McKay Stewart: Flips, fights and facts Incredible true stories, sourced.

Why you gotta hate, bro?

· McKay Stewart

In 2026, a TikTok trend went viral: run through a Scientology church as fast as you can, and post it.

One creator’s video hit about 90 million views (Hollywood Reporter, 2026). Copycats followed.

In New York, a mob forced its way into a church near Times Square. Police charged two men with burglary, criminal mischief and assault, all as hate crimes (ABC7, 2026; NY Post, 2026). Police in L.A. and Seattle opened hate-crime investigations too (NBC, 2026; Seattle Times, 2026).

Hate is wrong. We all agree on that. So why does it get a pass when the target is Scientology?

I’m a Scientologist. Here’s what the record shows: the courts, the crimes, and the help. Every claim has a source at the bottom.

Hate is hate

The FBI counts hate crimes every year.

In 2025, police reported 2,408 hate crime incidents based on religion (FBI, 2025).

98 of them were listed as “anti-other religion.” That’s the box for faiths without their own category (FBI, 2025).

The FBI doesn’t track Scientology on its own. So nobody has an exact count. But the incidents are real.

An old playbook against faith

Attacks on religion aren’t new.

Brain-Washing is a 1950s booklet that claims to be a Soviet mind-control manual. In 1959 it was named in the Congressional Record, inside a newspaper column a congressman entered (Cong. Rec., 1959).

It calls for pushing the real helpers out of mental health:

“Thus must be excluded priests, ministers, actually trained psychoanalysts, good hypnotists, or trained Dianeticists.” (p. 45)

Then it names targets to wipe out: Christian Science, Dianetics, faith healing and Catholicism (p. 49).

Catholic, Christian, Scientologist or any faith: it’s the same fight.

Read the full story, with page scans and a free download of the booklet: Conspiracy Theorists Rejoice!

The law says it’s a religion

This isn’t up for debate in court.

  • U.S.: In 1993 the IRS granted tax-exempt status to the Church and more than 150 related groups as religious and charitable organizations (NYT, 1993).
  • Europe: In 2007 the European Court of Human Rights ruled unanimously that Russia violated the Church’s rights in Moscow. It said officials “did not act in good faith” (ECHR, 2007).
  • U.K.: In 2013 the Supreme Court ruled Scientology is a religion. Scientologists can now legally marry in their London church (UKSC, 2013).

Still treated differently

The U.S. State Department tracks religious freedom around the world. Here’s what it found:

  • Germany: Four major parties ban Scientologists from joining. Some employers make job seekers sign “sect filters” saying they have no contact with the Church (State Dept., 2023). The federal spy agency watched the Church for almost 30 years. It stopped in 2026, but Bavaria and Hamburg still watch (Bild, 2026).
  • Russia: In 2023 a court sentenced the leader of the St. Petersburg church to 6½ years on “extremism” charges (State Dept., 2023).

Imagine that headline about any other church.

So what is Scientology?

The word comes from Latin scio, “knowing,” and Greek logos, “study of.”

It means “knowing how to know” (Scientology.org).

Here’s the core of The Aims of Scientology, written by L. Ron Hubbard in 1965:

“A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where Man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.”

Read the full text here.

What Scientologists actually do

Some numbers below come from the Church itself. I’ll tell you which ones.

9/11

Volunteer Ministers at Ground Zero Scientology Volunteer Ministers (yellow shirts) at Ground Zero, 2001. Photo: Church of Scientology International / Scientology.org.

The New York Times reported Volunteer Ministers at Ground Zero days after the attack (NYT, 2001).

The Church says 800+ Volunteer Ministers gave 130,000 hours there (Church-reported).

Hurricane Katrina

Volunteer Minister helps a soldier after Katrina A Volunteer Minister helps a soldier after Hurricane Katrina, 2005. Photo: Church of Scientology International / Scientology.org.

The Church says 900+ Volunteer Ministers came to help after Katrina and Rita (Church-reported).

