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About Those Scientology Billion-Year Membership Contracts
The Scientology Building near Sunset/Vermont, nicknamed "Big Blue" | Photo by stephenfalk via LAist Featured Photos on Flickr
Last month, six disgruntled former Scientology employees spoke out on the one-year anniversary of the Anonymous movement. At a panel inside the Steve Allen Theater in Hollywood, the members described "workplace abuse, forced detention, isolation from outside family and friends and coerced abortion," reported the Los Feliz Ledger on Wednesday.
The employees were within the church's Sea Organization and reported to Golden Era Productions, an audio-visual production facility in Hemet. One employee said he worked 100 hour weeks for $50 and was billed for over $100,000 after he left. They are also asked to sign billion-year contracts.
“You need to measure these six people against the 20,000 Scientology staffers around the world,” said Linda Simmons, a Sea Organization official, to the paper. “These are disgruntled ex-members.”
Simmons disputed many of the claims but did admit there is a billion-year contract, referring to it metaphorically as an "eternal commitment." As for billing someone after leaving, Simmons said that "when people get a lot of services and don’t produce much in exchange and then leave, that’s where the tradition of the bills came from."
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
