This week a list of businesses that received COVID-19 PPP loans was released. The purpose of these loans was to help small businesses survive through this health pandemic.
Both Donald Trump’s Trump Organization and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner’s family business’ profited from these loans. Now, it appears that the Church of Scientology, which is said to have a net worth in the billions, received at least 30 PPP loans.
The data appears to show that the Church of Scientology received three loans, however, when data for loans under $150,000 were released it was revealed that the church received a windfall in loans.
Scientology was founded in 1953 by author L. Ron Hubbard. The Church of Scientology is now a tax-exempt entity.
The Church of Scientology has a tense relationship with government finances. Before becoming tax-exempt it refused to pay taxes, which were estimated to be over $1 billion. Members have attempted to infiltrate the IRS and members have gone to prison for stealing documents from the government.
Scientology-affiliated groups that received PPP loans include Narconon, Scientology’s controversial substance abuse facilities. Five centers in La Crescenta, California; Clearwater, Florida; Denham Springs, Louisiana; Ojai, California; and Canadian, Oklahoma received a total of $1.1 million dollars.
Delphi Schools, which is a charter school in Sheridan, Oregon received almost $1 million.
Citizens Commission on Human Rights received three separate loans, for centers in Los Angeles; Austin, Texas; and Clearwater, Florida, totaling over $360,000.
Hubbard College of Administration received $114,000. The Way to Happiness Foundation in Glendale, California received approximately $33,000. Applied Scholastics received two separate loans in Perris and Emeryville, California, totaling more than $150,000.
Rules set up for the PPP loans state that organizations are only supposed to receive one loan. The PPP has become one of the most chaotic bailouts in U.S. history.
The whole purpose of PPP loans was to try and save small businesses not make rich organizations even richer. The Church of Scientology is worth an estimated $2 billion dollars.
