Cult News

It’s official; Katie Holmes has started “shilling for Scientology.”

At Fox News Roger Friedman reports that he got a gift pack from the couple known as “TomKat.”

His latest “Scientology package [came] as a brightly-colored cardboard box with many inserts, including a CD and a DVD. The DVD contains a weird music video called ‘United.'”

The music video includes shots of Scientology celebs Jenna Elfman, Erika Christensen, Isaac Hayes and Catherine Bell “all sort of nodding in a trance and clapping along.”

Along with this updated version of Tom Cruise’s old gift pack sent out last year comes the same note advising journalists that a donations have been made to Scientology in their name.

But this year the note comes from both Cruise and Katie Holmes with both their signatures.

Sorry no sonogram.

Nevertheless isn’t that note something to frame and hang over a desk with pride?

Hardly.

But maybe good enough for a few laughs in a column as Friedman has done.

It seems Scientology has found a fresh new face to add to its aging lineup of middle aged Hollywood stars.

Maybe recruitment efforts are getting desperate for Scientology?

Recently the group has taken to the streets and subway tunnels in an effort to proselytize.

In California one of its branch directors was actually giving “stress tests” on the sidewalk.

Katie Holmes might just help the organization often called a “cult” market its wares more effectively to a younger audience, even though college kids and teens don’t typically have enough money to buy into Scientology.

Narconon, a Scientology-linked drug rehab program, is causing controversy in Israel. The Tel Aviv municipality will soon be running its drug rehab treatments, which were developed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

But the Health Ministry and the Israel Antidrug Authority seem a bit uneasy reported Haaretz.

Antidrug Authority General Director Haim Messing doesn’t appear too thrilled.

“In my opinion, the Tel Aviv municipality cannot start such a process without the approval of the Health Ministry and the Antidrug Authority,” he said. Messing explained, “The patients will receive large doses of vitamins and food supplements while in the sauna to increase the excretion of toxins by the body.” “We are in favor of effective methods for drug rehabilitation, on the condition that programs be adopted only after being properly researched,” he concluded.

Medical experts have repeatedly questioned the validity of Hubbard’s teachings regarding toxins and drugs held within the body. Nearly 500 California doctors backed school authorities when they dropped a Narconon program presented to students.

Here are some of the claims made by Narconon that medical experts called inaccurate:

• Drugs accumulate indefinitely in body fat, where they cause recurring drug cravings and flashbacks for years, even after the user quits.
• The vitamin niacin pulls drugs from fat, and saunas sweat them from the body.
• Colored ooze is produced when drugs exit the body.

Shouldn’t Israeli medical experts be researching these points specifically before going ahead as Messing concluded?

Narconon seems increasingly desperate to garner official recognition. And now after being repeatedly rebuffed due to a lack of credible scientific evidence the Scientologists that support the program apparently are willing to put up rather than shut up.

“We received a donation of $1.5 million in the U.S. to run the program,” Dr. Benny Avrahami, director of the Tel Aviv Municipal Anti-Drug Authority told the press. “The only condition set by the American donors was that we run this specific program,” he said.

So who do you think that donation come from?

Tom Cruise has given millions to Scientology and has targeted substantial sums to implement similar programs featuring Hubbard’s niacin and sauna treatments for fireman and rescue workers in New York.

Kirstie Alley has been a spokesperson for Narconon, while Jenna Elfman has been a booster for the closely related Criminon program.

Maybe these Hollywood Hubbard fans each kicked in $500,000 to get things going in Israel?

Well, one thing is for sure, some Scientologists did.

Is there something about being a Scientologist that somehow leads professionals to commit so-called “white collar crimes”?

Some chiropractors that shared a common commitment to Scientology, once named the “Cult of Greed” by Time Magazine, have been linked to such crimes in recent news reports.

Scientologist Markell D. Boulis of Pennsylvania, now jailed on drug charges in Georgia, has become a focus in one of the largest health insurance fraud cases in the United States reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

The former chiropractor ran something called “Practice Solutions” out of his basement, selling other chiropractors a package of services.

Another Scientologist was reportedly linked to Boulis, chiropractor David Goroway, who became a defendant in a federal racketeering lawsuit that was later settled.

Time Magazine once noted, “Many of the group’s followers have been accused of committing financial scams” and called the organization “a hugely profitable global racket.”

Scientology has a history of specifically recruiting dentists, doctors and chiropractors through business management companies such as Sterling Management.

Boulis and Goroway were also associated with yet another Scientologist and chiropractor in Florida.

Interestingly, Clearwater, Florida, which is a major hub for the controversial church and is known for its many Scientology-linked building projects and businesses run by Scientologists, now has another distinction.

Clearwater has been cited by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its annual report as a metro area with one of the highest per capita rates of consumer fraud in the United States.

