Thank you for exposing scientology for what it really is. Now when will you expose mormonism for what it really is. Now that the election is over you can call it a cult, which it is, and not much different in control as scientology.

Sorry, having been involved in both, Scientology is worse. Mormonism is just as stupid, but Scientology is even more "evil", whatever that means. I dislike both, obviously.

Thank you for having the courage to air this when most media outlets are intimidated by the "church" of Scientology. You hit on all the really important things -- disconnection, families broken apart, physical and mental abuse, etc. Great program.

Very similar experience except it was with the Jehovah Wittness's

Wake up IRS! Wake up FBI! Wake up California social services (child labor laws)! When will there be an accounting for decades of horrible abuse?

The use of the words VALOR (Cruise received a MEDAL) treason, and the salutes appear to be those of little boys PLAYING soldier. When, and where did Miscovige & cruise SERVE?

Thank you NBC, Harry, Larry, Paul, and the James'. I hope this show and Larry's book will wake Americans up to the fact that too many sadistic sociopaths and criminals intentionally use the extreme leaning laws protecting religion even if it means people are being hurt or killed, even children. It is time to balance the laws much like in Australia where Senator Xenophon stated, after investigations of scientology's abuses, that you can believe whatever you want, but you are not above the law. In fact, non-profits enjoy keeping their financial books closed which makes it easy to hide what they are actually doing behind closed doors. It's time to change this for All non profits, religious and otherwise. Scientology is all about extracting all your money and doing Whatever it takes, including holding your family connections ransom. In the 60's and 70's, scientology fit the times but for it still to be abusing our citizens in this decade, this century, is happening Only because of unbalanced, antiquated laws. We can do this.

A really excellent interview about organized scientology. The questions were very good and all interviewed were completely credible. The James family had me in tears. Scientology tried to get me to disconnect from my daughter too and that did not go well for them. I have also witnessed David Miscavige beating and otherwise abusing his own staff as far back as 1982. Thank you for having the courage to do this story!

I am ashamed to say that I spent many years involved within Scientology, working for many of their organizations, including in their Celebrity Center. I can say unequivocally that any good this organization does is far outweighed by the criminality and human rights abuses committed on a daily basis. The FBI needs to reactivate their investigation and see that justice is done. Folks, this is a mind-control cult that uses the same techniques by which terrorist groups recruit and indoctrinate their people.

Great piece by Harry Smith on the Church of Scientology. Thank you NBC for producing this very relevant topic and reporting on the issues which have been ignored by the mainstream media for far too long.

Hopefully, the proper authorities will take action to prosecute all who are responsible for the abusive actions and machinations, especially with regard to the children.

Very well done! Kudos to all who worked on this story. :)

Thank you NBC!! You rocked it!!

I want to commend NBC, RockCenter, Brian Williams, and Harry Smith for having the courage to report this story. I also want to say that it must have taken tremendous strength for Paul Haggis, Lawrence Wright, and the amazing James' family to tell their stories. Maybe more people will wake up and escape. And let's all hope this stops people from joining this scary cult.

Thank you for telling these stories. They were entirely consistent with other stories about former Scientologists I had previously read about in a magazine expose. Hopefully, many will see that the Scientologists' leaders' denials do not ring true.

Fantastic job, RockCenter and all those you interviewed in exposing the real Scientology behind all the Scientology lies. It's so good to see brave people willing to stand up to the litigious and vengeful cult of Scientology.

I hope to see more great reporting on the cult in the future. Particularly, an investigation into Narconon and it's many unlicensed treatment facilities would be extremely timely in light of the many recent deaths and lawsuits. These facilities lack medical supervision and are directly run by Scientology, although, of course, they deny it's Scientology. Getting the word out could not only be informative to the many families that are outright lied to about the program but could potentially save many lives as well.

Thank you NBC and all involved for taking on this subject and this organization. The long time abuses have only gotten worse and much more so since the IRS decision. Religious protection should NOT mean religious cloaking and should not allow "anything goes" human rights abuses, especially when these are manipulated and coerced.

Thank you for stepping up to warn people on a larger scale. Hats off, one and all.

Thanks for getting the word out about Scientology NBC. Excellent report. Amazing that they could get away with such major crimes for so long. Maybe this will help bring down what appears to be a long-time criminal enterprise. So thanks NBC, you probably had to endure a lot of letters from the lawyers of the Scientologists. I wonder if ABC is still going to air their special? I had heard they were going to talk about Narconon, Scientology's drug rehab centers that have recently been banned in Quebec and have had 3 deaths in one year in their Oklahoma center.

As someone who was kicked out of the Sea Org for being gay, and then subsequently shunned by his mother, father, brother and sister because I spoke out against the church after the abuses I suffered. I say thank you to everyone involved in this.

I posted an anonymous story online back in Feb of 2012. The church tracked me down and exposed the story to my parents in April. According to Scientology doctrine, Scientologists cannot associate with individuals who have spoken critically of the church.

