Tony Ortega’s Underground Bunker
There is no better source for news about Scientology than Tony Ortega's blog, The Underground Bunker. When Tony Ortega recently announced he was leaving his position as Editor of the Village Voice to write a book about Scientology, it was at once exciting and sad because no one in the media understands Scientology as well as Tony. His book will likely become the go-to resource for anyone interested in finding out about Scientology but leaving the Voice meant his almost daily breaking of stories big and small about the group might come to an end. Happily he has opened up ...
Going Clear
Lawrence Wright has been on a book tour promoting his new expose of Scientology, Going Clear. I had a chance to see him interviewed by Kim Masters at a book event in L.A. last week. It was a great night. Lawrence had a very receptive audience who were amazed to hear stories about the Sea Org, disconnection, Free Loader debts and the blind eye given to Scientology's abuses by their Hollywood spokespeople. One of his strongest moments was when he said Cruise and Travolta had a moral responsibility to reform Scientology. Recordings weren't allowed at the event but when the book ...
Progress Continues on Knowledge Report
I took a break from editing in the past couple weeks to head up to L.A. and do a couple more interviews for my new documentary, Knowledge Report. Tory Christman has been my friend since she left Scientology. She sat down with me to talk about her experiences both inside the organization and what actions they have taken against her since she publicly departed. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fNo_O9fxvg[/youtube] And Jason Beghe made a big splash on the net four years ago when we sat down to do his first interview about Scientology. We felt it was about time to update his story both for the ...
The Duke’s Master Spies
The news broke a few days ago that two long time PI's for the Church of Scientology are suing the group after the church reneged on their lifetime commitment of employment. C'mon guys, these former L.A. cops are mere wogs. Their lifetimes are surely a drop in the bucket compared to the billion year commitment you get from all your Sea Org staff. Attorneys for Paul Marrick and Greg Arnold said the church owes their clients for unpaid work, including casing the neighborhood of Ingleside on the Bay resident Mark "Marty" Rathbun, a former high-ranking church official. Karin Pouw, a spokeswoman for the church ...
A Queer and Pleasant Danger
I've been reading Kate Bornstein's new book and I highly recommend it. It is tremendously entertaining and often laugh out loud funny. Her transgender journey from Al Borstein to Kate Bornstein is fascinating enough but the trip detours through Scientology and the Sea Org and gives us a unique perspective of what it was like to be on the High Seas with L. Ron Hubbard. Tony Ortega did a cover story on Kate back in May for the Village Voice. There have also been quite a few books published recently by former church members.Nancy Many, in My Billion Year Contract (2009), wrote ...
Scientology’s Involvement in Cruise/Holmes Divorce
Update: July 8th, 2012 The press is speculating wildly about Scientology being at the core of why Tom and Katie split. No one really knows for sure except those closest to the couple. However, unnamed sources supposedly close to Katie say that is the case. A CBS reporter talks about that and the warnings former members of Scientology are giving to Katie: Meanwhile, Tony Ortega has been looking at Scientology's tech for saving a crumbling marriage and not surprisingly it all has to do with the Scientologist pulling it in. In 1980, Hubbard laid down the policy for how to perform Scientology marriage ...
Why is This Man Seeking Auditing?
Yes, that is me holding the cans and getting an auditing session. It is for my new documentary about Scientology entitled Knowledge Report. I went to Las Vegas to attend the 2011 Free Zone Convention hosted by Rey Robles. While there, I interviewed Rey and several other Free Zoners and decided to get a session to better explain the process in the film. Here's a little video of Rey introducing me to the crowd. I wasn't sure what the reaction would be but everyone was welcoming and I had some free wheeling discussions. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSS0ml2TnPA[/youtube] Work continues on the film and it's proceeding nicely. Most ...
The Money Machine
The St. Pete Times released another stunning series of articles on Scientology. This time they looked at the hard core regging of parishioners and the pressure put on staff to sell courses, auditing and books. David Miscavige has added a stark element of desperation to Hubbard's orders to "make money, make money, make more money...make others make money for you." Scientology's dwindling number of parishioners are being bled dry by a leader who can't offer anything new but can only repackage what Hubbard left behind.
The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology
In a series of articles at the Village Voice, Tony Ortega profiled the people he feels have had the biggest negative impact on the corporate Church of Scientology. I was pleased to be included in the list. Tony also offered me the chance to share some of my opinions on a number of the people he selected. Here's how Tony kicked off the series: We're starting something new here at Runnin' Scared. From our underground bunker, where we keep an eye on all things Scientology, we've been stunned to see how hard things have been for the venerable church lately. From surveys ...
