Showing posts with label Clearwater. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Clearwater. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Whats wrong with this picture? Scientology Fakes another Photo
I received this promotional piece in the mail and was struck by the obvious alterations in the photo ( see far right)and the fact that the woman holding up her award certificate- OT VIII ( a top level that is supposed to bring about 'cause over life')is wearing eye glasses.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
Man Overboard: To Leave Scientology, Don Jason Had to Jump Off a Ship
"Don Jason was a Scientology officer who wanted out. Instead, he says he was held against his will, locked on a ship in the Caribbean."
[..] It always bothered him, and Jason resolved that he never would submit to the program. When the order came that he do the RPF aboard the Freewinds, he said he wanted off the ship.
No, the guards said. Do the program.
"So you're holding me against my will?"
Jason tried to walk off the ship with parishioners going on a shore excursion. The Freewinds guards stepped in his way. He tried a second time, but they blocked him again.
For three days he protested by refusing to work, but that only got him more restrictions. He needed a new approach.
THE ROLLING PIN
Jason decided to act like a good soldier, the picture of compliance. Behaving got him better work assignments and more freedom to move about the ship.
He ruled out jumping overboard. The 40-foot drop was too dangerous, and the dock walls too high, with no ladders.
The thick, 30-foot cables that moor the ship to the dock seemed his best chance. He thought through the variables.
He would have to move quickly down the cable; the guards would hurry to the dock to head him off. Timing was important. Too many people on the dock and he would create a scene. Then again, he wanted at least a few witnesses.
When the ship docked each day, he watched the cables go taut and slack with the tide. A drooping cable would leave him short of the dock. He would have to time his descent so when he reached bottom, the cable would be taut. He would have to get around the metal plate that kept rats from climbing to the ship.
He scavenged for materials to build a device that would help him quickly get down the cable.
He fashioned something like a rolling pin. Starting with a wooden dowel the thickness of a clothing rod, he sawed off a 16-inch piece. Around it he fit a 7-inch length of PVC pipe. To keep the PVC from moving side to side, he sunk drywall screws into the dowel on either end of the PVC.
For two weeks he observed and thought things through. He would have to hold his body high in case he needed to bring up his legs and slow his descent. He ate lunch on the bow every day so that when the time came, the guards wouldn't think twice about him being there.
Three months before, Jason had a title, an office and authority over hundreds of staff in Clearwater. Now his church was treating him like a prisoner.
"I'm thinking, You know what? Once I pull a stunt like this, I'll never get off this ship on my own terms. So I'm committed. Once I start this, I have to be prepared to take it all the way.
"I'm going to do whatever I have to to get off that ship, which includes fist-fighting people, yelling my head off, whatever it takes. I'm not going back on that ship. Period.''
NOV. 21, 1996
He had been on the ship six weeks when he made his move. Jason can't remember if they docked in Freeport or Nassau, just that the town had a decent-sized airport.[..]
Don Jason's route out of Scientology
Times staff In Print: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
1 August 1996: Working at Scientology's Flag Service Organization in Clearwater, Don Jason is told that the church is going to discipline him for something he felt was unfair. He leaves the next day without permission and drives on I-4 to Daytona Beach. He takes back roads north to Fernandina Beach and spends the night at a motel.
2 The next day: He continues north through Savannah. He assumes the church will look for him in his native Milwaukee, so he randomly chooses to settle in Atlanta.
3 After six weeks: He gets second thoughts about how he left. He returns to Clearwater to follow the church's approved "routing out'' process.
4 October 1996: Jason flies to the Bahamas to board Scientology's cruise ship, the Freewinds, where he becomes a virtual prisoner.
5 Six weeks later: Jason escapes over the bow of the Freewinds and makes it to the airport. He buys a ticket to Milwaukee, with a layover in Atlanta. A Scientology official buys the seat next to Jason on the leg to Atlanta. The layover: Marty Rathbun, a top Scientology executive, intercepts Jason at the Atlanta airport. Rathbun tries to persuade him to return to Clearwater and follow proper procedure to leave the church. Jason refuses, and Rathbun flies with him to Milwaukee.
6 In Milwaukee: Jason's mother and a sister pick him up at the airport. The next day, he comes to Rathbun's hotel and signs confessions to his "crimes."
7 Twelve years later: Jason works in Chicago as an operations manager for a building supply company.
[Last modified: Nov 02, 2009 10:56 PM]
Read and watch the complete Tampabay.com TRUTH RUNDOWN series to get the full picture.
[..] It always bothered him, and Jason resolved that he never would submit to the program. When the order came that he do the RPF aboard the Freewinds, he said he wanted off the ship.
No, the guards said. Do the program.
"So you're holding me against my will?"
Jason tried to walk off the ship with parishioners going on a shore excursion. The Freewinds guards stepped in his way. He tried a second time, but they blocked him again.
For three days he protested by refusing to work, but that only got him more restrictions. He needed a new approach.
THE ROLLING PIN
Jason decided to act like a good soldier, the picture of compliance. Behaving got him better work assignments and more freedom to move about the ship.
He ruled out jumping overboard. The 40-foot drop was too dangerous, and the dock walls too high, with no ladders.
