All Blog Posts Tagged 'miscavige' - ANONYMOUS Ireland2024-03-28T18:57:22Zhttp://anoneire.ning.com/profiles/blog/feed?tag=miscavige&xn_auth=noKevin Stevenson: ‘Suing the Scientologists’ – The Phoenix, February 22nd 2013tag:anoneire.ning.com,2013-02-22:2163779:BlogPost:233392013-02-22T01:00:00.000Zsomeonehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/Anonymous
<div class="moz-text-flowed" lang="x-western" xml:lang="x-western">A High Court case coming down the tracks promises to shed some light on the mysterious internal workings of the Church of Scientology in Ireland, which is being sued for €100,000 by a former member who is alleging 'fraud', 'undue influence', 'misrepresentation,' and 'infliction of emotional distress.' The Scientologists are contesting the allegations and are represented by Dublin solicitors, Noel Smyth & Partners.…<br></br></div>
<div class="moz-text-flowed" lang="x-western" xml:lang="x-western">A High Court case coming down the tracks promises to shed some light on the mysterious internal workings of the Church of Scientology in Ireland, which is being sued for €100,000 by a former member who is alleging 'fraud', 'undue influence', 'misrepresentation,' and 'infliction of emotional distress.' The Scientologists are contesting the allegations and are represented by Dublin solicitors, Noel Smyth & Partners.<br/> <br/>
The plaintiff, Kevin Stevenson, is a graphic designer originally from County Donegal, who lived in Dublin for a number of years and currently resides in Paris. Stevenson alleges that around 2004, he was offered a copy of the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, written by Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard and the following year, he attended the Irish headquarters of Scientology, on Dublin's Middle Abbey Street, for 'personality testing'.<br/>
<br/>
Stevenson claims to have been unduly influenced by the organisation to take out a new mortgage on his home with Start Mortgages to free up capital to pay for the auditing courses, including one referred to as the 'purification and objectives' course. (Auditing is a central practice in Scientology in which an interviewer asks the subject a series of questions designed to uncover subconscious memories.) He previously had a relatively small mortgage of his house and received on an annual salary of around €60,000 from the advertising agency he worked for.<br/>
<br/>
One of the Scientology staff allegedly moved into Stevenson's house for about a year, where he lived rent-free. By 2009, it is alleged, Stevenson was running out of cash and claims that the Scientologists (and its servants and agents), became increasingly aggressive in their demands for money, occasionally phoning him at work to seek payment. Stevenson later left the organisation, apparently with the help of his friends and then moved abroad.<br/>
<br/>
The latest accounts available for the company behind the Scientologists in Ireland — the Church of Scientology Mission of Dublin Ltd — showed that it had a deficit in members' funds of €685,000 at the end of April 2010. A note in the accounts said that this "deficit has been funded by members of the Church of Scientology worldwide and other Church of Scientology Missions."<br/>
<br/>
The company directors are listed as Gerard Ryan, an architect with an address in Finglas, D11, and Siobhan Ryan, who lives in Swords, Co Dublin. Two other senior members are Dublin-based chiropractors Gerard Collins and wife, Zabrina Collins. She is the daughter of the Donegal publican, Frank Shortt, who was framed by Gardai in the 1990s who falsely accused him of allowing the sale of drugs in his nightclub, for which he spent three years in jail.<br/>
<br/>
This is not the first time a former member of the Scientologists has taken the company to the Irish courts. In 2003, a case in which one Mary Johnston had alleged conspiracy, misrepresentation, breach of constitutional rights and infliction of emotional harm, was settled on undisclosed terms.</div>Greeting Irish anon'stag:anoneire.ning.com,2013-01-13:2163779:BlogPost:236082013-01-13T00:05:18.000ZOverwatch Anonhttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/OverwatchAnon
<p>How did the Protest today go At the head of scientology Ireland?Middle abbey st?</p>
<p>How did the Protest today go At the head of scientology Ireland?Middle abbey st?</p>"Belgium to bring fraud charges against Scientologists" - Irish Independent, December 29th 2012tag:anoneire.ning.com,2012-12-29:2163779:BlogPost:234092012-12-29T01:00:00.000Zsomeonehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/Anonymous
<p>BELGIAN federal prosecutors are preparing to bring charges, including fraud and extortion, against the Church of Scientology as a "criminal organisation", according to press reports.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Charges of fraud, illegal medicine, breaches of privacy and extortion have been drawn up against the church and two senior executives, 'De Tijd', Belgium's financial newspaper, has reported.</p>
<p></p>
<p>"The subpoenas have only just been sent to the Scientologists," the newspaper…</p>
<p>BELGIAN federal prosecutors are preparing to bring charges, including fraud and extortion, against the Church of Scientology as a "criminal organisation", according to press reports.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Charges of fraud, illegal medicine, breaches of privacy and extortion have been drawn up against the church and two senior executives, 'De Tijd', Belgium's financial newspaper, has reported.</p>
<p></p>
<p>"The subpoenas have only just been sent to the Scientologists," the newspaper reported.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The charges are said to relate to employment contracts issued to recruit volunteers and members in breach of Belgium's strict employment laws.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Prosecutors are investigating claims of extortion of members, the illegal use of "pseudo-medicine" and the keeping of records that contravene privacy laws.</p>
<p></p>
<p>A spokesman for the church's Brussels headquarters said: "Unfortunately, we have not received anything from the prosecutor's office yet. The media have been informed, we have not."</p>
<p></p>
<p>Scientology's rejection of many medical practices and its psychological "auditing" techniques of recruits, including the taking of personal records, have long been controversial. In February this year, a French appeals court upheld fraud charges and a €600,000 fine against the Church of Scientology in France for talking its recruits into paying large sums for bogus personality tests and cures.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The movement, which has actor Tom Cruise as its figurehead, has been under investigation in Belgium for 15 years without any charges being brought against the organisation, which is viewed as a cult in many European countries.</p>
<p></p>
<p>While Scientology is regarded as a religion in the United States, Italy and Spain, it is not recognised as a church in other European countries such as France, Germany, Belgium and Britain.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/belgium-to-bring-fraud-charges-against-scientologists-3338253.html" target="_blank">http://www.independent.ie/world-news/europe/belgium-to-bring-fraud-charges-against-scientologists-3338253.html</a></p>FBI & Canada to Investigate Scientology Conspiracy Complaintstag:anoneire.ning.com,2012-07-12:2163779:BlogPost:225252012-07-12T20:21:35.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p><img alt="Scientology Under Investigation" height="250" src="http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/c6/21/c6217212a7a117760be3eadf3d027bb3.jpg" title="Scientology Under Investigation" width="353"></img> Early this week the FBI received a formal complaint against Scientology, citing several alleged crimes, including, but not limited to exploitation of a handicap, interstate deceptive telemarketing, misleading marketing practices, fraud, and conspiracy to commit fraud. This complaint followed on the heels of a recent report filed with the Canada Competition Bureau for similar alleged crimes over a twelve year period.</p>
<p>A recent FBI investigation named Operation Disconnect was a…</p>
<p><img title="Scientology Under Investigation" alt="Scientology Under Investigation" src="http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/image_content_width/hash/c6/21/c6217212a7a117760be3eadf3d027bb3.jpg" width="353" height="250"/>Early this week the FBI received a formal complaint against Scientology, citing several alleged crimes, including, but not limited to exploitation of a handicap, interstate deceptive telemarketing, misleading marketing practices, fraud, and conspiracy to commit fraud. This complaint followed on the heels of a recent report filed with the Canada Competition Bureau for similar alleged crimes over a twelve year period.</p>
<p>A recent FBI investigation named Operation Disconnect was a huge success, leading to over 300 arrests in the USA.</p>
<p>Once again, the FBI is facing an ominous adversary, the Church of Scientology and their Narconon rehab centers around the globe. Today’s complaint focussed on the USA – Canada connection and information submitted indicates how desperate and vulnerable addicts and their loved ones are scammed out of upwards of $30,000 each.</p>
<p>The hook in nearly every victim is the Cult’s promise of 70-90% success rate and they are convinced by a councelor over the phone that the Narconon treatment center is staffed by qualified medical professionals.</p>
<div><div><div><div><div><div><a href="/video/inside-scientology-rehab-narconon"><img title="Inside Scientology Rehab Narconon" alt="Scientology is quite likely the most ruthless, the most classically terroristic, the most litigious and the most lurative cult the world has ever seen. No cult or sect extracts more money from it's members." src="http://cdn2-b.examiner.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/hash/93/a7/93a749e9505455cc93d778d06cd9a105.jpg"/></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Video: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84LxCZIwRI8">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84LxCZIwRI8</a></h2>
<p>An unwary loved one searches the internet for treatment for their son or daughter and quickly finds a long list of referral websites that can offer immediate help to a center in a town or city close by. Many of these deceptive websites neglect to indicate the name of the treatment facility or the exact location. The victim is simply asked to fill in a request for help form and click send or just call the toll free number for immediate help.</p>
</div>
</div>
<p><a href="http://davidedgarlove.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/addict2.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-574" title="addict2" alt="" src="http://davidedgarlove.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/addict2.jpg?w=640"/></a>A few minutes later and the desperate victims are talking to a Certified Chemical Dependency Councelor (CCDC). Little does the addict or loved one know that the person they are talking to is usually a recent Narconon Graduate who took a short Field Staff Member’s (FSM), Scientology course at Narconon and possess a Certificate printed at Narconon.</p>
<p>Similar to a used car salesman, the councelor “a price can’t be placed on a life” and they promise an unrealistic success rate with excellent medical care.</p>
<p>Narconon Trois-Rivieres in Quebec, recently closed because the Health Agency declared the patients were in imminent danger of harm or death, and the three recent patient deaths while in the care of Narconon Arrowhead, paint a clear picture that Narconon is a scam and governments from around the globe are taking notice and acting to protect their citizens from abuse and harm.</p>
<p><a href="http://davidedgarlove.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/davemask1.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-579" title="davemask" alt="" src="http://davidedgarlove.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/davemask1.jpg?w=300&h=272" width="300" height="272"/></a>With Federal investigations in the USA and Canada concerning telemarketing and internet fraud, exploitation, deceptive marketing practices, and conspiracy to commit fraud, this criminally convicted Scientology organization could soon be facing the justice system once again.</p>
<p>More as the investigation unfolds.</p>
<p>David Edgar Love</p>“Anti-Scientology campaigners fear harassment” – The Sunday Times (Ireland), May 13th 2012tag:anoneire.ning.com,2012-05-13:2163779:BlogPost:219722012-05-13T00:00:00.000Zsomeonehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/Anonymous
<p>FORMER members of the Church of Scientology will hold a conference in Dublin next month to highlight the impact the movement has on followers.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The organiser is Pete Griffiths, a former director of an English Scientology mission, who says he has informed police at Dublin airport Scientologists may stage protests there against speakers arriving for the event.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Mike Rinder, a former chief spokesman for Scientology, claims when he came to Ireland in October he was…</p>
<p>FORMER members of the Church of Scientology will hold a conference in Dublin next month to highlight the impact the movement has on followers.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The organiser is Pete Griffiths, a former director of an English Scientology mission, who says he has informed police at Dublin airport Scientologists may stage protests there against speakers arriving for the event.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Mike Rinder, a former chief spokesman for Scientology, claims when he came to Ireland in October he was confronted at the airport by seven Scientologists shouting “You are not welcome in Ireland”.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The movement’s followers also protested at TV3′s studios, where Rinder was giving an interview, in which he claimed the Church of Scientology took money from followers by getting them to sign up to “life improvement” courses, mentally abused them, and controlled their emotions and behaviour. Rinder, who left in 2007, has admitted he intimidated and sought to discredit critics of the movement when he was in the church.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Griffiths now takes part in regular protests by Anonymous outside the church’s Dublin’s mission and credits the online activists for enabling defectors to join forces online. He had a “penny-drop-ping moment” when he checked out Scientology online in 2008 and now offers support to others who renounce the movement.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“We’re hoping that by raising public awareness, some people who have been in Scientology for a long time will start to question what they are doing,” Griffiths said. “It is brainwashing. The people who join are so keen and enthusiastic and well-meaning, but they control your emotions and rip you off by getting you to work for nothing and devote all of your time to it.”</p>
<p></p>
<p>Gerard Ryan, director of Scientology’s Dublin mission, said; “Our members do their best to ignore them, but their presence is intimidating. This little band has made clear it is their intention to harass and upset our members.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“Anonymous ‘hactivists’ are well publicised for their criminal activities the world over, including several arrests here in Ireland for hacking into the police, Fine Gael and others. Hardly a reputable source of information on the Church of Scientology”.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Speakers at the conference will include Tory Christman, a former ordained minister in Scientology, who worked at one of its celebrity centres. He once complained to MTV about A South Park parody that satirised actor John Travolta, a prominent church member. Tom Cruise and Peaches Geldof are among its other devotees.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Ryan dismissed the conference as “a handful of ex-members who have not been around for years”.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/4327/sundaytimes2.png"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/ONerfl.jpg"/></a></p>Please Help Protect Vulnerable Patients at Narconontag:anoneire.ning.com,2012-02-07:2163779:BlogPost:219232012-02-07T02:31:20.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149254364?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149254364?profile=original" width="219"></img></a> Recent and credible information received from a few places across Canada, indicates that Narconon Trois-Rivieres (OSA – COS), mounted a campaign to fight as hard as possible and inundate the Ministry of Health and Social Services with volumes of PR letters from Staff, ex staff and Narconon ex-students. Also to another government agency, but this one is not urgent.</p>
<p>The…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149254364?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149254364?profile=original" width="219"/></a>Recent and credible information received from a few places across Canada, indicates that Narconon Trois-Rivieres (OSA – COS), mounted a campaign to fight as hard as possible and inundate the Ministry of Health and Social Services with volumes of PR letters from Staff, ex staff and Narconon ex-students. Also to another government agency, but this one is not urgent.</p>
<p>The Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services will soon be making their decision concerning the Certification of Narconon Trois-Rivieres and it extremely important at this phase, to direct addition documents to the Ministry for them to review.</p>
<p>We are preparing to send one last and final appeal to the Health Ministry to decline-reject Narconon’s application for Certification.</p>
<p><strong>Please review the post below to see what Narconon must conform to:</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://whyweprotest.net/community/threads/david-love-vs-narconon-trois-rivieres-certification-denial.94318/">https://whyweprotest.net/community/threads/david-love-vs-narconon-trois-rivieres-certification-denial.94318/</a></p>
<p>We have seen Narconon’s Success Rate removed off their sites to comply. We have reviewed many new websites and videos promoting an “Ideal Narconon Rehab ORG” and it’s obvious in what direction this is heading. It’s a massive PR campaign.</p>
<p>We can and will do better - - it’s quite easy when providing truth!</p>
<p><strong>This is what we need accomplished as soon as possible:</strong></p>
<p>As many Poons/Data informations, concerning the abuses, dangers, indoctrination, frauds, deaths, illnesses, confinement, disconnection policies, PTS Doctrines, SP Doctrines, etc, sent to the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services in Trois-Rivieres.</p>
<p>It doesn’t matter how short or long - - simple or comprehensive - - but if we are to ensure the closure of the largest Narconon in the World, over 100 beds for patients who would otherwise have a chance with professional and qualified medical care at a center who treats patients using methods that are recognized in current medical literature, we need help sending the Health Ministry a message.</p>
<p><strong>Here is the Email Address of the Health Ministry person in charge:</strong></p>
<p><a href="mailto:Denis.Grenier.Agence04@ssss.gouv.qc.ca">Denis.Grenier.Agence04@ssss.gouv.qc.ca</a></p>
<p><strong>Denis Grenier</strong></p>
<p>Commissaire régional aux plaintes et à la qualité des services</p>
<p>Bureau du Commissaire régional aux plaintes:</p>
<p>550, rue Bonaventure</p>
<p>Trois-Rivières (Québec) G9A 2B5</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Telephone: 819 693-3606</p>
<p>Toll Free: 1 888 693-3606</p>
<p>Fax : 819 373-1627</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://reachingforthetippingpoint.net/narcononsurvey/">http://reachingforthetippingpoint.net/narcononsurvey/</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>David Edgar Love</p>
<p> </p>"Court upholds Scientology fraud ruling in France" - The Irish Times, February 3rd 2012tag:anoneire.ning.com,2012-02-03:2163779:BlogPost:221152012-02-03T01:00:00.000Zsomeonehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/Anonymous
<p>A FRENCH appeals court has upheld fraud charges and a €600,000 fine against the Church of Scientology for cajoling followers into paying large sums for bogus personality tests and cures.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Rejecting the church’s appeal against a 2009 ruling, the court said two French branches of the US-based organisation were guilty of “organised fraud” and gave four of its leaders suspended jail sentences of up to two years.</p>
<p></p>
<p>A French parliamentary committee described Scientology…</p>
<p>A FRENCH appeals court has upheld fraud charges and a €600,000 fine against the Church of Scientology for cajoling followers into paying large sums for bogus personality tests and cures.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Rejecting the church’s appeal against a 2009 ruling, the court said two French branches of the US-based organisation were guilty of “organised fraud” and gave four of its leaders suspended jail sentences of up to two years.</p>
<p></p>
<p>A French parliamentary committee described Scientology in 1995 as a “dangerous cult”, not a religion, and individual Scientologists had been prosecuted before, but this case marked the first time the organisation as a whole was convicted.</p>
<p></p>
<p>There had been expectations the French courts might ban the group, but legislation passed just before the original trial in May 2009 ruled that out.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The latest ruling found Scientology’s “celebrity centre” and its bookshop in Paris had taken advantage of vulnerable individuals in the 1990s. A personality test offered to followers had “no scientific value” and expensive treatments recommended on foot of negative results were purely a source of revenue.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The five plaintiffs in the case had accused the group of persuading them to spend tens of thousands of euro on the personality tests, vitamin cures, sauna sessions and “purification packs”.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“This is very good news for those who fight against cults and it is a serious defeat for the Church of Scientology,” said Olivier Morice, a lawyer for the plaintiffs.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Mr Morice said that while Scientology could still operate in France, the court’s ruling went to the heart of its activities and opened the door to a ban or dissolution as a possible outcome in other pending lawsuits.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Prosecutors had originally hoped the 2009 trial would lead to a ban in France. However, a change in French law that was approved shortly before a verdict briefly made it impossible to ban or dissolve a group convicted of fraud.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The law has since been changed back, but a ban on the group or its dissolution cannot be enforced retroactively.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Commenting yesterday, the church called the ruling “illegal” and said it would seek to have it overturned through a final appeal to the Cour de Cassation, France’s highest court, which can assess whether the law was applied correctly but not re-examine evidence.</p>
<p></p>
<p>“The church wishes that the fairness of justice, such as protected by our constitution, becomes a reality once again for all the citizens of our country, scientologists included,” a statement said.</p>
<p></p>
<p>The accused and their lawyers were not in court for yesterday’s verdict, but a few dozen scientologists protested outside the court with signs that read “I have the right to my religion”. In 1997 and 1999, French courts convicted Scientology members of fraud, while a court fined the church for violating privacy laws in 2002.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Founded in 1954 by science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard, the church bases its beliefs on the study of his 1950 book, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0203/1224311175786.html" target="_blank">www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0203/1224311175786.html</a></p>Why I protesttag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-11-23:2163779:BlogPost:205052011-11-23T20:59:21.000ZFishnetAnonhttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/tomhegen
<p>Many people ask why i do this and here are my reasons why:</p>
<p>First of all I am still very new to all of this and i do not know as much as people like TheMadHair or Spete. But here is why I do it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reason one: The amounts of deaths that have been happening. One that is most well known is the one about a woman called Lisa McPherson. She was a member of the church and when she got in to a car crash she was not that bad phisicly but mentaly she was very shaken. When at…</p>
<p>Many people ask why i do this and here are my reasons why:</p>
<p>First of all I am still very new to all of this and i do not know as much as people like TheMadHair or Spete. But here is why I do it.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Reason one: The amounts of deaths that have been happening. One that is most well known is the one about a woman called Lisa McPherson. She was a member of the church and when she got in to a car crash she was not that bad phisicly but mentaly she was very shaken. When at Hospital she was picked up by some other members of the church and was being takento another hospital. One that had a church member in it. This was a problem because it was not twenty miles away but forty miles and she had died on the door step of that hospital. So that is my first problem is the fact that she was not looked after properly and was abused when in the church and that when she die she had not a penny to her name. </p>
