Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 4, No. 2, 2005, Page 57
Narconon in State Prison
Hundreds of inmates with mental illness at California‘s high-security Corcoran State Prison
have participated in the Criminon International rehabilitation program, which is affiliated
with Scientology, an organization that rejects traditional mental health care. Experts both
inside and outside the prison system worry that Criminon, which seems to have been
operating at Corcoran State for 15 years, as well as in other state prisons, might undermine
the work of licensed clinicians working with inmates. (Sharon Waxman, New York Times
News Service, in San Diego Union-Tribune, Internet, 5/1/05)
Prison officials are reviewing the program, which opens with readings from Scientology
founder L. Ron Hubbard’s book, ―The Way to Happiness,‖ and includes the advice to
presenters to get prisoners off psychiatric drugs. ―Most of the time this is a ploy to keep the
inmates sedated so that they don‘t cause trouble,‖ according to the manual. One official
involved in prison mental health said Criminon has operated without any oversight by
mental health experts. He emphasized that state treatment ―is based on research and
empirical data ...[and] subjected to the rigors of the scientific standard ...Theirs is not.
The more that is being uncovered, the more disturbing it is.‖
Scientology‘s aim, according to professor Stephen Kent, of the University of Alberta, ―is to
destroy psychiatry and replace it with Scientology‘s own treatments. If inmates, through
Criminon ...adopt Scientology‘s rigid ideological stance against psychiatry, then mental
health professionals within the prison and parole system are at risk.‖ (Dan Morainbe, Los
Angeles Times, Internet, 5/29/05)
Cruise’s Promotion of Scientology Overshadows Film
Tom Cruise‘s promotion of Scientology programs, during public appearances ostensibly
aimed to promote his new film, ―War of the Worlds,‖ may be eclipsing his Hollywood career,
and studio heads are concerned. The poster for the film clearly resembles the cover of a
book written by [Scientology founder] L. Ron Hubbard.
Cruise‘s recent preoccupation with publicizing Scientology coincided with the firing of his
long-time publicist and replacing her with his sister, Lee Ann De Vette [also a Scientologist].
According to members of the church, Cruise has reached the sixth of Scientology‘s eight
Operating Thetan levels, and is therefore trusted enough to know almost all of the ―secret
truth of the universe.‖ (Andrew Gumbel, The Independent, UK, Internet, 6/3/05)
Anti-Psychiatry Campaign in Germany
Scientology in Germany has launched a campaign against psychiatry, blaming the
Holocaust on psychiatrists and saying that Freud was a drug-abusing promoter of
promiscuity whose theories ―have been largely disproved.‖ Abraham Foxman, of the U.S.
Anti-Defamation League, echoed the sentiments of German Jewish leaders when he said
that by ―accusing psychiatry of utilizing the techniques and tactics of Nazism during the
Shoa [Holocaust],‖ they ―are abusing it for their own purposes. It‘s offensive, insensitive,
and inappropriate.‖ (Toby Axelrod, JTA, Internet, 6/4/05)
Schools Superintendent Asks Scientologists for Help
Speaking to a gathering convened by the Scientology-inspired Florida Citizens for Social
Reform, at the church‘s Fort Harrison Hotel, Pinellas County, FL, schools superintendent
Clayton Wilcox called on Scientologists to join in helping the district solve its problems.
Members of the local political elite who attended the meeting included three school board
members, two state representatives, the sheriff, a judge, and a Clearwater City counselor.
Narconon in State Prison
Hundreds of inmates with mental illness at California‘s high-security Corcoran State Prison
have participated in the Criminon International rehabilitation program, which is affiliated
with Scientology, an organization that rejects traditional mental health care. Experts both
inside and outside the prison system worry that Criminon, which seems to have been
operating at Corcoran State for 15 years, as well as in other state prisons, might undermine
the work of licensed clinicians working with inmates. (Sharon Waxman, New York Times
News Service, in San Diego Union-Tribune, Internet, 5/1/05)
Prison officials are reviewing the program, which opens with readings from Scientology
founder L. Ron Hubbard’s book, ―The Way to Happiness,‖ and includes the advice to
presenters to get prisoners off psychiatric drugs. ―Most of the time this is a ploy to keep the
inmates sedated so that they don‘t cause trouble,‖ according to the manual. One official
involved in prison mental health said Criminon has operated without any oversight by
mental health experts. He emphasized that state treatment ―is based on research and
empirical data ...[and] subjected to the rigors of the scientific standard ...Theirs is not.
The more that is being uncovered, the more disturbing it is.‖
Scientology‘s aim, according to professor Stephen Kent, of the University of Alberta, ―is to
destroy psychiatry and replace it with Scientology‘s own treatments. If inmates, through
Criminon ...adopt Scientology‘s rigid ideological stance against psychiatry, then mental
health professionals within the prison and parole system are at risk.‖ (Dan Morainbe, Los
Angeles Times, Internet, 5/29/05)
Cruise’s Promotion of Scientology Overshadows Film
Tom Cruise‘s promotion of Scientology programs, during public appearances ostensibly
aimed to promote his new film, ―War of the Worlds,‖ may be eclipsing his Hollywood career,
and studio heads are concerned. The poster for the film clearly resembles the cover of a
book written by [Scientology founder] L. Ron Hubbard.
Cruise‘s recent preoccupation with publicizing Scientology coincided with the firing of his
long-time publicist and replacing her with his sister, Lee Ann De Vette [also a Scientologist].
According to members of the church, Cruise has reached the sixth of Scientology‘s eight
Operating Thetan levels, and is therefore trusted enough to know almost all of the ―secret
truth of the universe.‖ (Andrew Gumbel, The Independent, UK, Internet, 6/3/05)
Anti-Psychiatry Campaign in Germany
Scientology in Germany has launched a campaign against psychiatry, blaming the
Holocaust on psychiatrists and saying that Freud was a drug-abusing promoter of
promiscuity whose theories ―have been largely disproved.‖ Abraham Foxman, of the U.S.
Anti-Defamation League, echoed the sentiments of German Jewish leaders when he said
that by ―accusing psychiatry of utilizing the techniques and tactics of Nazism during the
Shoa [Holocaust],‖ they ―are abusing it for their own purposes. It‘s offensive, insensitive,
and inappropriate.‖ (Toby Axelrod, JTA, Internet, 6/4/05)
Schools Superintendent Asks Scientologists for Help
Speaking to a gathering convened by the Scientology-inspired Florida Citizens for Social
Reform, at the church‘s Fort Harrison Hotel, Pinellas County, FL, schools superintendent
Clayton Wilcox called on Scientologists to join in helping the district solve its problems.
Members of the local political elite who attended the meeting included three school board
members, two state representatives, the sheriff, a judge, and a Clearwater City counselor.