The thick, 30-foot cables that moor the ship to the dock seemed his best chance. He thought through the variables.
He would have to move quickly down the cable; the guards would hurry to the dock to head him off. Timing was important. Too many people on the dock and he would create a scene. Then again, he wanted at least a few witnesses.
When the ship docked each day, he watched the cables go taut and slack with the tide. A drooping cable would leave him short of the dock. He would have to time his descent so when he reached bottom, the cable would be taut. He would have to get around the metal plate that kept rats from climbing to the ship.
He scavenged for materials to build a device that would help him quickly get down the cable.
He fashioned something like a rolling pin. Starting with a wooden dowel the thickness of a clothing rod, he sawed off a 16-inch piece. Around it he fit a 7-inch length of PVC pipe. To keep the PVC from moving side to side, he sunk drywall screws into the dowel on either end of the PVC.
For two weeks he observed and thought things through. He would have to hold his body high in case he needed to bring up his legs and slow his descent. He ate lunch on the bow every day so that when the time came, the guards wouldn't think twice about him being there.
Three months before, Jason had a title, an office and authority over hundreds of staff in Clearwater. Now his church was treating him like a prisoner.
"I'm thinking, You know what? Once I pull a stunt like this, I'll never get off this ship on my own terms. So I'm committed. Once I start this, I have to be prepared to take it all the way.
"I'm going to do whatever I have to to get off that ship, which includes fist-fighting people, yelling my head off, whatever it takes. I'm not going back on that ship. Period.''
NOV. 21, 1996
He had been on the ship six weeks when he made his move. Jason can't remember if they docked in Freeport or Nassau, just that the town had a decent-sized airport.[..]
Don Jason's route out of Scientology
Times staff In Print: Tuesday, November 3, 2009
1 August 1996: Working at Scientology's Flag Service Organization in Clearwater, Don Jason is told that the church is going to discipline him for something he felt was unfair. He leaves the next day without permission and drives on I-4 to Daytona Beach. He takes back roads north to Fernandina Beach and spends the night at a motel.
2 The next day: He continues north through Savannah. He assumes the church will look for him in his native Milwaukee, so he randomly chooses to settle in Atlanta.
3 After six weeks: He gets second thoughts about how he left. He returns to Clearwater to follow the church's approved "routing out'' process.
4 October 1996: Jason flies to the Bahamas to board Scientology's cruise ship, the Freewinds, where he becomes a virtual prisoner.
5 Six weeks later: Jason escapes over the bow of the Freewinds and makes it to the airport. He buys a ticket to Milwaukee, with a layover in Atlanta. A Scientology official buys the seat next to Jason on the leg to Atlanta. The layover: Marty Rathbun, a top Scientology executive, intercepts Jason at the Atlanta airport. Rathbun tries to persuade him to return to Clearwater and follow proper procedure to leave the church. Jason refuses, and Rathbun flies with him to Milwaukee.
6 In Milwaukee: Jason's mother and a sister pick him up at the airport. The next day, he comes to Rathbun's hotel and signs confessions to his "crimes."
7 Twelve years later: Jason works in Chicago as an operations manager for a building supply company.
[Last modified: Nov 02, 2009 10:56 PM]
Read and watch the complete Tampabay.com TRUTH RUNDOWN series to get the full picture.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Another Lisa McPherson case: Three French citizen scientologists arrested in Nuoro, Italy charged with kidnapping and holding captive a woman
3 French members of Scientology were arrested yesterday in Italy for kidnapping and holding hostage a woman, who was found in a condition similar to the one the Late Lisa McPherson was in just before she died in 1995.
As Jeff Jacobson posted today over at alt.religion.scientology usenet group:
"On December 5, 1995, Lisa McPherson was dead on arrival at a hospital 45 minutes north of Clearwater Florida. According to the coroner's report, Lisa was underweight, severely dehydrated, and had bruises and bug bites (see the entire report here).
Lisa's last address was listed by the police as 210 S. Ft. Harrison in Clearwater Florida, which is the Fort Harrison Hotel, a Scientology property. Lisa had been a Scientologist from the age of 18 to her death at age 36.
Lisa was put on the Introspection Rundown that Scientology uses to handle those who have had a psychotic break.
On November 18, 1995, Lisa was involved in a minor car accident. She was apparently not hurt, but she got out of her car and took all her clothes off and seemed mentally unstable. She was taken to a hospital where she was physically evaluated as being unharmed, but the hospital wanted her to be psychologically cared for. However, some Scientologists arrived and stated that Lisa did not believe in psychiatry, and she checked out after a short evaluation and left with the Scientologists. She went with them to Room 174 of the Ft. Harrison Hotel for "rest and relaxation" according to the church, but church logs from Lisa's stay there from November 18 to her death December 5 show differently. Some logs are missing, and a high ranking ex-Scientologist has written an affidavit in which he claims that the church has in the past destroyed documents that might get the church in trouble.
