Joan and Melissa: October 2009

This year's Golden Globes will be quite entertaining, we hope. Well, at least there's a good chance considering the choice of hosts: Ricky Gervais.

British comedian Rick Gervais will host this January's Golden Globe Awards, long called Hollywood's biggest party for its more casual atmosphere compared to other honors like the Oscars....Gervais, who has become a Hollywood darling with his impromptu appearances as a presenter at recent awards shows, said Golden Globes offer was one he couldn't refuse....broadcast the January 17 ceremony, said Gervais, who is also a stand-up comic, "has provided some of the most hilarious and memorable awards show moments in recent history."Nominations for the 67th annual Golden Globes will be announced on December 15 and handed out in Beverly Hills on January 17 in a ceremony seen in more than 160 nations, organizers said. [reuters]

Wow. Just wow. We fell asleep at the wheel for a minute and look what happens. Several ex-Scientologists have been blowing the whistle to the media, much to leader David Miscavige's chagrin. But, that's not all. Award-winning director and 35-year Scientologist Paul Haggis has quit the religion, revealing some interesting insider knowledge in the process.

Recently, a bigwig Scientologist went on TV to defend the religion against the former Scientologists who are coming out of the woodwork to expose its leader and the religion itself. Typically, the Scientology way of dealing with betrayers is to use the information taken from them during "confessionals" and "audits" and using it to publicly embarrass them. True to form, this bigwig pulled out his folder of personal information and let them have it. Haggis cites this as one of his three major reasons for leaving the religion.

The other two reasons are also pretty telling. It's long been assumed that Scientology is anti-gay. This was alluded to in Christopher Andersen's biography on Tom Cruise. But, it would appear that the Church of Scientology aligned itself for the Church of Latter Day Saints in its quest to have Proposition 8 passed in California, to much success. Haggis found this extremely counter to the church's standing on acceptance. His other reason for leaving the church was its "disconnection" rule, under which participants in the religion are not permitted to see certain family members and friends if they are deemed problematic to the church and its mission. Haggis' wife was subjected to this rule -- even though it's been publicly denied on several occasions.

It's always been clear that the Church of Scientology is shady, at best. As more stories like Haggis' come to light, I have a feeling shady isn't going to begin to cover it.

Here's some of the more enlightening quotes from Haggis' letter of resignation, the Nightline transcript in which several ex-members discuss internal processes and a representative defends the church, and a link to the lengthy St. Petersburg Times Magazine expose on Scientology. Prepare to be astounded.

"As you know, for ten months now I have been writing to ask you to make a public statement denouncing the actions of the Church of Scientology of San Diego. Their public sponsorship of Proposition 8, a hate-filled legislation that succeeded in taking away the civil rights of gay and lesbian citizens of California – rights that were granted them by the Supreme Court of our state – shames us....The church’s refusal to denounce the actions of these bigots, hypocrites and homophobes is cowardly. I can think of no other word. Silence is consent, Tommy. I refuse to consent." [Haggis' letter of termination]

"I saw you deny the church’s policy of disconnection. You said straight-out there was no such policy, that it did not exist. I was shocked. We all know this policy exists. I didn’t have to search for verification – I didn’t have to look any further than my own home. You might recall that my wife was ordered to disconnect from her parents because of something absolutely trivial they supposedly did twenty-five years ago when they resigned from the church. This is a lovely retired couple, never said a negative word about Scientology to me or anyone else I know – hardly raving maniacs or enemies of the church. In fact it was they who introduced my wife to Scientology." [Haggis' letter of termination]

"And though it may seem small by comparison, I was truly disturbed to see you provide private details from confessionals to the press in an attempt to embarrass and discredit the executives who spoke out....You even felt free to publish secrets from the confessional in Freedom Magazine – you just stopped short of labeling them as such, probably because you knew Scientologists would be horrified, knowing you so easily broke a sacred vow of trust with your parishioners." [Haggis' letter of termination]

But these former senior Scientologists say as Miscavige's leadership progressed, he became increasingly eccentric. "He got his beagle and he literally had somebody tailor a blue vest sweater for his beagle dog and made up epaulets, these Sea Org ranks in the Sea Organization," said Rathbun, referring to the religious order within the Church. "And he had four stripes put on, captain, for the dog. And he would bring the dog in. And if those guys didn't salute the dog, he would just viciously berate them and invalidate them." Amy Scobee gave her account. "[Miscavige] comes with his dog, with a sweater, with commander stripes. And, the dog let out a little bark when she saw me. And, uh, David Miscavige said, you know ... 'You've got somethin' goin' on. Because sh ... she is detecting out ethics. And you have something going on.' I think what the dog was really saying is, you know, 'You look like the only halfway sane person to me. Help me outta this outfit.'" [nightline]

"Bruce Hines said he himself was physically struck by Miscavige....Why didn't Hines react by hitting back? "So say I did that. He hits me and I just go bam. And, you know, sock him in the jaw or something. That would mean, um, I had just forfeited my hope for eternity," said Hines. "... Because it's drilled in over and over and over again, that Scientology has the only route to freedom." So Miscavige has the power over eternity? "Yes." [nightline]

FULL EXPOSE: http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/