Inside Scientology by Janet Reitman
Janet Reitman's new book about Scientology has been garnering strong reviews. Tony Ortega at the Village Voice was the first to write of its virtues: Reitman's book delivers all it promises, and it promises a lot. "It has been my goal to write the first objective modern history of the Church of Scientology," Reitman proclaims in her introduction. "It is the goal of Inside Scientology to translate [L. Ron Hubbard's arcane] language and separate myth from fact." That's a big project. And by the end of its 369 pages, you should be convinced that Reitman has not only made good on her goals, but ...
Human Trafficking Press Conference
I had the great honor of moderating a press conference on Scientology's abuse of staff and Sea Org members. The event was held in the Steve Allen Theater at the CFI-West and was widely attended by local and international media. We had six terrific speakers whose stories are heartbreaking and in many instances horrifying. My introductory comments and speaker Marc Headley: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKtfNf-2Zyc[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn-4G4T8wHo[/youtube] Jeff Hawkins: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6E1bjaoCuk[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9PsZnjcPZ8[/youtube] Laura Decrescenzo: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znti7gITZpg[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC8-YulbrA8[/youtube] Will Fry: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y29iUN__490[/youtube] Maureen Bolstad: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrazhaNR5Xg[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpAbLLi9vvs[/youtube] Nancy Many: [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKlk0EyuEog[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5TubYLomzY[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IFelzYrXLE[/youtube] There are two Q & A segments yet to come. I ended by reading letters from two mothers whose daughters have disconnected from them. The first is to Mandy Kember from her mother Susan Talbot. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnFQ4UmDGp4[/youtube] The ...
Latest News
Surviving Scientology
Karen de la Carriere has just launched a new YouTube channel called Surviving Scientology. She is going to be making short videos covering various aspects of her 35 year journey within the “Church” of Scientology. She promises to cover breaking news and explain things outsiders may not understand. What is an “O/W write up?”... [Read more of this review]
Going Clear
Lawrence Wright has been on a book tour promoting his new expose of Scientology, Going Clear. I had a chance to see him interviewed by Kim Masters at a book event in L.A. last week. It was a great night. Lawrence had a very receptive audience who were amazed to hear stories about the Sea Org, disconnection, Free Loader debts and the blind eye... [Read more of this review]
Tony Ortega’s Underground Bunker
There is no better source for news about Scientology than Tony Ortega’s blog, The Underground Bunker. When Tony Ortega recently announced he was leaving his position as Editor of the Village Voice to write a book about Scientology, it was at once exciting and sad because no one in the media understands Scientology as well as Tony. His book... [Read more of this review]
Scientology PR on Glenn Beck Show in 2000
I was digging through my archives and I found a portion of a Glenn Beck radio show from March 2000. Beck was merely a local boy in Tampa, Florida and not yet the major loon who would be propelled to fame and fortune by FOX News. Instead he invited on some loons from Scientology’s public relations arm, Al Buttnor and Pat Harney. Harney was... [Read more of this review]
Mark Bunker on Radio Paul’s Radio Rants
I appeared on the Radio Paul show yesterday. Here’s the show in case you missed it. We talked about my background (which I’m not so sure people really care about), the covert ops Scientology’s Guardians Office ran in the 1970′s, the game changing moments that have reshaped the fight against corporate Scientology’s fraud... [Read more of this review]
Lawsuit Over Death at Georgia Narconon
People ask me all the time when someone in the government is going to do something about Scientology’s fraud and abuse. I have pretty much given up hope that politicians or the courts will tackle Scientology head-on but the recent deaths at Narconon facilities in the U.S. have drawn attention to at least one aspect of Scientology’s deceptive... [Read more of this review]
The Duke’s Master Spies
The news broke a few days ago that two long time PI’s for the Church of Scientology are suing the group after the church reneged on their lifetime commitment of employment. C’mon guys, these former L.A. cops are mere wogs. Their lifetimes are surely a drop in the bucket compared to the billion year commitment you get from all your... [Read more of this review]
Progress Continues on Knowledge Report
I took a break from editing in the past couple weeks to head up to L.A. and do a couple more interviews for my new documentary, Knowledge Report. Tory Christman has been my friend since she left Scientology. She sat down with me to talk about her experiences both inside the organization and what actions they have taken against her since she publicly... [Read more of this review]
A Queer and Pleasant Danger
I’ve been reading Kate Bornstein’s new book and I highly recommend it. It is tremendously entertaining and often laugh out loud funny. Her transgender journey from Al Borstein to Kate Bornstein is fascinating enough but the trip detours through Scientology and the Sea Org and gives us a unique perspective of what it was like to be... [Read more of this review]
