indicates articles I particularly recommend. For general critical
information on Scientology, see Operation Clambake.Up: Martin Poulter > Scientology Criticism > UK Media Archive
"Scientology is no Sainsbury's - it is a vast exercise in self-promotion and networking which robs the vulnerable of their dignity and more, peddling in return a pseudo-science that would look ludicrous in a Star Trek script."
-Michael Gove in the Times
This symbol
indicates articles I particularly recommend. For general critical
information on Scientology, see Operation Clambake.
| SOURCE: | DATE: | STORY: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guardian | 04/Jan/1997 | A mind-bending experience | by the manager of the Incredible String Band |
| Daily Telegraph | 10/Jan/1997 | US stars accuse Bonn of Nazi view on Scientology | |
| Times | 10/Jan/1997 | A sect fit for the starry-eyed | A guest editorial by Michael Gove |
| Times | 10/Jan/1997 | Fast-growing sect wins credibility in Britain | |
| Independent | 10/Jan/1997 | Stars attack Germany's stance on Scientology | Celebrities write to Chancellor Kohl about treatment of Scientologists |
| BBC Newsnight | 10/Jan/1997 | Item about the open letter to Chancellor Kohl | |
| Times | 10/Jan/1997 | Stars accuse Germany of persecuting Scientologists | |
| Independent | 11/Jan/1997 | Another Planet | Scathing opinion piece by a Jewish writer about the Bertram Fields letter alleging persecution in Germany |
| Independent | 11/Jan/1997 | In the temples of Hollywood, they like to look after the stars of Scientology | A columnist comments on the background of Bertram Fields' complaints about Scientology's treatment in Germany. |
| Independent | 11/Jan/1997 | Angry Germany points to the past | Several groups in Germany, including jewish groups, react to the Scientologists' claims to being persecuted like 1930s jews. |
| Observer | 12/Jan/1997 | Faith, hope and... The Church of Scientology | The application for charity status |
| The Observer | 12/Jan/1997 | [Richard Ingrams column] | Approving reaction to the German treatment of Scientology |
| Sunday Times | 12/Jan/1997 | Herr Paranoiac and the mind-benders from Hollywood- an analysis of the conflict with Germany | |
| Independent | 13/Jan/1997 | Letter: Scientology ban helps democracy | A letter from a Tobias Schumacher defends the German policy on Scientologists in the civil service. |
| The Times | 14/Jan/1997 | Letter from Timothy Kirkhope, Home Office Minister | |
| The Observer | 19/Jan/1997 | [Richard Ingrams column] | Ingrams comments scathingly on the life of L. Ron Hubbard having read "Bare-faced Messiah" |
| Sunday Times | 19/Jan/1997 | Hounded by the church of stars and hype | Extensive reporting about the harassment of Bonnie Woods |
| Observer | 26/Jan/1997 | Sect's Appeal | A Pendennis column |
| Guardian | 28/Jan/1997 | US clashes with Bonn in Scientology Row | |
| Times | 28/Jan/1997 | Bonn Accuses America of Swallowing Scientologists' Propaganda Line | |
| Independent | 28/Jan/1997 | US 'Anti-Scientology' Campaign | |
| Independent | 30/Jan/1997 | Germany is harassing Scientologists, says US | US State Department accuses Germany of discrimination against Scientologists |
| Daily Telegraph | 28/Jan/1997 | Bonn Attacked for Harassment | |
| Economist | 01/Feb/1997 | A German eye on Scientology | Lengthy analysis of Germany's reaction to charges of persecution from Scientologists. |
| Observer | 02/Feb/1997 | Adverts - Smiley People | Review of the "trust" television advert |
| Daily Telegraph | 18/Feb/1997 | German policy on Scientology 'not comparable to Holocaust' | |
| Guardian | 21/Feb/1997 | Film Charts | Comment on the popularity of Scientology stars. |
| Daily Mail | 01/Mar/1997 | The community chest: village has a £175,000 whip-round to buy up property earmarked for ex-junkies | Report on the Yorkshire village of Burton Leonard and its successful attempt to repel the Scientology front group Narconon |
| Guardian | 01/Mar/1997 | Village unites to gazump Scientologists | Burton Leonard prevents Narconon from buying a local nursing home |
| Daily Telegraph | 01/Mar/1997 | Village raises £175,000 to stop centre for addicts | More about Burton Leonard |
| Glasgow Herald | 01/Mar/1997 | Villagers Unite to Secure Crown | |
| Daily Telegraph | 03/Mar/1997 | Foiled charity looks for new drug centre | Front-group Narconon's search for a new home after closure in Dover and failure in Burton Leonard. |
| The Big Issue | 03/Mar/1997 | On the edge | |
| Broadcast | 07/Mar/1997 | Carlton Pays Damages For Big Story | Programme makers pay libel damages to individual Scientologist |
| Daily Telegraph | 03/Apr/1997 | Foiled charity keeps up property search | Narconon's search for a new base after rejection by Burton Leonard |
| Daily Echo (South coast) | 15/Apr/1997 | Protest against Scientologists | About the surprise picket of the Poole mission |
| Evening Echo (Bournemouth) | 17/Apr/1997 | Scientologists in School Campaign | South coast schools react to attempts to persuade them to teach Dianetics. |
| East Grinstead Courier | 12/June/1997 | Family tries to free 'hostage' from cult | The Fortune family from Ireland picket Saint Hill to demand the return of Odhran. Scientology retaliates by seeking an injunction to keep them out. |
| East Grinstead Courier | 12/June/1997 | Fatal Smash on A22 | A young Scientologist and pupil of Greenfields School dies in a car crash on the way to Saint Hill. |
| Sunday Mail (Scotland) | 03/Aug/1997 | Cult Lures Prison Beasts | Criminon UK's attempt to recruit highly dangerous criminals from Scottish prisons. |
| The Scotsman | 05/Aug/1997 | A religion, a cult or profits for a false prophet? | Very critical look at Scientology in Scotland, with quotes from both sides. |
| Wales on Sunday | 26/Oct/1997 | Screen stars in cult concert | Mentions a charity evening at Saint Hill hosted by Scientology celebrities. |
| The Scotsman | 07/Nov/1997 | German high court balks at ruling on Scientology | Comments on Scientology's situation in Germany, including allegations of propety fraud. |
| Independent on Sunday | 09/Nov/1997 | Travolta begs Channel 4 not to attack Scientology | |
| Independent on Sunday | 09/Nov/1997 | Why Channel 4 is haunted by Scientology | Intimidation and harassment of the Secret Lives documentary film crew |
| Secret Lives (Channel 4) | 19/Nov/1997 | L Ron Hubbard (biography) | Lengthy biographic documentary, featuring interviews with several close associates of Hubbard as well as archive footage and documents. |
| Independent on Sunday | 19/Nov/1997 | TV reviews (in the IOS Magazine) | Preview of Channel 4's biography of L Ron Hubbard |
| Guardian | 19/Nov/1997 | The Guide: TV preview | Short commentary on Channel 4's Secret Lives documentary. |
| Daily Mail | 19/Nov/1997 | Best Profile | Short review of the Secret Lives documentary. |
| Daily Telegraph | 20/Nov/1997 | Detective on trail of TV pair | Very good summary of the intimidation tactics used by Scientology against the team who made a Channel 4 documentary on the life of L Ron Hubbard. |
| Radio Guildford | 20/Dec/1997 | [Studio debate about Narconon] | John Wood, the UK president of Narconon, defends the organisation from accusations that its methods of treatment for drug addiction are ineffective and that the group is a recruitment front for Scientology. |