<p>Reason2: The policies of the Church: The church as two main policies that are not only HARMFUL but also A VIOLATION on HUMAN RIGHTS. This is because they both attack the FREEDOM OF SPEECH. The first on is called disconnection. This means that if you have a family member that dose not like what you are doing with the church then you have to brake away from them full stop. I have a problem with this one because it stops people for giving their freedom of speech and also it shows just how brain washed they are because they almost do it like it is normal. The second one is on of their most dangerous policies. IT is called fair game. This means that if you speak out agents the they are aloud to stop you by any means possible. The most famous case is back in the 1960s a journalist called Paulett Copper wrote a book called "The scandels of Sceintology" this lead to large amounts of herassment my the chuch over the book. This compleatly distroyed her life for what they didi to her. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>These are two of the many reason why i do it. If you have any questions then i would like to hear them thanks</p>
<p> </p>"Scientologists appeal French fraud ruling" - RTÉ News, November 3rd 2011tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-11-03:2163779:BlogPost:200022011-11-03T16:00:00.000Zsomeonehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/Anonymous
<p>The Church of Scientology is appealing a French court ruling that found it guilty of fraud for fleecing vulnerable followers and fined it hundreds of thousands of euros.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The 2009 conviction saw Scientology's Celebrity Centre and its bookshop in Paris, the two branches of its French operations, ordered to pay €600,000 in fines for preying financially on several followers in the 1990s.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Arriving for the hearing at a Paris court today, the group's spokesman, Eric…</p>
<p>The Church of Scientology is appealing a French court ruling that found it guilty of fraud for fleecing vulnerable followers and fined it hundreds of thousands of euros.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The 2009 conviction saw Scientology's Celebrity Centre and its bookshop in Paris, the two branches of its French operations, ordered to pay €600,000 in fines for preying financially on several followers in the 1990s.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Arriving for the hearing at a Paris court today, the group's spokesman, Eric Roux, said he hoped the appeal would "expose the truth of this matter, which was judged in a scandalous manner the first time."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The original ruling, while it stopped short of banning the group from operating in France, dealt a blow to the movement best known for its Hollywood followers such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Alain Rosenberg, the French leader of the movement, was handed a two-year suspended jail sentence and fined €30,000 on the same charge of fraud.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Five more Scientologists were given fines ranging from €1,000 to €20,000 for fraud or the illegal practice of pharmacy after plaintiffs said they were given vitamins and concoctions to improve their mental state.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>France regards Scientology as a cult, not a religion, and has prosecuted individual Scientologists before, but the case marked the first time the organisation as a whole had been convicted.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Olivier Morice, a lawyer for Unadfi, an organisation that campaigns against sects and is a plaintiff in the case, said the appeal was unfounded and accused the movement of being a business instead of a religion.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>"For us, Scientology is a business, whose main goal is to elicit money from its followers," he said outside the court.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a href="http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1103/scientology.html" target="_blank">http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/1103/scientology.html</a></p>"Irish Church of Scientology revenues drop by 60%" - The Irish Times, August 2nd 2011tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-08-02:2163779:BlogPost:157052011-08-02T00:00:00.000Zsomeonehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/Anonymous
<p>REVENUES HAVE plummeted at the Irish branch of the controversial Church of Scientology, which remains deep in the red.<br></br> Membership of the worldwide church, established in 1954, includes movie stars such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.<br></br> However, documents show that interest-free loans from abroad are propping up the Irish branch, which is more than €688,000 in the red in its latest accounts.<br></br>
<br></br>
According to financial documents lodged by the Church of Scientology Mission of…</p>
<p>REVENUES HAVE plummeted at the Irish branch of the controversial Church of Scientology, which remains deep in the red.<br/> Membership of the worldwide church, established in 1954, includes movie stars such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta.<br/>
However, documents show that interest-free loans from abroad are propping up the Irish branch, which is more than €688,000 in the red in its latest accounts.<br/>
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According to financial documents lodged by the Church of Scientology Mission of Dublin Ltd, the company’s revenues more than halved from €484,070 to €193,509 in 2009.<br/>
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As a result of this 60 per cent drop, the church’s operating surplus fell 74 per cent, from €271,804 to €68,292.<br/>
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The accounts are for the 12-month period to the end of April 2009, but were only signed off by the board on July 20th last after a long delay by the company in lodging the return.<br/>
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<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0802/1224301719186.html" target="_blank">http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0802/1224301719186.html</a></p>"Scientology's Dublin branch is on verge of being struck off" - The Mail on Sunday, June 26th 2011tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-06-26:2163779:BlogPost:166052011-06-26T00:00:00.000Zsomeonehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/Anonymous
THE Church of Scientology in Dublin could be struck off for failing to file company accounts, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal.<br></br><br></br>
The Irish office has failed to file accounts for 2009, which were due in January 2010. Last year's accounts are now also late and a strike-off notice was sent to the church's directors on June 3. If accounts are not filed within two months, the church's assets will be transferred to the State.<br></br>
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The move would be highly embarrassing for the…
THE Church of Scientology in Dublin could be struck off for failing to file company accounts, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal.<br/><br/>
The Irish office has failed to file accounts for 2009, which were due in January 2010. Last year's accounts are now also late and a strike-off notice was sent to the church's directors on June 3. If accounts are not filed within two months, the church's assets will be transferred to the State.<br/>
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The move would be highly embarrassing for the controversial organisation, which counts celebrities such as Tom Cruise as members.<br/>
<br/>
The organisation still appears to be reeling from …<br/>
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<a href="http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-259781310.html">http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-259781310.html</a>Narconon Trois-Rivieres: Scientology Connectiontag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-05-02:2163779:BlogPost:137202011-05-02T03:07:57.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
Company information:<br></br>Smart People Today<br></br>Montreal, Québec<br></br>Canada<br></br><br></br><span class="font-size-6" style="color: #ffffff;">Narconon Trois-Rivieres: Scientology Connection</span><br></br><br></br>Perhaps a dangerous cult of dichotomies would explain some of the puzzling contradictions at this Canadian Rehab treatment facility. The ongoing controversy over the Narconon Rehab being secular, religious, or holistic, may continue on for decades, but the Scientology staff’s actions, point a clear…
Company information:<br/>Smart People Today<br/>Montreal, Québec<br/>Canada<br/><br/><span class="font-size-6" style="color: #ffffff;">Narconon Trois-Rivieres: Scientology Connection</span><br/><br/>Perhaps a dangerous cult of dichotomies would explain some of the puzzling contradictions at this Canadian Rehab treatment facility. The ongoing controversy over the Narconon Rehab being secular, religious, or holistic, may continue on for decades, but the Scientology staff’s actions, point a clear assist finger at being a “Religious” entity. Although we must be cautious in judging ones actions before we know their motives; Hubbard has exposed motive in his writings, leaving “cautious” a moot point.<br/><br/>The words secular, religious, and holistic, are used at random to further the greatest good for their own Religious Group Doctrines and Therapies. In L. Ron Hubbard’s, own words, he states, “The only way you can control people, is to lie to them.” In a Policy Letter from 1972, Scientology Founder, Hubbard states, “Make Money. Make More Money. Make Other People Produce So As To Make More Money."<br/><br/>His motives are exposed in his decades of quotes: “"I'd like to start a religion. That's where the money is" and “"Let's sell these people a piece of blue sky." And these people pay and pay and pay.<br/><br/>Narconon uses the word secular to distance itself from the connection to Scientology controversies and the fear of losing profits should it become common knowledge to the public seeking help for desperate loved ones. When a vulnerable patient enters the Narconon facility under their care and control, speaking about or discussing Scientology is forbidden. In early December 2008, a staff member in the Withdrawal Unit quickly hushed up a few patients who were mumbling on about Narconon being Scientology. The patient who initiated the conversation had been in the Narconon program on a previous occasion and knew well that Narconon was Scientology.<br/><br/>Later on that same day, I inquired why a patient was not permitted to speak about a religion. After all, the Director did state to the Media that they do not discriminate against any religion – “all are welcome”, he said. I was amazed at the answer received from the Narconon staff member. “Well David” he said, “We are concerned that when a patient contacts their family at home, that they will continue speaking about Narconon being Scientology, and it may create an atmosphere of fear, and the family might pull the patient out of Narconon and place them in another treatment center.”<br/><br/>Even though I prodded for more information about why, there were no further answers at that time.<br/><br/><span class="font-size-4"><strong>Let’s Do Some Scientology Religious Therapies:</strong></span><br/><br/>Every step of the Narconon program is Scientology, in every aspect and Religious Doctrine as set forth by Scientology Founder, L. Ron Hubbard. These Doctrines and Therapies begin the day a patient arrives at Narconon Trois-Rivieres, in the form of Assists, Auditing Techniques, and Scientology Training Routines. For a patient detoxing from alcohol or drugs, with no doctor, nurse, or any other professional, qualified medical staff monitoring symptoms, Narconon can be a dangerous, life threatening experience. It was not uncommon for an ambulance or staff member to be seen rushing a patient off to hospital emergency in Trois-Rivieres. Indeed, a disturbing scene. <br/><br/>This Scientology program continues on for three to five months. Many hours, weeks, and months of Scientology Training Routines, Scientology Sauna Purification Rundown, and many weeks in Scientology Auditing Sessions. The patient is brain washed, coerced into writing success stories, and put through Auditing Sessions until what the Course Room Supervisor explained to me was a state of “cracked” obtained from the patient. Later I viewed a small Scientology hand book that was stored in the locked file cabinet where the Patient Case Files were stored in the Objectives Auditing Room. This book indicated what to look for in a Patient being in a Scientology Auditing Session at Narconon.<br/><br/><span class="font-size-4"><strong>Scientology Soul Cracking:</strong></span><br/><br/>As L Ron Hubbard Jr said in an interview, “Brainwashing is nothing compared to it. The proper term would be "soul cracking.” It’s very powerful, very workable and very dangerous.” - "It's like cracking open the soul, which then opens various doors to the power that exists, the satanic and demonic powers. Simply put, it's like a tunnel or an avenue or a doorway. Pulling that power into yourself through another person—“<br/><br/>"He designed his Scientology Operating Thetan techniques (Scientology's secret initiations) to do the same thing. But, of course, it takes a couple of hundred hours of auditing and mega thousands of dollars for the privilege of having your head turned into a glass Humpty Dumpty--shattered into a million pieces. It may sound like incredible gibberish, but it made my father a fortune."<br/><br/>L. Ron Hubbard Jr. may not be far off his Humpty Dumpty analogy when it comes to the practices of Scientology. A story remembered by many at Trois-Rivieres, was that of a Patient from Iran who was in an Auditing Session and was crawling around on all fours. He left immediately after graduating and the Director, Marc Bernard, read his graduation speech. The speech contained a combination of only one word. Meow! The director shook his head in wonder, but did promise to read the speech. So on it went, “Meow -- meow meow meow -- meow meow –- meow.” And on and on, the disturbing speech went.<br/><br/>I would stay up till all hours, diarizing notes from different scenes at Narconon Trois-Rivieres; it was an amazing and absurd thing to see and record and I would usually fall asleep, waking up in the morning with papers all over the bed and floor.<br/><br/>As each day passed, my curiosity grew and I asked more questions. When I asked what Scientology had to do with Narconon, I was told, “Narconon is not Scientology, it’s secular. We only use the technology written by Hubbard, not any of the Religious parts.” Although still in wonder, I carried on in the program as best I could.<br/><br/><span class="font-size-4"><strong>The Narconon Holistic Approach:</strong></span><br/><br/>In Scientology, L. Ron Hubbard is the absolute, supreme authority, and everything he said is true and correct. It can NOT be changed. It is a law not to be questioned, or face severe discipline and a PTS interview, where one is interrogated as to whether there may be a family member or other person in your life that is suppressing you or affecting your life in a negative way. In Scientology, being PTS to somebody is the cause of all accidents and all illness is one’s life – absolutely no other reason.<br/><br/>At Narconon, a Patient must memorize these Scientology Religious Scriptures, word for word and repeat all of them exactly to their Course Room Supervisor. They cannot move forward in their program until this Scripture memorization is perfected. Because I did not believe in such a science fiction approach to life, I refused and my program was halted for three days until my adamant and boisterous opinion was heard. I stood on my integrity and rights to hold my own reasonable and rational views on illness; we agreed to disagree and my file was taken off the shelf and I moved on.<br/><br/>Scientology is famous for throwing around words that suit their purpose in times of need. Holistic Treatment Programs have been around for a long time, going back some 5, 000 years in India and China. A holistic addiction treatment program focuses on techniques of abstinence and solving situational problems that may arise. <br/><br/>Narconon Vista Bay states on their web site, “Holistic medicine is a method of health care that will build a cooperative relationship together with all those parts affected, leading closer to ideal accomplishment of the physical, mental emotional, social and spiritual elements of health. This focuses on the need to treat the entire human being, together with examination of physiological, nutritional, environmental, emotional, social, spiritual and lifestyle principles. Holistic medical care is focused on education and responsibility when it comes to individual endeavors to accomplish harmony and well being.”<br/><br/>“Clearly, the all natural, holistic strategy leaves absolutely nothing untreated which is the reason Narconon Drug Rehabilitation has embraced it as the right approach to alcohol and drug inpatient rehab.”<br/><br/><strong><span class="font-size-4">On The Contrary:</span></strong><br/><br/>When combined with traditional Addiction Treatment Therapies, Holistic Medicine seems to be effective and well worth investigation. Learning new skills that promote continuing recovery is the aim of treating addiction holistically.<br/><br/>True Holistic Medicine and Addiction treatment, advocate one on one counselling and group counselling for a period of approximately 40 weeks on the average. Aftercare is also available which is a whole-family program designed for preventing relapses of participants and helps the family core, as a whole. Also, the holistic addiction treatment program methodologies continuously evolves and adapts to new treatments and in combination with tradition treatment modalities there is little debate that holistic treatment can also be an added benefit. <br/><br/>The Narconon Holistic addiction treatment is something of a different flavour. They state they leave absolutely nothing untreated, but do not promote continuing recovery, individual or group counselling, or deal with any situational problems, except being interrogated and encouraged to disconnect from family members.<br/><br/>Narconon may use Holistic in their marketing lures, but it seems far from a true Holistic treatment of any kind whatsoever. Scientology-Narconon must follow and abide by their dogmatic L. Ron Hubbard’s Pseudoscience approach and Religious Doctrines and Therapies for the life time cure of suffering addicts. Narconon is not permitted to evolve and use new scientific and approved approaches. They must adhere to out dated, science fiction quackery of Scientology founder, Hubbard.<br/><br/>All eight of the Narconon Program Course Books are written by L. Ron Hubbard and contain Scientology Religious Doctrines and Therapies. Every word in these Narconon Books are Scientology. There are no counsellors for patients to meet with and discuss personal problems. No group counselling.<br/><br/>As far as Narconon being secular; only a figment of their imagination and dreams of wealth and filling Scientology coffers.<br/><br/>The Narconon Holistic marketing on their web sites, is nothing more than a ploy to attract paying clients with pockets full of money and indoctrinate patients and recruit them into the Cult of scientology. Perhaps “Holisticness” may fit their Scientology jargon more comfortably.<br/><br/>It is clear that Narconon is Scientology and they cannot escape their own documented proof of such. The Narconon Program is Scientology Scripture, Doctrines and Therapies, and no suffering addict or alcoholic should be subject to such exploitation and unprofessional, dangerous treatment.<br/><br/>Yes, there are some success stories from patients who have completed the Narconon program, but I suggest it is only because they have been removed from their drug invested environment for a period of time and their body and mind had the necessary time to heal. Without proper aftercare, many of these may relapse and be worse off, or in some cases, dead.<br/><br/>Scientology is the most ruthless, the most classically terroristic, the most litigious and the most lucrative cult the world has ever seen. It is not a matter of “if” another person will die; it is a matter of “when.” Narconon is a dangerous rehab center and the health risks and dangers to the Canadian public must not be tolerated any further.<br/><br/>By: David Edgar LoveNarconon's Big Contag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-03-30:2163779:BlogPost:128022011-03-30T07:47:03.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
Narconon’s Big Con<br />
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<strong><em>The Scientology-backed rehab promises addicts they can sweat out their demons in sweltering saunas. But critics charge that the organization is the devil itself.</em></strong><br />
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If these guys were in a Narconon sauna, they'd have even less to smile about.<br />
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By Mark Ebner and Walter Armstrong<br />
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03/27/11<br />
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| Share L. Ron Hubbard, the prolific science fiction author and founder of the Church of Scientology, may have been judged “a mental case” (according to the F.B.I.)…
Narconon’s Big Con<br />
<br />
<strong><em>The Scientology-backed rehab promises addicts they can sweat out their demons in sweltering saunas. But critics charge that the organization is the devil itself.</em></strong><br />
<br />
If these guys were in a Narconon sauna, they'd have even less to smile about.<br />
<br />
By Mark Ebner and Walter Armstrong<br />
<br />
03/27/11<br />
<br />
| Share L. Ron Hubbard, the prolific science fiction author and founder of the Church of Scientology, may have been judged “a mental case” (according to the F.B.I.) and “a pathological liar” (according to a Los Angeles Supreme Court judge), but to tens of thousands of his eager followers worldwide, the man discovered an approach to recovery that outclasses everything on offer from mainstream addiction science. Narconon is the spawn of Hubbard’s pseudoscientific notions, a detox-and-rehab enterprise that has, over more than four decades, grown into a multimillion-dollar empire that currently comprises an estimated several dozen clinics encircling the globe. Its claims of unrivaled success rates with its “100 percent natural,” “drug free” approach have kept it profitable and respectable, even as the church’s reputation has tanked. Celebrity endorsements—from the likes of "former graduate" Kirstie Alley—and a savvy internet marketing campaign haven't hurt.<br />
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Yet according to the organization's many critics, including friends and family of dead, damaged, or disappeared Narconon clients, the chain of rehabs is little more than a front group for the Church of Scientology. They allege that unsuspecting clients pay as much as $30,000 for “treatment” consisting of a bizarre detox process that poses serious health hazards, followed by indoctrination in Scientology masked as drug rehabilitation. By preying on people who are desperate and vulnerable—and therefore prime candidates for conversion—Narconon serves as one of the church’s main sources of revenue and recruitment. With the Scientology brand increasingly toxic—in a recent New Yorker, Lawrence Wright reported that the F.B.I. is investigating its leadership for allegedly violating human trafficking laws—the church’s survival depends more than ever on Narconon’s hold on the addiction and recovery market. (Efforts by The Fix to contact a Narconon spokesperson for comment by phone and email were not successful.)<br />
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L. Ron Hubbard was a strange candidate to emerge as the self-proclaimed scientific leader of one of the world’s largest anti-addiction enterprises. His fondness for illicit substances was well known. Yet aside from his own ingestion of a wide variety of illegal drugs including mescaline, barbiturates, and coke—described in letters written by Hubbard and his son—the exact nature of Hubbard’s “research” into addiction remains obscure. Hubbard claimed to have discovered in 1977 that the residue of L.S.D. and other “toxic” substances lingers in the body’s tissues for months and even years after use; like tiny ticking time bombs, these remnants can explode at any moment, triggering a dangerous craving or disorienting flashback that, in turn, can lead to more drug use.<br />
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The Narconon (not to be confused with Narcotics Anonymous, or N.A.) pamphlet “Ten Things Your Friends May Not Know About Drugs” offers a basic account of the science fiction master’s theories of drug addiction. “Most drugs or their by-products get stored in fat within the body and can stay there for years,” it reads. “Even occasional use has long-term effects. This is a problem because later, when the person is working or exercising or has stress, the fat burns up and a tiny amount of the drug seeps back into the blood. This triggers cravings so the person may still want drugs even years after he stopped taking them.”<br />
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To detoxify from alcohol and drugs, Hubbard recommended in his “Purification Rundown” that ailing addicts spend four or five hours a day in 150-degree saunas, while ingesting megadoses of vitamins. This sweat-out-the-bad, drink-in-the-good regimen had originally been invented by Hubbard as the first stage in the process of conversion to Scientology and becoming “clear”—free of the negativity of “engrams,” or previous incarnations. The ensuing rehabilitation course consists mainly of “training routines,” or “T.R.s"—a deep dive into Old Father Hubbard’s theory and practice of “communication,” which is a disguised version of Scientology 101.<br />
