Religion and Churches News - Page 6

MEXICO CITY, Mexico, and LOS ANGELES, Calif., Jan. 4, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — As we review Scientology accomplishments of the past year, the awarding of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS) Freedom Medal always looms large. Each year, Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige presents this award to persons whose stellar accomplishments have materially advanced the purpose of the IAS.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Jan. 3, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — True to the creed of the Church of Scientology, which begins with the belief “That all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights,” the Church supports the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and sponsors programs to raise awareness of these rights: United for Human Rights and its program for young people Youth for Human Rights. 2023 was the 75th anniversary of the UDHR, and Scientology-sponsored initiatives brought understanding of these rights to “small places, close to home.”

CLEARWATER, Fla. and LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 30, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic is a race to save lives. And the message could not be more timely, according to Julieta Santagostino, president of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World Florida, a drug education and prevention initiative supported by the Church of Scientology. “Drugs affect everybody,” she says in an episode of Voices for Humanity on the Scientology Network.

KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan and LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 29, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Ten years ago, in December 2013, Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige dedicated the Church of Scientology of Kaohsiung. Notwithstanding the joy that accompanies the opening of any new Church of Scientology, this affected not only the people of the city and country, its impact went far beyond.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 28, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Dozens of members of the East Hollywood Oaxacan community walked down L. Ron Hubbard Way this week, dressed in traditional garb, in the third annual La Posada hosted by the Church of Scientology Los Angeles. La Posada, meaning “The Inn” in Spanish, is a religious tradition dating to the 16th century.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 26, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), a nonprofit charitable mental health watchdog organization established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology, is determined to see to the immediate and full implementation of the UN and WHO direction to end psychiatric human rights abuse.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Dec. 23, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — It was 70-something degrees and clear skies on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But there was a layer of real snow on the ground around Santa’s cabin at L. Ron Hubbard’s Winter Wonderland. This holiday village is a tradition that began in 1983, when author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard first provided a 60-foot Christmas tree as a gift to the people of Hollywood.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 22, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The UN’s theme for this year’s World Volunteer Day was ‘the power of collective action.’ And nowhere was that message exemplified more than the collective action of Scientology Volunteer Ministers everywhere in their response to the pandemic.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 21, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — December 10 marked the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the world’s premier human rights document. In celebration of this milestone, the Church of Scientology of Ventura held a human rights open house and conference featuring guest speaker Regina Hatcher-Crawford, president of Ventura County NAACP. The theme of the presentation was freedom and equality for all.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Dec. 20, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — On behalf of U.S. Congressman Luis Correa, his community liaison Ms. Gabriella Lemus presented the Church of Scientology with a certificate of special recognition from the United States House of Representatives in honor of the 40th anniversary of L. Ron Hubbard’s Winter Wonderland.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 19, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Drug abuse and spiking overdose deaths. Failed marriages and broken families. Bullying, corruption and crime. Dead-end careers or jobs that don’t pay the bills or dish out a constant diet of stress. Are these and other issues, conditions and problems simply a fact of life? Or is there a way to take action and change them? Voices for Humanity, an award-winning original series on the Scientology Network, documents how diverse individuals are changing conditions like these and making a difference in their own and others’ lives.

ROME, Italy, Dec. 18, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Church of Scientology of Rome, in coordination with the Association of Arts, Culture and Human Rights, organized a celebration and awards ceremony in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 16, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The holidays should be a time of joy. But challenges, problems and disappointments can cast a pall on the season. The Church of Scientology encourages anyone facing issues that threaten their happiness to take heart. Because, no matter the challenges, Something Can Be Done About It.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 13, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Operation: Do Something About It, the feature-length film that premiered on the Scientology Network this week, documents the work of Scientology Volunteer Ministers across the globe throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. One of their highest priorities was to help congregations of diverse faiths, ordered closed in the early days of the pandemic, reopen safely to serve their congregations.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 13, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Hollywood Neighborhood Cleanup team, sponsored by the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre and its Hollywood Village initiative, joined forces with other community organizations and the LAPD. They spread cheer along Hollywood Boulevard as volunteers held their annual cleanup in advance of the Hollywood Christmas Parade, airing Friday, December 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CW Network.

