This Independent story about fraud prosecutions of Scientologists in France contains an idea which is very odd to American ears:
The Church of Scientology in France went on trial today on charges of organised fraud. Registered as a religion in the United States . . .
Registered? Sorry, that’s not what we do with religions here. Note the Euro-undertone: The writer is trying to contrast the relative legitimacy of Scientology in the U.S. with its prosecution in France. Legitimacy is something that government confers.