Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 57
term goal is to give the courses within the prison walls. The series of 8 courses, said to
involve two-thirds of the prisons in the country, begins with Scientology‘s ―The Way to
Happiness‖ and includes drug awareness segments linked to Scientology‘s related
―Narconon‖ program. (Courier News (UK), Internet, 3/7/03)
Wants Support for Treatment Center
Scientology’s Narconon drug treatment center in Clearwater, FL—which critics call a
recruiting tool for the church—is now looking for state and federal grants and patient
referrals from local courts, two of whose judges recently toured the facility. Scientology
International says that 10–15 percent of those who complete the treatment become
members.
Local Scientologist Cheryl Alderman invested $100,000 of her own money to start the
venture last year, and Clearwater mayor Brian August issued a ―Narconon Day‖
proclamation.
But Dr. Raymond Harbison, of the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida,
says that there is no evidence that the Narconon detox program works. Others point out
that while 40 percent of drug addicts need psychiatric treatment, sometimes including
drugs, Narconon screens out such people because it is against both psychiatry and
psychiatric drugs. Nonetheless, a Tampa drug treatment program is referring clients to the
Scientology facility. (Robert Farley, St. Petersburg Times, Internet, 3/30/03)
Inmates Work at Church
Inmates from the Erie County Prison, in Buffalo, NY, guarded by correction officers, have
been working to renovate a Scientology church at Main and Virginia streets. The sheriff,
acknowledging that prison crews were allowed to provide labor only to county departments
and non-profit organizations, says that he had not considered the separation of church and
state in the Scientology case.
The prison help came after a Scientologist financed a trip for a jail administrator to attend a
trip to inspect Mexican prisons to see a Scientology drug treatment program operating
there. (Michael Beebe, Buffalo News, Internet, 4/6/03)
Mixed Feelings about Scientology Church
Neighbors are concerned about a new Scientology facility opening in West Tampa, FL.
Neighbor Susan Tennyson says: ―I think they bring down the value of our homes because
they have a cult type of stigma. I moved here because it‘s a family neighborhood, and that
has been taken away.‖
But neighbor Eulaia Barranco said she is encouraged that a religious group took over a local
building, even though she is a Catholic. And City councilwoman Mary Alvarez went to the
grand opening and was impressed, although she added that Scientology will probably have
a hard time recruiting in a Hispanic and Catholic neighborhood. The West Tampa Chamber
of Commerce, however, said: ―They could easily buy a whole bunch of property [as they
have done in nearby Clearwater],‖ thus inhibiting diversity. ―We don‘t want West Tampa
known as the Scientology capital.‖ (Jose Patino Girona, Tampa Tribune, Internet, 4/10/03)
Protest Anti-depressant Use
Scientology’s Citizens Commission on Human Rights protested at Boston‘s Massachusetts
General Hospital in April the use of anti-depressants, saying that the suspected killer of an
MGH cardiologist acted under the influence of such a drug. A Harvard Medical School
psychiatrist said the allegation was ―preposterous.‖ (Ellen Barry, Boston Globe, Internet,
4/11/03).
term goal is to give the courses within the prison walls. The series of 8 courses, said to
involve two-thirds of the prisons in the country, begins with Scientology‘s ―The Way to
Happiness‖ and includes drug awareness segments linked to Scientology‘s related
―Narconon‖ program. (Courier News (UK), Internet, 3/7/03)
Wants Support for Treatment Center
Scientology’s Narconon drug treatment center in Clearwater, FL—which critics call a
recruiting tool for the church—is now looking for state and federal grants and patient
referrals from local courts, two of whose judges recently toured the facility. Scientology
International says that 10–15 percent of those who complete the treatment become
members.
Local Scientologist Cheryl Alderman invested $100,000 of her own money to start the
venture last year, and Clearwater mayor Brian August issued a ―Narconon Day‖
proclamation.
But Dr. Raymond Harbison, of the College of Public Health at the University of South Florida,
says that there is no evidence that the Narconon detox program works. Others point out
that while 40 percent of drug addicts need psychiatric treatment, sometimes including
drugs, Narconon screens out such people because it is against both psychiatry and
psychiatric drugs. Nonetheless, a Tampa drug treatment program is referring clients to the
Scientology facility. (Robert Farley, St. Petersburg Times, Internet, 3/30/03)
Inmates Work at Church
Inmates from the Erie County Prison, in Buffalo, NY, guarded by correction officers, have
been working to renovate a Scientology church at Main and Virginia streets. The sheriff,
acknowledging that prison crews were allowed to provide labor only to county departments
and non-profit organizations, says that he had not considered the separation of church and
state in the Scientology case.
The prison help came after a Scientologist financed a trip for a jail administrator to attend a
trip to inspect Mexican prisons to see a Scientology drug treatment program operating
there. (Michael Beebe, Buffalo News, Internet, 4/6/03)
Mixed Feelings about Scientology Church
Neighbors are concerned about a new Scientology facility opening in West Tampa, FL.
Neighbor Susan Tennyson says: ―I think they bring down the value of our homes because
they have a cult type of stigma. I moved here because it‘s a family neighborhood, and that
has been taken away.‖
But neighbor Eulaia Barranco said she is encouraged that a religious group took over a local
building, even though she is a Catholic. And City councilwoman Mary Alvarez went to the
grand opening and was impressed, although she added that Scientology will probably have
a hard time recruiting in a Hispanic and Catholic neighborhood. The West Tampa Chamber
of Commerce, however, said: ―They could easily buy a whole bunch of property [as they
have done in nearby Clearwater],‖ thus inhibiting diversity. ―We don‘t want West Tampa
known as the Scientology capital.‖ (Jose Patino Girona, Tampa Tribune, Internet, 4/10/03)
Protest Anti-depressant Use
Scientology’s Citizens Commission on Human Rights protested at Boston‘s Massachusetts
General Hospital in April the use of anti-depressants, saying that the suspected killer of an
MGH cardiologist acted under the influence of such a drug. A Harvard Medical School
psychiatrist said the allegation was ―preposterous.‖ (Ellen Barry, Boston Globe, Internet,
4/11/03).
