Claire was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, and raised in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England, with her brother and sister. He also oversaw a large extent of Scientology litigation and directed the destruction of anti-Scientologists. Were working 16 hours a day trying to save the planet, and the church is shrinking., The church is vague about its membership numbers. Apr. 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. So it was with the Collbrans. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. Joanie Sigal is a 36-year parishioner in Clearwater who promotes the churchs antidrug campaign to local officials. "These accusations were made by top international executives who had devoted most of their lives to the church.". Why did we work so hard for this organization, Ms. Collbran said, and why did it feel so wrong in the end? Rinder later toldThe New York Timesin March 2010 that his mother, sister, brother, daughter, and son disconnected from him after he departed from the church. 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. "This is a result of our expansion. Rinder believes that the actual approach of Scientology contradicts when it comes to reality. 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 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. The family livedas the Kings still doin a suburb outside Los Angeles. (Photo: Facebook). He is 66 years old as of 2021. Marty Rathbun, who was once Mr. Miscaviges top lieutenant, is now one of the churchs top detractors. The television show featured stories from former members of the Church of Scientology who shared their statements of alleged abuse and harassment by the Church. "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.". Youre so into it, its everything you know: your family, your eternity.. But, after 13 years, she grew disillusioned with the Church's leadership and left. 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. Furthermore, Rinder abused several female colleagues before leaving the Sea Org. To save a few weeks? Ridiculous. Then, in 2006, even while their fractured marriage was nearing its end, Christie got pregnant. 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. 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). "You're in fear," Chris Collbran said. All rights reserved. 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.". "These were not the claims made by 'outsiders' looking to dig up dirt against us," he wrote. Their parents, siblings and friends who are Scientologists would have to disconnect completely from them, or risk being declared suppressive themselves. After graduating high school in April 1973, Rinder worked for his now-deceased father in the wholesale grocery business. In 1969, he again visited the home to participate in advanced Scientology courses and auditing. The couple now have two small children. Marty Rathbun, who was once Miscavige's top lieutenant, is now one of the church's top detractors. 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. What does that say about her character, her sense of maternal responsibility? Fair enough, except she didnt tell it all. In 1993, when she was 16, Christie joined the Sea Organization, where she remained for 13 years. 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." But even more important, they knew that if they left the Sea Org without going through the churchs official exit process, they would be declared suppressive persons antisocial enemies of Scientology. Mr. Davis, the churchs current spokesman, said Scientologists are no different from Mormons, Catholics, Jehovahs Witnesses and Amish who practice shunning or excommunication. 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. Now, at the age of 33 and after the lengthy and costly process of leaving the organization, she says the leaders of the Church of Scientology are greedy and abusive tyrants who have perverted the original teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. A lifelong Scientologist, Christie King Collbran worked for the Sea Org, the elite corps who help run the Church. 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. Born into a family of Scientologists, Collbran, now 33, was raised in a loving home by her parents, Ed and Liz King. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_18',154,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0'); In April 2009, when Benjamin was starting his recovery, Bernardini said she informed Rinder, who lived in Denver. He had spent months at church headquarters in Clearwater revising the design for the Johannesburg site to meet Miscavige's demands. And in Clearwater, it continued buying buildings (54 in all) and constructing a 380,000-square-foot mecca that looks like a convention center. 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. The podcast was launched on 21 July 2020. 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. Meanwhile, husband Chris grew as unstable as the couple's relationship. Christie was with us and then all of a sudden she took a big U-turn. FREEDOM is a trademark and is used with the owner's permission. She was also continually violating ecclesiastical procedures, all of which inevitably led to her demotion. 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 But asked about the churchs membership, Mr. Davis said, I couldnt tell you an exact figure, but its certainly, its most definitely in the millions in the U.S. and millions abroad.. 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. We commit to cover sensible issues responsibly through the principles of neutrality. She was well known as a hot shot Establishment Officer. Previously city included Tarpon Springs FL. Instead of reporting to Sussex, he decidedto leave the churchin 2007. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'biographyhost_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',147,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-biographyhost_com-banner-1-0'); In his website bio, Rinder says he left the church after he decided that "there was no way he could change the culture of violence and abuse that had become endemic under the leadership of David Miscavige. "All of the auditing that you do, there's files kept on it," Christie Collbran said. "Why did we work so hard for this organization," Collbran asked, "and why did it feel so wrong in the end?". March 7, 2010 Courtesy of Christie King Collbran . 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. 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. "We never have. 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-meter's readings. By 10, 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. 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. She still gets auditing, from other Scientologists who have defected, like Rathbun. She turned her back on us, fully turned her back on us. Searching the Internet for Web sites about Scientology that are not sponsored by the church (an activity that was 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. In October of the same year, he met Hubbard for the first time upon joining Hubbard's shipApollo, which Rindercallsthe "floating headquarters for Scientology.". 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. Her parents remain dedicated Scientologists. 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. 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." 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. 