This is an interesting recent Forbes magazine article. The author covers how Kanye West, who has changed his name to Christian Genius Billionaire Kanye West and conducts "Sunday Services,” could actually file for tax exemption and reap mighty benefits. He describes what the IRS criteria are for granting such a religious exemption: Distinct legal existence; Recognized creed and form of worship; Definite and distinct ecclesiastical government; Formal code of doctrine and discipline; Distinct religious history; Membership not associated with any other church … [Read more...]
Scientology is NOT a Business… Wink, Wink
Scientology repeatedly claims: "We are a religion engaged in matters of the spiritual plane, not the worldly." They managed to convince strong arm the IRS into granting them tax exempt status as an exempt "religious" organization on this basis. Their words AND actions (believe what you hear AND what you see) prove that is just a facade. Normally this promotional piece would be another one of the Thursday Funnies -- there are literally HUNDREDS of similar items from scientology organizations all over the world claiming that scientology can make you "flourish and prosper" and give you the … [Read more...]
A Message from Leah Remini to Scientology Operatives
Dear OSA, OSA operatives, paid off sleazy PI’s and lawyers who are bought off by Scientology, I know you are reading this because you scour our instagrams, FB Pages and twitter feeds all day and night. I also understand you are bound to follow the writings of L. Ron Hubbard which require you to discover what someone considers valuable and attack it, to "fight on the basis of total attrition of the enemy" and treat those who speak the truth about you as "Fair Game." But you should also know that what you are doing, including: -- the legal threats -- paying off family members with … [Read more...]
Scientology Tax Exemption — Muffins Strikes Back
Clearly, David Miscavige is feeling the mounting pressure on his most cherished treasure: tax exempt status bestowed on scientology by the IRS in 1993. It takes considerable effort to get a letter published about a relatively obscure subject in a major paper like the LA Times. It is apparently a response to an op-ed piece that ran last November. 3 months of work to get this miserable piece of misleading propaganda to run... Monique "Muffins" Yingling makes a rare appearance to argue on behalf of Miscavige. She has been as out of sight as the COB himself since her fateful appearance on 20/20 … [Read more...]
It’s Time to “Secure Your Eternity” — Again
I How many times can they keep telling people they need to "secure their eternity"? And how sad is it to see this annual promotion that relies on a tax deduction as a gimmick to get people to "buy immortality." Sad for two reasons: If you really COULD buy immortality and "secure your eternity" people would pay 100X what is currently being charged and would need no "incentive." That the IRS is complicit in this scam. I am sure plenty of commenters are going to cover this well. I am a little short on time, so I really just throw this out there as a topic for discussion. … [Read more...]
Scientology: The Motel 6 of 501(c)3s
Part of the real estate empire being amassed by the tax exempt church of scientology is a rash of "public accommodations." The latest two are in Los Angeles. This one, right alongside CC Int. And of course "The Fountain" opened last week alongside AOLA. Obviously, there has been a push to open empty buildings so they can be shown at the IAS event. Though one would imagine that ORGS would be better than one-star "hotels." What happened to Harlem? Missed the deadline I suppose. Valley going nowhere really rapidly. Not even a "ribbon cutting" on KCET? … [Read more...]
Wake Up The Government
This was posted on ESMB and then Karen De La Carriere reposted it to Twitter and Facebook. It is worth taking note. Letters from CONSTITUENTS are treated seriously by elected officials. The more US Congressmen there are who have been made aware of the issue, the greater the chance of something being done. The IRS is answerable to Congress. Sooner or later this is going to become an issue that one or more politicians will feel they can gain popularity with. When that day happens, the more there are to jump on the bandwagon the better. Writing to your Congressman IS an effective means of … [Read more...]
Tax Exemption Paranoia
Clearly, the Alex Gibney OpEd piece in the LA Times is still giving Miscavige heartburn. And he has no response other than a lame letter to the editor by his spokespuppet Monique Yingling. This is the latest appeared in the Razzline. Sent by a "public scientologist" from a "csi.com" (church of scientology international) email address.... All they can do is hope to generate "positive comments" -- using a "screen name"? Good luck with that. From: Xxxxx Xxxxx [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, April 27, 2015 3:04 PM To: Subject: "Scientology deserves its tax exemption" - LA Times … [Read more...]
Scientology Tax Exemption Panic
It would appear that the statements made in the wake of Going Clear by Alex Gibney have struck a nerve, especially his OpEd piece in the LA Times. David Miscavige has trotted out his second favorite scientology spokespuppet (after Karin Pouw), non-scientologist lawyer Monique Yingling. She strangely appeared to defend the non-practice of "disconnection" on Anderson Cooper, and also came to visit me one time to discuss whether I wanted to speak to my children and other family members. She is sort of a Girl Friday who fills in as an Ethics Officer/IJC and spokesperson when needed. She is … [Read more...]
Scientology Tax Exemption
If you have not done so already, head over to Tony Ortega's site and read his posting about Scientology's Tax Exempt status. Prompted by the OpEd piece Alex Gibney wrote in the LA Times, and with some excellent advice from Jeffrey Augustine, it lays out what you can do that is most likely to be EFFECTIVE in changing the way the US Government is allowing its citizens to subsidize Miscavige paying PI's $10,000 a WEEK to follow and spy on his father. The direction about complaining directly to the IRS supplements my recommendation to contact your elected representatives. If you want to … [Read more...]