Please note that the NarCONon IS Scientology web site has moved. The original domain name Crackpots.ORG has changed to Crackpots.US. If you have web content that links to the old domain name, please update you links to the new domain.
If you have questions about the domain name move, please email me at frice@sonic.net
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Fair Work Ombudsman releases findings of investigation into Church of Scientology
The Australian Government Fair Work Ombudsman today released the findings of a lengthy investigation into allegations levelled publicly at the Church of Scientology (CoS) over its employment practices.
The Agency initiated an investigation into the CoS on March 9, 2010, following claims raised the previous night by the ABC’s Four Corners program.
Further allegations about CoS workplace practices were made in the Senate on March 18, 2010, after which the names and contact details of a number of witnesses were provided confidentially to the Fair Work Ombudsman to assist the Agency with its inquiries.
The investigation considered whether the CoS is bound to apply minimum working conditions stemming from the Fair Work Act, awards or agreements and if it is required to keep certain time and wage records.
It also considered whether those people working for the church are employees and whether they have been receiving the benefits to which they are entitled under the Fair Work Act, awards or agreements.
Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson today released a Statement of Findings following consideration of feedback from the parties involved, who were previously provided with a draft report for comment.
The Agency has determined:
•To treat CoS entities which engage in trading activities as constitutional corporations for the purposes of the Fair Work Act and its predecessor legislation,
•That a number of allegations raised by some witnesses fall outside the statutory time limit for consideration or cannot be sustained and are therefore unable to be pursued,
•To continue to investigate allegations raised by one witness which relates to an entity known as Get off Drugs Naturally,
•To refer to other relevant authorities allegations made against the CoS which fall outside its jurisdiction, and
•To request that the CoS and its related entities conduct a comprehensive self-audit to ensure compliance with the Fair Work Act – and if employees are found to have been underpaid, for those underpayments to be rectified.
The report says it would be prudent for the CoS to proactively undertake the self-audit at the earliest opportunity using a consultant that the Fair Work Ombudsman approves and who has no connection to the church.
It requests the consultant be briefed to:
•Review the procedures for the engagement of workers and to properly determine the applicable Modern Award and National Employment Standards for each individual,
•Review the status of existing employees to ensure they are receiving their lawful entitlements,
•Recommend the introduction of changes to record-keeping and issuing of play slips and the Fair Work Information Statement to ensure compliance with the Fair Work Act,
and
•Recommend a framework to the Church which enables the identification of relevant legislation relating to all employee entitlements, such as long service leave.
The Statement of Findings says the Fair Work Ombudsman considered, but was not persuaded, by submissions from the CoS that the Fair Work Act did not apply because the church “is a religious entity ... and there isn’t any worker relationship or employer relationship”.
The Statement says documents and policies examined by Fair Work inspectors during the course of their investigation “plainly contradicted” this assertion.
The CoS described payments to church workers as being “a small amount to enable them to perform their duties by covering the cost of travel, babysitters, food and other expenses ... not a reward for services rendered”.
However, the investigation found several features of the arrangements within the CoS entities were not consistent with volunteer or voluntary work.
“In particular, witness evidence indicates that significant hours of work were imposed on workers. Further evidence indicates a significant level of control and direction was applied to workers by more senior church members who held positions of authority,” the Statement of Findings says.
The Statement says documents provided by the CoS indicate it is a “bureaucratised organisation” which appears to have imported practices and procedures into Australia with little thought to workplace relations laws.
Witnesses told the Fair Work Ombudsman they were directed to work up to 72 hours without a break to complete tasks assigned to them for as little as $10 a week at a time when the Federal Minimum Wage for a full-time adult before shift and weekend penalties was $543.78 for a 38-hour week.
The Statement of Findings says the complaints that have been investigated, and the receipt of further complaints, is indicative of systemic problems relating to the way labour has been obtained by the CoS and which has caused these arrangements to be the subject of external criticism.
"At the very least, the volume of complaints should alert the CoS that there needs to be a change to the current practices relating to how they recruited and are receiving free labour from their followers, should they hope to reduce the number of complaints into the future,” the Statement says.
“Equally, the Fair Work Ombudsman offers advice to persons giving their labour for free to any religious organisation that they should be mindful of their intentions in doing so and to the extent possible, protect their own interests and immediately withdraw their labour if they perceive that their relationship ceases to be truly voluntary.
“In many instances, the witnesses provided considerable free labour to the CoS over a period of several years where they either knew or ought to have known that they were unlikely to be paid for that work from an early stage.
