A senior figure in the Church of Scientology has appeared in a Sydney court charged with perverting the course of justice in 1985.

Janice Meyer, 57, was surrounded by supporters in the Downing Centre Local Court today, when her bail was varied to enable her to travel to California where she lives and has a business.

She is accused of threatening and intimidating an 11-year-old girl into providing false statements to police about the sexual abuse she had suffered from a man who was a member of the Church of Scientology.

Magistrate Graeme Henson struck out her bail conditions that prevented her from travelling but ordered her to agree to forfeit $10,000 if she did not attend court.

The matter was adjourned to August 18.

AAP