Haiti

Volunteer Minister with an injured child in Haiti Volunteer Minister with an injured child in Haiti, 2010. Photo: Scientology Volunteer Ministers, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

After the 2010 earthquake, NBC’s Today show ran a report called “Scientologists Make a Difference in Haiti.” A doctor in it said she was “very impressed” (NYT, 2010).

Crime and cleanups

The Way to Happiness cleanup with LAPD officers Volunteers and LAPD officers at a Way to Happiness cleanup in Hollywood. Photo: Scientology Newsroom.

The Way to Happiness is a free booklet with 21 common-sense moral rules.

  • In Plettenberg Bay, South Africa, the local police commander handed out 700 booklets to families (ShowMe Plett, 2013). A Church magazine says robberies there fell 25% after (Church-reported).
  • In Hollywood, volunteers hold monthly cleanups. The Church says LAPD is a partner. One cleanup pulled 32 used syringes off the street (Church-reported).
  • Criminon brings these courses to prisons. The Urban Institute reviewed it and found parts that match proven rehab methods (Urban Institute, 2006). That review didn’t measure repeat crime.

Drugs and human rights

Drug-Free World volunteers Drug-Free World volunteers at Super Bowl LVIII, Las Vegas, 2024. Photo: Scientology Newsroom.

Volunteers hand out Truth About Drugs booklets at big events. The group says it’s active in about 180 countries (Church-reported).

The record

I’m only naming cases where a court, an apology, or the person’s own words make the record clear.

1. The Sunday Express. In 2007 it reported that author Andrew Morton was threatened by Scientologists. The paper later admitted the story wasn’t true and apologized (Irish Examiner, 2007).

2. The Sun. In 2013, after a letter from Church lawyers, it printed an “apology”… to “alien lifeforms” for linking them to Scientologists (Poynter, 2013). A joke made out of a correction.

John Sweeney John Sweeney speaking about Scientology in Liverpool, 2014. Photo: Richardc39, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

3. BBC Panorama. In 2007, reporter John Sweeney screamed at a Church spokesman on camera. The BBC called it “clearly inappropriate,” and Sweeney apologized (Digital Spy, 2007).

4. Belgian prosecutors. After an 18-year case, a Brussels judge threw out every charge in 2016. His words: “The defendants were prosecuted primarily because they were Scientologists” (AFP/Guardian, 2016).

5. Leah Remini. A&E paid her to host and executive-produce Scientology and the Aftermath (2016–2019). Then she signed an overall deal with A+E Networks (Deadline, 2018).

In 2013 she filed a missing-person report on the church leader’s wife. Police found her “alive and safe” and called the report “unfounded” (LAPD, 2022; THR, 2013). Later, her lawyers sent the Church letters seeking up to $1 million (Calif. Court of Appeal, 2026).

Her 2023 lawsuit? A judge struck about half of nearly 100 of her claims. The appeals court struck more in 2026. Her harassment and surveillance claims are still headed to trial (Calif. Court of Appeal, 2026).

My take: as a failed and disgruntled former Scientologist, she did the series for the money and the attention. That’s a business model, not a crusade. The Church’s side is at leahreminiaftermath.com.

Mocking any religion or its beliefs is bigotry and hate speech.

The Church of Scientology's Flag Building in Clearwater The Church of Scientology’s Flag Building in downtown Clearwater, Florida. Photo: Taty2007, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

6. Aaron Smith-Levin. He runs an anti-Scientology YouTube channel with about 257,000 subscribers (YouTube, 2026). He ran for Clearwater City Council in 2022 and lost (Florida Politics, 2025).

In July 2025, police arrested him in Clearwater for battery on a Church security guard. A court later ordered him to have no contact with the guard (Florida Politics, 2025).

Then he was charged with battery on a second Church staff member. A judge revoked his bail and sent him back to jail (Florida Politics, 2025).