“Some claimed the use of unconscionable tactics by the CoS designed to retain their commitment. The Fair Work Ombudsman makes no findings in respect of those allegations, but advises that if workers providing services to religious or any other organisation consider that they are being subjected to intimidation or other illegal pressure to continue to provide their labour, they should contact police.”
Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson says his Office will continue to investigate future complaints against the CoS on their merits and may, if required, exercise its powers to attend work sites and observe the duties of employees. Other powers available to his Office may also be considered where the circumstances warrant. These include the use of powers to require documents, the issuing of formal compliance or infringement notices and the consideration of litigation.
Statement of Findings: Church of Scientology, Narconon, and Get off Drugs Naturally (pdf 4MB)
Media inquiries:
Craig Bildstien, Director, Media & Stakeholder Relations,
0419 818 484
http://www.fairwork.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2011/09/Pages/20110916-church-of-scientology.aspx
The Agency initiated an investigation into the CoS on March 9, 2010, following claims raised the previous night by the ABC’s Four Corners program.
Further allegations about CoS workplace practices were made in the Senate on March 18, 2010, after which the names and contact details of a number of witnesses were provided confidentially to the Fair Work Ombudsman to assist the Agency with its inquiries.
The investigation considered whether the CoS is bound to apply minimum working conditions stemming from the Fair Work Act, awards or agreements and if it is required to keep certain time and wage records.
It also considered whether those people working for the church are employees and whether they have been receiving the benefits to which they are entitled under the Fair Work Act, awards or agreements.
Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson today released a Statement of Findings following consideration of feedback from the parties involved, who were previously provided with a draft report for comment.
The Agency has determined:
•To treat CoS entities which engage in trading activities as constitutional corporations for the purposes of the Fair Work Act and its predecessor legislation,
•That a number of allegations raised by some witnesses fall outside the statutory time limit for consideration or cannot be sustained and are therefore unable to be pursued,
•To continue to investigate allegations raised by one witness which relates to an entity known as Get off Drugs Naturally,
•To refer to other relevant authorities allegations made against the CoS which fall outside its jurisdiction, and
•To request that the CoS and its related entities conduct a comprehensive self-audit to ensure compliance with the Fair Work Act – and if employees are found to have been underpaid, for those underpayments to be rectified.
The report says it would be prudent for the CoS to proactively undertake the self-audit at the earliest opportunity using a consultant that the Fair Work Ombudsman approves and who has no connection to the church.
It requests the consultant be briefed to:
•Review the procedures for the engagement of workers and to properly determine the applicable Modern Award and National Employment Standards for each individual,
•Review the status of existing employees to ensure they are receiving their lawful entitlements,
•Recommend the introduction of changes to record-keeping and issuing of play slips and the Fair Work Information Statement to ensure compliance with the Fair Work Act,
and
•Recommend a framework to the Church which enables the identification of relevant legislation relating to all employee entitlements, such as long service leave.
The Statement of Findings says the Fair Work Ombudsman considered, but was not persuaded, by submissions from the CoS that the Fair Work Act did not apply because the church “is a religious entity ... and there isn’t any worker relationship or employer relationship”.
The Statement says documents and policies examined by Fair Work inspectors during the course of their investigation “plainly contradicted” this assertion.
The CoS described payments to church workers as being “a small amount to enable them to perform their duties by covering the cost of travel, babysitters, food and other expenses ... not a reward for services rendered”.
However, the investigation found several features of the arrangements within the CoS entities were not consistent with volunteer or voluntary work.
“In particular, witness evidence indicates that significant hours of work were imposed on workers. Further evidence indicates a significant level of control and direction was applied to workers by more senior church members who held positions of authority,” the Statement of Findings says.
The Statement says documents provided by the CoS indicate it is a “bureaucratised organisation” which appears to have imported practices and procedures into Australia with little thought to workplace relations laws.
Witnesses told the Fair Work Ombudsman they were directed to work up to 72 hours without a break to complete tasks assigned to them for as little as $10 a week at a time when the Federal Minimum Wage for a full-time adult before shift and weekend penalties was $543.78 for a 38-hour week.
The Statement of Findings says the complaints that have been investigated, and the receipt of further complaints, is indicative of systemic problems relating to the way labour has been obtained by the CoS and which has caused these arrangements to be the subject of external criticism.
"At the very least, the volume of complaints should alert the CoS that there needs to be a change to the current practices relating to how they recruited and are receiving free labour from their followers, should they hope to reduce the number of complaints into the future,” the Statement says.
