Court Case Poses Challenge to Scientology Tax Break

Court Case Poses Challenge to Scientology Tax Break: "The judges in the original Sklar case said 'it appears to be true' that Scientology - founded by L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer, in the 1950's - received preferential tax treatment in violation of the First Amendment.

'Why is Scientology training different from all other religious training?' Judge Barry D. Silverman wrote in his opinion, adding that the question would not be answered just then because the court was not faced with the question of whether 'members of the Church of Scientology have become the I.R.S.'s chosen people.' Judge Silverman then recommended litigation to address whether the government is improperly favoring one religion.

'If the I.R.S. does in fact give preferential treatment to members of the Church of Scientology - allowing them a special right to claim deductions that are contrary to law and disallowed to everybody else - then the proper course of action is a lawsuit to put a stop to that policy,' Judge Silverman wrote."