WASHINGTON — Thousands of top-secret Church of Scientology documents now in the hands of the federal government will be used in widespread probes of the sect by the Internal Revenue Service, prosecutors in several states and grand juries In Tampa and New York, a top U.S. prosecutor said Wednesday. Scientology attorneys have filed four separate appeals requesting the return of the documents, which were the basis of recent conspiracy convictions of nine high-ranking church officials. Today, government attorneys are expected to ...

WASHINGTON — L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology, was so concerned with the success of his newly formed Clearwater headquarters that he visited there in late November 1975 to "save the operation." A letter Hubbard sent one of his top-level "Guardians" shows the founder wanted to make sure "this scene stays cool" while his United Churches of Florida front group established itself in the old Fort Harrison hotel and Bank of Clearwater buildings. The letter is included in ...

"Maybe it is time to stop harping on past grudges but instead work toward the goal of a safer and more charitable world. . .This is our plan, our purpose, our goal and has always been." — Nancy Reitze, Scientologist spokesman, Clearwater. THE ABOVE is a recent quote by Ms. Reitze, following the unmasking of Scientology's plans to dominate everyone from Taco Bill (former Clearwater mayor Gabe Cazares) to international financiers, mental health leaders, Clearwater Sun Editor Ron Stuart and Pinellas-Pasco ...

WASHINGTON — United Churches of Florida, the Scientology front group established in Clearwater in November 1975, was designed to be a tax shelter that could launder sect revenue nationwide, top-secret Scientology documents show. Sect founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote in September 1975 that United Churches was being created "to preserve the assets of Scientology . . . in case of a total wipeout of the Church of Scientology by IRS." The secret correspondence between Hubbard and highest-level Scientology "Guardians" show that ...

WASHINGTON — Top officials of the Church of Scientology considered Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney James T. Russell a major enemy because he pressed for an investigation about a gun found in Dunedin that may have belonged to sect founder L. Ron Hubbard. An April 14, 1977, memo between two sect "guardians," on file in the U.S. Courthouse in Washington, shows that Russell was dubbed a "suppressive person" making him a potential target for Scientology espionage and character assassination aimed at removing him ...

WASHINGTON — The Clearwater branch of the Church of Scientology actively participated in a master plan of founder L. Ron Hubbard apparently aimed at taking over the world, internal cult documents reveal. In Clearwater, the plan centered on removing from office political and and media figures considered "enemies" of the cult: former mayor Gabriel Cazares, Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney James Russell, Clearwater Sun Editor Ron Stuart and local broadcaster Bob Snyder. But on a grander scale, Hubbard's scheme was to "obliterate" and ...

CLEARWATER — The lid clamped down hard Saturday at Scientology's headquarters, as church officials chased a reporter through the streets and ordered other church members not to talk to the press. The church had publicized an afternoon open house, but visitors found themselves quickly escorted into a closed room if they tried to wander anywhere in the building. Nancy Reitze, publicity director for the church, wouldn't answer any questions. No, she said, a reporter could not roam the building and talk ...

CLEARWATER — A two-page policy memo written by four top Church of Scientology officials apparently singled out for attack a former vice president of a local bank, according to documents released last week by a federal judge in Washington, D.C. The memo, included among the documents, cites Wilby F. Anderson of Buttonwood Court as an "enemy," apparently because of a speech Anderson made before the city commission in 1975. Anderson, who at one time worked in the U.S. Department of Justice, ...

CLEARWATER — Documents released Thursday by a federal judge in Washington indicate an effort to "take over" the city of Clearwater by the Church of Scientology, but most of the persons and organizations listed in those files said Friday they are not aware of any effort by church members to infiltrate or discredit their offices. The documents were part of a mountain of paper siezed by the FBI in raids on Scientology offices in Washington and Los Angeles in July, 1977. ...

JOURNALISTS PRIDE themselves on being fair and objective. Like any other profession, our barrel has its bad apples. But as a rule, we bend over backward to be fair. Seldom have I questioned my own ability to make the professional judgments required of me as a reporter, city editor, managing editor and editor. Seldom has it been charged that I did not attempt to be fair, though hindsight sometimes has shown that those attempts were somewhat less than successful. But one ...

WASHINGTON — Believe it or not, the Church of Scientology once wanted to be friends with Gabe Cazares. The former Clearwater mayor find that amusing today, having endured years of legal battles with the sect and waged bitter campaigns against its presence in Clearwater. In December 1975, when Scientology was establishing itself in the city under the guise of the United Churches of Florida, top sect officers thought Cazares would a good man to have on their side. Thus, according to ...

The following is a chronology of local events from the Scientologists 1975 purchase of the former Fort Harrison hotel to last week's release of church documents by a federal judge in Washington, D.C. 1975 Oct. 27 — Fort Harrison officials acknowledge sale of the hotel, saying the Jack Tar chain will cease operations on Nov. 30. The buyer is Southern Land Development and Leasing Corp. Nov. 5 — Citizens learn Southern Land has agreed to buy another downtown landmark, the old ...