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“By the end of the sauna, you feel like a fresh, newborn baby,” testifies Marc Murphy, the brooding young British singer-songwriter who appears to deliver a testimonial in a promotional video on the official Narconon website, narconon.org. Murphy insists that Narconon’s drug-free approach enabled him to kick a 12-year heroin addiction, compounded by a methadone and Valium habit that he acquired during dozens of previous detox attempts. “It was the easiest withdrawal that I’ve ever done,” the “student” says about his stint at a Narconon rehab outside London. “It saved my life.”<br />
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But lives have also been lost. Since Narconon's inception some 40 years ago, dozens of criminal and civil cases have been filed against its rehabs by former patients who claim to have been injured or abused, and by the relatives of people who have allegedly died as a result of bizarre and dangerous practices. “When I was at Narconon, people were taken away in ambulances and had to spend days in the hospital,” said David Love, a client at Narconon Trois-Rivieres—near Montreal—from December 2008 to May 2009, who was interviewed exclusively by The Fix. “People have died in the Quebec facility. The vitamin and sauna treatments are horrible. Patients regularly vomited and had diarrhea. Addicts with substance abuse problems have liver problems and high enzyme counts—they should in no way be taking massive amounts of vitamins like Niacin.”<br />
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Like many Narconon graduates, Love, 57, made an effortless transition from client to employee under the influence of his rehab's Scientology-based teachings. During the six months he worked at the clinic, he witnessed at least two hospitalizations: “One client had severe stomach pains and they sent him to his room to spend the whole day moaning and in pain, until he was finally taken to the hospital.” The other patient was a diabetic whose insulin was taken away when he entered the clinic, in keeping with its “drug free” philosophy. “The guy [went into insulin shock] and had to be rushed to the hospital. He was in a coma. They basically had to save his life,” said Love.<br />
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Addicted to methadone and cocaine, Love went to the Quebec Narconon thanks to a friend’s advice. Once on staff, he says he began to notice that patients were having “very bizarre reactions, because it’s a very confusing program. A lot of them were crying. One guy punched his hand through the sauna window. Another punched his fist through the freezer glass upstairs.” While confusion, crying, and even violence aren’t exactly unheard of at many legitimate rehabs, the Narconon program is designed to break a person down, he alleged. “If you take a look at those eight Narconon books [that the rehab program is based on], you’re going to ask yourself, ‘What in the hell is this?’ because there’s no medical staff there—no doctor, no nurse, no counselor, no therapist, none.”<br />
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Narconon (“Narco[tics]-Non[e]”) was founded in 1966 by William Benitez, a 32-year-od inmate who was serving 15 years on a narcotics rap at Arizona State Prison. Benitez was looking for a way to turn his life around. On a visit to the prison library he came across “an old, tattered book, Fundamentals of Thought, by L. Ron Hubbard” that (predictably) changed his life. In the book, Hubbard expresses his view that “drug addiction was nothing more than a ‘disability,’ resulting when a person ceases to use abilities essential to constructive survival.” A repeat offender and recovery flameout, Benitez applied Hubbard’s “technology,” “practical exercises” and “certain abilities”—the many T.R.'s—and managed to overcome his drug problem. A few months later, he got permission from the Arizona State Warden to teach the method to 20 fellow addicts, and soon even non-addicts in the prison—or so the official Narconon lore has it—were asking to join the program.<br />
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In 1971, a Scientology minister launched the first Narconon center in Los Angeles, an eight-bed outpatient clinic for clients just getting out of the pen. The “Purif” sauna and vitamin cocktail were added to the basic program of Scientology courses in 1973. Over the next four decades, the organization grew into one of the best-known and biggest rehab programs in the world, claiming over 100 residential facilities, offices, and information centers across 29 countries. However, most independent reports number Narconon’s actual clinics at no more than several dozen. And according to the website of the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE)—the nonprofit that runs Narconon International—there are 33 Narconon in-patient centers worldwide, including three in California, one in Nevada and the flagship facility in Oklahoma. The organization can’t even keep its own facts (or fictions) straight.<br />
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Indeed, an in-depth investigation by The Fix found that very little about the Narconon program stands up to scrutiny—scientific, statistical, or any other kind. Its widely publicized 76% (or higher) success rate is almost certainly wildly exaggerated (most recovery centers would be thrilled to see recovery rates of 20%). Many of the studies cited by Narconon to substantiate its claims were self-funded. Some were conducted by Scientologists; others are misleadingly presented. A 1981 Swedish study—funded by Narconon—found that only 23% of clients had completed the program, of whom 6.6% said they'd remained drug-free for a year. Yet by spinning the data like a top, the group promotes the study as proof of a 76% recovery rate. Paul Schofield, a former Scientologist who worked for Narconon in Australia from 2002 to 2008, told The Fix, “The success rate they promote is simply fraudulent. None of the claims that Narconon is an effective program have been independently verified.”<br />
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As for Narconon’s “drug free” approach, there’s more—in terms of health risks—than meets the eye to the “New Life Program,” widely advertised on its many websites. Hubbard held a fierce aversion to psychiatry and frequently compared psychiatrists to terrorists and mafia dons. This been interpreted by Narconon as a strict ban on meds, such as methadone and Valium, that allow addicts painfully phasing out drugs and alcohol to dial down their dependence gradually, avoiding the physical shock and mental stress of sudden withdrawal. The Narconon detox exposes clients to five-hour-a-day, 150-degree saunas, intended to clear the body of all alcohol, drugs and other toxins that Hubbard believed could trigger cravings and flashbacks. Even more bizarrely, Hubbard claimed the process is only completed when the pores discharge "black ooze."<br />
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To defend itself against charges of charlatanism, Narconon has managed to marshal scant scientific evidence. The same few names defend the organization in the media, decade after decade. One such supporter is Dr. David Root, who practices occupational medicine and is, not coincidentally, a member of the Narconon Scientific Advisory Board. Root, who claims to treat his patients with the “Hubbard detoxification program” at his Sacramento office, told the San Francisco Chronicle in 1991 that drugs and other poisons “come out through the skin in the form of sebaceous, or fatty, sweat. This material is frequently visible and drips, or is rubbed off on towels. It may be black, brown, blue, green, yellow and occasionally red. Most is washed off in the shower…and so is not seen.”<br />
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This apparently explains the need for huge daily doses of vitamins, minerals, and oils, including up to 5,000 mg of niacin—a B vitamin that Hubbard invested with near-magical powers, based on his misconception that by dilating blood vessels, niacin would pump alcohol, drugs and other toxins out of the body. The resulting “niacin flush,” or discoloration of the flesh, is actually the visible toxic discharge, Hubbard claimed.<br />
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Mainstream medical experts scoff at the Narconon detox. Dr. Neal Benowitz, Chief of Clinical Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at U.C.S.F., calls Hubbard’s sweat-it-out theory “amusing” and “ridiculous.” No matter how much a person sweats through exercise or saunas, the clearance of toxins is minimal, at best. What Root described is “not biologically possible. Sweat glands excrete watery substances, not oil,” Benowitz explained to the San Francisco Chronicle. “The concentration of drugs in sweat varies very much from drug to drug. There’s very little T.H.C. in sweat. If a drug is water soluble, you’ll find it in higher concentrations in sweat. But not years later.” Dr. Thomas Brown, an addiction scientist at McGill University, adds that: “[Narconon has] a lot of underlying assumptions that are not borne out by the current state of scientific literature.” Narconon officials provided The Fix with a handful of articles that they said supported their program, mostly in obscure medical journals and including three studies by board member Root himself.<br />
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Cold turkey, heat exposure and kooky cocktails may seem ridiculous and amusing, but they can pose health hazards of special concern to alcoholics and drug addicts. Moreover, these dangers have long been known. According to a 1991 study in the American Journal of Public Health, one quarter of deaths related to sauna use were caused by alcohol or cocaine use—usually from hyperthermia, an elevation in body temperature. Given that hyperthermia is also an adverse effect of alcohol abuse, addicts undergoing the extremely elevated heat of Narconon saunas may be exposing their bodies to a compounded risk. As for megadose niacin, it can be toxic to an addict’s already-weakened liver and kidneys.<br />
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At least six Narconon clients have died—most of them in their 20s—while undertaking the program, according to documents on narconon-exposed.org, a whistle-blower website run by Dr. David Touretzky, a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon University and one of Scientology’s most dogged academic critics.<br />
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The first reported casualty was that of Jocelyne Dorfmann, 34, an epileptic who died of a seizure in 1984 at a Narconon rehab in Dijon, France, according to the 1995 "French Parliamentary Report on Cults." A budding Scientologist, she entered the program in order to be weaned off her epilepsy medication. A French judge ruled that the center’s assistant director was guilty of negligence and ordered the facility to be shut down. Christopher Arbuckle, 25, of Portland, Oregon, died when his liver failed during the vitamin-ingestion phase of the Purification Rundown—after completing several hours of required running in a sauna, according to papers filed with the Oregon State Court. (The Church of Scientology told the St. Petersburg Florida Times that the young man’s death was caused by his steroid use and pre-existing kidney problems that he failed to disclose.) In 1995, in Lombardy, Italy, Paride Ella, 22, and Giuseppe Tomba, 26, died of kidney failure within two days of each other, reported the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Scientologists associated with the Narconon center were found guilty of several crimes, although a higher court later quashed the convictions. In 2002, a 33-year-old Italian woman fell into a coma while in Narconon’s care and later died of peritonitis, an infection that is rarely fatal unless ignored. The woman had apparently been urged by staff at the Narconon center in Torre dell'Orso to ignore her symptoms and complete the program.<br />
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A particularly troubling aspect of these deaths is that they all seem to have been preventable—given prompt medical care. But by the time Narconon staffers decided to call on outside medical help, it was too late. The absence of licensed medical professionals at many Narconon rehabs, coupled with the general prohibition against drugs, including lifesaving medication, is a dangerous combination.<br />
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Touretzky, who toldThe Fix that he receives about one e-mail a week from a former Narconon client, has compiled a lengthy Narconon rap sheet that includes unsanitary accommodations, the on-site use of recreational drugs—including patients having sex with staff in exchange for drugs—and the abandonment of patients at remote bus stations late at night when they spoke out against abuses. “I hear from parents of kids who have been abused in Narconon and from people who have done drugs with their counselors,” Touretzky says. “There are all the bad things you could imagine [at a rehab] at Narconons."<br />
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One of the most serious allegations is that Narconon holds clients against their will. Daniel Locatelli, 35, of Grass Valley, Calif., claims to have been imprisoned by the Newport Beach Narconon in 2008. Two days into his stay, Locatelli grabbed his bags and bolted for the door, according to a June 2009 complaint filed by his fiancee in a California State Court, alleging fraud, breach of contract and attempts at religious conversion. The Narconon staff allegedly held him against his will for two more days, moving him to a second Narconon center, where he was allegedly denied access to a doctor to get treatment for his bronchitis. Locatelli claimed he was forced to read Scientology propaganda and to endure a demeaning ritual known by Scientologists as “bull-baiting,” during which other clients verbally humiliated him. In September 2009, Narconon settled the suit, paying Locatelli and his fiancee $22,000 ($2,000 less than the amount Locatelli had spent on his “recovery”), on condition that they did not publicly discuss the suit—or how the group’s coercive policies forced a recovering drug addict to thumb his way down the highway with his bag in hand, until a staff member finally picked him up and drove him to the airport.<br />
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Narconon staff who attempt to resign have also been imprisoned, especially if they have dirt on the organization. “I tried to leave on two or three different occasions,” said David Love. “I was held in a room against my will for two days, with the door blocked. They wouldn’t give me my ID, my driver’s license, nothing.” Narconon Trois-Rivieres, where Love worked, may have had no medical service, but its security and surveillance were abundant, according to Love. “It’s like a military compound. They have security guards, student control officers, and ethics officers. They count you every 15 minutes, just like a prison. They have a very good P.T.S. [Potential Trouble Source] interview interrogation-type system, where they will turn [clients and staff] around into wanting to stay.” After his escape, Love filed five different lawsuits against Narconon in the Canadian court system.<br />
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Yet lawsuits settled out of court and scattered media exposes have done little to diminish the group's popularity. Like the Church of Scientology, Narconon has effectively adapted itself to the internet age. With its deployment of many “drug,” “rehab,” and other recovery-related domain names, the organization’s web strategy nets many viewers. Narconon sites are wreathed with generic clip-art images of smiling families and clean-cut doctors in lab coats and stethoscopes; they feature scientific-looking manifestos and additional links to obscure, decades-old academic journals and come packed with glowing reviews. “I matured more in the few months that I was at Narconon than I did in the previous five years,” exclaims “A.S.” on the website drugrehab.net. “I now have dreams and goals again. I wake up excited about living each day and knowing that drugs wont [sic] be there.”<br />
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<br />
Claims that “certified counselors” are on-site are misleading, according to Love. “They advertise on their websites that they have certified counselors, course supervisors, withdrawal specialists. But that certificate is printed off right upstairs at Narconon—you take a little Scientology course and get it. There was nobody who had any degree from a university that had anything to do with rehabilitation or treatment.”<br />
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While ex-employees have revealed that Narconon and Scientology are united by shared leadership, shared finances and their shared devotion to the writings of L. Ron Hubbard, Narconon’s websites make no mention of the fact that Scientologists run the show. Yet even in the ‘70s, when Scientology’s popularity was at its peak, Narconon’s ties to the church were rarely publicized.<br />
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The group was initially marketed via public service announcements and free spots on local radio. “Desperate people would call the 800 number provided, and as Scientology began catching negative attention over the years, counselors were instructed to lie and say Narconon was in no way affiliated with the Church,” Patty Pieniadz, a former Narconon executive director, whose condemnation of the rehab is now as fervent as her former ardor, told The Fix.<br />
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Pieniadz’s account of Narconon operations is instructive. In 1973, Pieniadz, then a 19-year-old heroin addict, entered a Narconon facility in New London, Conn., for the modest sum of $50 a month. After several months, she successfully ditched her dependence on dope, but in the process replaced one addiction with another. “I finally was able to kick heroin,” she says, “but Scientology became my new obsession.” In short order, Pieniadz was hired as the New London facility’s “chief recruiter.” By age 22, she had become the executive director, tasked with securing government funding by promoting Narconon’s drug-free teachings in public high schools. By all accounts, she was a great success. “I personally brought in over a quarter million dollars,” Pieniadz recalled.<br />
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Undisclosed to students or clients was the fact that the success of rehabilitation depended on the client’s indoctrination in Scientology. “It was completely understood by Narconon staff that unless the patient did the entire Scientology Drug Rundown, there was little chance that they would permanently stay off drugs,” Pieniadz said. “The unwritten final step of the Narconon program was to acknowledge you were a Scientologist. Only then were you were considered to be rehabilitated.”<br />
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A 1984 internal Narconon document acquired by the Narconon Exposed website proves that this final step was not always unwritten. The document features a flow chart showing each stage of a person’s progression through the program. There is “Detoxification/Withdrawal,” the “Drug Education/Orientation Lecture,” the “Hard T.R.'s (0–9) Course,” the “Purification Program,” the “Objectives,” the “Repair Action,” the “Drug Rundown,” a second “Repair Action,” and “The Way to Happiness Rundown.” Finally, upon exiting Narconon, the purified, repaired and run-down graduate is shown the “route to nearest org for further services if individual so desires.” The “org” is of course a Scientology center, and the “services” are additional Scientology trainings. At Narconon, instruction in the “hard T.R.'s (0–9)” includes T.R. 8, which involves commanding an ashtray to “stand up” and “sit down,” and thanking it for doing so, as loudly as possible. Former Scientologists say that the purpose of the drill is to “beam intention” into the ashtray to make it move. More advanced skills can presumably be acquired in Scientology’s higher learning.<br />
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Dr. Steven Kent, a University of Alberta sociologist who specializes in religions and cults, has studied the Narconon conversion process. “If clients become convinced that ‘auditing’ has contributed to their improvement, they may wish to expand their practice of it by enrolling in Scientology courses,” he told The Fix. “They may not realize that their ‘perceptions’ of what caused their recovery is the result of factors other than what they think.”<br />
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Converting addicts into Scientologists is essential not only to clients' rehabilitation, but to the Narconon business model’s success. Said Kent: “Narconon is a source of revenue and recruitment for Scientology, not to mention a public relations opportunity to show an alleged solution to the widespread community problem of drug addiction.” According to Kent, Narconon is a legally independent entity that pays Scientology for its use of Scientology-based “technology” via a licensing arrangement with ABLE. Like Burger King or T.G.I.F., Narconon operates like a franchise. Scientologists play prominent roles at many of the individual franchises, although not all are owned by church members. Narconon also funnels money directly to the church in more illicit ways, like paying exorbitant rents for church-owned office space, in violation of the laws governing nonprofits, according to Dr. David Touretzky.<br />
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Given the close ties between Scientology and Narconon, it’s no surprise that the drug program’s reputation continues to enjoy endorsements and other support from the church’s famous Hollywood hawkers. Adding to the notoriety earned as a drama queen of fat, Kirstie Alley has served as the Narconon’s official spokesperson since 1990. Alley entered the rehab in 1979 to combat a serious coke addiction; today she credits the program with saving her life. John Travolta, another Scientology stalwart, is also a member of the Narconon advisory board, as is David Miscavige, Scientology’s controversial leader.<br />
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<br />
Yet when Narconon’s role as recruiter for Scientology is publicized, the rehab’s response is often to deny the charge while attacking its critics as pro-drug. In 1991, protesters turned out in force in Chilocco, Oklahoma, to block Narconon’s bid to build a “flagship” residential facility on tribal lands. The opposition was partly based on a consensus that they did not want a Scientology factory in their backyard. But after the Oklahoma Board of Mental Health went to the trouble of investigating the Narconon treatment program, it determined that it was not only dangerous but ineffective. In denying Narconon a permit to operate, it concluded: "No scientifically well-controlled independent, long-term outcome studies were found that directly and clearly establish the effectiveness of the Narconon program for the treatment of chemical dependency and the more credible evidence establishes Narconon's program is not effective…[or] medically safe." During the ensuing media melee, Narconon spokesman Gary Smith told local media that Narconon’s “sole intention is to get people off drugs.” Smith bitterly denounced the critics of the program as “outside sources…either connected to selling drugs or they’re using drugs.” Declining to be more specific, Smith merely said, “Trust me, I know.”<br />
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In recent years, Narconon claims to have instituted rules protecting addicts against any recruitment efforts. But according to a statement made in May 2002 by Devinder Luthra, then president of Narconon Canada, at a session of the Special Committee on Non-Medical Use of Drugs in the House of Commons, about 40% of Narconon clients become employees.<br />
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In the course of these investigations, reporters for The Fix contacted a dozen different Narconon facilities, presenting themselves as addicts in immediate need of help. Without exception, Narconon’s 24-hour “intake counselors” lauded the program’s success rates, while making a play for the money. Clients are typically expected to undergo three months of treatment for a flat fee of $27,000, which must be paid prior to admittance. Pressed for specifics of the program, the information became notably vague. When asked what relationship Narconon had to Scientology, most of the Narconon operator’s deftly deflected the question.<br />
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The reticence of these Narconon representatives is not hard to understand. The past decade has not been good to Scientology, which has been hurt by a series of high-profile defections, increasing media scrutiny and an inability to attract new members—and money. Much of the damage to the church's reputation has been self-inflicted, most notably by its pet celebrities. Tom Cruise’s antics—an extended tirade against psychiatry and antidepressants, for example, and an effort to persuade 9/11 firefighters with respiratory ailments to throw away their inhalers and meds in favor of Scientology rundowns—have been P.R. disasters. A high-profile investigation into the death of John Travolta’s son caused further problems.<br />
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The internet has made it increasingly difficult for the church to suppress its bad press. Dozens of anti-Narconon blogs have sprung up across the web, launched by former clients and staff, who publish their critiques at such sites as narconon-exposed.org, holysmoke.org, and crackpots.org. In 2010, an online network of hackers and computer geeks called Anonymous mobilized thousands of masked people to protest outside Scientology’s “spiritual headquarters” in Clearwater, Florida. Anonymous alleges on its website whyweprotest.net that the church has engaged in "hundreds of illegal actions, fraudulent activities, and human rights violations."<br />
