------------------------------------------------------------------- F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. (Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network, Incorporated) a non-profit computer bulletin board and electronic library 601 16th St. #C-217 Golden, Colorado 80401 USA BBS 303 530-1942 FAX 303 530-2950 Office 303 473-0111 This document is part of an electronic lending library and preservational electronic archive. F.A.C.T.Net does not sell documents, it only lends them according to the terms of your library cardholder agreement with F.A.C.T.Net, Inc. ===================================================================== The Narconon tory Oklahoma As Recorded In The Pages of the Newkirk Herald Journal Newkirk, Oklahoma 74647 With Articles Reprinted From Some Other Publications Included Narconon-Chilocco Drug Treatment Plant May Be Part Of Notorious Religious Cult By Robert W. Lobsinger Herald Journal Publisher April 27, 1989 NEWKIRK, OK -- A proposed drug treat- ment and rehabilitation center which could be in operation on Indian land at the former Chilocco Indian School north of Newkirk by June 15th may be part of a notorious reli- gious cult. Narconon was approved for a 75-bed fa- cility by the State Health Planning Commis- sion in January of this year as part of The Chilocco Development Authority. The pro- jected cost is $400,000 for renovation and the five Indian tribes involved are projected to receive $16,000,000 in lease payments over 25 years. According to published reports, Narconon is the drug rehabilitation program for the Church of Scientology foanded by L. Ron Hubbard. Last Friday Sociology Professor Richard Ofshe of the University of Califor- nia at Berkley cont'trmed that Narconon is an organization of the Church of Scientology. "I think it's common knowledge out here", he said. In a 1981 Reader's Digest article, the Church of Scientology was described as a "frightening cult". Tribal members contacted about the Chi- locco project were not aware of a possible connection to the Church of Scientology. All they've been told is that it is a "private corporation ." Pawnee office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs said they were not aware of the connection, and were very "surprised" be- cause the "state" and the "governor' s office" were involved in getting Narconon to come to Chilocco. Narconon's literature says nothing about any connection with the Church of Scientol- ogy, but does say it adheres to the methods of L. Ron Hubbard. Narconon material presented to Newkirk Mayor Garry Bilger at ceremonies held at Chilocco on Saturday, April 8, says only that "the Narconon program owes its success to the 'unique technology' of L. Ron Hubbard. Narconon uses the Hubbardr Method of drug rehabilitation to handle the mot causes of why the person took drugs in the first place ." The only connection between Scientol- ogy and Narconon in its own material seems to be a reference to "RTC" that appears in literature from Narconon. In fine print, it says that "Hubbard is a trademark and ser- vice mark owned by "RTC" and is used with its permission. In literature received by the Newkirk Library from the Church of Scien- tology advertising books by L. Ron Hubbard, a footnote announces that Dianetics, Scien- tologist, and Scientology are trademarks and service marks owned by Religious Technol- ogy Center (the same RTC?) and are used with its permission. Narconon is a drug treatment program founded by William Benitez about 1965 while he was in the Arizona State Prison, according to "The Truth About Drugs" by Gene Chill and John Dug The book proudly proclaims that Narconons programs are based on the technology of L. Ron Hubbard, but makes no mention of Scientology. "The Truth About Dru_es ", a Narconon publication, says that Narconon is a multi- phase program that includes drug free with- drawal after a full medical exam; a Purifica- tion Program that cleanses the body of re- maining accumulations of drugs; training and counseling to bridge the individual over to life as a drug free, contributing member of socie .ty. Narconon wasfirst establishedby Benitez after other programs he tried had failed. It took 9 months to get the program approved for use in the Arizona State Penitentiary and was expanded to other prisons in 1969, then to the public in 1972. Narconon works in two fields, Rehabilitation and Education. Edu- cational efforts were begun in 1979 by former drug user John Duff, one of the authors of "The Trttth About Dru_~s. "Duff is currently National Director ofNarconon's Drug Edu- cation program.. Narconon - Chilocco has announced in- tentions of being in operation by June 15. It has received the approval of the State of Oklahoma to begin with a 75 bed capacity, but Narconon staff member Edna Fulton, quoted in the April 9th issue of the Ponca City News, said she expects approval for reasonably rapid expansion. It could eventu- ally house up to 1,400 "patients" and what- ever "staff' would be necessary. The Los Angeles based Association for Better Living & Education (ABLE), sent Rena Weinberg to Chilocco to present