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Scientology

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This is Religion News Blog's archive of news items tagged Scientology.

Articles listed here may also be related to other tags and keywords. As such, other news items in other categories and tags may be relevant to Scientology as well. Use the Google-powered search engine above to find more items.

Greens say tax payer money going to Church of Scientology

Kevin Hague, drugs spokesman for New Zealand’s Green Party, has alleged in Parliament that the Church of Scientology is using tax-payer money to promote an anti-psychiatry agenda and messages against medication used to treat mental illness through charities disguised as social service organisations.

Through its front groups the cult wages an extended hate campaign against psychiatry and psychiatrists.

Religion News Briefing, Sunday May 6, 2012

Cult leader Bert Potter dies; a look at how Jim Jones manipulated politicians in San Francisco; and Kate Bornstein is no longer afraid to speak out about Scientology.

Also in this religion news briefing: the rise of paid, online worship in India; plus: 15 years after committing suicide the website of the Heaven’s Gate cult is still online.

Plus: why more Ugandans are turning to Witchcraft, and why a lawer thinks trafficking in brides might be OK.

Malaysian Newspaper Apologizes for Changing Anti-Scientology Speech Into Anti-Islam Speech

Malaysian newspaper New Straits Times changed an anti-Scientology speech by Australian Senator Nick Xenophon into an anti-Islam speech by switching the terms.

Amid concerns for his safety, the senator says the paper’s apology is too little, too late.

Former Scientology leader Debbie Cook settles lawsuit with church

Neither pays the other side money, and Cook and her husband are legally prohibited from ever again speaking ill of the church.

The Church of Scientology walks away having suffered through a day of brutal testimony that remains in the public record.

Senior Scientologist cleared of sex abuse cover-up charges

Charges against Janice Meyer accused of coaching a child to lie about sex abuse have been dropped in a Sydney court.

Meyer, who also uses the name Jan Eastgate, heads Citizens Commission on Human Rights, a Scientology front group that wages an ongoing hate campaign against psychiatry and psychiatrists.

Health officials shut down Narconon drug rehab centre in Canada

Health officials have ordered the Narconon rehabilitation centre for drug addicts in Trois Rivières, Canada, to evacuate and relocate its 32 residents, citing concerns over procedures that “may represent a risk to health” and a lack of doctors on staff.

The agency’s decision not to certify was based on visits to the Narconon centre in February, and the recommendations of a national committee of experts convened in March to discuss the case.

Scientology-linked Narconon center in Quebec shut down for ‘dangerous practices’

The Narconon Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation Centre in Trois-Rivières is shut down for ‘dangerous’ practices.

The organization, viewed as a front group for the Church of Scientology, employs treatments based on the medical fantasies of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

Regional court in Moscow bans Scientology books as extremist literature; cult not banned

A regional court in Moscow has upheld a lower court decision made in June 2011, declaring books published by the Church of Scientology to be extremist literature and banning publication or distribution of books from Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

The decision does not ban the controversial cult.

Foreign interest-free loans keep Irish branch of Scientology afloat

The Irish branch of the Church of Scientology remains deep in the red as revenues continue to decline.

Interest-free loans from overseas Scientologist and from other Church of Scientology ‘missions’ are keeping the Dublin branch abroad.

Questions in Netherlands House of Representatives over Scientology tax loopholes

Members of the Netherlands’ House of Representatives have asked questions of State Secretary for Finance, Frans Weekers, regarding tax deductions on financial donations given to the Church of Scientology via front groups.

Scientology is not considered a charitable organization in the Netherlands, and therefore encourages members to donate to the church via an ancillary foundation that does have charitable status.

Mental Health Minister criticises Scientology campaign

Australia’s Mental Health Minister, Helen Morton, says a new campaign by the Church of Scientology is sensationalist.

The ‘Citizens Commission on Humans Right,’ a Scientology front group engaged in an ongoing hate campaign against psychiatry and psychiatrists, has advertised in newspapers and distributed pamphlets warning people about changes to the WA (Western Australia) Mental Health Act.

Church of Scientology denies buying office complex in Amsterdam

The controversial Church of Scientology is in the process of acquiring an office complex in a suburb of Amsterdam, Netherlands.

The enormous complex is located in the New West suburb — well away from the city’s center, where the problem-plagued cult has had a presence for decades.

Former Scientology executive speaks out; files counterclaim

Another PR Crisis for Scientology: Nightline interviews Debbie Cook — the former Scientology executive whose criticism of the Church of Scientology has rocked the religious cult to the core.

Having failed to silence Cook in court, Cook has now filed a counterclaim…

Scientology’s anti-drug campaign under fire in New Zealand

An anti-drug group run by the Church of Scientology will be investigated to ensure money granted to it by the government was not misspent.

Drug education experts say the information in the pamphlets funded by the grants is not based on science, and should not be given government money or disseminated by schools.

Church of Scientology demands right to underpay workers

The Church of Scientology in Australia has asked the Federal Government for an exemption to the Fair Work Act so they do not have to pay workers the minimum wage.

Last September the cult was found to be subject to Australian labour laws after an investigation into allegations it paid employees who were members of its clergy as little as $10 a week.

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Related Books

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• Books on Scientology