And I realized all of a sudden, 'Oh, my god. ", In June 2013, he married his second wife, Christie King Collbran, also raised as Scientologist. 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. "It was all built on lies," Collbran said. Our family was going along this path. The church in Johannesburg is thriving now that the Collbrans have left, Davis said. (Photo: Facebook). Provided. It was her second marriage, and the information about her first marriage is unknown. His parentsbecameScientologists in1960. Then the church discovered that Chris Collbran had traveled to Texas to talk with Rathbun, who runs a Web site for what he calls "independent Scientologists." "We're working 16 hours a day trying to save the planet, and the church is shrinking. He said as many as 100 people, including him, were held at "The Hole" and were made to live in poor conditions like having to eat "slop," beating each other up until they confessed their supposed crimes. in Historic Downtown Ocala, Florida, Church of Scientology of Tampa Expands Into New Historic Landmark Ybor Square Home, Church of Scientology Opens New Church in the Heart of Moscow, Ribbon Falls on Australia's First Ideal Church of Scientology, Church of Scientology flips the switch on 185,000-square-foot Dissemination and Distribution Center, Ribbon Falls on New Church of Scientology for the Pacific Northwest, New Ideal Church of Scientology Welcomed to Historic Home in City of Roses, New National Organization for Mexico Opens its Doors in the City of Palaces, Church of Scientology of Los Angeles Opens New Ideal Quarters, Diverse Community Welcomes New Life Improvement Centre in Johannesburg, Fastest-Growing U.S. City Welcomes New Church of World's Fastest-Growing Religion, New Scientology Church in the Historic Heart of French Canada, The First Branch of Churches of Scientology for Europe opens in Brussels, New Scientology Church on Washington DC's "Church Row", In the Eternal City, a New Church of Scientology, The Landmark Fort Harrison Fully Restored, Mike Rinder's Live-in Media Puppet, Christie Collbran, AKA: Running Away From the Subject of Their Program, Anderson Cooper's Definition of "An Investigation", A Beating Every Day While 10,000 Miles Away, The True Face of Scientology: Unparalleled Growth Since 2004, A Timeline of CNN's Investigation aka: Running, Tricks of the Trade: How Anderson Cooper Tries to Sound Learned But Is Actually a Hack, CooperSpeak: How Terrorists Become Protesters, How Anderson Cooper Torpedoed an Interview, Marty Rathbun: ABriefChronology of Monumental Disasters, The Career of Kingpin Rathbun, Postcards from the Edge or Marty Takes a Holiday, Marty Rathbun: AHistory ofHiddenViolence, The Kinky Relationship, Rathbun&Rinder, The Confessions of Marty Rathbun as Told by His AlterEgo, The Rathbun Family: Madness, Mayhem and Mysterious Death, Amy Scobee: Sex, Lies andtheBlogosphere, Steve Hall: The Man Who Tells It Straight From the Straitjacket, Defrocked Apostates: TheRoadtoRedemption. The church discovered that Chris Collbran had traveled to Texas to talk with Rathbun, the defector who runs a Web site that has become an online community for what he calls "independent Scientologists. And if I don't do something he's going to do damage,'" she said. Church of Scientology Mission Collbran, 33, said she loved the church so much that she never thought she would leave. "These were not the claims made by 'outsiders' looking to dig up dirt against us, " Haggis wrote." Christie King Collbran Videos PDF | Print | E-mail: Thursday, 11 March 2010 09:07 More on about Christie King Collbran here More resignation letters from defectors here . YOUNG RECRUITS Christie King Collbran, left, and her husband, Chris, center, in Johannesburg in 2004. The reason, they agree sadly, is that they no longer see eye to eye on Scientology. On the pay issue, it says that Sea Org members expect to sacrifice their material well-being to devote their lives to the church. We never will. The church in Johannesburg is thriving now that the Collbrans have left, Mr. Davis said. Now, all Mike wants to do is "expose the abuses ongoing in the church" and "provide a forum for the exchange of information." They worked seven days a week, often on little sleep, for sporadic paychecks of $50 a week, at most. The family livedas the Kings still doin a suburb outside Los Angeles. Church of Scientology International (CSI). "We're working 16 hours a day trying to save the planet, and the church is shrinking.". So she intentionally conceived a child. So she intentionally conceived a child. In 1981, he started serving as executive director of the Office of Special Affairs, overseeing media and public relations, legal and government relations of the Church of Scientology International (CSI). And then I could hear through my ear, my bones starting to crack. 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. But, you know, after all this time and all she's said and all she's done, it's like, she's not a loving daughter. 