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NEWS ABOUT: Scientology

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Ugly Feud Erupts Among Scientologists

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... More »

I Was Imprisoned on Scientology Ship: Woman

Church denies charges, calls her 'apostate'

(Newser) - A woman says she was imprisoned on a Scientology cruise ship for 12 years, unable to leave without an escort for the first six, and often forced to work long hours in the hot, noisy engine room, reports Australia's ABC News . Born into a Scientology family, Valeska Paris says... More »

Scientology Files Fraud Appeal in France

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... More »

Scientology Probed South Park's Stone, Parker

'Classic' probe in retaliation for infamous episode

(Newser) - South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker may gleefully skewer anyone and everyone with scatological abandon, but apparently the Church of Scientology is one target unwilling to take its licks. The church investigated Stone and Parker in retaliation for their 2005 South Park episode " Trapped in the Closet... More »

Inside Suri's Scientology School

Apparently there's a lot of clay, and perhaps some grade inflation to boot

(Newser) - They grow up so fast: Suri Cruise’s first day of school—Scientology-flavored school—was last week. So what’s it like at the New Village Leadership Academy in Calabasas, California, which uses L. Ron Hubbard’s “study technology” educational system? Well, for one thing, there’s a lot... More »

Lindsay's New Guardian Angel: John Travolta?

Actor plans to make her a Scientologist

(Newser) - Just what Lindsay Lohan needs: a new religion! John Travolta has decided to take the troubled starlet under his wing and introduce her to Scientology, Showbiz Spy reports. Travolta and Lohan are both starring in an upcoming movie about the Gotti family , but LiLo only snagged her spot because Travolta... More »

Scientologists Buy Hollywood Studio

Organization snaps up historic Sunset Boulevard site

(Newser) - Whether or not you want to see more movies based on L. Ron Hubbard's writings—and most critics who saw Battlefield: Earth would sooner go blind—Scientologists now have the facilities to make them. The controversial organization has bought a landmark movie studio in Hollywood from a struggling public... More »

Haggis: I Ditched Scientology Because It's Anti-Gay

More from the New Yorker: 'Moral issue' finally breaks tie, screenwriter

(Newser) - More from the New Yorker's 26-page Scientology takedown: Screenwriter Paul Haggis finally broke with Scientology after years in the cult because of its stands against homosexuality, he has revealed. "I was in a cult for 34 years. Everyone else could see it. I don't know why I couldn't,"... More »

Inside Scientology: Abuse, Human Trafficking, FBI Probes

Extensive Paul Haggis profile reveals allegations against church

(Newser) - The New Yorker ’s massive, 26-page takedown of Scientology is here, and it discloses—among other things—that the FBI has been investigating the church on suspicion of human trafficking for more than a year. Staff writer Lawrence Wright offers an extensive profile of ex-Scientologist Paul Haggis, the writer-director... More »

Preston: Why Scientology Moms Shut Up in Labor

Kelly gives first interview since birth of Benjamin

(Newser) - John Travolta's wife gave birth to new son Benjamin in total silence because that's what Scientology demands, right? Well, sort of. "It's just no words as much as possible. If you need to moan, if you cry out or all of that, of course, that's normal," Kelly Preston... More »

Sink the $40M Tax Break for Noah's Ark Park

Much more exciting: A Scientology galactic park at taxpayer expense

(Newser) - Kentucky's plan to grant a $40 million tax break to a Noah's Ark theme park is roiling waters as far away as Los Angeles. The $150 million "Ark Encounter" park, featuring a three-story-high ship, is being conceived by a Christian ministry that believes humans co-existed with dinosaurs and that... More »

Paul Thomas Anderson's Scientology Movie Shelved

(Newser) - Director Paul Thomas Anderson's Scientology project has stalled, according to Examiner.com. The movie was to feature actors Jeremy Renner and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Renner told TotalFilm that The Master, which would have focused on Scientology and an L. Ron Hubbard-like figure, has been postponed indefinitely. More »

Other Great Wikileaks Scoops

Site exposed military blunders, Scientology's weird inner workings

(Newser) - Wikileaks' release of 90,000 classified Afghanistan war records is the biggest but far from the first scoop the whistleblower site has picked up since it went public in early 2007, the Telegraph notes, listing some other major coups.
  • Iraq helicopter attack . The Pentagon accused Wikileaks of endangering national security
... More »

Women: Scientologists Made Us Abort

Pregnancies punished with shunning

(Newser) - Women in the Scientology sect who became pregnant were ordered to have abortions—and were punished with manual labor, interrogation, shunning, and separation from their husbands if they resisted, according to a lengthy expose in the St. Petersburg Times . Former members of the group known as Sea Org also recount... More »

Victim: Scientologists Helped Stepdad Hide My Sex Abuse

Abuse was 'karmic punishment,' leader said

(Newser) - The Australian branch of the Church of Scientology helped a stepfather cover up his sexual assault of his pre-teen daughter and blamed the girl for the attacks, the victim has revealed. The daughter, now an adult, says her stepdad molested her from the ages of 7 to 11, and that... More »

Russia Bans Scientology Texts

Works of L. Ron Hubbard labeled 'extremist'

(Newser) - The works of L. Ron Hubbard are no longer welcome in Russia. Officials say they intercepted a shipment of books and recordings by the Scientology founder and decided that they should be banned as extremist literature that "undermines the traditional spiritual values of the citizens of the Russian Federation.... More »

Tell-All Claims Tom Cruise Has Drug History

Actor's lawyer calls new book defamatory

(Newser) - A new book that offers a peek inside the wacky world of Scientology includes some interesting tidbits about—who else?—Tom Cruise. But what we call juicy, Cruise's lawyer calls "demonstrably false and defamatory." So what exactly is he worried about?
  • Author Amy Scobee, an ex-Scientoloist in LA,
... More »

Kirstie's Weight Loss Plan: Scientology Scheme?

Alley's 'Organic Liaison' has links to church

(Newser) - Kirstie Alley’s new weight loss program may just be one more way for the church of Scientology to make money. An anti-Scientology campaign group first uncovered a link between the two: “Organic Liaison” combines an organic diet with “organic and natural diet supplements,” but critics believe... More »

Scientologists Fight to Block German Film on Sect

Critical film is 'intolerant propaganda,' group claims

(Newser) - The Church of Scientology is trying to block a a German TV movie that depicts the organization as totalitarian, dangerous, and unethical. Scientology leaders say the film—based on a true story of a young family torn apart by the organization—is propaganda designed to "create a mood of... More »

Scientology Launches 'Warrior' Film to Spur Staff

'Play for blood,' urges motivational video

(Newser) - A heavy-duty call-to-battle video featuring clips from Braveheart, Independence Day and various movies of star cult member Tom Cruise has been created by Scientology leaders to spur Vegas staffers into fighting infidels. The video urges members to "play for blood" and features battle scenes bristling with weaponry, from bloody... More »

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