20 years since the Grand Opening of the Ideal Church of Scientology of Spain

Arriving in Spain in 1953 through the hands of its founder L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology established its first church in 1980 and in 2004 opened its Ideal Church facilities of over 5000 square meters, a short walk away from the Spanish Parliament.

Brussels, Brussels, Belgium, 19th Sep 2024 – Madrid. The Church of Scientology Spain marks the 20th anniversary of its Ideal Church located in Madrid.

In a privileged location in Madrid, the Church of Scientology of Spain marks a special occasion celebrating the 20th anniversary since its current international ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige cut the ribbon in a ceremony that welcomed over 6000 people that day alone, 50 meters away from the Spanish Parliament and within the renowned Barrio de las Letras district.

The Ideal Church was opened twenty years ago as a reflection of the Church’s dedication to offering a place of worship and a beacon for community gathering and support in a neighborhood known for its vibrant literary traditions that represents a mix of spiritual exploration and cultural significance. 

“We are delighted to celebrate the anniversary of our Ideal Church in Madrid,” expressed Ivan Arjona-Pelado, Scientology’s representative to the European Union and the United Nations, highlighting their “commitment to serving our members and making a positive impact in the community through diverse social and humanitarian projects.” 

Throughout the years, the Church has been involved in initiatives to support education via the Applied Scholastics program, human rights through United for Human Rights, the prevention of drug abuse through The Truth About Drugs and volunteering through the Scientology Volunteer Ministers, and others. All these social campaigns, sponsored by Scientologists and the International Association of Scientologists, and run by the Church’s Foundation for the Improvement of Life, Culture and Society (MEJORA), have been reaching tens of thousands of people through the country and sometimes beyond Spanish borders.

It is the impact of these campaigns and promotion of Scientology’s methodologies to help citizens and society that earned the foundation the right to be registered and recognized by the Spanish government in 2015 and recognized as an NGO with Consultative Status by the UN.

The celebration on September 18th is included in the calendar of religious festivities that is promoted by the Spain Government’s foundation Pluralism and Coexistence, which each year congratulates Scientologists for the anniversary of their religion in the country, but also for the birthday of its founder L. Ron Hubbard on March 13th, the anniversary of the book Dianetics on May 9th, the anniversary of the foundation of the Sea Organization (the religious order of Scientology) on August 12th, and even the anniversary of the International Association of Scientologists on October 7th.

The Church of Scientology and its salvage campaign have been expanding globally with the establishment of Ideal Churches in capital cities and world epicenters, including the most recent one in Paris where tens of thousands of people passed by daily during the 2024 Olympics.

The Church of Scientology of Spain was recognized as a religious entity by ruling of the National Court in October 2007. On December 14, 2009, the Ministry of Tax Office recognized the church as “an entity of social character” which granted certain tax benefits for being non-profit. On June 22, 2012, the Royal Spanish Academy included the word scientology in its official dictionary as “a religious movement”. In 2015, Spain’s Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports recognized the aims of the church’s Foundation MEJORA as of general interest, granting it the status of non-profit, with tax exemption, and it was in 2019 when the United Nations Economic and Social Council granted MEJORA consultative status so that it can provide Scientology’s input to the betterment of the application of human rights and dignity of societies at large.

Media Contact

Organization: European Office Church of Scientology for Public Affairs and Human Rights

Contact Person: Ivan Arjona

Website: https://www.europeanaffairs.eu

Email: Send Email

Address: Boulevard de Waterloo 103

City: Brussels

State: Brussels

Country: Belgium

Release Id: 19092417157

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