Bizarre, Constitutional Law, Religion, Society

Texans Seek to Strip Scientology of Religious Designation

There is a growing clamor on the Internet over an effort by some Texans to strip Scientology of its status as a religion — a move that would expose the Church of Scientology to both taxes and greater regulation. This move occurs as various countries continue to move against the Church and the Church is threatening lawsuits over the disclosure of confidential tapes and materials. Most recently, Wikileaks has made available the entire secret Operating Thetan (OT) documents — a move that could trigger another round of litigation by the Church.

The move in Texas would obviously trigger a serious constitutional fight. The sponsors are seeking a resolution to declare that Scientology is not a true religion, click here. The first amendment is designed to protect religions from such majoritarian backlash. Yet, the government routinely uses tax status to force religious organizations to yield to certain policies, particularly anti-discrimination policies.

Moreover, the government routinely declares some organizations to be non-religions or targets conduct that constitutes criminal conduct, click here

The move in Texas may have been influenced by continuing efforts to ban the Church as a cult or criminal organization in other countries, click here

In the meantime, Scientology has been threatening legal actions against critics and those publishing confidential Church information. Most recently, it sent letters threatening bloggers over the bizarre Tom Cruise video, click here. Since it is unlikely to sue under such facts, the letters only served to increase attention to such sites.

Most recently, many expect the church to pursue the sources for the leaking of the “operating Thetan” documents on wikileaks, click here. The document is supposedly one of the most closely held sources in the church. Wikinews has obtained Operating Thetan (OT) documents of the Church of Scientology which were leaked via Wikileaks. The manual includes some pretty odd sections and even handwritten notes from L. Ron Hubbard.

Wikileaks only recently emerged unscathed from a lawsuit over the disclosure of confidential documents by a Swiss bank, click here.

7 thoughts on “Texans Seek to Strip Scientology of Religious Designation”

  1. Pingback: Make Them Accountable / The Nation

  2. The previous post was messed up as I approach bedtime again. It should have read:

    In New York in the 50’s and early 60’s there was an all night radio program called the Long John Nebel show. While at times it focussed on “outre’” topics like UFO’s, in general the level of discussion surpassed anything we see in the MSM today. I remember hearing L. Ron Hubbard on the show more than a few times pitching dianetics and then Scientology. It seemed an obvious scam to enjoy the fruits of religion, such as no taxes. He was debated by great science fiction writers like Fred Pohl, Lester Del Rey and Harlan Ellison. They knew L Ron well because he too was a prolific pulp SF writer. I have no doubt that scientology is a well thought out scam.

    That being said I think that their being singled out for government attack is also ludicrous given how many other religious scams are being are shearing their flocks of cash. We have separation of church and state and let’s keep it that way, or do the right thing and tax all religions.

  3. In New York in the 50’s and early 60’s there was an all night radion program call the Long scientology is a well thought of scasJohn Nebel show. While at times it focussed on “outre'” topics like UFO’s, in general the level of discussion surpassed anything we see in the MSM today. I remember hearing L. Ron Hubbard on the show more than a few times pitching dianetics and then Scientology. It seemed an obvious scam to enjoy the fruits of religion like no taxes. He was debated by great science fiction writers like Fred Pohl, Lester Del Rey and Harlan Ellison. They knew L Ron well because he too was a prolific pulp SF writer. I have no doubt that scientology is a well thought out scam.

    That being said I think that their being singled out for government attack is also ludicrous given how many other religious scams are being perportrated. We have separation of church and state and let’s keep it that way, or do the right thing and tax all religions.

  4. Oh, c’mon, if it looks like a church and actslike a church, and preaches like a church, It’s a church. Just ask Mary Baker Eddy. However, if it pushes a candidate or a political positon it is PAC. Plain and simple. Now let’s go put Pat Robertson in prison for tax evasion, and Bob Jones, and Falwells off spring.

    Take your religion and stick it up your church, and keep it there.

  5. JR

    I am guessing the Texas legislature is marching lockstep with our Christian Fundamentalist Overlords who preach tolerance as a mask for power grabs. Best way to do that is to get rid of the competiton who have even crazier fairy tales than yours.

    See for yourself:

    http://www.skeptictank.org/gen3/gen01985.htm

    All hail Xenu!

  6. This sounds eerily reminiscent of the tactic used to force the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to abandon polygamy (the Edmunds-Tucker Bill, IIRC). The feds decided to seize LDS property, arrest members, and prevent Utah from achieving statehood until it changed its practices.

    Now, in the case of Scientology, what exactly would Texas hope to get out of this? Is there an agenda for reforming the religion in play, or is the intention simply to drive the Scientologists out (in which case, paging Dr. Sekulow)?

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