An extravagant Tudor castle once home to Henry VIII’s ill-fated wife Anne Boleyn is due to kick off this year’s International Association of Scientologists (IAS) event, despite controversy around the group’s abusive practices, fraudulent activity and attempts to silence protestors.
An invitation seen by Scientology Business reveals Hever Castle will host a welcome dinner on Thursday 24th October, the night before celebrations commence at Scientology’s UK headquarters, Saint Hill Manor. Live entertainment will be provided by “Latino star Brenda Marie” Special guest speakers include “top contributors” and “business legends Manuel Suarez and Tony Twomey.”
Puerto Rican Manuel Suarez was listed in Scientology’s 2019 ‘Impact’ magazine as having reached “Silver Meritorious with Honours” status, indicating he had donated at least $750,000 to the IAS and by 2023, his family was listed as “Platinum Meritorious”, meaning they have collectively donated $2.5 million. In an episode of Meet a Scientologist, he is quoted as saying “Scientology for me is sanity, it’s wellbeing”
According to a 2023 article on The Underground Bunker Tony Twomey has donated $2.7 million to the Ideal Org program, Scientology’s real estate scheme where parishioners invest in lavish, 50,000 square foot plus buildings which often stand empty awaiting renovation for years. In a video on David Miscavige’s website, Twomey describes working “for ten years” toward “building our Ideal Organisations, expanding our Churches.” He describes meeting the Scientology leader as an “extremely memorable moment” and says “seeing Mr. Miscavige speak at all our International Events about giving us the direction in relation to where our group was going, the expansion that we’re getting internationally was the inspiration that us, as a group of people, building our local Church up—you know—I really thrived on that inspiration on a regular basis.”
Hever Castle was once the childhood home of Henry VIII’s second wife Anne Boleyn and has recently undergone an extensive restoration project. Nestled in a 125 acre estate in the Kent countryside just 30 minutes from Saint Hill, the choice of venue suggests the International Association of Scientologists are attempting to capitalise on its historic significance and architectural grandeur ahead of it’s ruby anniversary.
On arrival guests will be given a private tour lasting an hour and 45 minutes before a ‘welcome dinner and entertainment’ at 6pm. Immediately afterwards, Twomey and Suarez will deliver a lecture titled ‘How to be a Success and Contribute Big’ until 8.30pm, at which point Ari Lan and Ginger Smith take over for ‘team target making’.
The fundraising dinner is understood to be a ‘pre-regging’ event, where Scientologists are encouraged to pledge large donations ahead of the IAS event the following day at Saint Hill. In January, former shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott wrote to HMRC citing concerns about “Scientology’s history of fraudulent activity internationally”, urging them to “investigate the Church’s finances for fraudulent activity.”
A spokesperson for Hever Castle said in a statement “we can confirm that the event taking place at Hever Castle is a private function and will be held outside of visitor hours. As such, no safeguarding procedures specific to visitors are necessary, as there will be no public access to the property during the event.”
“Hever Castle remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all staff, guests and visitors, and all events are conducted in accordance with our standard policies.”
Scientology made headlines this week after the BBC revealed they had applied for a ‘Public Spaces Protection Order’, which would prevent protestors from gathering outside the event. A demonstration has been planned for Friday 25th October which calls for an end to abuse inside the organisation.
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[…] IAS event is due to kick off this Thursday with a ‘welcome dinner’ and fundraising event at the nearby Hever Castle, before festivities begin at Scientology’s own property on Friday. A demonstration is expected […]