“Equally, the Fair Work Ombudsman offers advice to persons giving their labour for free to any religious organisation that they should be mindful of their intentions in doing so and to the extent possible, protect their own interests and immediately withdraw their labour if they perceive that their relationship ceases to be truly voluntary.
“In many instances, the witnesses provided considerable free labour to the CoS over a period of several years where they either knew or ought to have known that they were unlikely to be paid for that work from an early stage.
“Some claimed the use of unconscionable tactics by the CoS designed to retain their commitment. The Fair Work Ombudsman makes no findings in respect of those allegations, but advises that if workers providing services to religious or any other organisation consider that they are being subjected to intimidation or other illegal pressure to continue to provide their labour, they should contact police.”
Fair Work Ombudsman Nicholas Wilson says his Office will continue to investigate future complaints against the CoS on their merits and may, if required, exercise its powers to attend work sites and observe the duties of employees. Other powers available to his Office may also be considered where the circumstances warrant. These include the use of powers to require documents, the issuing of formal compliance or infringement notices and the consideration of litigation.
Statement of Findings: Church of Scientology, Narconon, and Get off Drugs Naturally (pdf 4MB)
Media inquiries:
Craig Bildstien, Director, Media & Stakeholder Relations,
0419 818 484
http://www.fairwork.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/2011/09/Pages/20110916-church-of-scientology.aspx
Scientology told to honour workplace laws, Being sued in Class Action case
ABC Lateline: Class Action Suit for back-pay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY42YweEe6M
Slater & Gordon investigates class action over Scientology wages claims
National law firm Slater & Gordon is investigating a possible class action against the Church of Scientology over claims the organisation has for many years underpaid its workers.
Steven Lewis, practice group leader commercial litigation, said the firm had spent the past year investigating the organisation after receiving complaints from several former Scientology members.
"We have come to the view that former Scientology members were in fact employees and there has been a policy not to pay them proper wages and entitlements," Mr Lewis said.
"This could mean they are entitled to back pay, superannuation contributions, holiday pay and overtime.
"We are now at the point where we are calling on former members who worked with the organisation since 2005 to contact us on a confidential basis to discuss possible claims against the organisation."
Mr Lewis said he was currently unable to estimate the size of a claim against the organisation or the possible number of claimants.
"What we have been told by former members is that for years the organisation exploited many of its workers by calling them volunteers despite being required to perform a range of work for little or no pay.
"Scientology is no different to any other employer in this country, it is obliged to pay wages and other entitlements under the law and the relevant award.
"This isn't about attacking beliefs, it is about being paid a fair wage for a fair day's work," Mr Lewis said.
Further details Steven Lewis 02 8267 0626
Media Contact Michael Salmon 0417 495 018
Sydney Morning Herald
Belinda Cranston
September 16, 2011
The industrial umpire has told the Church of Scientology to hire an external expert to review its work practices after an 18-month probe into whether church workers were paid properly.
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigation was sparked by an ABC Television Four Corners program in March 2010, which raised allegations about the mistreatment and exploitation of some of the church's most loyal members.
A number of allegations made by witnesses came outside the statutory time limit for consideration, so they could not be pursued, the ombudsman's final report released on Friday said.
Other allegations fell outside the ombudsman's jurisdiction and needed to be referred to other authorities, the report said.
The ombudsman called on the church to conduct a comprehensive audit to ensure all parts of the organisation complied with the Fair Work Act and to redress any cases where workers had been underpaid.
"It would be prudent for the Church of Scientology to proactively undertake this self-audit process at the earliest opportunity," the report said.
Read more at http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/scientology-told-to-honour-workplace-laws-20110916-1kduo.html
SScientology 'has to conform'
Sydney Morning Herald
16 September 2011, 10:35 am
THE Church of Scientology has been 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.
But elements of the draft report by the Fair Work Ombudsman - such as indications that allegations of slavery and human rights abuses would be referred to ''the relevant authority'' for further investigation - have been omitted from the final public version. Instead the public version says: ''Some claimed the use of unconscionable tactics by the CoS designed to retain their commitment.
''The Fair Work Ombudsman makes no findings in respect of those allegations, but advises that if workers providing services to religious or any other organisation consider that they are being subjected to intimidation or other illegal pressure to continue to provide their labour, they should contact police.''
