See Photos. Now, "disconnection has become a way of controlling people," said Rinder, who says his mother, sister, brother, daughter and son disconnected from him after he left the church. " Christie and Chris Collbran were married in a simple ceremony at the Scientology center in Manhattan. Her marriage on the rocks, she's severed all ties with her family, breaking her parents hearts, and now she knows not where to turn. Fifty-six years after its founding by the science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, who died in 1986, the church is fighting off calls by former members for a Reformation. Christie Collbran is a true believer in the strength, power, and inner wisdom of women and has focused her entire career on her ability to help them call upon it when needed. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-mobile-leaderboard-1','ezslot_17',153,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-mobile-leaderboard-1-0'); "I was married to Mike for over 31 years and we had two children and lived together all those decades. Our family was going along this path. And one day, while Mike was in London, I was not hearing from him at all. The Sea Org is a religious order that requires enormous dedication, he said, and leaving any religious order can be a lengthy process. Youre so into it, its everything you know: your family, your eternity.. The defectors say that the average Scientology member, known in the church as a public, is largely unaware of the abusive environment experienced by staff members. "All of the personal things you ever said, all the secrets, the transgressions, are all kept in there. Some months later, their then 24-year-old son, Benjamin, was diagnosed with a rare but dangerous form of skin cancer called desmoplastic melanoma and was given less than five years to live. His resignation letter, leaked to a defectors' Web site, recounted his indignation as he came to think the defectors' accusations must be true. The podcast was launched on 21 July 2020. Finally, Christie Collbran was permitted to go to Los Angeles, but husband and wife were kept separated, the Collbrans said, while they went through hours of special auditing sessions called "confessionals." And to then tell the press where it will permanently remain available for retrieval on the Internet in perpetuity? ". The family livedas the Kings still doin a suburb outside Los Angeles. Finally, Christie Collbran was permitted to go to Los Angeles, but husband and wife were kept separated for another three months, the Collbrans said, while they went through hours of special auditing sessions called "confessionals." His wife, who said the church coerced her into having two abortions, has also filed a suit. In Johannesburg, officials made the church look busy for publicity photographs by filling it with Sea Org members, the Collbrans said. She said Rinder was just trying to look like he was a caring father. The 42-year-old finished Saturday's Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend wheelchair half-marathon in 2 hours and 37 seconds. But the Ideal Orgs are supposed to be self-supporting, and the Johannesburg church was generating only enough to pay each of the Collbrans $17 a week, Collbran said. As per STAND League, he shoved one under a desk, another whom he threw against a wall, and another whose tooth he broke by slamming a clipboard into the side of her head. When she was 8 or 9, she took the basic communications course, which teaches techniques for persuasive public speaking and improving self-confidence and has served as a major recruiting tool for the church. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'biographyhost_com-box-3','ezslot_1',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-box-3-0'); Mike Rinder is an Australian-American former Scientologist known for being a former senior executive of the Church of Scientology International (CSI) and the Sea Organization (Sea Org), based in California. Anyone can read what you share. A portrait of the founder of Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard, in a church retreat center in Clearwater, Fla. Christie King Collbran, who has left the Church of Scientologys elite religious order, the Sea Org, at her home in Safety Harbor, Fla. By doing enough auditing, taking courses and studying Mr. Hubbards books and lectures for which some Scientologists say they have paid as much as $1 million Scientologists believe that they can proceed up the bridge to total freedom and live to their full abilities as Operating Thetans, pure spirits. In Johannesburg, officials made the church look busy for publicity photographs by filling it with Sea Org members, the Collbrans said. The churches used to be busy places where members socialized and invited curious visitors to give Scientology a try, he said, but now the church is installing touch-screen displays with little need for