The Tax and Customs Administration (Belastingsdienst) of the Netherlands is taking steps against the Church of Scientology Amsterdam.

Local newspaper Het Parool reports that the Nabesa foundation, one of the cult’s front groups, has lost its status as a public benefit organization.

In today’s issue of Religion News Briefs: Already jailed for violating residential zoning codes, ‘home bible study’ pastor Michael Salman now faces a series of felony charges.

Plus: the condition of cult leader Sun Myung Moon worsens.

A daughter-in-law of Samuel Mullet, the leader of a breakaway Amish group on trial on hate crimes charges, says he coerced her into sex. Meanwhile his sister says Mullet’s group is a cult.

The Israeli government has distanced itself from a new Scientology cult center in Jaffa.

Also: the authors of a new study say the common assumption that natural and supernatural explanations are incompatible is psychologically inaccurate.

Plus, the latest issue of ICSA (International Cultic Studies Association) Today has an in-depth article about the history of the Wellspring Retreat and Resource Center — non-profit residential treatment facility that provides a program of counseling and instruction to victims of cultic abuse, religious abuse and/or mind control.

In today’s edition of Religion News Briefs: Appeals court orders punitive damages against jailed cult leader Tony Alamo reduced from $60M to $24M. Also: cult expert Stephen Kent addresses the decline of Scientology. And the Raelian Movement — a UFO cult — really knows how to latch onto free publicity.

Plus some surprising news in the blasphemy case against a young Pakistani Christian girl. And more…

The parents of a 21-year-old Texas woman who died this spring after spending two days at an Oklahoma rehab facility rooted in Scientology filed a lawsuit against the organization Thursday, court records show.

Meanwhile a former Narconon employee has launched a protest of the facility.

In today’s report: Pastor Michael Salman claims he is being persecuted for holding Bible studies in his home; but that is not true.

Also: another reason why not lying is good for you. Plus: can you really walk barefoot over hot coals by thinking positive thoughts?

A collection of links and blurbs highlighting religion news, cult stories — and anything else we think you might like.

Today: New York fails to stop noisy Scientologists. Religious devotees line up to have coconuts smashed on their heads. Nigerian prophet wants to represent a Japanese cult.

Also: South African white supremacist guilty of high treason in Mandela murder plot.

Plus… our yummiest new Twitter follower.

Today’s issue focuses on news stories that expose the Church of Scientology to daylight.

The avalanche of stories in the wake of the Tom Cruise / Katie Holmes divorce shows that the news media are no longer afraid to the litigious cult.

We also highlight a story in which two notorious cult defenders are quoted regarding their opinions of Scientology.

Scientology is still considered a cult (and that isn’t likely to change). Also: several news items about the Mormon Church.

Too: practitioners of Candomble and Umbanda face religious discrimination.

Today: a jailed cult leader attempts to further tighten his control over followers; a California mayor gets chided for his promotion of Scientology; and Benny Hinn opens up about wife’s prescription drug problem.

Also: Google removes terror videos; Why some people see auras; and results of a survey among teens who have left — voluntarily or not — the FLDS cult.

Today: Scientology defectors tell why they left; Ayn Rand’s philosophy examined from a Christian perspective; and Germany cracks down on Muslim extremists.

Also: A pastor charged with physically assaulting a 13-year-old boy as a way of disciplining him; and another look at Pro-Ana websites.

Plus: Failed doomsday prophet Ronald Weinland guilty of tax evasion.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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