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Scientology owes its sinister reputation partly to the combativeness it displays in the face of criticism. For years, the church has been accused of using lawsuits, psychological warfare and dirty tricks to silence its adversaries. It has spent millions to investigate and sue writers, government officials, disaffected ex-members and other alleged “enemies.” As far back as 1959, Hubbard warned that illness and even death would befall critics of Scientology, known within the church as “suppressive persons.”<br />
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After his resignation from Narconon Trois Rivieres in November 2009, David Love claimed that he received repeated threats from Sue Chubbs, Narconon's director of production. Most chillingly, documents indicate that Chubbs posted the words “Enemy” and “Fair Game” on Love’s Facebook page. These are specific church jargon terms, signaling to other Scientologists that he ”may be deprived of property or injured by any means and by any Scientologist,” Love explained.<br />
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The secrets Scientology is battling in courtrooms (and other, darker venues) to keep hidden allegedly include criminal activity and human rights violations that may have longtime leader David Miscavige doing a little sweating of his own. In his New Yorker profile, describing the director and screenwriter Paul Haggis’ recent angry public defection from the church, Lawrence Wright reports that the F.B.I. opened an investigation into the church in 2009, after a group of top-level defectors began telling the press—and, in some cases, filing lawsuits—alleging that the church runs a series of brutal re-education camps, where members are imprisoned, sometimes for years at a time, and even tortured. Based on accounts by former Scientologists interviewed by the F.B.I., the investigation appears to be focused on whether the organization has run afoul of human trafficking laws, including violations involving minors.<br />
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<br />
Sociologist Steven Kent told The Fix that he approached the F.B.I. a number of years ago with similar concerns about Scientology’s forced labor and re-education program, “but got nowhere.” He said that he’s skeptical about whether the current investigation will result in charges, especially if the allegations come only from adults. “But if the accusations of abuse come from young adults who report on their childhood and teen abuses, the agency is more likely to act,” he added. “If a number of current children defect and speak about criminal behaviors that adults forced upon them, then the chances are very good that the F.B.I. will take action.”<br />
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Critics also wonder if the I.R.S. will pursue the church for possible violation of its tax-exempt status via its involvement with practice management programs to dentists, chiropractors, veterinarians and other professionals—and, of course, with Narconon. Given these stakes, Narconon’s ability to raise money and convert addicts—to keep feeding the beast—has never been more critical to the survival of the church.<br />
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At its height, Narconon persuaded many of the nation’s most powerful school boards that it had a magic bullet to combat teen drug use. Supported by millions in tax-payer funding and donations from local businesses, Narconon’s traveling troupe of lecturers criss-crossed the country, reaching at least 1.5 million students a year. Though its educators sometimes won high marks for their ability to grab glassy-eyed students’ attention, Narconon educators, versed in L. Ron’s pseudoscience, flunked out when it came to the ABC's of actual drug facts. Over the decades, most US school districts have given Narconon the boot.<br />
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Yet the drug education program has managed to circumvent schools that have shunned the program, marketing their services to private and parochial schools that are less averse to Scientology dogma. Just as it targeted American Indians in its successful effort to build its flagship Narconon shop on tribal lands in Oklahoma, it now appears to have teens in poor urban and rural America in its cross-hairs. In 2009, the organization enlisted young hip-hop and rap artists to pitch its “drug free” message.<br />
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Still, Narconon’s growing list of survivors and other critics have their own message to convey. “Narconon’s a front-group for the Church of Scientology—another way to get new people into the system,” said Patty Pieniadz, the former executive director of a Narconon facility. “It’s a recipe for disaster and a scam.” As for David Love, he settled out of court his case alleging psychological harassment against his former employer on March 25, but Narconon has his four remaining lawsuits to contend with.” They threatened to harm me, to hunt me down and destroy me,” Love told The Fix. “I entered a Narconon for treatment for my addiction. I ended up in the hospital for post-traumatic stress.”<br />
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Additional research and reporting by James Partridge"The Appliance of Science" - Irish Sunday Mirror, March 20th 2011tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-03-20:2163779:BlogPost:164082011-03-20T01:00:00.000Zsomeonehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/Anonymous
<p>SCIENTOLOGY bosses are trying to brainwash vulnerable people to get at their cash, an undercover Irish Sunday Mirror investigation reveals today.<br></br><br></br>We went behind the scenes at the secretive religion's four-hour long Personal Efficiency Course last week.<br></br><br></br>Our aim was to discover just what goes on inside what experts call the biggest cult in the world.<br></br><br></br>And our findings weren't pretty. Our reporter was told he was depressed, nervous, and unstable, and warned the only…</p>
<p>SCIENTOLOGY bosses are trying to brainwash vulnerable people to get at their cash, an undercover Irish Sunday Mirror investigation reveals today.<br/><br/>We went behind the scenes at the secretive religion's four-hour long Personal Efficiency Course last week.<br/><br/>Our aim was to discover just what goes on inside what experts call the biggest cult in the world.<br/><br/>And our findings weren't pretty. Our reporter was told he was depressed, nervous, and unstable, and warned the only way to fix his life was by signing up for a further course of treatment - at a price, of course.<br/><br/>Then, when he tried to leave the Dublin headquarters, cult leaders blocked him for half an hour, and tried to force him to sign up for more courses he didn't want or need.<br/><br/>This is the true, ugly face of the fastest growing religion in the world.<br/><br/>Nothing divides people's opinion as much as Scientology.<br/><br/>A-list celebrity fans - and there are a lot of them - claim it's the only way to personal happiness and success in life.<br/><br/>Detractors - and there are plenty of them, too - insist it is nothing more than a cult, sucking in the vulnerable, bleeding them dry, and tearing families apart.<br/><br/>We decided to find out for ourselves.<br/><br/>The headquarters of the Irish Scientology movement, in Dublin's city centre, looks perfectly normal from the outside.<br/><br/>This is Samuel Hamilton's report: I signed up for the four-hour Personal Efficiency course to see what really goes on behind closed doors.<br/><br/>After first completing a personality test the week before, I sat down with the two other people who turned up to hear just who we really are.<br/><br/>Pony-tailed Victor, my teacher, from Hungary, wasted no time in telling me I am abnormal.<br/><br/>Victor took my 200 question personality test from a folder and attempted to explain it - pointing out that of the ten elements he tested me for, only one barely registered as normal.<br/><br/>He told me I was "depressed", "nervous" and "irresponsible," with serious character flaws that need immediate fixing before it's too late.<br/><br/>Victor warned: "The test indicates you are extremely unstable in character, your memory is bad, and you cannot concentrate on things at hand, or your attendance is always fixed compulsively on something." Not nice to hear, and I'm sure words that would strike right to the heart of anyone feeling vulnerable.<br/><br/>During the course - which has attracted a number of complaints after being advertised on buses across Dublin - my fellow listeners and I were bombarded with barmy Scientology principles and told: Only by following the teachings of Scientology could we have any chance of leading a happy, fulfilled life or maintaining meaningful relationships.<br/><br/>It's often better to stay in an unhappy marriage for the sake of children, animals and nature - leaving your partner will have a terrible effect on everyone else.<br/><br/>Marriages only ever fail because of a lack of communication.<br/><br/>Scientology would "raise our intelligence" and ensure we move up in the world Money means nothing to Scientology - despite refusing to let me leave for more than half an hour after the course as I was pestered to sign up for my second programme, despite repeatedly saying I didn't want to continue.<br/><br/>After arriving at the offices, Victor made the three of us watch 8 short videos, which we were told provided an insight into the principles of Scientology.<br/><br/>Following the videos, we were then asked to discuss as a group situations from our own lives that could be adapted to the principles of Scientology - the favourite of celebrities including Tom Cruise and his wife Katie Holmes.<br/><br/>None of this was particularly groundbreaking.<br/><br/>A lot revolved around tired concepts I'd heard a million times before, like the idea that going for a walk could be good for you. Next I was taken into Victor's office again to see the results of my personality test - but not before he pointed out the electronic machine used in Scientology counselling sessions.<br/><br/>He asked me to grip tightly on the two metal tubes attached to the e-meter by wires, as he played around with the dials on the front of the machine.<br/><br/>He then told me to think about a time in my life when I was stressed, before the machine's needles jumped to the right.<br/><br/>Victor swore the e-meter was a completely scientific way of discovering exactly what was wrong in peoples' lives - despite critics calling the machine a fraud and courts blasting claims made by Scientology about the technology.<br/><br/>He added: "The auditors who are using this meter, they are in training for two years for how to use it and the specific questions to ask. They can handle anything." After going through my personality test Victor told me that in order to have any chance of fixing my life, I needed to immediately sign up for a new Scientology course.<br/><br/>He then began to pressure me to continue with Scientology.<br/><br/>He told me: "I would recommend doing the Ups and Downs course... almost everyone who is here has done it, because it is such a basic. It gives you the reason why someone is rollercoastering in life. Why it happens that sometimes you feel good and other days you just feel down. We have a great success from doing these courses because what they do, it's really just shows you the tools that you can use to make your life better. You will find them in the course, then you can see if it's for yourself.<br/><br/>"Why don't you start on this course? We can get you rolling and then you can arrange a time with the course supervisor. "These are not long courses. It depends how quick you are, but it shouldn't take more than two weeks, I would say. It also depends how much time you put in.<br/><br/>"It's only EUR50 together - EUR15 for the material and EUR35 for the course, which is nothing, for the data that you are getting. So do you want to pay with card or cash?" Victor continued his hard sell even when I repeatedly asked to put off paying for the course.<br/><br/>He said: "If you have money on your card, we can get your rolling right now, because the course supervisor could schedule you or you could schedule yourself because there are quite a number of people in the course room now.<br/><br/>"And the other reason I would recommend it, is because once you've started it, you kind of force yourself to do it.<br/><br/>"But if you put it in the future - I have some experience with this - many people say, 'Maybe next week', my suggestion would be, if you want to do it, just go for it.<br/><br/>"Because once you start thinking about it - I know this because for many people, things just come up in life."<br/><br/>My verdict? It's very difficult to continue saying no to someone who has you cornered.<br/><br/>For anyone out there feeling generally vulnerable, being told they are unstable and heading for a crash could be devastating - just as being told they can be fixed, for a price, could seem a dream come true.<br/><br/>The problem with scientology, as your cash slowly vanishes, is that the dream could become a nightmare.<br/><br/>WHAT IT'S BASED UPON<br/><br/>SCIENTOLOGY is based upon the idea that we are all constantly being pestered by invisible aliens.<br/><br/>People who lead the religion at highranking levels teach that Xenu was an alien who headed the Galactic Federation, an organisation of 76 planets - including Earth.<br/><br/>And when the planets were faced with an over-population crisis more than 75,000,000 years ago, he decided a huge culling of people was required.<br/><br/>The citizens were, it is claimed, gathered in large groups and killed before their souls - or, as the religion calls them, thetans - were frozen.<br/><br/>These were then shipped to Earth, then known as Teegeeack, and left close to volcanoes that were later destroyed in a series of high-powered nuclear explosions.<br/><br/>Scientology teaches that we all have our own thetan - and attached to these are destructive engrams, the leftover destructed souls from the mass killings.<br/><br/>And they say that only through paid counselling sessions can these destructive engrams be removed, until a State of Calm is achieved.<br/><br/>At this point, the so-called religion says people's thetans can achieve their full potential - and even work alone outside of a physical body.<br/><br/>Scientology also claims that they will make you look physically younger.<br/><br/>In material given at the Personal Efficiency Course they state: "By the most exact tests known, it has been proven that Scientology can greatly increase intelligence in an individual.<br/><br/>"And Scientology can do other things. It can reduce reaction time and it can pull the year's off one's appearance... it is a science of life and it works. It adequately handles the basic rules of life and it brings order into chaos."</p>
<p> </p>
<div>Samuel Hamilton, March 20th, 2011</div>
<div><a href="http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20110320/ai_n57113223/">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20110320/ai_n57113223/</a></div>"Scientology: Inside and Out" - The Irish Times, March 19th 2011tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-03-19:2163779:BlogPost:123112011-03-19T01:00:00.000Zsomeonehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/Anonymous
A recent campaign in Dublin advertised courses run by the Scientology movement. Members past and present tell Cian Traynor about their experiences of the organisation. Does it bring the promised prosperity, intelligence and freedom, or simply exploit the vulnerable?<br></br>
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‘When job security turns into insecurity,” ran a recent ad on the Dart, in Dublin, “attend a course in Scientology.” The accompanying photographs feature men and women looking stressed or dejected. The course advertised…
A recent campaign in Dublin advertised courses run by the Scientology movement. Members past and present tell Cian Traynor about their experiences of the organisation. Does it bring the promised prosperity, intelligence and freedom, or simply exploit the vulnerable?<br/>
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‘When job security turns into insecurity,” ran a recent ad on the Dart, in Dublin, “attend a course in Scientology.” The accompanying photographs feature men and women looking stressed or dejected. The course advertised was in “personal efficiency”, cost €45 and promised to “increase ability, competence and lasting security at work”.<br/>
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When the posters appeared, complaints and defamatory graffiti materialised swiftly. The back-and-forth arguments about Scientology are constant: one side claims they are exposing the truth; the other dismisses the detractors as liars engaging in discriminatory behaviour.<br/>
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Since forming, in 1953, Scientology has presented itself as an applied religious philosophy that can bring prosperity, enhanced intelligence and spiritual freedom. The church’s founder, the late science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard, taught that people are immortal beings who have forgotten their true nature.<br/>
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Through a method of regressive therapy known as auditing, practitioners aim to “clear” themselves of traumatic memories known as “engrams”, which are carried over from past lives and cause insecurities, irrational fears and psychosomatic illnesses.<br/>
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Scientology’s critics, however, see it as a money-making enterprise that exploits the vulnerable with cult-like practices.<br/>
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This weekend Scientology’s UK headquarters celebrates the centenary of Hubbard’s birth with a gala event where celebrity members such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta are expected – a measure of the religion’s progress as the world’s fastest-growing religion. Its opponents, meanwhile, will gather at Scientology missions around the world, buoyed by their belief the religion is struggling to survive in the face of mounting criticism from former members.<br/>
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Yet despite the fissure between celebrity endorsements and controversial allegations, Scientology still holds an appeal for people. We spoke to past and present practitioners to discover why they joined and why, in most cases, they left.<br/>
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<strong>John Duignan</strong><br/>
<br/><strong>
Commanding officer, Scientology Missions International UK</strong><br/>
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John Duignan’s 22 years as a Scientologist were bookended by mental breakdown. After emigrating from Cork he was stopped in Stuttgart one day in 1985 and persuaded to take a free personality test. The results indicated he desperately needed help, which he says was true. He had felt vulnerable since his parents killed themselves, when he was 10. Scientology seemed to offer a solution.<br/>
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“I’ve realised I had quite a messed-up childhood, which set me up for needing something like that,” Duignan says. “They were promising me fantastic things: to make you permanently happy and healthy. For a depressed person that can be quite appealing.”<br/>
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Duignan says he was encouraged to take out bank loans to pay for Scientology courses and disconnect from anyone critical of the religion. Then something in him snapped.<br/>
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“I was suicidal. I haven’t been able to document this, but I feel it was induced in some way. I came out of this breakdown as a fanatical Scientologist, and that’s a fact. A mental filter had been broken. My ethos and culture was based around my Irish Catholic upbringing, but that was completely undermined. I now believed Scientology was the only way to save the world.”<br/>
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He began working at the Stuttgart mission in exchange for course work and was later recruited to the Sea Organisation, Scientology’s fraternal religious order. Its 6,000 members, some of whom are children, sign billion-year commitment forms.<br/>
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“It’s a difficult organisation to leave,” says Duignan. “Everybody watches everybody. All the bases have a perimeter of some form, and they are locked, wired and under surveillance. If you wake up one night and think, My God, what am I doing? you cannot walk out of the building.”<br/>
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Working 16-hour days, 365 days a year, on Scientology operations in the US, the UK, Africa, Canada and Australia, Duignan ascended the ranks. “I had become a real honorary bastard.” The greater Duignan’s responsibilities, the more trust he earned in his free time. He’d sneak away whenever possible, doing independent voluntary work in deprived areas to see how Scientology translated to the outside world. It didn’t stand up, he believed.<br/>
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Duignan began to develop doubts, believing the Scientology community was insular and rife with double standards.<br/>
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The church discourages independent inquiry on the grounds that it hampers progress along the Bridge to Total Freedom, the religion’s ladder to enlightenment. Revelations are made progressively through courses, the cost of which can add up to more than €300,000.<br/>
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Many former Scientologists cite their first delinquent internet search as a jarring experience. Duignan began reading “earth-shattering” accounts of former members who had reached the top only to grow disillusioned, finding troubling discrepancies between Hubbard’s church biography and his medical and military records.<br/>
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At 42, Duignan felt he should have been married with children and a career. Instead he was “a ghost” with no money, no qualifications or transferrable skills, no state entitlements and no way of relating to “wogs” – non-Scientologists. He says he couldn’t simply walk away, or “blow”, in Scientology terminology. He had been on security operations to forcibly bring back defectors and knew what to expect. “I was on the run,” he says gently. “I realised that psychologically I was not going to be able to keep this up.”<br/>
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Although Scientologists were staked outside his family home, in Cork, Duignan managed to trick them into thinking he was in Birmingham and made it clear that any attempts to bring him back would be futile. Four years on he says intensive counselling and the ability to attend college as a mature student have helped him rebuild his life.<br/>
<br/>
“That was so crucial,” he says. “I was quite ignorant after 22 years; the whole world outside of Scientology was scary. Even if I don’t get a job after this I’ve still got a good education and a sense of hope.”<br/>
<br/><strong>
Mike Rinder</strong><br/>
<br/><strong>
Former chief spokesman for Scientology and head of its office of special affairs</strong><br/>
<br/>
Not long ago, when former members of Scientology spoke out it was Mike Rinder’s job to deny, discredit and neutralise their claims, a process known as “dead agenting”.<br/>
<br/>
In 2007 that role involved following the BBC reporter John Sweeney, who was then filming an edition of Panorama about the religion. Sweeney had been inquiring about allegations that Scientology’s ecclesiastical leader, David Miscavige, had physically assaulted people within the church. Although Rinder ensured the allegations were omitted from the programme, Miscavige believed he should have stopped the edition from airing. As punishment Rinder was told to report for ditch- digging duty at Scientology’s UK base, in Sussex.<br/>
<br/>
Instead he disappeared. “I literally walked out the door with my briefcase, which was all I had,” he says. “I got a deluge of messages on my BlackBerry. ‘Where are you? We need to talk. We need to talk.’ I just ignored them all. They didn’t know where to find me.”<br/>
<br/>
Rinder believed Scientology had strayed from the church he had known since the age of six, that it was being abused to make money and further the power of Miscavige, who succeeded Hubbard after the writer’s death, in 1986. Though Rinder still had faith in Scientology, he knew leaving would mean excommunication from his family, who remain in the church, and being automatically declared a “suppressive person”, an arcane Scientology term indicating an enemy of Scientology or someone who “opposes betterment activity”.<br/>
<br/>
Asked how he would compare his life before and after Scientology, Rinder goes silent. There’s a forced hiccup-like sound that slowly, unnervingly breaks into laughter. “That’s a leading question,” he says firmly.<br/>
<br/>
Rinder has spoken out only a handful of times since defecting from Scientology, where he specialised in handling journalists (who are not only “suppressive persons” but also “merchants of chaos”). After another pause he answers. “Night and day,” he says. “I went from incredible restrictions on what I could do, say and think to no outside restrictions.”<br/>
<br/>
He acknowledges that not everyone finds the adjustment easy. “I think probably the biggest difficulty people have is getting out of their minds the ingrained pattern of thinking about how to look at things,” he says. “They become infiltrated with this idea that you can’t criticise or do anything about what’s happening internally.”<br/>
<br/>
Now an independent Scientologist, Rinder says he was required to issue categorical denials in order to protect the name of Scientology. “The problem is that there is no other way you can seek to disprove something that’s true.” As a result, he says, deception and violence became the accepted ways of doing things within the church. “There are things I look back on that I am not proud of, and those sorts of things are some of them.”<br/>