The family of Lisa McPherson sued Scientology and individuals involved for wrongful death, while Scientology claimed it did nothing wrong toward Lisa While settlement talks were completed after being forced by the court, (Civil Case settled 5/28/04) the case appears to still be active. Scientology had a web page (removed or moved) that smeared Lisa's aunt and attorney. "
Now we have another victim in the news. I cannot let this important story slide by. In 1984 I lost a dear friend, Dale Bogen, who underwent this kind of treatment and she was found dead, a supposid suicide. People were afraid to speak up. Then Lisa died and what happened after that was a war with Scientology that is emblazioned in the minds of so many people who try to keep Lisa's memory alive.
Lisa and Dale are not alone. The victim in this recent situation was saved only due to her ingenuity in leaving notes outside where she was staying, so that someone would call police.
What most likely happened to latest victim is that she became irratic or psychotic during scientology 'auditing' and was put on a program called the Introspection Rundown, same as Lisa and Dale. Part of this program is a thing called muzzled destimulation, as described here.
It is degrading, inhumane and illegal in many countries to not help a person get proper medical care. Lisa and Dale died and this woman escaped. There is a very important story to be told here. This is the dark side of scientology.
Look here at what happened to Lisa McPherson: The UnFunny Truth about Scientology
'State drops charges against Scientology'Blaming the medical examiner for damaging their case, prosecutors quietly end the inquiry into Lisa McPherson's death. By THOMAS C. TOBIN ©St. Petersburg Times,6/13/00
Tampabay: Doctor in Lisa McPherson case suspended
____________ The latest case in Italy with links:
ilGiornale.it - Nuoro, donna segregata Tre francesi in manette - n. 3 del 21-01-2008
Nuoro - Three French citizens belonging to Scientology were arrested in Nuoro on charges that he kidnapped and held captive a fellow of Tunisian origin. Police Headquarters in the Nuoro intervened after a call to 113 had reported invocations help from the rural Mount
Ortobene on the hill overlooking the capital barbaricino. Police officers raided surprising on the ground floor and three French citizens on the upper floor of their fellow 47 years, closed in a room full of waste.
The woman was seminuda and slept on a mattress infested by insects and worms. Accompanied ambulance woman has been detained in hospital, but has made time to denounce his jailers. Police have arrested Decouduh Marie Claude, 42 years old, Rachid Hassereldith Kabbara and Julien Queyrou, both 18 years all on charges of abduction. The three, after the findings of rite, were locked up in the home district of Badu 'and Carros available to the judiciary.
ilGiornale.it - Nuoro, donna segregata Tre francesi in manette - n. 3 del 21-01-2008
Nuoro - Three French citizens belonging to Scientology were arrested in Nuoro on charges that he kidnapped and held captive a fellow of Tunisian origin. Police Headquarters in the Nuoro intervened after a call to 113 had reported invocations help from the rural Mount Ortobene on the hill overlooking the capital barbaricino. Police officers raided surprising on the ground floor and three French citizens on the upper floor of their fellow 47 years, closed in a room full of waste.
The woman was seminuda and slept on a mattress infested by insects and worms. Accompanied ambulance woman has been detained in hospital, but has made time to denounce his jailers. Police have arrested Decouduh Marie Claude, 42 years old, Rachid Hassereldith Kabbara and Julien Queyrou, both 18 years all on charges of abduction. The three, after the findings of rite, were locked up in the home district of Badu 'and Carros available to the judiciary.
----------------
ilGiornale.it - Nuoro, donna segregata Tre francesi in manette - n. 3
del 21-01-2008
Nuoro - Tre cittadini francesi appartenenti a Scientology sono stati arrestati a Nuoro con l'accusa di aver sequestrato e tenuto prigioniera una connazionale di origini tunisine. I poliziotti della Questura di Nuoro sono intervenuti dopo che una telefonata al 113 aveva segnalato invocazioni d'aiuto provenienti da un'abitazione
rurale sul Monte Ortobene, l'altura che domina il capoluogo barbaricino. Gli agenti hanno fatto irruzione sorprendendo al piano terra tre cittadini francesi ed al piano superiore una loro connazionale di 47 anni, chiusa in una stanza piena di rifiuti.
La donna era seminuda e dormiva su un materasso infestato da insetti e vermi. Accompagnata in ambulanza la donna รจ stata ricoverata in osservazione, ma ha fatto a tempo a denunciare i suoi aguzzini. I poliziotti hanno arrestato Marie Claude Decouduh, di 42 anni, Rachid Hassereldith Kabbara e Julien Queyrou, entrambi di 18 anni tutti con l'accusa di sequestro di persona. I tre, dopo gli accertamenti di
rito, sono stati rinchiusi nella casa circondariale di Badu 'e Carros a disposizione della magistratura.
More story links:
http://www.corriere.it/cronache/08_gennaio_21/nuoro_rapimento_scientology_d2cd3c4c-c826-11dc-8c83-0003ba99c667.shtml
http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/regioni/sardegna/news/2008-01-21_121157631.html
http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=116530
As Jeff Jacobson posted today over at alt.religion.scientology usenet group:
"On December 5, 1995, Lisa McPherson was dead on arrival at a hospital 45 minutes north of Clearwater Florida. According to the coroner's report, Lisa was underweight, severely dehydrated, and had bruises and bug bites (see the entire report here).
