Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2005, Page 56
The investigative report includes comments from Scientology critics explaining how the
organization used the law, and other means, to harass and silence them. (Mark Sommer,
Buffalo News, Internet, 1/30, 1/31, 2/1, 2/2/, 05)
Community Acceptance
Scientology is slowly gaining acceptance in Clearwater, FL, the spiritual base of an
organization that has had a contentious history with the local community since establishing
there in the 1970s. Scientology now owns much of the downtown area, which it is
developing, and is involved in many local organizations. ―It has been a long, grueling road
for them,‖ says Mary Repper, a retired political consultant and lobbyist hired by Scientology
to help improve its image. ―But I think the stigma is gone.‖
The Rev. William Rice, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, says, however: ―Most people in
Clearwater look at it in a cult-like fashion. Certainly, those of us who are evangelical
Christians view it as a big, worldwide cult. ..They have a very soft, clever, subtle
approach.‖
Clearwater‘s mayor says the shift from rejection to acceptance has gone from zero or one to
four or five on a scale of ten. (Paul Nussbaum, KRN via Philadelphia Inquirer, Internet,
3/13/05)
Medical Association Supports Dropping Narconon from Schools
Speaking of the California Medical Association‘s support for state school districts that have
dropped Scientology’s Narconon drug education course, Dr. Charles Wibblesman, chief of
the teenage clinic for Kaiser Permanente, in San Francisco, says: ―The idea is to remove any
agency that goes into our schools to teach without evidence for what they are teaching—
this cannot be allowed.‖ (Nanette Asimov, San Francisco Chronicle, Internet, 3/27/05)
Scientology Supported Mental Services Bill Diluted
A bill being considered by a committee of the Florida House of Representatives to limit the
use of psychotropic drugs to treat children has been made less stringent than it was when
first introduced despite testimony from ―star‖ Scientologists Kirstie Alley and Kelly
Preston, who vehemently argued Scientology‘s hostility toward psychiatry and psychotropic
drugs. The bill would have required a school to tell parents that there are no medical tests
to diagnose mental illness and that a mental disorder diagnosis would go on a student‘s
permanent record. The bill now simply prohibits schools from denying services to children
who refuse psychotropic drugs, thus mirroring a federal law passed last year. (Alisa Ulferts,
St. Petersburg Times, Internet, 4/20/05)
Narconon Buys Hospital
The two-year-old Stone Hawk rehabilitation center, run by Scientology’s Narconon drug
treatment program, near Battle Creek, MI, has purchased the bankrupt former Trillium
Hospital, in Albion, for use as a 100-bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. The CEO of
Foote Hospital, which earlier took over the failed Trillium, said Stone Hawk has ―proven to
be a tremendous neighbor and business partner in the Battle Creek community.‖ (Bradley
Flory, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Internet, 4/26/05)
End of Surveillance
A court in Germany‘s Saarland has, on appeal, ordered an end to seven years‘ surveillance
of the 20 Scientologists in the state, saying wiretaps and infiltrators had found no
significant evidence of subversion or bullying of former members who renounced the group.
(Expatica, Internet, 4/27/05)
The investigative report includes comments from Scientology critics explaining how the
organization used the law, and other means, to harass and silence them. (Mark Sommer,
Buffalo News, Internet, 1/30, 1/31, 2/1, 2/2/, 05)
Community Acceptance
Scientology is slowly gaining acceptance in Clearwater, FL, the spiritual base of an
organization that has had a contentious history with the local community since establishing
there in the 1970s. Scientology now owns much of the downtown area, which it is
developing, and is involved in many local organizations. ―It has been a long, grueling road
for them,‖ says Mary Repper, a retired political consultant and lobbyist hired by Scientology
to help improve its image. ―But I think the stigma is gone.‖
The Rev. William Rice, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, says, however: ―Most people in
Clearwater look at it in a cult-like fashion. Certainly, those of us who are evangelical
Christians view it as a big, worldwide cult. ..They have a very soft, clever, subtle
approach.‖
Clearwater‘s mayor says the shift from rejection to acceptance has gone from zero or one to
four or five on a scale of ten. (Paul Nussbaum, KRN via Philadelphia Inquirer, Internet,
3/13/05)
Medical Association Supports Dropping Narconon from Schools
Speaking of the California Medical Association‘s support for state school districts that have
dropped Scientology’s Narconon drug education course, Dr. Charles Wibblesman, chief of
the teenage clinic for Kaiser Permanente, in San Francisco, says: ―The idea is to remove any
agency that goes into our schools to teach without evidence for what they are teaching—
this cannot be allowed.‖ (Nanette Asimov, San Francisco Chronicle, Internet, 3/27/05)
Scientology Supported Mental Services Bill Diluted
A bill being considered by a committee of the Florida House of Representatives to limit the
use of psychotropic drugs to treat children has been made less stringent than it was when
first introduced despite testimony from ―star‖ Scientologists Kirstie Alley and Kelly
Preston, who vehemently argued Scientology‘s hostility toward psychiatry and psychotropic
drugs. The bill would have required a school to tell parents that there are no medical tests
to diagnose mental illness and that a mental disorder diagnosis would go on a student‘s
permanent record. The bill now simply prohibits schools from denying services to children
who refuse psychotropic drugs, thus mirroring a federal law passed last year. (Alisa Ulferts,
St. Petersburg Times, Internet, 4/20/05)
Narconon Buys Hospital
The two-year-old Stone Hawk rehabilitation center, run by Scientology’s Narconon drug
treatment program, near Battle Creek, MI, has purchased the bankrupt former Trillium
Hospital, in Albion, for use as a 100-bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. The CEO of
Foote Hospital, which earlier took over the failed Trillium, said Stone Hawk has ―proven to
be a tremendous neighbor and business partner in the Battle Creek community.‖ (Bradley
Flory, Jackson Citizen Patriot, Internet, 4/26/05)
End of Surveillance
A court in Germany‘s Saarland has, on appeal, ordered an end to seven years‘ surveillance
of the 20 Scientologists in the state, saying wiretaps and infiltrators had found no
significant evidence of subversion or bullying of former members who renounced the group.
(Expatica, Internet, 4/27/05)