<br/>
He does not regret being a Scientologist, however, and still swears by its teachings. But there is something he wouldn’t hesitate to say to other Scientologists, including his own family, given the opportunity: “Wake up and smell the coffee.”<br/>
<br/><a target="_blank" href="http://i.imgur.com/79f3b.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://i.imgur.com/79f3b.jpg"/></a><br/>
<br/>
<strong>Gabrielle Wynne</strong><br/>
<br/><strong>
Former staff member at the Scientology mission in Dublin</strong><br/>
<br/>
It started with a social-studies assignment for college. Gabrielle Wynne visited the Dublin Scientology mission, asked some questions and was intrigued enough to do some introductory courses at home. “I got a lot from them. I thought, It can only get better from here.”<br/>
<br/>
Within months Wynne was asked to join the staff. But there was a problem: her habit of contracting colds and flu was interpreted by her colleagues as a symptom of being “suppressed”. When asked if she was close to anyone who might disagree with Scientology, she admitted her mother had misgivings. Wynne was urged to disconnect from her mother, but she refused. Instead she was told to write her mother a letter, which was edited by the ethics officer, committing herself to the religion. “She just thought it was weird,” says Wynne. “Me and my mam can talk about anything. She knew that wouldn’t be me.”<br/>
<br/>
Learning and making friends at the mission were enough to make Wynne overlook what she now believes were warning signs, such as the day a colleague suggested she exploit a friend’s insecurities to bring her in for auditing. When she asked why they weren’t reaching out to homeless people, she says, the reply was, “Because they can’t afford it.”<br/>
<br/>
Sitting in a cafe, the bubbly 22-year-old says that she was promised a salary but that, in all her time of cleaning, cold-calling, auditing others and pushing flyers through letter boxes, there wasn’t one. “I was handed a little envelope with a €2 coin in it. I got my bus home that night and never got paid anything else.”<br/>
<br/>
Having already spent €3,000 on Scientology, Wynne needed to work full time elsewhere, but leaving the staff meant being billed for €1,000 in “freeloader debt”.<br/>
<br/>
After mounting pressure to join Sea Organisation, take out bank loans and disconnect from her mother, Wynne left last summer.<br/>
<br/>
She felt lied to. Initially they had assured her that people were never urged to disconnect from friends or family, that it was “black PR”. They had also repeatedly denied the existence of what Wynne refers to as “the Xenu thing”, part of a confidential scripture revealed at Operating Thetan III level that Hubbard described as a space opera. (Scientology postulates that it can be fatal if discovered prematurely.) Yet she had seen a YouTube video of the church’s current spokesperson confirming it.<br/>
<br/>
“There were so many witnesses and ex-members sharing things. I thought, They can’t all be lying. I was told they were all just suppressive people . . . It was never Scientology. It was always everyone else’s problem.”<br/>
<br/>
<strong>Pete Griffiths</strong><br/>
<br/><strong>
Anti-Scientology protestor</strong><br/>
<br/>
Before she began to have doubts Wynne would engage protestors in “friendly arguments”, trying to convince them they had it wrong. One of them was Pete Griffiths, a burly 57-year-old who offers support to former Scientologists. Sitting by Wynne’s side, he recalls his journey through Scientology with self-deprecating panache.<br/>
<br/>
Griffiths ran a mission in Cumbria, in northern England, until his weekly figures petered out. By the time he moved to Westport, in 1998, he planned to return to Scientology once his children were grown and he could better afford it. It wasn’t until he heard of a protest in 2008 that he looked into Scientology online and had a “penny-dropping moment”.<br/>
<br/>
“From 1987 to 2008 the thought control was all in place,” he says. “Then a lengthy unravelling process began. I got so angry that I burned any Scientology stuff I had lying around in a bonfire. I couldn’t look at it any more. The sense of betrayal is just incredible. The clues are all there, but you don’t see them.”<br/>
<br/>
Griffiths maintains, like everyone interviewed for this article, that Scientologists are generally good, well-intentioned people who can’t detect flaws with how Scientology is run. People can believe whatever they want, he says, but they should also feel free to criticise, research or articulate doubt. But nobody can be talked out of Scientology, he adds. “It has to come from them.”<br/>
<br/>
And so it was with Wynne, who now joins Griffiths and other former Scientologists on the other side of Abbey Street during monthly protests organised by the online activist group Anonymous, whose members the church regards as cyberterrorists.<br/>
<br/>
“The point of me protesting is to say, ‘Remember me?’ ” she says. “I’m not a bad person. I’m just asking, Why would you have to remortgage your house for a religion? Religion should be free.”<br/>
<br/><a target="_blank" href="http://i.imgur.com/13QkU.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://i.imgur.com/13QkU.jpg"/></a><br/>
<br/>
<strong>John McGhee</strong><br/>
<br/><strong>
Three years in Scientology</strong><br/>
<br/>
John McGhee says the stigma surrounding Scientology piqued his interest. If it delivered the self-betterment it promised, he reasoned, it seemed like a sound investment. “I walked in off the street and said, ‘Give me all you have.’ ”<br/>
<br/>
Hunched over a table in a quiet pub, his eyebrows framing an intense gaze, the 33-year-old embalmer spends 90 minutes detailing every course, price and promise of his time in Scientology. He barely contains his frustration at what he sees as pay-as-you-go revelations that lead nowhere. “They say if it’s not working it’s something you’re doing, and they put you in auditing for that at your expense.”<br/>
<br/>
McGhee admits there was an addictive quality to working up the “Bridge to Total Freedom”, the movement’s series of steps to enlightenment (see panel), so much so that he was prepared to ignore things he didn’t agree with. “At events or course completions they’d stand up and applaud Hubbard’s picture. I could never do it. Even as I went deeper into Scientology I never thought that was okay.”<br/>
<br/>
Part of the processing, McGhee says, included confessing “overts and withholds” – sins and secrets – which are kept on file, while using an electropsychometer. “The e-meter works like a crude lie detector. They can tell if you’re holding anything in, and they can get it out of you.”<br/>
<br/>
He recalls TRs, or training regimes, where he had to stare into someone’s eyes for four hours. “I went out of my head,” he says.<br/>
<br/>
Then there was an auditing session at which, he claims, a supervisor chastised McGhee’s friend for analysing traumatic childhood events in the presence of children. “Firstly, there shouldn’t have been kids there. But the disruption drove him into catatonia. From that night on he changed. We went into a session the next day and the next day, but he wasn’t coming out of it. They predicted he’d need four or five grand’s worth [of life repair]. That was an eye-opener. They wouldn’t fix that man. They left him in such a state because they wanted money first. He couldn’t afford it. He’s still in that state to this day.”<br/>
<br/>
McGhee lost interest at that point. By mid 2009 he had spent €10,500 and was researching Scientology every night in dismay. Recently he visited a friend who allegedly paid €50,000 for his bridge after just a day as a Scientologist, but there was nobody home. The neighbour said he’d packed up. McGhee looked up to the box room and saw the same Hubbard lectures that he had bought for €1,800 sitting on the shelf, and drew his own conclusion.<br/>
<br/>
Although he spent four nights and a day at the mission every week, he couldn’t relate to the dedication required to spend money he didn’t have. McGhee claims he regularly lent cash to senior members for food and was once accompanied to an ATM to prove he didn’t have more. He says the people around him were running up debts, losing their temper and falling ill – the opposite of what he was promised. But he couldn’t get anyone to see it that way, he says, and eventually stopped questioning it.<br/>
<br/>
“They honestly believe they’re on to a good thing and it’s more important than their children or mothers and fathers. They think they can clear the planet of ‘reactive minds’, but they can’t even do it in the mission. There are lads there 20 years without a penny to their name who glorify Scientology. And I think, What did it actually do for you?”<br/>
<br/><a target="_blank" href="http://i.imgur.com/opPua.jpg"><img class="align-full" src="http://i.imgur.com/opPua.jpg"/></a><br/>
<br/>
The Irish Scientology movement<br/>
<br/>
Gerard Ryan, spokesman for the Church of Scientology in Dublin, says the only way to measure Scientology’s effectiveness is through a fundamental tenet of L Ron Hubbard, its founder: what’s true for you is what you observe to be true.<br/>
<br/>
If you’re not seeing a return on something you’re putting time and effort into, he says, of course you’re not going to continue with it. His wife, for example, tried a few courses and decided it wasn’t for her.<br/>
<br/>
“The vast majority of people who would leave the church never really joined the church in the first place, ie they come in, try it, it’s not for them and they go. That would be, overwhelmingly, most people.”<br/>
<br/>
Scientology was introduced to Ireland when Hubbard established a Dublin mission, at 69 Merrion Square, in 1958. It was there that Hubbard, who would have turned 100 last weekend, first delivered the personal-efficiency course that Scientology recently began advertising on the Dart line.<br/>
<br/>
The school closed in the early 1960s, but Scientology continued to be practised in Ireland.<br/>
<br/>
In 1986 a Limerick man named John Keane began a mission from his home, and by the early 1990s Scientology had established itself at a base on Middle Abbey Street in Dublin. Since then the faith has seen modest growth in Ireland, says Ryan, with “only a few hundred Scientologists of varying degrees of commitment”.<br/>
<br/>
Ryan, who is now 52, found a second-hand copy of Dianetics in London in the late 1980s. Its lessons aided his architecture studies, he says, and later in his career helped him maintain his integrity when unethical opportunities arose in the construction industry.<br/>
<br/>
But he has never attained “clear” status – the fundamental goal in Scientology. “I’ve been a bit of a laggard in that respect,” he says with a laugh. “I spend most of my time studying it. I’m more of a philosophical bent.”<br/>
<br/>
Scientology’s utopian aim is to “clear the planet”, a point at which everyone has cleared themselves of “engrams”, the scars of painful events normally inaccessible to the conscious mind.<br/>
<br/>
The complexity and duration of the training involved mean Irish Scientologists aiming to reach clear status or above are required to travel to the UK or the US. Twenty or 30 members have done this, Ryan says, though it would cost “many thousands of euro” to reach the top level, Operating Thetan VIII, which must be studied at sea.<br/>
<br/>
One member to have achieved this status is 90-year-old Bernard Duffy, who was an original pupil of Hubbard in Dublin.<br/>
<br/>
Although Ryan says he understands “the broad thrust” of what the higher levels involve, he can neither attest to the heightened abilities they are said to induce, such as telepathy and out-of-body experiences, nor dispel people’s misgivings with those teachings.<br/>
<br/>
“What can I say? I don’t know,” he says. “I’ve personally never witnessed any of these alleged abilities. I can only go on my personal experience, and my personal experience of Scientology is pretty good.”<br/>
<br/>
He says Scientologists who have reached the higher levels but struggle with health, finances and temperament are not indictments of the religion’s tangible benefits.<br/>
<br/>
“If I see some OT” – that is, Operating Thetan, indicating a Scientologist who has gone beyond the clear level – “some guy who’s gone up high on the levels and they’re not doing well in life, from my experience that tells me something is wrong. Something has gone awry there. I would actually seek to help the guy.<br/>
<br/>
“I don’t make decisions about my life based on another person’s experience, because that’s a second-hand decision. If I try something in Scientology and it doesn’t work, if it’s bad or crap and everything else, I will make my decision based upon that experience.”<br/>
<br/>
The Dublin mission participates in a yearly competition to increase square footage, called the birthday game, which it won last year after moving to a bigger premises on Middle Abbey Street.<br/>
<br/>
The mission is also effectively in competition with missions in the UK, India and Pakistan to submit “up stats” – rising figures – every week, though Ryan admits they struggle to reach their targets. About 10 per cent of the Dublin mission’s income goes to the Church of Scientology, which has been unsuccessful in its attempts to obtain tax-free, charitable status in Ireland.<br/>
<br/>
Ryan gives little credence to criticism of Scientology, explaining that it tends to be either “unbelievable garbage” or personnel issues. “If every single thing they say about us is true, which is a laugh, that would not be one fraction of the things that, say, China is doing to human rights or the Catholic Church did in Ireland.”<br/>
<br/>
For Ryan the fact that Scientology has grown “from zero to millions” in the face of opposition over the past 60 years shows that it clearly holds value in some people’s lives.<br/>
<br/>
“There’s no doubt about it,” he says. “Some people have tried it and it doesn’t work for them. That’s a fact. It’s quite clearly worked for an awful lot more.”<br/>
<br/>
In numbers<br/>
<br/>
More than 50,000 people have taken Scientology's personality test in Dublin.<br/>
<br/>
Scientology has more than 9,000 churches, missions and affiliated groups in 165 countries.<br/>
<br/>
92 million books by L Ron Hubbard and lectures on Dianetics and Scientology have been distributed in the past decade. Three million of those have been placed in more than 150,000 libraries in 192 countries since July 2007.<br/>
<br/>
Scientology's properties increased from about 520,000 sq m in 2004 to more than 1.1 million sq m in 2010.<br/>
<br/>
The Scientology Volunteer Ministers programme has aided more than than 175 disaster-relief efforts worldwide.<br/>
<br/>
Scientology supports drug-rehabilitation programmes in more than 45 countries.<br/>
<br/>
Hubbard's works have been translated into 71 languages, a Guinness World Record.<br/>
<br/>
<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/0319/1224292581794.html">http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/0319/1224292581794.html</a><br />
<div style="xg-p: absolute; left: -10000px; top: 1210px; width: 1px; height: 1px; overflow: hidden;" class="mcePaste" id="_mcePaste"><a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/0319/1224292581794.html">http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2011/0319/1224292581794.html</a></div>"The Celebrity Magnet 'Church' Ron Built" - The Irish Examiner, March 2011tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-03-18:2163779:BlogPost:126022011-03-18T08:00:00.000Zsomeonehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/Anonymous
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard would have been 100 on Sunday. He has left behind a controversial legacy, says Jonathan de Burca Butler<br></br>
<br></br>
This Sunday, one hundred years ago, the founder of one of the world's most contoversial religions was born in Nebraska. L Ron Hubbard founded The Church of Scientology - an organisation which for the last 60 years of its existence has attracted criticism and praise in equally strong measure.<br></br>
<br></br>
In recent years members such as Tom Cruise…
Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard would have been 100 on Sunday. He has left behind a controversial legacy, says Jonathan de Burca Butler<br/>
<br/>
This Sunday, one hundred years ago, the founder of one of the world's most contoversial religions was born in Nebraska. L Ron Hubbard founded The Church of Scientology - an organisation which for the last 60 years of its existence has attracted criticism and praise in equally strong measure.<br/>
<br/>
In recent years members such as Tom Cruise and John Travolta have raised the profile of the organisation and are fiercely protective of it.<br/>
<br/>
But Gabrielle Wynn, (22), from Whitehall in Dublin, left the Church of Scientology less than a year ago having been a member for two years.<br/>
<br/>
"One of the classes I had to take in college was Social Studies and we had to do a project on religions in Ireland," says Wynne of her initial contact. "So I came across this religion that really, I didn't know anything about."<br/>
<br/>
Wynne visited the church's Irish office in Dublin's city centre to conduct an interview with a member of the church. She found the organisation intriguing and a few days later returned for a free personality test.<br/>
<br/>"I suppose I was a bit of a loose cannon when I was younger", explains Wynne. "So I mean for me it was great because I had my own things to sort out and they make you feel great. Everyone was really friendly. They make you feel like you're better than everyone else."<br/>
<br/>
Wynne explains that although her mother had warned her off joining and her friends were, as she says herself, "constantly slaggin her," she got most deeply involved.<br/>
<br/>
The church had told her that there was a good chance of being misunderstood and she was taught to 'handle' people; speaking to them individually about the religion and its positive aspects.<br/>
<br/>
Eventually her friends relented but only due to her increasingly defensive behaviour.<br/>
<br/>
Gerard Ryan, a spokesperson for the church and a member for 25 years, disputes some of Gabrielle's claims.<br/>
<br/>
"I don't know anything about handling," says Ryan. "Gabi was in the Mission for a few months only. She didn't hang around too long."<br/>
<br/>
Wynne, who denies that claim, says as time passed she learned dianetic auditing which, according to the Scientology Dublin website, "is a methodology which can help alleviate unwanted sensations and emotions, irrational fears and psychosomatic illnesses ...[and] ... is more accurtately described as what the soul is doing to the body through the mind."<br/>
<br/>
"That's the one I did and that's what I was trained in too," says Wynne. "They get you to a state of reverie. They say it's not hypnotic, but it is kind of like a light trance. They tell you to contact the first painful incidnet that comes into your mind, it could be physical pain or emotional, and tell you to go through the whole thing; tell them what you're feeling, what you're hearing and then they say go back to the beginning, go through it again and again.<br/>
<br/>
On every person they have what's called a PC file, a 'Pre-Clear' file. When you have no more pain, or you don't have any issues with what you were auditing, you're clear so the Pre-Clear is the time before all that."<br/>
<br/>
One of the things a new member does when joining is sign a declaration agreeing that the church can keep the notes taken at the time of auditing.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, at the spiritual counselling sessions the counsellor makes notes as the counselling is going on," says Ryan.<br/>
<br/>
"And thos notes actually belong to the church. For example I've never seen my own notes."<br/>
<br/>
Another condition, according to Wynne, is there are no refunds and she estimates that she spent nearly €2,500 during her tiime there.<br/>
<br/>
"I've kept a lot of reciepts," she says. "It's not a lot in comparison to other people, but it's about two and a half grand in two years."<br/>
<br/>
Wynne says that because she was living with her mother, who had made clear her feelings on Scientology, the organisation classified her as a PTS (Potential Trouble Source) while her mother was viewed as a potential SP (Suppressive Person). Wynne says it was suggested to her that it was perhaps time to move out of home, to 'disconnet' from her mother. Ryan, however, is not so sure.<br/>
<br/>
"Categorically Gabrielle was never at any time asked to disconnect from her mother," says Ryan. "Either directly or hinted."<br/>
<br/>
But does something akin to this ever occur?<br/>
<br/>
"We have the view that if you are intimately connected with someone who is actually attacking the church then you have to deal with it," says Ryan.<br/>
<br/>
"But to say that you can't be in contact with someone critical of the church, I'm often critical of my church. Like everything Scientology is not perfect."<br/>
<br/>
Last year Wynne decided to leave Scientology and has since campaigned against it with the help of a group called Anonymous.<br/>
<br/>
Wynn is grateful for her time with the church and although she feels they are a little "misguided", she say she also met some "very sincere and nice guys" during her time there.Narconon - The Eight Program Books: Download Sitetag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-03-17:2163779:BlogPost:124022011-03-17T05:38:29.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=12348&highlight=narconon+books">http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=12348&highlight=narconon+books</a>
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=12348&highlight=narconon+books">http://www.forum.exscn.net/showthread.php?t=12348&highlight=narconon+books</a>Scientology-Narconon-Black Panthertag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-03-08:2163779:BlogPost:120022011-03-08T00:35:08.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p>From the Church of Scientology in Montreal, Jean Lariviere refers Narconon Trois-Rivieres Director, Sylvain Fournier to, “Please check what LRH says about dealing with a Black Panther!” A Rush-Urgent was titled in the subject. LRH is non-other than the science fiction writer, Ron L. Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology.</p>
<p><br></br><strong>This dispatch was in response to this video:…</strong></p>
<p><br></br></p>
<p>From the Church of Scientology in Montreal, Jean Lariviere refers Narconon Trois-Rivieres Director, Sylvain Fournier to, “Please check what LRH says about dealing with a Black Panther!” A Rush-Urgent was titled in the subject. LRH is non-other than the science fiction writer, Ron L. Hubbard, the founder of the Church of Scientology.</p>
<p><br/><strong>This dispatch was in response to this video:</strong></p>
<p><br/><a href="http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=2354453086187513116">http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=2354453086187513116</a>#</p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>Link to leaked emails:</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://qcanon.ning.com/forum/topics/2162290:Topic:2360">http://qcanon.ning.com/forum/topics/2162290:Topic:2360</a></p>
<p><br/>Following a damaging CBC TV-Radio Canada investigative report on Narconon Trois-Rivieres and their connection to the Church of Scientology, Jean Lariviere dispatched an email to Narconon to “handle the situation ASAP.” Their fear was the new Quebec accreditation laws being implemented by the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services in July 2011, and the negative impact these new laws may have on the continuing operations of Narconon Trois-Rivieres. Millions of dollars of yearly revenue was at stake and urgency is revealed in the leaked emails.<br/><br/><strong>Handle the Government:</strong></p>
<p><br/>The Church of Scientology advises a Narconon representative to visit and meet with government officials, as in the following email excerpts: (COS to Narconon)<br/><br/>“Obviously, the first thing to do is to find out what this law is about, and what is the sit between governement's!”</p>
<p><br/>“In other words, find out from the horse's mouth so to speak! Two (2) major targets: 1) gathering basic and essential information and; 2) starting the PR handling right away with the people who must be handled!”</p>
<p><br/>“You were also supposed to let me know the results of those meetings so that I could assist with your writing a tailor-made handling or plan to handle the actual situation.”</p>
<p><br/><strong>“Please check what LRH says about dealing with a Black Panther!”</strong></p>
<p><br/>“I am always willing to talk with you and offer data or advices.<br/><br/><strong>Narconon Director, Sylvain Fournier Responds:</strong></p>
<p><br/>Leaked email excerpts:</p>
<p><br/>“Thank you for your communication, and for your advise throughout this episode, I did use a lot of your recomendation to handle this situation.”</p>
<p><br/>“I have a very good communication line with the Office of M. Sebastion Proulx, who is the Deputy of the Mauricie Region,which includes Trois-Rivieres,…”</p>
<p><br/>“I will keep you updated on any future communication that I will have with M.Proulx's office, so that you are in the know.”</p>
<p><br/>“I will most likely meet with them next week-end (26-27July) and the 4th of September, both time on occasion where Narconon Trois-Rivieres is the Major Sponsor of a large scale event ( Le Monaco and Pro-Am Golf Tournament for Interval).”<br/><br/>“Thank you for your time, help and consideration.”<br/><br/><strong>Black Panther:</strong></p>
<p><br/>L. Ron Hubbard’s "Black Panther Mechanism", is repeatedly described in 1950 in the original book: "Dianetics, the Modern Science of Mental Health" and the Scientology Church advised Narconon Trois-Rivieres to check out how to deal with a Black Panther. (Government depicted as Black Panther?)</p>
<p><br/>The five alternate mechanisms are: (1) ATTACK, (2) FLEE, (3) AVOID, (4) NEGLECT and (5) SUCCUMB.</p>