Lisa's last address was listed by the police as 210 S. Ft. Harrison in Clearwater Florida, which is the Fort Harrison Hotel, a Scientology property. Lisa had been a Scientologist from the age of 18 to her death at age 36.
Lisa was put on the Introspection Rundown that Scientology uses to handle those who have had a psychotic break.
On November 18, 1995, Lisa was involved in a minor car accident. She was apparently not hurt, but she got out of her car and took all her clothes off and seemed mentally unstable. She was taken to a hospital where she was physically evaluated as being unharmed, but the hospital wanted her to be psychologically cared for. However, some Scientologists arrived and stated that Lisa did not believe in psychiatry, and she checked out after a short evaluation and left with the Scientologists. She went with them to Room 174 of the Ft. Harrison Hotel for "rest and relaxation" according to the church, but church logs from Lisa's stay there from November 18 to her death December 5 show differently. Some logs are missing, and a high ranking ex-Scientologist has written an affidavit in which he claims that the church has in the past destroyed documents that might get the church in trouble.
The family of Lisa McPherson sued Scientology and individuals involved for wrongful death, while Scientology claimed it did nothing wrong toward Lisa While settlement talks were completed after being forced by the court, (Civil Case settled 5/28/04) the case appears to still be active. Scientology had a web page (removed or moved) that smeared Lisa's aunt and attorney. "
Now we have another victim in the news. I cannot let this important story slide by. In 1984 I lost a dear friend, Dale Bogen, who underwent this kind of treatment and she was found dead, a supposid suicide. People were afraid to speak up. Then Lisa died and what happened after that was a war with Scientology that is emblazioned in the minds of so many people who try to keep Lisa's memory alive.
Lisa and Dale are not alone. The victim in this recent situation was saved only due to her ingenuity in leaving notes outside where she was staying, so that someone would call police.
What most likely happened to latest victim is that she became irratic or psychotic during scientology 'auditing' and was put on a program called the Introspection Rundown, same as Lisa and Dale. Part of this program is a thing called muzzled destimulation, as described here.
It is degrading, inhumane and illegal in many countries to not help a person get proper medical care. Lisa and Dale died and this woman escaped. There is a very important story to be told here. This is the dark side of scientology.
Look here at what happened to Lisa McPherson: The UnFunny Truth about Scientology
'State drops charges against Scientology'Blaming the medical examiner for damaging their case, prosecutors quietly end the inquiry into Lisa McPherson's death. By THOMAS C. TOBIN ©St. Petersburg Times,6/13/00
Tampabay: Doctor in Lisa McPherson case suspended
____________ The latest case in Italy with links:
ilGiornale.it - Nuoro, donna segregata Tre francesi in manette - n. 3 del 21-01-2008
Nuoro - Three French citizens belonging to Scientology were arrested in Nuoro on charges that he kidnapped and held captive a fellow of Tunisian origin. Police Headquarters in the Nuoro intervened after a call to 113 had reported invocations help from the rural Mount
Ortobene on the hill overlooking the capital barbaricino. Police officers raided surprising on the ground floor and three French citizens on the upper floor of their fellow 47 years, closed in a room full of waste.
The woman was seminuda and slept on a mattress infested by insects and worms. Accompanied ambulance woman has been detained in hospital, but has made time to denounce his jailers. Police have arrested Decouduh Marie Claude, 42 years old, Rachid Hassereldith Kabbara and Julien Queyrou, both 18 years all on charges of abduction. The three, after the findings of rite, were locked up in the home district of Badu 'and Carros available to the judiciary.
ilGiornale.it - Nuoro, donna segregata Tre francesi in manette - n. 3 del 21-01-2008
Nuoro - Three French citizens belonging to Scientology were arrested in Nuoro on charges that he kidnapped and held captive a fellow of Tunisian origin. Police Headquarters in the Nuoro intervened after a call to 113 had reported invocations help from the rural Mount Ortobene on the hill overlooking the capital barbaricino. Police officers raided surprising on the ground floor and three French citizens on the upper floor of their fellow 47 years, closed in a room full of waste.
The woman was seminuda and slept on a mattress infested by insects and worms. Accompanied ambulance woman has been detained in hospital, but has made time to denounce his jailers. Police have arrested Decouduh Marie Claude, 42 years old, Rachid Hassereldith Kabbara and Julien Queyrou, both 18 years all on charges of abduction. The three, after the findings of rite, were locked up in the home district of Badu 'and Carros available to the judiciary.
----------------
ilGiornale.it - Nuoro, donna segregata Tre francesi in manette - n. 3
del 21-01-2008
Nuoro - Tre cittadini francesi appartenenti a Scientology sono stati arrestati a Nuoro con l'accusa di aver sequestrato e tenuto prigioniera una connazionale di origini tunisine. I poliziotti della Questura di Nuoro sono intervenuti dopo che una telefonata al 113 aveva segnalato invocazioni d'aiuto provenienti da un'abitazione
rurale sul Monte Ortobene, l'altura che domina il capoluogo barbaricino. Gli agenti hanno fatto irruzione sorprendendo al piano terra tre cittadini francesi ed al piano superiore una loro connazionale di 47 anni, chiusa in una stanza piena di rifiuti.
