How the Scientologists Are 'Helping' Haiti

Actor will serve as nation's ambassador at large

(NEWSER) - "Diplomacy" doesn't even make the list of the top million things associated with Sean Penn, but Haiti has gone ahead and named the actor its ambassador at large anyway. Penn, who has long labored for Haitian relief in the wake of the devastating 2010 earthquake, was offered the job at an A-list fundraiser over the weekend by Haiti's foreign minister, reports the New York Post . “I do accept,” Penn said, adding it would be refreshing to “change being called 'hey, you (bleep)', to 'hey, Mr. Ambassador!'” More»

But some see 'progress' amid the 'distress'

(NEWSER) - The wires are awash with two-year anniversary stories about Haiti's earthquake, which pretty much run the optimism gamut from the Washington Post (Headline: "Two years after quake, signs of progress in Haiti") to the Wall Street Journal ("Two Years After Quake, Haiti Remains in Distress").

• Journal: It sees "donor fatigue" settling in and resentment rising against the government of former pop star Michel Martelly. Political infighting has held up reconstruction projects, and the US, along with charities and NGOs, are running out of patience. In the meantime, "half a million people still live in squalid tent cities and rubble remains where it fell in this ruined capital" of Port-au-Prince. Full story here .

Organization 'obsessed with fundraising,' disgruntled member says

(NEWSER) - A leading Scientologist is attempting to spark a revolt against chief David Miscavige, who has led the organization since the death of L. Ron Hubbard 26 years ago. Miscavige has ignored the teaching of L. Ron Hubbard and turned Scientology into a fundraising machine that bleeds wealthy members dry to construct lavish buildings and stockpile more than $1 billion in cash, Debra Cook wrote in an email to more than 12,000 current and former Scientologists. Cook was a top-ranking Scientology executive for decades before leaving the organization's payroll to start an Internet firm in 2008. More»

Church and leaders were convicted in 2009

(NEWSER) - The Church of Scientology opened an appeal today of a 2009 fraud conviction in France , reports the AP . The original case convicted Scientology's French branch, bookstore, and six leaders of fraud related to pressuring members into paying for expensive but questionable treatments, as well as harassing recruits. The church and bookstore were fined $830,000, and four of the group's leaders were given suspended sentences of between 10 months and two years. The church plans to argue that the conviction violates freedom of religion; France, however, does not consider Scientology to be a religion. More»

True count may be 250K less than Haitian estimate

(NEWSER) - The number of people killed or made homeless by the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti last year is well below the Haitian government's figures, according to a report commissioned by the US government. The researchers estimate that between 46,000 and 85,000 people were killed in the quake, according to a copy of the unreleased report obtained by AP . The Haitian government says 316,000 people died in the quake, but it has not explained how it arrived at the official figure. More»