Scientologists on site. And she has only herself to blame. Let Children Think For Themselves Christie Collbran . As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Christie calls and talks to Liz [mother] and Christie starts sort of yelling and screaming at Liz, saying that she's a dupe. Her parents were dedicated members in Los Angeles, and she attended full-time Scientology schools. Collbran says she still believes in Scientology -- not in the church as it is now constituted, but in its teachings. Davis, the church's current spokesman, said Scientologists are no different from Mormons, Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses and Amish who practice shunning or excommunication. She endured sadistic and bizarre injustice for the simple reason that she would not robotically follow more T tua 2 1k followers More information Christie King Collbran | www.scientology-cult.com Continue with Recommended Cookies. All Rights Reserved. Apr. When Rinder quit the Sea Org, he also decided to abandon his wife and their children because they remained Scientologists. It still took two months before the church let the Collbrans go, in 2006, and not before making them sign affidavits. "These were not the claims made by 'outsiders' looking to dig up dirt against us," he wrote. In Johannesburg, officials made the church look busy for publicity photographs by filling it with Sea Org members, the Collbrans said. 3.2K views 12 years ago Christie King Collbran never wanted to become a Scientology defector. Her parents were dedicated church members in Los Angeles, and she attended full-time Scientology schools for several years. And then I could hear through my ear, my bones starting to crack. They now had a child and no money, but thought they were in good standing with their church. [8] When he was 5 years old his parents became interested in Scientology and the family began attending the Church of Scientology International center in Australia. It was in Johannesburg, where the couple had gone to supervise the building of a new Scientology organization, that Mr. Collbran, who is 29, began to have doubts. They were also handed what the church calls a "freeloader bill" for services rendered, of $90,000, which they later negotiated down to $10,000 for Christie Collbran's portion and paid. Collbran, who is 33, said she loved the church so much that she never thought she would leave. CLEARWATER | Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of Scientology running, known as the Sea Organization, or Sea Org. "All of the auditing that you do, there's files kept on it," Christie Collbran said. I was pinned. John Travolta Opens Michael John Rinder (/ r n d r / ; born 10 April 1955) is an Australian-American former senior executive of the Church of Scientology International (CSI) and the Sea Organization based in the United States. "You're so into it, it's everything you know: your family, your eternity.". Anonymous said it was protesting the Church of Scientologys attempts to censor Internet posts of material the church considered proprietary including a video of Tom Cruise, an ardent Scientologist, that was created for a church event but was leaked and posted on YouTube. They could not just up and go. She joined the Sea Organization at 16 in 1993 and married Chris Collbran at 22 in 1999. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_12',171,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); It was her second marriage, and the information about her first marriage is unknown. After this is when the real Fair Game began. CLD, CLC, PCPD. It claims it will wake you up and make you happier and more able to communicate with the world around you," he continues, "In practice it accomplishes the polar opposite. His mother, Barbara, was a bookkeeper, and his father, Ian, was an entrepreneur who owned several businesses, including a wholesale grocery distribution agency, aerosol canning company, travel agency, and restaurant. Cathy said that she and her children had never heard from Rinder for those two years. Searching for Web sites about Scientology that are not sponsored by the church (an activity prohibited when they were in the Sea Org), they discovered that hundreds of other Scientologists were also defecting including high-ranking executives who had served for decades. 30CHAMPAIGN If anyone athlete or otherwise was searching for inspiration on Saturday morning, they needed to look no further than Andrea Lytle Peet. His wife, who said the church coerced her into having two abortions, has also filed a suit. The church has responded by denying the accusations and calling attention to a worldwide building campaign. As for the defectors, Mr. Davis called them apostates and said that contrary to their claims of having left the church in protest, they were expelled. 