• ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.uk
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    1 year ago

    The case was closely watched not only because it involved a Hollywood star on trial in the #MeToo era but also because two of the women had accused the Church of Scientology, to which they also belonged, of discouraging them from reporting the rapes to the authorities. The church denied that it pressured the victims.

    It feels like this may be the larger story. I wonder if it’ll embolden other Scientologists to come forward.

    • Piers@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      They also allegedly killed the dogs of one of the victims in an attempt to silence her.

        • bipmi@beehaw.org
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          1 year ago

          Tbh I dont know why anyone would think there are no depths scientologists would go to. Its a sham religion entirely made to drain resources from its members into the pockets of the hierarchy of the “church”. Its basically a criminal enterprise and should be treated as one

    • xyzzy@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Court documents also said that Masterson had raped another woman, identified as Jen B., in April 2003 after he gave her a drink. Jen B., who sought the church’s permission to report the rape, later received a written response from the church’s international chief justice that cited a 1965 policy letter, which for her raised concerns she could be ousted from her family and friends if she reported a fellow Scientologist to the police.

      Imagine demanding that someone give up that much control over their own life and autonomy.

      However, she should be commended for overcoming her fear:

      Still, she reported the rape in 2004.

      • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝@feddit.uk
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        1 year ago

        However, she should be commended for overcoming her fear

        Reporting a rape and seeing it through court is especially hard at the best of times - in a high profile case, while battling against the will of.your Church adds whole new levels of difficulty to it.

        • kraftpudding@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Especially if that “church” is the Cult of Scientology, which are famous for ruining people’s lives if they’re considered a “supressive person”