I've written before about 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.
The 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, 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...
[HT: Ann Marie, Chad]
Comments:
That's horrible did not know that the Scientology force these women to get an abortion. Were even able to do that!
Posted by: pregnant women los angeles at June 14, 2010 2:09 PMApologies to any Scientologists who are kind, good, ethical people, but I always thought this religion sounded creepy. I hope Claire wins.
Posted by: Marauder at June 14, 2010 6:47 PMScientology is a CULT..and I agree... it IS creepy, Marauder.
Posted by: Pamela at June 14, 2010 8:17 PMJill, thanks for your reports on Scientology coerced abortion. This issue alone makes it imperative that conservative women oppose candidates with connections to Scientology such as Sharron Angle.
Pro-lifers need to engage in an active campaign to isolate Scientology from influencing public policy to promote the dangerous medical quackery and oppression of women.
Posted by: Julius Stahl at June 16, 2010 11:23 AM