Church of Scientology

Sage One Reminisces About 'Rollin' Stoned'

[Editor's Note: This new Weekly music feature highlights outtakes and personal stories from bands who just finished working their asses off to put out new music.] The weather is starting to warm up and people cruising around town need something to bump with their windows down. Costa Mesa-based rapp ... More >>

Luis and Rocio Garcia, Former Prominent OC Scientologists, Sue Scientology for Fraud Over Donations

While New Yorker writer Lawrence Wright continues to do his victory tour for his magnificent book-length exposé on Scientology, Irvine residents Luis and Rocio Garcia are getting sue-y against their former church.You might remember the couple from 2011, when the St. Petersburg Times revealed they h ... More >>

Loretta Sanchez Gave Certificate of Congressional Recognition to Orange County Church of Scientology in August

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez has done many dumb things in her 16 years representing the wabs of OC. There was her refusal to co-sponsor the DREAM Act, the 2010 slamming of Vietnamese on Univisión, the rambling speech she gave to Pomona College students a couple of years back...the list can go on a ... More >>

The Master of 'The Master'

Paul Thomas Anderson talks 70mm, Joaquin Phoenix, and researching Scientology for his sixth and most anticipated film

OC Register Columnist David Whiting Gives Blowjob Review to New OC Church of Scientology

When Orange County Register columnist David Whiting wrote solely about the outdoors, he was entertaining, informative, and offered a valuable perspective to county readers. But as the Reg's main columnist, he's what Moxley accurately, hilariously refers to as a bootlicker--and he's being nice as to ... More >>

L. Ron Hubbard Answers Scathing KABC-TV Report on Scientology

We here in one of the least-respected professions in America talk often about the "news hook" when kicking around story ideas. It's a term pregnant with high-minded concern for the readers and why a story matters. Or, it's a way to justify writing about crap we personally find interesting. But th ... More >>

Did TomKat Miss Scientology Orange County's Boat to the New Civilization?

It appears that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have reached a divorce settlement that will keep their 6-year-old daughter Suri from the clutches of Xenu. Here's hoping that Katie can elude church spies and get on with her life, as folks in Orange County have done after escaping the organization. All th ... More >>

Ex-Scientologist to Garden Grove Mayor: Do Your Research Before the Grip-n-Grin

Politicos beware: if you're ever caught glad-handing the Church of Scientology, one of its former members will pay you a visit at a public meeting and give you the verbal version of "Scientology for Dummies." Paulien Lombard, the former Scientologist who used to spy for church, is continuing her rel ... More >>

Video of Ex-Scientologist: "I Never Said to Myself, Wow the Church is Fucked Up"

More former Scientologists are coming out of the auditing room to tell their stories. During the protest last Saturday at the grand opening of Scientology's Ideal Org at the former Santa Ana Performing Arts and Event Center, Andrea Lombard, a 20-year member of the church, spoke about the psycho ... More >>

Scientology Photo Contest: Replicate This Pic of the New OC Ideal Org and Win $40 for TK Burgers!

Gentle readers: we know times are tough, with (insert your political enemies here) ruining the economy and sending us all to the poor house. But there's good news! If you got a little Ansel Adams in ya, you might win a $40 gift certificate to TK Burgers we've had in this office for a while.All we n ... More >>

Scientologists Are Shining Examples of Cesar Chavez's Ideals, According (Scientology Says) to Garden Grove Mayor William Dalton

Let's play word association: Cesar Chavez. If you said "Scientology"...you win! Among the civic leaders at last weekend's grand opening of the church's Ideal Org in downtown Santa Ana, was Garden Grove Mayor William Dalton, who compared (according to a church news release) the work of Scientologi ... More >>

Deconstructing Scientology's Press Release on its OC Center's Grand Opening, and Possible Found Footage of Genuine Spies in Orange County!

Scientology didn't invite the Weekly to the grand opening Saturday of its Ideal Org at the former Santa Ana Performing Arts and Event Center, which was SanTana's Masonic Hall back when non-hipster gabachos actually lived in the city. But who needs to get inside an event when those hosting it send yo ... More >>

Scientology Grand Opening: Walls! Weirdos! Whacking a Weekly Reporter!