<p><br/>In this scenario and statement by Scientologist Jean Lariviere, “handle” being the word as in handling a wild animal, would most certainly manifest to “confront” or “appropriately attack.”</p>
<p><br/>Recent controversy and the March 2011 media exposure on television and press, indicate that Scientology-Narconon did not succeed in their government handling whatsoever. Quite the contrary; indeed, there has been much government interest and investigations, to the detriment of the cult.</p>
<p><br/>Perhaps the Black Panther Mechanism is as out-dated as the pseudoscientific Narconon treatment methods.</p>
<p> <br/>By: David Edgar Love</p>Canada Senator Speaks Out - Scientology Fraudtag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-03-07:2163779:BlogPost:119022011-03-07T01:07:27.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/personal-safety-in-montreal/canada-senator-speaks-out-scientology-fraud" target="_blank">http://www.examiner.com/personal-safety-in-montreal/canada-senator-speaks-out-scientology-fraud</a><br />
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For Scientology-Narconon in Canada to retain their registered charitable status, I suggest they be subject to a compulsory benefits test. Does this charitable treatment center benefit our society or do the harms far outweigh the good? A senate Hearing in Ottawa may address…
<a href="http://www.examiner.com/personal-safety-in-montreal/canada-senator-speaks-out-scientology-fraud" target="_blank">http://www.examiner.com/personal-safety-in-montreal/canada-senator-speaks-out-scientology-fraud</a><br />
<br />
For Scientology-Narconon in Canada to retain their registered charitable status, I suggest they be subject to a compulsory benefits test. Does this charitable treatment center benefit our society or do the harms far outweigh the good? A senate Hearing in Ottawa may address the aforesaid and could be forthcoming soon.<br />
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In a recent TVA Investigative Report aired on February 25, 2011, Canada Senator Celine Payette speaks out against Scientology and is asking Quebec City, as well as Ottawa, to open an investigation and review the organization's tax status. Senator Payette states, "In my view it is a for-profit organization and they are committing fraud." The Senator also states, "As far as I'm concerned, I think an investigation should be conducted. People are being exploited; people of modest means. In my opinion, money is being extorted when I see the money paid for courses."<br />
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A Criminal Organization:<br />
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On March 3–4, 1983, police raided the Scientology headquarters in Toronto and seized an estimated 250,000 documents in more than 900 boxes.<br />
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On June 25, 1992, seven members were convicted for operations against the Ontario Provincial Police, the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The Church of Scientology itself was convicted on two counts of breach of the public trust: infiltration of the offices of the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. The Church of Scientology was ordered to pay a $250,000 fine. The Church of Scientology became the only Canadian religious organization to be convicted for breaching the public trust (the term 'religious organization' being used loosely; the Church of Scientology is not officially recognised by the Canadian Government as a religion).<br />
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Scientology-Narconon is now being investigated for Exploitation of a Handicap by the Quebec Human Rights Commission. Named in the nine page formal complaint are:<br />
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The Church of Scientology, Montreal, 4489 Papineau Street Montreal, Québec, Canada H2H 1T7; ABLECanada, 20 Carthage Ave, SCARBOROUGH, Ontario, M1R 4Y2; Narconon Trois-Rivieres, 7535 Boulevard Parent, Trois-Rivières QC, Canada; Narconon Canada (Dissolved), Narconon International, 4652 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood, CA 90027, Church of Scientology International,6331 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles 90028, and David Miscavige, 6331 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles 90028 In addition to the Corporate Entities, each and every Executive Director of the aforesaid is named; being responsible and accountable for the administration and directives at the rehabilitation center at Narconon Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada.<br />
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Public Benefits Test<br />
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In Canada, Narconon Trois-Rivieres is a registered charity with all the benefits and exemptions afforded to every other charitable organization. It claims to be a public benefit by caring and treating drug addicts and alcoholics; but is this really the case? Does it benefit the general public and society as a whole, or does Narconon really do more harm than good? The controversy continues over this rehabilitation center and with the several, recent complaints filed with the Quebec Human Rights Commission, Quebec Labour Relations Board, Canada Health, Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services, Quebec College of Physicians, the Canada Competition Bureau, and the Quebec Ombudsman, this controversy promises to continue far into the future for Narconon Trois-Rivieres and Scientology.<br />
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This Narconon Trois-Rivieres Treatment Program costs $23,000.00, plus additional costs for extra doctor visits, personal hygiene items, extra rides for appointments at a cost per ride, and other miscellaneous expenses for personal items. The cost to a parent or sponsor for a loved one sent to this facility can easily cost $25,000.00 or more.<br />
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The Narconon treatment and rehab program is Scientology, with all of the bells and whistles of this convicted, criminal organization. The eight books written for this program are from L. Ron Hubbard’s books on Dianetics, which is the basis for Scientology.<br />
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So is Narconon a credible rehabilitation treatment center that benefits society or is it a money machine and recruitment facility for the Church of Scientology. With the majority of the executive staff and many of the other employees being Scientologists, and many of the new staff recruited from those who recently completed the program, the image is clear.<br />
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There are no doctors, nurses, counsellors, or any other government recognised or certified medical professional at Narconon Trois-Rivieres. Nor are there any of these professionals at any other Narconon in Canada. The methods used to “cure” addicts and alcoholics for life, as they claim and promote, are not accepted by scientists, physicians, or the health authorities. In fact, many authorities claim that the treatment methods and practices at Narconon are unsafe and dangerous.<br />
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I have written previous articles concerning the physical dangers and the damage this Narconon center exploited upon its victims and now I will touch briefly on the cult’s psychological abuse and deceptions.<br />
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Their belief system is intensely focussed on our worlds doom and their group’s elite role in taking control over society. The church leader dominates the members and harnesses close control over all the member’s actions physically, sexually, and emotionally. They demonstrate extreme paranoia and outward fear of government and outsiders. It is scientology doctrine and policy to lie or violate laws if this will further the cause and survival of their group. With this cult behaviour, comes the dangers of abuse.<br />
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When a cult group like this is in care and control over vulnerable addicts needing help, the focus is on their own group’s survival, not the intense health care these ill people so desperately want and deserve.<br />
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Recent meetings at Senator Celine Payette's office in Ottawa and with the Ministry of Health and Social Services in Trois-Rivieres, indicate these Federal and Provincial governments are taking interest and investigating the exploitation of vulnerable Canadian citizens.<br />
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With recent news media coverage, victim’s statements, and clear and concise proclamations made by health care professionals and scientists, the tax benefits this organization now enjoys could be very short lived.<br />
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By: David Edgar Love<br />
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Continue reading on Examiner.com: Canada Senator Speaks Out - Scientology Fraud - Montreal Personal Safety | Examiner.com <a href="http://www.examiner.com/personal-safety-in-montreal/canada-senator-speaks-out-scientology-fraud#ixzz1Fs5rvP4n">http://www.examiner.com/personal-safety-in-montreal/canada-senator-speaks-out-scientology-fraud#ixzz1Fs5rvP4n</a>"Scientology Adverts Under Investigation by Ads Watchdog" - Sunday Times, March 6th 2011tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-03-06:2163779:BlogPost:119062011-03-06T08:00:00.000Zsomeonehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/Anonymous
<p><img align="none" src="http://i.imgur.com/tsKek.jpg"></img> <br></br><br></br><strong>Row over posters that claim sessions can tackle job insecurity as former member of church describes campaign as ‘misleading and offensive’</strong><i><br></br></i><br></br>Complaints have been filed with the country’s advertising watchdog over a Church of Scientology campaign, which claims its courses can help with job insecurity.<br></br><br></br>The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) is investigating claims that the ads, appearing in Dublin’s train and Dart…</p>
<p><img src="http://i.imgur.com/tsKek.jpg" align="none"/><br/><br/><strong>Row over posters that claim sessions can tackle job insecurity as former member of church describes campaign as ‘misleading and offensive’</strong><i><br/></i><br/>Complaints have been filed with the country’s advertising watchdog over a Church of Scientology campaign, which claims its courses can help with job insecurity.<br/><br/>The Advertising Standards Authority for Ireland (ASAI) is investigating claims that the ads, appearing in Dublin’s train and Dart stations and on buses, are misleading.<br/><br/>The billboards and posters feature photos of five downtrodden looking workers. “When job security turns into insecurity, success begins with personal efficiency,” they advise, urging people to “attend a course in Scientology”. It is the first time Scientology has marketed its courses this way, according to Gerard Ryan, its Irish director.<br/><br/>On its website, Scientology Dublin says an afternoon session costing €45 will give participants “the means to new ability and lasting security in the workplace — all from application of Scientology to the workaday world with The Problems of Work by L Ron Hubbard”, the science fiction writer who founded Scientology. The fee includes “free testing”, a copy of the Hubbard book, and a film presentation.<br/><br/>Frank Goodman, the ASAI chief executive, said the agency had “had a small number of complaints” about the campaign and decided to inquire further. “We have to follow due process and we are legally required to go to the advertiser about the complaints,” he said. “We’re not taking it up on religious grounds but will see if it breaches any advertising code by being misleading.”<br/><br/>Pete Griffiths, a one-time staff member and now defector from Scientology who says he paid €10,000 over seven years to the organisation in membership fees and courses, believes the ads are misleading.<br/><br/>“What I found offensive is they are looking at all those who are feeling insecure about their job and deciding to use it as a sales ploy,” said the 57-year-old, a regular protester against the movement. Griffiths, who was encouraged by his brother and then wife to join, completed a similar course on tackling job insecurity.<br/><br/>“On one level, someone could do the afternoon course and come out feeling better and secure in their job, but in Scientology, when you complete a course, they ask you to write a success story,” he said. “If you say you don’t want to, you have to see a director to find out what went wrong. If you write it, you have to see the registrar and he will sell you your next course. You can’t just do what it says on that sign. If you just did the course and went back to your life, it would feel like you had some benefit, but you are not allowed to do that. You go from one course to the next.”<br/><br/>Ryan, who has done the course and pointed out that he is still working as an architect despite the economic downturn, confirmed participants are asked to write a “success story” and are offered other courses but added “if you don’t want to, you don’t”.<br/><br/>“I feel if you want to become a bit more confident in your life, you will become more happy in your life. If you are more confident and your boss had to make a decision about cutting your job or someone else’s, there’s less chance of you being let go than the other person. If you are more confident, you are more likely to get a job than someone who is not.”<br/><br/>Scientology claims millions of supporters across the world, with Hollywood actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta being among its devotees. Scientologists, who believe humans are descended from a race of aliens, claim they can purify the human mind through a process of “auditing”, whereby people relive stressful or traumatic events in their lives.<br/><br/>Griffiths said the promotion indicates the organisation is introducing an “emergency formula” prescribed by Hubbard when membership is drying up. Ryan said that is not the case, and that “a few” people have signed up to its courses as a result of the advertising.<br/><br/>Griffiths felt he was not able to speak out about his experiences until Anonymous, a group of internet users, began to protest outside Scientology meetings. Anonymous Ireland protests outside the movement’s offices on Middle Abbey Street in Dublin once a month.<br/><br/>“The protesters have no effect on us whatsoever,” Ryan said. “They are just kids. They just want to harass us.”<br/><br/> <em>Gabrielle Monaghan</em>
<br/><br/>Published: 6 March 2011<br/><br/><a href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/News/Irish_News/article571087.ece">http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/News/Irish_News/article571087.ece</a></p>Narconon Trois-Rivières, Canada
http://offdainnertube.blogspot.com/2010/10/scientologys-narconon-in-legal-trouble.html
(Trois-Rivières) The Narconon Trois-Rivières detoxification centre, suspected of…tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-02-16:2163779:BlogPost:110122011-02-16T05:05:20.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p>Narconon Trois-Rivières, Canada</p>
<p><a href="http://offdainnertube.blogspot.com/2010/10/scientologys-narconon-in-legal-trouble.html" target="_blank">http://offdainnertube.blogspot.com/2010/10/scientologys-narconon-in-legal-trouble.html</a></p>
<p><br></br>(Trois-Rivières) The Narconon Trois-Rivières detoxification centre, suspected of links with the Church of Scientology, once again finds itself in the middle of a controversy. This time, it's the public statements made over the weeked by a…</p>
<p>Narconon Trois-Rivières, Canada</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://offdainnertube.blogspot.com/2010/10/scientologys-narconon-in-legal-trouble.html">http://offdainnertube.blogspot.com/2010/10/scientologys-narconon-in-legal-trouble.html</a></p>
<p><br/>(Trois-Rivières) The Narconon Trois-Rivières detoxification centre, suspected of links with the Church of Scientology, once again finds itself in the middle of a controversy. This time, it's the public statements made over the weeked by a former patient who became an employee of the organization that have brought the subject back into the news.<br/><br/>David Edgar Love, a 57-year-old man from the Montreal area, has just filed a complaint with the Quebec Human Rights Commission as well as with the Quebec Labour Standards Commission . Both commissions are currently investigating the matter.<br/><br/>The former Narconon employee says he is suffering from post-traumatic stress since leaving the centre in May 2009. Harassment and threats are alleged to have been daily occurrences at the Parent Boulevard establishment.[ more → ]<br/><br/>• David Edgar Love vs Narconon Trois-Rivieres<br/>Court hearing date is set for January 17th, 2011. Click here to read his brief summary.<br/>Narconon Fudges Numbers<br/>Love also adds: "...All of my examinations and calculations indicated that the advertised and promoted success rate was far below 70%. In fact it was approximately 46% using Narconon’s own computer data. <br/><br/>This 46% success rate represents post graduates only and does not take into account the patients who did not complete the program. It also does not include post graduate staff members who relapsed, which were several in the past two years. When taking the aforesaid into account, the Success Rate falls far below 20%.<br/><br/>The high “success rate”, which every Narconon in the world claims, is what I consider the key to Narconon’s ability to make money and fill Scientology’s coffers. <br/><br/>It is this advertised and promoted high success rate, which lures the unsuspecting and vulnerable public into this Narconon program of exploitation. These people have a high expectation of success, which is clearly a misrepresentation..."</p>David versus Hubbard
by Émilie DubreuilJuly 18, 2010 11:30 P.M.The number was blocked on the call display, but I knew I was speaking with the Church of Scientology's Salman Rushdie.The first time…tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-02-16:2163779:BlogPost:111082011-02-16T02:59:36.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p><br></br><strong>David versus Hubbard</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><br></br><br></br>by Émilie Dubreuil<br></br>July 18, 2010 11:30 P.M.<br></br><br></br>The number was blocked on the call display, but I knew I was speaking with the Church of Scientology's Salman Rushdie.<br></br><br></br>The first time I heard of David Edgar Love was last fall. The telephone rang at home. A man introduced himself in English: "Hello, my name is Gerry Armstrong ... " The number was blocked on the call display, but I…</p>
<p><br/><strong>David versus Hubbard</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><br/><br/>by Émilie Dubreuil<br/>July 18, 2010 11:30 P.M.<br/><br/>The number was blocked on the call display, but I knew I was speaking with the Church of Scientology's Salman Rushdie.<br/><br/>The first time I heard of David Edgar Love was last fall. The telephone rang at home. A man introduced himself in English: "Hello, my name is Gerry Armstrong ... " The number was blocked on the call display, but I instinctively knew that the person on the other end was the Church of Scientology's Salman Rushdie. Gerry Armstrong is an Anon, a name coined by "anti-Scientology" activists for persons who criticize the activities of the Church and even its very existence. Anons provide the help they have the means to offer to those who wish to leave the ranks of the religious group as well as to those who say they are its victims. <br/><br/>In this community, whose members can be found throughout the world, Armstrong is a star, a true living legend. A former Scientologist who from 1971 to 1981 was a member of the Sea Org, an elite group within the Church, he was in 1980 assigned the task of collecting the personal archives of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. This research was intended to facilitate the work of the writer hired by the organization to write the prophet's biography. <br/><br/>While sifting through the master's papers -- notes, letters, archives -- a seed of doubt was planted in the mind of the faithful Scientologist, and the more he read, the more he doubted the dogma to which he had devoted his life. He asked his superiors to explain the inconsistencies he discovered in Hubbard's writings. This was such insubordination that the Church excommunicated him and declared him anathema. As a result of his questioning of Scientology doctrine, he was subjected to "Fair Game", a policy established by Hubbard in 1960 and which stipulates that any individual or group that threatens his Church will be attacked. This essentially means "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." Thus did Scientology drag its former disciple to court. The pretext: the Church accused Armstrong of handing over confidential papers to his lawyer. <br/><br/>In 1986, after a long court battle, the two parties signed an agreement. Armstrong accepted $800,000 in compensation. In return, he agreed not to disclose privileged information about the Church and not to intervene in other cases related directly or indirectly to the organization. However, for the past 24 years, Armstrong has been doing precisely the opposite. He devotes his life to helping people who sue the Church and speaks openly about the secret documents to which he had access. The upshot has been a proliferation of new lawsuits. These were the circumstances which, last fall, led David Love to find him. If you want to attack Scientology and you're googling in the hope of finding allies, it doesn't take long for Gerry Armstrong's name to pop up ... From a building in Trois-Rivieres, this is what David Edgar Love was searching for. <br/><br/>Knowing about my journalistic interest in the Church of Scientology, Armstrong wanted to tell me about a "case". An employee of Narconon was being held against his will at the detoxification centre which is located at the outskirts of Trois-Rivieres and which is tied to the Church of Scientology. Like the vast majority of Narconon's "intervention workers", there are Narconon centres around the world. <br/><br/>David Edgar Love arrived there as a client. He was suffering from an addiction to medication and had faith in this miracle cure that advertised a 70% success rate. The centre provides treatment for addicts based on Hubbard's teachings, which are disputed by the scientific community. Hubbard believed that drugs, all drugs, settle in the body's fatty tissues and that it is therefore possible to detoxify a person by following what Scientologists call "the purification rundown", which consists of sending a person to a sauna for several hours a day for several weeks. <br/><br/>Like most clients of this miracle cure (which costs a fortune: tens of thousands of dollars), Love hails from English Canada. During his treatment, he claims he was forced to watch a film about Dianetics, Scientology's bible. He also claims to have been sexually harassed by the treatment director and that his bedside books were confiscated so that he could only read books by Hubbard. In spite of this, Love successfully completed the treatment and became an employee of the centre. He was given the responsibility of compiling statistics on success rates ... and he began to call persons who had completed the program, only to realize, he says, that the success rate was closer to 40% than 70%. <br/><br/>Moreover, Love says he witnessed disturbing medical incidents. For example, a diabetic was denied his insulin. Scientologists have, to say the least, a complicated attitude toward drugs and illness, which, according to them -- this is an extremely terse summary -- are caused by surplus particles of extraterrestrial beings that pollute our body. Love also tells the story of a young Ontario woman who broke her arm when she fell on ice and who was not immediately taken to a hospital because someone wanted to cure her with a Scientology-style laying on of hands. We contacted this former Narconon client in Ontario and she confirmed this story. <br/><br/>David Edgar Love became increasingly uncomfortable about his employer and its methods, and he began to think of leaving. However, Narconon, he says, showing us copies of his paychecks, paid him well below the minimum wage. It was then that he contacted Armstrong, who in turn called me. I met Love just as he was leaving the facility with the escort he had requested from the Sûreté du Québec [Quebec provincial police]. He was strange, hirsute. Since then, he has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome by a psychiatrist from the McGill University Health Centre, he has filed complaints with the Quebec Labour Standards Commission [Commission des normes du travail] and the Quebec Human Rights Commission [Commission des droits de la personne], and he has lobbied the Health Department to ban the Scientology treatment. It's a David versus Goliath battle. But not exactly ... because people like Gerry Armstrong and his wide network of Anons provided him a lawyer who has been advising him from Australia to assist him in his efforts. <br/><br/>Narconon denies David Edgar Love's allegations and has paid him his wages. Today, the former addict is working at a call centre in Dorval and he is determined to remain in Quebec until the treatment program tied to the Church of Scientology has been shamed in the public square. Employees of Narconon still lecture about drugs in schools across the province, promoting the gospel of a science fiction writer and of a religion among young people.</p>Narconon Dangers and Health Risks - Part Two
http://www.prlog.org/11003973-narconon-dangers-and-health-risks-part-two.html
It is not a matter of “if” another person will die, it is a matter of “when.…tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-02-16:2163779:BlogPost:111072011-02-16T02:42:29.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p><strong>Narconon Dangers and Health Risks - <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Part Two</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.prlog.org/11003973-narconon-dangers-and-health-risks-part-two.html" target="_blank">http://www.prlog.org/11003973-narconon-dangers-and-health-risks-part-two.html</a></span></strong></p>
