International Journal of Coercion, Abuse, and Manipulation ■ Vol. 2, 2021 95
Ship Sealed Due to Asbestos Danger” (2 May 2008),
InsuranceNewsNet (online at insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/
Curacao-Dry-dock-Company-Scientologys-Cruise-Ship-Sealed-
Due-To-Asbestos-Dang-a-110327#.XuA7MWpKgTU) and “St
Lucia Quarantines US Cruise Ship Over Measles Case” (2 May
2019), BBC News (online at www.bbc.com/news/world-
latinamerica-
48130848).
xxvi “What Is the Sea Organization?” supra note xxii.
xxvii Scientology claims membership in the millions (Elaine Jarvik,
“Scientology: Church Now Claims More than 8 Million Members”
(20 September 2004), Deseret Morning News [online at
deseretnews.com/dn/view/0%2C1249%2C595091823%2C00.html
]).This claim is unfounded. Independent sources suggest there are
fewer than 100,000 Scientologists (see, e.g., Jonny Jacobsen,
“Counting Scientology: Reality Check: Independent Data
Contradicts Scientology’s Membership Claims” (9 February 2017),
Medium (online at medium.com/how-many-scientologists-arethere-
really/5-factoring-in-reality-3f0bb2d4e4cf [the latest United
State’s census found approximately 55,000 Scientologists]).
xxviii The expectations regarding time dedication are not made
public. It is, however, not unusual for public Scientologists to be
expected to dedicate at least 10 hours per week to the religion
(“How Does the Day-to-Day of Being A Scientologist Compare to
Other Religions” (18 December 2017), Scientology Parents:
Applying Scientology to Parenting with Results [online at
www.scientologyparent.com/how-does-the-day-to-day-of-being-
ascientologist-compare-to-other-religions/] and Chris Jancelewicz,
“Leah Remini Reveals What Happens When You Reach the Top of
Scientology,” Global News (6 September 2017) (online at
globalnews.ca/news/3721663/leah-remini-scientology-bridge-
totalfreedom/).
xxix There are no hard figures regarding this decline in membership.
The Church does not release official figures on the number of
Scientologists. However, sources from inside the Church have
stated that the membership has been in decline for decades (see,
e.g., “‘Scientology Is Dying’: John Brousseau on the Decline of Int
Base and Fate of Shelly Miscavige,” The Underground Bunker
(online at tonyortega.org/2017/11/11/scientology-is-dying-
johnbrousseau-on-the-decline-of-int-base-and-fate-of-
shellymiscavige/). Dr. Stephen Kent, a prominent academic who
has extensively studied Scientology, supports this view (Geoff
McMaster, “Once Thriving Church of Scientology Faces
Extinction” (10 January 2018), University of Alberta: Faculty
News (online at www.ualberta.ca/arts/facultynews/
2018/january/once-thriving-church-of-scientology-
facesextinction).
xxx There have, unsurprisingly, been no empirical studies of
children in the Sea Organisation. There are, however, several
children who grew up in the Sea Organisation and who have
provided testimonies regarding their upbringing. See, e.g.,
“Growing Up in Scientology, online: YouTube
(www.youtube.com/channel/UCD8AAvA3_JDFeOps-HzPPHg)
Donald A Westbrook, Among the Scientologists: History,
Theology, and Praxis (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019) at
146–150 (which finds that 72% of Sea Organisation members join
before age 30) Ash Sanders, “Children of Scientology: Life After
Growing Up in an Alleged Cult,” The Rolling Stone (24 June
2019) (online at www.rollingstone.com/culture/culturefeatures/
scientology-children-second generation-846732/) and
Abigail Pesta, “Scientology’s Sea Org: An Escape Story for Katie
Holmes and Suri Cruise,” The Daily Beast (6 July 2012) (online at
www.thedailybeast.com/scientologys-sea-org-an-escape-story-
forkatie-holmes-and-suri-cruise). Scientology’s public website
states:
The Sea Organization is a relatively new religious order[.] [...
.]After ten years of experience with children, by 1986 it had
become apparent that the duties of a member of the Sea
Organization was not compatible with raising children. For
example, a Sea Organization member must be free to travel
on short notice and sometimes for extended periods, which is
not easily balanced with parenting young children.
Hence, in 1986 the policy was established that Sea
Organization members desiring children would be granted a
leave of absence from the Order until their children reached
majority. In this respect, the Sea Organization is no different
than other religious orders.
[...]
