Day 6

Alex Gibney on Scientology and the IRS

Alex Gibney, the Academy Award-winning director of "Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief", argues that the IRS should re-consider Scientology's tax-exempt status - even though he believes Scientology does qualify as a religion.
Filmmaker Alex Gibney of Going Clear poses for a portrait during the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 26, 2015 in Park City, Utah. (Larry Busacca/Getty Images)

Since its release on HBO in the U.S. in March, award-winning director Alex Gibney's documentary "Going Clear" has re-ignited the debate over Scientology. Gibney's film examines the church's tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service, the IRS. He recently wrote an editorial for the Los Angeles Times arguing that the IRS should take a second look at Scientology. Scientology has vehemently denied the allegations made in the film, and questioned the credibility of the film's subjects. CBC has not independently verified the allegations made in the film. Scientology's response to the film can be seen here