La donna era seminuda e dormiva su un materasso infestato da insetti e vermi. Accompagnata in ambulanza la donna รจ stata ricoverata in osservazione, ma ha fatto a tempo a denunciare i suoi aguzzini. I poliziotti hanno arrestato Marie Claude Decouduh, di 42 anni, Rachid Hassereldith Kabbara e Julien Queyrou, entrambi di 18 anni tutti con l'accusa di sequestro di persona. I tre, dopo gli accertamenti di
rito, sono stati rinchiusi nella casa circondariale di Badu 'e Carros a disposizione della magistratura.
More story links:
http://www.corriere.it/cronache/08_gennaio_21/nuoro_rapimento_scientology_d2cd3c4c-c826-11dc-8c83-0003ba99c667.shtml
http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/regioni/sardegna/news/2008-01-21_121157631.html
http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=116530
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
A Church Accounting: Sen. Grassley...Pls Investigate the Church of Scientology, Too
A church accounting
A Times Editorial
St. Petersburg Times, Clearwater, FL
Published November 12, 2007
Joyce Meyer calls herself a woman of God, and maybe she is, but Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, wants to know how Meyer can justify spending $23,000 in tax-exempt religious contributions for a marble-topped commode. Meyer's church, Joyce Meyer Ministries in Missouri, is one of six Christian ministries Grassley is investigating for possible abuses of their tax-exempt status. Another of Grassley's targets is Without Walls International Church, a controversial megachurch based in Tampa.
Politicians should be careful when delving into religious matters, but Grassley has raised some legitimate issues about enforcement of tax laws. While religious institutions have constitutional protection against certain taxation, they are also expected not to abuse their special status. In fact, while Grassley is looking into such matters, he should add the Church of Scientology to the list.
Scientology's shameful past includes a 25-year legal and psychological campaign against the IRS to be recognized as a tax-exempt religion. Scientology tactics included a criminal conspiracy in the 1970s to bug IRS offices, which led to 11 convictions of church members including founder L. Ron Hubbard's wife. Scientology filed dozens of lawsuits against the IRS, hired private investigators to dig up dirt on IRS employees and financed other IRS critics.
In an unprecedented concession in 1993, the IRS dropped its long-held position that Scientology operations where commercial, and granted the organization tax-exempt status as a religion. Mysteriously, that decision came after then IRS Commissioner Fred T. Goldberg Jr. held an impromptu private meeting with top Scientologist David Miscavige. Goldberg and the IRS still refuse to discuss their decision or release details of the settlement even though there is no legal obligation for them to remain silent. Perhaps Grassley could shed some light on what happened in that private meeting.
While federal law gives great leeway to recognized religions to collect money without paying taxes, there are some clear limitations. A religion's income and assets cannot be used to benefit church insiders beyond their normal compensation, and must be used for charitable, educational or religious purposes rather than to enrich individuals.
So when Benny Hinn, leader of World Healing Center Church in Texas, gives himself a salary of more than $500,000 a year, buys a $10-million seaside mansion and vacations at church expense in jet-setter hot spots, Grassley has a right to ask a few questions. MinistryWatch.com, an independent religious watchdog group, reported those financial excesses (and more) by Hinn, whose church got a failing grade for financial transparency. Two other ministries on Grassley's list also received an F from MinistryWatch.com: Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Texas and Creflo Dollar Ministries in Georgia.
The issue is not only one of legality but also fairness. Every tax dollar a ministry improperly avoids paying is a dollar added to everyone else's tax bill. And the amounts are huge. In the four years leading up to its victory 1993 over the IRS, Scientology reported revenues of $1.1-billion, which have undoubtedly grown since then.
There is no reason to believe that Grassley, an independent-minded conservative, will carry his investigation too far or question legitimate tax-exemptions of the many religious organizations that use their money for charitable work. In fact, Congress could boost the credibility of religious giving by exposing those who abuse people's generosity for personal gain. http://www.religionnewsblog.com/19868/prosperity-gospel-2
Read the comments to the original piece. You'll see how quickly James and Terrio, Scientology's posting minions, were the first comments in here and quite a few other articles critical of Scientology. That's because they were tipped off in advance. Scientology has planted members on the staff of The St Petersburg Times, as they have with other organizations and government agencies. It's all part of Hubbard's plan to take over the world..... yet the media, which Scientology hates, continues to chew them up and spit them out. Thank God for that.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/12/Opinion/A_church_accounting.shtml
But, there is much more to the story of how Scientology gained it's tax exempt religious organization status. It was, once again, a topic of discussion over at usenet group alt.religon.scientology recently:
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Out_Of_The_Dark wrote:
I was skimming the blogs and came across this blog article about a recent St Petersburg Times Editorial piece where the editor suggests that Iowa Sen Grassley add Scientology to the list of churches to audit...... editorial
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/19868/prosperity-gospel-2
To make sure it was a valid article, I went to the SPTimes site and looked in the archive for the Nov 12 piece. Sure enough, it was there, along with some very good comments only the critics of scientology will appreciate, lol! Thank you St Petersburg Times!!