WASHlNGTON — Documents revealing a Scientology espionage campaign against government agencies ranging from the IRS to the Clearwater City Commission were declared open to further public inspection Friday afternoon by a federal judge. Scientology attorneys had argued strenuously that the papers should be sealed because they would cause "irreparable injury" to the church. The public availability of the dozen cartons of government-seized documents — the basis of last week‘s conspiracy conviction of nine top church officials — was in doubt until ...

CLEARWATER — Residents Friday denounced the Church of Scientology after documents released by a federal judge a day earlier showed the cult wanted to "take control" of Clearwater. Many of the residents interviewed were not familiar with details of the case, but most expressed a strong hostility toward church members. "l only know that I don’t believe a dam thing they say," said W. B. McFalls, asked his opinion as he shopped at a local supermarket. "lf you want to know ...

WASHINGTON — The Church of Scientology of California had big plans for the unsuspecting community of Clearwater when it arrived there in November 1975. In essence, the sect wanted to control the city's politicians, media and religious groups. To that end, the Scientologists have evidently failed. Hardly any Clearwater resident is not skeptical of the sect’s proclaimed goals and "reforrn" activities. Nevertheless, the church has purchased $8 million in Clearwater buildings and land and continues to work for the potential to ...

WASHINGTON — Six boxes of documents make it clear: People in Pinellas County — a newspaper editor, a reporter, a mayor, a state attorney — were targets three years ago of the "fair game" policy of members of the Church of Scientology. The documents were among thousands seized by the FBI in 1977 raids on church headquarters in Washington and Los Angeles. They were the basis for indictments against nine church leaders on charges of conspiring to steal government documents and ...

CLEARWATER — Church of Scientology documents released Thursday that outline the Scientologists' intention to control or "take over" the city left local government officials wondering Friday how the group planned to reach that goal — and what it should do about it. Mayor Charles LeCher and City Manager Anthony Shoemaker agreed the city’s first move is to seek copies of the documents released Thursday in Washington, D.C., by U.S. District Judge Charles R. Richey. "We have to find out what the ...

"If anyone is getting industrious trying to enturbulate (sic) or stop Scientology or its activities, I can make Captain Bligh look like a Sunday-school teacher. There is probably no limit on what I would do to safeguard Man's only road to freedom against persons who . . . seek to stop Scientology or hurt Scientologists." — L. Ron Hubbard, Aug. 15, 1967 It was not the first time that private investigator Eual R. Harrow had interviewed jurors following a verdict, but ...

The Church of Scientology is an organization that fervidly shuns investigations. When probed, it attacks the investigators. When criticized, it makes the critics pay. Church attempts to stifle investigations and criticism include lawsuits, harassment, frameups and attempts to have critics jailed, or at least enjoined from talking about Scientology. If there is "a long-term threat" to Scientology, founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote in a confidential memorandum to his staff, "you are to immediately evaluate and originate a black PR campaign to ...

CLEARWATER — The Church of Scientology has given Pinellas County their records showing how the church spends its money, but those records are being kept confidential under a court protective order. The records were turned over to county attorneys Monday in preparation for a civil trial that begins today to determine whether the church's Clearwater property should be tax-exempt. he property in question in the lawsuit — which deals specifically with 1976 taxes — is the former Fort Harrison Hotel and ...

The two-story brick building at N. Ballenger Hwy. and Sloan St. looks as if it should house an insurance agency or doctor's office. It is a well-built, well-kept structure. Inside, quality furniture and a quiet, professional greeting welcome the visitor. But this building houses a center related to a church that is under fire from federal agencies. Early this month, the FBI used crowbars and sledgehammers to enter offices of the Church of Scientology in Hollywood and Washington, D.C. Agents were ...

CLEARWATER — Pinellas Pasco State Atty. James T. Russell disclosed Tuesday that last month his office investigated an alleged plot to murder Clearwater Mayor Gabriel Cazares. Russell said his office received a report on June 10 of an alleged death threat against Cazares. Rut Russell refused to reveal details because he said the case has not been closed. "YOU'RE NOW talking about an investigation that my office is or was doing," Russell said. "It's an open file in our office . ...

LARGO—An 80-year-old Largo man who did not find the solution to his memory lapses in Scientology courses got his money back Tuesday. Hours after the Clearwater Sun contacted the Church of Scientology of Florida in Miami to ask about Erich Abraham's refund, a Scientologist called the retired machinist from Milwaukee to say his money—$3,691.73 for 60½ hours of training—would be refunded immediately. A Scientologist brought a check to his door Tuesday afternoon, Abraham said. Abraham, a 17-year resident of Largo, had ...

[...] Firemen battled flames for four hours yesterday in the old Bank of Clearwater building in downtown Clearwater which is now used by the Church of Scientology. Cause of the fire, which was confined to the top two floors of the building, was not known. There were no serious injuries. [...]

TALLAHASSEE—Some call it the Scientology Bill, although its subject is Interpol, the international police organization. Rep. Eric Smith, D-Jacksonville, the bill's sponsor, calls it privacy insurance for all Florida residents—including Scientologists. A separately developed but mutual interest has brought the Church of Scientology, headquartered in Clearwater, and a group of law enforcement activists together supporting the bill that would forbid law enforcement agencies in Florida to cooperate with Interpol, Smith said Monday. "I don't care if a person is a Scientologist, ...