Posted on November 18, 2009 by by Captcha

“Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has accused the Church of Scientology of being a “two-faced, criminal organisation” hiding behind religious beliefs to get rich.” News.com.au reported

Senator Xenophon told Parliament he has been contacted by a number of former Scientologists, after he questioned the tax exempt status given to the organisation, which has has said “turns supporters into victims in its pursuit of power and wealth”.

“They have provided long and detailed letters to me about the workings of this organisation.”

The letters accuse the organisation of a range of crimes, including forced imprisonment, coerced abortions, embezzlement of church funds, physical violence, intimidation and blackmail. News.com.au

“In a letter from Perth man Aaron Saxton, he admits to torture and blackmail while working for the Church of Scientology in Australia and at its US headquarters between 1989 and 1996, The Australian reported. ”

“Another letter from Carmel Underwood, a former executive director of the church’s Sydney branch, alleges a child abuse cover-up in the 1980s in which the vicim was “coached” to lie to authorities.”

The Church of Scientology were quick to responde to Senador Xenophon and released a statement accusing him of an“outrageous” abuse of parliamentary privilege.

ABC also reports that Senado Xenophon has passed on the letters to the police and is calling for a Senate inquiry into the religion and its tax exempt status.

“Do you want Australian tax exemptions to be supporting an organisation that coerces its followers into having abortions? Do you want to be supporting an organisation that defrauds, that blackmails, that falsely imprisons?” he asked.

“It is alleged that information about suspicious deaths and child abuse has been destroyed and one follower has admitted that he was coerced by the organisation into perjuring himself into deaths of his two daughters,” he said.

“These victims of Scientology claim it is an abusive manipulative and violent organisation.”