Illawarra doctors have been warned against prescribing mind-altering drugs, including anti-depressants, in a DVD mass-mailed by a watchdog group founded by the Church of Scientology. The film, Making a Killing: The Untold Story of Psychotropic Drugging, appears to have been mailed to all doctors listed in the region's Yellow Pages last month. The DVD claims psychotropic drugs are harmful and includes testimonies from the family members of people who have committed suicide while medicated. It claims psychiatrists "occupy the lowest rung ...

Scientology parishioners learned this week of a milestone in Scientology history when Mr. David Miscavige, Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center, announced the acquisition of a 159,400 square feet, 190 acre facility for the future home of the Advanced Organization of Canada. Not only will this provide the advanced training and counseling services for all Canadian parishioners, it will also house the Canadian Scientology national offices that coordinate Scientology expansion and social betterment programs for the country. First announced by ...

[Embbeded video: http://www.mediacurves.com/SWF/default6.swf#!flashvars#xmlURL=261.xml] While most are skeptical, over half (52%) of viewers think the new Scientology ad is effective and 46% think it will attract new followers to the religion Flemington, NJ, August 4, 2009 – A new national media study among 316 viewers of a new advertisement promoting Scientology revealed that viewers reported skepticism as their most felt emotion while watching the commercial. The study was conducted by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com® website on August 3, to obtain viewers’ ...

Jeff Hawkins, 63 Joined Scientology: at age 21, in 1967 in L.A. Left Sea Org: 2005 Career highlights: Marketing and design, created TV ad that featured exploding volcano to promote Dianetics. Now: Single, lives in Portland, Ore. Freelances as a graphic designer. Scientologists "say they're the experts in organizational technology. ... Well, then how come you need to have that level of threat and duress to get people to do what you want them to do?" Video: Jeff Hawkins '''Marc Headley, ...

They are stepping forward — from Dallas and Denver, Portland, Las Vegas, Montana — talking about what happened, to them and their friends, during their years in the Church of Scientology. Jackie Wolff wept as she recalled the chaotic night she was ordered to stand at a microphone in the mess hall and confess her "crimes" in front of 300 fellow workers, many jeering and heckling her. Gary Morehead dredged up his recollection of Scientology leader David Miscavige punishing venerable church ...

This is the Church of Scientology's response to the St. Petersburg Times story that, in addition to the four church defectors the newspaper wrote about in June, quotes 11 more defectors who have provided accounts of physical or mental abuse by Scientology leader David Miscavige. The Church of Scientology provided 25 affidavits and declarations from current and former church executives and staffers who uniformly describe David Miscavige as a kind, compassionate, inspiring leader who never has been violent or abusive, physically ...

THE Church of Scientology has angrily denied that high-profile follower John Travolta allegedly blames it for not being able to prevent his son’s death. Tabloid reports earlier this week claimed Travolta had become a “bitter recluse” after the death of his son Jett, 16, who was believed to have suffered from autism. Britain’s Mail on Sunday claimed church insiders had said Travolta bitterly regretted adhering to Scientology’s teachings when treating his son's condition and had threatened to quit the secretive church. ...

About 20 years ago a delegation from the church of Scientology came to my school and asked that I be fired from my position as a teacher (some might take note here of a recurring theme in my professional life). They had objected to a conversation I had with my students about a constitutional issue, and secondarily, about truth in advertising. Time magazine had just done a feature article about the organization, and it managed to make its way into a ...

The Seattle Times recently printed a story about my church that originally was published in The St. Petersburg Times ["Report: Violence common among Scientology managers," seattletimes.com, Nation & World, June 21]. The story lays bare the bias that newspaper has against my faith, and with only a few quotes from Church of Scientology representatives, it didn't even vaguely give the appearance of a balanced report. It was a disappointment that The Seattle Times republished this biased story. The article uncritically ...

The Church of Scientology has had a bad couple of years, PR-wise. You could start the damage-control clock running in January 2008 with the release of the Scientology indoctrination video featuring Tom Cruise — you know, black turtleneck, eyes spinning — claiming that Scientologists are the only ones who could really help at an accident scene. This summer the church was tried for fraud in France. In May, Wikipedia said it would ban entries originating from Scientology IP addresses on account ...

SPRING HILL — Hernando county commissioners may have thought the controversy over plans to expand a drug rehab center died when they voted down the plan in June. Wrong. The property owner and construction company that wanted to expand the Suncoast Rehabilitation Center filed an appeal in Circuit Court late Thursday asking that a judge throw out the commission's decision. Toucan Partners LLC and Gulf Seas Construction Co. sought to erect new buildings at the 3-acre site off Cessna Drive to ...

CLEARWATER — Allegations of physical abuse, destruction of evidence and punishment rituals in the upper echelons of the Church of Scientology left some local political leaders saying they were shocked and disturbed. But among leaders who have reached out to the church, those contacted by the St. Petersburg Times say they aren't ready to distance themselves from Scientology and its sizeable membership after a recent Times series detailing accusations from former church executives. While some in the community saw potential for ...

