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Scientology Chased, Spied On, Imprisoned Defectors

Ex-staffers say spying, interrogation, imprisonment the norm

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2009 11:25 AM CST

(Newser) – The Church of Scientology has a policy of tracking down staffers who try to leave and doing whatever it can to bring them back. The church’s ex-security chief tells the St. Petersburg Times that he read every piece of mail that staffers received, recording any information within, including bank accounts and credit card numbers. The info was used to track down members who “blew,” or left without undergoing a rigorous interrogation.

Ex-staffers say they were pursued and detained, locked in rooms against their will, and subjected to humiliation and manual labor. The efforts were intensified depending on how close the staffer was to church head David Miscavige, and how much damaging information they might have. A church spokesman says the allegations come from the “lunatic fringe,” and accused the Times of “naked bias.”

[Images (1)]

[Quotes (3)]

View of the Scientology headquarters in Germany, in Berlin in this Dec. 7, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Miguel Villagran, file)

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It wasn't until these purges started with Miscavige — where he was creating enemies and people became a threat to him — that we went into this overdrive scenario. - Marty Rathbun, former church official, saying the chases began after L. Ron Hubbard's death

There wasn't a base staff member who I didn't have a bank account number on, a credit card number, social security number and date of birth, phone numbers, you name it, I had it all. - Gary Morehead, ex-security head
for the church

They make it seem like there was no pressure. They just gloss over the reality of what was going on. - Jackie Wolff, ex-staffer, who was tracked down and, after a long interrogation, convinced to return the first time she left

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COMMENTS

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Showing 3 of 34 comments

GlennH

Nov 3, 2009 12:44 PM CST

No, whoever made up Christianity, it wasn't a third-rate science fiction writer.

BleeBloo

Nov 3, 2009 7:43 AM CST

I'm totally with you on this. Scientology is SCARY and should absolutely be banned.

yummines

Nov 3, 2009 6:48 AM CST

I think its just that with the invention of the internet and easier communication, the crimes of Scientology are more transparent to show to everyone. If you look up an article on Anonymus then it partly explains. The problem i have with people is that they sometimes compare religions and cults a little too closely. correct me if i'm wrong but isn't religion supposed to help the followers? i doubt Scientology helps when it is brainwashing them and stalking them. Now don't get me wrong, every religion has its issues (crusaders, Jihadists, mormons knocking on your door) but that doesn't make them exempt from persecution as a cult rather than as a religion. (Buddhism doesn't count, its a philosophy not a religion mostly)

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Scientology Chased, Spied On, Imprisoned Defectors