When the shit’s about to hit the fan for this celebrity cult

The Church of Scientology, arguably the plainest cult of lies, dishonesty and illegal activities still legally operating under the guise of a “religion”^[1], is headed for some seriously troubled waters, particularly in Australia. The very topmost ranks of the government, including Kevin Rudd, the Australian Prime Minister himself, and Nick Xenophon, a well-known high-impact lawmaker and senator, are cracking down on Scientology after multiple disturbing claims broke through, including allegations of torture, forced abortions, and embezzlement of church funds.

Nick Xenophon tabled letters to the Australian parliament from several former Scientologists, and alleged that the secretive church was an “abusive … violent and criminal organisation” which is hiding behind religion.

Mr Xenophon was questioning the church's tax-free status as a religion when he made the claims, which have been denied by the organisation.

The letters, which the senator has passed onto police, contained allegations of a range of crimes, including forced imprisonment, coerced abortions, embezzlement of church funds, physical violence, intimidation and blackmail.

“Scientology is not a religious organisation, it is a criminal organisation that hides behind its so-called religious beliefs,” Mr Xenophon told the Australian Senate in Canberra on Tuesday evening.

“... The letters received by me which were written by former followers in Australia contains extensive allegations of crimes and abuses that are truly shocking - crimes against them and crimes they say they were coerced into committing.

“These victims of Scientology claim it is an abusive, manipulative, violent and criminal organisation, and that criminality is condoned at the highest levels.”

Owch. Those are some harsh words, and they’re just the beginning. Prime Minister Rudd is now contemplating an official large-scale probe into the cult’s shady affairs, which hopefully will at last expose everything we already know yet desire confirmation for: that Scientology is a criminal group guilty of numerous loathsome crimes, who uses its status as a “religion” both as a cover for their activities and to weasel out of paying taxes. Looks like South Park was right all along.

Here are some noted examples of these hard-hitting claims:

- Paul Schofield admitted to being part of a campaign to cover up the facts surrounding the death of his two daughters, including two and a half-year-old Kirsty, who died during a purification programme.

- Aaron Saxton confined and tortured a follower and coerced females to have abortions, one who used a coat hanger for fear of punishment. He also has details of murder confessions from members in the US, information that was never passed on to police.

- Carmel Underwood was put under "extreme pressure" to have an abortion, and witnessed a young sexually abused girl being coached on how to keep it secret.

- Anna and Dean Detheridge, who were forced to reject a gay relative, provided evidence that personal information was used to blackmail and control them.

- Kevin Mackey revealed how he handed over nearly a million dollars in exchange for services and products after he was conditioned by the sect.

- Peta O'Brien was discouraged from seeking treatment for cancer, was cut off from her son and provided evidence of being assaulted.

Wow. I didn’t think it was possible, but Scientology is actually starting to sound worse than the Catholic Church through its actions. It’s high time this scam was shut down and exposed as the wretched hive of scum and villainy that it is^[2].

[1] Whereas other churches and cults usually fare better at keeping their skeletons well-hidden in their closets.

[2] That really is a great quote that can be used in so many different situations. (And if you don’t recognize it, I weep for you.)