Report: Church of Scientology Under Federal Investigation for Free Labor

By John Mitchell Posted Feb 8th 2011 05:45PM

The Church of Scientology is reportedly under federal investigation for human trafficking and using unpaid labor, in part due to work allegedly performed on behalf of Tom Cruise, according to the New Yorker (via Huffington Post). The charges surfaced in a profile of Oscar-winning writer-director Paul Haggis ('Crash'), who left Scientology in 2009 after 34 years following a disagreement with church officials.

Ed. Note: The reported federal investigation is of the Church of Scientology alone. Tom Cruise is not the subject of any investigation at this time, as was previously mentioned in our story based on existing reports.

For the New Yorker profile, entitled 'Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology,' writer Lawrence Wright spoke to the filmmaker, several former church members and two FBI investigators, who allegedly "assured me [Wright] that the case remains open," referring to a 2009 investigation into abuse claims against the church. Reports indicate the abuse charges relate to, in part, paying church members just $50 per week to meet Cruise's demands, which included customizing a building and repairing boats and motorcycles.

In a statement, the church and Cruise denied the allegations and any knowledge of the investigation, and said the New Yorker "irresponsibly" used "discredited" sources to write a misleading article in an effort to attract attention.

The New Yorker article is peppered with claims of physical and mental abuse as well as accusations of financial impropriety against David Miscavige, a close personal friend of Cruise and the head of the church. For his part, Haggis told Wright that he resigned from the church because he disagreed with its stance on same-sex marriage (he believes banning it is discriminatory) and caught church spokesman Tommy Davis lying in a 2008 CNN interview by denying the church had a "disconnection" policy that encourages members to disassociate themselves from friends or family who do not support the church.

According to a former Scientologist interviewed by Wright, members who fail the church in some way are often sent against their will to Rehabilitation Project Force camps, described in the article as "punitive re-education camps." One former member, Bruce Hines, claims to have been confined to the camps, where he was forced to do manual labor and spiritual therapy, for more than six years.

A spokesman for the church told the New Yorker that members entered the camps voluntarily and were free to leave at any time, and AOL News reports that, according to a federal law enforcement source, investigation into the charges had "fallen short" and charges were not expected to be filed.

The claims against Miscavige allege he lives a lavish lifestyle -- including employing two private chefs, flying on chartered jets and owning a collection of expensive cars and custom made shoes -- as the leader of the church, despite federal laws that forbid the heads of tax exempt groups to profit from their organizations.

The New Yorker notes that it was Miscavige, and not Cruise directly, who ordered the workers to perform manual labor for the actor.

This is not the first time Cruise has faced criticism over his involvement with the Church of Scientology. The once-untouchable star endured a major backlash -- one that has haunted his career since -- from the medical community when he defended the church's stance on mental illness and psychiatry during a heated exchange with Matt Lauer on 'Today' in 2005.

Tags: scientology, tom cruise

Comments

(399)

Friday 11 February

By thudpucker

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If he had knowledge of the the situation he is guilty. It shows his greedy and self serving nature. 15 mil a film and he can't abide by the law and moral integrity

Tuesday 08 February

By SkyBlue

Scientology is a cult, just like all other religions.

By LARRY

SkyBlue, Yes Scientology is a cult and you say ALL other Religion"s are also...What do you base that ALL Religions are also...Remember you said ALL Religion"s are ?

Wednesday 09 February

By Tony

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Yes Larry. All religions are cults in one way or another. Personally, I refuse to have anything to do with organized religion of any kind. If you look at it objectively, most of the misery in the world today can be traced to religion.

By JustAThought

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Larry, By definition, all of modern day relgions are a cult based on the fact that Christ did not personally establish any of them while alive. All modern day relgions were established some time after his death. All can claim otherwise but history clearly shows a break in time from Christ's established church and those that exist now. I only learned this when I grew tired of my half-brother constantly accusing me of belonging to a cult because I broke away from our childhood religion, which had been established prior to the religion. From my research I've learned that most relgions are based on some ancient text, or belief, or deferring interpretation of said text. This is why I choose not to judge other's relgious beliefs because most have a solid and ancient bases and I suppose others are molded to fit into today's lifestyle. None are perfect because humans are not perfect. One can argue that this is our reason for being here; to learn from our mistakes, not demean those who do not share in our own personal beliefs. I am not demeaning anyone's relgion or religious beliefs. Anyone can verify my statements by reading up on the history of humankind.

By pk

I agree.

By cult

Tom:
Look up the definition of cult. All religious groups are cults. A cult is not inheritably a bad thing. Again, look up the word cult.

By Jed Hughett

Whether you call it a cult or simply a religion depends on how you define cult, but so what? For me, I think of a cult as small with crazy followers whereas I think of a religion as a larger organization with crazy follower. Both require faith as a foundation and there is truly no limit to what faith can lead to or allow. Faith has no limits for it allows one to believe what ever they wish to believe. You want to believe that you will never actually die? No problem. Want to believe that dying for your cause guarantees instant paradise? No problem. Want to believe there is another realm of existence that is unseen and unknown? No problem. Want to believe that some people are authorities on the unknowable other realm? No problem. Want to believe that God stands behind you and supports your efforts to? No problem. Faith allows people to believe all of these things and much more.

By icdou007

I read a book on him, I believe it. It was very enlighting.
Don't forget people, acting is what he does for a living? I'll leave you with that thought. I don't watch his movies anymore either.

Not judging, being a realist. Better to tell the truth, then lie. That is how I feel.

By montana

It is time they Stop this stupid Brainwashing. Leave it to Hollywood to follow something so shallow

By redhottamales

Absolutely I agree. Tom Cruise is really tight with the head of this Scientology crapola. And it is not a religion. It is a cult. Nothing Godly about it. I used to love Tom and now I do not watch his movies even though he is an excellent actor. I don't like what he stands for. I am so glad that Nicole Kidman found happiness with Keith and got out of that crazy lifestyle of Tom's.

By Greg and Mel

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Montana, add you to the list of "brainless LA/Ca./Hollywood I'm jealous because where I live sucks" trailer park trash talkers. Scientology is NATIONWIDE! Not just in Hollywood. At least know what your talking about because you sound just as ignorant.

By John

Don't yet know if it is true or not ,but , it seems the actors and actresses live in a world of make believe.

By Pikepole5

AND THE WORLD OF " 666 "

By Sandy

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Amen Debra. Christina, there is only One Bible that is the WORD OF GOD. It is the Truth through the knowledge and wisdom of THE TRINITY OF ONLY ONE LORD GOD, Our Father, JESUS CHRIST, Our Savior, and The HOLY SPIRIT, Oour Couselor through Jesus. All other religious writings are false teachings, including Scientology. Homosexuality is an abomination against God and in Romans 1:18-24, Homosexuality is unnatural and a sin.

By DB

Bigotry is an abomination and a sin.

By Me

BLah, BlaH, BlAh. Its interesting how Christians are taught that the Lord the savior is the only one to judge. And yet, here one is judging.

By Diane

Amen Sandy!!!

By Pam

You are an abomination. You are ignorant, mean and a follower of fairy tales. If that's christianity (and it is), you are a shameful person. And God told me he hates you! He told me so, I swear!

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