In April 2026, a jury found him guilty of battery in that second case. He stayed in jail until May 4, then went on probation (Pinellas County Sheriff, 2026). STAND, a Scientologist anti-discrimination group, says the court also ordered him to stay at least 500 feet from Church property downtown (STAND, 2026).

In the first case, a jury found him not guilty (Scientology Money Project, 2026).

Northcliffe House in London Northcliffe House in London, headquarters of the Daily Mail’s parent company. Photo: Alex.muller, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

7. MailOnline. In 2015 it ran a story built on interviews with ex-members about the Church’s leader. He filed a complaint with IPSO, the U.K. press watchdog. In 2016 IPSO ruled against MailOnline. It said the site didn’t show it had taken care to be accurate or included his denials. MailOnline wouldn’t even defend the story. IPSO ordered it to post the ruling on its homepage for 24 hours (IPSO, 2016; Guardian, 2016).

Paul Haggis Paul Haggis, 2013. Photo: Canadian Film Centre, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

8. Paul Haggis. The Oscar-winning director is one of the best-known ex-Scientologists. In 2022 a New York jury found him liable in a civil rape lawsuit. It ordered him to pay $10 million (Reuters, 2022). He blamed the case on a Church plot. Variety reported that no evidence of that ever came out. He denied the claim and later settled for about $2 million, with no admission of fault (Variety, 2026).

Audiencia Nacional building in Madrid Spain’s National Court (Audiencia Nacional) in Madrid. Photo: FDV, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

9. Spain’s Justice Ministry. In 2005 the ministry refused to list the Church of Scientology of Spain as a religious group. In 2007 Spain’s National Court threw out that refusal. It ruled the Church had the right to be registered as a religious entity (Audiencia Nacional, 2007; Spanish Ministry of the Presidency).

European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, France. Photo: Gzen92, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

10. Russia, again and again. The Moscow loss above wasn’t the last. In 2009 Europe’s human rights court ruled unanimously that Russia broke Scientologists’ religious freedom by refusing to register their churches in two cities. In 2014 it ruled against Russia again over St. Petersburg. That makes at least 3 losses in Strasbourg (ECHR, 2009; ECHR, 2014).

Treat us like anyone else

You don’t have to agree with my faith. I don’t need you to.

Just hold it to the same rule you’d use for a church, a mosque, a temple, or a synagogue.

No mocking. No raids for clicks. No “sect filters.”

Hate is hate. Even when it’s trending.

Sources

Hate crimes and incidents

  1. FBI/DOJ, “FBI Releases 2025 Hate Crime Statistics” (Aug. 14, 2026): https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes/hate-crime-statistics ; FBI Table 1, Hate Crime Statistics, 2025 (copy): https://jewishvirtuallibrary.org/storage/fbi2025hate.pdf ; FBI Crime Data Explorer: https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/
  2. Seattle Times, “‘Speed run’ at Seattle Scientology church ends in hate crime arrests” (May 11, 2026): https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/speed-run-at-seattle-scientology-church-ends-in-hate-crime-arrests/

Legal recognition and discrimination

  1. New York Times, “Scientologists Granted Tax Exemption by the U.S.” (Oct. 14, 1993): https://www.nytimes.com/1993/10/14/us/scientologists-granted-tax-exemption-by-the-us.html
  2. European Court of Human Rights, Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia, no. 18147/02 (Apr. 5, 2007): http://www.bailii.org/eu/cases/ECHR/2007/258.html
  3. UK Supreme Court, R (Hodkin) v Registrar General [2013] UKSC 77 (Dec. 11, 2013), press summary: https://supremecourt.uk/uploads/uksc_2013_0030_press_summary_b3b4bffd26.pdf
  4. U.S. State Department, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Germany: https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/547499_GERMANY-2023-INTERNATIONAL-RELIGIOUS-FREEDOM-REPORT.pdf
  5. Bild, “Beobachten oder nicht?: Verfassungsschutz-Zoff um Scientology” (May 26, 2026): https://www.bild.de/politik/inland/beobachten-oder-nicht-verfassungsschutz-zoff-um-scientology-6a153a5a67305f34561da160
  6. U.S. State Department, 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom: Russia: https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-report-on-international-religious-freedom/russia/

