Scientology Lies

December 31, 2005: No surprise that Tom Cruise has been named and shamed as the most irritating actor of all time in a new poll. Worse than his nauseating love fest has been Tom's increasingly bizarre outbursts on Scientology. He has blasted women for taking medication to help them overcome post-natal depression, having a right go at Brooke Shields who has been very brave and open about her battle with this serious illness.

December 30, 1997: The 1993 agreement was nearly unprecedented and brought an end to an extraordinary battle. Starting in 1967, the IRS had argued that the main Scientology church should lose its tax-exempt status because it was a for-profit business that enriched church officials. The church's response was an all-out attack: filing suits against the IRS, feeding negative stories about the agency to news organizations, and supporting IRS whistle-blowers. The church's $12.5 million payment was intended to cover the church's payroll, income and estate-tax bills for an undisclosed number of years prior to 1993. It is unclear how much money the IRS originally sought.

August 16, 1965: L. Ron Hubbard writes HCOPL 'Return Address'.

December 29, 1998: In 1995, a 36-year-old believer of Scientology died. Now, three years later, the state attorney has filed charges against the church, which made its headquarters in Clearwater, Fla., 23 years ago. As believers and non-believers clash, the relationship between community leaders and church members is delicate. The coming trial - a status conference is scheduled today in St. Petersburg, Fla. - promises to be a low point in the long history of acrimony over the religion's presence here. And it will raise uncomfortable questions about the way the church deals with its own affairs and those of the surrounding community.

December 29, 1991: Heisig said it was clear from the documents that Scientology was preparing a "media blitz" against Erhard-and that he was going to be a key player, spreading and collecting information that could be used to discredit the est founder. "The reason, I think it comes down to, is competition," Heisig said. "Since Werner started his est program, he took potential customers ... away from the church." The secret campaign against Erhard would span more than a year and become one of the Church of Scientology's top priorities.

December 28, 1986: A US District Court jury yesterday heard final arguments in the trial of two men accused of extortion and fraud for selling false information to the Church of Scientology about the forgery of a church check. Attorneys for the pair admitted that their clients provided the false information, but said no fraud was committed on the church. The defense lawyers argued that the church did not care whether the information was true or false as long as it incriminated a longtime church adversary, Boston lawyer Michael J. Flynn.

December 26, 2006: Many sociological studies have been done on the Scientologists that show that although this sect is not on the lunatic fringe, it still causes family breakups and emotional hardship to its victims. The German Government today is acting responsibly by trying to heighten awareness of a public menace.

December 26, 1986: Two insurance companies have accused John W. Kramer of setting up the 1985 murder of David Artz to collect $1.75 million in insurance on his life. Lawyers for the insurance companies contend that Kramer "subverted the free will" of Artz, drew him away from his family and business in Lancaster, immersed him in mysterious financial dealings in Florida, placed excessive insurance on his life and then set him up to be killed.

December 25, 1994: What had Lerma done to earn the attention of a church he left 16 years ago? He had engaged in freedom of speech. A frequent user of the Internet, Lerma had posted public records - documents from court cases involving Scientology - on the global computer network and on the America Online commercial service. The documents included testimony from former church officials who describe Scientology as a dangerous cult that brainwashes and blackmails its member and harasses defectors and critics. In the church's eyes, Lerma - who once signed a "billion-year contract" to serve Scientology as a member of its quasi-military "Sea Organization" - was now an enemy.