Cultic Studies Review, Vol. 5, No. 1, 2006, Page 83
national fight against the mental-health establishment. The CCHR, now supporting a bill to
add more state oversight of clinical trials involving psychotropic drugs, has spent thousands
on Hollywood trips for local legislators to attend Scientology galas. The head of psychiatry at
Phoenix Children‘s Hospital says the CCHR uses ―fear and misunderstanding‖ that may deter
people from getting psychiatric help. ..Neighbors in San Francisco‘s Bohemian North
Beach are supporting an ordinance that would prevent Scientology — or any religious group
— from buying a historic building. Some locals fear that Scientology would aggressively sell
religious material and disrupt the neighborhood‘s ―easy-going ways.‖ ...Some Leona
Valley, CA, residents are extremely upset at the prospect of a 66-bed drug rehab clinic
proposed by Scientology‘s Narconon organization. ..Scientology is opening a mission on
the Gulf Coast, in Biloxi, MS, because, says a representative, ―There have been so many
Scientology volunteer ministers down here for Katrina relief work there was a reach [sic] to
open a mission.‖ ...Scientology is among critics of a Columbia University-developed
program called TeenScreen, which is based on a voluntary questionnaire aimed to help
identify youngsters with undiagnosed mental health problems. The program is now used at
44 sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and in 460 schools in 42 states. Critics argue that
the program leads to psychiatric care, including drug treatment. ..John T. Conway, who
says that he is not a Scientologist but likes Scientology and the Scientology courses he has
taken, is running for mayor of Dunedin, FL.
The French government‘s ―Interministerial Mission in the Fight Against Cults‖ warns that
cult-like groups are taking advantage of vulnerable people in immigrant suburbs. The
agency says the groups are recruiting in areas torn by the Fall 2005 riots by offering
humanitarian aid or alternative medicine. Scientology, which claimed credit for calming the
Paris suburb of Aulnay-sous-Bois, is singled out for special concern, while New Acropole
and Jehovah‟s Witnesses are noted as being regularly deployed. The report expresses
particular concern for the safety of children, who ―are malleable and represent the potential
development of the group.‖
Sexual Abuse
The Saskatchewan government has settled the final lawsuits stemming from the botched
prosecution of a supposed child sexual abuse ring in the town of Martinsville in the early
1990s. Two falsely accused police officers were awarded $285,000 and $175,000
respectively. Investigators at the time developed the evidence that led to the charges
against the officers by asking leading questions and rewarding the children with praise when
they got the desired answers.
Singh Khalsa/3HO
Britney Spears is reportedly taking a course in ―sound (vibration) healing‖ from Singh
Khalsa, a Sikh Yoga master in Los Angeles. Khalsa is associated with 3HO (Healthy, Happy,
Holy Organization), founded by the late Yogi Bhajan.
Terrorism
The Australian government is considering the possibility of ―reprogramming‖ captured
terrorists by asking clerics or other influential people to challenge the terrorists‘
interpretation of Islamic teachings. The Federal police commissioner said ―deprogramming‖
was being employed in various forms in Indonesia, Singapore, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and
Britain. Muslim groups in Australia think voluntary counseling might work civil libertarians
think the proposal condones a form of ―brainwashing.‖ The British Home Secretary says,
―What we know about other religious cults may offer some insight into how these men
ended up behaving in this appalling way.‖
national fight against the mental-health establishment. The CCHR, now supporting a bill to
add more state oversight of clinical trials involving psychotropic drugs, has spent thousands
on Hollywood trips for local legislators to attend Scientology galas. The head of psychiatry at
Phoenix Children‘s Hospital says the CCHR uses ―fear and misunderstanding‖ that may deter
people from getting psychiatric help. ..Neighbors in San Francisco‘s Bohemian North
Beach are supporting an ordinance that would prevent Scientology — or any religious group
— from buying a historic building. Some locals fear that Scientology would aggressively sell
religious material and disrupt the neighborhood‘s ―easy-going ways.‖ ...Some Leona
Valley, CA, residents are extremely upset at the prospect of a 66-bed drug rehab clinic
proposed by Scientology‘s Narconon organization. ..Scientology is opening a mission on
the Gulf Coast, in Biloxi, MS, because, says a representative, ―There have been so many
Scientology volunteer ministers down here for Katrina relief work there was a reach [sic] to
open a mission.‖ ...Scientology is among critics of a Columbia University-developed
program called TeenScreen, which is based on a voluntary questionnaire aimed to help
identify youngsters with undiagnosed mental health problems. The program is now used at
44 sites in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and in 460 schools in 42 states. Critics argue that
the program leads to psychiatric care, including drug treatment. ..John T. Conway, who
says that he is not a Scientologist but likes Scientology and the Scientology courses he has
taken, is running for mayor of Dunedin, FL.
The French government‘s ―Interministerial Mission in the Fight Against Cults‖ warns that
cult-like groups are taking advantage of vulnerable people in immigrant suburbs. The
agency says the groups are recruiting in areas torn by the Fall 2005 riots by offering
humanitarian aid or alternative medicine. Scientology, which claimed credit for calming the
Paris suburb of Aulnay-sous-Bois, is singled out for special concern, while New Acropole
and Jehovah‟s Witnesses are noted as being regularly deployed. The report expresses
particular concern for the safety of children, who ―are malleable and represent the potential
development of the group.‖
Sexual Abuse
The Saskatchewan government has settled the final lawsuits stemming from the botched
prosecution of a supposed child sexual abuse ring in the town of Martinsville in the early
1990s. Two falsely accused police officers were awarded $285,000 and $175,000
respectively. Investigators at the time developed the evidence that led to the charges
against the officers by asking leading questions and rewarding the children with praise when
they got the desired answers.
Singh Khalsa/3HO
Britney Spears is reportedly taking a course in ―sound (vibration) healing‖ from Singh
Khalsa, a Sikh Yoga master in Los Angeles. Khalsa is associated with 3HO (Healthy, Happy,
Holy Organization), founded by the late Yogi Bhajan.
Terrorism
The Australian government is considering the possibility of ―reprogramming‖ captured
terrorists by asking clerics or other influential people to challenge the terrorists‘
interpretation of Islamic teachings. The Federal police commissioner said ―deprogramming‖
was being employed in various forms in Indonesia, Singapore, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and
Britain. Muslim groups in Australia think voluntary counseling might work civil libertarians
think the proposal condones a form of ―brainwashing.‖ The British Home Secretary says,
―What we know about other religious cults may offer some insight into how these men
ended up behaving in this appalling way.‖