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. Recently, Christie Collbran received an e-mail message from her mother calling her a "snake in the grass.". In Johannesburg, officials made the church look busy for publicity photographs by filling it with Sea Org members, the Collbrans said. How could she think that I would be amenable to her, her way of thinking when herjust the way she was treating me was just degrading. Eddie King, a former professional football player, was an opinion leader in every circle that he was a part of. She still gets auditing, from other Scientologists who have defected, like Mr. Rathbun. Ridiculous. She was well known as a hot shot Establishment Officer. Christie celebrated 45th birthday on January 29. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. We are aware of four . 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. Shes a completely different person. They worked seven days a week, on little sleep, for sporadic paychecks of $50 a week, at most. I didn't get any messages or a normal letter, even if it's a little note, or anything. Haggis had been a member for 35 years. Recently, Christie Collbran received an e-mail message from her mother calling her a "snake in the grass.". 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. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. All rights reserved. But the Johannesburg church was generating only enough to pay each of the Collbrans $17 a week, Collbran said. However, Miscavige was unhappy that Rinder could not stop the documentary from being premiered. Christie was with us and then all of a sudden she took a big U-turn. 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. Continue with Recommended Cookies. John Travolta Opens It still took two months before the church let the Collbrans go, in 2006, and not before making them sign affidavits. She eventually started a love affair with Rinder, married him, and welcomed their son together. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Scientology parishioners interviewed in Clearwater seemed unperturbed by the protests, headlines and lawsuits. She joined the Sea Organization at 16 in 1993 and married Chris Collbran at 22 in 1999. They would lose the possibility of living for eternity. Marty Rathbun, who was once Miscavige's top lieutenant, is now one of the church's top detractors. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Videos. "Since Anonymous has come forward," said Marc Headley, who belonged to the Sea Org for 16 years, "more and more people who have been abused or assaulted are feeling more confident that they can speak out and not have any retaliation happen.". Ms. Collbran says she still believes in Scientology not in the church as it is now constituted, but in its teachings. The church acknowledges that Sea Org members are not allowed to have babies, but denies that it pressures people into having abortions. By 16, she was recruited into the Sea Org, so named because it once operated from ships, wearing a Navy-like uniform with epaulets. [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. "All of the auditing that you do, there's files kept on it," Christie Collbran said. Christie and Chris Collbran were married in a simple ceremony at the Scientology center in Manhattan. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-leader-4','ezslot_16',172,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-leader-4-0'); We assure our audience that we will remove any contents that are not accurate or according to formal reports and queries if they are justified. He also traveled to Australia, England, and Ireland to speak out about Scientology abuses. The church works hard to cultivate public members - especially celebrities like Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Nancy Cartwright (the voice of the cartoon scoundrel Bart Simpson) - whose money keeps it running. However, Rinder showed no interest in his children after disconnecting from his family. The Sea Org is a religious order that requires enormous dedication, he said, and leaving any religious order can be a lengthy process. She left the soap in dramatic fashion in 1999 and went on to star in a number of TV dramas over the next decade. His resignation letter, leaked to a defectors' Web site, recounted his indignation as he came to think the defectors' accusations must be true. Meanwhile, husband Chris grew as unstable as the couple's relationship. She believed in the mission: to "clear the planet" of negative influences by bringing Scientology to its inhabitants. That, coupled with her knowledge and experience, provides . Furthermore, Rinder abused several female colleagues before leaving the Sea Org. Her parents remain dedicated Scientologists. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-leader-1','ezslot_10',149,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-leader-1-0'); In several written correspondences, the website also mentioned that Rinder acknowledged his dishonesty and criminal behavior. The church acknowledges that Sea Org members are not allowed to have babies, but denies that it pressures people into having abortions. 