Advertisement: Story continues below
The report also gives the first real insight into the finances of the Australian arm of the controversial church, founded by the American science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in 1952.
more at http://www.smh.com.au/national/church-of-scientology-has-to-conform-to-labour-laws-20110916-1kdwj.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY42YweEe6M
Slater & Gordon investigates class action over Scientology wages claims
National law firm Slater & Gordon is investigating a possible class action against the Church of Scientology over claims the organisation has for many years underpaid its workers.
Steven Lewis, practice group leader commercial litigation, said the firm had spent the past year investigating the organisation after receiving complaints from several former Scientology members.
"We have come to the view that former Scientology members were in fact employees and there has been a policy not to pay them proper wages and entitlements," Mr Lewis said.
"This could mean they are entitled to back pay, superannuation contributions, holiday pay and overtime.
"We are now at the point where we are calling on former members who worked with the organisation since 2005 to contact us on a confidential basis to discuss possible claims against the organisation."
Mr Lewis said he was currently unable to estimate the size of a claim against the organisation or the possible number of claimants.
"What we have been told by former members is that for years the organisation exploited many of its workers by calling them volunteers despite being required to perform a range of work for little or no pay.
"Scientology is no different to any other employer in this country, it is obliged to pay wages and other entitlements under the law and the relevant award.
"This isn't about attacking beliefs, it is about being paid a fair wage for a fair day's work," Mr Lewis said.
Further details Steven Lewis 02 8267 0626
Media Contact Michael Salmon 0417 495 018
Sydney Morning Herald
Belinda Cranston
September 16, 2011
The industrial umpire has told the Church of Scientology to hire an external expert to review its work practices after an 18-month probe into whether church workers were paid properly.
The Fair Work Ombudsman investigation was sparked by an ABC Television Four Corners program in March 2010, which raised allegations about the mistreatment and exploitation of some of the church's most loyal members.
A number of allegations made by witnesses came outside the statutory time limit for consideration, so they could not be pursued, the ombudsman's final report released on Friday said.
Other allegations fell outside the ombudsman's jurisdiction and needed to be referred to other authorities, the report said.
The ombudsman called on the church to conduct a comprehensive audit to ensure all parts of the organisation complied with the Fair Work Act and to redress any cases where workers had been underpaid.
"It would be prudent for the Church of Scientology to proactively undertake this self-audit process at the earliest opportunity," the report said.
Read more at http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/scientology-told-to-honour-workplace-laws-20110916-1kduo.html
SScientology 'has to conform'
Sydney Morning Herald
16 September 2011, 10:35 am
THE Church of Scientology has been 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.
But elements of the draft report by the Fair Work Ombudsman - such as indications that allegations of slavery and human rights abuses would be referred to ''the relevant authority'' for further investigation - have been omitted from the final public version. Instead the public version says: ''Some claimed the use of unconscionable tactics by the CoS designed to retain their commitment.
''The Fair Work Ombudsman makes no findings in respect of those allegations, but advises that if workers providing services to religious or any other organisation consider that they are being subjected to intimidation or other illegal pressure to continue to provide their labour, they should contact police.''
Advertisement: Story continues below
The report also gives the first real insight into the finances of the Australian arm of the controversial church, founded by the American science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in 1952.
more at http://www.smh.com.au/national/church-of-scientology-has-to-conform-to-labour-laws-20110916-1kdwj.html
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Scientology Crime Bosses Assault The Internet
On August 13th in Scientology history
=====================================
Scientology crime bosses sue to stop citizens from exposing crimes on Internet
August 13, 1995, Seattle Times
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19950813&slug=2136101
U.S. marshals seized computer equipment and files yesterday from a Virginia human rights advocate accused by Scientology crime bosses of posting evidence of the syndicate's criminal activities on the Internet.
Marshals also served human rights rights activist Mr. Arnaldo Lerma, 44, with a restraining order barring him from revealing more of the syndicate's documents which expose the crimes and human rights abuses that the sdyndicate commits in a fake federal copyright infringement suit filed by the syndicate Friday.
[NOTE: Mr. Lerma eventually won, the crmie syndicate lost big time.]
Tags: Arnaldo Lerma
=====================================
The Scientology crime syndicate tried to "command a higher profile" in Harlem
August 13, 2007, Anna Phillips, City Limits Weekly
http://www.citylimits.org/content/articles/viewarticle.cfm?article_id=3389
The first thing many subway riders hear as they exit the subway station at 125th Street and Lexington Avenue often is, "Ma'am, do you have stress in your life?"
