Press

Press in the News

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December 26, 1994 Why Germany Warns About Scientology 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. Germany, Press, Scientology and Society
December 25, 1994 Scientology Fiction: The Church's War Against Its Critics - and Truth 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. Arnie Lerma, Fair Game, harassment, Press
November 15, 1994 Pinellas Inmate Refuses Food, Drink Meyer was arrested three years ago when Clearwater police, alerted by neighbors, captured him in the bedroom of a woman who had screamed for help. Police said Meyer slipped in through an open window, rifled the woman's purse and then tried to rape her. Meyer told police he was employed by the Church of Scientology. Church officials said he had been hired to work on building renovation projects but had not been employed by the church for months. Clearwater, crimes, Press
November 7, 1994 Scientology and Its German Foes: A Bitter Conflict It would take something like an invasion of space aliens - maybe something out of an L. Ron Hubbard science fiction novel - to match the climate of fear and mutual suspicion that prevails between the Church of Scientology that Mr. Hubbard created and its frightened opponents in Germany. "Fear is part of their system - it's a totalitarian organization that seeks to control everybody else, a dictatorship," said Ursula Caberta y Diaz, who heads the four-member working group that was set up four years ago by the Hamburg government to combat the Scientology movement and that has tried to get the courts to declare it a criminal conspiracy. Germany, Press, Scientology and Society, Ursula Caberta
November 4, 1994 Scientology Sued Over Insurance An insurance company has sued a branch of the Church of Scientology, alleging it was underpaid for a workers' compensation policy. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. claims in a lawsuit filed Monday that the church's Flag Service Organization owes $378,873 in premiums and fees assessed after an audit turned up employees who had been covered under the policy but were "not yet paid for." Belgium, crimes, Press
April 15, 1994 Escape Route From Scientology 'Has Never Been Busier' A husband and wife team who help Church of Scientology members leave the controversial organisation say they have never been busier after a spate of national coverage surrounding the cult. Bonnie Woods, a former Scientologist, and her husband Richard formed Escape nearly three years ago and operate from their East Grinstead home. The couple claim to have given advice to about 100 former cult members. Bonnie Woods, Press, Scientology and Society
April 11, 1994 US Drug Program Being Peddled On Reserves A drug treatment program backed by a controversial church is trying to sell Alberta Natives addiction-cure services that medical experts have warned are unsafe and ineffective. As many as 10 Alberta reserves have been approached by Narconon, a U.S.-based program associated with the Church of Scientology. The program - which costs about $18,000 U.S. and prescribes daily saunas and megavitamin doses - has been rejected by a U.S. and state board of health because it "may endanger the physical or mental well-being of (its clients)." dangers of Scientology, Narconon, Press
April 1, 1994 Chief Of Police Fires Warning At Scientologist Police Chief Sid Klein is warning a prominent Church of Scientology official not to interfere in a police investigation again. Richard Haworth, Scientology's spokesman in Clearwater, could have been booked into the county jail March 24 for obstructing an investigation into an alleged battery of a Scientologist that night, Klein said Thursday in a letter. crimes, Press
March 31, 1994 Los Angeles Times: Scientology Loses Bid to Void $2.5-Million Award A judge threw out Scientology's lawsuit seeking to reverse Larry Wollersheim's $2.5-million emotional distress award. Kendrick Moxon, Larry Wollersheim, Los Angeles, CA, Press
March 26, 1994 Church Of Scientology Lawsuit Headed For Trial The Church of Scientology has convinced a federal judge to allow its $14.7 million breach-of-contract suit against public relations giant Hill & Knowlton Inc. to go to trial. lawsuits, 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