A leading critic of Scientology is to travel to Australia to support Senator Nick Xenophon’s campaign for an inquiry into the tax-exempt status of the church.

As a Scientology, Gerry Armstrong tried to debunk criticism of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard but says, “I discovered that the lies that I was trying to debunk were actually the truth and that Hubbard had lied…”

In Italy, the pre-Christmas release of the book “The Courage to Speak Out – Stories of ex-Scientologists” was met with a promise from the National Church of Scientology of Italy to bring legal action against the author and “whomever has assisted her.”

The publisher’s press officer says “it won’t be up to the reactions of Scientology to determine the choices of the editor and this is not because we wish to be noticed, but because we carry out a service to the Church and to society.”

More than 1,000 unreleased recordings of lectures by L. Ron Hubbard and reams of corresponding writings have been unveiled in the culmination of a 25-year project to locate, restore and transcribe lost pieces of the Scientology founder’s work.

Records show that the science fiction author made up many details of his own life.

The Church of Scientology in Italy has announced it is initiating legal proceedings against the Daughters of St. Paul and Maria Pia Gardini, a Catholic author who was formerly a Scientologist and has returned to the Catholic Church.

In 2007 the Daughters of St. Paul’s publishing house published Gardini’s first book, ” I miei anni in Scientology” (“My years in Scientology”).

The first week of December, 2009 they released her second book, “Il coraggio di parlare – storie di fuoriusciti da Scientology” (“The Courage To Speak Out – Stories of Ex-Scientologists”).

The sue-happy Scientology Church is coming to Sandy Springs, Georgia — but the cult is also suing the town because it won’t get all the space it asked for.

The controversial church, recently convicted in of fraud in France, will pursue a ‘religious liberty’ lawsuit.

Judith Richmond, 41, was having a mental breakdown when she tried to “heal” nine-year-old Millie of cerebral palsy by plunging her in the water.

The top florist, whose clients included royalty and pop stars, had bi-polar disorder and became obsessed with Scientology

A senate inquiry into Scientology will not go ahead after the Rudd Government told the church it believed the Tax Office and police were the most appropriate authorities to investigate any complaints.

But Senator Xenophon was undeterred, saying yesterday that in February he would call for a vote for an inquiry and did not accept the Government’s argument.

New South Wales (Australia) police are investigating allegations of abuse and bullying in the Church of Scientology made in a series of letters from former members tabled in Federal Parliament by independent senator Nick Xenophon.

Xenophon staff has gathered ‘hundred more allegations’ of abuse since he gave his speech.

Independent senator Nick Xenophon last week said correspondence from former members had implicated the church in a range of crimes, including forced imprisonment, coerced abortions, intimidation and blackmail.

Eight letters from former members of the church were tabled in parliament, including one from Paul David Schofield, who said his toddler daughter Lauren fell down some stairs to her death after being allowed to wander around one of the church’s Sydney buildings.

Edward McBride took his own life in 2007. His family believe the Church of Scientology played a major role in his death, and have spent the past two years trying to find answers.

Police investigating his younger brother’s death in 2007 had been repeatedly stymied by the church, which failed to provide personal audit files as requested, Stephen McBride said.

‘Scientology is evil; its techniques evil; its practice a serious threat to the community, medically, morally and socially; and its adherents sadly deluded and often mentally ill.”

The above statement was not made by Nick Xenophon under the privilege of the Senate this week, but by a Victorian barrister, Kevin Anderson, QC, who had led a two-year government inquiry into the Church of Scientology in the 1960s. Then, as now, former Scientologists alleged that ”mind control”, physical and emotional abuse, and financial deception were standard practices, not exceptions, and integral to the church’s ”brainwashing” of its parishioners.

Dangerous dismissal of psychiatry and mental health problems must be part of a Senate inquiry into the Church of Scientology, a Melbourne cult-counsellor said yesterday

Cult Counselling Australia director Raphael Aron said Scientologists put vulnerable people at risk by taking them off psychiatric drugs and treatment, instead treating them with vitamins and E-meter readings.

Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd raised concerns about the Church of Scientology yesterday, as police began investigating complaints from seven former Scientologists.

As highlighted by senator Nick Xenophon, the former cult members allege abuses including coerced abortions, assault, imprisonment, the covering up of sexual abuse, the embezzlement of church funds and blackmail. [video]

A New Jersey man will serve a 366-day federal prison term for conducting a cyber attack on Church of Scientology Web sites in January 2008, Associated Press reports.

At a hearing Wednesday in Newark 19-year-old Dmitriy Guzner of Verona also was sentenced to two years’ probation after his release from prison.

The Australian Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has used a speech in Parliament to raise allegations of widespread criminal conduct within the Church of Scientology.

Senator Xenophon says he’s received letters from former followers of the religion detailing claims of crimes and abuses. [video]

« Newer — Older »