May 27, 2021 "Scientology's secrets spill into open in Danny Masterson rape case": Today I found this article by James Queally on Yahoo news. This adds to the #Metoo movement:
The Church of Scientology works hard to keep its inner workings out of the public eye.
It has hired private detectives to keep tabs on straying members, and experts say its lawyers vigorously defend against legal incursions, arguing to judges that Scientology’s beliefs are not courtroom fodder.
But at a hearing last week in the rape case against actor Danny Masterson, church officials were unable to stop their practices from being debated in open court.
Three women took the stand to recount sexual assaults allegedly committed by the celebrity Scientologist, and each told similar stories of how church officials tried to stop them from reporting Masterson to police.
One woman testified that a church official instructed her to write a statement showing she would “take responsibility” for a 2001 assault, in which she alleges Masterson raped her while she was unconscious.
Another woman, who was born into Scientology and planned to report Masterson to police in 2004, a year after she said he raped her at his Hollywood mansion, recounted how a Scientology attorney showed up at her family’s home. The lawyer, according to the woman, warned that she would be expelled from the church if she went to authorities.
“We’re going to work out how you can not lose your daughter,” the attorney told the woman’s father, according to her testimony.
The focus on Scientology during the preliminary hearing, which stretched over four days and included lengthy discussions of internal church texts and doctrine, wasn’t lost on Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedo.
In ruling that there was sufficient evidence against Masterson to allow the case to proceed toward trial, Olmedo concluded that Scientology has “an expressly written doctrine” that “not only discourages, but prohibits” its members from reporting one another to law enforcement. The policy explained why several of the women did not report Masterson’s alleged crimes to the police for more than a decade, the judge found.
It was a type of public dissection that is unusual for the insular, enigmatic institution. The church, which counts a number of high-profile actors among its parishioners and operates a “Celebrity Centre” in the heart of Hollywood, has long been accused of going to extraordinary lengths to keep criminal allegations and other claims of wrongdoing in-house, experts said.
“The activities of Scientology have been so much a part of the evidence that’s being put forth as to why these women were not immediately going to law enforcement ... that it’s sort of brought the dirty laundry out into public view, which is exactly what Scientology does not want to have happen,” said Mike Rinder, the church’s former top spokesman, who left the faith in 2007.
In statements to The Times, the church denied it has a policy that dissuades members from reporting crimes, despite repeated references to Scientology texts during the hearing that appeared to include the directive. Karin Pouw, the church’s top spokeswoman, said Olmedo’s comments were “flat-out wrong” and dismissed the allegations against Masterson as “nothing more than a money shakedown” by women who are also engaged in a civil suit against him.
The women, Pouw claimed without evidence, are parroting comments made by Leah Remini, an actress who became an outspoken critic of Scientology after breaking with it in 2013. Rinder is a co-executive producer with Remini of an A&E series about Scientology.
“Church policy explicitly demands Scientologists abide by all laws of the land, including the reporting of crimes. This is blatantly clear in the documents we understand were put before the Court — and many others,” Pouw wrote, repeatedly noting the church is not a party in the criminal case. “The Court either did not read them in full or ignored them. It should have done neither. Interpretation of Church doctrine by the courts is prohibited and the ruling is evidence of why.”
The case against Masterson, who starred in the 2000s sitcom “That ’70s Show,” is a relatively rare example of a Scientologist facing criminal charges based on accusations from other church members, Rinder said.
The church’s doctrine generally dismisses government institutions like courts as invalid and directs members to deal with complaints internally, said Rinder, who described himself as having worked closely with L. Ron Hubbard, the late science fiction author who founded the church. Knowing that contacting law enforcement can lead to excommunication and being cut off from family and friends who remain in the church, members often remain silent, according to Rinder and testimony delivered in court last week.
The case against Masterson, Rinder added, is also unusual for the outsize role the inner workings and rules of Scientology played at the preliminary hearing — a likely preview of what is to come if the case goes to trial. For the most part, Rinder said, cases involving the church have played out in civil court, where lawyers for Scientology have largely been successful in convincing judges that its practices are irrelevant.
"Scientology had managed to persuade courts … that you can’t inquire into our religious practices and beliefs and have managed to dissuade much discussion about Scientology," Rinder said.
In a 2019 trial, lawyers for Scientology failed to shield the church from court scrutiny when defense attorneys for a man accused of beating his sister-in-law and her husband to death in Prescott, Ariz., argued that his belief in the religion drove him to commit the crime, according to a report in the Arizona Republic. In that case, a jury found Kenneth Wayne Thompson carried out the slayings to protect his nephew from receiving psychiatric treatment, which his attorneys argued is barred by the church's doctrines.
