He's one of the biggest box-office draws in history, but in recent years Tom Cruise has become more than just the face of his films. He has also become the face of his religion – Scientology. A recent video of Cruise – made for a Scientology event and leaked online – showed the star's unbridled passion for his religion and piqued the public's interest in a belief system that has long been surrounded by controversy. "I think it's a privilege to ...

Pulling up to the Church of Scientology – Baton Rouge Mission, I felt very afraid. I was intimidated not only by my own preconceived notions about Scientology, but also by the sign in front of the building with “Dianetics” written in red and an erupting volcano pictured on it. Granted, I had absolutely no reason to be scared. The director of public affairs, Craig Gehrig, called to invite me to the center and was nothing but polite and friendly. I also ...

When actor Jason Beghe finally explained Scientology to pal David Duchovny, they fell down laughing. This is one of the many revelations that come out of Beghe’s seven-part video with Mark Bunker on vimeo.com. Last week, we brought you actor Jason Beghe’s stunning statements about leaving Scientology. They were part of a three-minute teaser video. After 13 years and a million bucks, Beghe finally decided the cult was “dangerous” and left. By that time, he was estranged from family and friends. ...

The Church of Scientology has been given the go-ahead to build a new facility on Dublin Road. Columbus City Council on Monday night voted 7-0 on a variance that will allow the organization to construct a 50,000-square-foot church in the old Time-Warner headquarters, 1266 Dublin Road, just outside of Grandview Heights. No one spoke against the request. "The new quarters will permit us to serve our parishioners and the community better," said Rev. John Carmichael, president of the Church of Scientology ...

Cebu, Philippines (20 April) – Scientology International donated an18-volume limited edition of The BASICS, authored by L. Ron Hubbard to the City Library of Cebu. The Scientology Volunteer Ministers' International Goodwill Tour donates books to selected libraries all over the world, and the latest addition to the roster of recipients is the Cebu City library located at Osmena Boulevard, Cebu City. Cebu City Librarian Rosario C. Chua welcomed the goodwill gesture of the Volunteer Ministers to house under her keep the ...

Narconon Stone Hawk's drug rehabilitation clients at the Pennfield Township inpatient treatment facility will be relocated by May. The center's approximately 75 patients will be moved to Albion's Narconon Stone Hawk East facility, President Per Wickstrom and Executive Director Eric Tenorio said. Narconon Stone Hawk is a private-pay drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. Clients shell out about $29,000 for typically three to six months' worth of treatment. Treatment includes classroom lessons, a vitamin regime, exercise and two to three weeks' detoxification ...

A video interview showing American TV actor Jason Beghe criticising Scientology has been removed from YouTube, writes Veronica Schmidt. The 48-year-old was the first celebrity to speak out against the religion, telling how his 12 years with the church damaged him and accusing Scientology of being “destructive” and a “rip-off”. After Beghe’s criticism of the church made headlines yesterday, YouTube suspended the account of the prolific Scientology critic who posted the video, making the clip unavailable to viewers. But the suspension ...

Ulyanovsk, April 18, Interfax - Law enforcement officers have searched the office of the Narconon Center of Promoting Healthy Lifestyle in the town of Dimitrovgrad in Ulyanovsk region. "The search of the building was carried out as part of the criminal case over illegal enterprise, launched by the investigative committee of the Dimitrovgrad police department," the regional police department said in a press statement on Friday. "Everything that was seized during the search, and the questioning of clients shows that Narconon ...

Masked protesters have begun a campaign against the Auckland headquarters of Scientology New Zealand, as part of a worldwide movement against the church. The protest, called Operation Reconnect, was organised by a global group calling itself Anonymous, which began its internet-based "War on Scientology" in January. It aimed to bring together families it says have been torn apart by the church. The latest protest on Saturday was the third of its kind, held across the road from the church's Panmure headquarters. ...

[Embedded Youtube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNUjMz9-W2I] American TV actor and former Scientologist Jason Beghe has labelled the controversial religion “destructive” and a “rip-off” in a video interview posted on YouTube, writes Veronica Schmidt. The 48-year-old is the first celebrity to speak out against the religion, telling how his 12 years with the church have damaged him. “My experience personally, and what I’ve observed for myself, is that Scientology is destructive and a rip-off,” said Beghe, who has acted on Cane, CSI and Veronica ...

Jason Beghe is the bravest actor in Hollywood. He’s come clean about his 14 years in Scientology, the religion that Tom Cruise reveres. He says the purpose of Scientology is to create a "brainwashed, robotic version of you." He also says that he spent about $1 million to work his way up the Scientology ladder to become what’s known as an "OT5 auditor," or someone who listens to new members and teaches them the ropes. He was so successful as a ...

The daughter of a member of Norway's parliament committed suicide hours after she received what her family claims were "devastating" results from a personality test administered by the Church of Scientology. Police in France, where the young woman was studying, are investigating. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported Tuesday evening that French police are checking alleged links between the suicide of Kaja Bordevich Ballo, age 20, and the Scientologists. Ballo's father, Olav Gunnar Ballo, is a member of the Norwegian Parliament for the ...