Postscript: David Goroway contacted CultNews and advised that he is no longer involved with Scientology.

It seems that Showtime is afraid of Scientology, at least that’s what Trey Parker says, one of the creators of South Park.

“Showtime wouldn’t let [Penn] do an episode of Bullshit! on Scientology” and “that’s “f–ked up” he told GQ Magazine in an interview.

According to recent press reports the South Park Scientology episode “Trapped in the Closet” that mocks the controversial church often called a “cult” and ridicules Tom Cruise will not be run in Britain due to threats from the litigious former “Top Gun.”

So it seems there are some limits even to South Park bravery.

Nevertheless it’s quite easy for Brits or anyone else in the world with Internet access to see the Scientology slapdown through an array of Web sites, such as one cited by Wikipedia.

“Now that we’ve done it, now it’s like we’ve sort of opened the floodgates. People will be less scared,” observed Trey Parker.

But the “floodgates” were actually first opened by bumbling Scientologist Tom Cruise running his mouth recklessly in interviews and of course his infamous couch jumping stunt on Oprah.

Since the Hollywood superstar’s media meltdown last year Scientology and the actor have become “fair game” for almost any reporter and a standing joke amongst standup comics.

Hey Showtime, how about showing a little guts?

Why not let Penn & Teller feature Scientology in a show that’s name seems synonymous with its public persona?

While former good girl Katie Holmes reportedly plans to marry Tom Cruise after having his baby (as told to Ellen DeGeneres) and continue her Scientology education while apparently distancing herself from Catholicism, her boyfriend’s last wife is doing just the opposite.

Nicole Kidman apparently has ended her days “dabbling” with Scientology and now wants to be married as a Roman Catholic reports Life Style Extra. The only consistency in this twisted tale is that whoever gets Tom Cruise must take on Scientology too.

No one knows the exact details about the last Cruise marital meltdown, but some suspect that as Kidman cooled to Scientology, Cruise cooled to Kidman.

The Holmes family would probably like to know all the fine details considering their daughter’s present condition and impending marriage.

However, a probable confidentiality agreement was likely one part of the bargain Kidman made in her final divorce deal, so neither the public nor Cruise’s future in-laws are likely to find out easily.

Instead, Katie Holmes and her family are likely to learn the hard way.

It looks like another naïve celebrity has become a pawn, helping get attention for a Scientology-linked project. This time it’s Angelina Jolie appearing in an award show to be televised in several cities sponsored by Pepsi according to a recent press release.The TV special “Pepsi Everyday Freedom Heroes” features prominently amongst its honorees Scientologist Mary Shuttleworth and her son Taron Lexton. Shuttleworth is the founder and director of “Youth for Human Rights International” that has close ties to the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International, which has often been called a “cult.”

Shuttleworth’s teenage son Taron is now working on a project sponsored by Scientology making “30 short Public Service Announcements.”

Maybe Jolie should have known that there was some sort of Scientology connection when she found out that its long-time booster Isaac Hayes was also lending his face and voice to the awards show?

CultNews previously reported how another unsuspecting star Kathleen Turner got involved with a Scientology-linked project called “Answering the Call.”

Turner was taken in through her commitment to New York rescue workers, now it seems Jolie has been had over her devotion to human rights.

Maybe Angelina Jolie should have consulted the father of her next child Brad Pitt, who rumor has it dumped his old girlfriend Juliette Lewis over concerns about her devotion to Scientology.

Meanwhile Mary Shuttleworth, who runs the “Shuttleworth Academy” an “Applied Scholastics” school, must be happy.

After all the stated mission of her academy is “the intention to get L. Ron Hubbard’s study technology, as well as other materials of his humanitarian philosophy, fully in use and exported into the community.”

What a breakthrough for Mary to get Pepsi and Ms. Jolie to pitch in and help out.

Scientology frequently uses its “human rights” platform to protest perceived persecution within countries such as Germany that take a dim view of its business practices.

Ironically, it is Scientology that arguably needs to do its own housecleaning concerning human rights.

Scientology’s treatment of its full-time staffers within what is called “Sea Org” and its regular members has frequently been called into question.

One member Lisa McPhearson died while under the care of the church and her family later filed a wrongful death suit, eventually collecting a large settlement just before a trial was scheduled to begin.

And then there is Scientology’s so-called “Rehabilitation Project Force” (RPF), a program its critics say features “brainwashing,” “hard physical labor,” “forced confessions” and “provides Scientology with a labor force that receives almost no salaries.”

Scientology also reportedly routinely expects members to sign away some of their human rights through release forms giving the church extraordinary powers over such things as medical decisions and personal records. These same releases also provide various legal immunities regarding the church’s “religious services,” which were linked to the death of Lisa McPhearson.