Here's a 'Fair Use Exerpt' of the original archived text found here:
http://tinyurl.com/2y5sd8
--------------
From: "Android Cat"
Android Cat wrote:
"The I.R.S. has refused to say whether Mr. Goldberg had an unscheduled meeting with Mr. Miscavige. Mr. Goldberg, who left the agency in 1992, has declined to comment."
WTF?
I think I'm missing a tag on an article that wonders if the *current* (1993)
commisioner signed off on it. Look under:
http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/FrontCiteTW.html#IRS
You betcha I've spent time tagging IRS-related articles!
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/12/Opinion/A_church_accounting.shtml *foomp* into the FrontCite pipeline.
("In an unprecedented concession in 1993, the IRS dropped its long- held position that Scientology operations were commercial, and granted the organization tax-exempt status as a religion. Mysteriously, that decision came after then-IRS commissioner Fred T. Goldberg Jr. held an impromptu private meeting with top Scientologist David Miscavige. Goldberg and the IRS still refuse to discuss their decision or release details of the settlement, even though there is no legal obligation for them to remain silent. Perhaps Grassley could shed some light on what happened in that private meeting.")
The weirdness is that Fred *wasn't* the IRS commisioner in 1993. It seems to be the last thing he signed-off on as he headed for the door after resigning and there was confusion about who authorized it at the time. There's a few retroactive questions that Fred should be answering.
-- Ron of that ilk.
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
From: "Android Cat"
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:42:51 -0500
Local: Thurs, Nov 15 2007 1:42 am
Subject: Re: SPTimes Editorial Nov 12, 2007 'A CHURCH ACCOUNTING' "......while Grassley is looking into such matters, he should add the Church of Scientology to the list."
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/12/Opinion/A_church_accounting.shtml *foomp* into the FrontCite pipeline.
("In an unprecedented concession in 1993, the IRS dropped its long- held position that Scientology operations were commercial, and granted the organization tax-exempt status as a religion. Mysteriously, that decision came after then-IRS commissioner Fred T. Goldberg Jr. held an impromptu private meeting with top Scientologist David Miscavige. Goldberg and the IRS still refuse to discuss their decision or release
> details of the settlement, even though there is no legal obligation for them to remain silent. Perhaps Grassley could shed some light on what happened in that private meeting." )
The weirdness is that Fred *wasn't* the IRS commisioner in 1993. It seems
to be the last thing he signed-off on as he headed for the door after
resigning and there was confusion about who authorized it at the time.
There's a few retroactive questions that Fred should be answering.
Ron of that ilk.
-------
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
From: "Android Cat"
Here it is:
Scientologists Granted Tax Exemption by the U.S.
By STEPHEN LABATON,
Published: October 14, 1993
Note that Fred Goldberg isn't even mentioned in the entire article (which is
why it doesn't have a tag for Fred.)
==
Mr. Keith said the group was notified of the decision on Oct. 1 and that it
followed a two-year review of financial statements and other information
provided by the organizations about their structure and purposes. He would
not say whether the final decision had been made by the new Commissioner of
the Internal Revenue Service, Margaret M. Richardson, who would normally
have to approve any large settlement.
==
Frank Keith is still there at the end of 1997 when the agreement is leaked.
--------
Out_Of_The_Dark Nov 17, 3:06 pm
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
From: Out_Of_The_Dark
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:06:20 -0800 (PST)
Local: Sat, Nov 17 2007 3:06 pm
Subject: Re: SPTimes Editorial Nov 12, 2007 'A CHURCH ACCOUNTING' "......whileGrassley is looking into such matters, he should add the Church of Scientologyto the list."
Yes, the SpTimes editor named Fred Goldberg instead of Margaret M. Richardson on this point but in all reality, it was probably Goldberg who was the one who signed off on the initial clearence of the agreement, most likely after being intimidated and harrassed and fairgamed. If I were Fred and I was in that situation,m I would turn
the matter over for completion to my replacement, who probably knew little to nothing accept that Fred Goldberg did all the prep work with getting the application back to the Tax Exempt unit and just giving the giving the formal acceptance to Richardson for final signatory.
That takes attention off Goldberg, shuffles the case into the package of work a new director is given and the issue gets lost in transition. I am certain this was the intent.
I cannot imagine what kind of dirt they found on Fred Goldberg but whatever it was, it swiftly changed the direction of the IRS in denying Scientology it's tax exempt status, in spite of Hernandez losing the supreme court ruling in Hernandez v IRS on deductability of donations. That made the IRS more powerful than the United States
Supreme Court. Granting Scientology 501(c)3 tax exempt status was a hugh error in judgement which in time will come back to haunt the IRS. That time may be not. I sure hope so.
Thanks for keeping such a great resource.
http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/FrontCiteTW.html
IRS: Scientology is tax-exempt religion
October 13, 1993
Wayne Garcia, St. Petersburg Times:
The Internal Revenue Service says the Church of Scientology and its myriad entities don't have to pay federal income taxes, ending a 40- year battle with the controversial church over its purpose and methods of dealing with opponents, which included burglary and intimidation." [..]
In the past week, the Internal Revenue Service issued 30 "determination letters" that exempted 153 Scientology churches, missions and corporations from paying federal corporate income taxes, said Frank Keith, an IRS spokesman.
