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Saturday, April 6, 2013

Church of Scientology Buys Heaven

That sound you heard this fine morning was Larry Hagman turning over (and over and over) in his grave.

The Ventura County Star reports that a Scientology-linked non profit has bought the late actor Larry Hagman's Ojai estate--dubbed "Heaven" by Hagman--for $5 million cash.

According to the VC Star, the 32-acre property atop Sulphur Mountain sold for $5 million cash to Social Betterment Properties International, a nonprofit that states its mission is to “develop and maintain buildings and other real estate utilized by social betterment organizations carrying out programs that utilize technology and methods developed by L. Ron Hubbard and that are associated with and supported by the Scientology religion.”

Social Betterment Properties International has received grants and renovated properties in use for combating literacy, improving morality and exposing “abusive and dangerous psychiatric practices,” according to a 2007 tax filing.

The nonprofit has also owned property in Oklahoma that’s been used for a controversial drug rehabilitation facility. According to The Tulsa World, the facility, Narconon International, uses non-drug paths to rehabilitation that focus on three activities: exercise, vitamins and sauna sessions.

According to the IRS, Social Betterment Properties International, Inc. is an exempt 501(c)(3) organization.

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