The Church of Scientology Wednesday filed a $1 million lawsuit in Los Angeles federal court against Times Mirror and two Times reporters, alleging conspiracy to interfere with civil rights. The lawsuit stems from a series of articles dealing with the Church of Scientology written by reporters Robert Rawitch and Robert Gillette and published earlier this week in The Times. The lawsuit charged that the reporters acted in concert with representatives of the FBI and the Department of Justice to publish ...

The Church of Scientology contends that for more than 20 years it has been the target of a systematic campaign by the United States government, together with "vested-interest pressure groups" such as the medical professions, to "suppress the church's spiritual practice and expansion." The church advances this accusation as the fundamental rationale for its aggressive policies of defense-by-attack against individual critics, private groups and government agencies perceived as "harassing" Scientology. Church spokesmen, moreover, expand upon the allegation of systematic persecution to ...

Government intelligence agencies have created and distributed false reports on the Church of Scientology for more than two decades, according to a 20-month study by an investigative panel within the religious group. Citing a documented, 380 page submission to the Church's Board of Directors, the Special Task Force on Religious Defense has charged the government with "malicious interference in the Church's affairs and with violations of its First Amendment rights," according to Kathleen Heard. The materials studied by the task force ...

"We are not a law enforcement agency. BUT we will become interested in the crimes of people who seek to stop us ... If you leave us alone, we will leave you alone." - L. Ron Hubbard Founder of the Church of Scientology The Church of Scientology does not turn the other cheek. Said Emily Watson, the church's national public affairs representative: "We tried doing that for years, but the attacks kept growing ...." Two attacks to which she referred were ...

Hubbard and Another v Vosper and Another Before Lord Denning, the Master of the Rolls, Lord Justice Megaw and Lord Justice Stephenson. The court allowed an interlocutory appeal by defendants, Mr Cyril Ronald Vosper, of Inverness Terrace, W, and Neville Spearman Ltd, publishers, and set aside an injunction granted to Mr. Lafayette Ronald Hubbard and the Church of Scientology of California, of Saint Hill Manor, East Grinstead, Sussex, by Mr Justice Kilner Brown in chambers on October 4 restraining the defendants ...

In reply to a written question in the of Commons a few days ago, the Secretary of State for Social Services, Sir Keith Joseph, declared that he would be making an announcement about the publication of the Foster Report on Scientology "soon". However soon "soon" may be, he has certainly taken time about it. For the report, which was commissioned by his predecessor, Mr Richard Crossman, in January, 1969, has now been in his hands for the best part of ...

MR Justice O'CONNOR dismissed two applications by the Church of Scientology yesterday for the editor of a provincial newspaper and the author of "The Mind Benders," a book on the cult, to be sent to prison for contempt of court. The judge said on the third day of the hearing that he would give his reasons today. In the applications, the Church of Scientology had sought to commit to prison Mr CYRIL VOSPER, the author, and Mr KEITH WHETSTONE, editor of ...

Two Mebourne judges are being sued by the International Association of Scientologists over the 1964-65 inquiry into Scientology in Victoria. The scientologists claim that the board was biased against them and went beyond its proper terms of reference. A Supreme Court writ was lodged yesterday by the Hubbard Association of Scientologists International, c/o Manchester St. Hawthorn, against Kevin Victor Anderson, of Dorrington Ave., Glen Iris, and Gordon Just, of Corby St., North Balwyn. Mr. Justice Anderson is on the Bench of ...

The cult of scientology won unwelcome publicity for itself last week when the Government banned foreigners coming to this country specifically to study it or to work at its centres. For a belief or pursuit which offers alleged improvements to adherents' personalities and which holds to the maxim, "if it's not written, it's not true," the organisers are remarkably chary of publicity and free with threats of writs for libel. It has recently opened three offices in Edinburgh, one of which ...

A Scientologists' spokesman said yesterday that they planned to issue writs for alleged libel and appeal to the European Council on Human Rights. Mr David Griman, speaking from the Scientology World Headquarters at East Grinstead, Sussex, said the writs would be served to parties who, he claimed, had reported their activities unfairly and with gross inaccuracy. Seven Americans, including five children, who landed at Heathrow Airport, London, yesterday were sent back to New York. They said they were to attend a ...

LEGISLATION TO OUTLAW SCIENTOLOGY IN THIS COUNTRY WAS RULED OUT BY THE MINISTER OF HEALTH (MR. KENNETH ROBINSON) IN AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON MONDAY. Mr. Robinson said he had no evidence that scientology was strictly and exclusively responsible for mental breakdown or physical deterioration. Nevertheless, he intended to continue to watch the position. Mr. Peter Hordern (M.P. for Horsham) had called for an inquiry into the organisation which he accused of 'exacting money ...