60 Minutes: Questions remain about whereabouts of Scientology 'queen'

9news.com.au ^ | 2/10/2019 | Sammi Taylor

[rktman]

The public face of the Church of Scientology is benevolent.

For decades the church has enjoyed the razzle-dazzle of its celebrity members and high-profile spokespeople, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

But beneath the glamour and celebrity is a veil of secrecy, with disturbing cult-like practices and serious allegations of violence, abuse and even claims of holding people prisoner.

60 Minutes travelled to Scientology’s California HQ – the ‘Gold Base’ just outside of LA – where reporter Tara Brown went looking for answers on Shelly Miscavige’s disappearance – but instead, 60 Minutes cameras were met with hostility and an angry attack from Scientology representatives, who refused to identify themselves.

“You’re creating threats against very innocent wonderful people but you won’t even bother to contact the Church of Scientology media relations,” the unnamed woman says in a fiery confrontation with the 60 Minutes cameras.

[rktman]

Multi millions in the bank? 5 million year contract? I'm still wondering where david miscabbage got all those medals he has on his captains uniform.

[V_TWIN]

I follow the Leah Remini show pretty closely. When the fed gov recognized ‘em as a church the flood gates were opened. Last episode explained how that happened. basically scientology harassed the IRS into allowing them tax exempt status.

[simpson96]

“Where’s Shelly?”

[V_TWIN]

Leah Remini file a missing persons report on her, the lapd basically blew it off.

[lee martell]

People have been asking about this lady since the GWB administration. I think, sadly that she is no longer living.
I am viewing from the outside. Just basic deduction of circumstance.

[null and void]

ping

[Slyfox]

Scientology is really no different than any other cult. Nah, maybe much more successful because of the influence they press into their service.

They are like the early nazi's who intimidated people through fear while gaining every psychopath who could see an opportunity for them in their organization.

They also remind me of the people who surround Hillary, even though she lost her big chance. Just like the people who truly believe that L. Ron Hubbard is coming back and they build him numerous mansions for the event.

It is amazing what they are able to get away with.

[Slyfox]

5 million year contract?

They actually believe that they are going to acquire super-human powers as they move into the highest levels.

Interestingly, satan-worshippers like Hillary Clinton believe that same thing, just add a little scared kiddies' adrenals.

[Reily]

The German government used to classify them as a terrorist organization.

[minnesota_bound]

#2 Ite was Bill Clinton who gave them ‘church’ status. Fot a bribe no doubt.

[pepsionice]

The Germans ended their ‘forbidden’ status about a decade ago. But there’s income paperwork required for tax-free status, and that probably hinders a lot of their normal ‘recruitment’. I still see them out on week-days....in a shopping district and trying ‘sell’ their message. Germans just don’t buy into it much.

[V_TWIN]

I don’t necessarily disagree with that.

[fishtank]

PS, this just might be a parody.

Jus' sayin, for anyone who can't spot a joke.

[V_TWIN]

“It is amazing what they are able to get away with.”

Agree. The stories the ex-scientologists tell on the A&E show are unbelievable.

[V_TWIN]

I keep hearing the term “clear the planet”...….of what, non-scientologists?

[NorthMountain]

60 Minutes cameras were met with hostility and an angry attack

Heh ... that's the appropriate way to meet those lying bastards. I trust Hubbard's cult more than I trust 60 Minutes ... and my trust level for the Hubbardian cult is significantly less than zero.

[SauronOfMordor]

I agree with you. I think she wanted out, and she knew too much to be allowed out.

Consider, would any other person be able to get away with having his wife disappear, for years, and escape scrutiny?

[FES0844]

Amazes me how intelligent people, (Greta Van Susteren) can belong to this cult. And they pay big bucks to participate.

[V_TWIN]

Parody or not that is just plain ‘ol creepy.

[semantic]

I have a slightly different take on how the IRS decision went down. Basically, they were faced with a very important, key opinion that would have positively been challenged in court, where the "church" would have then eventually prevailed. I'm referring, of course, to someone, some group of people, some board of supervisors, deciding on what and what isn't a 'religion'.

So, rather than go down that path and the inevitable 1A reaffirmation, the IRS/government essentially punted, relying on information and human nature to limit the damage. The gov't was also banking on the fact that it's very, very difficult to start a church. In the last 200 years, only a handful have been successfully launched. LDS, JW, Scientology, and ? It's both the nature of people to lose enthusiasm, and promoters to lose energy, which leads to all the groups we don't hear about eventually fading away.

Of course, this makes vulnerable the (relatively few) people who do become ensnared in the rare association that has all the 'right pieces'. How many people can resist the personal dynamics of a J Smith, or Miscavage, and the essential criminality of psychopathic masterminds? In reality, not that many, so it's better to protect the 1A overall, than run around attempting to protect the few who get trapped in cults.