What's this? This is an unbiased just-the-facts news timeline ('newsline') about Church of Scientology, created by Newslines contributors. Become a contributor

Church of Scientology

Church of Scientology15 posts
Biography view > Click for Latest News view
4 Oct, 2013

Remini subpoenaed in lawsuit

0 Comments

Ray Jeffery, attorney for Monique and Marty Rathbun, subpoenas actress and former Scientologist Leah Remini to testify in their harassment suit against the Church. Jeffery hopes to establish a pattern of harassment and intimidation.

8 Nov, 2013

Admits Church was factor in divorce

0 Comments

During a deposition for his lawsuit against Bauer Media, Cruise admits his involvement with the Church led to his divorce from Holmes. When asked if she ever claimed it was due to his religion or because she wanted to protect their daughter from Scientology, he responded:

Did she say that? That was one of the assertions, yes.

Cruise also admits their daughter, Suri, is no longer a Scientologist.

11 Dec, 2013

First Scientology wedding in UK moves forward

0 Comments

scientology coupleIn a landmark case, the UK Supreme Court rules that the London Church Chapel is a place of meeting for religious worship and that Louisa Hodkin and Alessandro Calcioli can marry there in a Church of Scientology ceremony. Hodkin on the ruling:

I am really excited. I’m really glad we are finally being treated equally and can now get married in our church.

20 Dec, 2013

Business to stop forcing Scientology on staff

0 Comments

Dynamic Medical Services, a South Florida chiropractic office accused of forcing the staff to read books such as Dianetics by L. Ron Hubbard and into performing Church rituals at work, signs a consent decree agreeing to pay $170,000 and to quit trying to dictate its employees’ religious beliefs. In a released statement:

We deny all of the allegations brought against Dynamic Medical in the EEOC case. However, given the expense to litigate these types of things, we made a business decision to try and resolve it.

4 May, 2014

Critics gather at conference

0 Comments

A week long conference, called “Flag Down 2014,” hosts several critics of the Church, including the great-grandson of founder L. Ron Hubbard. The activities include a protest in downtown Clearwater that the Church has taken steps to at least partially restrict. An invitation to the conference was sent to Clearwater’s mayor, George Cretekos. He declined but added:

I would hope any demonstration follows our guidelines and gives them an opportunity to express their free speech rights, without any problems.

11 Jun, 2014

Bans couple from attending wedding reception

0 Comments

Voncele and Dcrystal ballroomenis deVlaming are banned from attending a wedding reception held at the Church’s Crystal Ballroom at the Fort Harrison Hotel for the daughter of old friends. Denis deVlaming is an attorney who has represented opponents of the Church in legal proceedings. Voncele deVlaming:

We were both very heartbroken.

25 Aug, 2014

Narconon rehab facility investigated

0 Comments

HernandTampa Bay Rehabo County officials investigate if the Scientology-affiliated Narconon drug treatment center in Spring Hill violated licensing regulations when they opened unlicensed, overflow spaces outside of their primary location. Department of Children and Families licensure specialist Troy McDermott:

My mouth is hanging open.

McDermott added that in his 21 years at DCF, he never has encountered a center providing services at unlicensed facilities.

26 Sep, 2014

Starts collecting million dollar judgement

0 Comments

With a court order, the Church garnishes the account of law firm of Dandar and Dandar, to begin recouping a $1.07 million court ordered judgement against attorney Ken Dandar. The judgement is the result of a lawsuit stemming from the Church saying that Ken Dandar agreed to not sue the Church on behalf of clients, but then continued to do so. Dandar on the action:

I am never giving up practicing law and being an attorney who has a wealth of information concerning Scientology.

1 Oct, 2014

Sued by former member

0 Comments

Robert Dietz, a former member of the Church of Scientology Portland, sues the Church to get back $30,340 he prepaid for future religious education. From the lawsuit:

In order to advance within the Church of Scientology organization, members are required and encouraged to purchase various training packages, products, and counseling services from the Church. Plaintiff was encouraged by the Church to prepay for the Church’s goods and services by placing funds on deposit with the local organization, on the understanding and agreement that any such funds not used would be returned to plaintiff should he decide to forgo further offerings by the Church pursuant to longstanding Church policy.

2 Oct, 2014

Wins ECHR ruling against Russia

0 Comments

The European Court for Human Rights rules in favor of the Church that it be acknowledged as a legal entity in St. Petersburg, Russia.The court further awards 7,500 EUR as moral damages compensation to the Church.

13 Oct, 2014

Sued in South Africa

0 Comments

Gaye, 66 and Ernest Corbett, 70, of Johannesburg, South Africa, sue the Church of Scientology South Africa for R5.8 million dollars plus interest. The couple claims the money was loaned to the Church seven years ago in order to buy a former Durban hotel for conversion into Church activities. The matter will go to court next year. Church director Alex Faust claims the money was a personal loan to Church member Peter Cooke.

It was Cooke and not the [church], who was party to an agreement of loan and who undertook at that time, an obligation to repay the plaintiffs.

19 Oct, 2014

Top leaders confront Rathbun

0 Comments

Rathbun, a former top executive for the church, is confronted at LAX by current members, thought to be Marc Yager, Dave Bloomberg and Jennifer Linson Devoc.

I believe they were attempting to incite me to assault one of them so that they could arrange an arrest to discredit me.

Scientology Top Managers In Action

29 Oct, 2014

Resists Clearwater aquarium move

0 Comments

Church officials lobby Pinellas County commissioners to oppose the Clearwater Marine Aquarium’s move to downtown Clearwater, believing it to not be the best use of tax dollars. The aquarium’s CEO David Yates states:

We went through a referendum, and we have a lot of support. Despite that, a number of groups have voiced opposition to our goal, and they have every right to do so.

1 Nov, 2014

$37m for Australian site

0 Comments

The Chchurch australiaurch purchases land in Sydney, Australia with the intent to open their Asia Pacific headquarters there. Vicki Dunstan, president of the Church of Scientology, confirms:

The Church is developing a plan that allows for administrative functions, ancillary uses and theological studies for parishioners and staff. The site provides more advanced religious studies and services for existing members of the Church.