Beyond Belief – Jenna Miscavige Hill’s New Book
There have been some incredible books released on Scientology in the last few years but this one looks like it has the most potential to reveal new insights into the current leadership of the organization while stirring up massive media interest. The niece of David Miscavige, Jenna Miscavige Hill, will be sharing her experiences inside Scientology... [Read more of this review]
Scientology Tries to Turn the Headleys Into Spies
Tony Ortega published an article today about Scientology trying to shake down Marc and Claire Headley over a $40,000 court judgement. The Village Voice posted the letter Scientology’s lawyers sent to the Headleys which offered to forgive the judgement if Marc and Claire would turn over the rights to Marc’s book Blown for Good, keep their... [Read more of this review]
Narconon Arrowhead
This past weekend I traveled to Canadian, Oklahoma to attend the protest at Scientology’s flagship drug rehab program. While there, I interviewed two people who have been working hard to draw attention to the dangers posed by untrained staff treating addicted patients with L. Ron Hubbard’s tech. Colin Henderson was a patient at Arrowhead... [Read more of this review]
Narconon Deaths Explored on NBC
Rock Center did a great piece last night on the recent deaths at Scientology’s Narconon Arrowhead facility in Canadian, Oklahoma. Family members talked about how they were led to believe there was no connection to Scientology before sending their kids to the drug rehab program. David Love was interviewed about his experiences at Narconon and... [Read more of this review]
Rock Center on Scientology
During the whole TomKat divorce drama, NBC’s Rock Center did a nice piece about Scientology featuring interviews with Marty Rathbun, Mike Rinder, Bert Leahy, Jamie DeWolf and others. They also take us to the birthplace of Dianetics for a quickie primer on what the church wants you to know about auditing and e-meters. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ai-vGmincF8[/youtube] [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnYM21opMWE[/youtube] Read More →
E-Meter Called a Scam
Australian TV has been taking a close look at all things Scientology for a few years now. This time, they examined the e-meter so closely that they had to disassemble it to look at its component parts. Paul Schofield is interviewed along with an electrical engineer and an evil psych in this report from A Current Affair. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sacLNUJ8ZJ0[/youtube] Inside... [Read more of this review]
Scientology Ruins Hip Hop Family
Tony Ortega has run a couple pieces about Mimi Faust who is currently on the VH1 reality show Love and Hip-Hop: Atlanta. She has revealed to that audience that her mother joined the Sea Org and pressure was applied on then 13-year-old Mimi to sign her own billion year contract. When Mimi refused, she lost her mom to Scientology. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wg028eRDRwg[/youtube] Read More →
The Return of the World Class Idiot
I had forgotten about John Bowen Brown II who seems to me one of the dopiest guys around. He engaged me in a silly exchange of emails and then sent a legal threat to me. (Side note, Brown’s business at the time was selling legal services.) Today I got an email from a reporter, asking me about Brown and Anonymous. Dear Mr. Bunker, I am a reporter... [Read more of this review]
Ask An Atheist
I appeared for an hour on this radio show from the Seattle area. We talked about Scientology and how it related to the Tom Cruise Katie Holmes divorce as well as the treatment of members in the Sea Org, recruitment, abuse of members and the history of the group and of L. Ron Hubbard. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNQ3Y2EruBI[/youtube] This... [Read more of this review]
Two Canadian Radio Shows
During the Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes Divorce-apalooza week, I appeared on a number of Canadian radio shows. For some reason, the cry came out from Canadians to get a wise and bearded perspective on the whole Scientology issue. In 24 hours I had done several shows including the Scott Sloan show and these two broadcasts in which I had to pack in a lot... [Read more of this review]
Karen de la Carriere’s Son Dies
Karen was married to the president of the Church of Scientology, Heber Jentzsch. They had a son together named Alexander. I spoke with Karen about her experiences in and out of Scientology for my film, Knowledge Report: The Rise and Fall of the Church of Scientology. She told me how they had to petition Scientology management to have a child. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vCamOCnz_Q[/youtube] When... [Read more of this review]
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Clearwater police officers accepted off-duty jobs from Scientology in 2000-2001,...
Magoo: Dancing in Boston
Just days after Tory Christman left Scientology, she joined Bob Minton and Stacy...
The Revenge Picket
Scientology sent two people to picket my home in L.A. on the day following L. Ron...
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Mark's Vlog
Big Clanking Balls
Australian Senator Nick Xenophon calls Scientology a criminal organization, Marc...
Scientology Convicted of Fraud in France
I reflect on the news coming from France. Scientology is found guilty of fraud....
Crimes and Confessions
What are David Miscavige’s crimes? They are many. Among them, according...
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