"We're working 16 hours a day trying to save the planet, and the church is shrinking.". For one, they said, the church had taken their passports. 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 . They now had a child and no money, but they thought they were still in good standing with their church. She thought that she could talk to me and tell me the things that she was going to tell me that would make me think ScientologyI should abandon it. See Photos. They would lose the possibility of living for eternity. [9] After finishing high school he joined the Sea Org on the ship Apollo at 18. Christie and Chris Collbran were married in a simple ceremony at the Scientology center in Manhattan. And then it ratcheted up and ratcheted up andto the point where Christie was screaming in my ear. "This is a result of our expansion. Christie was with us and then all of a sudden she took a big U-turn. 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. All Episodes Devotionals. So of course, everybody loved him. Collbran, who is 33, said she loved the church so much that she never thought she would leave. 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 church says the defectors are lying. Their parents, siblings and friends who are Scientologists would have to disconnect completely from them, or risk being declared suppressive themselves. 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. 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. Ms. Collbran, who is 33, said she loved the church so much that she never thought she would leave. 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. Joanie Sigal is a 36-year parishioner in Clearwater who promotes the churchs antidrug campaign to local officials. Rinder served as a spokesperson for the Church of Scientology for over two decades before being removed from his disgrace in 2009. Speaking to Freedom Media & Ethics in January 2022, she said, "As the daughter of Mike Rinder, I felt like I didn't have a father. To report about any issues in our articles, please feel free toContact Us. As for the defectors, Davis called them "apostates" and said that contrary to their claims of having left the church in protest, they were expelled. Claire King. They now had a child and no money, but they thought they were still in good standing with their church. Scientologists are cut off from observation and told what to think. But the Johannesburg church was generating only enough to pay each of the Collbrans $17 a week, Collbran said. Collbran says she still believes in Scientology -- not in the church as it is now constituted, but in its teachings. "So all of a sudden, he just grabbed my arms and crossed them in a vise. In the past, Christie has also been known as Collbran Christie June, Christie June Collbran and Christie J Collbran. . Chris Collbran, wants nothing to do with his former church. 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. Ridiculous. In her interviews with The New York Times and The Today Show, she still adamantly insists that. 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. "These accusations were made by top international executives who had devoted most of their lives to the church.". Now, all Mike wants to do is "expose the abuses ongoing in the church" and "provide a forum for the exchange of information." 2010 In Johannesburg, officials made the church look busy for publicity photographs by filling it with Sea Org members, the Collbrans said. However, Rinder showed no interest in his children after disconnecting from his family. The couple welcomed their son named Jack in April 2012. 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.". 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. Although on the other hand, whats a poor Anchor Boy to do? 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." 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. ", Represented Scientology in the Office of Special Affairs. 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. The 42-year-old finished Saturday's Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend wheelchair half-marathon in 2 hours and 37 seconds. Completely. We never will.". 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. Personal Profiles for Christie June Collbran from Palm Harbor, FL and Christie J Collbran from Palm Harbor, FL, and one other person with the same name, addresses, phone numbers, emails. 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. He was crushing me. 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. Christie's current address is 808 Bentwood Crt, Palm Harbor, FL 34683-1901. The family livedas the Kings still doin a suburb outside Los Angeles. She had, indeed, earlier told two news outlets that she had gotten pregnant for one reasonand one reason onlyto expedite her departure from the Sea Organization, since she knew the Church would want her to begin prenatal care at once. These are common religious tenets, he said. He had spent months at church headquarters in Clearwater revising the design for the Johannesburg site to meet Mr. Miscaviges demands. After graduating high school in April 1973, Rinder worked for his now-deceased father in the wholesale grocery business. 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. 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. One can only begin to imagine the emotional devastation that awaits her three-year-old when he grows old enough to learn how he really came into the world. ". And if I don't do something he's going to do damage,'" she said. As a doula her greatest talent is her ability to connect with her clients on a personal level. "These are common religious tenets," he said. 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. Collbran says she still believes in Scientology - not in the church as it is now constituted, but in its teachings. 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. Anyone can read what you share. Born into a family of Scientologists, Collbran, now 33, was raised in a loving home by her parents, Ed and Liz King. Especially in the tone of voice youre saying it and sort of thejust shrill screaming. TRANSCRIPT: Christie made the decision to leave us if we didn't do what she wanted. 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. In October of the same year, he met Hubbard for the first time upon joining Hubbard's shipApollo, which Rindercallsthe "floating headquarters for Scientology.". The family livedas the Kings still doin a suburb outside Los Angeles. Their parents, siblings and friends who are Scientologists would have to disconnect from them. 2023 www.theledger.com. 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. 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. CC King. 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. 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." She finally left the Sea Org three years ago. Comments # the jakal 2010-04-04 06:11. Its pinch-yourself material.. 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. 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. "Scientology hooks people with the promise of making them better. After leaving the Sea Org, Rinder divorced his wife after 31 years of marriage in 2007. Christie King Collbran was in the Sea Org from the age of 16 until the age of 29. Haggis had been a member for 35 years. That, coupled with her knowledge and experience, provides . They have refused to speak to her ever since. Scientology parishioners interviewed in Clearwater seemed unperturbed by the protests, headlines and lawsuits. "We have never violated that trust," Davis said. 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. 