editing articles about the church found on the online encyclopedia. A team of 15 senior editors called an arbitration committee had been keeping an eye on the more than 400 articles about Scientology and noticed a series of additions and deletions that slanted the bias of the entries, Wikipedia spokesman Jay Walsh said. Some of the IP addresses of users editing the articles came from Church of ...
Apr 29, 2009
Hernando commissioners delay debate on funds for central water system — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Author(s):
Barbara Behrendt Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) BROOKSVILLE — Hernando County commissioners decided on Tuesday to delay discussions on whether to seek federal stimulus dollars for a central water system to help residents who have elevated levels of arsenic in their well water.
State officials had asked Hernando to take preliminary steps to seek funding for a water system to serve homes in rural areas southeast of Brooksville. The system could cost $15 million, and state officials have sent mixed messages about how much the county could get ...
Apr 14, 2009
Suncoast Rehabilitation Center gets permission to expand — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Author(s):
Barbara Behrendt Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) BROOKSVILLE — Over the fears of a parade of residents concerned about the safety of their homes, families and property values, the Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday approved the expansion of residential drug and alcohol treatment program in Spring Hill. Suncoast Rehabilitation Center on Cessna Drive sought a special exception to build two dormitories, an administration building and swimming and sports facilities. The expansion would more than double the program from 54 beds from 22 on a 3-acre parcel. A ...
Apr 13, 2009
Neighbors protest plans to expand Suncoast Rehabilitation Center in Spring Hill — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Author(s):
Barbara Behrendt Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) SPRING HILL — Jeanine Bender stood at the corner of her Cessna Drive property one day last week shaking her head as yet another vehicle came up the driveway next door. On the adjacent property, heavy equipment was parked, and workers were putting up a large wood-panel fence. Trees that once separated Bender and her husband, Frank Weiss, from the buildings in the distance were gone. Now she has a clear view of the residential treatment center in her neighborhood and ...
Mar 30, 2009
Sarah, Greta & Scientology--Part II: Van Susteren doth protest too much — Huffington Post
Type: Blog
Author(s):
Geoffrey Dunn Source:
Huffington Post HuffPo's Rachel Weiner has already reported on Greta Van Susteren's defensive response to a Politico story today, which cited an anonymous source saying that one of the reasons that Sarah Palin has been caught up in a "series of public relations gaffes" is because she is "taking advice from Greta and her husband." In her Fox News blog, Van Susteren vehemently denied offering Palin any advice, and called the authors to task for not checking on this allegation. Let me give ...
Mar 29, 2009
Letters: Scientologists could put money to better use — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) Luxury lifts up church hotel March 22 story Money could go to better use In this time of recession, when people are losing jobs, houses are going to foreclosure and times basically are tough all over for everyone, it's nice to see the cult of greed spending $40 million on renovations to its lair — not for the good of the community or to help those less fortunate, but to add to its own excess. As a "religion" and a "church," ...
Mar 22, 2009
Scientology church gives Clearwater's Fort Harrison Hotel a $40M makeover — St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
Type: Press
Author(s):
Mike Brassfield Source:
St. Petersburg Times (Florida) [Picture of interior]
[DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times]
[Caption:] The Crystal Ballroom at the Fort Harrison Hotel houses a 12,000-crystal chandelier. The hotel opened 82 years ago as the New Fort Harrison Hotel, and was a focal point of the community during the Great Depression and World War II.
CLEARWATER — Marble floors from Spain. Gold leaf painted on elaborate crown moldings. Richly colored carpets from South Africa. Decorative plaster cornices. A 12,000-crystal chandelier for the ballroom.
The Church of Scientology ...
Mar 13, 2009
Man alleges assault, unwanted pills at Narconon in Newport / Lawsuit from Florida resident seeks $29,000 refund from company — Orange County Register
Type: Press
Author(s):
Jeff Overley Source:
Orange County Register Lawsuit from Florida resident seeks $29,000 refund from company.
By JEFF OVERLEY
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
NEWPORT BEACH A Florida man is suing Narconon Southern California, saying a brief stint in its Newport Beach drug rehab house subjected him to sexual assault, unwanted medication and demeaning work..
Pablo Mendoza checked into the company’s Balboa Peninsula triplex in September seeking help for cocaine addiction and found the oceanfront house to be “filthy” and filled with an “unbearable odor,” according to the lawsuit ...
Mar 13, 2009
Narconon settles lawsuit with full refund / Florida man claimed his brother was molested, discriminated against at the rehab home — Daily Pilot (Newport Beach & Costa Mesa)
Type: Press
Author(s):
Brianna Bailey Source:
Daily Pilot (Newport Beach & Costa Mesa) Florida man claimed his brother was molested, discriminated against at the rehab home.
By Brianna Bailey
Updated: Friday, March 13, 2009 10:19 PM PDT
There are No comments posted. View Comments
The Newport Beach-based drug and alcohol rehabilitation home Narconon agreed to refund a Florida man’s money on Friday after he sued, claiming his brother was sexually molested, forced to scrub pots and pans and take unspecified pills that made him ill at the treatment center.
“The parties are settling for ...
Page 4 of 40 :
⇑ Latest ↑ Later Earlier ↓ Earliest ⇓ Permalink