As the Church of Scientology was stalling the opening of their new Ideal Org in downtown Santa Ana, they told me the media would be alerted about the big debut. I never got the memo.But if I did, it likely would've said, "You're not welcomed."That was the message I got Saturday when I walked three f ... More >>

Book Signing: Lake Forest Writer Published in L. Ron Hubbard Anthology

If you're tired of stalking Gustavo during his book signing tour for Taco USA: How Mexican Food Conquered America, you're in luck!Scott Barnes, a Lake Forest writer whose story Insect Sculptor was published in L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Volume 28, will be at Barnes & Nobl ... More >>

Dis(Ideal)organized: OC Scientology Again Delays Grand Opening at New Location

I didn't get the memo. After an hour Saturday morning in front of the former Santa Ana Performing Arts and Event Center, with nary an Operating Thetan in sight, it was "clear" that the big grand opening of Scientology's Ideal Org wouldn't be taking place.Only one homeless guy asked to bum a smoke, s ... More >>

Anti-drug Pamphlets Linked to Scientology Gone From Santa Ana Police Department

It appears that drug-prevention literature connected with the Church of Scientology will no longer be distributed by the Santa Ana Police Department. Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna, the department spokesman, said he was told that "none of the brochures we talked about" are being passed out by the ... More >>

Signing on to Scientology: New Logos Up at Santa Ana Landmark

With the Ideal Org's opening day less than two weeks away, Scientology Orange County has officially marked its territory in downtown Santa Ana. Take a gander at the sign above the entrance, one of many L. Ron Hubbard-tastic emblems that adorn the former Santa Ana Performing Arts and Event Center at ... More >>

Scientology's Two-step Shuffle: Get Drug Prevention Booklet Inside SAPD; When People Call Number, Direct Them to Narconon

Why, looky here. My Pultizer-winning photo shows the back of a pamphlet picked up at the Santa Ana Police Department, advertising the Foundation For a Drug-Free World, which, lo and behold, is sponsored by the Church of Scientology.I called the number and asked where one should go to get help f ... More >>

Scientology Set to Open Orange County Ideal Org in Santa Ana

It looks like the grand opening of Scientology's Orange County Ideal Org will be May 19. Mike McCoy, a police community services specialist with the Santa Ana Police Department, confirmed that it is "90 percent" certain that the organization will open that day at Sycamore and Fifth&n ... More >>

Is The Santa Ana Police Department Collaborating With Scientology? Yes, Says The OC Org's Executive Director; No, Says SAPD

A recent YouTube video features Ed Dearborn, executive director of the Orange County Scientology "org", touting the merits of the organization's Narconon program. Dearborn says Scientology has been "collaborating with the Santa Ana Police Department on our anti-drug education program, which has bee ... More >>

Are Scientology's Ideal Orgs 'Islands of Sanity'? No, Says Former Scientologist Paulien Lombard

Scientologists in Orange County continue to move forward with the transformation of the former Santa Ana Performing Arts and Event Center at the corner of Sycamore and Fifth streets into an Ideal Org.According to the website OCideal.org, L. Ron Hubbard envisioned Ideal Orgs as "islands of sanity ... More >>

Is Scientology's Orange County Org Looking at Your File?

Orange County Scientologists are getting the word out about the happenings in Hubbardville, one YouTube video at a time. Check out ocidealorg's channel! One video in particular is titled "The Central Files: The Quest For an Ideal Org."After the jump, watch Scientologists sift through the files of t ... More >>

Scientology's Orange County Org Uses Koi Fish, Cat in YouTube Video to Call for Volunteers

We learned last week that the Church of Scientology in Orange County may be struggling to build its Ideal Org center at Sycamore and Fifth streets at the former Santa Ana Performing Arts and Event Center.Apparently, they also are short on staff.A video posted on YouTube shows staffers (including koi ... More >>

A Sneak Peek at Scientology's Ideal Org in Orange County, Whenever it Opens

Tony Ortega, editor of our sister paper, Village Voice, recently published an article featuring three mailers from the Church of Scientology, in which the movement promotes its efforts, and primes members to fork over money for the cause. Lucky for us, one mailer promoted a conference in Los An ... More >>

Documentary Shows Scientology Protesters Up Close

​So I got my man hands on a documentary about Anonymous, the group that protests Scientology orgs around the world. The roughly 37-minute film was produced by local college students for a class project, and focuses on protests at the church's Los Angeles headquarters.People wearing Guy F ... More >>

Letters From OC Weekly Readers

Scientology Protester on Allegedly Being Followed: 'It Was Actually Pretty Mind-Boggling'

​She received a cease and desist order. Laguna Beach resident Susan Elliott said she's among those whose efforts to combat alleged abuses in the Church of Scientology have been met with spy tactics and harassment at her doorstep.

