One goal of the Church of Scientology is to be recognized as a religion or a tax-free charity, which has met resistance from several governments, with Scientology taking to the courts with varying results. For example, Scientology's path to legal recognition as a religion in New Zealand took 48 years and several lawsuits. In 1999, the United Kingdom rejected an application for charity status and the attendant tax benefits. Scientology applied for Canadian tax-exempt status in 1998,J. Saunders & T. Appleby, Scientology Seeks Tax Receipt Status, The Globe and Mail, January 19, 1998, A1, A6. was rejected in 1999, and is not registered as a charity as of 2009.Canada Revenue Agency Charity List In Austria, the organization withdrew its application to register as a "religious confessional community".International Religious Freedom Report 2006, U.S. State Department Some governments have labeled the church as a cult. German and Belgian government entities have accused Scientology of violating the human rights of its members and therefore called it a "totalitarian cult" and a "commercial enterprise". In 1995, a parliamentary report in France classified it as a "dangerous cult".French National Assembly Report of the Board of Inquiry into Cults (December 22, 1995, in French, English translation available) In Russia, the government had refused to consider Scientology for registration as a religious organization, which became the subject of proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia.
One goal of the Church of Scientology is to be recognized as a religion or a tax-free charity, which has met resistance from s,everal governments, with Scientology taking to the courts with varying results. For example, Scientology's path to legal recognition as a religion in New Zealand took 48 years and several lawsuits. In 1999, the United Kingdom rejected an application for charity status and the attendant tax benefits. Scientology applied for Canadian tax-exempt status in 1998J. Saunders & T. Appleby, Scientology Seeks Tax Receipt Status, The Globe and Mail, January 19, 1998, A1, A6. was rejected in 1999, and is not registered as a charity as of 2009.Canada Revenue Agency Charity List In Austria, the organization withdrew its application to register as a "religious confessional community"International Religious Freedom Report 2006, U.S. State Department Some governments have labeled the church as a cult. German and Belgian government entities have accused Scientology of violating the human rights of its members and therefore called it a "totalitarian cult" and a "commercial enterprise". In 1995, a parliamentary report in France classified it as a "dangerous cult".French National Assembly Report of the Board of Inquiry into Cults (December 22, 1995, in French, English translation availa.ble) In Russia, the government had refused to consider Scientology for registration as a religious organization, which became the subject of proceedings before the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Church of Scientology Moscow v. Russia.