Many people are desperate for affordable housing in Los Angeles, so much so that there is often a long waiting list for government-issued Section 8 vouchers that help lower the rent for low-income tenants. Since they are so difficult to obtain, more than 250 people jumped at the chance to buy a voucher through a Compton nonprofit despite being charged as much as $1,500 apiece. Turns out those vouchers were fraudulent and those renters are out of luck, the Wave Newspapers ...

At least three kindergartens spread out through Israeli urban sprawl offer children educational teachings of controversial cultist movement. Only one institute received municipal approval, but failed to note its religious leanings Merav Shlomo Published: 03.21.08, 18:33 / Israel News Any kindergarten in Israel with more than 10 children requires the approval of the Education Ministry, but three kindergartens offering children the education teaching of the controversial Scientology movement are operating in Tel Aviv these days without the ministry being aware of ...

Masked protesters led small, peaceful rallies in cities around the world Saturday as part of a protest by an online movement calling itself Anonymous. The organization declared "war" on the Church of Scientology in January because of the church's "suppression of dissent" on the Internet. Some tactics employed by Anonymous have proved controversial, including attacks against Scientology websites and unauthorized circulation of church materials. The church also accuses the movement of mailing fake anthrax letters and making bomb threats – charges ...

Cult Friction After an embarrassing string of high-profile defection and leaked videos, Scientology is under attack from a faceless cabal of online activists. Has America's most controversial religion finally met its match? By John Cook [Picture] Masked hackers have declared war on Scientology. Could the celebrity-friendly religion be in its final days? (Photo: Sam Comen) This article is from the April issue of Radar Magazine. For a risk-free issue, click here Clearwater is prepared for its enemies. It's a warm, if ...

Three Assembly of God ministers in American Samoa have staged a protest to discourage people from taking part in Scientology meetings. They displayed placards opposing the community meetings which began last Friday. Pastor Sauni Tuitoelau of the Assembly of God Church in Nuuuli says he organised the demonstration because he does not want people to fall for the Scientology members’ tactics. He said the organisation is trying to get its foot into the territory by offering disaster training and other teachings ...

THE CHURCH of Scientology in New Zealand has laid a complaint with police after allegedly receiving death and bomb threats from an internet-based protest group that has waged an online war against the religion. The group, calling itself Anonymous, held a worldwide action day yesterday, with about 20 people gathering at Britomart in downtown Auckland and in other centres, handing out fliers attacking Scientology as a dangerous cult "that scams members with pseudo science". The project was started in response to ...

CLEARWATER — While thousands of college kids on spring break enjoyed a gorgeous Saturday on Clearwater Beach, another group of young people descended on the otherwise-deserted downtown wearing surgical masks, fake beards and bandannas. A group of about 150 people, mostly college-age, spent the sun-splashed day protesting the Church of Scientology outside its spiritual headquarters. Timed to coincide with Scientology's celebration of founder L. Ron Hubbard's birthday, it was the second major protest in Clearwater by a loose-knit Internet activist group ...

THE Church of Scientology is striking back at a group that's been harassing it. The wacky religion - which claims Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, Juliette Lewis and Leah Remini as members - has been the target of a group calling itself "Anonymous," whose members take credit for bombarding Scientology churches across the country with prank calls, bomb threats and cyber attacks since January. But now the church has counterattacked by posting YouTube videos under the title, "Anonymous Facts," detailing ...

[Picture / Caption: "A bomb squad robot heads into the alley behind the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center at 336 First Ave. N in St. Petersburg on Thursday after the Scientology headquarters in Clearwater received a bomb threat. A large suitcase found in the alley behind the St. Petersburg office did not contain a bomb."] CLEARWATER — The Church of Scientology was told again Thursday it could not have a court order restraining Anonymous protesters this weekend, largely because the ...

Security was tightened today at the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center in Battle Creek after a bomb threat was leveled nationally at the Church of Scientology, which owns a building nearby. Two parking lots were cleared, the center’s Champion Street entrance was closed and blinds were drawn in all windows at the building at 74 N. Washington Ave. Employees were told the security level was raised and they were encouraged to curtail outside activities near the building. “We learned of potential for increased ...

The church filed a suit for an "injunction for protection" from a group called Anonymous. [Picture / Caption: "Anonymous protesters walk south on Fort Harrison Avenue in front of the Church of Scientology's new Super Power Building on Feb. 10 in downtown Clearwater."] CLEARWATER - After weeks of enduring Internet video taunts from a group called Anonymous, the Church of Scientology posted a YouTube video of its own Wednesday. It includes what Scientology claims are video snippets from Anonymous, threatening phone ...

[Picture / Caption: "A bomb squad robot heads into the alley behind the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center at 336 First Ave N in St. Petersburg after the Scientology headquarters in Clearwater received a bomb threat. A large suitcase found in the alley behind the office was found to contain clothing and a Bible. [Lara Cerri, Times]"] ST. PETERSBURG – When police opened the suspicious brown suitcase found behind a Scientology office downtown, it contained no bomb - just clothing, ...