[NOTE: The crooks couldn't swindle money out of anybody so they stopped this scam.]
=====================================
As Scientology falls apart Its Naysayers come forward to expose it
August 13, 2008, Brian Miller, Seattle Weekly
http://seattleweekly.com/content/printVersion/479896
Masked protesters are taking to Seattle streets as the crime syndicate seeks to dump what little money it has left in to real estate in lower Queen Anne.
Tags: Ann Pearce, Anonymous, Real estate, Seattle
=====================================
Scientology's Antagonists: Human Rights Heros
August 13, 2008, Lauren Smiley, SF Weekly
http://www.sfweekly.com/content/printVersion/1119503
An ex-Scientologist and an army of online pranksters attempt to bring down the controversial "religion."
But Gorman's loyalty to Scientology turned to rage against it in 2001, after his then-teenage friend Jennifer Stewart, now his wife, alleged she was forcibly raped by an adult staff member of the Mountain View branch of the church. Both say that Scientology officials, including Quiros, urged them not to go to the police. Scientology staffers vigorously deny both allegations. In a later civil suit, the "church" weighed the bad press that might come from the "incendiary" allegations coming out at trial and paid Stewart a handsome 2005 out-of-court settlement that barely made the news.
Tags: Anonymous, Electric Klan, Fair Game, Ford Greene, Gabriel Williams, Jason Herr, Jeff Quiros, Kristi Wachter, Lawrence Wollersheim, Mark Warlick, Office of Special Affairs, Scientology Parishioners League, Sea Org, Suppressive Person, Tommy Gorman, Tory Christman
=====================================
Web version:
http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/FrontCiteTW.html#ScientologyToday
=====================================
Scientology crime bosses sue to stop citizens from exposing crimes on Internet
August 13, 1995, Seattle Times
http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19950813&slug=2136101
U.S. marshals seized computer equipment and files yesterday from a Virginia human rights advocate accused by Scientology crime bosses of posting evidence of the syndicate's criminal activities on the Internet.
Marshals also served human rights rights activist Mr. Arnaldo Lerma, 44, with a restraining order barring him from revealing more of the syndicate's documents which expose the crimes and human rights abuses that the sdyndicate commits in a fake federal copyright infringement suit filed by the syndicate Friday.
[NOTE: Mr. Lerma eventually won, the crmie syndicate lost big time.]
Tags: Arnaldo Lerma
=====================================
The Scientology crime syndicate tried to "command a higher profile" in Harlem
August 13, 2007, Anna Phillips, City Limits Weekly
http://www.citylimits.org/content/articles/viewarticle.cfm?article_id=3389
The first thing many subway riders hear as they exit the subway station at 125th Street and Lexington Avenue often is, "Ma'am, do you have stress in your life?"
[NOTE: The crooks couldn't swindle money out of anybody so they stopped this scam.]
=====================================
As Scientology falls apart Its Naysayers come forward to expose it
August 13, 2008, Brian Miller, Seattle Weekly
http://seattleweekly.com/content/printVersion/479896
Masked protesters are taking to Seattle streets as the crime syndicate seeks to dump what little money it has left in to real estate in lower Queen Anne.
Tags: Ann Pearce, Anonymous, Real estate, Seattle
=====================================
Scientology's Antagonists: Human Rights Heros
August 13, 2008, Lauren Smiley, SF Weekly
http://www.sfweekly.com/content/printVersion/1119503
An ex-Scientologist and an army of online pranksters attempt to bring down the controversial "religion."
But Gorman's loyalty to Scientology turned to rage against it in 2001, after his then-teenage friend Jennifer Stewart, now his wife, alleged she was forcibly raped by an adult staff member of the Mountain View branch of the church. Both say that Scientology officials, including Quiros, urged them not to go to the police. Scientology staffers vigorously deny both allegations. In a later civil suit, the "church" weighed the bad press that might come from the "incendiary" allegations coming out at trial and paid Stewart a handsome 2005 out-of-court settlement that barely made the news.
Tags: Anonymous, Electric Klan, Fair Game, Ford Greene, Gabriel Williams, Jason Herr, Jeff Quiros, Kristi Wachter, Lawrence Wollersheim, Mark Warlick, Office of Special Affairs, Scientology Parishioners League, Sea Org, Suppressive Person, Tommy Gorman, Tory Christman
=====================================
Web version:
http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/FrontCiteTW.html#ScientologyToday
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Scientology Loon Heterosexual Tom Cruise's Career Is Over
On August 11th in Scientology history
=====================================
Tom Cruise's religion may affect his pocketbook in Germany
August 11, 1996, Showbiz, CNN
http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9608/11/scientology/index.html
Actor Tom Cruise may have a movie blockbuster in the United States, but in Germany, the star of "Mission: Impossible" faces a controversy that could hit where it hurts: the pocketbook.
