Foreign interest-free loans keep Irish branch of Scientology afloat

Interest-free loans from abroad are propping up the troubled Irish branch of the controversial Church of Scientology. Financial documents seen by the Irish Independent reveal that the church is more than £1m in the red after running up huge legal bills in an epic eight-year battle brought by a disgruntled former member. As a result, members of the mega-rich Church of Scientology in the United States have had to cough up almost £400,000 just to keep the Dublin arm afloat. The celebrity endorsed group landed itself in a financial hole after a case was taken against it by a former
The controversial Irish arm of the Church of Scientology has a massive £1.1m deficit in its accounts. In just three years, retained losses at the church soared 6,200pc to £1.1m at the end of April 2003 from a modest loss of £17,755. The financial hole in the Dublin-based Church is being funded by interest-free loans from Irish and worldwide members. What makes Scientology a hate group Among other unethical behavior, hate- and harassment activities are part and parcel of Scientology. Hatred is codified, promoted and encouraged in the cult‘s own scriptures, written by founder L. Ron Hubbard. Scientology’s unethical behavior:
Irish Times, Mar. 14, 2003 The long-running action for damages by a woman against the Church of Scientology and three of its members came to a dramatic end at the High Court yesterday when the judge was told the case “appears to be settled“. The costs of the action could amount to £2 million. The surprise development came on the 31st day of the case taken by Dundalk-born Ms Mary Johnston, who was involved with the church from 1992 to 1994. A chartered psychologist, Dr Peter Naish, was about to resume his evidence, which had criticised the nature of auditing
Irish Times, Mar. 13, 2003 http://infobrix.– BROKEN URL yellowbrix.com -/ NOTE: On the same day that this item was reported, the Scientology cult settled out of court A woman who is suing the Church of Scientology appeared to have been hypnotised while undergoing an auditing session by a member of the church, a psychologist told the High Court yesterday. Ms Mary Johnston appeared to have been subjected to “very curious” and “not very good” therapy. Dr Peter Naish, a chartered psychologist who has written extensively on hypnosis, said it was his view Ms Johnston was very susceptible to hypnosis. He
RTE News (Ireland), Mar. 13, 2003 A High Court action for damages by a Dublin sports shop owner against the Church of Scientology has ended after out of court talks. The case taken by Mary Johnston was expected to last until May. However, Mr Justice Peart was told at lunchtime today that the case appeared to be settled. No details of the settlement were disclosed but costs in the action are estimated to be around £2 million. Mary Johnston joined the Church of Scientology in 1992. In her legal proceedings against the Church and three members of the Dublin Mission,
Irish Times, Mar. 12, 2003 http://infobrix.– BROKEN URL yellowbrix.com -/ The High Court has been urged not to engage in a “wholly impermissible type of religious discrimination” by permitting an inquiry into the truth or falsity of the Church of Scientology‘s religious claims. For the court to admit evidence from a psychologist which was critical of the practice of auditing – described as the core and single most important way in which Scientologists profess and practise their religious belief – would be akin to conducting a judicial inquiry into the legitimacy of the Sacrament of the Mass in Roman Catholicism,
Irish Times, Mar. 7, 2003 http://infobrix.– BROKEN URL yellowbrix.com – A fundamental issue in the legal action by a woman against the Church of Scientology is whether her free will was overborne or compromised in her decision to take up certain courses run by the church, the High Court heard yesterday. If the court finds Ms Mary Johnston’s free will was affected, it must then decide whether that has any legal consequences entitling her to damages, Mr Michael Collins, for the church said. The fundamental point was whether Ms Johnston’s free will was compromised to an extent that was unacceptable
Irish Times, Mar. 6, 2003 A professor of sociology who has written books and articles critical of the Church of Scientology and other organisations told the High Court yesterday the church was attempting to isolate him within the academic community. Prof Stephen Kent, who is based in Canada, made the claim in the ongoing action for damages by Ms Mary Johnston (40), who operates a sports equipment centre at Westwood, Foxrock, Dublin, and who is a former member of the church. She has sued the church and three members of its Dublin mission – Mr John Keane, Mr Tom Cunningham
Irish Times, Feb. 8, 2003 The long-running action by a woman against the Church of Scientology and three members of its Dublin mission has been adjourned at the High Court to next month. Mr Justice Peart heard yesterday a witness was unavailable to give evidence and, for this and other reasons including the judge’s commitments in other courts, the case, which has been at hearing for 22 days, was adjourned to March 4th. The action has been taken by Ms Mary Johnston (40) who operates a sports equipment centre at Westwood, Foxrock, Dublin. She is seeking damages for alleged conspiracy,