2023 www.theledger.com. They went through that file, wrote this affidavit as if I wrote it and I never wrote this affidavit, the church wrote it and made me sign it.. He shared that he did all he could to end the abuse within Scientology to bring about change. Her parents remain dedicated Scientologists. She flew out to Denver, but Rinder didn't want to speak to her, and he returned from Denver. All rights reserved. By doing enough auditing, taking courses and studying Hubbard's books and lectures - for which some Scientologists say they have paid as much as $1 million - Scientologists believe that they can proceed up the "bridge to total freedom" and live to their full abilities as Operating Thetans, pure spirits. The same year, she left the Sea Org and Christ. Mike Rinder's then girlfriend, Christie, verbally attacked her mother, Liz, and publicly humiliated both her parentsbehavior her father had never . They signed a contract for a billion years - in keeping with the church's belief that Scientologists are immortal. ", The Collbrans, despite their efforts to remain in good standing in the church, were declared suppressive persons last year. Shes just not Christie, to me, shes not Christie. Bradford-born King played the dastardly Kim Tate on Emmerdale originally for 10 years from 1989. When Chris Collbran decided he wanted to leave the Sea Org, he was sent to Los Angeles, where potential defectors are assigned to do menial labor while they reconsider their decision. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Over the next several years, Christie's relationship with the Church and Chris headed south. Her parents remain dedicated Scientologists. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-leader-2','ezslot_13',150,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-leader-2-0'); According to STAND League, Rinder soon launched a "billion-dollar" anti-Scientology harassment scheme with an anti-Scientologist Robert Almblad to profit off his independent church. Christie talks about Jim Lynch, the washed-up reporter hired by "Freedom" magazine to harass targets of scientology's Fair Game campaigns. Christie Collbran is 45 years old and was born on 01/29/1977. "We're working 16 hours a day trying to save the planet, and the church is shrinking.". All rights reserved. She endured sadistic and bizarre injustice for the simple reason that she would not robotically follow demands to abandon her personal integrity. "The very survival of a religion is contingent on its protecting itself.". Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of Scientology running, known as the Sea Organization, or Sea Org. Scientology parishioners interviewed in Clearwater seemed unperturbed by the protests, headlines and lawsuits. They were also handed what the church calls a "freeloader bill" for services rendered, of $90,000, which they later negotiated down to $10,000 for Christie Collbran's portion and paid. And what we see here is evidence of the fact that were definitely better off without them.. The couple welcomed their son named Jack in April 2012. They do believe in God, or a Supreme Being that is associated with infinite potential. He visited the founder of Scientology L. Ron Hubbard's home in England with his family for the first time in 1966. Haggis had been a member for 35 years. So she intentionally conceived a child. Scientology is an esoteric religion in which the faith is revealed gradually to those who invest their time and money to master Hubbard's teachings. In the end, the documentary premiered on 17 May 2007 as a part of BBC One's Panorama series. What does that say about her character, her sense of maternal responsibility? "And what we see here is evidence of the fact that we're definitely better off without them.". Mr. Collbran said he saw an officer hit a subordinate, and soon found that the atmosphere of supervision through intimidation was affecting him. Mr. Davis said there is no such thing: One cant be a Scientologist and not be part of the church., Mr. Collbran, for his part, wants nothing to do with his former church. 2010 Mr. Headley, who wrote a book about his experiences, is suing the church for back wages, saying that over 15 years his salary averaged out to 39 cents an hour. They would lose the possibility of living for eternity. Mike Rinder, who for more than 20 years was the churchs spokesman, said the disconnect policy originated as Mr. Hubbards prescription for how to deal with an abusive spouse or boss. The reason, they agree sadly, is that they no longer see eye to eye on Scientology. We never have. He has no contact with his two adult children from his first marriage. Shes notshes not the daughter that I knew. By 16, she was recruited into the Sea Org, so named because it once operated from ships, wearing a Navy-like uniform with epaulets. Defectors Say Church of Scientology Hides Abuse, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/us/07scientology.html. Her parents remain dedicated Scientologists. Comedy Cute Inspirational Ministry Movies Music News Popular Popular Hymns Sermons Podcasts. Shes not the girl I raised. And at its base here on the Gulf Coast of Florida, it continued buying hotels and office buildings (54 in all) and constructing a 380,000-square-foot mecca that looks like a convention center. But recently even some celebrities have begun to abandon the church, the most prominent of whom is the director and screenwriter Paul Haggis, who won Oscars for "Million Dollar Bab" and "Crash." "It's a big yawn, actually. TRANSCRIPT: Our family was going along this path. Source: New York Times. She finally left the Sea Org three years ago. CLEARWATER, Fla. Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of Scientology running, known as the Sea Organization, or Sea Org. And so the couple continues their sorry affair, having alienated their families and saddled with a child born out of deception. By 10, Ms. Collbran had completed the Purification Rundown, a regimen that involves taking vitamins and sitting in a sauna (a fixture inside every Scientology church) for as much as five hours a day, for weeks at a time, to cleanse the body of toxins. Actress: Delivering Christmas. They now had a child and no money, but they thought they were still in good standing with their church. Recently, Ms. Collbran received an e-mail message from her mother calling her a snake in the grass.. According to an article published in November 2021 on the Scientologists Taking Action Against Discrimination (STAND League) website, Rinder was expelled from the Church for criminal misconduct, including secretly conspiring to suborn perjury and gross misconduct. The church immediately sent emissaries to Christie Collbran's parents' house to inform them that their daughter was "suppressive," Collbran said. I wasnt expecting it. A lifelong Scientologist, Christie King Collbran worked for the Sea Org, the elite corps who help run the Church. They soon discovered others who felt the same. They worked seven days a week, often on little sleep, for sporadic paychecks of $50 a week, at most. After being expelled from the Church, Rinder tried to hold down various jobs, including Toyota car salesman and telemarketer. In 11 hours with a reporter over two days, Davis, the church's spokesman, gave the numbers of Sea Org members (8,000), of Scientologists in the Tampa-Clearwater area (12,000) and of L. Ron Hubbard's books printed in the last 2 1/2 (67 million). Its a big yawn, actually., The Collbrans, despite their efforts to remain in good standing in the church, were declared suppressive persons last year. The church says the defectors are lying. She was well known as a hot shot Establishment Officer. "Why did we work so hard for this organization," Collbran asked, "and why did it feel so wrong in the end?". It is a hard bubble to break free from, but more and more people are doing so and less and less are becoming entrapped in the first place." Collbran, 33, said she loved the church so much that she never thought she would leave. He is breaking my bones. The defectors say that the average Scientology member is largely unaware of the abusive environment. "We never have. In the end, the documentary premiered on 17 May 2007 as a part of BBC One's Panorama series. Actress: Bad Girls. She said the defectors' stories were like what you would hear "if I asked your ex-husband what he thought of you. The church has responded to the bad publicity by denying the accusations and calling attention to a worldwide building campaign that showcases its wealth and industriousness. They went through that file, wrote this affidavit as if I wrote it - and I never wrote this affidavit, the church wrote it - and made me sign it.". Rinder has done multiple media interviews and appeared in HBO'sGoing Clearand three seasons ofLeah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath. Christies job performance became increasingly erratic; she was continually lying to cover poor and inadequate production. Rinder married his first wife, Cathy Bernardini, in 1976, when they both were members of the Sea Org. She believed in the mission: to "clear the planet" of negative influences by bringing Scientology to its inhabitants. "And what we see here is evidence of the fact that we're definitely better off without them.". Anonymous said it was protesting the Church of Scientology's attempts to censor Internet posts of material the church considered proprietary - including a video of Tom Cruise, an ardent Scientologist, that was created for a church event but was leaked and posted on YouTube. Videos. On the other hand, his former wife, Cathy Bernardini, shared in an interview withFreedom Media & Ethicsin January 2022 that Rinder left the entire family without saying a word, disconnecting during his trip to London. Scientologists believe human beings are impeded by negative memories from past lives, and that by applying