Church of Scientology
There have been allegations made against the Church of Scientology for forcing its workers to get abortions.
On June 13 the St. Petersburg Times published findings of a significant investigation it conducted.
claire headley.jpgThe exposé includes information about a federal lawsuit filed in January 2009 by former Scientology member Claire Headley, who alleges church leaders forced her to undergo 2 abortions and also violated human trafficking laws.
Clearwater, FL, is home to one of the church's "2 most important operations, its spiritual headquarters," according to The Times, the other being its "500-acre international management base in the desert 80 miles east of Los Angeles."...
Headley with husband Marc and 1 of 2 sons.
Headley, who left the organization in 2005 with her husband Marc (both pictured above with 1 of their 2 sons), alleges pregnant mothers were forced to endure increased manual labor if holding out against abortion.
Headley's complaint also requests a permanent injunction against the church, "prohibiting Defendants and their agents for ordering and/or coercing abortions with respect to their employees." That would be good.
RealityBasedCommunity.com reports Headley's suit "comes well corroborated" with at least 4 affidavits or statements made since 1986 by other Scientology members making the same accusation. RBC.com concludes:
Claire's claim would seem to have a decent chance of success at trial, assuming she can prove her allegations to a jury; but if history is an accurate indicator, Scientology will go to significant lengths to make sure it doesn't get that far. Miles to go before we sleep, but the vehicle is promising for a change.
The Times also included a sad video story featuring 2 women aside from Headley accusing the church of forcing them to abort...
Click here for the video.
Contact: Jill Stanek
Source: jillstanke.com
Publish Date: June 14, 2010
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