<p><br></br><strong><em>It is not a matter of “if” another person will die, it is a matter of “when.” Narconon is a dangerous…</em></strong></p>
<p><strong>Narconon Dangers and Health Risks - <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Part Two</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.prlog.org/11003973-narconon-dangers-and-health-risks-part-two.html">http://www.prlog.org/11003973-narconon-dangers-and-health-risks-part-two.html</a></span></strong></p>
<p><br/><strong><em>It is not a matter of “if” another person will die, it is a matter of “when.” Narconon is a dangerous rehab center and the health risks and dangers to the Canadian public must not be tolerated any further.</em></strong> <br/><br/>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br/><br/>PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 15, 2010 – The Dangerous Sauna Program: <br/><br/>High doses of Niacin are administered in a toxic dosage and this is one of the health risk dangers. The dosage usually begins at 100mg, increasing to 2,600mg, and sometimes as high as 5,000mg. The medically recommended level is about 15 mg. The toxic high doses administered at Narconon, can have severe, even potentially fatal side effects, which was evident. <br/><br/>The effects of the Niacin overdose, which include skin irritation, flushing, severe itching, dizziness and headache, can also cause severe damage to the liver and cause other medical problems. <br/><br/>Other vitamin Mineral supplements, include calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, iodine and potassium, and up to half a cup of pure oil. Also a solution called Cal mag; a mix of calcium gluconate, magnesium carbonate and vinegar in water is taken up to three times per day. <br/><br/>On one occasion a diabetic patient entered the sauna program at Narconon Trois-Rivieres and did not receive his insulin. He became extremely ill and was taken to the hospital emergency where the trained medical staff saved his life. He spent several days in hospital care before being discharged. <br/><br/>The hospital staff were very angry and concerned over how Narconon could treat such a patient by not giving him his insulin; especially while being in a hot sauna and taking high doses of niacin and other vitamin concoctions. <br/><br/>Because niacin can cause hyperglycemia, dosage adjustment of insulin or oral antihyperglycemic therapy may be required in diabetic patients. <br/><br/>This Narconon program is extremely dangerous to patients with active liver disease, peptic ulcer disease, hyperuricemia with a history of gouty arthritis or uncontrolled hyperglycemia. Patients with gallbladder disease, history of jaundice or liver disease should be monitored closely while on niacin or niacinamide. <br/><br/>The Narconon Sauna staff members have no medical training and are not qualified to monitor toxic reactions to the high Niacin doses, nor are they trained professionals to recognize any physical or psychological adverse reactions to this treatment they are administering. In effect, they are practicing medicine without a license. They are examining the patients for physical and psychological reactions to the niacin and other vitamin concoctions, which they themselves are administering. These doses are increased according to the unqualified opinions of Narconon staff members. <br/><br/>A Dangerous Scam and Quackery: <br/><br/>After reviewing materials published by Narconon, University of Oklahoma biochemistry professor Bruce Roe described the program as "a scam" based on "half-truths and pseudo-science. In a 1988 report, Dr. Ronald E. Gots, a toxicology expert from Bethesda, Maryland, called the regimen "quackery", and noted that "no recognized body of toxicologists, no department of occupational medicine, nor any governmental agencies endorse or recommend such treatment. <br/><br/>A report on Narconon for the Department of Health in California described the mega-doses of vitamins as "hazardous" and "in some cases lethal". Prof. Michael Ryan, a pharmacologist at University College Dublin, told a 2003 court case that the Purification Rundown is scientifically unverified and medically unsafe. <br/><br/>In a 1999 French court case, five staff members of the Church of Scientology were convicted of fraud for selling the Sauna Purif and other Scientology procedures. In Russia, the Purification Rundown has been banned by officials as a threat to public health. <br/><br/>Narconon Scientology Deaths and Serious Injury:<br/><br/>Paride Ella and Giuseppe Tomba, clients of Narconon in Taceno, Italy, died in 1995 during the vitamin phase of the program, suffering kidney problems and a heart attack respectively. <br/><br/>A 25-year-old man in Portland, Oregon died from liver failure having taken the Purif. His parents sued the Church of Scientology and the case was settled out of court. <br/><br/>At Narconon Trois-Rivieres in Canada, a young man was denied his insulin while in sauna and was rushed to hospital and nearly died. <br/><br/>At Narconon Trois-Rivieres in Canada, a young man suffered severe stomach pains during his time in sauna and was sent to his room to lay down. After suffering all day in his bedroom, he was then taken to the hospital emergency and admitted to a hospital ward for care and monitoring. <br/><br/>Many of the Narconon Trois-Rivieres patients experienced vomiting from stomach upset and other ailments and pains. <br/><br/>Patients at Narconon also experienced mental distress, angry and violent outbursts, including one man who punched his fist through the glass window in the sauna door. <br/><br/>Conclusion Summary: <br/><br/>I was at this Narconon as a patient and later employed on staff for a period of six months and have seen and experienced the dangers and health risks at this controversial rehab center. Many of the cases I witnessed have been documented and substantiated by other reports from ex-patients and ex-staff members from Narconon Trois-Rivieres. <br/><br/>In view of the clear and obvious violations of due care to Patients and medical negligence which this Narconon is responsible for, this facility should be shut down immediately without redress. This is a public health and safety concern that the health authorities and governments of Canada are responsible for, accountable for, and of which they have the power to act and protect our vulnerable citizens from the exploitation, dangers, and health risks. <br/><br/>It is not a matter of “if” another person will die, it is a matter of “when.” The time is now for putting an end to this addiction treatment center that is practicing medicine without a license and administering unsafe and dangerous doses of niacin and using other practices to the detriment of their Patients safety and well-being. <br/><br/>Narconon is a dangerous rehab center and the health risks and dangers to the Canadian public must not be tolerated any further. <br/>David Edgar Love</p>Narconon Dangers and Health Risks - Part One
http://www.prlog.org/11003935-narconon-dangers-and-health-risks-part-one.html
It is not a matter of “if” another person will die, it is a matter of “when.…tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-02-16:2163779:BlogPost:111062011-02-16T02:38:16.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p><strong>Narconon Dangers and Health Risks - <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Part One</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.prlog.org/11003935-narconon-dangers-and-health-risks-part-one.html" target="_blank">http://www.prlog.org/11003935-narconon-dangers-and-health-risks-part-one.html</a></span></strong></p>
<p><br></br><em>It is not a matter of “if” another person will die, it is a matter of “when.” Narconon is a dangerous rehab…</em></p>
<p><strong>Narconon Dangers and Health Risks - <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Part One</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.prlog.org/11003935-narconon-dangers-and-health-risks-part-one.html">http://www.prlog.org/11003935-narconon-dangers-and-health-risks-part-one.html</a></span></strong></p>
<p><br/><em>It is not a matter of “if” another person will die, it is a matter of “when.” Narconon is a dangerous rehab center and the health risks and dangers to the Canadian public must not be tolerated any further.</em> <br/><br/><br/>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br/><br/>PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 15, 2010 – PART ONE of a Two Part Story <br/><br/>Narconon Patients have become extremely ill, rushed to hospital emergency in Trois-Rivieres, and may have died without the professional, medical attention from the emergency care physicians. <br/><br/>After searching for addiction help on misleading Narconon websites, which promise a 70% success rate to those who pay their $23,000.00 fee, the vulnerable patient speaks to a well-trained Registrar. A Commissioned sales person of convincing attributes, luring the unsuspecting victim into the evil clutches of Narconon-Scientology. A handsome ten percent commission to the Registrar for each new Patient. <br/><br/>I was employed at Narconon Trois-Rivieres, as a Registrar. <br/><br/>The Patient arrives at Narconon, usually disoriented and many times drunk or still high on their drug of choice. They are taken up to the Registrar’s office where several pages of contract documents are presented for the Patient’s signature. Even though they have no mental capacity to form intent, their wobbly signature seals the contract agreement and the Patient is then taken to the Narconon Withdrawal Unit. <br/><br/><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Scientology Indoctrination Begins:</span></strong> <br/><br/>Following a strip search, luggage-go through, and urine test, the disoriented and many times frightened Patient, is assigned their room. There are usually several other patients already there and can be seen going through the “Drills.” Scientology Doctrine drills which seem strange and foreign indeed to the unaccustomed. <br/><br/>Some are seen on massage tables receiving what the term in Scientology is called “Assists.” It is not a massage, but rather a science fiction writer’s quackery, written by L. Ron Hubbard, the creator of Scientology. As the person lays there on the table, a staff member touches various points on their body, saying, “Feel my finger”, and the Patient responds, “Yes.” And this process of “Feel my finger – Yes”, goes on and on, non-stop, until the staff member is finished the “assist.” Sometimes a tired Patient simply falls asleep. There are variations to these assist techniques. <br/><br/>In another room, two people can be seen staring at each other; not moving a muscle. Sometimes with their eyes open or they may be closed. <br/><br/>Then there is the “Locational Drills.” The Patient is commanded to “Look around the room and find something that is red, (or green or blue, etc) This drill can go on for hours and frustrates the Patient to no end. <br/><br/><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The Health Risks and Dangers:</span></strong> <br/><br/>When the Patient arrives at Narconon, they are not examined by a physician or seen by a nurse or any other government certified medical professional or councillor. Treating drug addicts or alcoholics without a medical examination, is dangerous and a high health risk concern. <br/><br/>Seizures may occur in up to 25 percent of alcoholics in withdrawal and they generally do so in the first 24 hours after alcohol use stops, but they can occur up to 5 days later. Alcohol withdrawal can be a dangerous process without the appropriate medication, such as Phenobarbital or other ant-seizure medication. <br/><br/>Drug addiction withdrawal also presents dangers of seizures; especially in Benzodiazepines, Barbiturates, and Methadone withdrawal. There is a danger of death in withdrawing from these substances when not under appropriate medical care. “Feeling someone else’s finger touching your body will not save you”, as when Assists are given.</p>
<p><br/>I have witnessed Patients being rushed by ambulance to hospital emergency in Trois-Rivieres, after having a seizure at Narconon. Some remained under professional medical care for several days before being discharged from hospital.</p>
<p><br/>The Narconon Trois-Rivieres staff members in this Withdrawal Unit, have absolutely no government medical qualifications or licence whatsoever to care for vulnerable and very ill Patients. The only training course they take is at Narconon Trois-Rivieres, which they receive a certificate for. The main theme in their training is vitamin regimes and Scientology Doctrine “Drills” and “Assists.” This is an “In-House” training, with a Certificate designed and printed off their computer. <br/><br/>Some of the “Feel my Finger” Assists became far too close and abusive for some female Patients receiving Assists from male staff. These poor, vulnerable people, after placing their trust in staff, were touched inappropriately and abused. Two male staff members were fired, but nevertheless, the damage was done and no professional counselling provided for these abused victims. In one case, photos were taken of a very ill young lady, under 90 pounds, and she was abused. <br/><br/>The emails and stories these Patients and witnesses have submitted are very disturbing and it has affected them psychologically. <br/><br/>These incidents were not reported to police or any other government authority by Narconon Trois-Rivieres; just hushed-up and not spoken about. <br/><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Toxic Doses of Vitamin Regimes:</strong></span> <br/><br/>A staff member hands the Patient a small cup full of pills called “Drug-Bombs.” No other substance for withdrawal at Narconon is used; only the drug bombs and other vitamin concoctions. These vitamin regimes cause diarrhea and the dehydration begins. They do not administer any medicine which would prevent this and some Patients suffer through several weeks of this dehydrating diarrhea to the detriment of their health. <br/><br/>This toxic vitamin does not end in the Withdrawal Unit; it continues and increases when the Patient enters the Sauna Program in Narconon. <br/><br/>After being in the Withdrawal Unit for about 4 to 12 days or so, and on occasion longer, the Patient is driven an hour and a half to see their Scientology doctor in Montreal. Dr. Pierre Labonte sees the Patient and performs a quick examination. Then off for blood tests in a Trois-Rivieres Clinic. <br/><br/>After Dr. Pierre Labonte reviews the blood test results, he qualifies the Patient to enter the Sauna Program. When high liver enzyme counts are evident, entering the Sauna Program may be delayed until further tests are done. But this is not always the case and Patients have entered the Sauna with high liver enzyme counts and other medical health risk complications. <br/><br/>Narconon is a health risk concern to many non-scientologist physicians, who know all too well, the dangers that await these vulnerable Patients. <br/><br/>David Edgar Love</p>David Love Interviewed about Narconon on The Edge Radio Show in Florida with Tom Smith
http://theedgewithtomsmith.com/a/TheEdgeLove1.mp3
« on: July 17, 2010, 12:03 »QuoteIn this interview,
David Lov…tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-02-16:2163779:BlogPost:112042011-02-16T02:25:48.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p><strong>David Love Interviewed about Narconon on The Edge Radio Show in Florida with Tom Smith</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://theedgewithtomsmith.com/a/TheEdgeLove1.mp3" target="_blank">http://theedgewithtomsmith.com/a/TheEdgeLove1.mp3</a></strong></p>
<p><br></br>« on: July 17, 2010, 12:03 »QuoteIn this interview,</p>
<p> David Love explains how he initially became involved in Narconon at Trois-Rivieres and his early experiences with the detox, sauna and large dosages of vitamins. He…</p>
<p><strong>David Love Interviewed about Narconon on The Edge Radio Show in Florida with Tom Smith</strong></p>
<p><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://theedgewithtomsmith.com/a/TheEdgeLove1.mp3">http://theedgewithtomsmith.com/a/TheEdgeLove1.mp3</a></strong></p>
<p><br/>« on: July 17, 2010, 12:03 »QuoteIn this interview,</p>
<p> David Love explains how he initially became involved in Narconon at Trois-Rivieres and his early experiences with the detox, sauna and large dosages of vitamins. He exposes the lack of medical supervision, evaluation, staff, and monitoring that exists at Narconon including his time as a staff member and the discovery that Narconon's purported 76% success rate is a sham.<br/><br/></p>Narconon – Cult of Deception
http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=3514
For Narconon in Canada to retain their registered charitable status, I suggest they be subject to a …tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-02-16:2163779:BlogPost:109112011-02-16T02:21:41.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p><strong>Narconon – Cult of Deception</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=3514" target="_blank">http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=3514</a></p>
<p><br></br><em>For Narconon in Canada to retain their registered charitable status, I suggest they be subject to a compulsory benefits test. Does this charitable treatment center benefit our society or do the harms far outweigh the good?</em> <br></br><br></br>FOR…</p>
<p><strong>Narconon – Cult of Deception</strong></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=3514">http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=3514</a></p>
<p><br/><em>For Narconon in Canada to retain their registered charitable status, I suggest they be subject to a compulsory benefits test. Does this charitable treatment center benefit our society or do the harms far outweigh the good?</em> <br/><br/>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br/><br/>PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 16, 2010 – Narconon – Cult of Deception <br/><br/>In Canada, Narconon Trois-Rivieres is a registered charity with all the benefits and exemptions afforded to every other charitable organization. It claims to be a public benefit by caring and treating drug addicts and alcoholics; but is this really the case? Does it benefit the general public and society as a whole, or does Narconon really do more harm than good? The controversy continues over this rehabilitation center and with the several, recent complaints filed with the Quebec Human Rights Commission, Quebec Labour Relations Board, Canada Health, Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services, Quebec College of Physicians, the Canada Competition Bureau, and the Quebec Ombudsman, this controversy promises to continue far into the future for Narconon Trois-Rivieres and Scientology. <br/><br/>The Narconon treatment and rehab program is Scientology, with all of the bells and whistles of this convicted, criminal organization. The eight books written for this program are from L. Ron Hubbard’s books on Dianetics, which is the basis for Scientology. <br/><br/>So is Narconon a credible rehabilitation treatment center that benefits society or is it a money machine and recruitment facility for the Church of Scientology. With the majority of the executive staff and many of the other employees being Scientologists, and many of the new staff recruited from those who recently completed the program, the image is clear. <br/><br/>There are no doctors, nurses, counsellors, or any other government recognised or certified medical professional at Narconon Trois-Rivieres. Nor are there any of these professionals at any other Narconon in Canada. The methods used to “cure” addicts and alcoholics for life, as they claim and promote, are not accepted by scientists, physicians, or the health authorities. In fact, many authorities claim that the treatment methods and practices at Narconon are unsafe and dangerous. <br/><br/>I have written previous articles concerning the physical dangers and the damage this Narconon center exploited upon its victims and now I will touch briefly on the cult’s psychological abuse and deceptions. <br/><br/>Their belief system is intensely focussed on our worlds doom and their group’s elite role in taking control over society. The church leader dominates the members and harnesses close control over all the member’s actions physically, sexually, and emotionally. They demonstrate extreme paranoia and outward fear of government and outsiders. It is scientology doctrine and policy to lie or violate laws if this will further the cause and survival of their group. With this cult behaviour, comes the dangers of abuse. <br/><br/>When a cult group like this is in care and control over vulnerable addicts needing help, the focus is on their own group’s survival, not the intense health care these ill people so desperately want and deserve. <br/><br/>For Narconon in Canada to retain their registered charitable statis, I suggest they be subject to a compulsory benefits test. Does this charitable treatment center benefit our society or do the harms far outweigh the good? <br/><br/>With recent news media coverage, victim’s statements, and clear and concise proclamations made by health care professionals, the tax benefits this organization now enjoys could be very short lived. <br/><br/>David Edgar Love<br/><br/></p>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Narconon False Success Rate
http://www.prlog.org/11046002-narconon-gulf-coast-success-rate.html
Public beware of misl…tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-02-16:2163779:BlogPost:111052011-02-16T02:16:35.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br></br><strong>Narconon False Success Rate</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.prlog.org/11046002-narconon-gulf-coast-success-rate.html" target="_blank">http://www.prlog.org/11046002-narconon-gulf-coast-success-rate.html</a></strong></p>
<p><br></br><em><strong>Public beware of misleading and deceptive success rates at rehab centers. This fraud is being exposed and investigated by…</strong></em></p>
<p>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><strong>Narconon False Success Rate</strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong><a target="_blank" href="http://www.prlog.org/11046002-narconon-gulf-coast-success-rate.html">http://www.prlog.org/11046002-narconon-gulf-coast-success-rate.html</a></strong></p>
<p><br/><em><strong>Public beware of misleading and deceptive success rates at rehab centers. This fraud is being exposed and investigated by government and health authorities.</strong></em> <br/><br/>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br/><br/><br/>(Press Release) – Nov 03, 2010 – Narconon Gulf Coast <br/><br/>On February 7, 2010, Narconon Gulf Coast published a Press Release painting a glowing picture of their 75% success rate. The success rate on their web page states 90%. I question whether either one of these percentage rates is true or can be verified; especially through any independent analyst. <br/><br/>The Narconon success rate has been a controversial issue for many years and is once again in recent news media reports and publications, questioning the credibility of these outlandish claims. There is simply no independent, verifiable information to be found that can establish these high success rates of the patients who complete the Narconon rehab program. <br/><br/>On May 2, 2002, Brad Melnychuk, ABLE Canada, made some interesting statements to the 37th PARLIAMENT, 1st SESSION, Special Committee on Non-Medical Use of Drugs, concerning the success rate of Narconon. Brad Melnychuk states as follows: <br/><br/>(1555) <br/>Mr. Brad Melnychuk: The point being missed is that there are programs that do work--Narconon, for example. You may think I'm here just to promote my program. It happens to be a program I'm very familiar with, one that does in fact get results, so of course I will talk about it. I'm talking about it because of the results. For example, Narconon gets a 65% success rate of abstinence even at its worst. In fact, the average is 75%. The more experienced, larger, and well-staffed organizations get 90%. Now, when we're talking results, we are talking about being drug-free for life...tracking people for two years after they've completed the program. <br/><br/>(1625) <br/>Mr. Brad Melnychuk: Yes, I can answer that. What accounts for the high success rate? You could say what's original about it is simply that an in-depth study was done by L. Ron Hubbard on the mind and on life. He is a founder of a religious organization. However, he also is a brilliant mind on the subject of addiction treatment. <br/><br/>In one 2009 meeting with Brad Melnychuk at Narconon Trois-Rivieres, in Quebec, Canada, we discussed the success rate at Narconon and Brad agreed the rate was below 70% and he was concerned about the misleading advertising and promotions being presented to the public in brochures and web sites. <br/><br/>I was employed at Narconon Trois-Rivieres as the Graduate Officer and a Registrar at the same time and performed both duties every day. When I examined the data from the year 1998 to 2009 and especially the years from 2007 to 2009, the success rate fell below 46%. These calculations were from their own computer print outs and other computer program examinations. This low success rate was calculated from program graduates only. When taking into account the patients who did not complete their program and the staff members who were ex-patients and had relapsed, the success rate fell below 20%. <br/><br/>In statements from a August 21, 2005 Press Release, the National Coalition of Human Rights Activists request the United States' various Federal healthcare oversight departments and State boards of health to investigate NarConon for alleged dangerous and worthless health care practices. <br/><br/>"The United States government has a duty to the citizens to protect them from dangerous or fraudulent health care scams," said NCHRA President David Rice. "If the apparent facts about NarConon are true, then the US government is grossly failing to meet that duty." <br/><br/>"I have personally asked NarConon to provide evidence for their claims that their 'detox' treatment is both safe and effective; in every instance they have answered with deafening silence." said Mr. Rice. "All the evidence I have so far been able to accumulate shows NarConon's treatment is both dangerous and worthless. I would very much like to see evidence otherwise, but NarConon refuses to provide this evidence to me even when I told them I would pay $100 for that evidence." <br/><br/>James J. Kenney, Ph.D., RD, of the National Council Against Health Fraud who said of the NarConon program: "Health professionals who subject troubled people (many with psychiatric illnesses and / or severe emotional problems) to this unproven detoxification program are at best unethical and at worst guilty of health fraud." <br/><br/>There is clear evidence that the success rate which Narconon uses to lure unsuspecting and vulnerable patients into their program, is misrepresented and far from the real truth. Governments and health authorities are investigating these false claims and Narconon will be held accountable. <br/><br/>If you are seeking help for your addiction to drugs or alcohol or seeking help for a loved one, do your research first. Google: Narconon Exposed. Talk to your own personal physician and be open and honest. Inform him that part of the Narconon Program is entering a Sauna at high temperatures for 5 hours every day for weeks on end, taking doses of Niacin as high as 2,600mg to 5,000mg in one single dose. <br/><br/>Narconon is a Scientology organization and has control over all the affairs of every Narconon and Narconon International. It is a convicted criminal organization that has established policies written by L. Ron Hubbard, that it is ok to lie if it furthers the interests of their group. <br/><br/>Public beware of any web site that promotes an unrealistic success rate that seems too good to be true. It isn’t. <br/><br/>by: David Edgar Love</p>“Are You a Narconon-Scientology Victim?”http://www.prlog.org/11224870-are-you-narconon-scientology-victim.html
