The controversies involving the Church and its critics, some of them ongoing, include:
- Criminal behavior by members of the Church, including the infiltration of the US Government.[255]
- Organized harassment of people perceived as enemies of the Church.[255]
- Scientology's disconnection policy, in which some members are required to shun friends or family members who are "antagonistic" to the Church.[216][260]
- The death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson while in the care of the organization. (Robert Minton sponsored the multimillion-dollar lawsuit against Scientology for the death of McPherson. In May 2004, McPherson's estate and the Church of Scientology reached a confidential settlement.)[261]
- Attempts to legally force search engines to censor information critical of the Church.[262]
- Allegations the Church leader David Miscavige beats and demoralizes staff, and that physical violence by superiors towards staff working for them is a common occurrence in the organization.[263][264] Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis denied these claims and provided witnesses to rebut them.[263]