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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: Scientology

Scientology stories: 57 news summaries

1 - 20 of 57 Stories | 1 2 3 Next >>

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 Aussie 
 Scientologists 
 Accused of Torture 

Oz senator alleges violence, embezzlement, forced abortions

Nov 18, 09 6:18 AM CST
(Newser) - Scientology's status as a church masks a "criminal organization" guilty of torture, forced imprisonment, coerced abortion, embezzlement and blackmail, charges an Australian senator, whose accusations have triggered concerns by the Aussie prime minister. Nick Xenophon, who yesterday showed the Australian parliament and police letters from ex-Scientologists detailing abuse and... More »

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abortion • torture • Australia • Scientology • religion • scientology Australia • scientology torture • scientology abortion

ADOPTING makes THE LIST

 20 Jolie-Style Moves 
 That Need Your Partner's OK 

Sorry, Angelina, but adopting without Brad Pitt's consent is bad

Nov 12, 09 1:17 PM CST
(Newser) - Inspired by Angelina Jolie’s rumored decision to adopt a seventh child without Brad Pitt’s consent, Kate Torgovnick of The Frisky runs down 20 things you should never do without talking to your partner first:
  • Get a vasectomy (here's looking at you, Spencer Pratt).
  • Start dating someone
... More »

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entertainment • Angelina Jolie • Brad Pitt • adoption • Scientology • celebrity • vasectomy

 Travolta: Religion 
 Helps Us Cope 

John, Kelly speak publicly for first time since Jett's tragic death

Nov 9, 09 10:50 AM CST
(Newser) - Near-daily religious counseling has helped the family cope with the loss of Jett, say John Travolta and Kelly Preston, who spoke out for the first time since his January death. “We've been working very hard every day as a family to heal,” Travolta says, "We have our... More »

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entertainment • Scientology • John Travolta • celebrity • Kelly Preston • Jett Travolta • Ella Bleu Travolta

FOR THE XENU WHO HAS EVERYTHING

 Inside the 
 Scientology 
 Holiday Catalog 

And yes, that is a picture of Santa at a Scientology Christmas bash

Nov 4, 09 10:37 AM CST
(Newser) - Not sure what to buy Tom Cruise for Christmas? Just take a gander at the Scientology Holiday Catalog, which Jezebel's Dodai got her hands on by way of a reader. Noteworthy items include a collection of 18 Nigerian goatskin-bound books of The Basics for a cool $2,000, a $4,... More »

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entertainment • Scientology • Tom Cruise • celebrity • Christmas • Scientologists

Scientology Chased, Spied On, Imprisoned Defectors

Ex-staffers say spying, interrogation, imprisonment the norm

Nov 2, 09 11:25 AM CST
(Newser) - The Church of Scientology has a policy of tracking down staffers who try to leave and doing whatever it can to bring them back. The church’s ex-security chief tells the St. Petersburg Times that he read every piece of mail that staffers received, recording any information within, including... More »

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Scientology • coercion • spying

Scientology Guilty of Fraud,
Rules French Court

But ruling stops short of outright ban

Oct 27, 09 6:40 AM CDT
(AP) - A Paris court has convicted the Church of Scientology's French branch of fraud and fined it $600,000, but stopped short of the ban on the group that was sought by prosecutors. Church leaders were found guilty of pressuring members into paying large sums of money for questionable financial gain.... More »

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fraud • Scientology • France • cult • Scientologists

 Director 
 Haggis Quits 
 Scientology 
 Over Prop 8 

Crash auteur shames church with letter denouncing gay marriage stance

Oct 26, 09 8:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - Oscar-winning writer-director Paul Haggis dealt a stunning blow to Scientology when his recent resignation letter went public. Haggis, writer of Crash and Million Dollar Baby, left Scientology after 35 years thanks to the church’s backing of California’s Proposition 8, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Haggis... More »

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entertainment • gay marriage • Scientology • celebrity • Paul Haggis • Proposition 8 • religious beliefs • Paul Haggis scientology

 Cruise Hails 
 Scientology at 
 Secret Confab 

'We never took our eyes off prize,' actor tells faithful

Oct 21, 09 2:32 AM CDT
(Newser) - Tom Cruise was one of the inspirational speakers at a secret Scientology confab in Britain, apparently attributing his success to his membership in the controversial organization. Cruise was joined by Katie Holmes and daughter Suri, John Tavolta and Kelly Preston, and some 4000 other guests at the hush-hush international gathering... More »

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Scientology • Tom Cruise • John Travolta • England • Katie Holmes • celebrity • cult • Suri Cruise • Kelly Preston • celebrities


 New Book Spotlights 
 Cruise-Becks Bromance 

Tom influences David on everything, except Scientology

Jul 9, 09 9:47 AM CDT
(Newser) - David Beckham and Tom Cruise have such an amazing friendship, it inspired almost a chapter in a new book about the soccer star, reports the New York Daily News. The two met in 2003 and now share an agency, PR firm, vacations, and zip code. And Cruise has influenced many... More »

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entertainment • Scientology • Tom Cruise • Katie Holmes • Victoria Beckham • celebrity • David Beckham

investigation

Scientology Boss Beat Staff: Defectors

Former execs accuse leader of conducting violent 'reign of terror'

Jun 23, 09 7:40 AM CDT
(Newser) - The leader of the Church of Scientology routinely beat up execs who displeased him, defectors tell the St. Petersburg Times. The men—the highest-ranking Scientologists ever to leave the organization—say David Miscavige attacked and humiliated staffers on the slightest whim. Miscavige, the defectors say in this 3-part investigative series,... More »

