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Revoke the Tax Exempt Status of the Church of Scientology

Community: Citizen's Briefing Book

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Revoke the Tax Exempt Status of the Church of Scientology

The Church of Scientology was founded in the early 1950s, and quickly gained and lost its tax exempt status as a religion. The IRS ruled that the system of "fixed donations" and the services offered to the public constituted a for-profit venture, and was therefore taxable. This judgement stood the test of the courts, and was only overturned after the Church of Scientology filed more than 2,000 law suits against the IRS and individuals within the organization. Scientology leader David Miscavige met with IRS officials to negotiate their new tax deal, one which is clearly superior to those of all other religious organizations in the United States.

In the recent Skylar case, it was ruled that similar tax exemptions for religious schooling should not be allowed for the Jewish couple. Based on this ruling, it is mandatory to maintain the Establishment Clause of the Constitution that Scientology's tax exempt status at the very least be altered so as to match those of other religions.

It is my belief, and the belief of thousands of other Americans, that the Church of Scientology is a dangerous, for-profit organization. Thousands of accusations of abuse have been leveled against the church, both domestically and internationally, and the organization has been convicted of fraud and manslaughter in some countries. Such an organization does not deserve the same tax breaks as other religions, and it certainly does not deserve better ones.

398 Comments » Posted by azure to Economy, Additional Issues on 1/14/2009 1:49 PM

Comments

	DC Dave 1/17/2009 1:12 PM	The above is a direct quote and writing of L. Ron Hubbard, founder of Scientology. This is his "final solution" for any people he deemed undesirable. And this guy's cult was given tax exemption why???
	Shawn Lonsdale 1/17/2009 1:26 PM	Scientology ruthlessly attacks anyone who speaks out about their abuses of human rights, labor laws and the civil and criminal courts systems. They'll use any means at their disposal, legal and illegal, to silence people or organizations who try to raise the public's awareness about the depth and breadth of their misdeeds. Google my name, Operation Snow White, Paulette Cooper, Lisa McPherson, Riverside Supervisor Jeff Stone, Marc Headley or have a look at TIme magazine article "The Cult of Greed and Power". You'll find some real eye openers.
	chzkildare 1/17/2009 1:33 PM	It's blatently unfair for one church to have tax benifits that another church does not get. Treat them all the same. EIther give all the churches the same tax break, or strip Scientologys unfair one. An even playing field must be established, especially with religion in reference to the first amendment.
	Alexz 1/17/2009 2:09 PM	What other religion's congregation is allowed to claim their "religious studie" as a tax deduction? None! What other religion charges $300,000.00 to find out about the religion? None. What other religion has it's own faux navy and forces the women of thier navy to have abortions or leave? None. I could go on and on but you get some of the picture here anyway. TAX THIS CULT and QUIT CALLING IT A RELIGION!
	Doomguy 1/17/2009 2:19 PM	Here is their core belief you have to pay up to $300,000 for. The head of the Galactic Confederation (76 planets around larger stars visible from here) (founded 95,000,000 yrs ago, very space opera) solved overpopulation (250 billion or so per planet -- 178 billion on average) by mass implanting. He caused people to be brought to Teegeeack (Earth) and put an H Bomb on the principal volcanoes (Incident 2) and then the Pacific area ones were taken in boxes to Hawaii and the Atlantic Area ones to Las Palmas and there "packaged." His name was Xenu. He used renegades. Various misleading data by means of circuits etc. was placed in the implants. When through with his crime Loyal Officers (to the people) captured him after 6 years of battle and put him in an electronic mountain trap where he still is. "They" are gone. The place (Confed.) has since been a desert. Why is this crap tax exemptable??? Can I make up something just as dumb and me and my friends get a tax break for believing in it? Revoke the tax exemption!
	EnturbDC 1/17/2009 2:19 PM	L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology, established the following story as being at the heart of Scientology teachings. It is only revealed to those who have achieved a certain level of seniority, called "OTIII," within the church: "Data (1) "The head of the Galactic Confederation (76 planets around larger stars visible from here) (founded 95,000,000 yrs ago, very space opera) solved overpopulation (250 billion or so per planet -- 178 billion on average) by mass implanting. "He caused people to be brought to Teegeeack (Earth) and put an H Bomb on the principal volcanoes (Incident 2) and then the Pacific area ones were taken in boxes to Hawaii and the Atlantic Area ones to Las Palmas and there 'packaged.' "His name was Xenu. He used renegades. Various misleading data by means of circuits etc. was placed in the implants. "When through with his crime Loyal Officers (to the people) captured him after 6 years of battle and put him in an electronic mountain trap where he still is. "'They' are gone. The place (Confed.) has since been a desert."
