Faith

Church of Scientology Faces Harsh Criticism from Former High-Ranking Official

Church of Scientology Faces Criticism From Debbie Cook

The controversial Church of Scientology — whose adherents include celebrities Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley — is coming under fire after an email blast from a former high-ranking church official revealed what she viewed as abuses of power by the church’s leader, David Miscavige.

Debbie Cook, who a 17-year official at the church’s Florida branch accused Miscavige of having the church engage in “continuous fundraising” and charged that they were spending too much money on constructing new church buildings.

ABC reports:

In the detailed email, Cook said she was still “completely dedicated” to the Scientology faith and was in good standing with church officials, and quoted dozens of excerpts from the church’s texts by L. Ron Hubbard. She then contrasted Hubbard‘s written policies with her views of Miscavige’s leadership of the church.

“This is one very important milestone right here,” former church official Marty Rathbun told ABC News. “It’s like a big breach in the dike, but it’s not the only one.”

Cook, whom the church has now labeled an “apostate” and heretic, condemned Miscavige for what she considers is the church’s excessive fundraising and opulent Scientology centers. Cook believes such practices went against science fiction writer and “founder” L. Ron Hubbard’s directives.

“Next time you are asked to donate outside of services, realize that you are engaged in fundraising and ask to see something in writing from L. Ron Hubbard that this is something he expects from you as a Scientologist,” Cook wrote.

Watch the full ABC report below:

Church of Scientology Faces Criticism From Debbie Cookvideo platformvideo managementvideo solutionsvideo player

Comments (22)

  • stmikearchangel
    Posted on January 13, 2012 at 4:45pm

    Scientology is no different than the lds both founded by money making charlatans, and both are cults

    Report Post »  
  • sane_man
    Posted on January 13, 2012 at 4:21am

    Scientology is a cult and a scam. And IMHO pretty much like most organized religions that ask for money and promise something in return that turns out to be bunk.

    Report Post »  
  • Earl Graystoke
    Posted on January 10, 2012 at 1:38pm

    In today’s world of unschooled “journalists” and undisciplined bloggers, anybody can keyboard anything about Scientology and it will get circulation.

    Here are some points widely overlooked–because mass media won’t put them in a story:

    Why is Scientology/Dianetics a religion?
    Hubbard says clearly that the transition from Dianetics self-help to religion came about as a result of past lives that Dianetics sessions began uncovering. If you are dealing with an apparently eternal and traveling soul who leaves a dead body to become a new infant, THAT is the world of religion.

    Tax exemption:
    The United States Internal Revenue Service granted all Churches of Scientology, all Dianetics Centers, and all Scientology-technology-based social betterment groups complete charitable tax-exempt tax status in the early 1990s. All U.S. states now do the same. And the IRS went through truckloads of data looking for flaws and ways to avoid doing this. (Every church, temple, etc., pays taxes on material goods it buys and sells, hall rentals, etc., as does Scientology.)

    To learn what public good Scientologists do for the world–and a neighborhood near you–visit http://www.ABLE.org. There you’ll find many examples.

    Report Post » Earl Graystoke  
  • Akridgerunner
    Posted on January 9, 2012 at 9:45pm

    So, Mr MRDE33: I could go on for hours if not days filling your apparently empty head with ample information to convince you that Scientology is NOT a religion: that move was just to get tax-free status, which they have lost a couple of times; not sure where it stands now. You really want to know what is at the core of Scientology just google: Lisa McPherson and you’ll learn all you need to know. The Blaze chose not to post my first comment on this matter. Look in LR Hubbard, the founder, and see what he was doing when he dreamed up Scientology and how Ken Kesey fit into the picture. Look into how he thought he was true Antichrist from the age of 15 on. It’s a very amusing story really and many in the world have fallen for the hoax for a long long time. Do some research; it’s all out there. Find his interview with Penthouse from years back. Unbelievable what he says he watched his father do to this mother with a coat hanger.

    Report Post »  
    • pmjr-jones
      Posted on January 9, 2012 at 11:02pm

      “Money” can be “worshiped” without calling it a religion!?

      Report Post »  
    • pmjr-jones
      Posted on January 9, 2012 at 11:04pm

      there are many religions only one church!?

      Report Post »  
  • pmjr-jones
    Posted on January 9, 2012 at 5:58pm

    I belong to the “Church of Priorities” thank you for telling me about this I am s m a h r t e r now ?!

