Scientology Lies

October 15, 2005: The 76-year-old Ramona building will become the new Sacramento center of the Church of Scientology, known for celebrity members such as Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley. The church just completed acquisition of the Spanish-style, five-story building, paying $4.75 million - in cash.

October 15, 2005: Proponents claim Scientology is a method of counselling that helps individuals break free from negative emotions to live more rewarding and fulfilling lives. However, Scientology's theology is somewhat shaky. In fact, the church's creation myth revolves around an intergalactic warlord named 'Xenu' who kidnaps billions of alien lifeforms, chains them near Earth's volcanoes and blows them up with nuclear weapons.

October 9, 2005: Katie seems so young and vulnerable. I wonder if she is worldly enough to satisfy a man so experienced and powerful. I mean, you can only do so much "nice and sweet" before you have to tell him who's really boss. If this relationship is to have a chance she should start as she means to go on and tell him where he can stick all that rubbish about drug-free labour and silent childbirth.

October 12, 2001: The Scientology cult may deliver its papers to the public on the streets of Lausanne only to a limited degree. On Friday, the Swiss Federal Court rejected the request to continue activity pending the outcome of an appeal.

October 10, 1972: Scientology Guardian's Office Weekly Intelligent Report notes that Paulette Cooper is "still actively attacking Scientology" and lists three "handling" actions, including giving New York Scientologists orders to "attack her in as many ways as possible"; this item says that action has already been taken on "wide-scale exposure of PC's sex life."

October 8, 2006: First there was all that sofa-jumping, when Cruise demonstrated his love for new girlfriend Katie Holmes by behaving like a lovesick loon on primetime television. Then came the rumours about how his public devotion to Scientology was turning off the multiplexes. When Cruise suggested Brooke Shields should not have taken antidepressants for her postnatal depression but relied instead on vitamins, he alienated most of his female fans at a stroke. The climax came in August when Paramount announced it was dumping Cruise because his recent conduct had 'not been acceptable'.

October 8, 1996: French campaigners against cults are hoping for legislation against "mental manipulation" if the country's scientology leader is found guilty today of the involuntary manslaughter of a follower who died after jumping from a 12th floor window. After a 10-day trial, a court in Lyon will decide whether Jean-Jacques Mazier had a role in the 31-year-old disciple's suicide in 1988. It will also rule on fraud charges against 23 other leading members of the organisation.

October 11, 2005: At least some shoppers don't realize the connection with Scientology. Muriel Bryant, an Orlando resident who visited University Mall on Friday, said a kiosk worker never mentioned the church during a 10-minute discussion about Dianetics and stress. Had she known Scientology was involved, Bryant probably wouldn't have stopped at the kiosk, said Bryant, who described herself as a nondenominational Christian.

October 10, 2004: An off-Broadway sleeper, "Scientology Pageant" was called the "the gutsiest gimmick in New York theater for 2003" by the New York Times. After an extended run, the hourlong musical capped off its surprising success by winning an Obie Award. How this satiric celebration of Hubbard's life and writing - from his Navy days to his success as a science fiction writer to the founding of his church in 1953 - will be received in a city of such devout Hubbard followers as John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and Tom Cruise (all of whom appear as characters in the piece) is anyone's guess. One thing is certain: "Scientology Pageant" will have a more fervid audience, pro and con, when it makes its West Coast premiere at the Powerhouse Theatre.