Fresh on the heels of–director of Crash—Paul Haggis’ scathing resignation letter, the Church of Scientology was dealt another blow by the Headline of the Day.
The French have done what most people assumed was a granted: convicted the organization of fraud. (Technically, members of the church have been convicted in the past, but this is the first time the church as a whole and its leadership were fined.)
Look, most religions are based around questionable practices of, at best, dubious rationale. But, pretending to have scientific knowledge about aliens in your body and the ability to assuage said aliens with expensive spa and counseling treatments as recommended by a dead science fiction writer? Sounds legit to us. Bad form, French courts.
After a tremendous drop to number two in Maxim Magazine‘s “Coolest States in the U.S.” ranking last year, California has now dropped several more rungs in 2009.