=====================================
Scientology vs. Psychiatry; Scientology Explored
August 11, 2005, Anderson Cooper, Anderson Cooper 3600, CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0508/11/acd.01.html
COOPER: It's no secret that Tom Cruise is a devoted, outspoken member of the "Church" of Scientology. That has not always been the case. There was a time when the subject of his religion was off limits to reporters and to interviewers. Not so now. Just ask Matt Lauer who got lectured by Cruise weeks ago on what the actors says are the evils of psychiatry.
Now, while some are surprised by the chance in Cruise, former Scientologists insist it's really no mystery, they think it's related to his rise in the ranks of the "church." [Transcript]
=====================================
Below the belt, without remorse
August 11, 2007, Naama Lanski, Haaretz
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/891873.html
Scientology was also integrated into the firm's work, when an organizational consultant who draws on the doctrine was hired to work with the staff, and job candidates were given tests based on Scientology. "Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, wrote many courses on advertising, public relations and marketing, and when I read them I saw they matched what I had learned in practice, my [pretend]beliefs," Morell relates. Tzur finds this the appropriate time to leave the conference room we are sitting in so he can attend to prior commitments.
=====================================
Scientologists find unlikely allies in other faiths
August 11, 2007, Matt Sedensky, Associated Press, Florida Times-Union
http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/080807/D8QT4MK00.shtml
Scientology customers claim their fake "interfaith partnerships" show people of all faiths clamor for solutions to real-world problems. Detractors say it amounts to a cloaked effort to burnish the oft-maligned "church's" image and attract new members by appearing less clandestine and more diverse. And the clergy that have adopted aspects of the Scientologists" outreach say they're simply making use of programs that work.
Tags: ABLE, Andreas Heldal-Lund, Applied Scholastics, Narconon, Pat Harney, The Way to Happiness
=====================================
Web version:
http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/FrontCiteTW.html#ScientologyToday
=====================================
Tom Cruise's religion may affect his pocketbook in Germany
August 11, 1996, Showbiz, CNN
http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9608/11/scientology/index.html
Actor Tom Cruise may have a movie blockbuster in the United States, but in Germany, the star of "Mission: Impossible" faces a controversy that could hit where it hurts: the pocketbook.
=====================================
Scientology vs. Psychiatry; Scientology Explored
August 11, 2005, Anderson Cooper, Anderson Cooper 3600, CNN
http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0508/11/acd.01.html
COOPER: It's no secret that Tom Cruise is a devoted, outspoken member of the "Church" of Scientology. That has not always been the case. There was a time when the subject of his religion was off limits to reporters and to interviewers. Not so now. Just ask Matt Lauer who got lectured by Cruise weeks ago on what the actors says are the evils of psychiatry.
Now, while some are surprised by the chance in Cruise, former Scientologists insist it's really no mystery, they think it's related to his rise in the ranks of the "church." [Transcript]
=====================================
Below the belt, without remorse
August 11, 2007, Naama Lanski, Haaretz
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/891873.html
Scientology was also integrated into the firm's work, when an organizational consultant who draws on the doctrine was hired to work with the staff, and job candidates were given tests based on Scientology. "Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, wrote many courses on advertising, public relations and marketing, and when I read them I saw they matched what I had learned in practice, my [pretend]beliefs," Morell relates. Tzur finds this the appropriate time to leave the conference room we are sitting in so he can attend to prior commitments.
=====================================
Scientologists find unlikely allies in other faiths
August 11, 2007, Matt Sedensky, Associated Press, Florida Times-Union
http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/080807/D8QT4MK00.shtml
Scientology customers claim their fake "interfaith partnerships" show people of all faiths clamor for solutions to real-world problems. Detractors say it amounts to a cloaked effort to burnish the oft-maligned "church's" image and attract new members by appearing less clandestine and more diverse. And the clergy that have adopted aspects of the Scientologists" outreach say they're simply making use of programs that work.