Hubbard's "technology," they can reach a state known as clear. Last year, it built or renovated opulent Scientology churches, which it calls Ideal Orgs, in Rome; Malmo, Sweden; Dallas; Nashville, Tenn.; and Washington. His resignation letter recounted his indignation as he came to believe the defectors' accusations. Collbran also has a son named Shane from her previous relationship. In 1993, when she was 16, Christie joined the Sea Organization, where she remained for 13 years. Now, all Mike wants to do is "expose the abuses ongoing in the church" and "provide a forum for the exchange of information." Rinder believes that the actual approach of Scientology contradicts when it comes to reality. As a result, Rinder was called to visit Sussex's church facility. To make their numbers look good for headquarters, South African parishioners took their maids and gardeners to church. All of the auditing that you do, theres files kept on it, Ms. Collbran said. They may spend hundreds of hours in one-on-one auditing sessions, holding the slim silver-colored handles of an e-meter while an auditor asks them questions and takes notes on what they say and on the e-meters readings. It is very, very prevalent.. Her performance as Sofia in Delivering Christmas gained recognition, earning the Young Artist Academy Award and . ", Represented Scientology in the Office of Special Affairs. They signed a contract for a billion . And since theyre removed, the church is expanding like never before, said Mr. Davis, a second-generation Scientologist whose mother is the actress Anne Archer. He had spent months at church headquarters in Clearwater revising the design for the Johannesburg site to meet Mr. Miscaviges demands. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. It was in Johannesburg, where the couple had gone to supervise the building of a new Scientology organization, that Chris Collbran, 29, began to have doubts. Despite all they have been through together, Ms. and Mr. Collbran are getting a divorce. Scientology parishioners interviewed in Clearwater seemed unperturbed by the protests, headlines and lawsuits. And in Clearwater, it continued buying buildings (54 in all) and constructing a 380,000-square-foot mecca that looks like a convention center. Youre in fear, Mr. Collbran said. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. They signed a contract for a billion years in keeping with the churchs belief that Scientologists are immortal. VIDEO TRANSCRIPT. He said he did not know how to account for the findings in the American Religious Identification Survey that the number of Scientologists in the United States fell from 55,000 in 2001 to 25,000 in 2008. CLEARWATER, Fla. Raised as Scientologists, Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, were recruited as teenagers to work for the elite corps of staff members who keep the Church of Scientology running, known as the Sea Organization, or Sea Org. But the time in which she crossed the finish line at Memorial Stadium's 50-yard line really was . That Cooper himself knew every sordid detail of Christie Collbrans story and never whispered a word of it to AC360 viewers is yet another wrinkle in her soap opera. And I realized all of a sudden, 'Oh, my god. The churches used to be busy places where members socialized and invited curious visitors to give Scientology a try, he said, but now the church is installing touch-screen displays so it can introduce visitors to Scientology with little need for Scientologists on site. The church has responded to the bad publicity by denying the accusations and calling attention to a worldwide building campaign that showcases its wealth and industriousness. "All of the auditing that you do, there's files kept on it," Christie Collbran said. These are common religious tenets, he said. But after 13 years and growing disillusionment, the Collbrans decided to leave the Sea Org, setting off on a Kafkaesque journey that they said required them to sign false confessions, pay thousands of dollars to the church, and see their parents, siblings and friends cut off all communication with them. Church of Scientology Mission Christie was with us and then all of a sudden she took a big U-turn. When she was 8 or 9, she took the basic communications course, which teaches techniques for persuasive public speaking and improving self-confidence and has served as a major recruiting tool. