Press

Press in the News

Datesort icon Title Blurb Tags
October 14, 1990 Short Road to Success Investing The Feshbachs run their firm strictly according to Hubbard's principles, and they contend that Scientology accounts for their success. They often speak at Scientology meetings and proselytize among their investment contacts. It was a Feshbach analyst using old-fashioned detective-style digging who uncovered fake contracts at ZZZZ Best Co., the infamous Reseda-based carpet-cleaning company. ZZZZ Best went bankrupt in 1987, and its whiz-kid founder, Barry Minkow, is in jail. The Feshbachs made big money. According to a Scientology publication, Kurt and Matt are both "patrons meritorious," having donated more than $250,000 each. Joe is a "patron with honors," having given more than $100,000. Ten other Feshbachs have given more than $40,000 each, making the family's total donations more than $1 million. Press
June 29, 1990 Los Angeles Times: On the Offensive Against an Array of Suspected Foes The Church of Scientology does not turn the other cheek. Ministers mingle with private detectives. "Sacred scriptures" counsel the virtues of combativeness. Parishioners double as paralegals for litigious church attorneys. harassment, Los Angeles, CA, Press
June 29, 1990 Los Angeles Times: Suits, Protests Fuel a Campaign Against Psychiatry The Ritalin controversy seemed to emerge out of nowhere. It frightened parents, put doctors on the defensive and suddenly called into question the judgment of school administrators who authorize the drug's use to calm disruptive, hyperactive children. The uproar over Ritalin was triggered almost single-handedly by the Scientology movement. Los Angeles, CA, Press, Scientology and Society
June 29, 1990 Los Angeles Times: A Lawyer Learns What It's Like to Fight the Church Attorney Joseph Yanny says his Century City law firm was burglarized four times and that Scientology-related documents turned up missing; that he has been spied upon by a church "plant" working as a secretary in his office; and that private investigators have camped outside his Hermosa Beach residence and shadowed him when he left. harassment, Los Angeles, CA, Press
June 29, 1990 Los Angeles Times: The Battle with the I.R.S. Among its many adversaries, the Church of Scientology's longest-running feud has been with the Internal Revenue Service. So far, neither combatant has blinked. The IRS has revoked the tax-exempt status of various Scientology organizations, accusing them of operating in a commercial manner and of financially benefiting private individuals. From the late 1960s through mid-1970s, IRS agents classified Scientology as a "tax resister" and "subversive," a characterization later deemed improper by a judge. Los Angeles, CA, Press, Scientology and Society
June 29, 1990 Los Angeles Times: The Battle with the "Squirrels" Hubbard contended that only church members are qualified to administer his self-improvement-type courses. Outsiders, he said, inevitably misapply the teachings, wreaking spiritual harm on their subjects. But those who have launched "independent" Scientology-style centers say Hubbard concocted this as an excuse to eliminate competition so he could charge exorbitant prices for his courses. harassment, Los Angeles, CA, Press
June 28, 1990 Los Angeles Times: Costly Strategy Continues to Turn Out Bestsellers In some cases, sales of Hubbard's books apparently got an extra boost from Scientology followers and employees of the publishing firm. Showing up at major book outlets like B. Dalton and Waldenbooks, they purchased armloads of Hubbard's works, according to former employees. L. Ron Hubbard, Los Angeles, CA, Press
June 27, 1990 Los Angeles Times: Reaching into Society Scientologists are disseminating Hubbard's writings in public and private school classrooms across the U.S., businesses and business groups, and detox programs, using front groups that seldom publicize their Scientology connections. front groups, Los Angeles, CA, Press
June 27, 1990 Los Angeles Times: Scientology and the Schools The Scientology movement has launched a concerted campaign to gain a foothold in the nation's schools by distributing to children millions of copies of a booklet Hubbard wrote on basic moral values. front groups, Los Angeles, CA, Press
June 27, 1990 Los Angeles Times: Converting the Business World Scientology is using a network of private consulting firms to gain a foothold in the U.S. business community. The firms promise businessmen higher earnings but appear to be mainly interested in recruiting new members for the church. Los Angeles, CA, Press, WISE

Press in the News

Date Titlesort icon Blurb Tags
May 12, 2006 Polish Scientologists Ordered to Remove Tents When Scientology erected tents in Warsaw's city center to attract new members, city officials ordered them taken down. Press
September 30, 1996 Patrice Vic Trial Begins - Scientology Executive Charged with Manslaughter Trial begins in the death of Patrice Vic. Scientology executive Jean-Jacques Mazier is charged with manslaughter, and 22 other Scientologists also face charges. crimes, deaths, France, Patrice Vic, Press