Editing Scientology (section)

=== Allegations of coerced abortions ===
{{further|Scientology and abortion#Sea Org}}
[[File:What kind of Church makes its staff have Abortions.jpg|thumb|right|Protester against Scientology, holding a sign which reads: "What kind of church makes its staff have abortions"]]

The Sea Org originally operated on vessels at sea where it was understood that it was not permitted to raise children on board the ships because "children hinder adults from performing their vital assignments". Women who became pregnant have stated that they had been "coercively persuaded" to undergo abortions in order to remain in the Sea Org.{{sfn|Kent|1999a|p=10}}

In 2003, ''[[The Times of India]]'' reported "Forced abortions, beatings, starvation are considered tools of discipline in this church".<ref>{{Cite news | last =The Times of India staff | title = Tom Cruise and the Church of Scientology | work =[[The Times of India]] | date =July 17, 2003 }}</ref> A former high-ranking source reports that "some 1,500 abortions" have been "carried out by women in the Sea Organization since the implementation of a rule in the late 80s that members could not remain in the organization if they decided to have children". The source noted that "And if members who have been in the Sea Organization for, say, 10 years do decide to have kids, they are dismissed with no more than $1,000" as a [[severance package]].<ref>{{Cite news | last =New York Post staff | title =Abort-Happy Folks | work =[[New York Post]] | page =011 | publisher =[[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] | date =June 29, 2005}}</ref>

[[File:2008 02 London - Placard inspired by Mary Tabayoyon.jpg|thumb|A protester holds a sign which reads: "C[hurch] o[f] $[cientology] forces its female members to get abortions" (February 10, 2008)]]
Longtime member [[Astra Woodcraft]] left Scientology for good when the organization tried to pressure her to have an abortion.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Los Angeles Times staff |title=Kids against Scientology |work=Web Scout |publisher=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=February 29, 2008 |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/02/kids-against--1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302220627/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/02/kids-against--1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 2, 2008 |access-date=November 7, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="leavingthefold">{{Cite news | last =Lattin | first =Don | title =Leaving the Fold – Third-generation Scientologist grows disillusioned with faith | work =[[San Francisco Chronicle]] | page =A1 | publisher =The Chronicle Publishing Co. | date =February 12, 2001 }}</ref> Former Sea Org member Karen Pressley recounted that she was often asked by fellow Scientologists for loans so that they could get an abortion and remain in the Sea Org.<ref name="msnbcmorton">{{Cite news | last =MSNBC staff | title =Exclusive: 'Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography' – Read an excerpt from Andrew Morton's controversial new book | work =Today.com | publisher =[[NBC]] | date =January 15, 2008 | url =https://www.today.com/popculture/exclusive-tom-cruise-unauthorized-biography-wbna22613285 | access-date = November 7, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="morton">{{Cite book| last =Morton | first =Andrew | author-link =Andrew Morton (writer) | title =Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography | publisher =St. Martin's Press | year =2008 | page =[https://archive.org/details/tomcruiseunautho00mort/page/130 130] | isbn =978-0-312-35986-7 | title-link =Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Escaping Scientology: An Insider's True Story |first=Karen&nbsp;Schless |last=Pressley |page=222 |publisher=Bayshore Publications |year=2017 |isbn=978-0-9990881-0-4}}</ref> Scientology employee [[Claire Headley]] has said she "was forced to have (two) abortions to keep her job and was subjected to violations of personal rights and liberties for the purpose of obtaining forced labor".<ref name="perrault">{{Cite news | last =Perrault | first =Michael | title =Suit alleges wing of Church of Scientology violated labor laws | work =[[The Press-Enterprise (California)|The Press-Enterprise]] | page =C01 | publisher =The Press-Enterprise Co. | date =March 26, 2009 }}</ref> Laura DeCrescenzo reported she was "coerced to have an abortion" as a minor, and [[Scientology and law#DeCrescenzo|sued in 2009]].<ref name="courthouse">{{Cite news | last =Courthouse News Service staff | title =Scientology Accused of Human Trafficking | work =[[Courthouse News Service]] | publisher =www.courthousenews.com | date =April 3, 2009 | url =http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/04/03/Scientology_Accused_of_Human_Trafficking.htm | access-date =November 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413185511/http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/04/03/Scientology_Accused_of_Human_Trafficking.htm |archive-date=April 13, 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Church of Scientology Malmo, Sweden.jpg|thumb|Opening ceremony of the Scientology church in [[Malmö|Malmö, Sweden]] in 2009]]
In March 2009 a former Scientologist reported that women who worked at Scientology's headquarters were forced to have abortions, or faced being declared a "[[suppressive person]]" by the organization's management.<ref name="tortuous">{{Cite news | last =Baca | first =Nathan | title =Former Scientologist Recounts 'Torturous' Past Inside the Church | work =[[KESQ-TV]] | date =March 31, 2009 }}</ref> In March 2010, former Scientologist Janette Lang stated that at age 20 she became pregnant by her boyfriend while in the organization,<ref>{{Cite news| title = Scientologists forced me to have two abortions | work =Herald Sun | publisher = www.heraldsun.com.au| date =March 17, 2010 | url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/scientologists-forced-me-to-have-two-abortions-ex-disciple-says/story-e6frf7jx-1225841994979 | access-date = March 17, 2010 }}</ref> and her boyfriend's Scientology supervisors "coerced them into terminating the pregnancy".<ref name="janettelang">{{Cite news|last=[[Australian Associated Press]] |title=Scientologists forced me to have two abortions, ex-disciple says |work=[[News.com.au]] |publisher=News Limited |date=March 17, 2010 |url=http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/scientologists-forced-me-to-have-two-abortions-ex-disciple-says/story-e6frfku0-1225841933897 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322190756/http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/scientologists-forced-me-to-have-two-abortions-ex-disciple-says/story-e6frfku0-1225841933897 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 22, 2010 |access-date=March 17, 2010 }}</ref> "We fought for a week, I was devastated, I felt abused, I was lost and eventually I gave in. It was my baby, my body and my choice, and all of that was taken away from me by Scientology", said Lang.<ref name="janettelang" /><ref>{{Cite news| title = Scientologists pressured me to have abortions | work = [[ABC News (Australia)]] | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date = March 27, 2010 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/17/2848720.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100322192612/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/17/2848720.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = March 22, 2010 | access-date = March 17, 2010 }}</ref>

