Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 3, Nos. 2 &3, 2004, Page 131
Growing Presence in Downtown Clearwater
A St. Petersburg Times‘ survey finds that Scientologists own more than 200 restaurants,
shops, service outlets, and small businesses in and around downtown Clearwater, FL, the
church‘s international headquarters. In addition, some 900 condos and townhouses are to
be developed in the area, mostly by Scientologists. (St. Petersburg Times, Internet, 9/9/04)
Wins Claim against Former Member for Public Disclosures
A Marin County, CA, judge has agreed with Scientology that former member Gerry
Armstrong breached a 1986 settlement — he received $800,000 to drop a harassment suit
against the organization — by continuing to make public information he gained as a
Scientology insider and by speaking out against the church.
Armstrong is now ordered to pay Scientology $500,000 in restitution. This, added to
$300,000 previously awarded the church from Armstrong, equals the amount Scientology
paid in its original settlement with him. Armstrong, who now lives in Canada, says he will
never pay the judgment. ―I will outlast them, he added‖ (Nancy Isles Nation, Marin
Independent Journal, Internet, 4/10/04)
Call for Tax Agreement with IRS to Be Made Public
―The Church of Scientology may routinely operate by shrouding its practices, but its
interactions with the government should be a matter of public record. Taxpayers need to
know if they are being treated fairly and whether the IRS, as Judge Silverman queried, has
made Scientologists its ‗chosen people.‘ ‖
In 1993 the Church of Scientology came to an agreement in a tax dispute with the
Internal Revenue Service that revolved around the issue of tax exemption for certain
activities of religious organizations. A Jewish couple sued the IRS to get the same kind of
tax deduction for the religious education of its children that Scientologists get for ―training‖
and ―auditing‖ costs paid to Scientology. Two years ago, the suit was denied, although the
court criticized the secrecy of the Scientology-IRS agreement and one judge encouraged
litigation of Scientology‘s special tax exempt status, which seems to give preferential
treatment to one religion. The couple is now back in court challenging the apparent
disparity.
―The response to this disparity should not be an expansion of tax deductibility for religious
training but closer scrutiny of ‗auditing‘ sessions with counselors.
―As to the ‗secret‘ agreement between the IRS and Scientologists, it is time to open that
document to the public. The law demands special disclosures by tax-exempt organizations
such as churches and the public has a right to know the details of any agreement relative
to a church‘s tax exemption.‖ (Editorial, St. Petersburg Times, Internet, 3/25/04)
Establishing in Boston Neighborhood
Scientology has set up a storefront outlet in Boston‘s [largely black] Codman Square
neighborhood saying it will offer free adult and child literacy tutoring, drug education and
prevention programs, and training for other clergy who want to help in the community.
The director of a local health care center worries about Scientology‘s ―aggressive
proselytizing,‖ while a caretaker at the nearby Church of the Nazarene says: ―It bothers and
scares me because I don‘t think a lot of people here know what they are. They don‘t tell the
whole story when they recruit. They appeal to the needs of the community. But it‘s just a
way for them to get new members and more money.‖ (Jimmy Cronin, Boston Globe,
3/28/04)
Growing Presence in Downtown Clearwater
A St. Petersburg Times‘ survey finds that Scientologists own more than 200 restaurants,
shops, service outlets, and small businesses in and around downtown Clearwater, FL, the
church‘s international headquarters. In addition, some 900 condos and townhouses are to
be developed in the area, mostly by Scientologists. (St. Petersburg Times, Internet, 9/9/04)
Wins Claim against Former Member for Public Disclosures
A Marin County, CA, judge has agreed with Scientology that former member Gerry
Armstrong breached a 1986 settlement — he received $800,000 to drop a harassment suit
against the organization — by continuing to make public information he gained as a
Scientology insider and by speaking out against the church.
Armstrong is now ordered to pay Scientology $500,000 in restitution. This, added to
$300,000 previously awarded the church from Armstrong, equals the amount Scientology
paid in its original settlement with him. Armstrong, who now lives in Canada, says he will
never pay the judgment. ―I will outlast them, he added‖ (Nancy Isles Nation, Marin
Independent Journal, Internet, 4/10/04)
Call for Tax Agreement with IRS to Be Made Public
―The Church of Scientology may routinely operate by shrouding its practices, but its
interactions with the government should be a matter of public record. Taxpayers need to
know if they are being treated fairly and whether the IRS, as Judge Silverman queried, has
made Scientologists its ‗chosen people.‘ ‖
In 1993 the Church of Scientology came to an agreement in a tax dispute with the
Internal Revenue Service that revolved around the issue of tax exemption for certain
activities of religious organizations. A Jewish couple sued the IRS to get the same kind of
tax deduction for the religious education of its children that Scientologists get for ―training‖
and ―auditing‖ costs paid to Scientology. Two years ago, the suit was denied, although the
court criticized the secrecy of the Scientology-IRS agreement and one judge encouraged
litigation of Scientology‘s special tax exempt status, which seems to give preferential
treatment to one religion. The couple is now back in court challenging the apparent
disparity.
―The response to this disparity should not be an expansion of tax deductibility for religious
training but closer scrutiny of ‗auditing‘ sessions with counselors.
―As to the ‗secret‘ agreement between the IRS and Scientologists, it is time to open that
document to the public. The law demands special disclosures by tax-exempt organizations
such as churches and the public has a right to know the details of any agreement relative
to a church‘s tax exemption.‖ (Editorial, St. Petersburg Times, Internet, 3/25/04)
Establishing in Boston Neighborhood
Scientology has set up a storefront outlet in Boston‘s [largely black] Codman Square
neighborhood saying it will offer free adult and child literacy tutoring, drug education and
prevention programs, and training for other clergy who want to help in the community.
The director of a local health care center worries about Scientology‘s ―aggressive
proselytizing,‖ while a caretaker at the nearby Church of the Nazarene says: ―It bothers and
scares me because I don‘t think a lot of people here know what they are. They don‘t tell the
whole story when they recruit. They appeal to the needs of the community. But it‘s just a
way for them to get new members and more money.‖ (Jimmy Cronin, Boston Globe,
3/28/04)