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. But, after 13 years, she grew disillusioned with the Church's leadership and left. 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. Collbran also has a son named Shane from her previous relationship. The reason, they agree sadly, is that they no longer see eye to eye on Scientology. She still gets auditing, from other Scientologists who have defected, like Mr. Rathbun. Christie Collbran is 45 years old and was born on 01/29/1977. Rinderwasraised a Scientologist from the age of six. In 1969, he again visited the house to participate in advanced Scientology courses and auditing. But there were a few pertinent details that went unmentioned on her ambling interview with Cooper. Well, at least they have each other. 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. Christie made the decision to leave us if we didn't do what she wanted. These accusations were made by top international executives who had devoted most of their lives to the church.". The church immediately sent emissaries to Christie Collbran's parents' house to inform them that their daughter was "suppressive," Collbran said. Marty Rathbun, once Miscavige's top lieutenant, is now one of the church's top detractors. 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. He and his second wife, Christie King Collbran, were married in 2013 and have a son. 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. She abandoned her family. 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. "And what we see here is evidence of the fact that we're definitely better off without them.". Rinder believes that the actual approach of Scientology contradicts when it comes to reality. And to then tell the press where it will permanently remain available for retrieval on the Internet in perpetuity? Scientology is an esoteric religion in which the faith is revealed gradually to those who invest their time and money to master Mr. Hubbards teachings. He has no contact with his two adult children from his first marriage. 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). 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. 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.. The building, which is 380,000 square feet, has 33-foot ceilings and a chapel that will seat 250 people. It was all built on lies, Mr. Collbran said. On the pay issue, it says that Sea Org members expect to sacrifice their material well-being to devote their lives to the church. Rinder defended the Church and Scientology leader David Miscavige. He acknowledges that he pushed a 17-year-old staff member against a wall and yelled at his wife, who was his deputy. Shes notshes not the daughter that I knew. ''You're so into it, it's everything you know: your family, your eternity.". Church of Scientology International (CSI). The Collbrans went back to work for the church in Los Angeles, but Ms. Collbran found the atmosphere so oppressive, the staff members so miserable, that she likened it to living under martial law and again resolved to leave. 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. Ms. Collbran says she still believes in Scientology not in the church as it is now constituted, but in its teachings. The same year, she left the Sea Org and Christ. Fair enough, except she didnt tell it all. The family livedas the Kings still doin a suburb outside Los Angeles. 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. "These were not the claims made by 'outsiders' looking to dig up dirt against us, " Haggis wrote." 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. They could not just up and go. All rights reserved. He is breaking my bones. 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. Apr. Eventually I realized I was part of a con, he said, and I have to leave it and get on with my life.. Her parents were dedicated church members in Los Angeles, and she attended full-time Scientology schools for several years. "This is a representation of our success," said the church's spokesman, Tommy Davis, showing off the cavernous atrium at the climax of a daylong tour. 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.". Christie King Collbran never wanted to become a Scientology defector. "This is a result of our expansion. They could not just up and go. 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. She absolutely knows what shes doing. They soon discovered others who felt the same. Were working 16 hours a day trying to save the planet, and the church is shrinking., The church is vague about its membership numbers. As a result, he was raised a Scientologist from the age of six. So she intentionally conceived a child. Church of Scientology Mission In 1993, when she was 16, Christie joined the Sea Organization, where she remained for 13 years. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. 30CHAMPAIGN If anyone athlete or otherwise was searching for inspiration on Saturday morning, they needed to look no further than Andrea Lytle Peet. 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.. Soon after, naturally, Collbrans strings were yankednot pulledback to Rinders bed in Florida. Provided. Today, Rinder lives in Palm Harbor, Florida, with his current wife, her son Shane, and their son Jack. Christie was born into a family of Scientologists, and her parents are Liz and Ed King. Youre in fear, Mr. Collbran said. And it went on and on and onher screaming at me about various things that she wanted to get across to me that she thought was bad. And we have the answers.". 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. As for the defectors, Davis called them "apostates" and said they were expelled. 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." Davis said there is no such thing: "One can't be a Scientologist and not be part of the church. Over the next several years, Christie's relationship with the Church and Chris headed south. 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. ", The Collbrans, despite their efforts to remain in good standing in the church, were declared suppressive persons last year. It was in Johannesburg, where the couple had gone to supervise the building of a new Scientology organization, that Chris Collbran, who is 29, began to have doubts. "All of the auditing that you do, there's files kept on it," Christie Collbran said. He was absent during his son's cancer treatment. She turned her back on us, fully turned her back on us. Bradford-born King played the dastardly Kim Tate on Emmerdale originally for 10 years from 1989. 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 immediately sent emissaries to Christie Collbran's parents' house in Los Angeles to inform them that their daughter was "suppressive," Collbran said. He also dealt with legal and governmental matters of the CSI at an international level. 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. "All of the personal things you ever said, all the secrets, the transgressions, are all kept in there. Christie and Chris Collbran were married in a simple ceremony at the Scientology center in Manhattan. She worked at Church organizations in Los Angeles and New York. "And since they're removed, the church is expanding like never before," said Davis, a second-generation Scientologist whose mother is the actress Anne Archer. And so the couple continues their sorry affair, having alienated their families and saddled with a child born out of deception. She is an actress, model, and spokesperson for the Girl Scouts, USA. I wasnt expecting it. The couple now have two small children. Christie Collbran Birth Doula Services Jan 2009 - Dec 20146 years Tampa, Florida, United States Supported and guided families to have a positive birth and postpartum experience.
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