Gabriel Mckee.
The religion of Battlefield Earth has suffered a big defeat in Battlefield France. Earlier this week a French court fined the Church of Scientology some 600,000 euros for fraud, claiming that the organization’s operations in France pressured members into paying exorbitant fees and used “commercial harassment” against recruits. The decision wasn’t quite as harsh as it might have been—the prosecutors called for the complete dissolution of Scientology in France—but the PR blemish is a big hurdle for a group that prefers to sweep its problems under the rug.
It was a rough week for Scientology in the U.S., too. Screenwriter Paul Haggis, a thirty-five-year veteran of the Church, left due to its regressive attitude toward gay rights. Haggis describes the church as “an organisation where gay-bashing [is] tolerated.” The Church puts a lot of stock in its celebrity members. One of the group’s biggest operations is the Los Angeles-based Celebrity Center, the main purpose of which is to pamper famous members. The very public defection of an Academy Award winner isn’t as big a defeat as the French fraud case, but it seems likely that some heads will roll over the loss of this million dollar baby. Haggis’ letter of resignation from the Church can be read here.
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