More Revelations From Scientology's Celebrity Poster Boy

by Nicole

Actor Jason Beghe, who became Scientology’s public enemy number one after releasing a three-minute tirade against the celebrity-mad cult on YouTube (see video), has revealed more of the organization’s dirty little secrets in a shocking interview with New York’s Village Voice weekly newspaper.

Beghe got drawn into the church in 1994 after taking acting classes with famed Hollywood acting coach Milton Katselas, who was a Scientologist. A fellow student in his class, Bodie Elfman (who went on to marry Jenna), gave him a copy of What is Scientology, a reference book published by the church. Beghe was hooked by the religion’s promise of superhuman capabilities and the idea of its detoxification rituals. "This clear thing sounded good," said Beghe, speaking to a Voice reporter from his home in Malibu.

The 48-year old actor estimates that he and his wife have paid over a million dollars to the church over the twelve years they were in its fold. He says his move up the ranks was rapid, with church leader David Miscavige considering him a "poster boy" for the organization.

"I was Miscavige's favorite boy, so they were doing all kinds of things to keep me happy," he says. "I moved up the Bridge faster than anyone in history. I went at it 24/7 for about a year. I went clear. Got to OT V. I was a trained auditor."

"I'm farther up the Bridge than Travolta, and he's been in there a thousand years. He's not a trained auditor."

As one of its highly prized celebs, Beghe enjoyed the perks of his special status within the church. He says he had access to the "Celebrity Centre. My own private sauna. Everybody kissing my ass, which I was uncomfortable with. But nice people. Couldn't be nicer.”

Courting celebs was more than a mere PR exercise for the church’s minions however. Founder L. Ron Hubbard was so focused on attracting high profile members, that those who brought them in were given a highly prized incentive. In exchange for a celebrity enrollment, members had their “ethics files” wiped, the Scientologist equivalent of absolution.

Misdeeds were recorded in a member’s ethics file during auditing sessions, an ongoing confessional process that lies at the core of the church’s training. These sessions are supposed to be private and confidential, but Beghe claims that they are all secretly recorded.

This is one of the reasons Beghe chose to speak out. He’s concerned for the welfare of other celebrities that may be ensnared by the church. "Will Smith is supposedly dabbling in Scientology. Let Will Smith know that his shit was fucking recorded. And tell him to look them in the eye and see if he believes it when they deny it."

"Everything's supposed to be confidential. But all they do is chat about it," says Beghe. He also reveals that Tom Cruise virtually severed ties to the church for almost a decade, but was somehow brought back into the fold. "He was out for like ten years. There are people who just aren't doing anything. Some are out but don't talk about it. Why? The church is scary. These are bad motherfuckers."

Ultimately Beghe became disenfranchised with the church after a car crash. His high level training was supposed to give him superhuman powers that would protect him against such incidents. The event was seen as a sign by his superiors that he’d come under the influence of “suppressives,” and his relationship with the church soured.

Beghe left the church seven months ago, and reached out to Andreas Heldal-Lund, who runs the prominent anti-Scientology Operation Clambake website Xenu.net. It was Lund who put Beghe in contact with Mark Bunker, who shot the YouTube video, which is a teaser for a more extensive interview that’s yet to go live.

"They came to my place out here, and we spent the day together. They set up a camera and I blabbed. And I barely scratched the surface," says Beghe. He warns that, "Scientology seduces you into thinking that it's a process through which you can truly become yourself. But ultimately, what it turns you into is a Scientologist, a brainwashed version of yourself."

| 04/18/08 | Celebrities