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Media now that the HBO documentary has aired

CommunicatorIC

@IndieScieNews on Twitter
The Salt Lake Tribune - Bagley Cartoon: Scientology Life Lesson

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2348415-155/bagley-cartoon-scientology-life-lesson

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Steve Strange

New Member
I'm new here as I just watched the HBO documentary. How does the Church of Scientology's tax exempt status get revoked? Also, where is a Internet site to find Anonymous' response to the documentary?

Thanks in advance
 

JustSheila

Crusader
Hi Steve, Welcome to ESMB. You can start a thread under the category "New Member Introductions," or you can ask your questions on a related thread by looking it up in the search on the top right. This thread is for HBO Doc media on the Going Clear film, not for questions about the film. This thread would be suitable: http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?38893-questions-about-Gibney-s-video Thank you in advance for your cooperation to keep threads on topic.
 

Jump

Operating teatime
I'm new here as I just watched the HBO documentary. How does the Church of Scientology's tax exempt status get revoked? Also, where is a Internet site to find Anonymous' response to the documentary?

Thanks in advance

I think the change in tax status might have to go through congress - there's not much in the way of precedent. However, 501(3)c can be revoked automatically if the organisation is convicted of criminality - most think that would be pursued on inurement, RICO, fraud or human trafficking. Although the weirdest things happen with sufficient public will.

Anon responses? Some members here are erstwhile anons. I think this site would give a decent representation of an anonymous response.
 

Helena Handbasket

Gold Meritorious Patron
I think the change in tax status might have to go through congress - there's not much in the way of precedent. However, 501(3)c can be revoked automatically if the organisation is convicted of criminality - most think that would be pursued on inurement, RICO, fraud or human trafficking. Although the weirdest things happen with sufficient public will.

Anon responses? Some members here are erstwhile anons. I think this site would give a decent representation of an anonymous response.
Another approach might be to divide church activities into "tax emempt" and "taxable", and then levy full taxes on the latter part. There could be considerble latitude to ratchet up the taxes with this approach.

Helena
 

Free to shine

Shiny & Free
Going Clear' director says ex-Scientologists received physical threats for appearing in HBO documentary
In the wake of HBO’s explosive Scientology documentary “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief,” which premiered Sunday on HBO, director Alex Gibney said former church members featured in the film have been threatened by the institution.

“Most of the real vitriol is for the people who were in the film,” Gibney told TheWrap in an interview this week. “They’ve received threats of physical harm, threats of having their homes taken away, threats of being forced into bankruptcy. They’re being followed by private eyes and surveilled.”
Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/ex-s...eats-for-bring-in-hbo-documentary-2015-3?IR=T
 

Free to shine

Shiny & Free
Good one!

Jason Beghe: The TV Tough Guy Who Took on Scientology
Beghe decided to take more dramatic action. He posted a two-hour video on YouTube in which he claimed the organization was "very dangerous for your spiritual, psychological, mental, emotional health and evolution." The video shot around the world. It also put him in Scientology's crosshairs. (They call Beghe "unreliable, dishonest and biased," and group him with other former members who have spoken out against the church.

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/culture...ho-took-on-scientology-20150330#ixzz3VwC2Q4AG
 

Free to shine

Shiny & Free
“Tom Cruise is scum”: Read people’s stunned reactions to Scientology documentary “Going Clear”
“Going Clear,” Alex Gibney’s Scientology documentary, based on Lawrence Wright’s book of the same name, premiered on HBO last night. Just like all of us who saw the film during its theatrical release, HBO viewers were bowled over by the film, which makes plain the abuse, corruption and violence at the organization’s heart. Here are some of the most stunned reactions:

http://www.salon.com/2015/03/30/tom...tions_to_scientology_documentary_going_clear/
 

Free to shine

Shiny & Free
Church of Scientology keeps a 'blackmail' file on John Travolta and forces members to play musical chairs to Bohemian Rhapsody: Documentary claims to reveal shocking secrets of celebrity religion
  • Going Clear documentary claims to reveal secrets of Scientology religion
  • It alleges the church has a 'blackmail file' on John Travolta from auditing sessions and members are thrown into 'The Hole' to confess their crimes and vie for places by playing musical chairs to Bohemian Rhapsody
  • Sylvia 'Spanky' Taylor, who once acted as the intermediary between the church and John Travolta, said people were punished with 30 hours labour
  • Scientologists rejected allegations saying they are from 'admitted liars'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...secrets-celebrity-religion.html#ixzz3VwEX4Xp0
 

Free to shine

Shiny & Free
Aussies - check "The Project" tonight from 6.30pm local time.

