Scientology has long been accused of thuggish treatment by former members who say that they are followed and harassed if they go public with disclosures about the church. The latest such accusation comes from Monique Rathbun, wife of former high-ranking church member Marty Rathbun. She alleges that the Church set up a surveillance system next to their home and followed the couple when they tried to find a remote hideaway from the church. What is different is that she claims to have pictures of the Scientology operatives responsible for the harassment. Rathbun filed her lawsuit in Texas and detailed how the Church maintains a group that it calls “squirrel busters” who track down and harass former scientologists.
C. “Marty” Rathbun is a former senior executive of the Church of Scientology and once held the position of Inspector General of the Religious Technology Center (RTC). That is one of the highest positions in the organization and is responsible for the protection and enforcement of all Dianetics and Scientology copyrights and trademarks. He previously made headlines by stating that Scientology leader David Miscavige ordered him to secretly videotape the auditing sessions of Scientology celebrity Tom Cruise.
Monique Rathbun claims that the couple was followed and harassed by the Church so they decided to buy a home in a remote area surrounded by woods. They claim that the Church then bought a 5-acre plot along their property and set up powerful surveillance cameras disguised as deer movement cameras used by hunters. What is most interesting that that the couple reportedly has photos of the “squirrel busters” wearing T-shirts bearing Rathbun’s face and filming the couple. She was previously granted a restraining order against the Church. The allegations would raise some interesting issues of intrusion upon seclusion and a comparison to Nader v. General Motors Corp., where Ralph Nader was able to show that GM hired detectives to follow him closely. One such instance involved looking over his shoulder at banks to read his bank slips, which was found to be an intrusion upon seclusion even though it was a public place.
The lawsuit claims that the squirrel busters “harassed, insulted, surveilled, photographed, videotaped, defamed and humiliated” the couple. They already have one big victory. Texas Judge Dib Waldrip has reportedly ordered the deposition of Scientology leader David Miscavige. However, the church indicated that it was secured a stay pending appeal on the basis that Miscavige is an “ecclesiastical leader” who should not be subject to deposition in the case. The church has also denounced the lawsuit as a “transparent get-rich-quick scheme.”
Below is a bizarre video where the alleged squirrel busters are features on anti-Scientology sites (Rathbun appears to call himself an independent Scientologist):
Source: Page Six
RobinH45 1, December 17, 2013 at 3:35 pm
@Dredd its real screwed up of you to disrespect Monique Rathburns name as she was never a member of lyingtology. but then she could also say what kind of name is dredd? is it dredd from the rastafarian hairstyle or dread from a negative feeling…. ?????
to those who may want to know the whole story.. its detailed from beginning to end at the underground bunker
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The name is Rathbun.
Stop being disrespectful.
@Dredd its real screwed up of you to disrespect Monique Rathburns name as she was never a member of lyingtology. but then she could also say what kind of name is dredd? is it dredd from the rastafarian hairstyle or dread from a negative feeling…. ?????
to those who may want to know the whole story.. its detailed from beginning to end at the underground bunker
Actually, I would like to see the “church” of $¢i€nto₤og¥ shown a new cartoon:
RICO and Bullwinkle
Scientology is one interesting group of squirrels. Follow the money and you will find the nuts.
Dredd sed: “Where do these names come from?”
Monique Rathbun, Dib Waldrip, David Miscavige, and squirrel busters.
Sounds like a Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoon.
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Gene H. 1, December 17, 2013 at 9:18 am
Dredd,
Shhhhh! Careful or the Church of $cientology will send their Executive VP in charge of Dirty Tricks after you. Boris Badenov. Beware the skinny girl who travels with him.
=================================
I don’t know how JT does it, but I often have to read his posts twice to determine if he has been slimed by The Onion or if I have misread it.
My only immunity from such perplexities is to refer to either the Wayback Machine or the descendancy of pigs as a one of a many couched response.
But I do enjoy the intrigue.
It seems that it’s open deer season in most localities….. Hmmm……one way to rid themselves of these varmints.
This is a situation where Second Amendment rights (and Second Amendment advocates) should collide with the First Amendment rights of the Scientoxicologists. God made rifles for a reason. Use em on squirrel busters. Guys like Buster Cherry need to be shot.
The “church” has already, in this court case, admitted to being behind the squirrel busters and the other harassment, but they are also claiming their actions are merely their lawful expression of free speech.
The sharks of scientology are getting their teeth pulled, slow but sure.
I was the first one visiting Marty when the Squirell Busters arrived. Two of the Squirell Busters named John Allender and Mark Warlick Followed me from San Jose where I live to Corpus Christie Texas. I am currently fighting to get my kids back from Scientology because the ‘church’ manipulated my children to disconnect from me. I just saw my son with the help of Inside Edition: http://www.insideedition.com/headlines/7446-mother-makes-emotional-quest-to-reunite-with-son
I hope I live long enough to see this criminal conspiracy broken up and its leaders destitute and behind bars.
“However, the church indicated that it was secured a stay pending appeal on the basis that Miscavige is an “ecclesiastical leader” who should not be subject to deposition in the case.”
Would this be like you can’t depose a Pope for the molestation of children by Priests? By this precedent they shouldn’t have been able to arrest and question Warren Jeffs. There has been an age old battle as to whether religious leaders are subject to governments, mainly coming from Roman Catholicism and Islam. It is a fundamental issue of freedom from religion that through the ages most with power have either been afraid to address, or complicit.
The church has also denounced the lawsuit as a “transparent get-rich-quick scheme.”
This church (cult) certainly can speak with authority about get rich quick schemes. They’ll soon be transitioning to the 21st century mormon church (cult) philosophy,… The stay rich long scheme. ,
juandos,
You miss the point completely. Regardless of past associations, people have a right to be left alone in their private lives. It is not “whining” to file a legal complaint against individuals or groups for stalking, threatening or harassing behavior.
I am not sure what being 62 years old has to do with anything. I am a heck of a lot older than you, and I would be taking similar action as the Rathburn family under similar circumstances.
What is whining is to be a stalker–or instigator of stalking–and then claim immunity from being deposed because one is some kind of cleric.
Dredd,
Shhhhh! Careful or the Church of $cientology will send their Executive VP in charge of Dirty Tricks after you. Boris Badenov. Beware the skinny girl who travels with him.
Where do these names come from?
Monique Rathbun, Dib Waldrip, David Miscavige, and squirrel busters.
Sounds like a Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoon.
Well people whining today about the supposed thugishness of the Scientology clowns deserve little if any sympathy…
I’m 62 years old and this deportment by the Scientology crowd has been known for quite some time now…
These whiners are fools…
This story was interesting enough, even before I got to the name “Dib Waldrip.” That just makes my day.
But the larger issue is, why are we still giving special deference to Scientology or to any other church or “church”? The First Amendment can be best served, it seems to me, by not giving any special treatment to any corporate entity that claims a religious exemption from laws, taxes, or any other duties and responsibilities of a corporate citizen of the US. Doing so puts the government in the awkward position of having to be deciding whether a given organization is in fact a “religion” within the meaning of the Constitution. When Christians can’t decide among themselves whether a given denomination is “really Christian,” how can the government possibly be qualified to do so? End the abuses and put them all on equal footing with other non-profit organizations.
These people have turned themselves into an organization that is truly evil. There still is good in Scientology but not the way it’s currently practiced.
Reblogged this on The International Blogspaper.