	MeInFL 1/17/2009 2:21 PM	Scientology makes you pay like a business, they sue like a business, and they should be taxed as a business. Religion is FREE, Scientology is neither. TAX THE CULT!
	Schautzie 1/17/2009 2:26 PM	I don't believe any organized religion should be tax exempt ever
	Rusty Shackleford 1/17/2009 2:35 PM	Removing the Church of Scientology's tax exemption status is the least you can do to combat the rest of their human rights violations and perversions of the legal system. Also all that money they owe would certainly help the economy!
	oliverl 1/17/2009 2:47 PM	revoke it's status as a religion.
	Somebody 1/17/2009 3:13 PM	How about have no special status for religious organizations?
	Mr. Lake 1/17/2009 3:27 PM	It's misleading to think that Scientology should get complete revocation of it's tax-exempt status if it wishes to participate with other churches for the same benefits. All I hope for is that Scientology recive the same restrictions as other comercial religious organizations - tax on books, merchandising, and assets - otherwise, every religious organization should be able to buy thier own cruise ship.
	tehKinser 1/17/2009 3:32 PM	By definition its a the people who really believe in it, they are a cult. The people who run it, are running a scam. Please do the world a favor in this one and revoke their tax exempt status in the States.
	XenusRevenge 1/17/2009 3:52 PM
	XenusRevenge 1/17/2009 3:53 PM
	froggie007 1/17/2009 4:01 PM	I voted up because I too believe that it is a cult and not a religion. They should revoke the title of "The Church of Scientology" And just label it "Science Fiction House of Crap".
	balonius 1/17/2009 4:16 PM	revoke the tax exempt status of all the other religions, too!
	scientology-is-a-cult 1/17/2009 4:24 PM	Scientology is a corrupt organisation which we shouldn't be funding by tax exemptions.
	scientology-is-a-cult 1/17/2009 4:28 PM	hail xenu
	MomMarie 1/17/2009 4:28 PM	We should not be funding this organziation masquarading itself as a religion. This cult hides behind its religion status to continue its abuses of its members and their rights. Members who are children or the eldery are not exempt from this, and they are some of the most vulnerable members of our society, and the ones in need of our protection, especially from the thought-controlling processes of scientology.
	MomMarie 1/17/2009 4:29 PM	We should not be funding this organziation masquarading itself as a religion. This cult hides behind its religion status to continue its abuses of its members and their rights. Members who are children or the eldery are not exempt from this, and they are some of the most vulnerable members of our society, and the ones in need of our protection, especially from the thought-controlling processes of scientology.
	siestajoye 1/17/2009 4:33 PM	Tax ALL churches that have ANY political discourse. The Catholic church protects child molesters, the evangelicals and many black churches use the pulpit as a political soapbox, the Jewish temples fund Israel - a primary cause of the terrorism in the Middle East, many Muslims and Christians encourage hatred of anyone outside of their version of what's right. NONE of these organizations should be tax exempt - except for money directed to the poor, needy, sick, etc. Of course no politician would have the stones to do this would they?
	seataka 1/17/2009 5:02 PM	Scientology is worse than you think see LermanetDOTcom
	Chris Longden 1/17/2009 5:12 PM	"Make money. Make more money. Make other people make money" "If a man wanted to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion" - L Ron Hubbard This quote has a strong implication that Scientology is a business, not a bona-fide religion. Indeed, if Scientology was relgious in its aims it would not have themes of profits running through the teachings of its founder. L Ron Hubbard himself stole $200 million from the "church" before fleeing to international waters. It was, and still is, a money making tool for a meglomaniac who abuses the emotionally weak and mentally unstable - sometimes even to the extreme of death (see http://www.whyaretheydead.net/). Therefore it is unacceptable for such an organisation to be tax exempt. It is an abuse of the system which should be immediatly revoked.
	kossin 1/17/2009 5:12 PM	durkudurrr!
	concerned voter 1/17/2009 6:01 PM	I agree...
	rayx 1/17/2009 6:29 PM	As a set of beliefs, Scientology may be a religion. Any of the splinter churches of scientology may therefore deserve to be considered as such. For the Church of Scientology, however, run by David Miscavige and supported by Tom Cruise, the church is a cult and a business enterprise. Its tax exempt status should be revoked, and church members should be interviewed privately regarding whether they wish to leave the church, and if they need assistance or protection to do so.
	Artemissin 1/17/2009 7:06 PM	There are no religious institutions that have tax exempt status..... except the Co$
	NathanExplosion 1/17/2009 7:11 PM	While everyone is certainly entitled to their faith, the standing leadership of this church is abusive. It not only mentally abuses its congregation (which many churches do inadvertanly from time to time), it abuses the legal system as a whole. Please turn a watchful eye on their wretched behavior.