Jurors heard testimony about the church's origins, and how members use a polygraph-like "E-meter" during a process meant to lead to spiritual clarity. Both prosecutors and church lawyers opposed the strategy to involve Scientology in the case, but a judge allowed it. Attempts to subpoena church records and call former Scientologists to testify, including Remini, were unsuccessful, however.
Testimony at Masterson’s preliminary hearing at times was as much an explanation of the church’s processes and cryptic vocabulary as an accounting of the actor’s alleged sexual abuse.
One woman testified that she wrote a letter to an “International Justice Chief,” whom she described as the church’s ultimate authority on disputes between Scientologists, seeking permission to sue Masterson and report him to police. References were made in court to “knowledge reports,” “Things That Shouldn’t Be reports,” and “O.W. write-ups.” A prosecutor repeatedly evoked books and letters written by Hubbard.
When a woman explained during her testimony that “wog-law” is the church’s disdainful term for police and courts, Olmedo asked if Scientologists refer to nonmembers as “wogs,” much like wizards in the fictional universe of “Harry Potter” call non-magical people “muggles.”
“I suppose,” the woman responded. “It’s not a nice thing.”
The three women who have accused Masterson of rape were identified in court by their first names and initials of their last names. The Times generally does not name victims of alleged sexual assault unless they choose to fully identify themselves.
Masterson’s attorney, Thomas Mesereau, initially tried to minimize Scientology’s place in the case, asking Olmedo to issue an order limiting mentions of the church or its practices in court. He argued the restrictions were needed because of “religious bias” that investigators from the Los Angeles Police Department and Masterson’s accusers harbored against Scientology.
Olmedo slapped down the request, saying she found it “interesting” that Mesereau argued Scientology should have little to do with the case, but also referred to the church “88 times in a 29-page brief.”
As the hearing wore on, Mesereau appeared to change tactics, introducing church documents as evidence in an attempt to undercut the credibility of Masterson’s accusers.
While cross-examining one woman, he read from an “O.W. write-up” and suggested the church document amounted to an admission by the woman that her encounter with Masterson had been consensual and driven by her promiscuity. She fired back that the document had been written by church officials, who took comments she’d made to a Scientology counselor out of context and repurposed them to defend Masterson.
Mesereau also brought out a copy of “Introduction to Scientology Ethics,” a 528-page tome written by Hubbard, as he cross-examined another alleged victim.
When it was his turn to question the woman, Deputy Dist. Atty. Reinhold Mueller took the book from Mesereau and had it admitted into the court record. He and the woman read aloud passages that she said she understood were official church doctrine that discourages Scientologists from reporting fellow parishioners to law enforcement.
As he finished his questioning, Mueller handed the book back to Mesereau and thanked him, saying it was “very helpful.”
One of the women who testified at the hearing said that when she reported the alleged rape to church officials, she was told to read the chapter of "Introduction to Scientology Ethics" that instructs members not to go to police in such cases.
In a one-on-one meeting, a church "ethics officer" told her "not to use the ‘R-word'" and said it would be a “high crime” to report another Scientologist to law enforcement, the woman testified.
She also said she was required to complete an "ethics course" because she had done "something to ... deserve what [Masterson] did to me.”
Rinder said that in recent years, the church's responses to media inquiries had become "hermit-like." The fact that the church issued a detailed defense of its practices to The Times is a sign the Masterson case has become a significant problem for the church, he said.
“The fact that it's Danny Masterson from 'That '70s Show' … it’s not just local media reporting on a local case, it blows it up way bigger. It becomes part of Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein," he said, referring to the #MeToo movement, which has identified several celebrities as sexual predators. "That instantly puts it into a different zone. Within Scientology, this becomes panic stations, high alert.”
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Scientology's secrets spill into open in Danny Masterson rape case (yahoo.com)
Nov. 30, 2022 "Danny Masterson rape case ends in mistrial as jury is deadlocked": Today I found this article by Taryn Ryder on Yahoo:
A mistrial has been declared in Danny Masterson's rape case. The That '70s Show star, 46, was charged with forcibly raping three women from 2001 to 2003. Masterson pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence through his lawyers, but opted not to take the stand during high-profile trial at the Los Angeles Superior Courthouse. Masterson faced up to 45 years in prison if he'd been convicted on all counts.
In a note to the judge, jurors said, "We are not even close to coming to a unanimous decision on any count, and are convinced this will not change," per Variety.
Jurors initially deliberated for three days beginning on Nov. 15, but the group couldn't reach a unanimous decision on the three charges of forcible rape. The judge released the panel on Nov. 18 and ordered the members back to court 10 days later. When jurors returned on Monday, they had to start deliberations over as two members tested positive for COVID-19 over the break. The judge replaced those jurors with two alternates. The jury originally comprised seven women and five men, and later six men and six women. On Wednesday afternoon, the jury said it was deadlocked.
