10,000 Scientologists Got This E-Mail Today About "Disconnection," ... and a Mysterious Death

The Village Voice ^ | 7/9/12 | Tony Ortega

[reaganaut]

Maybe either of you can shed some light on this ‘freeloader debt’, I get that sea orgs get a ‘discount’ and then after they leave they are charged the full rate (as per email above).

My question is, is there a legally binding contract or do they just pay to stay in good standing in Scientology? Can they force people into paying this ‘debt’? If you leave completely (disassociate) then do they come after you and if so in what ways, to pay back this ‘debt’?

[null and void]

Sea Org staff doesn't get a discount, they get free services as part of their compensation. These guys (and gals) only get $50/month, plus room and board. Staff with public contact duties also get a uniform allowance.

The public would be charged thousands for the classes and hundreds per hour for the processing.

The church wants those services paid for with either cash or labor.

Strangely enough, no one gets credited with the labor they've put in if they leave before the contract is complete. They do get the full bill for every class and every minute of auditing they've received.

As to your main question, I don't know if it is "legally binding" I suspect any US court would throw it out as slavery at worst and indentured servitude at best. I don't know of any case where the church has sued in an attempt to collect a "freeloader debt", although I'm fairly certain they would if they thought they could get away with it.

Besides, they think threatening to withhold their version of eternal salvation is a bigger threat than any wog court.

[archy]

The funniest/most bizarro aspect is that LRH started the cult as a joke or a challenge, “yes, I can start my own self-perpetuating religion.” He was upfront about, it, then he DID, it, and he effectively erased the memory of his early boasts from his victims minds. If they ever heard of the origin, they are just told it’s all lies.

You ever read Nevil Shute's Round the Bend? I can even admit former membership in that particular cult.

Must... replace...portside...oleo... strut....

.

[SunkenCiv]

;’)

[reaganaut]

How long are the contracts for? Are there copies online? Are there different contracts for different ‘jobs’?

And what is a ‘wog’? Is that a term for outsiders like Mormons use ‘gentiles’?

It would be interesting from a legal standpoint since technically there is ‘due consideration’ on the church’s part and if leaving then it would be a breech of contract (sorry I’m married to a lawyer).

[Elsie]

bttt

[null and void]

How long are the contracts for?

Sea Org, one billion years. I don't know what the contract lengths are for ordinary staff, a think they are 2-5 years.

Are there copies online?

Probably, I've never looked.

Are there different contracts for different ‘jobs’?

Yes

And what is a ‘wog’? Is that a term for outsiders like Mormons use ‘gentiles’?

It's a very disparaging term for a non-scientologist.

[reaganaut]

Thanks for the info. I will have to add that to my ‘to research’ list.

[mdmathis6]

Then there is that....other bank.

[Elsie]

-Scientologists believe they are enlightened and superior to non-believers and disparagingly refer to them as Meatballs, Bashers, and Wogs.

Ditto for Mormons although without the name-calling. http://wonderwitch.blogspot.com/2007/03/similarities-between-scientology-and.html

Oh, not to worry; for MORMONism has PLENTY of names they call outsiders!

[null and void]

Meatballs, Bashers? Not familiar with those terms. I guess DB (Degraded Being) has fallen out of favor.