Scientology status by country describes the status of Scientology and its recognition as a religion in varying contexts or in different countries. The Church of Scientology pursues an extensive public relations campaign for state recognition of Scientology as a religion. The Church of Scientology has been given tax exempt status in its home country, the United States, and has received recognition as a religion in various other countries such as Italy, Australia, Portugal and Spain; it thus enjoys and regularly cites the constitutional protection afforded in these nations to religious practice. Some countries regard Scientology as a potentially dangerous cult, or do not consider local branches of the Church of Scientology to meet the legal criteria for being considered religion-supporting organizations, instead seeing Scientology as a business. Across the world, countries view Scientology through their own legal frameworks, and status is not definitive. For example, in the United Kingdom — in 1999 the Charity Commission for England and Wales "concluded that the organisation was not established for charitable purposes or for public benefit and so could not be registered as a charity," and later in 2013 the UK Supreme Court held that a Church of Scientology could be a 'place of meeting for religious worship'. But without a formal definition of what constitutes 'religious worship', Scientology's status in that country remains unclear and unresolved. Strategy The Church of Scientology's interest is to be recognized as a religion as well as a charitable organization. In an article titled "The Church of Scientology: Legitimacy through Perception Management", the lecturer Max Halupka observes "While a tax-exempt status is not a legal declaration of religious authenticity, the significance afforded the status by the public serves to color its true purpose. That is, to the public, tax-exemption denotes legal recognition and, thus, religious legitimacy." Using perception management, the Church of Scientology has sought legitimacy as a mainstream religion through public acceptance. Halupka continues, "From a marketing standpoint, such legal recognition could be utilized in combating the general perception of [the Church of Scientology's] cult status, which resulted, in large part, from criticisms of the religion's seemingly profit-driven purpose." The United Kingdom in 2013 made reference to a 1983 judgment of the High Court of Australia concerning Scientology. The US State Department formally criticized Germany for discriminating against Scientologists in 1996, continued to pressure Germany, and it turned into a "diplomatic ruckus". Status by country Argentina