Nar- conon and the Chilocco Development Au- thority with a $200,000.00 check to be used in establishing the local Narconon facility. According to the Ponca City News, Weinberg said ABLE operates internation- ally and has been impressed with the success of the Narconon recovery program, hence the donation. The address of ABLE is 3540 Wilshire Btvd, Suite 300, Los Angeles, California. The address of Narconon International As- sociation is... 3540 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 300, Los Angeles, Ca. The address of Nar- conon Drug Education, U.S. is 3540 Witshire Blvd., Suite 303, Los Angeles, CA. Same building, same floor, same offices. Narconon's material says it is currently operating 26 treatment facilities in 11 na- tions: Nine facilities in the United States, five in California, two in Colorado, one in Massachusetts, and one in Louisiana. Ac- cording to the Golden, Colorado, Transcript, the Narconon unit in Golden just opened in the fall of 1988. Layffayette Ronald Hubbard was bom in Tilden, Nebraska in 1911. His father was a navy commander. According to Life Maga- zine, Hubbard, while in the far east on tour with his father, "studied with lama priests." Although he artended college, and often claimed a degree, he never finished his schooling. During the 1930s, he traveled in Central America and wrote Science Fiction, Westerns, and Screenplays. According to Time Magazine, Hubbard made up his own history and travels, claim- ing that he was a World War II hero and a nuclear physicist. His book, "Dianetics: The Modern Sci- ence of Mental Health" first appeared as an article in Astounding Science Fiction maga- zine. Hubbard later claimed his book was a science, and eventually, a religion. In order to have freedom from interrup- tions so he could study and write more books, his followers say he took to life on the high seas, living and operating from a fleet of ships cruising in international waters. His detractors say he was avoiding legal prob- lems in several countries. According to Time Magazine, Hubbard' s son, Ronald DeWolf, changed his name to disassociate himself from his father, whom he calls, "one of the biggest con men of the In 1949, Hubbard told a ~oup of science fiction writers, "Writing for a penny a word is ridiculous. If a man really wanted to make a million dollars, the best way would be to start his own religion." Hubbard reportedly died as mysteriously as he had lived. The Church of Scientology announced in February 1986 that L. Ron Hubbard died "last week." No actual date of death was ever given, and some wonder if the body was really his. Science Fiction Encyclopedia says that Scientology is a dramatic example of Sci- ence Fiction pulp being put into practice in the real world. How L. Ron Hubbard came to believe his own si-fi is a remarkable story. That he has managed to establish and propagate it into a growing "religion" is a tribute to his ability as a believable writer. Time magazine says Scientology origi- nally surfaced as "Dianetics", a pseudopsychological fad that flourished in the early 1950s. Newsweek calls Dianetics a "far-out book" that took Hubbard only 60 days to write but became a best seller within months of publication in 1950. Hubbard has been described as a "some- time explorer, engineer, and science-fiction writer" in Newsweek, and the magazine notes that at the Church of Scientology's First National Conference on Public Action and Social Reform in Los Angeles in 1974, "representatives of the California Legisla- ture presented a special commendation to Narconon, Scientology's program to fight drug abuse." Over 1,500 Scientologists at- tended the meeting. In 1952, Hubbard announced the birth of the Church of Scientology, an "applied reli- gious philosophy" which retained most of the basic features of Dianetics. According to Time, Scientology has sev- eral levels of liberation leading one to a state of "clear", in which all "engrams" from this or past lives have been erased. "Engrams", a biological term, was borrowed by Hubbard to mean the mental quirks he felt caused all psychic problems. Once "clear" a Scientologist takes on su- per-human qualities and becomes an "Oper- ating Thetan" with extraordinary powers. Hubbard was an "Operating Thetan." Hubbard called his Dianetics, "a mile- stone for Man comparable to his discovery of fire and superior to his invention of the wheel and the arch." This blend of Eastern philosophy, psy- choanalytic technique and futuristic theory "concocted" by Hubbard offered everyone self help answers to an array of psychic and bodily ills. One of the reasons Hubbard incorporated his theories into a religion was partly to avoid attacks from medical and psychiatric critics. World Headquarters is in Los Angeles. Hubbard's Dianetics became Scientology's scripture. Through Dianetics, Hubbard claimed he could raise IQs, cure bad eyesight, the common cold. and radia- tion bums, among other things. The book, "All God' s Children" by Carroll Stoner and Jo Anne Parke says that Scientol- ogy is attractive to "those who are, or think they are, in trouble." Stoner and Parke say that