    Report Post »  
  • pmjr-jones
    Posted on January 9, 2012 at 5:55pm

    I belong to the “Church of Priorities” that is ruining this country thnx for telling me about this one I am smahrter now!?

    Report Post »  
  • crawdad
    Posted on January 9, 2012 at 4:09pm

    About 30 years ago, I met someone on a bus reading literature from this organization. She invited me to a center and, though I don’t remember everything, I do remember a verbal exercise I went through with a member to help remove “engrams” from my mind. The member would make a random statement which would or would not elicit a response from me. What elicited a response was called a “button” and he would continue to “press that button” until I could control my response to it. I also met a “clear”, someone who, apparently, was no longer burdened by “engrams”. I was there for a couple of hours. Not once was God or anything about eternal spiritual values mentioned. All in all, it was pretty weird. For several months after, they repeatedly called asking me to return, completely ignoring my requests to cease. Do what you want to “clear your mind” but, if it’s Scientology, don‘t call it religion when it’s just some sort of self-improvement technique. Just my experience and opinion.

    Report Post »  
    • mred33
      Posted on January 9, 2012 at 5:53pm

      You know, for someone that went for a whole 2 hours 30 years ago, you seem to be making some brash statements as to what the church is. Now you may remember everything you went through, but 2 hours is not enough time to know squat about anything like Sceintology. Now this church has been granted tax free status by the IRS as a religious organization and they are the ones that grant that, so it is not up to anyone else to say if it is or is not. As for what they do or don’t do, that is not up to you either. As for all the robes and ornate buildings, that sort of sounds like a couple of other churches I know of, so I don’t see why that is anything to put them down for either. So far I haven’t heard from one person that knows what they are talking about, so until you find out what this church is all about, then it may be to your best interests to just not say anything bad about them.

      “don‘t call it religion when it’s just some sort of self-improvement technique” Since you know all about this, why don’t you enlighten us as to just what they are doing in that church that does not make them a church. I would leave the comments to the adults until you learn a little more about them.

      Report Post » mred33  
    • COFemale
      Posted on January 11, 2012 at 1:21pm

      Now if people want to know what a real cult is like, this is it.

      Report Post » COFemale  
  • Locked
    Posted on January 9, 2012 at 1:07pm

    This is what passes for “harsh criticism” these days? Seems as though the author is trying to make this story seem more dramatic than it is.

    Report Post »  
  • ThurstonHowellIV
    Posted on January 9, 2012 at 11:08am

    Boy, Girls and thetans everywhere– put down your e-meters and check out L Ron’s own words when he says in his book, The Creation of Human Ability, that Scientology is not a religion. It is a money making enterprise.

    Report Post » ThurstonHowellIV  
    • bobby99
      Posted on January 9, 2012 at 12:57pm

      Thurston- REligions are a TAX -Free business. The Bible says a church is a group of people studying the WORD- Church not fancy buildings and dudes wearing gold robes. Good money maker.

      Report Post »  
    • CodexMan
      Posted on January 9, 2012 at 1:24pm

      That is correct.. Only the rich need apply to get in.

      Report Post »  
  • blazingaway
    Posted on January 9, 2012 at 11:02am

    Scientology is an evil form of faith in a lie and deception.
    The leadership is interested in only one thing … they own self-interests and pleasures.
    Anyone who follows this false system of faith chooses to live a lie and will eventually find nothing but unhappiness and a life of denial.
    It’s a complete and total waste of time

    Report Post » blazingaway  
    • encinom
      Posted on January 9, 2012 at 12:21pm

      How is this different from anyother church? How many tele-evanglist have gone on TV telling their sheep that God needs the poor to enrich the preachers and the build new mega-churches. How is it different from the Mormon’s belief inevryone being a God of their own planet?

      Report Post »  
  • huey6367
    Posted on January 9, 2012 at 7:17am

    Wasn’t the title “Church of Scientology faces Harsh Criticism …”? So what is the harsh criticism? They spend too much money? Maybe they do maybe they don’t but I hope they do so they can go bankrupt and be out of business.

    Report Post »  
  • Your Name Here
    Posted on January 9, 2012 at 7:05am

    Everything you need to know about Scientology: http://www.southparkstudios.com/full-episodes/s09e12-trapped-in-the-closet

    Report Post » Your Name Here  
  • tool4rage
    Posted on January 9, 2012 at 3:43am

    I was hoping for something a little more
    “having the church engage in “continuous fundraising” and charged that they were spending too much money on constructing new church buildings.” – You could make that charge about pretty much any denomination

    Report Post » tool4rage  

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