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif., Dec. 12, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — For seniors, living alone or far from loved ones, the holidays, once joyful, can be a very lonely time. To remind residents of TELACU Gardens and TELACU Manor Senior Apartments how important they are to the community, Bridge Publications, publisher of the nonfiction works of author and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, and City of Commerce Mayor Hugo Argumedo held a holiday banquet for the residents.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. and CLEARWATER, Fla., Dec. 9, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Winter Wonderland is celebrating 30 years of bringing joy to the children of Clearwater. But how is the grass-covered park in downtown Clearwater transformed into a magical Christmas village? Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the year-round work that results in its magical materialization. Watch Meet a Scientologist: Pam Ryan-Anderson on the Scientology Network.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 9, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Scientology Churches across the country invited the community to join them for the premiere of Operation: Something Can Be Done About It. The feature-length documentary produced by Scientology Media Productions aired on International Volunteer Day, December 5. The film documents the response of the Church of Scientology to the Covid pandemic, not only to help parishioners and staff but to reach out indiscriminately on an unparalleled scale across the globe to ensure the safety of every sector of society. A sampling of feedback shows the impact of the film.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Dec. 7, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Traffic came to a standstill on Hollywood Boulevard Sunday, December 3, as Santa Claus drove up on a red Harley-Davidson Electra Glide to cut the ribbon, opening L. Ron Hubbard’s Winter Wonderland adjacent to the Church of Scientology Los Angeles Information Center. He was joined by his elves, Los Angeles Fire Department Deputy Chief Richard Fields, and nationally syndicated radio show host Kerri Kasem to the delight of hundreds of cheering children.

FLORENCE, Ky., Dec. 6, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Award-winning human rights and anti-trafficking activist Harold D’Souza, president and cofounder of Eyes Open International, will be guest speaker Sunday, December 10, at an International Human Rights Day celebration at the Church of Scientology of Greater Cincinnati from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at 283 Main St., Florence, Kentucky.

PASADENA, Calif., Dec. 4, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — A religious freedom conference and open house at the Church of Scientology Pasadena brought faith leaders together to promote diversity and respect at a time when rising hate crimes, conflict and war bring the importance of religious freedom and understanding into sharp relief. The Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission reports that hate crimes in Los Angeles County have reached the second highest level in more than 20 years. And the news is filled with religious conflicts that have spiraled into war.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Dec. 4, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre presented “Christmas Stories” December 1 and 2. Artists, including Golden Globe Award-winning actress Jenna Elfman (“Fear the Walking Dead”) and Emmy Award-winners Nancy Cartwright (“The Simpsons”) and Michelle Stafford (“The Young and the Restless”), performed holiday-themed skits and songs to raise funds to benefit the Hollywood Police Department’s youth development programs for at-risk youth.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 2, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — While most of the world went “on pause” during the pandemic, Mother Nature certainly did not-nor did the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, a religious social service founded in the mid-1970s by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 2, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — At the 39th anniversary of the International Association of Scientologists (IAS), Scientology ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige briefed the 7,000 members and guests gathered at Saint Hill in the UK on the magnitude and impact of humanitarian and social betterment activities supported by the IAS over the past four years.

PASADENA, Calif., Nov. 30, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — While two of California’s favorite college teams faced each other on the football field this weekend, drug-prevention activists from nearby Scientology Churches set up a bright teal tent in the fan zone to win a different kind of competition altogether: reaching kids before drug dealers do.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Nov. 29, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Serving the North Hollywood community since 1998, the Women’s Auxiliary of the Church of Scientology of the Valley has established a reputation for always stepping up with help. They celebrated their 25th anniversary with a banquet and award presentation along with a silent auction to raise funds for their charity work.

