Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 8, No. 3, 2009, Page 69
oppose California‘s anti-gay marriage ballot question. Moreover, in his letter of resignation,
Haggis says the church ordered his wife to shun family and friends, which caused her
―terrible personal pain.‖ In spite of his criticism, ―Haggis may be more of a reformer who
wishes to see his church live up to its true calling rather than a defector who wants to pull
the temple down around him. ..Perhaps Haggis needs to start his own branch of
Scientology. It‘s a model that has worked before.‖ ...
The continuing conflict between the informal Internet network called Anonymous and the
Church of Scientology is detailed at length by Julian Dibbell in the October issue of Wired.
He tells how Anonymous coalesced to harass and even ―take down‖ Scientology when the
church squelched a video on the Internet that featured Tom Cruise unflatteringly how
Anonymous cyber attacks on Scientology communications and offices have provoked legal
and extra-legal retaliation by Scientologists in order to stop the harassment, which is often
crude and bizarre and how elements of Anonymous, protesting the nature and practices of
Scientology—rather than simply punishing the organization for attempting to control
Internet speech—may be inaugurating an era of Internet ―troll‖ activism that rises above
prankish nihilism. ..
Las Vegas police arrested Anonymous participant Colby Schoolcraft in October, seized a
cache of weapons, including an AK-47, and said they believe—based on an Anonymous
website call for violence—that he planned to attack the 37,000 square foot center
Scientology is building to cater to celebrities. Scientology lawyer Kendrick Moxon told the
police about threats Schoolcraft had made earlier on an Anonymous website that included a
photo of Scientology leader David Miscavige with bullet holes in it. A video on the
Anonymous website accuses Moxon of working with the Metro Police to frame Schoolcraft
and thus ―neutralize‖ a church opponent. ..
Dmitriy [sic] Guzner, 19, of Veerona, NJ, was sentenced to a year in prison in November for
his part in a series of ―distributed denial of service‖ attacks that took down Scientology‘s
website for several days. The attack was attributed to Anonymous. Guzner was also ordered
to pay $37,500 in restitution to the church and remain on probation for two years following
his release from prison.
Wikipedia has banned people who use Church of Scientology computers from changing
Wikipidia articles that are critical of Scientology. Wikipedia says, ―The church and some of
its vocal critics are engaged in ‗edit wars‘—aggressively adding or removing complimentary
or disparaging material from articles related to Scientology.‖ Wikipedia has also banned
some church critics from editing articles. ..
Former Scientology officials Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder recently told the St.
Petersburg Times about some of the legal and illegal tactics they employed to defame,
discredit, and silence Robert Minton, one of the church‘s most prominent and dangerous
critics from the late 1990s to the early years of this century. Their revelations are
highlighted by an account of how Scientology forced Minton, the major financial supporter of
the suit against the church brought by the family of the late Lisa McPherson, to turn against
the prosecution that his money had until then sustained. Although none of the parties is
able to speak on the record about the matter, it seems that Scientology likely found
evidence of financial misdeeds in Minton‘s past and threatened him with exposure if he did
not end his support of the suit. ..
Earl Cooley, Scientology‘s head lawyer for a quarter-century, has died. Church leader
David Miscavige delivered the eulogy at a memorial service. ..
Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of the Church of Scientology, by Marc Headley, an
employee of the church's Los Angeles headquarters for 15 years, details allegations of
systematic Scientology abuses and bizarre episodes, including three weeks of instruction
oppose California‘s anti-gay marriage ballot question. Moreover, in his letter of resignation,
Haggis says the church ordered his wife to shun family and friends, which caused her
―terrible personal pain.‖ In spite of his criticism, ―Haggis may be more of a reformer who
wishes to see his church live up to its true calling rather than a defector who wants to pull
the temple down around him. ..Perhaps Haggis needs to start his own branch of
Scientology. It‘s a model that has worked before.‖ ...
The continuing conflict between the informal Internet network called Anonymous and the
Church of Scientology is detailed at length by Julian Dibbell in the October issue of Wired.
He tells how Anonymous coalesced to harass and even ―take down‖ Scientology when the
church squelched a video on the Internet that featured Tom Cruise unflatteringly how
Anonymous cyber attacks on Scientology communications and offices have provoked legal
and extra-legal retaliation by Scientologists in order to stop the harassment, which is often
crude and bizarre and how elements of Anonymous, protesting the nature and practices of
Scientology—rather than simply punishing the organization for attempting to control
Internet speech—may be inaugurating an era of Internet ―troll‖ activism that rises above
prankish nihilism. ..
Las Vegas police arrested Anonymous participant Colby Schoolcraft in October, seized a
cache of weapons, including an AK-47, and said they believe—based on an Anonymous
website call for violence—that he planned to attack the 37,000 square foot center
Scientology is building to cater to celebrities. Scientology lawyer Kendrick Moxon told the
police about threats Schoolcraft had made earlier on an Anonymous website that included a
photo of Scientology leader David Miscavige with bullet holes in it. A video on the
Anonymous website accuses Moxon of working with the Metro Police to frame Schoolcraft
and thus ―neutralize‖ a church opponent. ..
Dmitriy [sic] Guzner, 19, of Veerona, NJ, was sentenced to a year in prison in November for
his part in a series of ―distributed denial of service‖ attacks that took down Scientology‘s
website for several days. The attack was attributed to Anonymous. Guzner was also ordered
to pay $37,500 in restitution to the church and remain on probation for two years following
his release from prison.
Wikipedia has banned people who use Church of Scientology computers from changing
Wikipidia articles that are critical of Scientology. Wikipedia says, ―The church and some of
its vocal critics are engaged in ‗edit wars‘—aggressively adding or removing complimentary
or disparaging material from articles related to Scientology.‖ Wikipedia has also banned
some church critics from editing articles. ..
Former Scientology officials Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder recently told the St.
Petersburg Times about some of the legal and illegal tactics they employed to defame,
discredit, and silence Robert Minton, one of the church‘s most prominent and dangerous
critics from the late 1990s to the early years of this century. Their revelations are
highlighted by an account of how Scientology forced Minton, the major financial supporter of
the suit against the church brought by the family of the late Lisa McPherson, to turn against
the prosecution that his money had until then sustained. Although none of the parties is
able to speak on the record about the matter, it seems that Scientology likely found
evidence of financial misdeeds in Minton‘s past and threatened him with exposure if he did
not end his support of the suit. ..
Earl Cooley, Scientology‘s head lawyer for a quarter-century, has died. Church leader
David Miscavige delivered the eulogy at a memorial service. ..
Blown for Good: Behind the Iron Curtain of the Church of Scientology, by Marc Headley, an
employee of the church's Los Angeles headquarters for 15 years, details allegations of
systematic Scientology abuses and bizarre episodes, including three weeks of instruction