A retrial date has been set for March 27, 2023.
Despite the defense team's best effort to distance the case from the Church of Scientology, of which Masterson is one if the most prominent members, the controversial religion loomed large over the month-long trial. Three Jane Does who accused Masterson of rape are former Scientologists and claimed their allegations against the actor were suppressed by the church. They claim they've been threatened and harassed in recent years to keep quiet. The church has denied such allegations.
"There are no charges against Scientology. But Scientology cannot be avoided," Deputy Los Angeles County District Attorney Reinhold Mueller said in his closing arguments, pointing to rules within the organization that caused the Jane Does to remain silent for so long. "Fear of going to law enforcement… certain statements about what is rape and what is not rape. You can't avoid it. These are victims who have had the church as part of their life."
Masterson's defense lawyer claimed the prosecution kept bringing up Scientology to bias the jury against his client. During closing statements, attorney Philip Cohen tried to discredit the women over "inconsistencies" in their stories.
Jane Doe No. 1 took the stand and claimed she was anally penetrated her against her will in 2002. She testified she had to speak with a church ethics officer and was "forced to make peace" with Masterson. In 2003, she claimed she was raped at Masterson's house after she believes he slipped something in her drink while she was in the Jacuzzi. Jane Doe No. 1 emotionally told the jury how she remembered waking up in in the actor's bed with him on top of her, and when she tried to shove him away, he held her down and grabbed her throat.
"I just couldn't breathe," she sobbed, adding she thought "I was going to die."
The woman claimed she reported what happened to a Scientologist Ethics Officer and claimed the person covered it up. Although Jane Doe No. 1 was scared of being excommunicated from the church, she went to the police and filed a report in 2004. Soon after, the accuser was paid $400,000 in installments in order to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which she broke at trial.
Jane Doe No. 2 testified she was raped by Masterson after he invited her to his house in 2003. The actor purportedly gave her a glass of wine and told her to get in the Jacuzzi when she started to feel "numb." The woman alleged she was later penetrated against her will, telling the jury after she felt "awful. Out of it. Scared. In pain. Just a rag doll — not totally in charge of my faculties." She couldn't process that what happened was rape.
"In the church, he was more important than me at the time. That would have made my life horrible. You're not allowed to accuse someone of anything that's against the law," she said.
A former longtime girlfriend of Masterson's, known as Jane No. 3, testified that the actor raped her while she was sleeping in 2001. After having a glass or two of wine during dinner, the woman woke up the next morning in his home and "noticed my whole body hurt. The back of my head hurt and I noticed that I was injured in my bottom."
Jane Doe No. 3 said she confronted Masterson.
"I asked him, ‘what happened last night?’ I asked him if I had fallen because I was hurting 'down there,'" she testified. "He laughed at me and said he had sex with me there." The woman claimed she asked Masterson if she was unconscious the whole time. "He said 'yes.'"
The woman said there was "no asking, no loving" when it came to their sex-life.
"A lot of times, it would happen where I would be asleep and I would wake up to him having sex with me," she said. "That was normal. It was the only thing I knew … that was just how it was."
Jane Doe No. 3, who is involved in a separate civil case against Scientology, said she's not after money but is trying to stop the "terror campaign that this criminal organization has put upon me or my family."
A fourth accuser, who was never a member of the Church of Scientology, was allowed to testify despite objections from the defense. Jane Doe No. 4 claimed Masterson raped her twice, though her allegations didn't lead to charges. Her story mirrored those of the other women as she claimed in 1996, she fell asleep in Masterson's home and later awoke with him having sex on top of her.
Masterson has been out on $3.3 million bail since his 2020 arrest. Sexual assault allegations first surfaced against the actor, whose credits also include Face/Off, Dracula 2000 and the series The Ranch, in 2016 and the Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation. Public scrutiny intensified when the #MeToo movement swept through Hollywood the following year.
Masterson has been married to Bijou Phillips, who is also a Scientologist, since 2011 and the two share an 8-year-old daughter. Phillips has publicly supported Masterson amid the scandal and showed up to court every day for four weeks. Actor Billy Baldwin, who is married to Bijou's younger singer, Chynna Phillips, also appeared in court to support the family. Meanwhile, ex-Scientologist Leah Remini publicly lent support to many of Masterson's accusers.
Danny Masterson rape case ends in mistrial (yahoo.com)
Jan. 7, 2023 My opinion: The alleged sexual assaults happened in 2001-2003 and the Scientology church was trying to prevent the victims from reporting it. They did, but that was years later.
