Court sides with Scientology - 2010-08-07
Court sides with Scientology August 7, 2010,
The Church of Scientology won an important victory in federal court this week when a judge dismissed two lawsuits that accused the church of labor law violations, human trafficking and forced abortions.
Claire and Marc Headley, who left Scientology in 2005, said the church controlled them with threats of harsh punishment and other tactics that prevented them from leaving the Sea Organization, Scientology's religious order.
But U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fischer ruled Thursday that the Sea Org is protected by the First Amendment's guarantee of free exercise of religion.
{{cite news | first = Thomas C. | last = Tobin | author2 = Childs, Joe | title = Court sides with Scientology | url = http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/article_762f6168-f4cd-5ad6-bbf2-cdce0b228e83.html | work = St. Petersburg Times | publisher = STLtoday | date = August 7, 2010 | accessdate = January 14, 2017 }}