Pulling Together for a New World

Scientology Church in Berlin Opens

SEAN GALLUP / GETTY IMAGES

Guests from the United States, Israel and Europe gather for the opening of a Scientology center Saturday in Berlin.

BERLIN — Guests from across Europe crowded into a private ceremony Saturday marking the opening of a spacious new center for the Church of Scientology in a country where it is denied recognition as a religion and kept under surveillance.

Police estimated 1,000 people visited the 43,000-square-foot, glass-and-steel building in the capital's western district of Charlottenburg. Scientologists said 4,000 people attended the opening of the Berlin center.  (From the Seattle Times)