Press
Press in the News
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April 13, 1996 |
Scientology Files Stay Secret In Deal |
Clearwater officials have agreed to keep secret old police files on the Church of Scientology in order to settle the last remaining court battle between the city and the group. The agreement would require a judge's order to see the files, which are supposed to be open under the state Government in the Sunshine Law. The dozens of file boxes in question contain the results of numerous city police investigations dating to 1979, according to court records. |
crimes, lawsuits, Press, Scientology and Society |
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April 12, 1996 |
Again, Scientology's Secrecy Arouses Suspicion |
Two decades after Scientology secretly started buying property and establishing its considerable presence downtown, there remains an enormous amount of mistrust about its goals and motives. Unfortunately, Scientology has no one to blame but itself for much of the criticism its leaders adamantly argue is unwarranted. Scientology's recent secret purchase of three small motels north of downtown Clearwater will heighten suspicion. That secretiveness reminds Scientology critics of how the church secretly started buying land 20 years ago under the name United Churches of Florida. |
Press, Scientology and Society |
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January 25, 1996 |
City Balks At Church's Figures On House Plan |
The Church of Scientology was hoping Wednesday to get approval for a plan that would move as many as nine people into individual units at its staff apartment complex and create common lounges for rest and relaxation. Instead, city officials revealed that the numbers for the total population at Hacienda Gardens just don't add up. |
Clearwater, Press, Scientology and Society |
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January 11, 1996 |
French Keeping Eye On Cults |
Unveiling a new study of cults, French lawmakers called for a crackdown Wednesday to prevent further cult-related financides. France now has 173 groups it considers cults, and cult members here have increased by at least 50% in the past dozen years to an estimated 300,000 people, lawmaker Jacques Guyard said at a news conference. Guyard, who wrote the report, said it was "difficult to say" how many lives were in danger. But with a dozen doomsday groups in France, he said, "it's important to watch out, especially for groups with children." |
France, Kathy Feshbach, Press, Scientology and Society |
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January 11, 1996 |
German Official Calls for Security Surveillance of Scientologists |
In the long-running duel between the German authorities and the Church of Scientology, a senior Government official urged today that it be placed under surveillance by the same internal security agency that tracks terrorists and political extremists. The official described the church as "one of the most aggressive groups in our society" and said she would "oppose the Scientology organization with all the means at my disposal." |
Germany, Press, Scientology and Society |
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November 29, 1995 |
Scientology Suit Against Post Dismissed |
A lawsuit against The Washington Post by the Church of Scientology has been dismissed by a federal judge, who ordered the church to pay all attorney fees in the suit. U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema said the church had no grounds to prohibit The Post from printing brief excerpts from religious texts that the church has tried to conceal from the public. "The court finds the motivation of plaintiff in filing this lawsuit against The Post is reprehensible," Brinkema wrote, " ... it has become clear that a much broader motivation prevailed - the stifling of criticism and dissent of the religious practices of Scientology and the destruction of its opponents." |
lawsuits, Press |
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November 19, 1995 |
Scientologists Trying To Silence Cyber Critics |
In a flurry of surprise raids recently, members of the Church of Scientology have accompanied authorities into the homes of their most prolific critics in cyberspace, seizing computers, disks and cartons of materials. |
Press, Scientology and Society |
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October 30, 1995 |
Scientology Building Plans Move Forward |
A long-delayed construction project that would dramatically change the downtown landscape is back on schedule, according to a city memo. The organization announced the Super Power building in 1991 as part of a $38-million renovation and construction program in Clearwater. The last construction start was planned for March 1994, but Scientology decided to complete some renovation first. |
Clearwater, Press |
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October 23, 1995 |
Los Angeles Times: Are Searches in Civil Cases Also Violating Rights? |
"We contend that the authority for the search was obtained without a full and proper disclosure to the court in that it was over-broad and, in effect, a fishing expedition," said Tom Kelley, an attorney representing ex-Scientologist Lawrence Wollersheim, whose Boulder, Colo., home was searched Aug. 22 by a group of marshals, Scientologists and their attorneys. |
Boulder, Larry Wollersheim, Press, Scientology and Society |
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October 19, 1995 |
Woman: Church Guard Made Threats |
A young Mexican woman came to town thinking she would receive free classes if she joined the Church of Scientology staff. But last month she told police a tale of deception, overwork and verbal abuse after fleeing a Scientology security guard who threatened to kill her for breaking her "billion year contract." |
Clearwater, Press, Scientology and Society |
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