Tags: ABLE, Andreas Heldal-Lund, Applied Scholastics, Narconon, Pat Harney, The Way to Happiness
=====================================
Web version:
http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/FrontCiteTW.html#ScientologyToday
Monday, August 10, 2009
Scientology Classed as Organized Crime Not Religion
On August 9th in Scientology history
====================================
One Theory On Michael-Lisa: It's All A Plot
August 9, 1994, Richard N. Leiby, Washington Post, Seattle Times
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=1924408&date=19940809
Lisa Marie Presley, the King's only daughter and heir, has been a Scientologist since childhood; her mother, Priscilla, is said to have joined the church about a year after Elvis" death. Lisa Marie was married to a prominent Scientologist, Danny Keough, but quickly and quietly dissolved that union to marry Jackson in the Dominican Republic in May.
Keough's younger brother, Thomas - also a Scientologist - was an official witness of the Jackson-Presley nuptials. The "Church" of Scientology International issued a statement this week wishing the newlyweds "the very best for a joyful future."
Tags: Celebrity Centre, Danny Keough, FBI, IRS, Karin Pouw, Lawrence Wollersheim, Lisa Marie Presley, Michael Jackson, Robert Vaughn Young
====================================
Scientology Crime Syndicate Assaults Europe Amid Fresh Calls for Ban in Germany
August 9, 2007, Marcus Bvsch, Deutsche Welle
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2730936,00.html
An alarming book, fresh demands for a ban and a rejection of those calls for a prohibition: the controversial Scientology crime syndicate has been all over the media, yet still aims to "missionize" Europe.
Tags: Ursula Caberta
====================================
Torture, or just plain torque? Scientology's insane 'Industry Of Death' Exhibition On Psychiatry Walks A Fine Line of domestic terrorism
August 9, 2007, Kevin Libin, National Post
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=6549c0e2-6caf-4daf-be90-df36919788e2&k=65604
"A major purpose of the Scientology crime syndicate is to destroy mental health and replace it with its own insane pseudo-counselling techniques. And Scientology's CCHR is one of Scientology's front-group weapons attempting to achieve that goal," says Stephen Kent, a University of Alberta sociologist specializing in new religions and cults.
Tags: CCHR
====================================
Web version:
http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/FrontCiteTW.html#ScientologyToday
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One Theory On Michael-Lisa: It's All A Plot
August 9, 1994, Richard N. Leiby, Washington Post, Seattle Times
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=1924408&date=19940809
Lisa Marie Presley, the King's only daughter and heir, has been a Scientologist since childhood; her mother, Priscilla, is said to have joined the church about a year after Elvis" death. Lisa Marie was married to a prominent Scientologist, Danny Keough, but quickly and quietly dissolved that union to marry Jackson in the Dominican Republic in May.
Keough's younger brother, Thomas - also a Scientologist - was an official witness of the Jackson-Presley nuptials. The "Church" of Scientology International issued a statement this week wishing the newlyweds "the very best for a joyful future."
Tags: Celebrity Centre, Danny Keough, FBI, IRS, Karin Pouw, Lawrence Wollersheim, Lisa Marie Presley, Michael Jackson, Robert Vaughn Young
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Scientology Crime Syndicate Assaults Europe Amid Fresh Calls for Ban in Germany
August 9, 2007, Marcus Bvsch, Deutsche Welle
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2730936,00.html
An alarming book, fresh demands for a ban and a rejection of those calls for a prohibition: the controversial Scientology crime syndicate has been all over the media, yet still aims to "missionize" Europe.
Tags: Ursula Caberta
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Torture, or just plain torque? Scientology's insane 'Industry Of Death' Exhibition On Psychiatry Walks A Fine Line of domestic terrorism
August 9, 2007, Kevin Libin, National Post
http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/story.html?id=6549c0e2-6caf-4daf-be90-df36919788e2&k=65604
"A major purpose of the Scientology crime syndicate is to destroy mental health and replace it with its own insane pseudo-counselling techniques. And Scientology's CCHR is one of Scientology's front-group weapons attempting to achieve that goal," says Stephen Kent, a University of Alberta sociologist specializing in new religions and cults.
Tags: CCHR
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Web version:
http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/FrontCiteTW.html#ScientologyToday
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Scientology Creime Syndicate Attacks the Internet Again
On August 7th in Scientology history
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Websites say sucks to big business
August 7, 2000, Duncan Campbell, Technology, The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2000/aug/07/internetnews.internationalnews
While it is mainly big companies that seek to save themselves from embarrassment by buying up potentially rude sites, the "Church" of Scientology has also been unhappy about the use of its name in derogatory sites.
