-
HOME
-
WHAT IS STANDOur Mission Our Values Our Help Contact
-
WHAT WE FIGHT FORReligious Freedom Religious Literacy Equality & Human Rights Inclusion & Respect Free Speech Responsible Journalism Corporate Accountability
-
RESOURCESExpert Studies Landmark Decisions White Papers FAQs David Miscavige Religious Freedom Resource Center Freedom of Religion & Human Rights Topic Index Priest-Penitent Privilege Islamophobia
-
HATE MONITORBiased Media Propagandists Hatemongers False Experts Hate Monitor Blog
-
NEWSROOMNews Media Watch Videos Blog
-
TAKE ACTIONCombat Hate & Discrimination Champion Freedom of Religion Demand Accountability
This Secret Anti-Scientology Hate Group Has Some Surprising Members
According to the FBI, a hate group’s “primary purpose is to promote animosity, hostility and malice against persons belonging to a race, religion … which differs from that of the members of the organization.”
Among the hundreds of anti-religious hate groups on Facebook is one devoted exclusively to anti-Scientology bigotry—The Outer Banks. The secret group’s approximately 50 active members post constant hate speech and espouse violence against parishioners of the Church of Scientology, calling for their harm and the destruction of their religion.
An investigation has determined, shockingly, that not only do discredited criminals and anti-Scientologists participate in The Outer Banks, but even a handful of journalists as well. Perhaps the most noteworthy example is former Tampa Bay Times “Scientology Reporter” Tracey McManus, who is not only a member of the group but has been an active and eager participant. Other “journalists” in the hate group include Dana Kennedy (Daily Mail) and Kevin Dugan (Wall Street Journal).
This absurd and disturbing situation is no different than having a member of a neo-Nazi group assigned as the beat writer for Jewish communities.
The Outer Banks was created on August 13, 2013, with the following “welcome” post: “The Outer Banks is a special ‘secret’ information sharing group on Scientology.… Copying and/or pasting our posts elsewhere (anywhere) is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN.”
What follows is a sampling of posts found on the hate platform:
The Outer Banks’ lead administrator, anti-Scientologist Karen de la Carriere, joined The Outer Banks the day it was formed. In 1990, de la Carriere was dismissed from Church of Scientology staff for abusive and unethical conduct that disqualified her from holding a Church position. As she herself put it, de la Carriere was someone who “give[s] way to temper tantrums and rages” and who feels “a smug satisfaction at others’ demise.” (Soon after her dismissal, de la Carriere began secretly prostituting herself to married men, posing online as a woman in her 30s, though in her 50s.) De la Carriere began attacking the Church of Scientology in 2010.
The Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics advises journalists to “Label advocacy and commentary” and “Avoid conflicts of interest, real or perceived.” It is an egregious violation of any journalistic standards for a reporter assigned to cover a religion to belong to and participate in a group that calls for the destruction and eradication of that same religion. This absurd and disturbing situation is no different than having a member of a neo-Nazi group assigned as the beat writer for Jewish communities, or a white supremacist assigned to cover civil rights.
The Church of Scientology and STAND League pointed out McManus’ participation to the Tampa Bay Times, whose editor-in-chief, Mark Katches, and chairman and CEO, Conan Gallaty, consistently ignored it.
We continue to look to shine a light on this issue.
This article was updated on August 24, 2025.
