This week's public hearings on the Church of Scientology is just a case of sect founder L. Ron Hubbard getting a dose of his own medicine, according to one interested spectator. "This is an auditing session," said George Kelly, who has attended all three days of the hearings. "This is L. Ron Hubbard's auditing session and Michael Flynn is the auditor." Kelly, a 34-year-old Canadian and ex-Scientologist, based his analysis on his 14-year study of the Church of Scientology and his ...

Teen-ager David Ray testified Friday he had a spectacular start with the Church of Scientology in California, but quickly became a rebel trapped in The Fort Harrison Hotel, relegated to cleaning rooms and stomping garbage. Casey Kelly, 23, testifying for the second day, said he "wasn't a very good Scientologist," either. "One thing you don't do in Scientology is joke around, so obviously I didn't make out very well," he quipped. Like one other witness called in the third day of ...

The Fort Harrison Hotel in downtown Clearwater could be the scene of another Jonestown-type mass suicide when Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard dies, a former high-ranking church official said Wednesday. Edward Walters, the first witness called during Clearwater's public hearings into Scientology practices, said under oath that many Scientologists are "addicted" to Hubbard the way members of the People's Temple were to their leader, the Rev. Jim Jones. "If Hubbard decides to leave this planet he'll take the others with him—they ...

CLREAWATER — At 52, F. Brown McKee is bitter, disillusioned and out of a job. McKee is not a victim of the slumping economy. Instead, he is a casualty little publicized reform movement that has emerged within the controversial Church of Scientology. Church spokesmen downplay the extent of internal unrest. But dissidents say Scientologists throughout the country are unhappy and want changes in the way the church is run. Their concern mirror those of the public at large — the recent ...

As the woman they called "Lee" spoke from the church pulpit, the crowd, estimated at 1,000 was deathly quiet, hanging on every word. For most, it was the first time they had heard about the alleged goings-on within the Church of Scientology. They listened, somewhat in awe, as the 34-year-old Wisconsin woman recounted methodically her 12 years in the church. Then, as she spoke more passionately about the past two years, they heard of her emotional and physical struggle to break ...

CLEARWATER — A crowd estimated at 1,000 persons packed Clearwater's Trinity Presbyterian Church on Thursday night to hear a woman who clams to be a former Scientologist describe practices designed to exorcist demons. Refusing to identify herself other than as "Lee," the 34-year old Wisconsin woman told the audience that she had been a Scientologist for 12 years and had actively pursued secret exorcising procedures, part of the time at the organization's Clearwater headquarters. She said she was eventually ostracized for ...

Now and then we discover someone who performs a deed or a service exactly as promised. Although this seldom the case, it is even more unusual to see a politician actually perform a campaign promise. In retrospect, I can't remember many who have actually performed the promise to the degree that a reasonable person could fairly recognize the completed performance. Recently, however, I have taken note of a fulfilled campaign promise by a local Clearwater commissioner. However, I can tell you ...

A downtown Clearwater businessman who last year joined the Church of Scientology was committed to a Mental hospital Monday after a psychiatrist testified that Scientology apparently contributed to the man's insanity. Francis G. Diamond, 45, a successful antique dealer before his breakdown, told Circuit Judge William Walker that other Scientologists' "thetans," or spirits, had invaded his body during counseling sessions and now control him. "It's not something out of Star Trek-it happens," insisted Diamond, who brought a book by Scientology founder ...

Carol Garrity and Dick and Janie Peterson don't call Scientology a church anymore. After dropping about $40,000 in five years into church courses and training, they left the church three weeks ago disillusioned, angry and humiliated. Is Scientology a church? "No!" they answer. "You never hear mention of God or any praying," Dick Peterson said of the church that won tax-exempt status only after a 19-year court battle with the IRS. "It doesn't operate like a church," Garrity added. "It's run ...

A group of independent psychologists that took a rare inside look at the operations of the Church of Scientology in Toronto is critical of the organization's introductory testing and evaluation methods. The psychologists, hired by Scientology last fall to study its activities, found that the stress is on sales, that staff who interpret personality tests of newcomers aren't experienced, and that staff not only emphasize the negative aspects of the test results but suggest things will get worse without help from ...

The faithful inner core serve as thieves, decoys and spies. The shocking story behind one of the most dangerous “religious cults” operating today IN THE late 1940s, pulp writer L. Ron Hubbard declared, “Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wants to make a million, the best way would be to start his own religion.” Hubbard did start his own religion, calling it the “Church of Scientology,” and it has grown into an enterprise today grossing ...

On Dec. 13, former Scientologist LaVenda Van Schaick filed a $200-million class-action lawsuit against the Church of Scientology in Federal Court in Boston, contending that the church falsely promises to improve the lives of its members. Since then, 10 other ex-Scientologists have filed affidavits in support of the suit, giving a glimpse of life within Scientology. The church has filed a motion to dismiss that case. It also sued Mrs. Van Schaick and others, contending that she is "motivated by malice." ...

''On Dec. 13, former Scientologist LaVenda Van Schaick filed a $200-million class-action lawsuit against the Church of Scientology in Federal Court in Boston, contending that the church falsely promises to improve the lives of its members. Since then, 10 other ex-Scientologists have filed affidavits in support of the suit, giving a glimpse of life within Scientology. The church has files motion to dismiss that case. It also sued Mrs. Van Schaick and others, contending that she is "motivated by malice." Last ...

AFFIDAVIT OF SILVANA GARRITANO I was introduced to Scientology in October, 1977, when I went to the New York Church to take a "Communications Course". The "registrar" (a euphemism for salesman) was Jerry Indursky. He told me that my problem was a lack of assertiveness, that I did not speak up for myself. Indursky promised me Scientology would remedy that problem and I would emerge from the Communications Course a happier, more successful person because I could stand up for myself. ...

AFFIDAVIT OF MARJORIE HANSEN I, Marjorie Hansen of Hanover, Massachusetts depose and state as follows: On or about April 16, 1978, I was walking on Boylston Street in Boston when I was approached by a man named Kevin, who asked me if I would consent to taking a "Personality Survey". Kevin stated that he was working on the survey for some college courses he was taking. He then led me to a building on Beacon Street which I later found out ...

AFFIDAVIT OF JAMES GERVAIS I, James Gervais, state the following under the pains and penalties of perjury: 1. My introduction to Scientology was in July of 1973, when many representations were made to me concerning the benefits of "auditing" and Scientology. 2. The following representations were made to me relative to benefits allegedly provided by Scientology and "auditing". a) raise my IQ; b) cure diseases and mental illness; c) solve drug problems and other personal problems; d) stabilize and promote familial ...

AFFIDAVIT OF ANNE ROSENBLUM In December, 1972, after my first semester of college (in the state of Washington), I was introduced to Scientology when another Scientologist encouraged me to take a "Personality Test" at the Portland "Org". I was given a poor evaluation on the test. I later learned, however, that it is a customary practice of the "Church" to give one a poor evaluation on the test in order to induce the person into Scientology processing. The Scientologists also told ...