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Scientology • Scientologists • David Miscavige • Marty Rathbun • Mike Rinder

Scientologists Got Me Fired: Fox Columnist

Friedman says he
was targeted  for
his criticism of cult

Jun 14, 09 7:36 AM CDT
(Newser) - A Fox News columnist sacked after he reviewed a pirated copy of Wolverine insists he was actually fired because he was targeted by Scientologists, reports the New York Daily News. Kelly Preston and a Scientology spokesman pressured Fox News boss Roger Ailes to ax Roger Friedman because of his pieces... More »

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Scientology • Tom Cruise • Fox News • firing • Kelly Preston • Roger Friedman

In Police Report, Travolta Admits Son's Autism

Star went against Scientology teachings on diagnosis: Enquirer

Jun 11, 09 11:00 AM CDT
(Newser) - In a breach of Scientology protocol, John Travolta admitted his son was autistic, the National Enquirer reports. A statement to Bahamas police following the January death of 16-year-old Jett included a line from Travolta, “My son Jett suffered from a seizure disorder and he was autistic.” In the... More »

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entertainment • Scientology • John Travolta • autism • celebrity • Bahamas • Jett Travolta

 Wikipedia Bars Edits 
 From Scientology 
 Addresses 

Move is site's first such action against major organization

May 29, 09 10:24 AM CDT
(Newser) - In an unusually broad push against posting biased content, Wikipedia’s “supreme court” has banned edits from IP addresses associated with Scientology headquarters and its affiliates, the Register reports. The Wikipedia Arbitration Committee voted 10-0 for the ban. Individual “Wikifiddlers” have had their privileges revoked in the past,... More »

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Internet • Wikipedia • Scientology • web • ban

France Tries
Scientology for Fraud


May 25, 09 6:44 AM CDT
(Newser) - The church of Scientology goes on trial for fraud today in a landmark case in France, reports the BBC. The American organization is widely regarded in the nation as a sect, and if Scientology is found guilty of a crime, it could be banned in the country. It's the first... More »

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fraud • Scientology • Tom Cruise • crime • France • religion • Paris • L. Ron Hubbard • criminal trial

(Newser) - John Travolta and Kelly Preston have kept a low profile since losing their son Jett to a seizure in January, but friends tells People the family isn’t closing itself off. “They aren’t secluding themselves or paralyzed,” says one who’s seen them recently. “Nothing awkward... More »

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Scientology • John Travolta • death • seizure • Scientologists • mourning • Kelly Preston • Jett Travolta • Leah Remini

ShamWow Guy's Other Claim to Fame: Ex-Scientologist

Infomercial pitchman used group connections to make comedy film

Mar 30, 09 1:59 PM CDT
(Newser) - Vince Offer Shlomi, the ShamWow pitchman who gained infamy after being arrested for badly beating a prostitute last month, is also a renegade ex-Scientologist, Gawker reports. Shlomi joined group in 1982, made connections with Scientology’s many entertainment-industry adherents, and found financing to start filming The Underground Comedy Movie, featuring... More »

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Scientology • commercials • infomercial • hooker • ShamWow

 TomKat to Camp 
 Like 'Normal Family' 

Except with Scientology escort, security

Mar 9, 09 10:50 AM CDT
(Newser) - Who needs five-star hotels and gourmet restaurants? All the Cruise clan needs to have a grand vacation is a tent—and some security and a Scientologist friend, the Mirror reports. In a bid to “do things as a normal family,” Tom Cruise is planning a camping trip across... More »

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travel • Scientology • Tom Cruise • security • Katie Holmes • camping • Suri Cruise

 LiLo Takes Up Judaism for Sam 

Catholic actress wants to convert

Mar 3, 09 9:05 AM CST
(Newser) - Lindsay Lohan apparently thinks her relationship with Samantha Ronson is strong enough to warrant a change in religion, the New York Post reports. The pair recently attended Ronson’s half-brother’s bar mitzvah, and Lohan, raised Catholic, now wants to convert to Judaism. LiLo’s dad? Not convinced: “She’... More »

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Scientology • religion • Lindsay Lohan • Judaism • celebrity • Kabbalah • conversion • Samantha Ronson • Michael Lohan

 Pre-Pregnancy 
 Scientology Diet 
 Saps Katie 


Actress on detox diet to help conceive second baby

Mar 2, 09 2:33 PM CST
(Newser) - Why did Katie Holmes really skip the Oscars? It wasn’t for work, the Mail reports, but because of a detox diet that left her drained. The diet, which consists of herbal drinks, is recommended by Scientology to aid conception—and Holmes and husband Tom Cruise are ready for a... More »

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Academy Awards • Scientology • Tom Cruise • detox • diet • Katie Holmes • celebrity • Oscars

 Ay, Caramba! Bart Makes Robo-Call for Scientology 

Actress who provides cartoon icon's voice uses it to plug controversial church

Jan 27, 09 4:18 PM CST
(Newser) - Actress Nancy Cartwright’s affiliation with Scientology has escaped public notice for the most part, but those days could be over. Cartwright, the voice of Bart on The Simpsons, is featured on a robo-call announcing a church event, the Village Voice reports. The actress peppers the invitation to the “... More »

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Scientology • The Simpsons • robo-calls • Bart Simpson • Nancy Cartwright • actress • voice talent

1 - 20 of 57 Stories | 1 2 3 Next >>


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