Don’t expect Pepsi to give out any awards for these activities.

Scientology has become very adept over the years at dodging questions about how a belief regarding alien beings from outer space interlocks with its doctrines.

Witness what happened when a seemingly naïve and apparently uninformed university student reporter supposedly “Infiltrat[ed] Scientology.”

The article that reads more like a guided tour than an “infiltration” appeared in a campus newspaper The Strand in Toronto.

The student journalist reports “As for aliens, [the Scientology designated spokesperson] said he had no idea. There is, he said, no group consensus amongst Scientologists as to the existence or non-existence of aliens¦that there was no clear answer. It’s up to each member.”

Pretty clever.

It’s not until a Scientologist reaches “Operating Thetan Level 3” or “OT3” that he or she learns about Xenu the outer space ruler who sent billions of beings to earth millions of years ago to resolve an overpopulation problem.

If you are a Scientologist you typically must pay your way up to OT3 before this secret is revealed.

Many Scientologists may never learn about Xenu and the spiritual residue of aliens still around that continue to haunt the earth attaching to humans as “body thetans” or what Scientologists frequently call “BTs.” And one way Scientology can effectively dodge this pesky issue is to set reporters up with staffers who have not yet reached OT3.

In this way if the question of Sci-fi theology comes up, the staffer can honestly plead ignorance. This is a form of spin control often called “plausible denial.”

But if a Scientologist manages to reach OT3 it’s not “up to each member” whether Xenu ever existed or whether what is called “the incident” actually occurred and there is a very “clear answer.”

After all, Scientology’s founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote this “sacred text” and when was the last time you heard Tom Cruise or John Travolta say he was wrong?

OT3 is therefore what is called an “article of faith” and an important fundamental feature of Scientology and its theology.

Perhaps when journalists do an interview with a Scientologist they should first do some homework.

Scientology sued quiet a few people in an effort to keep OT3 and other teachings it considers “trade secrets” unavailable to the general public.

However, European Web sites beat Scientology in court making Hubbard’s teachings easy to learn for free.

Operation Clambake has the text of all eight of Hubbard’s OT levels up and accessible to anyone interested with Internet access.

So what could a serious journalist do when asking Scientologists questions about their beliefs?

First, establish the OT level of the Scientologist they are talking to.

Ask, “Have you reached an OT level yet?”

Once it is established that the Scientologist is at least an OT3 ask about it, but word the question carefully and precisely.

For example a reporter might ask, “Since you have reached OT3 you are aware that Scientology teaches the human condition can in part be explained by an event that began in outer space and took place millions of years ago?”

Next question, “Scientology’s founder L. Ron Hubbard specifically wrote about aliens from what he considered a historical perspective and how such visitors from outer space have affected the earth and humanity, didn’t he? And you were taught this when you reached ‘Operating Thetan Level 3,’ isn’t that correct?”

If the Scientologist doesn’t respond or somehow becomes evasive the reporter can ask meaningful follow-up questions.

For example, “So you deny then that Mr. Hubbard ever wrote about such a historical incident taking place, which involved alien beings coming to earth in spaceships and that no such teaching has ever existed nor has it been taught within Scientology?”

Cruise and Travolta have both reportedly reached “OT7,” so they know all about Xenu, the spaceships and BTs.

Will anyone in the mainstream media ever ask these Hollywood stars such questions, or will most reporters just keep throwing softballs and/or accept any answer without meaningful follow-up?

So far Comedy Central’s South Park show lampooning Tom Cruise and Scientology has been the most recent and perhaps boldest effort to bring “out of the closet” Scientology’s carefully guarded secrets. But why is a comedy show seemingly the only mainstream media venue that explores these basic questions concerning the controversial church that has been called a “cult.”

What ever happened to serious journalism and serious journalists asking serious questions?

After all if Tom Cruise and other Hollywood Scientologists want to use their celebrity and media access to promote their religion, its related programs and projects and preach their beliefs, isn’t it fair to ask them a few meaningful questions about the substance of those beliefs?

Mel Gibson doesn’t have a problem discussing the crucifixion of Jesus so why should John Travolta have a problem talking about Xenu? When Gibson promoted his film “The Passion” he spoke quite frankly and openly about his faith and its beliefs.

Should the public then conclude that the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard within the Scientology OT levels is something Tom Cruise and his fellow Scientologists are somehow either ashamed and/or embarrassed about?

Jenna Elfman may have a new television show, but the former sitcom star of Dharma and Greg is still doing her same old routine promoting the Church of Scientology.

Elfman put in an appearance at a prayer breakfast in Inglewood Saturday and the invocation was done by her fearless leader, Scientology’s apparent President for life Heber Jentzch.

