The Church of Scientology has refuted claims by an independent French news Web site, the Anonymous Group and the Enturbulation that a video posted to the church's new Video Channel includes bogus or misleading footage of non-existent dignitaries singing the praises of the controversial religion's youth humanitarian efforts. The video in question – Human Rights, In Support of Human Rights – featured on the Scientology Video Channel includes more than 20 unnamed dignitaries from various political, cultural and educational occupations promoting ...

The Church of Scientology has added an African castle to that of it's property portfolio, confirming this week it had bought up Kyalami Castle near to Johannesburg in South Africa. The addition of the castle adds to the Church's growing property list - the 66th global acquisition - and is also said to mark a clear strategy of entry to the African continent. Scientology leaders in Africa said that it was a "dream" for the Church to finally have a base ...

The controversial group has been labeled secretive, inspirational, dangerous and misunderstood. The Church of Scientology? [Picture]Disguised members of an internet-based group called Anonymous protest near buildings associated with the Church of Scientology on Saturday, March 15, 2008, in Los Angeles. (Chris Weeks/AP Photo) No, it's a mysterious group of masked men and computer hackers called Anonymous who say are committed to dismantling the powerful religious organization renowned for its celebrity members such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta. Over the past ...

The Church of Scientology has acquired the famous Johannesburg landmark, the Kyalami Castle, to be the home of its new advanced spiritual retreat. This marks a significant step for the Scientologists who until now had to travel all the way to the US, Australia or England for their higher spiritual progress, said Paul Sondergaard, National Director of the Church’s Public Affairs Office . "For all African Scientologists, this is a dream finally come true," Sondergaard said, adding "It means a lot ...

An investigative reporter for the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot revealed on Monday that there are at least three kindergartens operating in the Tel Aviv area that are affiliated with the Scientology movement. One of the kindergartens has over 90 students and has been granted a license by Israel's Ministry of Education, reported Merav Shlomo. The other two kindergartens are apparently operating without a license. The report noted that the Education Ministry was unaware of the religious leanings of the one kindergarten ...

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 ...

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 ...

[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 ...

[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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

"We were born. We grew up. We escaped." So reads the motto of ExScientologyKids.com, a website launched Thursday by three young women raised in the Church of Scientology who are speaking out against the religion. Their website accuses the church of physical abuse, denying some children a proper education and alienating members from family. One of the women behind the site, Jenna Miscavige Hill, is the niece of David Miscavige, the head of the church, and Kendra Wiseman is the daughter ...

The truth about Scientology Yvette Shank, National Post Published: Monday, March 03, 2008 Jonathan Kay's article on Scientology and its founder L. Ron Hubbard ("In fear of Xenu," Jan. 18.) certainly didn't give the picture of the religion I have known for the past 40 years. From a very young age I found myself asking many questions: Who am I? What am I? Where do I come from? How can I help my friends and family? And I finally found what ...

New York’s Church of Scientology is hoping its newest acquisitions — three buildings on 125th Street in Harlem — will become more than just another quiet storefront on the block. The new buildings will mark a major move into Harlem for the church, and will replace its small 5,000-square-foot location around the corner on Third Avenue with a fully functional church and community center. “People at the Harlem church are hoping to create a second Harlem Renaissance, and to do so ...