I was in the Sea Org from Sep 2001 until July 2004. I was kicked out for developing a relationship with a same sex staff member. I was aged 15 - 18 during my time in the Sea Org, being kicked out just one or two days after my 18th birthday. I had to suffer through interrogations of my sexuality and fantasies while holding onto the cans of an e-meter which is essentially a primitive lie detector.

Scientology is an abusive organization in every sense of the word. Scientology parents regularly allow their children to be abused at the hands of the Church of Scientology under the guise of joining the Sea Org to "save the world" or enduring confessionals at the hands of a counselor called an "auditor".

I was a teenager being regularly asked by "auditors" aged 30 and older about my masturbation habits and fantasies.

Anyone that says that the church is OK with homosexuality is absolutely lying through their teeth. The church despises gays, anyone who is disabled or chronically ill, anyone who is mentally ill or anyone that doesn't fit Hubbard's idea of a "perfect' human.

Thank you so much for this.

Leaving Scientology may have been treasonous to Scientology but it was the right thing to do for yourself and the rest of us who were being abused by Scientology. Your story, Mr. Haggis, written by Mr. Wright, was one of the first that I read before coming out publicly. You made me feel safe to come out about my experiences and I can never thank you enough for that both of you.

I dont understand why there werent any ?'s concerning these people being convicted. Have we seriously produced so many loop holes in our system that someone can sue Mcdonalds for being burnt by there coffee yet we cant convict someone for physically abusing someone or holding them captive against there own will. Or is it that none of the victims serve in our police force or in the military. Maybe then the FBI or CIA might step in then. I do hope that Rock Center will do another special on this and address this side of the story. I truly hope that all those who have fell victim to this finds freedom.

hi to everyone,,,,just watching the program fron tonight and comes to my mind a very long friend that got lost just right away she became one more member of this "church".The last time i had a word from her was about 15 years ago,,,,soon after that last conversation the comunication stoped,even her closer family didnt have a way to find her,,,the only way to know about her was waiting and waiting till she called them.She was living in mexico and had brought here to the states forthe church. Can't even imagine the power this people have over the sistem.Sad to say,but Scientology profits with people's ignorance and feelings...

I find it unsettling that you won't allow comments on your website to Brian Williams/Rock Center/NBC to provide observations (like from me right now!) to convey information about the subject of Scientology or reaction to the report tonight (Jan 17, 2013). I can't figure out how to get a private message to you so am frustrated enough and probably stupid enough to allow FB access to you and everyone else in the world, some access to me in order to transmit my message. I want my circle of friends to be able to look at what is written here and be informed. It is their decision of course, but, when you live near one of the biggest Sci Centers in So. California and you hear about cameras that take down license plate numbers of cars that travel the precious road that Sci has buildings, churches and who knows what else on., that's kind of weird don't ya think? Wouldn't you want to share this info so your friends could be informed enough to look into Scientology, too?

I was very impressed with this coverage. Finally someone is willing to broadcast something more than fluff. I really loved the Operation Snow White mention. The James family segment brought me to tears. And Paul and Larry are just unimpeachable. Thank you, NBC! Part deux?

Brian,
That last segment you did on Rock Center tonight about the sheep, new jeans
And couple of smart dogs was so funny! Just made me laugh out loud. Love your
Sense of humor!!

That was a very interesting and informative program. It could easily have been twice as long with all the information available about the Church of Scientology's vicious and malevolent behavior.

The organization's raison d'être can be summed up in the words of its founder:

"MAKE MONEY. MAKE MORE MONEY. MAKE OTHER PEOPLE PRODUCE SO AS TO MAKE MORE MONEY."

- L. Ron Hubbard, Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter, 9 March 1972, MS OEC 384

The James family segment was particularly heart-wrenching but sadly they are not alone in being treated this way. I admire them for their resolution and determination to remain together.

Scientology pulls in decent, intelligent and caring people who want to enhance their abilities and make the world a better place, sucks the life and goodness out of them then finally spits them out. But most recover, regain their former selves and move on, wiser now.

Should the Church of Scientology come to its senses and wish to recant, its only terminal is the United States Department of Justice via the FBI.

Andrew

I'm not an ex-Scientologist, just somebody appalled by the "Church" doings, and an admirer of Lawrence Wright's work. Exhaustive research skills, fair-mindedness, plus first class New Yorker writing chops! He may be the worst thing ever to happen to Scientology, along with your excellent show, Mr. Williams. Good luck getting into a war of words with the New Yorker, Karin Pouw.

Wondering how Will & Jada Smith have convinced everyone that they are NOT into Scientology when they absolutely ARE. Check into it. They are deep into it, and everyone black in "Lost" Angeles knows! I have witnessed their involvement for myself, and so have MANY others! Every manipulative & deceptive connection to Scientology needs to be exposed. It is dangerous.