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. 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. She said Rinder was just trying to look like he was a caring father. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_20',156,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-narrow-sky-2-0'); Rinder's daughter, Taryn, calls him a "cold and uncaring father." Anyone can read what you share. 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. Why did we work so hard for this organization, Ms. Collbran said, and why did it feel so wrong in the end? Their parents, siblings and friends who are Scientologists would have to disconnect completely from them, or risk being declared suppressive themselves. 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. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_11',151,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); In 2020, Rinder and Remini reunited to start a podcast calledScientology: Fair Game. Now, disconnection has become a way of controlling people, said Mr. Rinder, who says his mother, sister, brother, daughter and son disconnected from him after he left the church. But recently 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 Baby" and "Crash." But not long after the couple left the Sea Org, Christie turns up on Marty Rathbuns doorstep. After Christie Collbran hooked up with Mike Rinder, she yelled and screamed at her mother to leave her religion, then Christie abandoned her familyjust like Rinder did with his. Christie King Collbran and her husband, Chris, gave a detailed account of they were effectively raised to serve the ultra-secret Sea Organization, or Sea Org in the Church. ". To make their numbers look good for headquarters, South African parishioners took their maids and gardeners to church to be counted. The New York Times has a striking account today of Scientologists who allegedly faced threats and coercion in seeking to leave the church. After this is when the real Fair Game began. Mike Rinder with his current wife Christie on their wedding day in 2013. Youre in fear, Mr. Collbran said. Coopers response as to why he didnt let his viewers know would no doubt be his favorite catchphrase: I didnt think it was relevant.. Despite all they have been through together, the Collbrans are divorcing. The church works to cultivate public members -- especially celebrities like Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart Simpson) -- whose money keeps it running. Following the failure of the scheme, Rinder abandoned his "Independent Minister" and transformed himself into an anti-Scientologist. 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, Mr. Collbran said. She absolutely knows what shes doing. All of the personal things you ever said, all the secrets, the transgressions, are all kept in there. Soon after, naturally, Collbrans strings were yankednot pulledback to Rinders bed in Florida. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'biographyhost_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-medrectangle-4-0'); As the Office of Special Affairs' representative, he was quoted in multiple news stories and appeared on numerous television shows. Especially in the tone of voice youre saying it and sort of thejust shrill screaming. As for the defectors, Davis called them "apostates" and said they were expelled. "These are common religious tenets," he said. In March 2007, Rinder was suddenly sent on a mission to London to defend the CSI and prevent British journalist John Sweeney from premiering his television documentary,Scientology and Me. Joanie Sigal is a 36-year parishioner in Clearwater who promotes the church's anti-drug campaign to local officials. Despite all they have been through together, the Collbrans are divorcing. As a doula her greatest talent is her ability to connect with her clients on a personal level. Instead of telling his wife of 31 years or his children himself, Rinder emailed Bernardini's associate to break the news that "he left and isn't coming back.". They have two children, one daughter named Taryn and one son named Benjamin. The couple now have two small children. For one, they said, the church had taken their passports. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'biographyhost_com-narrow-sky-1','ezslot_19',155,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-narrow-sky-1-0'); She received treatment for her immediate injuries, but the damage was so severe that it required an operation to fix her bone and nerve damage. In her interviews with The New York Times and The Today Show, she still adamantly insists that. Mr. Davis, the churchs current spokesman, said Scientologists are no different from Mormons, Catholics, Jehovahs Witnesses and Amish who practice shunning or excommunication. This is a representation of our success, said the churchs spokesman, Tommy Davis, showing off the buildings cavernous atrium, still to be clad in Italian marble, at the climax of a daylong tour of the churchs Clearwater empire. Apr. Mike has since remarried, tying the knot with Christie King Collbran in 2013, with whom he has a son, and according to his blog, they are a happy family, residing in Palm Harbor, Florida. She knew that the Sea Org did not allow its members to have children, and she had known women who were removed when they refused to have abortions. Christie King Collbran was in the Sea Org from the age of 16 until the age of 29. All Rights Reserved. The defectors say Sea Org members were repeatedly beaten by the churchs chairman, David Miscavige, often during planning meetings; pressured to have abortions; forced to work without sleep on little pay; and held incommunicado if they wanted to leave. 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 . His wife, who said the church coerced her into having two abortions, has also filed a suit. In October of the same year, he met Hubbard for the first time upon joining Hubbard's shipApollo, which Rindercallsthe "floating headquarters for Scientology.". Davis, the church's current spokesman, said Scientologists are no different from Mormons, Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses and Amish who practice shunning or excommunication. 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." His wife, who said the church coerced her into having two abortions, has also filed a suit. Letters they wrote to each other were intercepted, they said. They do believe in God, or a Supreme Being that is associated with infinite potential. In 11 hours with a reporter over two days, Mr. Davis, the churchs spokesman, gave the numbers of Sea Org members (8,000), of Scientologists in the Tampa-Clearwater area (12,000) and of L. Ron Hubbards books printed in the last two and a half years (67 million). She worked at Church organizations in Los Angeles and New York. Rinder was born in Adelaide, Australia, to Ian and Barbara Rinder in 1955. Copyright 2011 Church of Scientology International. "We never have. The reason, they agree sadly, is that they no longer see eye to eye on Scientology. 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." They now had a child and no money, but they thought they were still in good standing with their church. In 2008, organizers with the Internet-based group Anonymous began waves of protests outside Scientology churches in many countries. In 2008, organizers with the Internet-based group Anonymous began waves of protests outside Scientology churches in many countries. Ms. Collbran, who is 33, said she loved the church so much that she never thought she would leave. Source: New York Times. As a result, Rinder was called to visit Sussex's church facility. 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. Let Children Think For Themselves Christie Collbran . Christie King Collbran, who has left the Church of Scientology's elite religious order, the Sea Org, at her home in Safety Harbor, Fla. U.S. > Image > March 7, 2010 It is very, very prevalent. But there were a few pertinent details that went unmentioned on her ambling interview with Cooper. She finally left the Sea Org three years ago. 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 have never violated that trust, Mr. Davis said. 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. 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. When Mr. 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. Her parents remain dedicated Scientologists. 30CHAMPAIGN If anyone athlete or otherwise was searching for inspiration on Saturday morning, they needed to look no further than Andrea Lytle Peet. In Johannesburg, officials made the church look busy for publicity photographs by filling it with Sea Org members, the Collbrans said. They soon discovered others who felt the same. "These accusations were made by top international executives who had devoted most of their lives to the church.". This is funny: 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 . She said her mother could do nothing because of her crippled arm, and she helped her in everything, from tying her shoes, cutting her food, making her bed, and doing up her buttons. When a Sea Org member is with child, the couple is granted a leave of absence from the religious order until the child comes of age. It's pinch-yourself material." "The very survival of a religion is contingent on its protecting itself.". Lives in Yukon, Oklahoma. Scientology parishioners interviewed in Clearwater seemed unperturbed by the protests, headlines and lawsuits. She was well known as a hot shot Establishment Officer. Ms. Collbran remained in Johannesburg, and for three months the church refused to allow them to contact each other, the Collbrans said. Mike Rinder's then girlfriend, Christie, verbally attacked her mother, Liz, and publicly humiliated both her parentsbehavior her father had never .

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