"I have invested a whole number of years in this and I can say I'm disappointed if this is the final ruling," Mayor Rita Garvey said.
"It's a profit-making organization preying on the needs of people looking for help."
"I think it's a license to steal," said Gabe Cazares, a former Clearwater mayor who was a target of church harassment."
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51775819.html?dids=51775819:51775819&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT
Rest in peace, Gabe Cazares
Mary McConnell
_____________________________________
A Times Editorial
St. Petersburg Times, Clearwater, FL
Published November 12, 2007
Joyce Meyer calls herself a woman of God, and maybe she is, but Sen. Charles Grassley, an Iowa Republican, wants to know how Meyer can justify spending $23,000 in tax-exempt religious contributions for a marble-topped commode. Meyer's church, Joyce Meyer Ministries in Missouri, is one of six Christian ministries Grassley is investigating for possible abuses of their tax-exempt status. Another of Grassley's targets is Without Walls International Church, a controversial megachurch based in Tampa.
Politicians should be careful when delving into religious matters, but Grassley has raised some legitimate issues about enforcement of tax laws. While religious institutions have constitutional protection against certain taxation, they are also expected not to abuse their special status. In fact, while Grassley is looking into such matters, he should add the Church of Scientology to the list.
Scientology's shameful past includes a 25-year legal and psychological campaign against the IRS to be recognized as a tax-exempt religion. Scientology tactics included a criminal conspiracy in the 1970s to bug IRS offices, which led to 11 convictions of church members including founder L. Ron Hubbard's wife. Scientology filed dozens of lawsuits against the IRS, hired private investigators to dig up dirt on IRS employees and financed other IRS critics.
In an unprecedented concession in 1993, the IRS dropped its long-held position that Scientology operations where commercial, and granted the organization tax-exempt status as a religion. Mysteriously, that decision came after then IRS Commissioner Fred T. Goldberg Jr. held an impromptu private meeting with top Scientologist David Miscavige. Goldberg and the IRS still refuse to discuss their decision or release details of the settlement even though there is no legal obligation for them to remain silent. Perhaps Grassley could shed some light on what happened in that private meeting.
While federal law gives great leeway to recognized religions to collect money without paying taxes, there are some clear limitations. A religion's income and assets cannot be used to benefit church insiders beyond their normal compensation, and must be used for charitable, educational or religious purposes rather than to enrich individuals.
So when Benny Hinn, leader of World Healing Center Church in Texas, gives himself a salary of more than $500,000 a year, buys a $10-million seaside mansion and vacations at church expense in jet-setter hot spots, Grassley has a right to ask a few questions. MinistryWatch.com, an independent religious watchdog group, reported those financial excesses (and more) by Hinn, whose church got a failing grade for financial transparency. Two other ministries on Grassley's list also received an F from MinistryWatch.com: Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Texas and Creflo Dollar Ministries in Georgia.
The issue is not only one of legality but also fairness. Every tax dollar a ministry improperly avoids paying is a dollar added to everyone else's tax bill. And the amounts are huge. In the four years leading up to its victory 1993 over the IRS, Scientology reported revenues of $1.1-billion, which have undoubtedly grown since then.
There is no reason to believe that Grassley, an independent-minded conservative, will carry his investigation too far or question legitimate tax-exemptions of the many religious organizations that use their money for charitable work. In fact, Congress could boost the credibility of religious giving by exposing those who abuse people's generosity for personal gain. http://www.religionnewsblog.com/19868/prosperity-gospel-2
Read the comments to the original piece. You'll see how quickly James and Terrio, Scientology's posting minions, were the first comments in here and quite a few other articles critical of Scientology. That's because they were tipped off in advance. Scientology has planted members on the staff of The St Petersburg Times, as they have with other organizations and government agencies. It's all part of Hubbard's plan to take over the world..... yet the media, which Scientology hates, continues to chew them up and spit them out. Thank God for that.
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/12/Opinion/A_church_accounting.shtml
But, there is much more to the story of how Scientology gained it's tax exempt religious organization status. It was, once again, a topic of discussion over at usenet group alt.religon.scientology recently:
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Out_Of_The_Dark wrote:
I was skimming the blogs and came across this blog article about a recent St Petersburg Times Editorial piece where the editor suggests that Iowa Sen Grassley add Scientology to the list of churches to audit...... editorial
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/19868/prosperity-gospel-2
To make sure it was a valid article, I went to the SPTimes site and looked in the archive for the Nov 12 piece. Sure enough, it was there, along with some very good comments only the critics of scientology will appreciate, lol! Thank you St Petersburg Times!!
Here's a 'Fair Use Exerpt' of the original archived text found here:
http://tinyurl.com/2y5sd8
--------------
From: "Android Cat"
Android Cat wrote:
"The I.R.S. has refused to say whether Mr. Goldberg had an unscheduled meeting with Mr. Miscavige. Mr. Goldberg, who left the agency in 1992, has declined to comment."
WTF?
I think I'm missing a tag on an article that wonders if the *current* (1993)
commisioner signed off on it. Look under:
http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/FrontCiteTW.html#IRS
You betcha I've spent time tagging IRS-related articles!
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/12/Opinion/A_church_accounting.shtml *foomp* into the FrontCite pipeline.
