Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 2, No. 2, 2003, Page 58
Richard Johnson and Paula Froelich ask whether Montel Williams was ―duped‖ into
promoting Scientology when he featured on his show a segment about how children are
―abused‖ when they are given psychiatric drugs such as Ritalin. The show featured
representatives of Scientology‘s anti-psychiatry arm, the Citizens Commission on Human
Rights. (New York Post, Internet, 4/17/03)
Opposition to ―Ritalin‖ Provision
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) believes that the provision in a House special education bill to
prevent schools from requiring students to take medication for attention-deficit disorder
―probably had its antecedents in the community that believes that all medication for kids
with [attention-deficit disorder] is wrong.‖ Kennedy and psychiatrists say that the
provision—sponsored by Rep. Max Burns (R-GA), and supported by Speaker Dennis Hastert
(R-IL)—has been ―aggressively backed‖ by Scientology’s Citizens Commission on Human
Rights to help achieve what opponents allege is Scientology‘s goal of abolishing psychiatry.
(Emily Pierce, Roll Call, Internet, 5/7/03)
Legislature Refuses to Honor Narconon
The Oklahoma Senate has defeated a resolution, sponsored by Sen. Frank Shurden, to
commend the work of the Narconon Arrowhead drug treatment facility. Narconon is a
program of Scientology, although this was not mentioned in the resolution. Resolution
supporters said that it didn‘t matter who owned the facility, as long as it had good results,
to which they attested. They also noted that the facility was sustained by private money and
that stars like John Travolta are Scientologists. (Tulsa World, Internet, 5/3/03)
Leaders in France Indicted
Alain Roseberg, the head of Scientology’s Paris Celebrity Center, is being investigated for
fraud, and is alleged to have conspired with member Aline Fabre — who is being
investigated for illegally practicing pharmacy — to sell high-dosage vitamins. Rosenberg is
also suspected of giving the plaintiff in a civil suit personality tests ―without scientific basis‖
and getting paid as if this amounted to psychological counseling. (AFP, Internet, 5/7/03)
Marketing Clearwater
Scientology has sent out promotional brochures to national retailers, like the Gap and
Banana Republic in a effort to lure upscale business to downtown Clearwater, FL, site of
Scientology‘s international headquarters, but city officials are upset.
City Commissioner Whitney Gray says that there are people who refuse to spend money
downtown because they think that would benefit Scientology, which now has a dominating
presence there. ―If it looks to the public like the Church of Scientology is building downtown,
people won‘t come,‖ she said.
The Scientology promotional brochure provides information about business incentives
offered by the city, and gives names and phone numbers of City employees. This has also
annoyed commissioners because it may seem to observers that the city is not heading up
its own development effort. (Jennifer Farrell, St. Petersburg Times, 5/29/03)
Terrorism
Suicide Bombers Not Misfits
Study after study shows that, contrary to views stated by President Bush and Senator John
Warner, for example, suicide attackers and their supporters are rarely ignorant or
impoverished people. If terrorist groups relied on maladjusted individuals, ―they couldn‘t
produce effective and reliable killers,‖ says retired Air Force general Todd Stewart, director
of the Ohio State University program in international and domestic security. A recent suicide
Richard Johnson and Paula Froelich ask whether Montel Williams was ―duped‖ into
promoting Scientology when he featured on his show a segment about how children are
―abused‖ when they are given psychiatric drugs such as Ritalin. The show featured
representatives of Scientology‘s anti-psychiatry arm, the Citizens Commission on Human
Rights. (New York Post, Internet, 4/17/03)
Opposition to ―Ritalin‖ Provision
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) believes that the provision in a House special education bill to
prevent schools from requiring students to take medication for attention-deficit disorder
―probably had its antecedents in the community that believes that all medication for kids
with [attention-deficit disorder] is wrong.‖ Kennedy and psychiatrists say that the
provision—sponsored by Rep. Max Burns (R-GA), and supported by Speaker Dennis Hastert
(R-IL)—has been ―aggressively backed‖ by Scientology’s Citizens Commission on Human
Rights to help achieve what opponents allege is Scientology‘s goal of abolishing psychiatry.
(Emily Pierce, Roll Call, Internet, 5/7/03)
Legislature Refuses to Honor Narconon
The Oklahoma Senate has defeated a resolution, sponsored by Sen. Frank Shurden, to
commend the work of the Narconon Arrowhead drug treatment facility. Narconon is a
program of Scientology, although this was not mentioned in the resolution. Resolution
supporters said that it didn‘t matter who owned the facility, as long as it had good results,
to which they attested. They also noted that the facility was sustained by private money and
that stars like John Travolta are Scientologists. (Tulsa World, Internet, 5/3/03)
Leaders in France Indicted
Alain Roseberg, the head of Scientology’s Paris Celebrity Center, is being investigated for
fraud, and is alleged to have conspired with member Aline Fabre — who is being
investigated for illegally practicing pharmacy — to sell high-dosage vitamins. Rosenberg is
also suspected of giving the plaintiff in a civil suit personality tests ―without scientific basis‖
and getting paid as if this amounted to psychological counseling. (AFP, Internet, 5/7/03)
Marketing Clearwater
Scientology has sent out promotional brochures to national retailers, like the Gap and
Banana Republic in a effort to lure upscale business to downtown Clearwater, FL, site of
Scientology‘s international headquarters, but city officials are upset.
City Commissioner Whitney Gray says that there are people who refuse to spend money
downtown because they think that would benefit Scientology, which now has a dominating
presence there. ―If it looks to the public like the Church of Scientology is building downtown,
people won‘t come,‖ she said.
The Scientology promotional brochure provides information about business incentives
offered by the city, and gives names and phone numbers of City employees. This has also
annoyed commissioners because it may seem to observers that the city is not heading up
its own development effort. (Jennifer Farrell, St. Petersburg Times, 5/29/03)
Terrorism
Suicide Bombers Not Misfits
Study after study shows that, contrary to views stated by President Bush and Senator John
Warner, for example, suicide attackers and their supporters are rarely ignorant or
impoverished people. If terrorist groups relied on maladjusted individuals, ―they couldn‘t
produce effective and reliable killers,‖ says retired Air Force general Todd Stewart, director
of the Ohio State University program in international and domestic security. A recent suicide