	SweetSarah 1/17/2009 7:17 PM	Why in Xenu's name are the Cult of Scientology still allowed this tax break which no other religion (or cult for that matter) can enjoy? And why are the details of this break still so secret?
	pujyboy 1/17/2009 7:20 PM	Why would Obama shun the movie stars that helped get him elected?
	registeredvoter 1/17/2009 7:25 PM	To be completely fair, Scientology is just as legitimate a religion as any other, in that they are all nothing more than a collection of outdated dogmas. All churches shoulld be taxed, becaude religion is the biggest threat to humanity in the world today, as well as the core of all the violence and suffering on this planet.
	MrPotatoHead 1/17/2009 7:26 PM	Scientology is not a religion its cult that uses drugs, intimidation, frivolous law suits and violence to achieve its objectives. How this cult has been so successful is beyond me. Down with Xenu. Up with Anonymous!
	filigree 1/17/2009 7:35 PM	No single thing would be better for actual religions than to have Scientology stripped of it's status as a religion. If the prosperity churches can be investigated, so also can Scientology. They have done nothing to improve the world, and arguably have killed too many people to retain any status that elevates them above 'greedy bastards who do not care who dies trying to pay them more money". Those here that advocate removing tax exempt status from all churches are also right. Freedom of religion and separation of church and state are interlinked. I choose FSM or atheism and I am not allowed tax exempt status. It's time that churches paid their way and stopped taking advantage of others. More importantly: The government should not be in the business of assisting god's work. That is exactly what is happening when the state gives tax shelters to some groups and not others. It is a kind of favoritism, and as such is intolerable. Assisting only some organizations shows support for those over others. Time for it to stop.
	Avery1 1/17/2009 7:35 PM	Tax Fraud to the nth degree going on here. I bet even the President of the United States could not get access to read the agreement between the IRS and the CoS.
	Scuzwheedl0r 1/17/2009 7:40 PM	This Church is a sham, and any considered review of their practices will reveal that to be true. Better yet, most people wether religous or not, know in their hearts that this religon is preying on the suseptability of peoples' need for an answer, but unlike other religons, strictly do so for profit. This orginization should be as taxed and investigated, because there are serious reports of intimidation, manipulation, and threats to the public stemming from them.
	Blackmore 1/17/2009 7:44 PM	Ron Paul 08 It's that simple.
	Robert D. 1/17/2009 7:54 PM	Google Paulette Cooper and Operation Freakout Google Operation Snow White Google Jeremy Perkins This cult needs to have its tax exempt status revoked.
	catherineJ 1/17/2009 7:55 PM	Tax that Scientology!
	Birddog 1/17/2009 7:59 PM	Scientology tears familys apart and profits from it. TAX THE CULT, it the least you can do. And while your at it, DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE RAMPANT CHILD ABUSE. God bless our new leaders.
	Robert D. 1/17/2009 8:00 PM	What Hubbard thought of celebrities. http://goodwillwinoverevil.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/scientology_1955-ability_project_celebrity.png
	ANBUKaptain 1/17/2009 8:19 PM	Scientology is a disgusting organization which is the cause of deaths around the world (either directly or indirectly). The organization should be systematically dismantled. Taking away its tax-exempt status is the first brick which needs to be pulled.
	mpsb 1/17/2009 8:21 PM	Scientology is a not only a business, but a corrupt business involving taking advantage of thousands of people. It is fundamentally different from "mainstream" religions. No other "religion" has "fair game" policies, or has been involved in so many massively scaled crimes in the past. It does not deserve tax exempt status, it deserves investigation.
	Robert D. 1/17/2009 8:23 PM	Ending quote from a real Scientology Orientation video. I am not making this up! "If you leave this room after seeing this film, and walk out and never mention Scientology again, you are perfectly free to do so. It would be stupid, but you can do it. You can also dive off a bridge or blow your brains out. That is your choice." http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=pOoFnLYaUOI - This is the video so you can see it yourself, for the heavy handed stuff that it is.
	Socal Soccer Mom 1/17/2009 8:44 PM	OMG! Scientology is soooo scary! The more I learn the worse it is! My biggest fear is my kids getting involved and disconnecting from me. They break up families!!!
	TinMan 1/17/2009 8:46 PM	Gotta love all the scilons jumping in here to defend how "great" scientology is for our society.
	Toban Frost 1/17/2009 8:47 PM	Opposed to psychiatry? Seriously now. If not for a good therapist and some medication to keeep me balanced, i don't know where i'd be now. I can bet that it wouldn't be pretty though.
	littledebbie46 1/17/2009 8:51 PM	Revoce the tax free standing because it was only started because of blackmailing the congress and judges in the first place