Australian Senator [[Nick Xenophon]] gave a speech to the Australian Parliament in November 2009, about statements he had received from former Scientologists.<ref name="tedmanson">{{Cite news | last =Tedmanson | first =Sophie | title =Church of Scientology accused of torture and forced abortions | work =[[The Times]] | publisher =Times Newspapers Ltd. | date =November 19, 2009 | url =http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article6921140.ece | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100107025005/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article6921140.ece | url-status =dead | archive-date =January 7, 2010 | access-date =November 19, 2009}}</ref> He said that he had been told members of the organization had coerced pregnant female employees to have abortions.<ref name="tedmanson" /> "I am deeply concerned about this organisation and the devastating impact it can have on its followers," said Senator Xenophon, and he requested that the Australian Senate begin an investigation into Scientology.<ref name="tedmanson" /> According to the letters presented by Senator Xenophon, the organization was involved in "ordering" its members to have abortions.<ref>{{Cite news|last=[[Agence France-Presse]] |title=Australian PM voices 'concerns' over Scientology |work=[[Canada.com]] |publisher=[[Canwest News Service]] |date=November 18, 2009 |url=http://www.canada.com/news/Australian+voices+concerns+over+Scientology/2234504/story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091121174802/http://www.canada.com/news/Australian%2Bvoices%2Bconcerns%2Bover%2BScientology/2234504/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 21, 2009 |access-date=November 19, 2009 }}</ref>

Former Scientologist [[Aaron Saxton]] sent a letter to Senator Xenophon stating he had participated in coercing pregnant women within the organization to have abortions.<ref name="collins">{{Cite news | last =Collins | first =Pádraig | title =Scientology faces allegations of abuse and covering up deaths in Australia | work =[[Irish Times]] | publisher =www.irishtimes.com | date =November 19, 2009 | url =http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2009/1119/1224259105905.html | access-date = November 19, 2009}}</ref> "Aaron says women who fell pregnant were taken to offices and bullied to have an abortion. If they refused, they faced demotion and hard labour. Aaron says one staff member used a coat hanger and self-aborted her child for fear of punishment," said Senator Xenophon.<ref name="oloughlin">{{Cite news | last =O'Loughlin | first =Toni | title =Scientology faces allegations of torture in Australia: Australian prime minister considers inquiry after senator tables allegations including forced abortions, assault and blackmail | work =[[The Guardian]] | publisher =Guardian News and Media Limited | date =November 18, 2009 | url =https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/18/scientology-torture-allegations-australia | access-date =November 19, 2009 }}</ref> Carmel Underwood, another former Scientologist, said she had been put under "extreme pressure" to have an abortion,<ref>{{Cite news | last =Saulwick | first =Jacob | title =Pressure mounts for Scientology inquiry | work =[[Sydney Morning Herald]] | publisher = Fairfax Digital | date =November 18, 2009 | url =http://www.smh.com.au/national/pressure-mounts-for-scientology-inquiry-20091118-imjw.html | access-date = November 19, 2009 }}</ref> and that she was placed into a "disappearing programme", after refusing.<ref>{{Cite news | last =Ansley | first =Greg | title =Church attacked for 'criminal' activities | work =[[New Zealand Herald]] | date =November 19, 2009 | url =http://www.nzherald.co.nz/religion-and-beliefs/news/article.cfm?c_id=301&objectid=10610338 | access-date = November 19, 2009 }}</ref> Underwood was the executive director of Scientology's branch in Sydney.<ref name="oloughlin" />

Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis said these statements are "utterly meritless".<ref name="perrault" /> Mike Ferriss, the head of Scientology in New Zealand, told media that "There are no forced abortions in Scientology".<ref>{{Cite news | title=Kiwi blows the whistle on Scientology | date=November 26, 2009 | publisher=www.3news.co.nz | url =http://www.3news.co.nz/Kiwi-blows-the-whistle-on-Scientology/tabid/423/articleID/131496/cat/64/Default.aspx | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20120406084507/http://www.3news.co.nz/Kiwi-blows-the-whistle-on-Scientology/tabid/423/articleID/131496/cat/64/Default.aspx | url-status=dead | archive-date =April 6, 2012 | work =3 News | access-date = November 26, 2009 }}</ref> Scientology spokesperson Virginia Stewart likewise denied the statements and asserted "The Church of Scientology considers the family unit and children to be of the utmost importance and does not condone nor force anyone to undertake any medical procedure whatsoever."<ref>{{Cite news| last =[[Australian Associated Press]] | title = Scientologists reject claims they forced abortions | work =[[Sydney Morning Herald]] | date =March 18, 2010 | url =http://www.smh.com.au/national/scientologists-reject-claims-they-forced-abortions-20100318-qfyc.html | access-date = March 17, 2010}}</ref>