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Scientology Sweatshops?

Lawsuits put new pressure on the celebrity religion.

Two new lawsuits allege that the Church of Scientology treats its most loyal followers as slave labor, making 5,000 members of the so-called Sea Organization work 100-hour weeks for mere pennies. Hundreds of followers of L. Ron Hubbard live on a 500-acre campus creating promotional materials espousing the church’s teachings—but the church says they’re similar to monks and exempt from traditional wage requirements. In one suit, a couple is seeking $1 million in back pay and overtime. One scholar says a victory could significantly undermine Scientology’s structure, but experts dismiss the likelihood of a win in the courts. Said the couple’s attorney, “These folks are working for a year or two or three in a row on an hour or two of sleep a night. They're zombies. If people had some money in their pockets or a good night's sleep, they probably wouldn't stick around."