What Scientology is

  1. Scientology.org, “What does the word Scientology mean?”: https://www.scientology.org/faq/background-and-basic-principles/what-does-the-word-scientology-mean.html
  2. Scientology.org, “The Aims of Scientology”: https://www.scientology.org/what-is-scientology/the-scientology-creeds-and-codes/the-aims-of-scientology.html

Helping out (Church-reported figures are marked in the text)

  1. New York Times, “Changed Lives; Religious Leader Takes His Calling to Ground Zero” (Sept. 20, 2001): https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/20/nyregion/changed-lives-religious-leader-takes-his-calling-to-ground-zero.html
  2. Scientology.org, “Volunteer Ministers Respond to 9/11 Disaster in New York”: https://www.scientology.org/how-we-help/volunteer-ministers/disaster-relief/new-york.html
  3. Scientology Newsroom, “2001–2011: The Volunteer Ministers Movement”: https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/scientology-volunteer-ministers-2011.html
  4. New York Times (The Lede), “Questions for Baptists, Praise for Scientologists in Haiti” (Feb. 3, 2010): https://archive.nytimes.com/thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/while-baptist-group-is-questioned-scientologists-are-praised-in-haiti/
  5. ShowMe Plettenberg Bay, “Plett’s men in blue bring happiness to Wittedrift” (Oct. 31, 2013): https://showme.co.za/plett/news/plett%c2%92s-men-in-blue-bring-happiness-to-wittedrift/
  6. Freedom Magazine (Church-published), “Trouble in Paradise, Then Hope: Reducing Crime in South Africa” (Nov. 2014): https://www.freedommag.org.za/issue/201411-held-back/world/trouble-and-hope-in-paradise-reducing-crime-south-africa.html
  7. Scientology Newsroom, “Kicking Off a Happy and Clean Holiday Season in Hollywood”: https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/kicking-off-a-happy-and-clean-holiday-season-in-hollywood.html
  8. Urban Institute Justice Policy Center, The Criminon Program Evaluation: Phase I (Jan. 2006): https://www.criminon.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/The-Criminon-Program-Evaluation-Phase-1-The-Urban-Institute.pdf
  9. Scientology Newsroom, “Drug-Free World Tackles Drug Abuse at Super Bowl LIX” (2025): https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/drug-free-world-tackles-drug-abuse-at-super-bowl-lix.html

The record

  1. Irish Examiner, “Apology to Church of Scientology” (Dec. 20, 2007): https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/arid-30341378.html
  2. Poynter, “U.K.’s Sun mocks Scientology with apology to alien lifeforms” (June 13, 2013): https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2013/u-k-s-sun-mocks-scientology-with-apology-to-alien-lifeforms/
  3. Digital Spy, “BBC man rebuked over Scientology show” (May 14, 2007): https://www.digitalspy.com/media/a46509/bbc-man-rebuked-over-scientology-show/ ; The Guardian (May 13, 2007): https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/may/13/broadcasting.bbc
  4. AFP via The Guardian, “Scientology criminal enterprise case thrown out by Belgian judge” (Mar. 11, 2016): https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/11/scientology-criminal-enterprise-case-thrown-out-belgian-judge
  5. The Hollywood Reporter, “A TikToker’s Scientology ‘Run’ Inspired a Trend. He Says It’s Too Far” (Apr. 23, 2026): https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/tiktoker-scientology-run-inspired-a-trend-1236573730/
  6. ABC7 New York, “Video shows mob ransacking Church of Scientology in Midtown Manhattan” (May 2026): https://abc7ny.com/post/video-shows-mob-storming-church-scientology-new-york-city/19031313/ ; New York Post, “Crazy video shows mob ransack NYC Scientology church as 3 busted…” (May 25, 2026): https://nypost.com/2026/05/25/us-news/crazy-video-shows-mob-ransack-nyc-scientology-church-as-3-busted-for-possible-social-media-stunt/