So let's say you're a councilmember representing some outpost in Nashville. For fun, let's call this place Ledge Hill. As Ledge Hill's representative, it's your job to be present in the community. And part of that presence is a breakfast, usually in a church basement, held once a month. Because you don't just represent one person, you represent everyone living in Ledge Hill, and because every vote counts, thus far you've done your best to include all denominations: Methodist, Catholic, Presbyterian. ...

Recovery centers mistreated former client and provided him Scientology literature instead of the care that they promised, lawsuit claims. By Joseph Serna A recovering drug addict was called homophobic slurs, held against his will and forced to repeat Scientology lessons at a pair of Southern California rehab homes, including one in Newport Beach, according to a lawsuit filed in Nevada County. In a lawsuit filed June 29 claiming breach of contract, misrepresentation and attempts at religious conversion, Sarah Locatelli claims her ...

A lawsuit was filed in Nevada County, CA last week by a woman who paid for rehabilitation help for her then fiance, only to find out that she was repeatedly deceived and the services were dangerous and not as promised. Scientology practices, made Daniel Locatelli subject to verbal attacks, often of an anti gay substance. He was denied medical care when he needed it and the staff kept him and his belongings against his will when he asked to leave. He ...

KATIE Holmes is about to start filming her new movie, Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark, but some questions from the crew will not be allowed. The Batman Begins actor will begin filming on the closed Docklands set this week, as she, husband Tom Cruise and daughter Suri continue to explore Melbourne's sights and stores. One film source from the set said that each crew member had signed agreements saying they would not ask the superstar about her religion, Scientology. The ...

Day 4 (June 2): The court trying six Scientologists and two Scientology associations heard from one of the defendants responsible for managing the Paris centre’s Purification Rundown. [...]

Day 4 (June 2): Alain Rosenberg, "managing director" of Scientology’s Paris Celebrity Centre, presented a vigorous defence — to the point where he had to be called to order by his own lawyer. [...]

The ''St. Petersburg Times June 24 editorial The abuse behind Scientology's facade proves beyond doubt that any aura of objectivity in the ''Times so-called "special report" was illusory. The report attempted to give the appearance of balance by quoting statements from Church of Scientology representatives, but the editorial exposes this exercise as a hollow pretense. The editorial uncritically accepts as true statements from a handful of former church staff without ever addressing their lack of credibility, their underlying motivations and the ...

In recent years the Church of Scientology worked hard to present a kinder, gentler image to the public, claiming it had cast aside the criminal activities, dirty tricks and abusive behavior of the past that brought it widespread condemnation and sent some of its former leaders to prison. But a St. Petersburg Times special report this week revealed the reality behind the new facade: At its core, the Church of Scientology has not changed. It is an organization that uses intimidation ...

The four high-ranking executives who left Scientology say that church leader David Miscavige not only physically attacked members of his executive staff, he messed with their minds. He frequently had groups of managers jump into a pool or a lake. He mustered them into group confessions that sometimes spun into free-for-alls, with people hitting one another. Mike Rinder, who defended the church to the media for two decades, couldn't stomach what was happening on the inside. The tactics to keep executives ...

LISA MCPHERSON TIMELINE: This is part of a St. Petersburg Times special report on Scientology. For the full report, see tampabay.com/scientology. 1994: Lisa McPherson, a longtime Scientologist, moves from Dallas to Clearwater with her employer, AMC Publishing. The company is operated and staffed mostly by Scientologists who want to be close to the church's spiritual headquarters. September 1995: In a ceremony at the Fort Harrison Hotel, Lisa McPherson is publicly declared "clear," a state in which a Scientologist is said ...

The night after Lisa McPherson died, the leader of the Church of Scientology sent word for one of his top lieutenants to wait by a pay phone at the Holiday Inn Surfside on Clearwater Beach. When Marty Rathbun answered the ringing phone in the lobby, David Miscavige let him have it: Why aren’t you all over this mess? The police are poking around. Do something. "Yes sir," Rathbun said. McPherson, a 36-year-old parishioner in apparent good health, had spent 17 days ...

Part ONE of THREE The leader of the Church of Scientology strode into the room with a boom box and an announcement: Time for a game of musical chairs. David Miscavige had kept more than 30 members of his church's executive staff cooped up for weeks in a small office building outside Los Angeles, not letting them leave except to grab a shower. They slept on the floor, their food carted in. Their assignment was to develop strategic plans for the ...

Amy Scobee Born: Washington state Age: 45 Joined Scientology: at age 14, 1978 Left Scientology: 2005 Family status: Married to former Sea Org member Matt Pesch. They left the church together in 2005. They have no children. Career highlights: Oversaw several operations sectors during 20 years as manager at the church's international base in California. Built the network of Scientology Celebrity Centres, assembling and training staff to match four-star service levels. Oversaw church's film and taping facilities. As teenager, managed kitchen, ...