"#MeToo movement becomes #WeToo in in victim-blaming Japan"/ "Outrage as women in Japan told not wear glasses in the workplace"
"You never look good when you are trying to make someone else look bad."- Unknown
Cham: Sometimes people need to be exposed for who they are hahah or maybe I should stop being petty
Tracy Au: There's a difference between trying to make someone look bad, and exposing them for who they are. It's like those #MeToo accusers and victims, they are plainly telling everybody about the perpetrators. They're not trying to make them look bad.
Jan. 15, 2023 Post secret video: Here is a 11: 38 video of the creator Frank Warren. He gives a presentation towards the end.
At the 10: 09- 10:33: There is this young white woman with chin- length light brown hair. She talks to a young woman in front of her who said she was going to tell her secret that she was raped last night.
"'Did you report it yet?' She said 'No, I wasn't even going to.' I said 'Well, you should go because I didn't and I definitely regret it. And she left as I was talking to her. She went out the door and said she was going to the police station."
My opinion: That's important to report crime especially like rape to prevent someone else from getting raped.
This week's theme is about sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement:
"Complicated legacy"/ "Hugh Hefner's ex calls him a 'monster' as she recalls traumatic relationship"
"Drake Bell sentenced to 2 years probation for crimes against a child, victim says 'he ruined my life'"/ "Former Nickelodeon child star separates from wife and heads to rehab, more news"
Tracy's blog: "Drake Bell sentenced to 2 years probation for crimes against a child, victim says 'he ruined my life'"/ "Former Nickelodeon child star separates from wife and heads to rehab, more news" (badcb.blogspot.com)
My week:
Jan. 12, 2023 "4 travel deals to help you beat Blue Monday, plus how to protect your trip": Today I found this article by Barry Choi on the Financial Post:
As we get further into 2023, some people might still be coming down from the high of the holidays. The third weekend of January is often called Blue Monday: The combo of cold weather, shorter days and post-holiday lull can all combine to affect your mental state negatively.
Travel deals to beat Blue Monday, and tips for getting travel | Financial Post
My opinion: I remember first learning about Blue Monday by reading the 24 News back in 2009.
Jan. 16, 2022 "Trains, buses and trucks: How 2023 could be pivotal for hydrogen technology in Canada": Today I found this article by Kyle Bakx on CBC. I like this article because it's about saving the environment:
As the Canadian Pacific Railway locomotive moves along the tracks in Calgary, something is clearly amiss.
It's the typical size and look that you'd expect, but what's absent is the low rumbling noise of the diesel engine.
Instead, this locomotive is powered by hydrogen fuel cell and battery technology as part of a trial by the railway to explore whether the low-emission vehicles are strong enough and reliable enough to potentially one day revolutionize operations at the company.
Over the last several years, there has been an increased focus on the potential for hydrogen to decarbonize many industries and help countries reach their climate goals, while revamping energy systems along the way.
The next 12 months will be critical, experts say, in understanding whether that vision could plausibly become a reality in the near future or remain part of the imagination for decades to come.
Trains, buses and trucks: How 2023 could be pivotal for hydrogen technology in Canada | CBC News
Jan. 17, 2023 "Mexico bans smoking in all public places, including beaches and hotels": Today I found this article by Sarah Do Couto on Global News:
On Sunday, Mexico enacted one of the world’s strictest anti-tobacco laws, completely banning smoking in all public places, including hotels, parks and beaches.
The total ban, which is part of Mexico’s General Law for Tobacco Control, also forbids the advertising, sponsorship or promotion of any tobacco products. Restrictions for the sale and use of e-cigarettes and vaporizers were also created, though they mostly focus on indoor usage.
The measure, which was approved in December 2022, comes as an extension of an existing law from 2008 that prohibited smoking in indoor spaces like restaurants and other businesses. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) praised the move for its attempt to prevent and control chronic non-communicable diseases to do with tobacco use.
In a single year, 10 per cent of all deaths in Mexico are attributed to tobacco use or exposure to tobacco smoke, the PAHO wrote in a statement. The rate of daily tobacco use in the country has “remained virtually consistent” since 2002.
On Twitter, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, applauded Mexico’s smoking ban.
“Bravo #Mexico! @WHO welcomes such a bold move on tobacco control,” he wrote. “We call on all countries to strengthen #NoTobacco policies and help us prevent 8 million deaths every year!”
Mexico bans smoking in all public places, including beaches and hotels - National | Globalnews.ca
If you need more energy, it can be a time to sleep more deeply. Some bedroom Feng Shui can be as easy as fresh, fluffy bedding or as multi sensory as a projector that shines galaxies on your bedroom ceiling and plays deep sleep nature music. If you need more time, reorganizing at home can be magical. An organized computer can be time-saving. An organized schedule can be time-saving. Meal prep can be time-saving. Ditching some social media can be radically time saving. There are so many thing you can do to reclaim more of your time. 
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