For Sea Organization members who had children before the
policy of the religious order changed in 1986, school
facilities were built to properly educate and provide for the
children. By way of example, for several years the Church of
Scientology International operated private boarding schools
for the children of Sea Organization members in Riverside
and Los Angeles counties. The Sea Organization similarly
provided schooling for the children of Sea Organization
members in Florida and New York, as well as at Sea
Organization facilities outside the United States. Each child
who attended these schools was sent there at the specific
request of his or her parents. (“Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Young Children Permitted in the Sea Organisation?”
Scientology, [online at
www.scientology.ca/faq/scientologyin-
society/are-young-children-permitted-in-the-seaorg.html]).
Scientology states that children wishing to join the Sea
Organisation must wait until “the minimum age in any state or
country that a person is legally permitted to work.” The Church
also states that it complies with child labour laws, which regulate
the nature and scheduling of work (ibid).
xxxi Hubbard was, at the time, under investigation by a plethora of
government agencies including the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, the Food and Drugs Administration, and the
International Revenue Service for several alleged violations of
federal laws notably pertaining to illegal medical claims and
personal use of tax-exempt church property.
xxxii Stephen A Kent, Brainwashing in Scientology’s Rehabilitation
Project Force (RPF) (Hamburg: Interior Ministry, 2000) (available
online at skent.ualberta.ca/contributions/scientology/
brainwashing-in-scientologys-rehabilitation-project-force-rpf/).
xxxiii Ibid. On Scientology’s ethics system and other terminology,
see generally Lord, “Scientology’s Legal System,” supra note iii
and L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction to Scientology Ethics, revised
ed. (Los Angeles: Bridge, 2007).
xxxiv Kent, Brainwashing in Scientology’s Rehabilitation Project
Force (RPF), supra note xxxii.
xxxv Lord, “Scientology’s Legal System,’’ supra note iii at 22–24.
xxxvi The Hole is a Scientology facility located at Scientology’s
Gold Base, the estate where many members of the Sea
Organisation live and work (see, e.g., Janet Reitman, Inside
Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion
[Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011] at 339).
xxxvii Debbie Cook, a prominent member of the Sea Organisation,
left the religion in 2011 by mass-sending an email criticising the
Church. Scientology sued Cook and later settled out of court. Cook
nonetheless testified in the case. A section of the hearing can be
accessed on YouTube (“Church of Scientology Flag Service
Organization vs Debbie Cook” (14 September 2013) (online at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqTp-szDdeU). Cook’s email can be
accessed on unofficial blogs (see, e.g., “Debbie Cook’s Email” (5
Ship Sealed Due to Asbestos Danger” (2 May 2008),
InsuranceNewsNet (online at insurancenewsnet.com/oarticle/
Curacao-Dry-dock-Company-Scientologys-Cruise-Ship-Sealed-
Due-To-Asbestos-Dang-a-110327#.XuA7MWpKgTU) and “St
Lucia Quarantines US Cruise Ship Over Measles Case” (2 May
2019), BBC News (online at www.bbc.com/news/world-
latinamerica-
48130848).
xxvi “What Is the Sea Organization?” supra note xxii.
xxvii Scientology claims membership in the millions (Elaine Jarvik,
“Scientology: Church Now Claims More than 8 Million Members”
(20 September 2004), Deseret Morning News [online at
deseretnews.com/dn/view/0%2C1249%2C595091823%2C00.html
]).This claim is unfounded. Independent sources suggest there are
fewer than 100,000 Scientologists (see, e.g., Jonny Jacobsen,
“Counting Scientology: Reality Check: Independent Data
Contradicts Scientology’s Membership Claims” (9 February 2017),
Medium (online at medium.com/how-many-scientologists-arethere-
really/5-factoring-in-reality-3f0bb2d4e4cf [the latest United
State’s census found approximately 55,000 Scientologists]).
xxviii The expectations regarding time dedication are not made
public. It is, however, not unusual for public Scientologists to be
expected to dedicate at least 10 hours per week to the religion
(“How Does the Day-to-Day of Being A Scientologist Compare to
Other Religions” (18 December 2017), Scientology Parents:
Applying Scientology to Parenting with Results [online at
www.scientologyparent.com/how-does-the-day-to-day-of-being-
ascientologist-compare-to-other-religions/] and Chris Jancelewicz,
“Leah Remini Reveals What Happens When You Reach the Top of
Scientology,” Global News (6 September 2017) (online at
globalnews.ca/news/3721663/leah-remini-scientology-bridge-
totalfreedom/).
xxix There are no hard figures regarding this decline in membership.
