INSIDE THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY
DAY 1:
Date of Publication:3/1/98
The Church of Scientology uses deceptive
tactics, pushes costly programs and denies close ties to several local and
national groups that recruit new members for the church, critics say. The Boston
Herald also reports that L. Ron Hubbard, the late founder of the Church of Scientology, made wildly
inflated claims about himself, including space travel, college degrees, World
War II combat, war wounds and more.
Powerful church
targets fortunes, souls of recruits
Judge Found
Hubbard lied about achievements
Graphic: Key
dates in the history of the Church of Scientology (Acrobat PDF
format)
Graphic: A broader look at the Organization
(Acrobat PDF format)
DAY 2:
Date of Publication:3/2/98
The church's World Literacy
Crusade has targeted black families with a learn-to-read program that experts
say is a rehash of 30-year-old methods infused with the church's religious
teachings. The Boston Herald also reports that the church is attracting black
families to a Scientology-run school in
Milton that has used a device akin to a lie detector on students.
Church keys programs to recruit blacks
Milton school shades ties to Scientology
DAY 3:
Date of Publication:3/3/98
The Scientology group Narconon
Inc. of Everett is recruiting children in the schools for what critics say is an
unproven and possibly dangerous anti-drug program. The church denies strong ties
to the group - which receives taxpayer money - but the Boston Herald has found
otherwise.
Scientology reaches into
schools through Narconon
DAY 4:
Date of
Publication:3/4/98
The Church of Scientology has engaged its
critics in a highly public war on the Internet, including trying to smoke out a
critic who used an anonymous account at Northeastern University.
Church, enemies wage war on Internet battlefield
Sacred teachings not secret anymore
Battle sites in the Web war
DAY 5:
Date of Publication:3/5/98
A California video production
company with connections to Scientology has reached as
many as 30 million American schoolchildren through TV shows produced by church
members and paid for with $12.5 million in taxpayers' money. The Boston Herald
also reports on the impact of celebrity Scientologists such as Tom Cruise,
Nicole Kidman, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley.
Scientology group reaches
kids through PBS videos
Church wields celebrity
clout
Harassment:
Date of Publication:3/19/98
The Church of Scientology, stung by a
five-part series in the Boston Herald that raised questions about its practices,
has hired a private investigator to delve into the Herald reporter's private
life.
Church of Scientology probes Herald
reporter - Investigation follows pattern of harassment
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