Scientology row hits YouTube

Footage of an amazing outburst by a reporter investigating the Scientology movement has appeared on YouTube.

The BBC's John Sweeney is shown shouting at a member of the Church of Scientology, a controversial organisation founded by science fiction author L Ron Hubbard. Sweeny had been investigating the Scientology for a documentary that will appear on BBC One's Panorama tonight.

"As often in life, I snapped over something completely different and quite trivial. Top Scientologist Tommy "Don't mention the word cult" Davis had been goading me all week, and on the seventh day I fell into his elephant trap. He shouted at me and I shouted back, louder," Sweeney told the BBC's website.

"If you are interested in becoming a TV journalist, it is a fine example of how not to do it," Sweeney added.

Since the clip appeared on YouTube there have been several video responses, seemingly from the Scientology community, that question the integrity of the BBC and even accuse it of organising an anti-Scientology rally.

However, Sweeney countered these accusations with claims of his own.

"While making our film I have been shouted at, spied on, had my hotel invaded at midnight, denounced as a "bigot" by star Scientologists, brain-washed - that is how it felt to me - in a mock up of a Nazi-style torture chamber and chased round the streets of Los Angeles by sinister strangers," he said.

Scientology has some high-profile followers such as actor John Travolta and Cheers star Kirstie Alley. It has received criticism for the way in which it funds itself and it is not recognised as a religion by the Charity Commission in the UK.

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