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Bob Minton
Robert Schenk Minton (October 3, 1946 – January 20, 2010) was a millionaire who helped finance lawsuits against the Church of Scientology.
Minton became a critic of Scientology after reading about its attacks on critics and internet free speech. He appeared on several news programs discussing his criticism of Scientology and the harassment from the Church of Scientology. This included a featured appearance on the June 16, 1998, broadcast of the television news program Dateline NBC. Later that year, he appeared in an A&E "Investigative Reports" installment called "Inside Scientology" which aired in December.
Minton spent over $10 million fighting Scientology. This included about $2 million he spent on the Lisa McPherson wrongful death case; Minton also offered a reward of $360,000 to anyone who would leave Scientology with enough information to cause the organization to lose its federal tax exemption. The amount of money was based on the amount of money critics say Scientology charges for courses. In November 1997, he spent $260,000 to buy a house for a cat sanctuary for former Scientologists Vaughn and Stacy Young.
Minton also gave money to a number of other church critics, including three people whom Scientology accuses of infringement of its copyrights. Minton also distributed $25,000 or $30,000 to a Swiss ex-Scientologist called Jean-Luc Barbier, who was suing the cult, and gave $250,000 to a French attorney. He also participated in demonstrations in front of the Boston Headquarters of the Church of Scientology near his Beacon Hill home.
After reports by Scientology alleging fraud in his Nigerian businesses, Minton successfully sued two German Scientology entities and a spokeswoman for a permanent injunction preventing them from repeating the libel. The decision was confirmed on appeal.
In 1999, Minton founded the Lisa McPherson Trust (LMT) which brought a civil suit against the Church of Scientology for the wrongful death of Lisa McPherson and provided legal assistance to former Scientologists who alleged maltreatment or abuse by the Church.
The trust operated out of Clearwater, Florida, home to Flag Land Base, Scientology's spiritual headquarters. Supporters of the Lisa McPherson Trust engaged in picketing outside Church of Scientology buildings in Clearwater, and there were frequent confrontations between the LMT and Scientologists.
In 2000, Minton was the first recipient of the "Alternative Charlemagne Award" from the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom.
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Bob Minton
Robert Schenk Minton (October 3, 1946 – January 20, 2010) was a millionaire who helped finance lawsuits against the Church of Scientology.
Minton became a critic of Scientology after reading about its attacks on critics and internet free speech. He appeared on several news programs discussing his criticism of Scientology and the harassment from the Church of Scientology. This included a featured appearance on the June 16, 1998, broadcast of the television news program Dateline NBC. Later that year, he appeared in an A&E "Investigative Reports" installment called "Inside Scientology" which aired in December.
Minton spent over $10 million fighting Scientology. This included about $2 million he spent on the Lisa McPherson wrongful death case; Minton also offered a reward of $360,000 to anyone who would leave Scientology with enough information to cause the organization to lose its federal tax exemption. The amount of money was based on the amount of money critics say Scientology charges for courses. In November 1997, he spent $260,000 to buy a house for a cat sanctuary for former Scientologists Vaughn and Stacy Young.
Minton also gave money to a number of other church critics, including three people whom Scientology accuses of infringement of its copyrights. Minton also distributed $25,000 or $30,000 to a Swiss ex-Scientologist called Jean-Luc Barbier, who was suing the cult, and gave $250,000 to a French attorney. He also participated in demonstrations in front of the Boston Headquarters of the Church of Scientology near his Beacon Hill home.
After reports by Scientology alleging fraud in his Nigerian businesses, Minton successfully sued two German Scientology entities and a spokeswoman for a permanent injunction preventing them from repeating the libel. The decision was confirmed on appeal.
In 1999, Minton founded the Lisa McPherson Trust (LMT) which brought a civil suit against the Church of Scientology for the wrongful death of Lisa McPherson and provided legal assistance to former Scientologists who alleged maltreatment or abuse by the Church.
The trust operated out of Clearwater, Florida, home to Flag Land Base, Scientology's spiritual headquarters. Supporters of the Lisa McPherson Trust engaged in picketing outside Church of Scientology buildings in Clearwater, and there were frequent confrontations between the LMT and Scientologists.
In 2000, Minton was the first recipient of the "Alternative Charlemagne Award" from the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom.
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