  7. NBC News, “Church of Scientology blasts TikTok ‘speed running’ trend as viral videos circulate” (Apr. 30, 2026): https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/church-of-scientology-blasts-tiktok-speedrunning-trend-rcna342747

  8. Deadline, “Leah Remini Inks First-Look Development Deal With A+E Networks” (Apr. 13, 2018): https://deadline.com/2018/04/leah-remini-first-look-development-deal-ae-networks-scientology-1202363407/ ; IPC/A&E premiere release (Oct. 27, 2016): https://theipcorp.com/eight-episode-ipc-series-leah-remini-scientology-and-the-aftermath-will-premiere-tuesday-november-29th-at-10pm-on-ae/
  9. LAPD, “LAPD Responds to Comments Made by Leah Remini” NR22330jl (Nov. 14, 2022): https://www.lapdonline.org/newsroom/lapd-responds-to-comments-made-by-leah-remini-nr22330jl/ ; The Hollywood Reporter, “LAPD Rules Shelly Miscavige Missing Persons Report ‘Unfounded’” (Aug. 8, 2013): https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/leah-remini-leaves-scientology-lapd-602860/
  10. California Court of Appeal, 2d Dist., Div. 2, Remini v. Church of Scientology International, No. B337765 (filed July 31, 2026; unpublished), appeal from L.A. Super. Ct. No. 23STCV18300: https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/remini-scientology-appeals-ruling.pdf ; Courthouse News, “Appeals court gives Leah Remini’s defamation suit against Church of Scientology another trim”: https://www.courthousenews.com/appeals-court-gives-leah-reminis-defamation-suit-against-church-of-scientology-another-trim/
  11. Variety, “Judge Tosses Parts of Leah Remini’s Lawsuit Against Scientology” (Mar. 2024): https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/leah-remini-lawsuit-scientology-ruling-anti-slapp-1235942074/ ; Deadline (Mar. 14, 2024): https://deadline.com/2024/03/scientology-leah-remini-lawsuit-latest-1235857866/
  12. Church of Scientology International, “Aftermath of the Aftermath”: https://www.leahreminiaftermath.com/ ; Church statement concerning Leah Remini: https://www.scientologynews.org/statements/abc-news/church-of-scientology-statement-leah-remini.html
  13. YouTube, Growing Up in Scientology channel (@growingupinscientology), subscriber count checked Oct. 8, 2026: https://www.youtube.com/@growingupinscientology
  14. Florida Politics, “Anti-Scientologist and former Clearwater candidate back in jail after bond revocation” (Nov. 20, 2025): https://floridapolitics.com/archives/766593-anti-scientologist-and-former-clearwater-candidate-back-in-jail-after-bond-revocation/
  15. Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, booking record for case 25-15304-MM (battery, Fla. Stat. 784.03; booked Apr. 14, 2026; released to probation May 4, 2026): https://www.pinellassheriff.gov/InmateBooking/SubjectResults.aspx?id=2030272 ; The Scientology Money Project, “Aaron Smith-Levin Found Guilty of Misdemeanor Battery Charge in Pinellas County, Florida” (Apr. 14, 2026): https://scientologymoneyproject.com/2026/04/14/aaron-smith-levin-found-guilty-of-misdemeanor-battery-charge-in-pinellas-county-florida/
  16. STAND (Scientologists Taking Action Against Discrimination), “Aaron Smith-Levin, Aftermath Founding Board Member, Convicted and Jailed for Assaulting a Scientologist” (May 13, 2026): https://www.standleague.org/newsroom/blog/aaron-smith-levin-aftermath-founding-board-member-convicted-and-jailed-for-assaulting-a-scientologist-01085a
  17. The Scientology Money Project, “Aaron Smith-Levin: Not Guilty” (Mar. 3, 2026): https://scientologymoneyproject.com/2026/03/03/aaron-smith-levin-not-guilty-prosecutor-scientology-lose-in-court/
  18. IPSO, Miscavige v Mail Online, ruling 01450-16 (published July 19, 2016): https://www.ipso.co.uk/rulings/01450-16/ ; The Guardian, “Scientology leader’s complaint over Mail Online’s Tom Cruise story upheld” (July 19, 2016): https://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/jul/19/scientology-mail-online-tom-cruise-david-miscavige
  19. Reuters, “Oscar-winner Paul Haggis must pay total of $10 million in civil rape case” (Nov. 14, 2022): https://www.reuters.com/legal/oscar-winner-paul-haggis-must-pay-total-10-million-civil-rape-case-2022-11-14/ ; AP, “Jury tells filmmaker Haggis to pay $10M total in rape suit” (Nov. 14, 2022): https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-movies-lawsuits-paul-haggis-c12bd93280bc86eff399fcbf6cbf81e7
  20. Variety, “Paul Haggis Settles With Rape Accuser for $2 Million” (Jan. 9, 2026): https://variety.com/2026/film/news/paul-haggis-rape-accuser-2-million-1236627708/
  21. Audiencia Nacional (Spain), Sala de lo Contencioso-Administrativo, Sección 3, SAN 4394/2007, recurso 352/2005 (Oct. 11, 2007), full text: https://www.cesnur.org/2007/sc_10_11.htm ; listed by Spain’s Ministry of the Presidency: https://www.mpr.gob.es/mpr/subse/libertad-religiosa/paginas/jurisprudencia-interes/personalidad-juridica.aspx
  22. European Court of Human Rights, Kimlya and Others v. Russia, nos. 76836/01 and 32782/03 (Oct. 1, 2009): https://www.bailii.org/eu/cases/ECHR/2009/1424.html ; Church of Scientology of St Petersburg and Others v. Russia, no. 47191/06 (Oct. 2, 2014): http://www.bailii.org/eu/cases/ECHR/2014/1019.html
  23. Congressional Record, 105 Cong. Rec. A569 (Jan. 20, 1959), Appendix, entered by Rep. Edgar W. Hiestand; scans and context: https://mckaystewart.github.io/2026/10/08/conspiracy-theorists-rejoice/
  24. Brain-Washing: A Synthesis of the Russian Textbook on Psychopolitics (1955), pp. 45, 49; free PDF: https://mckaystewart.github.io/assets/docs/brain-washing-psychopolitics.pdf