("In an unprecedented concession in 1993, the IRS dropped its long- held position that Scientology operations were commercial, and granted the organization tax-exempt status as a religion. Mysteriously, that decision came after then-IRS commissioner Fred T. Goldberg Jr. held an impromptu private meeting with top Scientologist David Miscavige. Goldberg and the IRS still refuse to discuss their decision or release details of the settlement, even though there is no legal obligation for them to remain silent. Perhaps Grassley could shed some light on what happened in that private meeting.")
The weirdness is that Fred *wasn't* the IRS commisioner in 1993. It seems to be the last thing he signed-off on as he headed for the door after resigning and there was confusion about who authorized it at the time. There's a few retroactive questions that Fred should be answering.
-- Ron of that ilk.
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
From: "Android Cat"
Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:42:51 -0500
Local: Thurs, Nov 15 2007 1:42 am
Subject: Re: SPTimes Editorial Nov 12, 2007 'A CHURCH ACCOUNTING' "......while Grassley is looking into such matters, he should add the Church of Scientology to the list."
http://www.sptimes.com/2007/11/12/Opinion/A_church_accounting.shtml *foomp* into the FrontCite pipeline.
("In an unprecedented concession in 1993, the IRS dropped its long- held position that Scientology operations were commercial, and granted the organization tax-exempt status as a religion. Mysteriously, that decision came after then-IRS commissioner Fred T. Goldberg Jr. held an impromptu private meeting with top Scientologist David Miscavige. Goldberg and the IRS still refuse to discuss their decision or release
> details of the settlement, even though there is no legal obligation for them to remain silent. Perhaps Grassley could shed some light on what happened in that private meeting." )
The weirdness is that Fred *wasn't* the IRS commisioner in 1993. It seems
to be the last thing he signed-off on as he headed for the door after
resigning and there was confusion about who authorized it at the time.
There's a few retroactive questions that Fred should be answering.
Ron of that ilk.
-------
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
From: "Android Cat"
Here it is:
Scientologists Granted Tax Exemption by the U.S.
By STEPHEN LABATON,
Published: October 14, 1993
Note that Fred Goldberg isn't even mentioned in the entire article (which is
why it doesn't have a tag for Fred.)
==
Mr. Keith said the group was notified of the decision on Oct. 1 and that it
followed a two-year review of financial statements and other information
provided by the organizations about their structure and purposes. He would
not say whether the final decision had been made by the new Commissioner of
the Internal Revenue Service, Margaret M. Richardson, who would normally
have to approve any large settlement.
==
Frank Keith is still there at the end of 1997 when the agreement is leaked.
--------
Out_Of_The_Dark Nov 17, 3:06 pm
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
From: Out_Of_The_Dark
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2007 12:06:20 -0800 (PST)
Local: Sat, Nov 17 2007 3:06 pm
Subject: Re: SPTimes Editorial Nov 12, 2007 'A CHURCH ACCOUNTING' "......whileGrassley is looking into such matters, he should add the Church of Scientologyto the list."
Yes, the SpTimes editor named Fred Goldberg instead of Margaret M. Richardson on this point but in all reality, it was probably Goldberg who was the one who signed off on the initial clearence of the agreement, most likely after being intimidated and harrassed and fairgamed. If I were Fred and I was in that situation,m I would turn
the matter over for completion to my replacement, who probably knew little to nothing accept that Fred Goldberg did all the prep work with getting the application back to the Tax Exempt unit and just giving the giving the formal acceptance to Richardson for final signatory.
That takes attention off Goldberg, shuffles the case into the package of work a new director is given and the issue gets lost in transition. I am certain this was the intent.
I cannot imagine what kind of dirt they found on Fred Goldberg but whatever it was, it swiftly changed the direction of the IRS in denying Scientology it's tax exempt status, in spite of Hernandez losing the supreme court ruling in Hernandez v IRS on deductability of donations. That made the IRS more powerful than the United States
Supreme Court. Granting Scientology 501(c)3 tax exempt status was a hugh error in judgement which in time will come back to haunt the IRS. That time may be not. I sure hope so.
Thanks for keeping such a great resource.
http://home.primus.ca/~ronsharp/FrontCiteTW.html
IRS: Scientology is tax-exempt religion
October 13, 1993
Wayne Garcia, St. Petersburg Times:
The Internal Revenue Service says the Church of Scientology and its myriad entities don't have to pay federal income taxes, ending a 40- year battle with the controversial church over its purpose and methods of dealing with opponents, which included burglary and intimidation." [..]
In the past week, the Internal Revenue Service issued 30 "determination letters" that exempted 153 Scientology churches, missions and corporations from paying federal corporate income taxes, said Frank Keith, an IRS spokesman.
"I have invested a whole number of years in this and I can say I'm disappointed if this is the final ruling," Mayor Rita Garvey said.
"It's a profit-making organization preying on the needs of people looking for help."
"I think it's a license to steal," said Gabe Cazares, a former Clearwater mayor who was a target of church harassment."
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51775819.html?dids=51775819:51775819&FMT=FT&FMTS=ABS:FT
Rest in peace, Gabe Cazares
Mary McConnell
_____________________________________
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