Legal Status
See also: Scientology as a state-recognized religion#United KingdomThe UK government does not classify the Church of Scientology as a religious institution. The Church's application for charity status in England and Wales was rejected in 1999, on the grounds that there is no "public benefit arising out of the practice of Scientology". and the Church has not exercised its right of appeal. In 2000, however, the Church of Scientology scored an important victory when it was exempted from UK value added tax on the basis that it is a not-for-profit body. As a result of the decision, Revenue and Customs reportedly had to return several million pounds' worth of past VAT payments to the institution.
Although the Church of Scientology itself does not have charitable status, several of its related organisations do, including Greenfields School and Narconon. The governing organisation of Scientology in the UK, Church of Scientology Religious Education College, Inc (COSRECI), is a corporation registered in South Australia. While a court judgement there recognising Scientology as a religion, COSRECI itself is not registered as a charity.
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Scientology is "an officially recognised religion in the Royal Navy". The Prison Service in England and Wales does not recognize Scientology as a religion, but prisoners who are registered as Scientologists may practice their religion and are given access to a representative of the Church of Scientology if they wish to receive its ministry.
The Crown Prosecution Service announced in March 2009 that Scientology should be treated as a religion for the purposes of the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, which criminalises threatening words or behaviour directed at religious groups.
Read more about this topic: Scientology In The United Kingdom, Status
Other articles related to "legal status, legal, status":
... organizations) with different levels of legal status and privileges ... the Government and consequently does not have the legal status to open a bank account, own property, issue invitations to foreign guests, publish literature, enjoy tax benefits, or conduct worship services in ... Local religious organizations have legal status and may open bank accounts, own property, issue invitation letters to foreign guests, publish literature, enjoy tax benefits ...
... After World War II, determination of legal status was relevant, for instance, to resolve the issue of whether the West German Federal Republic would be the successor state of the German Reich—with ... eastern territories, was dependent upon this determination of legal status ... The issue was also significant from a constitutional legal perspective while in the case of the downfall of the German Reich, the Federal Republic would need to have reconstituted itself, merely a re-organization ...
... MP, asking the Secretary of State for the Home Office "what plans he has to review the legal status of the hallucinogen Salvia divinorum", Bob Ainsworth, a parliamentary Under-Secretary ... to the Home Secretary in October 2008, urging her to take action with regard to salvia's legal status ... that I am sure you agree - regardless of its legal status - needs nipping in the bud." Home Office minister, Phil Woolas, confirmed to parliament that the market in "legal highs" was now an ...
... See also Scientology and the legal system While there have been calls for Scientology to be banned, the Church of Scientology remains legal in Germany and is allowed to ... Its precise legal status however is unresolved ... Status as a "religious or worldview community" also affects a broad range of other issues in Germany, such as taxation and freedom of association ...
... lawfully entered into under the laws of any country, which changes the status of a person from "independent", "single" or "unmarried" to "a married person", will be recognized as such by all other ... That status goes with the people no matter where in the world the spouses may find themselves (except where local public policy is invoked) ... the parties dies or until it is ended by legal process through nullity or divorce ...
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