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Press in the News

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November 6, 1999 Police No Longer Checking On Church Clearwater officers haven't actively investigated the controversial Church of Scientology in several months. The Clearwater Police Department no longer assigns an officer to gather intelligence about the Church of Scientology, a major policy shift ending 20 years of vigilance against the controversial group. Clearwater, crimes, Press
October 30, 1999 Anti-Scientology Foundation Created A critic of the Church of Scientology said he is financing a new foundation named after Lisa McPherson, a Scientologist who died in 1995 while in the care of the church. Robert S. Minton said he would incorporate the Lisa McPherson Educational Foundation. McPherson, 36, suffered a severe mental breakdown 17 days before she died of a blood clot in her left lung. Her death prompted a wrongful death lawsuit, filed in Tampa, and criminal charges against the church in Pinellas County. Minton's foundation will reach out to disaffected members of the church and educate the public about what he says are the harmful effects of Scientology. Bob Minton, Clearwater, Lisa McPherson, Press
October 24, 1999 IRS Examined Scientology Dollars, Not Dogma The Church of Scientology is, after all, an organization that bugged IRS offices, saw 11 of its members sent to prison and was found to be financing founder L. Ron Hubbard's lifestyle aboard a yacht. "Either Scientology changed very basically or the IRS changed. Or maybe both," former IRS commissioner Donald Alexander said of the settlement. "I hope that the IRS did not give in to intimidation," Alexander went on, alluding to the years in the 1970s when his agency battled the church. "I have great reservations, based on the public record and published stories, about this organization's activities and whether this was, is, or remains a money-making cult." crimes, IRS, Press
October 23, 1999 Jury May Levy Damages On Scientology The family of Lisa McPherson can seek punitive damages if the Church of Scientology is found to have caused her death, a judge ruled Friday. Scientology's Clearwater branch has been criminally charged with abusing and illegally practicing medicine on McPherson. Ken Dandar, said, "This organization exists for one reason - to make money," he said of Scientology. "Therefore, punitive damages are the only thing that wakes them up to stop what they are doing." Clearwater, deaths, lawsuits, Lisa McPherson, Press
October 23, 1999 Scientology Spends Heavily on Fund-Raisers xScientology, which recently won a decades-long drive for federal tax exemption, counts assets of about $400 million and appears to take in nearly $300 million a year from counseling fees, book sales, investments and other sources, according to documents filed with the IRS. Although leaders did not appear to make large salaries, some had relatives on the Scientology payroll. For example, in addition to his wife, [David Miscavige]'s father, stepmother, brother and sister-in-law are employed by the church. Also, his mother, two brothers-in-law and two sisters, though not employed by the church, earned commissions as fund-raisers. crimes, IRS, Press
October 23, 1999 Scientology's Finances Detailed The Church of Scientology, the secretive international organization that recently won a decades-long drive for federal tax exemption, counts assets of about $400 million and appears to take in nearly $300 million a year from counseling fees, book sales, investments and other sources, according to documents filed with the Internal Revenue Service. The documents show that the group spends heavily on legal fees, advertising and fund-raiser commissions, and is spending $114 million to preserve the writings and tapes of its deceased founder, L. Ron Hubbard, which it calls its scripture. crimes, IRS, Press
October 8, 1999 Moscow Court Bans Church of Scientology A Moscow court has revoked a license from the Russian branch of the Church of Scientology following the filing of a case against the Humanitarian Hubbard Centre by a Moscow prosecutor after an investigation into alleged human rights abuses. crimes, Press, Russia
April 13, 1999 School Panel Rejects Anti-Drug Program A Pinellas school district committee has refused to allow students to hear an anti-drug program based on the teachings of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The program is a product of Narconon International. Presentations included Scientology's tone scale and required giving thanks to L. Ron Hubbard. Narconon, Press
March 29, 1999 Critics Public And Private Keep Pressure On Scientology - At Home Scientology reacts to the pickets by sending staffers out to confront them and take pictures. Increasingly, Scientologists go out and picket critics' home or office, distributing fliers that accuse them of being "religious bigots." Some pickets say Scientologists have frightened elderly family members with visits and questions about their picketing. Bob Minton, harassment, Keith Henson, lawsuits, Press, Raul Lopez
March 28, 1999 Hardball In a 14-month, worldwide survey, the St. Petersburg Times has documented a consistent pattern of church officials relentlessly pursuing its critics in legal actions that some charge are designed as much to harass as to achieve legal victory. In one year alone, the Times has found, Scientology spent more than $30-million on legal and professional fees. Clearwater, harassment, Press, Scientology and Society

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