Photos

  • Clearwater Flag Building: “Scientology Clearwater headquarters.JPG,” Taty2007, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scientology_Clearwater_headquarters.JPG
  • Ground Zero and Katrina: Church of Scientology International, from Scientology.org Volunteer Ministers pages (official church images).
  • Haiti: “Scientology Volunteer Ministers in Haiti - February 2010,” Scientology Volunteer Ministers, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scientology_Volunteer_Ministers_in_Haiti_-_February_2010.jpg
  • Hollywood cleanup and Super Bowl: Scientology Newsroom (scientologynews.org) press images.
  • John Sweeney: Richardc39, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:John_Sweeney.jpg
  • Northcliffe House: “Northcliffe House 2008 06 21.jpg,” Alex.muller, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Northcliffe_House_2008_06_21.jpg
  • Paul Haggis: “Paul Haggis, Canadian Film Centre, 2013 (cropped).jpg,” Canadian Film Centre, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_Haggis,Canadian_Film_Centre,_2013(cropped).jpg
  • Audiencia Nacional: “Audiencia-Nacional-141115.jpg,” FDV, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Audiencia-Nacional-141115.jpg
  • European Court of Human Rights: “Cour européenne des droits de l’homme (Strasbourg) (2).jpg,” Gzen92, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cour_europ%C3%A9enne_des_droits_de_l%27homme_(Strasbourg)_(2).jpg

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