Going Clear In Firhouse

at

From top: David Miscavige; Church of Scientology new European hub in Firhouse

David Miscavige, leader of The Church of Scientology is to open its new “Ideal Org” at the former Victory Centre in Firhouse, Dublin 24 next Tuesday, October 14.

Ex-Scientologists of Ireland write:

The new premises comes complete with a 1,100-seat ‘grand auditorium’, although the 2016 Census recorded 87 Scientologists in Ireland.

Mike Rinder, former Executive Director of Scientology’s Office of Special Affairs, describes the Ideal Org strategy as a “real estate, money making scheme and PR campaign for internal scientologists.”

250 Scientologists are being recruited from around the world to staff this new HQ.

David Miscavige, leader of the Church of Scientology since the death of L. Ron Hubbard in 1986, will be in Dublin for the opening.

His reign atop Scientology has been turbulent. His wife, Shelly, disappeared from public view in 2005. Some of Scientology’s most famous adherents, like actress Leah Remini, and writer/director Paul Haggis, have publicly split with the church.

Dozens of former Scientologists have fled the church’s vast “Gold Base” HQ in Gilman Hot Springs, California, claiming they were coerced and abused for years inside its fences.

And a book and an HBO documentary, both titled “Going Clear,” painted a brutal picture of intimidation, beatings, imprisonment, and exploitation of Scientology workers.

In October 2009, the French branch of the Church of Scientology was convicted of fraud and fined €600,000.

In a speech to the Australian Senate on 17 Nov 2009, Nicholas Xenophon labelled the Church of Scientology as a criminal organisation, making allegations of members experiencing blackmail, torture and violence, forced imprisonment, and coerced abortions.

Ruling in the High Court in London in 1984, Justice Latey concluded:

“Scientology is both immoral and socially obnoxious…It is corrupt, sinister, and dangerous. It is corrupt because it is based on lies and deceit and has its real objective money and power for Mr. Hubbard…

It is sinister because it indulges in infamous practices both to its adherents who do not toe the line unquestionably and to those who criticize it or oppose it. It is dangerous because it is out to capture people and to indoctrinate and brainwash them so they become the unquestioning captives and tools of the cult, withdrawn from ordinary thought, living, and relationships with others.”

Ex Scientologists Ireland

Pic: Getty, Tallaght Echo

Sponsored Link

61 thoughts on “Going Clear In Firhouse

  1. MoyestWithExcitement

    Just tell people it’s a secret Mosque and there’ll be enough anger to do something about it.

          1. Milo

            Of course ISIS are left wing. Just like the IRA and most “revolutionary” groups. Right wing believes in small government and freedom of capital. Left wing people believe in central control and enforced ‘equality”. Left wing has to be authoritarian by its nature- it has to enforce an natural system. Thats why they are usually run by armies and revolutionary council. Where is the confusion?

          2. Nigel

            The confusion comes from the whole ultra-conservative religious extremism with imperialistic tendencies, to be honest. For a start.

          3. Milo

            That is a factor. But religion is not a defining characteristic of left and right. Plenty of right wing regimes were not religious. On economic and social beliefs, ISIS are ultra left.

  2. b

    Leave them at it – they usually spend their time recruiting actors so in a year or two half of Fair City will be there and they may start to reassess their strategy

      1. rotide

        There’s been some really good actors on fair city over the years. The problem is due to budgetary constraints, they get pages with no rehearsal and get literally 1 take to get it right. Same sort of thing goes for the writers and directors. That’s why it seems so terrible. It’s viewing figures are good thought and when you compare it to soaps in other bigger markets its practically Breaking Bad.

    1. Amorphous Kerry Blob

      ACTUALLY now that you mention Fair City; I think they are having a go at Scientology in one of their current storylines.
      The storyline involves ‘the group’ who are brainwashing one of the characters. Yesterdays episode ended with said character breaking down, surrounded by the group in their ‘safe space’, (where they had kept her against her will for 2 days.)

    1. Daisy Chainsaw

      Sea Org peons with billion year contracts will work for a glimpse of Cruise’s virile heterosexual thetans.

  3. Anomanomanom

    And this is different to any other religion how. All religion is based on story with no actual facts.

    1. pedeyw

      Most religions don’t expect you to buy your way in, force you into billion year contracts, maintain a heavy handed copyright on their IP and intimidate members into staying (at least with the same degree of hostility).

  4. See Bee Pee

    Film industry must be on an all-week celebratory bender after hearing this. We’re guaranteed at least two Tom O’Cruise fillum productions to be made here now. They’re dancing in the streets of Ardmore Studios tonight!

  5. bisted

    ‘…they were coerced and abused for years inside its fences’ …did nobody suggest they contact the nuns or other religious orders …did nobody tell them we have loads of purpose built institutions lying vacant round the country…

  6. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

    Where do I sign up? That guy looks super-cool and all this is just up my street.

  7. Daisy Chainsaw

    If people are gullible enough in this day and age to fall for this kind of mumbo jumbo blether, then the cults are welcome to them!

  8. Bort

    The scientologists are one thing. it’s these crazy Roman Catholics that give me the heebie jeebies! Pregnant virgin?

    1. gorugeen

      Of course. Sure a girl can get pregnant from sitting on a toilet seat. So we were told in school…by a nun.

  9. postmanpat

    I can see this building from my back yard and I walk across the Firhouse Bridge to Supervalu every other day The foot path goes right behind this place. There’s plenty of movement going on in there these days. I try not to make eye contact with the Dr. Evil henchmen going in and out the rear exits and walking around the perimeter. The place is like Fort Knox. I believe it was a fantastic auditorium when the last clown who built the Victory Centre used to hire it out to armature stage play productions. The State could have used the VC bankruptcy to acquire a community theater for the poshos in not-Tallaght-but-still-D24-not-D16 (FIrhouse) and nearby areas. But that would have shown some vision by politicians. No , sell it to the lizard aliens from V instead.

    1. The Dude

      Why would the state want to do that?

      You seem to think the state is here to serve the people – rather than the other way around.

      Far better to flog it to a foreign cult going on an aggressive recruitment drive, preying on the vulnerable.

      Fun times!

      1. spudnick

        A predatory cult openly advertising themselves for business? Shure what harm?

        If nothing else it might get a bit of press attention, which would raise a bit of awareness about their activities.

Comments are closed.

Sponsored Link
Broadsheet.ie