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Press in the News

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October 29, 2004 Subway-Tology! MTA Poster Full Of Plugs For Religion A poster being sold to mark the 100th anniversary of the subway has an underground message - and it has nothing to do with trains. The poster, which depicts a crowded Times Square subway station, contains what seems like an endless number of plugs for the controversial Church of Scientology. The poster also showcases at least half a dozen Web sites with connections to Scientology. lawsuits, Montreal, Press, Scientology and Society
October 22, 2004 Over 20 Scientology Sect Members Forced To Leave Beslan Over 20 members of the religious scientology sect left North Ossetia on Friday. The North Ossetian law enforcement agencies told Interfax that the sectarians left the republic after receiving a warning from them that their activity in Beslan is unlawful, as they lack essential certificates and licenses. A spokesman for the North Ossetian police said, "They all were registered at the Polyot hotel and tried to influence the survivors [of the September 1-3 hostage crisis] and their relatives. In response to appeals by the North Ossetian Health Ministry, public, psychology experts, and the survivors themselves, law enforcement agencies had nothing to do but take administrative measures against them," he said. Press, Russia, Scientology and Society
October 10, 2004 Astray in the Manger - A Very Merry Unauthorized Scientology Pageant 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. Los Angeles, CA, Press
October 2, 2004 Church's Drug Program Flunks S.F. Test A free anti-drug program that teaches children concepts from the Church of Scientology earned a failing grade Friday from public health officials who were asked by San Francisco school administrators to evaluate it. The program, Narconon Drug Prevention & Education, "often exemplifies the outdated, non-evidence-based and sometimes factually inaccurate approach, which has not served students well for decades," concluded Steve Heilig, director of health and education for the San Francisco Medical Society. front groups, Narconon, Press, San Francisco, CA, Stealth Scientology
August 25, 2004 San Francisco Chronicle: Narconon Banned from S.F. Schools Narconon, an anti-drug program with ties to the Church of Scientology will be barred from San Francisco classrooms because of concerns about its scientific accuracy, city schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman said Tuesday. Narconon, Press, San Francisco, CA
June 10, 2004 San Francisco Chronicle: Narconon Put on Notice by Schools A popular anti-drug program with ties to the Church of Scientology will be ousted after 13 years in the San Francisco schools unless it agrees to stop teaching what the district calls inaccurate and misleading information, Superintendent Arlene Ackerman said Wednesday. Narconon, Press, San Francisco, CA
June 9, 2004 San Francisco Chronicle: Scientology Link to Public Schools As early as the third grade, students in S.F. and elsewhere are subtly introduced to church's concepts via anti-drug teachings. Narconon, Press, San Francisco, CA
April 10, 2004 Jewish Couple Sue IRS, Seek To Deduct Cost Of Children's Religious Education In their lawsuit, Michael and Marla Sklar of Los Angeles contend the IRS erred by disallowing their tax deduction claim when the agency permits Scientologists to write off the cost of spiritual counseling and instruction on that religion's tenets. "You have a particular sect that's being favored by the state based on religion," said Michael Sklar, an accountant. The case "will have enormous ramifications whatever the ruling is. I didn't do this for the $3,000 that's at stake." lawsuits, Press, taxes, United States
March 31, 2004 One Family Goes To Tax Court To Fight For Tax Breaks For Religious Education Michael Sklar, a California accountant and Orthodox father of six, will appear in a United States tax court in Los Angeles in October as he pursues a long legal struggle to claim the cost of his children's religious education as a tax deduction. Sklar notes that the IRS allows followers of the Church of Scientology to write off the cost of religious instruction, which many say violates the First Amendment establishment clause banning government support of a religion. IRS, Press, taxes
March 24, 2004 Scientologists' Tax Break Cited in Suit Against I.R.S. A Jewish couple, Michael and Marla Sklar, have gone to court for the right to deduct the cost of religious education for their children, a tax benefit they say the federal government has granted to members of just one religion, the Church of Scientology. The 1993 IRS decision countervenes a 1989 Supreme Court decision that Scientology fees did not qualify for the charitable gift deduction because they involved a fixed price and are akin to a fee for a service. IRS, Press

Press in the News

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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