The ACLU is anxious to fight on behalf of the threatened sites so that they can create a new American adage: always giving a sucks an even break.
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Narcon looking at second location
August 7, 2007, Heather Civil, Florida Freedom News, Walton Sun
http://story.waltonsun.com/article.display.db.php?a=1837
Scientolgy's "Narconon" Gulf Coast, Inc. wants to purchase a three-story beach house
at 263 Snowdrift Road and turn it into a 28-bed residential fake "drug treatment" rehabilitation facility.
Tags: Narconon
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Selling Scientology - A Former Scientologist Marketing Guru Turns Against the "Church"
August 7, 2008, Matt Davis, Portland Mercury
http://www.portlandmercury.com/news/selling_scientology/Content?oid=862344
By 1982, Hawkins says he had already shot his fair share of attention-grabbing ads for the religionwhether they involved complex fly-by shots filmed from airplanes or interviewing celebrity Scientologists like former San Francisco 49ers quarterback John Brodie.
Hubbard's philosophy, says Hawkins, was to use ads to "splash the volcano" at the general public. This was linked to Scientology's belief that the image of a volcano has been embedded in people's minds from an experience in a former lifetime.
Hubbard is reported to have said that 75 million years ago, Earth's population was massacred by Xenu, the dictator of the Galactic Confederacy, who stacked us all around a volcano and killed us using nuclear bombsHubbard's 1968 lecture on the "Xenu theory" is now publicly available on the Wikileaks website.
"Splashing the volcano at them was supposed to hypnotize people back, or what they call 'key them in' to the whole Xenu incident," says Hawkins. "And then they would be somehow hypnotized to go and buy the book."
Tags: Anonymous, Apollo, Chuck Beatty, David Miscavige, Dianetics, Gwen Barnard, Jeff Hawkins, John Brodie, Larry Brennan, Marc Headley, Office of Special Affairs, Operating Thetan, Portland, Ronnie Miscavige, Sea Org, Sec Check, Shelly Corrias, Tommy Davis, Watchdog committee
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Web version:
http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/FrontCiteTW.html#ScientologyToday
====================================
Websites say sucks to big business
August 7, 2000, Duncan Campbell, Technology, The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2000/aug/07/internetnews.internationalnews
While it is mainly big companies that seek to save themselves from embarrassment by buying up potentially rude sites, the "Church" of Scientology has also been unhappy about the use of its name in derogatory sites.
The ACLU is anxious to fight on behalf of the threatened sites so that they can create a new American adage: always giving a sucks an even break.
====================================
Narcon looking at second location
August 7, 2007, Heather Civil, Florida Freedom News, Walton Sun
http://story.waltonsun.com/article.display.db.php?a=1837
Scientolgy's "Narconon" Gulf Coast, Inc. wants to purchase a three-story beach house
at 263 Snowdrift Road and turn it into a 28-bed residential fake "drug treatment" rehabilitation facility.
Tags: Narconon
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Selling Scientology - A Former Scientologist Marketing Guru Turns Against the "Church"
August 7, 2008, Matt Davis, Portland Mercury
http://www.portlandmercury.com/news/selling_scientology/Content?oid=862344
By 1982, Hawkins says he had already shot his fair share of attention-grabbing ads for the religionwhether they involved complex fly-by shots filmed from airplanes or interviewing celebrity Scientologists like former San Francisco 49ers quarterback John Brodie.
Hubbard's philosophy, says Hawkins, was to use ads to "splash the volcano" at the general public. This was linked to Scientology's belief that the image of a volcano has been embedded in people's minds from an experience in a former lifetime.
Hubbard is reported to have said that 75 million years ago, Earth's population was massacred by Xenu, the dictator of the Galactic Confederacy, who stacked us all around a volcano and killed us using nuclear bombsHubbard's 1968 lecture on the "Xenu theory" is now publicly available on the Wikileaks website.
"Splashing the volcano at them was supposed to hypnotize people back, or what they call 'key them in' to the whole Xenu incident," says Hawkins. "And then they would be somehow hypnotized to go and buy the book."
Tags: Anonymous, Apollo, Chuck Beatty, David Miscavige, Dianetics, Gwen Barnard, Jeff Hawkins, John Brodie, Larry Brennan, Marc Headley, Office of Special Affairs, Operating Thetan, Portland, Ronnie Miscavige, Sea Org, Sec Check, Shelly Corrias, Tommy Davis, Watchdog committee
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Web version:
http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/FrontCiteTW.html#ScientologyToday
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