Scientology obtains full public benefit recognition in the Netherlands

[TexasTowelie]

That is not a short story for the Dutch Scientologists. In 2013, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal recognized Scientology as a genuine religion and also recognized that its activities should be treated as any other religion in the Netherlands, meaning as a Public Benefit entity and tax exempted. Nevertheless, at that time, the tax authorities of the country challenged this decision and, whilst agreeing with the religious character of the Church of Scientology, did not apply the tax exemption, having questions about the activities of the Church and its finances.

That led to an extensive review of all finances and financial flows of the Church of Scientology in the Netherlands, as well as a complete review of all its activities by the authorities. And boy, the review lasted until today! That makes it certainly the most extensive review any religious entity had to undergo in order to be awarded the official Public Utility status in the Netherlands.

And today, August 30, 2022, the tax office rendered its decision: all activities of the Church of Scientology are to be considered beneficial to the public at large. The tax office did not comment on the decision, but the Church of Scientology did. In a press release sent out today, its Dutch Director of Public Affairs stated his gratefulness towards the Dutch authorities who “have properly confirmed our religious activities and practices and our work toward the humanitarian aims of Scientology as of public benefit” and reminded that its founder L. Ron Hubbard had set humanitarian aims to his Church from the outset.

Scientology successes

It’s not the first time that the Church of Scientology struggled to obtain either religious recognition or public benefit recognition. But it looks that each time, they succeed in making their point across. Spanish religious recognition, for example, has been the result of a long struggle, but the Spanish authorities finally abided by a decision of the Audiencia Nacional (a national competency court in Madrid) in 2007, and in 2015, a ministerial decision recognized that promoting the teachings and practices of Scientology is of public benefit. In 2013 it was the UK Supreme Court that recognized the UK Church of Scientology as a genuine religion and granted it the right to perform official marriages. These recent years, the Church added several successes in terms of recognition, as in Mexico (yet a very Catholic country), Colombia, and North Macedonia. These recent recognitions add to the numerous dozens of recognitions that the Church has obtained since its inception in the 1950s.

Read more: https://www.europeantimes.news/2022/08/scientology-obtains-full-public-benefit-recognition-in-the-netherlands/

[Haggard Celine]

1. Scientology is a scam, but so are

a lot of religions. We see it clearly because it's new, and the questionable history of Scientology can be easily researched. Christianity was mocked by pagans in the Roman Empire when it began to spread. But Christianity has been around for such a long time that challenges to its legitimacy have largely been forgotten. I think it would be wiser to make all religions pay taxes rather than extending tax exempt status to new frauds. Some religions do good works to help people, and I applaud them for that. Maybe they should retain their tax exempt status, but those religions that just collect money from people in order to build gymnasiums and other amenities for their members as if they're country clubs should pay.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Blecchhh. It's a cult. Who do they recognize next? tRumpism?