There should be a segment on Going Clear, this will be interesting.
 

CommunicatorIC

@IndieScieNews on Twitter
Sadly, I don't think this qualifies as speaking out. She doesn't mention Scientology or Going Clear. With the exception of one reply, none of the people who replied to her had any idea the tweet concerned Scientology or Going Clear. The tweet that had such an idea was in the form of a question as follows:

https://twitter.com/IndieScieNews/status/582748296386576384

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A second attempt to gain confirmation or clarification:

https://twitter.com/IndieScieNews/status/582724530214473728

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CommunicatorIC

@IndieScieNews on Twitter
The Daily Mail has also reported on the Leah Remini and Lisa Marie Presley tweets.

'Thank you for being brave': Scientology dissenters Lisa Marie Presley and Leah Remini lead celebrity applause for documentary that reveals shocking details about the secretive religion

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...eals-shocking-details-secretive-religion.html

* * * * * BEGIN EXCERPT * * * * *

Leah Remini and Lisa Marie Presley were Scientologists, they have tweeted commending the documentary and its shocking claims

Going Clear documentary claims to reveal secrets of Scientology religion

It alleges the church has a 'blackmail file' on John Travolta from auditing sessions and members are thrown into 'The Hole' to confess their crimes and vie for places by playing musical chairs to Bohemian Rhapsody

Sylvia 'Spanky' Taylor, who once acted as the intermediary between the church and John Travolta, said people were punished with 30 hours labour

* * * * * END EXCERPT * * * * *
 

CommunicatorIC

@IndieScieNews on Twitter
The Independent in Great Britain:

'Going Clear': HBO broadcasts film alleging torture by Church of Scientology

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...orture-by-church-of-scientology-10142436.html

* * * * * BEGIN EXCERPT * * * * *

It’s the film the Church of Scientology would rather you didn’t see: on Sunday night HBO broadcast director Alex Gibney’s acclaimed documentary, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, which contains devastating claims about the controversial religion.

Former Scientologists interviewed in the film claim members have been tortured or subjected to hard labour, and that those who leave the organisation are branded “apostates”, harassed and prevented from communicating with those still in the church.

* * * * * END EXCERPT * * * * *
 

Smurf

Gold Meritorious SP
"According to the CCHR 2013 tax return, during a four-year period the organization spent $1,283,052 on lobbying costs. Specifically, they shelled out $32,382 to influence public opinion, and $97,147 in direct lobbying to a legislative body. At the beginning of the year, CCHR had $223,797 in cash, non-interest bearing, and $115,687 at the end of 2013.

Total revenue was $2,343,777, and the organization spent $889,205 on advertising and promotion."

http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2015/03/church-scientology-irs-tax-returns-lobbying
 

CommunicatorIC

@IndieScieNews on Twitter
Explanatory text under each heading.

Breibart: 7 CAPTIVATING MOMENTS FROM SCIENTOLOGY DOCUMENTARY ‘GOING CLEAR’

http://www.breitbart.com/big-hollyw...nts-from-scientology-documentary-going-clear/

1. L. Ron Hubbard’s Military Fabrications

2. Paul Haggis’ Reaction after Reading the Xenu Story in the Church’s Secret “Materials”


3. The Scientology Creation Story Sequence


4. The Church Allegedly Urged Mothers to Get Abortions


5. “The Hole”/Bohemian Rhapsody Musical Chairs

6. “Just Dropped In to See What Condition My Condition Was In”


7. Top Officials Discuss Finally Breaking Ties with the Church

BONUS: The Turtleneck

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