Scientology is back to business as usual in 2025, and wants to hear from you!
It’s been difficult for us to get back on track after the feelings we’ve been experiencing since Mike Rinder left us Sunday, and the tributes to him keep coming in — we’ll have even more of them for you tomorrow. But as we always point out, Scientology never gives up, and that’s a good reason to check on what they’re up to.
As far as we can tell, it’s business as usual for David Miscavige’s minions as they continue to squeeze money out of a dwindling membership.
But before they can turn the entire country “Ideal,” they need to hear from you!
Dear [redacted],
Can you please take a second to share your opinion on the subject of creating an Ideal USA?
I really need your answer, ideally today. Thank you so much!
ML
Manuela
SURVEY
1. What do you think it will really take to complete raising all funds for an Ideal USA?
2. What do you think will be the result of having an All Ideal USA?
3. Which of the following best describes the characteristics that will need to be displayed to achieve the target of all funds raised for an Ideal USA?
(check all that apply)
Fearless
Courageous
Brave
Heroic
Bold
Champion
Warrior
OTHER:
4. What part do you currently play in achieving this goal?
5. What could you do to increase your participation to what it will actually take to achieve this goal this year?
6. What would most help you to achieve this?
Thank you for your time.
As usual, we’d love to know how you would answer this questionnaire.
Judge indicates he will deny Jane Doe 1 motion for reconsideration
In our year-end review of Scientology litigation, we went into some length about the confusing state of Jane Doe 1’s forced-marriage lawsuit, which has been upended somewhat by matters outside the case itself. Here’s what we said in order to help you keep up on what’s going on…
…Scientology has been trying to throw whatever it can into the mix to try and convince the new judge, Judge Kevin Brazile, not to follow Judge Broadbelt’s [intended path to] find against [Scientology’s] arbitration scheme. That includes submitting declarations from Jane Doe’s mother (who is still a Scientologist) as well as [Sea Org recruiter Gavin] Potter and others.
Scientology also asked to depose Brian Kent, an attorney from Philadelphia who has nothing to do with this lawsuit. He did formerly represent Jane Doe 1 and the other Jane Does when they first filed the Bixler lawsuit [against Scientology and Danny Masterson] in 2019.
Another woman, who has not publicly identified herself (we’ll refer to her as Jane Roe, to differentiate her from the Jane Does), also hired Kent at that time with the idea of suing Scientology. But she later filed a confidential complaint with the Pennsylvania Bar, accusing Kent of grooming and unwanted sexual advances. That complaint was supposed to remain private as it was being considered by the Bar.
However, some YouTube activists obtained a copy of the complaint and made it public against the wishes of Roe, which has seriously jeopardized the investigation.Scientology has pounced on that controversy, asking Judge Brazile to allow them discovery to bolster their arbitration motion. Namely, they want to depose Kent because they say the bar complaint indicates that Jane Roe accused him of telling her to destroy evidence. And since Kent was also Jane Doe 1's attorney in the Masterson case, they want to depose him and to depose Jane Doe 1 to determine if he also instructed her to destroy evidence, which they say would have implications for this lawsuit.
Judge Brazile agreed, and ruled that Scientology could depose Brian Kent and Jane Doe 1 for the limited scope of the arbitration motion.
Jane Doe 1’s legal team has understandably fought this decision fiercely, filing a motion for reconsideration and even asking for an ex parte ruling, which the judge declined to entertain. The motion for reconsideration is scheduled for January 9.
This morning, we see that Judge Brazile has posted his tentative ruling for tomorrow’s hearing, and he indicates that he will deny Jane Doe’s motion outright, dismissing her arguments that his ruling, for example, would open the door to Scientology going into lengthy questioning about unrelated matters.
“These depositions should not be overly lengthy and if Plaintiff/Kent did not destroy evidence, the depositions should be simple and straightforward. In sum, the Motion for Reconsideration is denied,” he writes in the tentative ruling.
We’ll see if he adopts that ruling tomorrow.
Bonus items from our tipsters
The New York org is showing some initiative, and we figured you’d want to see their exciting upcoming schedule!
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For the full picture of what’s happening today in the world of Scientology, please join the conversation at tonyortega.org, where we’ve been reporting daily on David Miscavige’s cabal since 2012. There you’ll find additional stories, and our popular regular daily features:
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
Past is Prologue: From this week in history at alt.religion.scientology
Random Howdy: Your daily dose of the Captain
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Group Therapy: Our round table of rowdy regulars on the week’s news
Thank you for explaining the legal intricacies so well. And thank you again for making this whole subject and all of its ongoing history your life’s focus. There is no one like you or this substack/blog on this subject.
My interpretations in brackets.
1. What do you think it will really take to complete raising all funds for an Ideal USA? [We're asking this in a vague manner because it's the setup to the rest.]
2. What do you think will be the result of having an All Ideal USA? [This is to give us something to use later when we tell you why you need to give more money. Plus, then we can truthfully say not all the questions were about fundraising.]
3. Which of the following best describes the characteristics that will need to be displayed to achieve the target of all funds raised for an Ideal USA? [This is to help us with future fundraising marketing. Also, they will feel bad if they don't think they match those words.]
4. What part do you currently play in achieving this goal? [Start the guilt trip question.]
5. What could you do to increase your participation to what it will actually take to achieve this goal this year? [This is to make them commit themselves to something.]
6. What would most help you to achieve this? [This is to find overts we can use against them, like if they say they need less bugging to also hit their next IAS status.]