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. We are aware of four . Chris Collbran, wants nothing to do with his former church. She was well known as a hot shot Establishment Officer. "So all of a sudden, he just grabbed my arms and crossed them in a vise. He also traveled to Australia, England, and Ireland to speak out about Scientology abuses. Although on the other hand, whats a poor Anchor Boy to do? Fifty-six years after its founding by the science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, who died in 1986, the church is fighting off calls by former members for a Reformation. His parentsbecameScientologists in1960. She began acting in musical theatre productions at the age of four, which led her to roles in film and television. It didnt work. They would lose the possibility of living for eternity. The documentary investigates the Church of Scientology and some former members, who allege "the Church uses a mind control technique to put opponents at a psychological disadvantage." He conducted a wedding as "First Independent Scientology Minister" on 3 July 2010 in Pinellas County, signing a state marriage certificate that read, "Michael J. Rinder, Minister Independent Church of Scientology." She is an actress, model, and spokesperson for the Girl Scouts, USA. Christie was born into a family of Scientologists, and her parents are Liz and Ed King. She joined the Sea Organization at 16 in 1993 and married Chris Collbran at 22 in 1999. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'biographyhost_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Growing up, Rinder went to a private school in Adelaide. Christie's segment begins at about 6:35. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We never will.". But asked about the church's membership, Davis said, "I couldn't tell you an exact figure, but it's certainly, it's most definitely in the millions in the U.S. and millions abroad.". They worked seven days a week, often on little sleep, for sporadic paychecks of $50 a week, at most. To make their numbers look good for headquarters, South African parishioners took their maids and gardeners to church to be counted. "Scientology hooks people with the promise of making them better. Following the failure of the scheme, Rinder abandoned his "Independent Minister" and transformed himself into an anti-Scientologist. Joanie Sigal is a 36-year parishioner in Clearwater who promotes the church's anti-drug campaign to local officials. The reason, they agree sadly, is that they no longer see eye to eye on Scientology. Bernardini shared in an interview that while her son, Benjamin, was doing his recovery program, Rinder, along with his three-four friends, showed up with cameras on 23 April 2010, demanding to see Benjamin. Last year, it built or renovated five churches. YOUNG RECRUITS Christie King Collbran, left, and her husband, Chris, center, in Johannesburg in 2004. Thats the difference between the old Scientology and the new: the brave new Scientology is all these beautiful buildings and real estate and no people, said Mr. Rathbun, who is among several former top executives quoted by The St. Petersburg Times in a series of articles last year about the churchs reported mistreatment of staff members. He made a suicide attemptmore or lesstrying to slice his wrists with an electric razor and then a toenail clipperliterally. NBC Today show - Christie King Collbran Posted on March 9, 2010 by Mark C. Rathbun | 114 comments Tune into NBC Today show this morning (7 or 7:30) your time to watch the Mat Lauer interview with Chrsitie King Collbran. Eddie King, a former professional football player, was an opinion leader in every circle that he was a part of. "You're in fear," Chris Collbran said. (Photo: Facebook). An orthopedic surgeon informed her she would never recover full use of her arm. Christie's current address is 808 Bentwood Crt, Palm Harbor, FL 34683-1901. In the past, Christie has also been known as Collbran Christie June, Christie June Collbran and Christie J Collbran. He acknowledges that he pushed a 17-year-old staff member against a wall and yelled at his wife, who was his deputy. Christie celebrated 45th birthday on January 29. But after 13 years and growing disillusionment, the Collbrans decided to leave the Sea Org, setting off on a Kafkaesque journey that they said required them to sign false confessions about their personal lives and their work, pay the church thousands of dollars it said they owed for courses and counseling, and accept the consequences as their parents, siblings and friends who are church members cut off all communication with them. He later toldBusiness Insiderin December 2016 that he suffered at least 50 physical attacks from Miscavige over his time in the organization. "We have never violated that trust," Davis said. In 1993, when she was 16, Christie joined the Sea Organization, where she remained for 13 years. He chose the former. Her mind-set then, Collbran said, was: "This planet needs our help, and people are suffering. If the church believed that someone was an enemy and needed to be silenced or destroyed, it was my job and I did it," hesaid. The churches used to be busy places where members socialized and invited curious visitors to give Scientology a try, he said, but now the church is installing touch-screen displays so it can introduce visitors to Scientology with little need for Scientologists on site.