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. When Rinder quit the Sea Org, he also decided to abandon his wife and their children because they remained Scientologists. "This is a representation of our success," said the church's spokesman, Tommy Davis, showing off the building's cavernous atrium, still to be clad in Italian marble, at the climax of a daylong tour of the church's Clearwater empire. The couple's deteriorating relationship and Chris' degrading mental stability led him to attempt suicide. Christie King Collbran, who was core to the Scientology leadership group, has left her post after having to hide being pregnant. Now, all Mike wants to do is "expose the abuses ongoing in the church" and "provide a forum for the exchange of information." 2023 www.theledger.com. The family livedas the Kings still doin a suburb outside Los Angeles. They now had a child and no money, but thought they were in good standing with their church. All Episodes Devotionals. Rinder married his first wife, Cathy Bernardini, in 1976, when they both were members of the Sea Org. 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 was all built on lies, Mr. Collbran said. She went to see Rinder stop her son from being exploited in Rinder's media stunt, but Rinder immediately attacked her. The New York Times has a striking account today of Scientologists who allegedly faced threats and coercion in seeking to leave the church. Christie was with us and then all of a sudden she took a big U-turn. 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. ", The Collbrans, despite their efforts to remain in good standing in the church, were declared suppressive persons last year. In 2000, the couple transferred to the Churchs South African Continental Office in Johannesburg, and over the next several years their relationship with each otherand with the Churchheaded south. Source: New York Times. Christie was born into a family of Scientologists, and her parents are Liz and Ed King. It didnt work. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. It actually backfired on her. "All of the auditing that you do, there's files kept on it," Christie Collbran said. The church in Johannesburg is thriving now that the Collbrans have left, Davis said. 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. 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. From 2016 to 2019, Rinder co-produced and co-hosted the A&E documentary seriesLeah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermathwith fellow ex-Scientologist Leah Remini. TV Personality, Podcast Host, Former Scientologist, Former Senior Executive of the CSI, Sea Org, Former Scientologist, Former Senior Executive of the CSI and Sea Org, Mike Rinder and Leah Remini launched a podcast called'Scientology: Fair Game' in July 2020. . ", Chris Collbran, for his part, wants nothing to do with his former church. Recently, Ms. Collbran received an e-mail message from her mother calling her a snake in the grass.. Her parents were dedicated church members in Los Angeles, and she attended full-time Scientology schools for several years. She left the soap in dramatic fashion in 1999 and went on to star in a number of TV dramas over the next decade. "Why did we work so hard for this organization," Christie Collbran said, "and why did it feel so wrong in the end? Completely. She married Chris Collbran in 1999, when she was 22 and he 18. She waited until her pregnancy had almost reached the end of the first trimester to inform her superiors. Cathy said that she and her children had never heard from Rinder for those two years. We never will.". To become pregnant to avoid standard procedures in leaving a religious order? Finally, Ms. 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. The auditors tried to talk them out of leaving, and the Collbrans wavered. Christie and I together were seen as a major threat to Miscavige, and the harassment was non-stop. He said the church does require departing staff members to pay freeloader bills and to sign affidavits drawn up by church officials, but he contends that the affidavits never contain confidential information drawn from auditing sessions. In 1993, when she was 16, Christie joined the Sea Organization, where she remained for 13 years. His friends sought out his council when making life decisions. So she intentionally conceived a child. They have refused to speak to her ever since. 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. The couple now have two small children. She was well known as a hot shot Establishment Officer. But even more important, they knew that if they left the Sea Org without going through the church's official exit process, they would be declared "suppressive persons" - anti-social enemies of Scientology. In her interviews with The New York Times and The Today Show, she still adamantly insis. CLD, CLC, PCPD. [9] After finishing high school he joined the Sea Org on the ship Apollo at 18. In the past, Christie has also been known as Collbran Christie June, Christie June Collbran and Christie J Collbran. 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." All of the personal things you ever said, all the secrets, the transgressions, are all kept in there. 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). 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." Shes not the girl I raised. They signed a contract for a billion years in keeping with the churchs belief that Scientologists are immortal. 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. Owner at Christie King's Home Daycare. 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.". Marty Rathbun, once Miscavige's top lieutenant, is now one of the church's top detractors. They worked seven days a week, often on little sleep, for sporadic paychecks of $50 a week, at most. Our family was going along this path. Actress: Bad Girls. An orthopedic surgeon informed her she would never recover full use of her arm. "The very survival of a religion is contingent on its protecting itself.". He had spent months at church headquarters in Clearwater revising the design for the Johannesburg site to meet Mr. Miscaviges demands. Although she and her parents were very close, she said they had spent so much to advance up the bridge that they could not afford to attend the wedding. She said the defectors' stories were like what you would hear "if I asked your ex-husband what he thought of you. 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. ''You're so into it, it's everything you know: your family, your eternity.". 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. Collbran says she still believes in Scientology -- not in the church as it is now constituted, but in its teachings. Comments # the jakal 2010-04-04 06:11. Shes a completely different person. Christie made the decision to leave us if we didn't do what she wanted. For one, they said, the church had taken their passports. 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." 2010 Im not going to leave Scientology because youfor whatever reasons youre telling me that I shouldafter being in Scientology for decades, and having it change my life for the better throughout the entire time, Im not going to abandon it because of what you say. 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. "It was all built on lies," Collbran said. Last year, it built or renovated opulent Scientology churches, which it calls Ideal Orgs, in Rome; Malmo, Sweden; Dallas; Nashville; and Washington. All rights reserved. Today, Rinder lives in Palm Harbor, Florida, with his current wife, her son Shane, and their son Jack.