Scientology is different from most reli- gious cults because members rarely live in communal systems and most live and work in the outside world. To the average person, Science Fiction Encyclopedia says, Dianetics offered sev- eral attractions: It took only hours of training in order to be able to practice. No formal education was necessary. It offered a model of the mind that was at first simple and coherent, and it offered diagnosis of why so many feel they are unappreciated failures. Further and most important, it offered a cure. From science fiction to science, then to religion, Hubbard's Dianetics drew big fol- lowings. The group expanded overseas and established centers in Australia and South Africa as early as 1953. Still, it was seen by the skeptical as a crafty tax dodge, even though it does have some of the trappings of a genuine religion. Hubbard's new religion combined parts 3 of Hindu, Veda and Daharma, Taoism, Old Testament wisdom, Buddhist principles, Early Greek thinking and other tidbits. But primarily, the religious status offered the advantages of tax exemption and less government scrutiny than one receives in the fields of medicine or science. Religious regu- lation is looser than scientific or medical regulation. Time says the church concerns itself little with God, and mostly with the here and now. One recruit who quit called it "A Church with a cashier' s booth." In order to reach the state of "clear", a recruit must travel down a path of successive courses with "auditors" processing him through each level with an E-meter. An E-meter, or "electroencephaloneuromentimograph", is essentially a crude lie detector, with which the "auditor" questions the recruit about intimate details of his life. When the needle jttmps, an "engram" or sin has been uncov- ered, and the "auditor" helps the recruit confront and erase the "engram." E-meters were developed by Hubbard to speed up the Dianetics process of clearing engrams. Au- diting is similar to confession in other reli- gions. The E-meter and its use appear to be the only "unique technology" every devel- oped by Hubbard. An E-meter is a galva- nometer attached to two cans. V-8 juice cans seem popular for the purpose, according to some reports. The first level course releases a person from his problems, according to Life. The second covers "Overts" (harmful or contrasurvival acts) and Witholds. Next comes a Freedom Release, then an Ability Release and Power Processing. Once these first five levels have been attained, further processing must be done at special Scientol- ogy complexes, such as Saint Hill, Sussex, England, which are only for advanced en- lightenment. These higher levels will take a person to "clear." Scientologists, Newsweek says, believe that man is a spiritual creature descended from a race of omnipotent "Thetans" who decided to experiment with life on earth, and gave up some of their powers to do so. (There are at least two different versions of this story in print.) But anyone can retrieve those lost powers by overcoming the "engrams" that have clut- tered their personality during the eons of their existence. Such an "engram~'4ree person is said to be "clear." A "clear", according to Science Fiction Encyclopedia, is a person who has erased the aberrations from his "thetan" and in return has powers of telepathy, radically increased intelligence, the ability to move outside his body, a photographic memory, and the ability to control processes such as growing new teeth. Some reports say it takes about 60 hours of auditing and a course in Dianetic training in order to reach "clear." The first "clear" was a South African medical student named John McMaster, who made the trip in 1966. Dianetics was a secular movement until Hubbard discovered the existence of the "Thetan". Thems are reincarnated over tril- lions of years. Hubbard has been quoted as saying that he felt as good as anyone who was several trillion years old could expect to feel. Over the years, Scientology has taken on trappings of more conventional religions, including ministers who perform legal mar- riages, baptisms, funeral services, liturgies, clerical collars, and a vague sort of theology that rarely mentions anything about eternal salvation or God. "All God's Children" states that in 1969 the US Court of Claims defined the beliefs of the Church of Scientology as belief in a "spirif' or 'Them" which is said to reside within the physical body of every human being. They believe that the spirit is immor- tal and that it receives a new body upon the death of the body in which it resides." Life magazine reports that Hubbard's teachings include belief in two minds, the Analytic and the Reactlye. One, the Ana- lytic, is a perfect computer while the other is a mass of "engrams" that provides incorrect data to the Analytic computer. The Reactive mind works like an adding machine with old totals still in its works. Unless itis "cleared", it continues to feed the wrong answers to the Analytic mind even though a new problem has been punched in. The idea is to clear the Reactive mind of false data so the Analytic mind can work