Ah, New Year’s Eve! Can you feel the excitement?
We know, we know, it’s not even Christmas yet, what is this about New Year’s Eve?
Well, tonight Scientology is desperately trying to assemble as many bodies as it can at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles so church leader David Miscavige can preside over a videotaped event where everyone will pretend that it’s New Year’s Eve 2024.
It’s a long tradition in Scientology. Around the middle of December they pretend it’s NYE at the Shrine, and then on December 31 video of the event is shown at Scientology facilities around the world so the locals can then join with Dave to actually bring in the new year.
But it’s a bigger deal this year because it’s the first time they’ve held the event at the Shrine since they brought in 2020. The pandemic then shut things down, and Miscavige presided over smaller events held on December 31 at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater, Florida.
Now, following the success of the revived IAS gala in East Grinstead, England in November, Dave is restoring the New Year’s ritual to its proper place in the middle of December in LA.
We’ll be looking forward to hearing from any of the marginal Scientologists who are dragged to the Shrine to give us some fun accounts of how it goes. We’re sure Dave will be on form with another hourslong speech about how Scientology is busting evil psychiatrists, decontaminating police stations, and rescuing people from earthquakes.
You know, salvaging the world.
And hey, speaking of that IAS event. While Scientologists no doubt consider it a big success that Dave came to England to preside over the multi-day affair, and was joined by his best bud Tom Cruise, this year’s celebration was also crashed by Alexander “Apostate Alex” Barnes-Ross, who organized a three-day protest that continues to reverberate in the town.
In particular, Alex has been focusing on the way local elected officials in East Grinstead have been slobbering over Scientology in pitiful displays, such as several of them showing up at Scientology’s charity concert, and for a Christmas lights event.
When he was asked about it, East Grinstead’s mayor said that Scientology was a major part of the town. But Alex pointed out that in fact the last census showed that Scientologists made up less than two tenths of one percent of the local population.
And now, to continue to emphasize this point, Alex has started an online petition that is starting to gather some momentum and could use your help.
Here’s some of his description at the petition website:
In 2023, several East Grinstead Town Councillors have publicly shown their support for Scientology by attending events at Saint Hill and even attending the Mission Impossible film premiere as a guest of Tom Cruise.
Scientology lacks charity status in the United Kingdom, after it was rejected in 1999 for failing to prove a public benefit. Numerous allegations have been made against the group and their treatment of staff in the UK, particularly at it’s Saint Hill headquarters. Sea Org members, who sign a one billion year commitment, are expected to work long, gruelling work hours 7 days a week, with no time off – for £50 a week. They are trafficked across the world to work for the Church wherever, and whenever they are needed.
It’s time for abuse to end in Scientology. And for local government to cease their public support for such a controversial, harmful cult.
What a hoot. On a day when Scientology is pretending to celebrate the new year in Los Angeles, you could help put some more attention on what they’re doing back in England. Give it a thought.
And we wanted to point out another fine moment, courtesy of Alex.
He noticed that a local MP, Mims Davies, had announced on Twitter that she had been appointed the representative of disabled people in UK government. So he asked did she, as a local official who had accepted an invitation from Scientology to attend an event, realize what Scientology thinks of disabled people?
And then, even better, our old friend John Sweeney piled on.
Great stuff.
After thinking about it, judge finds for Jane Doe 1
Whew. For a minute there, we were concerned that a performance by Scientology attorney William Forman at a hearing Wednesday had given Judge Robert Broadbelt second thoughts about his tentative ruling to allow Jane Doe 1 the right to conduct some limited discovery in her lawsuit against the church.
Forman had argued that the judge was putting the cart before the horse, and told the judge he first needed to make a decision on Scientology’s motion to divert the forced-marriage lawsuit into “religious arbitration,” which will be the subject of a February hearing.
So instead of adopting his tentative ruling, the judge said he’d think about it.
That made us a bit nervous. But then on Thursday night, Judge Broadbelt did affirm his decision to grant the limited discovery, and Jane Doe 1’s legal team will have a couple of months to gather evidence from Scientology and conduct depositions, which could be very revealing.
All of this so Jane Doe 1 can build a case by February that she was forced to sign the 2002 contract that Scientology argues should prevent her from suing the church. What a showdown that will be.
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Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history
Avast, Ye Mateys: Snapshots from Scientology’s years at sea
Overheard in the Freezone: Indie Hubbardism, one thought at a time
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A big shout out to this judge.
Judge Broadbelt may actually get 'it'. Limited discovery is still discovery and those subpoenaed must comply and answer the questions put to them. Will any truth come out? Is there a 'fifth amendment' out for civil trials? No, there isn't such an out. Reading those depositions will be fun.
If 'Apostate Alex' gets his way, all of the UK could be signing up. I like that, a huge internet driven campaign, something along the lines of 'boaty mcboatface' would be so much fun.