Scientologists slam ‘vengeful’ Sundance movie

The Church of Scientology has lashed out at a film about the controversial group at the Sundance Film Festival, calling it false and based on “obsessive, disgruntled former Church members.” The dismissive reaction — also denouncing “vengeful apostates” — came a day after the world premiere of “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief,” directed by Oscar-winner Alex Gibney. Based on a book by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Lawrence Wright, the movie reportedly makes claims about high-profile celebrity Scientologists, including Tom Cruise. Sunday’s screening in the Utah mountain resort of Park City was held amid tight security and speculation about possible protests, although in the end nothing materialized.

The accusations made in the film are entirely false and alleged without ever asking the Church.

Statement by the Church of Scientology

But in a statement issued Monday the Church took direct aim at the filmmakers and HBO, which is set to air the film. It lambasted the filmmakers, notably for not seeking reaction to the allegations made in the movie. It called Gibney’s sources “the usual collection of obsessive, disgruntled former Church members kicked out as long as 30 years ago for malfeasance, who have a documented history of making up lies about the Church for money. The statement finished by giving an Internet link — freedommag.org/hbo — to a collection of “documented facts” about the case. In these the film was referred to as “glorifying bitter, vengeful apostates.”

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