The Church of Scientology have resubmitted proposals for a major redevelopment of their UK headquarters near East Grinstead, Sussex claiming their annual IAS event brings more benefit to the UK economy than the Eurovision Song Contest.
Earlier this month Scientology representatives admitting during a Mid-Sussex District Council hearing that their biggest annual event was not a religious ceremony. But that begs the question, what type of event is it?
The Church of Scientology’s official membership body, the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) wants to double the number of paying parishioners this year, a leak document shows.
On this day 26 years ago, the UK Charity Commission rejected Scientology’s application for charity status, concluding it “does not benefit the public.” The ruling dealt a major blow for Scientology in their efforts to claim legitimacy through government recognition and juxtaposed their success with gaining IRS tax exemption in the United States 8 years prior.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution and Age UK are among the charities set to receive £50,000 donations from the Church of Scientology at this year’s annual gathering at their UK headquarters near East Grinstead, Sussex.
The Church of Scientology has sent its followers a survey asking for feedback on their international events hosted by David Miscavige, amid falling attendance numbers and rising speculation their overall membership is dwindling. Is this a sign we’re about to see change?
Last July, we shared Scientology’s leaderboard of top donors to it’s UK ‘Ideal Org’ program and thanks to a reader who sent us the latest copy of Saint Hillier magazine, we’re now able to bring you an updated list.
A private Scientology school in Sussex, which lost its ability to sponsor visas for international students earlier this year, has appealed to parents to donate money in a desperate attempt to rescue the charity from financial hardship.
The Chief Executive of HM Revenue and Customs, the UK’s tax office, has responded to former Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott’s request for an investigation into the Church of Scientology’s finances after she cited concerns over their “history of fraudulent activity internationally”.
The Church of Scientology is facing seizure of its assets in Hungary after prosecutors charged eleven executives and finance personnel with fraud in a $1.7 million tax evasion scandal. Following a lengthy investigation into Scientology’s activities by Hungary’s National Tax and Customs Administration, the Chief Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against Scientology yesterday, alleging a cover-up scheme to avoid paying tax on the sale of books and courses over the years 2012-2017.
