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[News Thetan]

Bipartisan support for charities commission - ABC Online
7 September 2010, 6:42 am

A federal parliamentary committee has recommended the creation of a charities commission.

The commission would ensure charitable and religious organisations were open and transparent.

They would also need to be able to prove they deserved a charitable status.

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has welcomed bipartisan support for the commission, saying organisations such as the Church of Scientology are on notice.

"I believe reform is now inevitable. We can't continue to have business as usual when it comes to organisations that have been beyond any reasonable level of accountability," Mr Xenophon said.

He believes reform in the sector is inevitable.

"This inquiry came about because of legislation I introduced for a public benefit test for religions and charities, and it was as a direct result of being approached by many victims of the Church of Scientology," he said.

"Their evidence, their complaints played a key role in triggering this inquiry."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/09/07/3005360.htm?section=justin

video from Today Tonight Australia: http://vimeo.com/14762174

[Lorelei]

http://vimeo.com/14762174

"Coincidentally (and unfortunately) released at the same time of the determination of Australia's future government, the recommendations laid down by the Senate Economics Committee signal impending doom for organised Scientology in the form of increased scrutiny on charitable and religious organisations, as well a focus on the dangers and influences of cults.

Big thanks to reporter Brian Seymour as usual."

[Lorelei]

Translation: It's looking like Australia will be the first "clear" country: clear of Scientologists, anyway. The public benefit test will not go well for them. And where Australia goes, the U.K. may not be far behind.

[ethercat]

 

The US needs stricter scrutiny over charitable organizations as well, though I can't say I'm confident that it will follow suit. 

In a time when budgets for things that do benefit the public are being cut due to lack of funding, it's high time for some of these organizations that only give lip service to charitable endeavors to step up and do their part.  The "Church" of Scientology funding some of these things would be a good place to start, but no, they will only put money toward things that benefit their self-promotion and their profits unless forced to do otherwise.