Jentzch seems to have some juice with Los Angeles Country Sheriff Lee Baca who it appears appointed him to a slot on his “Executive Clergy Advisory Council.”

Mr. Jentzch knows something about jails. He was once jailed by Spanish authorities, but later released along with other Scientologists on $1 million dollars bail.

Some years later Jentzch was cleared by a Spanish court. Perhaps this was when Scientology’s peripatetic president learned about the power of prayer?

The “6th Annual Multi-Faith Prayer Breakfast” Saturday was emceed by former Lakers player John Salley and attended by local politicians including Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa according to a Scientology press release.

Elfman used her speaking time to pitch a program called “Criminon,” which she claims assists prisoners.

Ms. Elfman has been shilling for this Scientology project for years in California seemingly trading on her celebrity status to garner support and funding for Criminon.

However, Criminon literature was banned in Britain where its efforts caused “alarm.”

The program also was called “an experimental, gimmicky program that has absolutely no scientific validation for it” by Nevada Assembly Majority Leader Barbara Buckley.

It seems Elfman and her handlers at Scientology now hope that events like the recent “prayer breakfast” offer another venue for their continued efforts to gain political support and/or funding for programs like Criminon.

It looks like Scientology put pressure on an Internet site after a fundamentalist Christian preacher linked its founder, practices and programs with the works of “Satan.”

Pastor J. Grant Swank Jr. stated at the Post Chronicle Web site: “Satan takes all praise and glory from Redeemer Christ for all honor and esteem granted [Scientology founder L. Ron] Hubbard and his wild spheres of inner ascendancy.”

And that Scientology celebrity Tom “Cruise, like many other famous individuals, particularly actors, furthers the cult of Scientology as Satan uses this means by which to direct eternal souls away from Christ to Hubbard.”

Pretty harsh words that some might observe are bold too, considering Scientology’s penchant for suing people.

But what a difference a week or so can make when it comes to “The Truth.”

Now the same Web site that featured the article denouncing Cruise and Scientology is featuring another one by a Scientology minister offering up “The Truth.”

Could it be that this unlikely cooperation affording Scientology space for a theology lesson at the Web site is actually part of some sort of a deal to keep the Post Chronicle out of a lawsuit with the litigious church often called a “cult”?

Madonna is in an awkward position regarding her beloved Kabbalah Centre (KC), now that one of its most important leaders has been charged with fraud.

Shaul Youdkevitch head of the Israeli branch of the KC, the man that prompted the 1980s diva’s recent pilgrimage to the Holy Land, has been charged with bilking a dying woman that was once his disciple.

Mrs. Youdkevitch has been pulled in for questioning too by Israeli authorities concerning the activities of the religious organization, which has been called a “cult.”

The husband of a ten-year member stricken with cancer says his wife was told if she gave tens of thousands of dollars to the KC, it would somehow improve her condition.

She gave the money, but died at the age of 50.

Subsequently, her husband filed an official complaint alleging fraud.

Such allegations against the Kabbalah Centre are not new.

Earlier this year the London branch of the religious organization was filmed undercover making similar claims to a cancer patient in Britain. This was later broadcast nationally and reported widely in the British press.

But now it’s not just bad press that Madonna and her fellow KC groupies have to contend with, it’s criminal charges and the prospect of jail time hanging over their leader’s head.

So far Madonna seems to believe whatever the KC tells her and continues to ignore the implications of these serious charges.

Madonna has reportedly given the organization millions.

Perhaps, the former “Material Girl” is more cocerned with protecting her investment and subsequent sense of equity, than her fans and the public from the “cult” she has promoted for so many years.

The 47-year-old 1980s pop queen told the New York Daily News, “We’re all in a cult.” And reportedly sounds “not wildly dissimilar to Pat Robertson” when going on about her spirituality.

The singer claims that the KC is “not hurting anybody.”

Maybe Madonna should amend that statement given the current circumstances, which includes her spritual mentor being held under house arrest.

In the same Daily News interview the singer went on to defend Tom Cruise, another celebrity, who constantly is out shilling for Scientology, another group often called a “cult.”

“If [Scientology] makes Tom Cruise happy, I don’t care if he prays to turtles,” Madonna says. “And I don’t think anybody else should.”

However, making celebrities “happy” isn’t the issue.

Since celebs like Madonna and Tom Cruise constantly use their status to proselytize, shouldn’t they accept some of the responsibility when things go wrong and people get hurt by their controversial religions?

Scientology has paid out millions in settlements over personal injury claims regarding its bad behavior and faced criminal charges.

Now it seems that the KC may be following in its footsteps.

Let’s hope the media begins ask Madonna some tough questions, instead of allowing her to use interviews much like infomercials to promote the Kabbalah Centre. After all, her spiritual mentors in Israel are facing tough questioning from the police.