The Church does not release official figures on the number of
Scientologists. However, sources from inside the Church have
stated that the membership has been in decline for decades (see,
e.g., “‘Scientology Is Dying’: John Brousseau on the Decline of Int
Base and Fate of Shelly Miscavige,” The Underground Bunker
(online at tonyortega.org/2017/11/11/scientology-is-dying-
johnbrousseau-on-the-decline-of-int-base-and-fate-of-
shellymiscavige/). Dr. Stephen Kent, a prominent academic who
has extensively studied Scientology, supports this view (Geoff
McMaster, “Once Thriving Church of Scientology Faces
Extinction” (10 January 2018), University of Alberta: Faculty
News (online at www.ualberta.ca/arts/facultynews/
2018/january/once-thriving-church-of-scientology-
facesextinction).
xxx There have, unsurprisingly, been no empirical studies of
children in the Sea Organisation. There are, however, several
children who grew up in the Sea Organisation and who have
provided testimonies regarding their upbringing. See, e.g.,
“Growing Up in Scientology, online: YouTube
(www.youtube.com/channel/UCD8AAvA3_JDFeOps-HzPPHg)
Donald A Westbrook, Among the Scientologists: History,
Theology, and Praxis (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2019) at
146–150 (which finds that 72% of Sea Organisation members join
before age 30) Ash Sanders, “Children of Scientology: Life After
Growing Up in an Alleged Cult,” The Rolling Stone (24 June
2019) (online at www.rollingstone.com/culture/culturefeatures/
scientology-children-second generation-846732/) and
Abigail Pesta, “Scientology’s Sea Org: An Escape Story for Katie
Holmes and Suri Cruise,” The Daily Beast (6 July 2012) (online at
www.thedailybeast.com/scientologys-sea-org-an-escape-story-
forkatie-holmes-and-suri-cruise). Scientology’s public website
states:
The Sea Organization is a relatively new religious order[.] [...
.]After ten years of experience with children, by 1986 it had
become apparent that the duties of a member of the Sea
Organization was not compatible with raising children. For
example, a Sea Organization member must be free to travel
on short notice and sometimes for extended periods, which is
not easily balanced with parenting young children.
Hence, in 1986 the policy was established that Sea
Organization members desiring children would be granted a
leave of absence from the Order until their children reached
majority. In this respect, the Sea Organization is no different
than other religious orders.
[...]
For Sea Organization members who had children before the
policy of the religious order changed in 1986, school
facilities were built to properly educate and provide for the
children. By way of example, for several years the Church of
Scientology International operated private boarding schools
for the children of Sea Organization members in Riverside
and Los Angeles counties. The Sea Organization similarly
provided schooling for the children of Sea Organization
members in Florida and New York, as well as at Sea
Organization facilities outside the United States. Each child
who attended these schools was sent there at the specific
request of his or her parents. (“Frequently Asked Questions:
Are Young Children Permitted in the Sea Organisation?”
Scientology, [online at
www.scientology.ca/faq/scientologyin-
society/are-young-children-permitted-in-the-seaorg.html]).
Scientology states that children wishing to join the Sea
Organisation must wait until “the minimum age in any state or
country that a person is legally permitted to work.” The Church
also states that it complies with child labour laws, which regulate
the nature and scheduling of work (ibid).
xxxi Hubbard was, at the time, under investigation by a plethora of
government agencies including the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, the Food and Drugs Administration, and the
International Revenue Service for several alleged violations of
federal laws notably pertaining to illegal medical claims and
personal use of tax-exempt church property.
xxxii Stephen A Kent, Brainwashing in Scientology’s Rehabilitation
Project Force (RPF) (Hamburg: Interior Ministry, 2000) (available
online at skent.ualberta.ca/contributions/scientology/
brainwashing-in-scientologys-rehabilitation-project-force-rpf/).
xxxiii Ibid. On Scientology’s ethics system and other terminology,
see generally Lord, “Scientology’s Legal System,” supra note iii
and L. Ron Hubbard, Introduction to Scientology Ethics, revised
ed. (Los Angeles: Bridge, 2007).
xxxiv Kent, Brainwashing in Scientology’s Rehabilitation Project
Force (RPF), supra note xxxii.
xxxv Lord, “Scientology’s Legal System,’’ supra note iii at 22–24.
xxxvi The Hole is a Scientology facility located at Scientology’s
Gold Base, the estate where many members of the Sea
Organisation live and work (see, e.g., Janet Reitman, Inside
Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion
[Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2011] at 339).
xxxvii Debbie Cook, a prominent member of the Sea Organisation,
left the religion in 2011 by mass-sending an email criticising the
Church. Scientology sued Cook and later settled out of court. Cook
nonetheless testified in the case. A section of the hearing can be
accessed on YouTube (“Church of Scientology Flag Service
Organization vs Debbie Cook” (14 September 2013) (online at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=AqTp-szDdeU). Cook’s email can be
accessed on unofficial blogs (see, e.g., “Debbie Cook’s Email” (5