If the exploitation of vulnerable Canadian Citizens continues unchecked, many more may s…tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-02-16:2163779:BlogPost:109102011-02-16T02:13:12.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p><strong>“Are You a Narconon-Scientology Victim?”</strong><br></br><br></br><a href="http://www.prlog.org/11224870-are-you-narconon-scientology-victim.html" target="_blank">http://www.prlog.org/11224870-are-you-narconon-scientology-victim.html</a></p>
<p><br></br>If the exploitation of vulnerable Canadian Citizens continues unchecked, many more may suffer. It is a right and freedom to oppose injustice and grasp the truth. <br></br><br></br>PRLog (Press Release) – Jan 16, 2011 –<br></br><br></br>There are untold numbers…</p>
<p><strong>“Are You a Narconon-Scientology Victim?”</strong><br/><br/><a target="_blank" href="http://www.prlog.org/11224870-are-you-narconon-scientology-victim.html">http://www.prlog.org/11224870-are-you-narconon-scientology-victim.html</a></p>
<p><br/>If the exploitation of vulnerable Canadian Citizens continues unchecked, many more may suffer. It is a right and freedom to oppose injustice and grasp the truth. <br/><br/>PRLog (Press Release) – Jan 16, 2011 –<br/><br/>There are untold numbers of vulnerable addicts and alcoholics that have been duped into the claws of pseudoscientific treatment centers. In some cases, far worse for wear post treatment than when they enrolled; and many thousands of dollars poorer.<br/><br/>In recent months, the controversy over the Narconon treatment program in Canada shows no sign of subsiding and more victims are speaking out concerning the sub-standard, unprofessional treatment and abuses at Narconon treatment centers. Not only in Canada; the United States, Australia, and many other countries are hearing horror stories from these vulnerable and exploited victims.<br/><br/>In Canada, citizens’ rights and freedoms are protected under the Canada Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Provincial Charters. There is help at no cost to the consumer/patient, for those who feel they were victimized at any treatment facility in Canada. And for those who were employees, help and advice is available at the Labour Relations Commission. Both of these government agencies will begin an investigation on your behalf.<br/><br/>If you feel that your rights or freedoms have been violated while in a treatment facility as a patient in Quebec, there is an avenue for redress.<br/><br/>Concerns may include, but are not limited to:<br/><br/>- Did I have the freedom to discuss Scientology while at Narconon?<br/>- Did I have the freedom to research Narconon on student computers?<br/>- Was I instructed to refrain from speaking about Scientology?<br/>- Did I have any books arbitrarily confiscated while at Narconon?<br/>- Was a sign posted on the wall for all to see which stated “In Treason?”<br/>- Was their coercion to write glowing Success Stories?<br/>- Did I feel exploited as a patient at Narconon? (Forced to do manual labour)<br/>- Was I encouraged to disconnect from any family members or friends?<br/><br/>The Quebec Charter states:<br/><br/>“Every person has a right to full and equal recognition and exercise of his human rights and freedoms, without distinction, exclusion or preference based on race, colour, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, civil status, age except as provided by law, religion, political convictions, language, ethnic or national origin, social condition, a handicap or the use of any means to palliate a handicap.”<br/><br/>“Discrimination exists where such a distinction, exclusion or preference has the effect of nullifying or impairing such right.”<br/><br/>“No one may harass a person on the basis of any ground mentioned…”<br/><br/>“No one may distribute, publish or publicly exhibit a notice, symbol or sign involving discrimination, or authorize anyone to do so.”<br/><br/>“Every employer must, without discrimination, grant equal salary or wages to the members of his personnel who perform equivalent work at the same place.”<br/><br/>“No one may be deprived of his liberty or of his rights except on grounds provided by law and in accordance with prescribed procedure.”<br/><br/>“Every person has a right of petition to the National Assembly for the redress of grievances.”<br/><br/>As an employee, your rights are not only protected under the Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms, but also under the Commission des Normes du Travail, (Labour Relations Commission).<br/><br/>Concerns may include, but are not limited to:<br/><br/>- Did I receive minimum wage according to Provincial law?<br/>- Did I receive equal pay for equal work performed?<br/>- Was I harassed for discussing non-pay issues?<br/>- Was I instructed to disconnect from any family members or friends?<br/>- Was I harassed for any reason whatsoever?<br/><br/>A single serious incidence of such behaviour may constitute psychological harassment if it has the same consequences and if it produces a lasting harmful effect on the employee. Considered on its own, a verbal comment, a gesture or behaviour may seem innocent. It is the accumulation or all of these behaviours which may become harassment.<br/><br/>It must be noted that anyone who does speak out against Narconon-Scientology, may face additional harassment as a declared Enemy. Although the Fair Game policy was officially cancelled by Hubbard in 1968 because of negative public relations it caused, people who speak out or file complaints against them, are still handled the same way.<br/><br/>The Fair Game policy states: “May be deprived of property or injured by any means by any Scientologist without any discipline of the Scientologist. May be tricked, sued or lied to or destroyed."<br/><br/>This Fair Game policy has instilled fear in many people, including media, and rings of illegal practices and harassment. This alone, persuades many victims to keep silent and refrain from exercising their charter rights as they continue to suffer as an exploited victim.<br/><br/>Although fear and harassment may deter many from filing any complaint against Narconon-Scientology, Canada and Quebec laws, including the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms and the Labour Relations Commission, have strict and enforceable laws and policies against reprisals.<br/><br/>If any person files a formal complaint and then receives any harassment whatsoever, the aforesaid entities will take swift action to halt such reprisals, protect the victim, and investigate the reprisal allegations.<br/><br/>Canadian and Provincial government agencies are eager to help and protect the exploited and vulnerable victim. It is your right and your freedom to right the wrongs.<br/><br/>"Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, these ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."<br/>~ Robert Kennedy ~<br/><br/>By: David Edgar Love</p>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Narconon - Destructive Cult Indoctrination
http://www.prlog.org/11162432-narconon-destructive-cult-indoctrination.html
…tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-02-16:2163779:BlogPost:109092011-02-16T02:11:27.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br></br><strong>Narconon - Destructive Cult Indoctrination</strong></p>
<p><a href="http://www.prlog.org/11162432-narconon-destructive-cult-indoctrination.html" target="_blank">http://www.prlog.org/11162432-narconon-destructive-cult-indoctrination.html</a></p>
<p><br></br><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Part - Two</strong></span><br></br><br></br><br></br><em><strong>"Scientology is quite likely the most ruthless,…</strong></em></p>
<p>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><strong>Narconon - Destructive Cult Indoctrination</strong></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.prlog.org/11162432-narconon-destructive-cult-indoctrination.html">http://www.prlog.org/11162432-narconon-destructive-cult-indoctrination.html</a></p>
<p><br/><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Part - Two</strong></span><br/><br/><br/><em><strong>"Scientology is quite likely the most ruthless, the most classically terroristic, the most litigious and the most lucrative cult the country has ever seen. No cult extracts more money from its members."</strong></em> <br/><br/>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br/><br/>PRLog (Press Release) – Dec 19, 2010 – <br/><br/>Finding a reputable treatment center for a loved one can be a daunting task indeed if one is to avoid the mistake and frustration of discovering your family member is enrolled in a program which is “indoctrination and recruitment” into the destructive cult of Scientology. Although the family member’s intentions and heart were in the right place in seeking help for their loved one, the heart ache, turmoil, and chaos can be devastating to the entire family, including the vulnerable and ill patient who desperately needs professional healthcare and treatment. <br/><br/>“How could I have made such a terrible mistake”, exclaimed one distraught mother. She explained that before going on a holiday, they spent more time and research finding a reputable kennel for their pet dog than the effort they put into finding a safe and effective treatment facility for their loved one. ”When my daughter returned home after completing the Narconon program, she was like a shell and lived in her bedroom most of the time; afraid to go out. It's taken nearly 6 months for her to be near normal again”, she explained. <br/><br/>Stress and Emotions <br/><br/>One parent said they noticed something about being the parent of an addict. “It is a very lonely thing. If my child had any other disease, the people in my life would be surrounding me with comfort and support....” <br/><br/>This is where Narconon plays their loudest tune. They are well trained to zone in on the family member’s emotional stress and guilt and point out that their program has a 70 to 90% success rate cure, and that money shouldn't be considered for saving a loved one's life. The Narconon Registrar is well aware that stress has interfered with the family member’s ability to live a normal life for an extended period of time. They know the family feels "out of control" and have no idea of what to do. The Registrars “pitch” is very convincing and before they have time to do further research, the “sponsor” reaches for their credit card to enrol their loved one into what they think is the best choice of addiction rehab facilities. <br/><br/>Buyer Beware <br/><br/>On October 21, 2010, SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (CN) - A father claims Narconon International and the Association for Living and Education International are fronts for Scientology, and that he paid them $35,500 for "essentially worthless treatment" for his drug-addicted son. He says the groups run rehab programs "to enrich themselves and to provide a recruit base for the Church of Scientology rather than to provide competent treatment for chemical dependency." <br/><br/>David Compton sued the two companies, and Narconon Vista, alleging fraud and breach of contract. He wants his money back and $1 million in punitive damages. <br/><br/>"The conduct of defendants is pervasive and plaintiff and his son are not the first victims of the conduct of defendants," the complaint states. "Defendants are engaged in a scheme or plan to enrich themselves and to provide a recruit base for the Church of Scientology rather than to provide competent treatment for chemical dependency. As such, their actions are intended to inflict harm upon the persons entering their programs while obtaining large sums of money for essentially worthless treatment. Such pattern of conduct has resulted in harm not just to plaintiff and his son but many other families who have been traumatized by actions of defendants." <br/><br/>Scientology and Narconon are not strangers to similar allegations and spent millions in their unsuccessful attempts to defend themselves. In Canada, Scientology is a convicted criminal organization. <br/><br/>On March 3–4, 1983, police raided the Scientology headquarters in Toronto and seized an estimated 250,000 documents in more than 900 boxes. On June 25, 1992, seven members were convicted for operations against the Ontario Provincial Police, the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The Church of Scientology itself was convicted on two counts of breach of the public trust: infiltration of the offices of the Ontario Provincial Police and the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. The Church of Scientology was ordered to pay a $250,000 fine. The Church of Scientology became the only Canadian religious organization to be convicted for breaching the public trust (the term 'religious organization' being used loosely; the Church of Scientology is not officially recognized by the Canadian Government as a religion.Following this Criminal Conviction, the Scientology Lawyer, Morris Manning, libeled the Crown Attorney, Hill, who in turn launched a lawsuit for damages for libel against the appellants. Both appellants were found jointly liable for general damages of C$300,000 and Scientology alone was liable for aggravated damages of C$500,000 and punitive damages of C$800,000. The judgement was affirmed in a 1993 decision by the Court of Appeal for Ontario. <br/><br/>The Indoctrination <br/><br/>The Narconon program is like none other. The moment a new patient arrives in the withdrawal unit, the Scientology indoctrination begins. Disoriented and vulnerable, the ill patient obeys the staff commands. The “Scientology Training Routines”, (TR’s), and are done on a gradient; a little information at a time so that the new ”Student”, as Narconon refers to them, accepts what is going on without questioning or leaving the program. But in reality, the "gradient" is designed to place increasing levels of thought conditioning and mind control into the student. The student is entirely unaware that these TR Drills are Scientology indoctrination processes that will increase each day until they neutralize the student's critical faculties and render them prone to suggestion as they engage in further training. <br/><br/>With the progression through each phase, the degree of conversion becomes more effective and complete. The way to achieve conversion are many and varied, but the usual first step in religious or political brainwashing is to work on the emotions of an individual or group until they reach an abnormal level of anger, fear, excitement, or nervous tension. The progressive result of this mental condition is to impair judgment and increase suggestibility. The more this condition can be maintained or intensified, the more it compounds. Once catharsis, or the first brain phase, is reached, the complete mental takeover becomes easier. Existing mental programming can be replaced with new patterns of thinking and behavior. (THE BATTLE FOR YOUR MIND, by Dick Sutphen). <br/><br/>The Dangers <br/><br/>This quackery program of pseudoscience may leave a loved one far worse off following the Narconon program than before they arrived and many thousands of dollars poorer.<br/><br/>"Scientology is quite likely the most ruthless, the most classically terroristic, the most litigious and the most lucrative cult the country has ever seen. No cult extracts more money from its members." --Cynthia Kisser, the network's Chicago-based executive director, as quoted in Time, 5/6/91. <br/><br/>"This is a criminal organization, day in and day out. It makes Jim and Tammy [Bakker] look like kindergarten." --Vicki Aznaran, one of Scientology's six key leaders until 1987, as quoted in Time, 5/6/91. <br/><br/>Is this the rehab program you would knowingly send a loved one to in hopes of a new drug free life? The controversy continues over the credibility and effectiveness of this destructive cult’s Narconon programs, and the media seems in fear no more of exposing the atrocities. <br/><br/>Their days in duping and exploiting citizens could be numbered. <br/><br/>By: David Edgar Love<br/><br/># # #<br/><br/><br/>David Love <br/>Montreal Personal Safety Examiner.</p>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Narconon - Don"t Do It?
http://www.prlog.org/11157307-narconon-dont-do-it.html
Be careful not to rush into sending a lo…tag:anoneire.ning.com,2011-02-16:2163779:BlogPost:111042011-02-16T02:06:36.000ZDavid Edgar Lovehttp://anoneire.ning.com/profile/DavidEdgarLove
<p><br></br><br></br>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br></br><strong>Narconon - Don"t Do It?</strong></p>
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<p><br></br>Be careful not to rush into sending a loved one to a rehab center that promises at 70 to 90% cure rate and has a bed ready immediately. Although this may look attractive, their promises are filled with…</p>
<p><br/><br/>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><strong>Narconon - Don"t Do It?</strong></p>
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<p><br/>Be careful not to rush into sending a loved one to a rehab center that promises at 70 to 90% cure rate and has a bed ready immediately. Although this may look attractive, their promises are filled with smoke and mirrors with devastating consequences. <br/><br/><br/>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br/><br/>PRLog (Press Release) – Dec 16, 2010 – <br/><br/>Part - One <br/><br/>With the holiday season approaching, Narconon is promoting and marketing their treatment facility as the place to send a loved one for drug or alcohol treatment. The recent controversy regarding the safe and effective treatment at Narconon and recent media exposure, should warn consumers to be cautious when deciding whether or not to send a loved one to this expensive $20-$30,000 pseudoscientific, Scientology rehab facility. <br/><br/>The Narconon websites boast a 70 to 90% success rate, when in fact there is no verifiable, independent statistics to prove their claim. They also promise that when a patient enters the Narconon withdrawal unit to begin detoxing from drugs or alcohol, they are first seen by a physician. The recent statements by ex-patients and evidence, has proven the above statements and claims to be false. Narconon also hides the fact that their rehab program is based on religious Scientology doctrines and directed by the Church of Scientology. <br/><br/>Narconon also claims to be secular versus religious and relentlessly tries to distance itself from Scientology and the controversy attached. In fact any patient at Narconon is discouraged or even forbidden to talk about or discuss Scientology with other patients. One staff member explained that the reason for this is because Narconon does not want a sponsor or family member to think that the program at Narconon is based on Scientology doctrines and therapies. “They may decide to pull their son or daughter out of Narconon”, the staff member explained. <br/><br/>Is Narconon Religious? <br/><br/>Since Narconon is Scientology, one must examine whether or not Scientology is a religion. This controversy has been argued for decades and shows no sign of ending soon. In 1954, L. Ron Hubbard declared, "Scientology...is not a religion." (- L. Ron Hubbard, CREATION OF HUMAN ABILITY, 1954, p. 251). Hubbard is also quoted as saying that he thought the easiest way to make money would be to start a religion. Another quote would seem to clarify his aspirations, "MAKE MONEY. MAKE MORE MONEY. MAKE OTHER PEOPLE PRODUCE SO AS TO MAKE MORE MONEY." (- L. Ron Hubbard, Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter, 9 March 1972, MS OEC 384). <br/><br/>Stephen A. Kent (Ph.D.), Department of Sociology at the University of Alberta in Canada writes, “Many of my social scientific colleagues have examined some Scientology documents and possibly participated in some Scientology events, and they have concluded that the organization is religious in nature. Bryan R. Wilson (b. 1926), for example, who is a respected British sociologist of religion, concluded "that Scientology must indeed be regarded as a religion" (Wilson, 1990: 288). He reached this conclusion after comparing Scientology's belief system with twenty characteristics usually found within what he called "known religions" (Wilson, 1990: 279)….” <br/><br/>Even though Scientology is a religion, Roy Wallis, in his book The Road to Total Freedom, London, Heinemann, 1976, says: “To argue that Scientology is a genuine religion is not to say that it is a good religion or a bad religion, a "true" religion or a "false" religion.” <br/><br/>The fact is that the Narconon Program is taken directly from Scientology doctrines and therapies and is replicated exactly, without variance. Staff must follow defined training requirements for each work assignment within the organization, and there are strict processes for discipline of staff that have violated the rules or policies of the program structure or tech. <br/><br/>Quite simply, Narconon IS Scientology and a Religious Entity. <br/><br/>Why Not Narconon? <br/><br/>Narconon has a convincing, promotional marketing campaign to convince you that their rehab facility is the best one to send your loved one to during this holiday season. Although this may be a good time to enter a treatment program, the question is whether or not Narconon is the right choice. <br/><br/>For the best treatment available, one must examine what professional care is available, medical treatment available, patient safety and care, and religious affiliations or structured doctrines and beliefs that may interfere with one’s own beliefs. <br/><br/>Dr. John Gordon Clark Jr., who also is a neurologist, labeled Scientology a "destructive cult and said its procedures caused plaintiff Julie Christofferson Tictchbourne to develop the mental condition of dissociation, a dramatic narrowing of a person's consciousness.” In discussing Scientology and its practices, Clark said its exercises were "…utterly mutilating to a person's mind," He added "Taken to its extreme, you can teach someone to kill..." Ms. Singer said Mrs. Titchbourne suffered from an "…emotional numbness" similar to that suffered by other members of "coercive, high-pressure, mind-control cults..." <br/><br/>Investigations in Canada by government officials, including the withholding of prescribed medications which resulted in patients suffering adversely. One patient was rushed to hospital after not receiving his insulin. Others were taken to hospital emergency for severe stomach pains caused by extreme high doses of Niacin while enduring a hot sauna for 5 hours per day. <br/><br/>Further allegations and complaints are being investigated for sexual abuses by staff upon patients and the exploitation of these vulnerable and ill victims. Complaints to the police are being prepared at this time. <br/><br/>One Narconon in Québec, Canada, is under investigation by the Québec Human Rights Commission, Labor Relations Board, the Québec Ministry of Health and Social Services, and the Québec College of Physicians. Further complaints are pending. <br/><br/>The Love for a Loved One <br/><br/>Is Narconon really the place you want to send a loved one to? Deciding on the best place to send your loved one for help begins with your family physician. Do some research about Narconon and Scientology and you will soon be aware of the dangers and health risks in their program. <br/><br/>Be careful not to rush into sending a loved one to a rehab center that promises at 70 to 90% cure rate and has a bed ready immediately. Although this may look attractive, their promises are filled with smoke and mirrors with devastating consequences. <br/><br/>Be confident by making sure that the treatment center of your choice has government certified professional care workers and medical staff. Have your family physician examine your loved one prior to entering the program. <br/><br/>The research and care taken prior to entering any treatment facility can make all the difference in the world whether or not success will be achieved. <br/><br/>A precious human life is at stake. <br/><br/>By: David Edgar Love <br/>__________________</p>