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Press in the News

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September 18, 2008Scientology Link at Montessori School Alarms Parents Some parents are upset with a study method introduced by a Montessori school in northwest Toronto, which they say has its roots in the Church of Scientology. Parents said the owner of the Bambolino Montessori Academy, a private school, told parents last week that it was introducing a new learning method called applied scholastics. Parents weren't given a choice when the dean told them they'd be implementing the study technique.
August 13, 2008As Scientology Expands, So Do Its Naysayers Anonymous protestors in Seattle call attention to Scientology's space opera teachings, tax exempt status, and Fair Game policy.
August 12, 2008Church's Anti-Medication Stance Sparks Opposition One of Scientology's Illinois protestors is motivated by Scientology's opposition to psychiatry - and treatment that's reduced his suffering.
August 6, 2008Anonymous Returns, Scientology Responds Cringely outlines Scientology's long history of harassing journalists and critics.
July 15, 2008SPY VS. SCI: The Latest Scientology Protest Anonymous protests Scientology in Portland, Oregon to raise awareness about the dirty tricks of Scientology's Guardian Office and Scientology's criminal Snow White conspiracy.
June 30, 2008Anti-Scientology Group On Attack The anti-Scientology group known as Anonymous says its July 12 "Spy vs. Sci" plans to demonstrate in "cities all around the world." Anonymous members - who include former Scientologists - are focusing on alleged "abuses" of the church's intelligence agency, known as the Office of Special Affairs (OSA). The group charges that critics are "targeted, harassed, threatened and intimidated in an attempt to silence or punish them."
June 20, 2008Scientology: The Anonymous Protestors An Anonymous protest in London targeted Scientology's elite Sea Org - a pseudo-paramilitary group that used to own a ship. "We are not targeting the beliefs, but the Church. Why does it take people's money? Why does it split people from their families? It is a dangerous cult."
January 3, 2008JLo Planning a Scientology Baby Birth? Jennifer Lopez is planning to give birth to her first child naturally, quiet, and free from painkillers. The 38-year-old actress will be following in the footsteps of Katie Holmes, who was forced to keep quiet during the birth of her first child with Scientology-fanatic husband Tom Cruise. Lopez and hubby Marc Anthony are also devoted followers of the religion, Scientology, where it is believed that loud hospital environments, and doctor's shouts of 'push push' can have damaging effects on a newborn later in life.
December 8, 2007Germany Prepares To Ban Scientology Erhart Korting, Berlin's Interior Minister, who chaired the meeting, insisted afterwards: "All ministers present were unanimous in their view that Scientology is an organisation not compatible with the constitution." He said steps would be taken to implement a ban. Hamburg's Interior Minister, Udo Nagel, the chief proponent of the ban, described the organisation as a "psycho-ideology" which aims at the "total suppression of the individual".
November 12, 2007A Church Accounting While religious institutions have constitutional protection against certain taxation, they are also expected not to abuse their special status. In fact, while Grassley is looking into such matters, he should add the Church of Scientology to the list. Scientology's shameful past includes a 25-year legal and psychological campaign against the IRS to be recognized as a tax- exempt religion. Scientology tactics included a criminal conspiracy in the 1970s to bug IRS offices, which led to 11 convictions of church members including founder L. Ron Hubbard's wife. Scientology filed dozens of lawsuits against the IRS, hired private investigators to dig up dirt on IRS employees and financed other IRS critics.
November 4, 2007Belgium Builds Case Against Scientology Prosecutors say the evidence points to one conclusion: The Church of Scientology in Belgium is a "criminal organization" that has used fraud and extortion to separate members from their money.
November 4, 2007Belgium Builds Case Against Scientology Prosecutors call the church a "criminal organization." The church says it's a "witch hunt." It all began with a woman who wanted her money back. In 1997 a former member of the Church of Scientology, unhappy with courses she had taken, tried to get a refund of 700,000 Belgian francs - about $17,000. Authorities began looking into the church's finances and interviewing people.
October 30, 2007Beckham Scientology Shock David Beckham has spoken of his respect for Scientology but denies showbiz pal Tom Cruise has tried to convert him to the religion.
October 28, 2007It's Weird Up North As Scientology Moves In The Church of Scientology is preparing to expand its creed to the north of England by opening a centre in Manchester next year. The church, which has been criticised as a cult, has paid Pounds 3.6m for a disused distillery in the city. It plans to turn the five-storey building, near Old Trafford, into "a place of worship and religious instruction".
October 13, 2007San Francisco Stops Scientology Backers from Using Photo of Newsom The smiling photo of Gavin Newsom and the city seal emblazoned on a booklet called "The Way to Happiness" sure make it seem as though San Francisco's mayor is heartily endorsing Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's writings. But after a box full of the booklets was delivered to Newsom's City Hall office this week, the city attorney's office promptly sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Southern California group distributing them, saying it was violating city and state laws by using the city seal and the mayor's endorsement without consent. Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert also was not happy about seeing his ringing endorsement on a batch of booklets sent this week to his office.
October 4, 2007Clearwater is Scientology's Mecca More than 30 years ago, L. Ron Hubbard secretly bought a historic hotel in this dying Florida downtown with a vision of making a spiritual home for his Church of Scientology. Today, locals and parishioners live in uneasy harmony. The mysterious newcomers made waves almost immediately with secretive, aggressive expansion and - according to church documents seized by the FBI - a covert plot to discredit their enemies and "take control" of the city.
October 4, 2007Samoan Christians March Against Scientology

