The
Founding Church of Scientology of Washington, D.C. had obtained
tax-exempt status in 1956 on the claim that it was "a
corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious
purposes, no part of the earnings of which inures to any individual".
That status was revoked in 1958, on the grounds (as argued by the
U.S. Department of Justice in subsequent proceedings) that the
Church's "most extensive and significant activities are directed
towards the earnings of substantial fees" and "the founder
of the organisation L.
Ron Hubbard remains in complete control and receives substantial
remuneration and perquisites both from the taxpayer and a network of
affiliates". More recently the IRS granted religious recognition
and full tax deductibility to the Church of Scientology in the USA in
1993
https://nypost.com/2014/03/29/the-book-scientology-spent-27-years-trying-to-ban/
Scientology’s early books made much of the
fact that Hubbard had become one of the nation’s earliest nuclear
physicists and was a medical doctor. Miller demonstrated that neither
was true.
Hubbard’s college records showed that he’d failed the only
class he took in nuclear physics and that he’d dropped out of
George Washington University after his sophomore year and never took
a degree.
after obtaining Hubbard’s complete wartime record, Miller showed
that the naval lieutenant oversaw the rehabbing of a trawler in
Boston Harbor, but then was relieved of command before it sailed.
In the Pacific, he was given a submarine-chaser to command but
then spent two days depth-charging non-existent Japanese subs off the
coast of Oregon. Later, he fired on Mexican territory for target
practice, setting off an international incident. As for his
“injuries,” the record showed that Hubbard suffered from
arthritis, conjunctivitis and a stomach ulcer.
Hubbard’s grip on his followers was so total in the 1970s, his
most fanatical believers, who made up the church’s spy wing, the
“Guardian Office,” engaged in what is to this day the largest
infiltration of the US government.
Called the “Snow White Program,” the operation’s aim was to
steal documents from federal agencies that contained damaging
information about Hubbard. It ended in 1977, when the FBI raided the
church. Eventually, 11 top church officials were convicted and went
to prison.
As early as the late 1960s, Scientology founder L.
Ron Hubbard decided that one way to counteract Scientology’s
miserable press image was to create “social betterment”
organizations to improve his image. These various front groups make a
lot of noise about how beneficial they are to society by combating
drug abuse, improving literacy, or volunteering at natural disasters.
But from the beginning Hubbard made it explicit that their number one
goal was to burnish his reputation and prepare society for
Scientology’s takeover.
Current church leader David Miscavige makes it very plain at the
big annual events that the front groups are a big part of
Scientology’s “expansion” plans. To the members, there’s no
question that the front groups are a part of Scientology, staffed by
Scientologists, and under Miscavige’s control. But the front groups
themselves do what they can to confuse the press and public about
their connection to Scientology. It’s always interesting to see
whether reporters get snowed by Narconon or Youth for Human Rights
when those groups claim to have only the most tenuous affiliation
with the church.
Joe - Scientology
basically launders it’s member extorted monies via buying
properties which they SAY they are doing great things with (per their propaganda) but
in fact these are empty and are not being used. This enables the org. to claim
good faith in not being taxed by IRS, see, this is all investments in
our church!
The German
government takes the view that Scientology is a commercial
enterprise, and Belgium,
France, Ireland,
Luxembourg,
Philippines,
Israel and Mexico
remain unconvinced that Scientology is a religion.