Letters From OC Weekly Readers

Scientology Strikes Back Against Former Spy--But Do Commendation Letters Prove Ex-Spy Right?

​Last week's cover story and subsequent Navel Gazing post on the Church of Scientology garnered a fair amount of comments from OC Weekly readers. And some may recall that your humble scribe was called out by Karin Pouw, a Scientology spokeswoman, for not immediately responding to her request ... More >>

How the Church of Scientology Responds to a Reporter's Repeated Requests for Comment

​Asshole. Prick. Handsome. I've been called all three. But Karin Pouw, a spokesthetan for the Church of Scientology, dropped a u-bomb on me in a Feb. 20 email. She called me "unprofessional." Sniffle. Between Feb. 13 and 18, I called the church's media-relations outfit in Los Angeles t ... More >>

Letters From OC Weekly Readers

Paulien Lombard Was a Spyentologist

A former spy for Scientology came clean on abuses. Now, she says, the church is chasing her

The OC Couple Who Gave More than $1.3 Million to the Church of Scientology--Only to Leave

​Over the past couple of weeks, the St. Petersburg Times has been publishing their latest blockbuster series on the Church of Scientology, that ever-mockable collection of has-been movie stars and good people being driven to donate more and more money just to realize an intergalatic overlord name ... More >>

Anarchy in the SC! Posters for Global Revolution Group Anonymous Paper San Clemente

​Mysterious posters popped up on trees and light poles along Avenida Pico, Avenida Del Mar and the downtown in San Clemente over the weekend, just as they have in other Orange County cities lately.They advertise the "global revolution group" Anonymous and direct people to whatis-theplan.org, an eq ... More >>

Scientology "Enemies List" Leaked, With More than a Few OC Residents Listed

​Our sister paper, the Village Voice, posted last week about the recent leaking of a Scientology document listing the names of more than 100 people that aren't on the good with the Clear anymore. "In the document, dated January 22, 2010, an [Office of Special Affairs, Scientology's covert-operati ... More >>

OC Church of Scientology Can't Pay Water Bill?

​Over the past couple of weeks, the influential anti-Scientology message boards Operation Clambake and Why We Protest have reported with glee that the Church of Scientology in Orange County can't pay its water bill on its downtown SanTana building. The source is a former Scientologist who, like so ... More >>

OC Church of Scientology Needs to Work on their Proselytizing

​I read more about Scientology than normal people should, only because I'm a bit obsessed about religions, pseudo-religions, and their secrets. So when the followers of L. Ron Hubbard bought a historic SanTana building a couple of years ago, I figured they were about to launch a massive outreach e ... More >>

A Leer Back at OC's History of Theatrical Naughtiness, Nastiness and Outright Sexual Perversions

Full-Serve Philosophy

A gas station attendant pumps out enlightenment in Peaceful Warrior

Cruise in Control

The Syracuse kid saves the world in style

Messiah news: Real Estate and Sushi Edition

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Santa Ana Performing Arts and Event Center building may soon leave behind the things of this world, and take on the fight against the evil alien power from beyond the stars that's keeping you from fulfilling your potential and living like Tom Cruise. In other ... More >>

Mystery Scientology Theater

How War of the Worlds anticipated the teachings of L. Ron Hubbard

Without a Prayer

Left Behind is a flat wedge of Jesus cheese

Letters

Letters

Rifling Victorias Drawers

The Smoking Gun picks copyright fight with panty peddler

Orange Countys 31 Scariest People

Shock Therapy

OC Scientologists denounce psychology with a little mind control of their own

Look What the Cats Dragged In

Animal rights, A Civil Action and other teenage drivel

The Year in Cyberspace