Hundreds of Christian believers in Samoa have marched in protest against the government's support of the Scientology religion. They marched to the front of the government building in Apia where Scientology tents have been put up as the main venue for its disaster training and seminars over the next two weeks. The protesters have called on the government to reconsider its stance to allow the Scientology members into the country as they would try to persuade many Christian believers to join the scientologists.

October 2, 2007Russia: U.S. Report on Rights Challenged Russian authorities have hit back at the latest U.S. report on religious freedom. The report refers to a 2004 court decision banning Jehovah's Witnesses, a Christian group, and a court decision in St. Petersburg earlier this year to close down a Scientology centre for non-compliance with inspection and auditing requirements under the new NGO law.
January 25, 2007Church Makes Matters Worse This editorial shames Scientologists for exploiting a recent tragedy in an effort to discredit the practice of psychiatry.
January 19, 2007Rethinking Rehab: Treatment for Prisoners Draws Fire Over Scientology Second Chance is one of the country's most unusual alternatives to the nation's prison systems, founded by Scientologist and former real-estate developer Rick Pendery. Even before it opened its doors to inmates last September, Second Chance and its unconventional methods had ignited a controversy in New Mexico's legal community. Judge Lang says he is "highly suspicious" of the program. "If it is connected to Scientology, just say so," he says. Second Chance officials and a spokeswoman for the Church of Scientology say there are no ties.
January 12, 2007Labour Given Thousands By Scientology Charity The Labour Party received thousands of pounds from an offshoot of Scientology, the Evening Standard reveals today. The decision to accept money from a charity linked to the controversial cult was taken at the highest level by members of the National Executive Committee. They allowed the charity, the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE), to take a stall at the party's annual conference in Manchester.
December 26, 2006We're Not Loonies Many sociological studies have been done on the Scientologists that show that although this sect is not on the lunatic fringe, it still causes family breakups and emotional hardship to its victims. The German Government today is acting responsibly by trying to heighten awareness of a public menace.
December 24, 2006Still On Church's Drawing Board This was to be a year of major expansion for the Church of Scientology in Tampa Bay and elsewhere in Florida. But the Plant City and St. Petersburg buildings sit empty. No other expansion occurred elsewhere. In Clearwater, Scientology's international spiritual headquarters, the church's massive Super Power building sat unfinished on the inside for the fourth straight year, which could cost the church tens of thousands in fines if it fails to stick to revised completion deadlines.
December 10, 2006Scientologists Get Pounds 270,000 From The Public Purse The controversial Church of Scientology has been granted a subsidy of more than pounds 270,000 a year in public money, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal. Scientology's lawyers used European rulings and Government equality regulations to force the City of London corporation to grant an 80 per cent rates discount for its new centre near St Paul's Cathedral. The "church", it is believed, is now pressing to pay nothing at all. The corporation confirmed that this discount was on the basis that Scientology is a "charity", despite the fact that the Charity Commission has refused to register it. The discount, referred to as a "mandatory rate relief", has been granted even though the Church of Scientology has estimated global assets of $398 million (pounds 203 million).
November 22, 2006Scientologists Woo Police With Gifts Worth Thousands Police officers have accepted gifts worth thousands of pounds from the Church of Scientology, it emerged yesterday. The wealthy religious movement has spent the money cultivating contacts in the City of London force. Officers received free invitations to film premieres and a Pounds 500 a head charity dinner where the guest of honour was Tom Cruise. Sources inside the City police have described the church as "grooming" selected officers in the hope of winning powerful influence inside the force.