A proposed taxpayer-funded pilot school linked to an arm of the controversial Church of Scientology has scored a $20,000 grant from a blue-chip Hub charitable foundation, the Herald has learned. The Boston Foundation recently awarded the planning grant to the proposed "Cornerstone for Success Academy," a high school for at-risk students that would base its curriculum on a model created by Applied Scholastics International - the educational arm of the Church of Scientology. The celebrity-backed religious organization is often criticized as ...

Ruggedly handsome actor Jason Beghe was best man at the wedding of "X-Files" star David Duchovny (his childhood pal) and actress Tea Leoni. In 1998, he starred as Demi Moore’s love interest in "G.I. Jane." He’s been featured in numerous TV dramas such as "Criminal Minds," "Numb3rs" and "CSI." In 2005, Beghe appeared in promotional spots for the Church of Scientology. But now, Beghe has escaped the church after taking courses since 1994. He’s made a video that’s up on Google ...

[Picture / Caption: Science friction ... former high-ranking Scientologist David Graham has gone public with his concerns about the religion and what he considers a denial of human rights Helen Nezdropa Photo: Helen Nezdropa] AN AUSTRALIAN man who was a former high-ranking member of the Church of Scientology is calling for the religion to be "totally dismantled" because of the human rights abuses he says it inflicts on its followers. David Graham has gone public after years of keeping quiet when ...

CLEARWATER - The Internet-based group Anonymous held its third protest in about three months Saturday outside the headquarters of the Church of Scientology. Although it started with about 50 people at 3 p.m., the number swelled to about 200 an hour later. Joshua Nussbaum, 20, an organizer, said the point of Saturday's protest was to focus public attention on what he says is the church's practice of ostracizing loved ones perceived as a threat. Elizabeth Daly-Watts, Clearwater public safety spokeswoman, said ...

"David" from the web-based activist group Anonymous talks to Paul about about what he wants from the Church of Scientology: honesty and transparency would do very nicely thanks.

WANGANUI woman Helma Vermuelen is adamant scientology's Narconon drug and alcohol programme is desperately needed and can be made to happen in Wanganui. Mrs Vermeulen, a member of the Redding Bethren at the Wanganui Bible Chapel, is part of the group planning the church-based rehabilitation centre at Holly Lodge in Papaiti Rd. Mrs Vermeuelen said yesterday she told her church more than a year ago that they needed to do something to help the community. "There are so many people with ...

The Church of Scientology has acknowledged that Wikileaks is offering the world quick and easy access to the church's top-secret "bibles". Or should that be formerly top-secret? On March 24, the swashbuckling truth-seekers at Wikileaks.org published what they referred to as "the collected secret 'bibles' of Scientology," and three days later, church-friendly lawyers threatened the site with legal action if the documents weren't taken down. Calling them "Advanced Technology of the Scientology religion," the lawyers pointed out that the documents are ...

Veteran television actor Jason Beghe tells the Village Voice that the Church of Scientology will be feeling blindsided by the YouTube video of him that hit the Internet on March 14. Long-held frustrations with the church motivated Beghe to leave Scientology seven months ago, after he had spent about 12 years in the organization as one of its most celebrated success stories. Over the course of about a year, he negotiated his "disassociation" with the church, trying to give every indication ...

'We're talking about drug addicts living next door to our children' 07.04.2008 By LIN FERGUSON NEIGHBOURS of a planned church-based rehabilitation centre for male alcoholics and drug addicts are worried and frightened for their children's safety. The Papaiti Rd residents living either side of the former Holly Lodge winery, where the centre is planned, say an addiction centre should not be set up in a community where there are families with young children. Leanne and Terry Cox said on Friday they ...

A Sydney woman has been ordered to stand trial after pleading not guilty to the stabbing murders of her father and sister. The 26-year-old will also defend a charge of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent to murder her mother. The attack allegedly happened at the family's Revesby home in Sydney's south-west in July last year. The Supreme Court was told mental health will be an issue at the trial, which will start in July. It is alleged that the woman ...

Former winery to become rehab centre 03.04.2008 By LIN FERGUSON PLANS ARE under way to resurrect a former Wanganui winery into a church-based rehabilitation centre for male drug addicts and alcoholics leaving prison. Wanganui Prisoners' Rehabilitation (Pars) manager Steve Treloar said yesterday that even though the centre was still very much in the planning stage they (the Wanganui Bible Chapel, a Brethren group) hoped to have it up and running within two years. The former winery, part of the Holly Lodge ...

La scientologie est une entreprise ultramoderne qui a aussi des activités séculières. Par exemple, en 1966, Ron Hubbard fondait avec un collègue Narconon une cure de désintoxication qui compte aujourd'hui plus d'une centaine de centres dans le monde, dont un à Trois-Rivières. En plus d'être une cure de désintoxication, Narconon s'est donné pour mission d'instruire les jeunes sur les méfaits de la drogue en donnant des conférences dans de nombreuses écoles de la province. L'atelier offert dans les écoles, appelé La ...

The Church of Scientology plans to move into a former Time Warner building on Dublin Road on the Northwest Side, near Grandview Heights. The church has to move out of its Downtown headquarters, 30 N. High St., because there isn't enough room, said the Rev. John Carmichael, president of the Church of Scientology of New York. The new church will be used for Sunday services, classes and counseling, Carmichael said. Plans call for an opening by mid-2009. The church asked the ...