"Critics accuse the Church of Scientology of being secretive, profit-motivated and cult-like. In the 1970s, a series of FBI raids found that Scientologists had infiltrated and wiretapped the Internal Revenue Service and other government agencies; several members, including Mary, Hubbard's wife, were jailed. The organization says that it has reformed itself." ₁

"I'm hopeful that that won't occur, but there is the possibility. The statute of limitations for assisted suicide has run [out] but the prosecutors can charge you with just about anything. There is no statute of limitation for murder, for manslaughter, probably certain drug offenses. ... I really didn't have sleepless nights over it because to me, it seemed right. It was the right thing to do. It was what my parents wanted."

His mother was a respected psychologist. His father was a famous psychiatrist specializing in alcoholism, drug addiction, brainwashing and cult activities. He experienced conflicts with the Church of Scientology in 1991. Wikipedia reports:

"According to West, the problems started after he published a textbook in 1980, in which he called Scientology a cult.

On one APA [American Psychiatric Association] panel on cults where every speaker had received a long letter threatening a lawsuit if Scientology would be mentioned, no one mentioned Scientology except West, who was the last speaker: 'I read parts of the letter to the 1,000-plus psychiatrists and then told any Scientologists in the crowd to pay attention. I said I would like to advise my colleagues that I consider Scientology a cult and L. Ron Hubbard a quack and a fake. I wasn't about to let them intimidate me.' (Psychiatric Times, 1991)"

"Scientology's 'Freedom Magazine' interpreted [his] anti-apartheid trips to South Africa as pro-apartheid (Psychiatric Times, 1991)." ₄

The decision read, in part:

"The purpose of Wikipedia is to create a high-quality, free-content encyclopedia in an atmosphere of camaraderie and mutual respect among contributors. Use of the encyclopedia to advance personal agendas -- such as advocacy or propaganda and philosophical, ideological or religious dispute -- or to publish or promote original research is prohibited." _6,7

The ban appears to have symbolic value only. It will probably not be successful. All Church members have to do to avoid the ban is to work from home or at a location that has public access to the Internet, like a public library.

"Former executives of the Church of Scientology, including two of the former top lieutenants to Miscavige, have come forward to describe a culture of intimidation and violence under David Miscavige.  These former Scientology leaders served for years with Miscavige."