Scientology’s UK headquarters is up for sale! (Well, sort of.)

Reporters in Australia knew it was a funny story: The building that houses Scientology’s “org” in Adelaide, South Australia, has been put on the market by its owners.

Here’s your chance to be the Adelaide Org’s landlord, big spender!

Sure, that’s a laugh. But Alex Barnes-Ross explained to us why it’s actually even more interesting, because it’s the Adelaide Org that serves as the official address (for tax reasons, anyway) for the entire Scientology operation in the United Kingdom!

“In most places around the world, Scientology Orgs are set up as individual corporations, separate to (but often under the umbrella of) the mother ‘Church of Scientology International’. However, Since 1982 the UK has been an exception to this rule,” Alex explained to us last night.

“Apart from Bournemouth and Poole, all of Scientology’s operations in England occur under a single entity known as the Church of Scientology Religious Education College, Incorporated (COSRECI). That includes Saint Hill, London, Birmingham, Manchester, Sunderland, Plymouth and Brighton. The thing is, COSRECI is registered in Australia,” he went on.

“It’s listed with the ACNC (Australian Charities & Not-for-profits Commission) as an ‘overseas charity,’ with a head office at 225 Pulteney St, Adelaide. However, it conducts business exclusively in the United Kingdom, which means it can escape paying income tax on its earnings. The address also happens to be the location of its not-so-ideal Adelaide Org, and now it’s up for sale.”

“It appears Scientology has been leasing the property for several years and intends to remain tenants should the new owners agree. But I have to wonder, why doesn’t Scientology own the building outright, especially considering it’s formally the headquarters of its entire UK operation?”

That’s a great question.

We want to remind readers, the first time we heard of “COSRECI,” it was in some outstanding reporting by Aussie journalist Bryan Seymour. And at that time, COSRECI registered its address at what turned out to be a South Australian farm. When Bryan went there, he learned that the farmer had no idea his spread was serving as a tax haven for British Scientology! What a classic that was.

But then COSRECI moved its registration to the Adelaide Org, which turns out to be in a leased building. We don’t know why Scientology, which is usually pretty obsessed about owning property, would only be renting in Adelaide.

“I had to chuckle at selling agent Sam Alexander’s choice of words in a statement to the local press, where he described the location as ‘a well trafficked area.’ With Scientology’s history of human trafficking, I can’t say I disagree,” Alex told us.

“It will be interesting to see whether Scientology attempts to purchase the property from its current owners, and if not whether their lease will be terminated, in which case, they will have to move. But will they move their UK operation with them?”

We will point out that this org’s days were probably numbered anyway. In 2019, Scientology plunked down $3.24 million for a building that formerly housed a newspaper in Port Adelaide. This is the future home of Adelaide’s “Ideal Org,” but with church leader David Miscavige, it’s anyone’s guess how many more years it will sit rotting before he has it spruced up for its Ideal re-opening.

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Puerto Rico claims its Ideal Org is next

Thank you to the reader who forwarded this breathless appeal for cash.

Dear [redacted] —

Hope you’re having a great week!

Here’s a (not so) random thought:

Ideal Org of Austin — OPENED!

Ideal Org of Del Valle — OPENED!

Ideal Org of Chicago — OPENED!

Ideal Org of Paris — OPENED!

Ideal Org of Puerto Rico — NEXT!

I re-read what I just wrote — inhaling the magnitude of it in a new unit of time—and I’m blown away. The Ideal Org of Puerto Rico is NEXT!

And [redacted], you’re making it happen! Thank you! Ron’s Dearest Island will soon have an Ideal Org — a pearl of the Caribbean. A treasure that will open up the State of Clear to the 3.2 million Boricuas (native Puerto Ricans) and the 42+ million more folks of the surrounding Caribbean.

Talk about Axiom 10 to the MAX — Causing an Effect! And how! And you’re doing it, [redacted]. You’re part of an awesome 3rd Dynamic that’s creating miracles. And speaking for all of the Flag OTC Ideal Org Fundraising Team, we are SO grateful for your help and your participation and your postulates and your flows.

Between NOW and NEXT, there are a few cycles remaining. Like finishing building fundraising — getting closer everyday as we await final figure of what’s needed. Like recruiting and training staff — huge headway is being made on both fronts as awesome beings are signing up. Like putting the CF in order — lots of our friends have been going to San Juan and working on that. Bravo!

And attending events! Our next is Summer Bash on Saturday June 29th at 6PM in the Auditorium. Not only will we be fundraising for Puerto Rico, but we’re welcoming all Ideal Org aficionados to attend and also contribute to East Coast Orgs, like Boston and Philly. It’s a Summer Bash to celebrate Ideal. And you, [redacted], are very much invited. RSVP to events@flagotc.org and let me know who you’re bringing with you.

Truly, [redacted], we wouldn’t be this far without you. Your generous flows keep us all going. Please continue today at https://puertoricoideal.org/. Become an Alumni—or catapult to your next status—and celebrate your name "On the Wall" for all time.

With much love and mucho gratitude,

David

Flag OTC Fundraising Team

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Bonus items from our tipsters

Ready to be enchanted, pilgrims?

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Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history

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