148: Kat was given to a cult at 13

What Was That Like - True Stories. Real People.

Scott Johnson & Glassbox Media

True Crime, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.7 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 25 August 2023

⏱️ 93 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

I live about 20 minutes from world-famous Clearwater Beach. I do bike around that area sometimes but that’s about the only time I go there, because I’m not much of a beach person. But people come from all over the world to sit in that sand, because that’s one of the things Clearwater is known for. But there’s something else that makes this city famous. Clearwater, Florida is also the worldwide spiritual headquarters of the Church of Scientology. Back in 1975, there was a Scientology-founded group that purchased the huge Ft Harrison Hotel in Clearwater for $2.3 million. On the paperwork, the tenant was listed as “United Churches of Florida”, so the City Council and the citizens of Clearwater didn’t realize that the new owners were actually the Church of Scientology – until after the purchase was finalized. Citizens groups and even the mayor of Clearwater at the time, protested against the church establishing a base there, and they repeatedly referred to the group as a cult. But the group stayed. And now, the Scientologists own 185 properties in downtown Clearwater. If you drive around the city, you’ll see these people walking from one place to another, doing their work or taking courses. My guest today is Kat, and she knows about the Church of Scientology from first-hand experience. When she was barely a teenager, Kat was given to the Scientologists – by her mother. If you’d like to contact Kat, you can email her at CanadianKat9@icloud.com Full show notes and pictures for this episode are here: https://WhatWasThatLike.com/148 Graphics for this episode by Bob Bretz. Transcription was done by James Lai. Want to discuss this episode and other things with thousands of other WWTL listeners? Join our podcast Facebook group at WhatWasThatLike.com/facebook (many of the podcast guests are there as well) Fall asleep to the Calm History podcast – CalmHistory.com Sponsor deals: Head to factormeals.com/wwtl50 and use code wwtl50 to get 50% off! What Was That Like is sponsored by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/whatwas for 10% off your first month. For a limited time, save $10 on your first StoryWorth purchase when you go to StoryWorth.com/what Head to airdoctorpro.com and use promo code WHAT and receive UP TO 39% off or UP TO $300 off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	I live about 20 minutes from world famous Clearwater Beach.
0:15.6	I do bike around that area sometimes, but that's about the only time I go there, because
0:19.8	I'm not much of a beach person.
0:22.4	But people come from all over the world to sit in that sand, because that's one of the
0:27.0	things Clearwater is known for, but there's something else that makes this city famous.
0:34.5	Clearwater Florida is also the worldwide spiritual headquarters of the Church of Scientology.
0:42.2	Back in 1975, there was a Scientology-founded group that purchased the large Fort Harrison
0:49.2	Hotel in Clearwater for $2.3 million.
0:54.4	On the paperwork, the tenant was listed as United Churches of Florida, so the City Council
1:00.8	and the citizens of Clearwater didn't realize that the new owners were actually the Church
1:06.0	of Scientology until after the purchase was finalized.
1:11.7	Citizens' groups and even the mayor of Clearwater at the time protested against the church
1:16.8	establishing a base there, and they repeatedly referred to the group as a cult, but the
1:22.5	group stayed.
1:24.8	And now, the Scientologists own almost 200 properties in downtown Clearwater.
1:32.3	If you drive around the city, you'll see these people walking from one place to another,
1:37.1	doing their work or taking courses.
1:41.0	My guest today is Cat, and she knows about the Church of Scientology from firsthand experience.
1:48.8	When she was barely a teenager, Cat was given to the Scientologists by her mother.
1:59.8	Real people in unreal situations.
2:03.9	I turned around, I see a gun pointed at me close enough I could touch it.
2:18.1	She would hold out her hats on the water all the time.
	...

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