CLEARWATER - The Church of Scientology tried to stop protesters from returning to the sidewalks outside its headquarters this week by filing a type of petition in court usually used by women in fear for their safety. And in large part because of that approach, a Pinellas-Pasco circuit judge denied it late Wednesday afternoon. In a petition filed Tuesday, the church claimed the Internet-based group Anonymous wants to harm the church and its leaders, in particular the Rev. Heber Jentzsch, the ...

CLEARWATER – Circuit Judge Douglas Baird today denied a motion for a temporary injunction sought by the Church of Scientology to prevent protesters from getting within 500 feet of Scientology buildings. A group of protesters calling itself Anonymous plans demonstrations against Scientology Friday and Saturday, coinciding with the church's birthday celebration of its founder, L.Ron Hubbard. This is the second of two similar suits filed by the Church of Scientology this week. The first was rejected by Circuit Judge Linda Allan ...

Following on from my own experiences and analysis on the Scientology cult, I came across this. It is absolutely par for course as to how this 'religion' separates people from their families and creates horrendous distress in forwarding their own agenda. I hope this story creates the sense of revulsion with readers that this cult truly deserves. I am simply placing Mrs. Lentsch's story here, with no editing, it speaks for itself. Portland, Oregon - March 11, 2008 Portland resident Susan ...

The American Samoan governor, Togiola Tulafono, says the government cannot prohibit the display of Scientology Church billboards. Billboards for the Scientology church have been put up across the main island over the past week to promote meetings with two scientology volunteers from Australia this week. Governor Togiola says both the United States and American Samoa consitutitions protect the rights of Christians and atheists. He said this is the same reason why the government could not stop the showing of the movie ...

The church is seeking a restraining order to stop a new round of protests. CLEARWATER - With the Internet activist group Anonymous threatening a second round of protests against Scientology this weekend, the Clearwater-based church went to court late Tuesday, filing a petition for a temporary restraining order. The petition was filed just before the close of court Tuesday afternoon, and the St. Petersburg Times could not obtain a copy of the petition. Pat Harney, a spokeswoman for the Church of ...

Talk about commitment. A former Church of Scientology investigator was required to contract himself to a group linked with the organization for one billion years, according to documents recently posted to whistleblower website Wikileaks. Of course, the employee was completely lucid when he made the promise to the CoS-related group known as the Sea Organization, but just in case, his employment contract contained the following recital: I, Frank Oliver DO HEREBY AGREE to enter into employment with the Sea Organization and, ...

PRESS RELEASE Portland, Oregon - March 11, 2008 – For Immediate Release – Portland, OR resident Susan Lentsch is issuing a public statement on March 15 at the Scientology Headquarters Los Angeles, CA, calling on her daughter's employer, the Church of Scientology, to permit her daughter, Katherine "Kate" Olson, to come home from Los Angeles to Portland to visit her family. Ms. Lentsch has seen Kate for only six days during the past 15 years and reports that the Church of ...

Highland Beach - A group that sent out thousands of unsolicited copies of a guidebook promoting Scientology precepts is ending the practice after receiving hundreds of complaints from elected officials. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote the 64-page, soft-cover book titled The Way to Happiness: A Common Sense Guide to Better Living. "The mailing is not going to be sent out like this again due to some complaints of recipients about 'using' their logo or photograph without consent," Joni Ginsberg, executive ...

L. Ron Hubbard, the pulp fiction writer who gave the world Battlefield Earth, as well as a nuisance known as Scientology, would have turned 97 years old this Thursday, March 13. Ron’s been worm food for more than a score of years now, so it probably won’t matter to him that the best birthday party being held in his name will take place a couple of days late. On Saturday, March 15, the surprisingly upstart, leaderless movement known as “Anonymous” will ...

HIGHLAND BEACH — "I'm very pleased to offer this book," says a note on the back of a booklet titled The Way to Happiness; about 20 were delivered recently to town hall. The note says more copies may be obtained from "Harold Hagelman, Town of Highland Beach," followed by the town hall address. The booklet front says it's "presented by" the mayor. What are these? "No, no, no, no. I didn't sponsor anything," Hagelmann - his name was misspelled on the ...

MP denies knowledge of endorsed organization's ties to Scientology Scientology denies ties to anti-drug organization Article online since March 5th 2008, 23:59 BY RAFFY BOUDJIKANIAN raffy.boudjikanian@transcontinental.ca West Island Liberal MP Bernard Patry defended his recent endorsement of anti-drug organization Narconon Trois Rivière's prevention campaign despite the latter's supposed links to the Church of Scientology. "I did not know that they might be tied into the Scientology church," said Patry, who represents the Pierrefonds-Dollard riding. "As a former physician, when I started ...

A number of Washington University students, together with a group calling itself "Anonymous," staged a protest outside the University City Church of Scientology yesterday. The group, which is based online and attracted the attendees through a message board, drew more than 50 people to criticize the religion's membership recruitment and retention practices, which demonstrators claimed were inhumane. "[This protest] is not against the beliefs of the Church," said the moderator of the forum that organized the protest. "It's their methods and ...