We recently obtained a copy of a purported email exchange between a Scientologist and their DSA representative.
The DSA is a Scientologist’s local branch of OSA, the Office of Special Affairs, which is the church’s notorious secret police and is in charge of taking on Scientology’s external enemies as well as rooting out internal threats.
Scientology is a snitching culture, and when a member sees something they don’t like, they are conditioned to send in reports about it.
In this case, the Scientologist is unhappy about the organization’s recent public relations efforts, in particular the annual Super Bowl TV ad (which only airs in some local markets) and the new billboards that have been put up in Los Angeles by the Aftermath Foundation.
We say that it’s a “purported” exchange, because after investigating what we were forwarded, we found that the supposed Scientologist emailing the DSA used an email address that we could see had been used by an ex-Scientologist in an unrelated forum.
So, was this an ex-Scientologist who was “under the radar” enough that they could manage to get a response from their DSA rep? And was the DSA’s response genuine, or were both made up?
We’re going to be careful and assume that either or both emails could be bogus, but in the end we got a very real story out of it, and that’s because we reached out to Claire Headley about what the DSA rep had supposedly said: That OSA/Scientology is well aware of the Aftermath Foundation billboards in Los Angeles and is actively doing something to take them down.
Here is what Claire sent us when we asked her about this.
The Michael J. Rinder Aftermath Foundation has relaunched its billboard campaign to get the message out to Sea Org members stuck in Scientology that there is hope and help for life after an abusive cult.
The purpose of these billboards is twofold: 1. Offer a way out for those who have been isolated and are trapped, and 2. Prevent innocent civilians from being lured into this dangerous organization in the first place.
As would be expected, Scientology has launched an attack to take these billboards down once again. We are grateful to Lamar for their understanding of our purpose and mission.
Mike Rinder’s quote — “The difference between a cult and a religion is what happens when you try to leave” — featured on one of our billboards, has particularly hit a nerve.
Evidently, Scientology objects to the use of the word cult. The fact is, any Scientologist reading this quote will know just how true that statement is.
It is an objective fact that Scientology is and always has been a totalitarian cult that takes full command of its members lives and destroys them and everything they hold dear. There is 70 years of history to prove this point.
Scientology’s legal team has been relentless in demanding removal of the word cult. Regardless, we will keep the flag flying in Mike’s honor and forge ahead to keep these messages of truth and hope up for as long as we can.
Can Lamar hang tough and not cave to Scientology’s complaints? Clearly, Mike’s quoted statement was a legitimate observation (and it doesn’t even name Scientology, after all).
If anything, Scientology’s furious response only points out how effective this new campaign by the foundation has been.
Jon Atack and Jefferson Hawkins
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Claire Headley for the win. Blessed be the Mike Rinder Aftermath Foundation and all who sail in her. It is not surprising that the Clampire wants to take down the Aftermath billboards. They have never been silent when challenged in any matter. I am some what surprised that Lamar is not buckling under, as other billboard companies have done in the past. Good for them.
I am not surprised that TonyO gets some fake emails that are intended to waste his time or try to move his journalism into something that can be the subject of a civil suit. Caution is always necessary when dealing with $cientology. They live and breath every advertising and psychological manipulation that is known to man.
Hmmm … nowhere on that billboard does it state that Scientology is a cult. It simply quotes something Mike Rinder said. The fact that someone would be offended by that quote is a direct indictment on them, not the quote. Hold strong Lamar.