 Lonsdale was subpoenaed by the Church of Scientology in 2006, and they accused him of being affiliated with the Lisa McPherson Trust, a group critical of Scientology which was restricted in where it could protest in Clearwater.In 2007, Lonsdale appeared on the BBC "Panorama" program "Scientology and Me" and was interviewed by journalist John Sweeney.Later in the program, Sweeney lost his temper and shouted at a Scientology representative when he was accused of giving Lonsdale a "soft interview".