HOLLYWOOD, Calif., Nov. 22, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Hollywood Christmas season got off to a great start November 20 with the arrival of a giant Christmas tree to mark the 40th Anniversary of L. Ron Hubbard’s Winter Wonderland. Passersby on the Hollywood Walk of Fame watched in awe as the 6,000-pound giant grand fir was hoisted into place next to the Church of Scientology Los Angeles Information Center by a 40-ton crane at the end of its 900-mile journey from Sheridan, Oregon.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Nov. 21, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Disasters, whether great or small, do not comply with the calendar. And whether the scope of the difficulty affects a single family, or hundreds of thousands or more, Scientology Volunteer Ministers live by the motto that no matter the difficulty, “Something Can Be Done About It.”

CITY OF COMMERCE, Calif., Nov. 20, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Knowing the loneliness some elderly residents feel as the holidays approach, City of Commerce Mayor Mr. Hugo Argumedo, his wife Jessa, and volunteers from Bridge Publications Inc., publisher of the nonfiction works of author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, provided more than 200 Thanksgiving meals to local seniors.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Nov. 18, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — To help bring the joy of the season to life, the Church of Scientology is holding a Thanksgiving turkey giveaway again this year. It takes place Sunday, November 19, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in what has become a tradition over the past few years.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Nov. 18, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — As we count down to the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Scientology Churches and Scientologists gear up to achieving the goal of universal human rights. They are inspired by author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard who believed that “human rights must be made a fact, not an idealistic dream.”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. and CAMPI BISENZIO, Italy, Nov. 16, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Responding to a call from the civil protection department in early November, Scientology Volunteer Ministers reached out to the municipality of Campi Bisenzio with help. The Bisenzio River, for which the town is named, had overflowed, wreaking havoc.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. and LUCCA, Italy, Nov. 15, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Is LSD harmless? Can a single hit of crack hurt you? How addictive is heroin, really? And what about marijuana? “You need to know the truth about drugs,” say the volunteers of Foundation for the Drug-Free World Italy – the drug education and prevention initiative supported by the Church of Scientology.

EAST LOS ANGELES, Calif., Nov. 14, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — In “My Philosophy,” one of his most popular essays, author, humanitarian and Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard wrote, “I like to help others and count it as my greatest pleasure in life to see a person free himself of the shadows which darken his days.”

SEATTLE, Wash., Nov. 13, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Warm, dry socks are essential to anyone living on the streets, according to charities serving the homeless, yet those making donations of clothes and food rarely think of socks as a vital commodity. According to one Seattle nonprofit, “for folks living outside, clean socks are an absolute necessity and a very difficult thing to come by.” So Seattle Scientology Volunteer Ministers marked “Make a Difference Day” by donating socks to the Queen Anne Helpline and Queen Anne Food Bank at Sacred Heart and the Jean Kim Foundation Hygiene Center.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. and VIENNA, Austria, Nov. 11, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — As the World Psychiatric Association (WPA) convened its annual congress in Vienna, hundreds of activists from Citizens Commission on Human Rights Austria and chapters across Europe marched through the streets, insisting psychiatrists immediately cease their use of ECT (electroconvulsive treatment) and all coercive and harmful practices in the field of mental health.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Nov. 11, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — This Veterans Day, Citizens Commission on Human Rights, the nonprofit mental health watchdog founded in 1969 by the Church of Scientology, warns veterans and their families of the hidden enemy behind veteran suicides. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs, “Every day, some 17 veterans take their own lives.”

LOS ANGELES, Calif. and MODENA, Italy, Nov. 9, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The city of Modena represents the best of the old and new. Named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architectural gems and museums displaying some of the best-loved masterpieces of the 16th century, it is also the car capital of Italy. Birthplace of Enzo Ferrari, automobile manufacturing, speed and precision are part of its DNA.

LOS ANGELES, Calif., Nov. 7, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Church of Scientology Los Angeles hosted a conference where Los Angeles Latinx community and civic leaders reviewed situations affecting migrants and their families. They invited human rights icon Father Alejandro Solalinde Guerra and Mexican state and national officials to brief them on urgent issues affecting the migrant community and recommend policy changes.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. and BUDAPEST, Hungary, Nov. 6, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — In the spirit of interfaith understanding and friendship, the Church of Scientology Budapest invites all to attend an International Day of Tolerance open house and roundtable on the theme Tolerance or Respect? For any group or religion, it is easy to love someone who thinks the way its own members do. The challenge is to love and understand those who think differently.