Australian Scientology's predicament worsens

The Church of Scientology this week denied one of the charges lodged by Australian Senator Nick Xenophon, using parliamentary privilege.

Affirming another of Xenophon's charges, Australian Scientology suicide soldier Edward McBride's family called for a probe of the circumstances of McBride's 2007 death.

Australia World News reported:

Police investigating [McBride's] death in 2007 had been repeatedly stymied by the church, which failed to provide personal audit files as requested, [his brother] Stephen McBride said.

"Every time I think of scientology I still get a real bad aftertaste in my mouth," he told reporters in Canberra.

"There's something just not right about it."

Mr McBride is adamant the church contributed to his brother's suicide, with the coroner reporting [a barrage of] telephone messages contained intimidating statements, such as "this behaviour is unacceptable" and "you have missed your interview".

Senator Xenophon said said he still did not have the governmental support required to launch a probe. Nonetheless, "This is a hell of a week and I think we are distracted with other issues, but I think it's inevitable there will be an inquiry, one way or the other."