properly. Another interesting theory espoused by Scientology is that many illnesses are caused by "engrams", including dermatitis, arthri- tis, allergies, bursitis, ulcers, migraine head- aches and even cancer. So getting rid of "engrams" is pretty important. According to The Scientology Catechism, it costs between $2,500 and $5,000 to go "clear". Paying for courses is a matter of personal integrity, the Catechism states, but charity cases are considered, and should see the chaplain. It also says training scholarships are avail- able for some groups, including workers in approved rehabilitation programs. Life magazine reported that in order to become an Operating Them, Class VIII - the highest classification at the time, it would cost as much as $15,000. Introductory lessons cost $15, childrens courses $10, or less. A sample audit might cost $5 and last two hours. Some reports say "auditing" through Grade IV costs $650. Other reports show a twelve and a half hour "Life Repair" session with E-meter at $625. But printed case histories abound telling of individuals who have paid well over $100,000.00 before becoming disillusioned with the program. Costs vary from independent church to church. Churches are authorized franchises, with each setting it's own fees, and forward- ing 10 percent to the Mother Church, in Saint Hill, Sussex, England. Critics charge that the church reduces followers to the status of working slaves with jobs in the church to pay the price of tuition for further comes, a charge the church Catechism denies. In 1968, Life magazine estimated mem- bership at between 2 and 3 million people. Most recruits, it said, were young, intelli- gent, and idealistic. Newsweek in 1974 said the number of members claimed by the church was 3.2 million around the world. Time said that church recruits tended to be young, drifting, fairly well educated and in search of psychological answers more than spiritual ones. One famous member of the church was former pro-quarterback John Brodie, who said Scientology healed his throwing ann, Time reports. The Church of Scientology has a record of being litigious. For instance, in August of 1978, the Los Angeles Times was slapped with a million dollar suit after it ran a series about the Church of Scientology. According to a Newsweek story, the Scientologists claimed that the paper conspired with the FBI and Justice Department to violate the church's civil rights by poisoning the atmosphere before a trial of church officials on charges of scheming to steal government documents. In 1977, Newsweek reported in the same issue, a San Diego Union reporter took a Scientology course, identifying herself only at its end. Two days before publication of her 4 story about the session, the paper was sued for $10,000 for invasion of privacy. Scien- tologists offered to drop the suit if the Union dropped the story. When the article ran any- way, the suit escalated to $900,000 and charges of fraud and deceit were added. Scientologists say the press has unfairly characterized them as a bizarre fringe group, Newsweek says. After the Church of Scientology filed a million dollar libel suit against the Clearwater (Fla.) Sun in 1976, the paper countersued for abuse of legal process and subpoenaed the church' s financial records and officials. The Scientologists decided to drop their case, according to the Newsweek report. One media lawyer said, "A full-scale law- suit would open them up to full disclosure, and most cults can hardly afford full disclo- sure in the courtroom." The Newsweek ar- ticle referred to was authored by Betsy Carter with Michael Reese in San Francisco, and Martin Kasindorf in Los Angeles as well as from bureau reports. In 1976, Time reported that England banned foreign Scientologists from entering the country because of the increasing nam- her of complaints about the group. Questionable practices reported in vari- ous countries included the recording of "au- diting" sessions that made members suscep- tible to blackmail; "Disconnect" orders re- quiring devout members to sever ties with antagonistic family or friends (Supressive Persons); "Fair Game" rules which said a defector from the group could be "deprived of property or injured by any means... sued, lied to, or destroyed." The same article tells the story of the deceptive purchase of the Fort Harrison Hotel in downtown Clearwater, Florida. A group calling itself the Southern Land Develop- ment and Leasing Corp. purchased the build- ing for cash and said it was to be used as headquarters for the "United Churches of Florida," a new ecamenical group. The sale won approval of local clergymen. But strangers moved in, and an investiga- tion soon traced the money paid for the building to the Church of Scientology. As mentioned above, Clearwater Sun was sued over the investigation. So was the St. Petersburg Times and Radio S tation WDCI. In addition, Clearwater Mayor Cazares was also sued... all unsuccessfully, but at great defense expense, which ultimately the church was ordered to pay. "We are not a turn-the-other cheek reli- gion" a church spokesman identified as Arthur Maren is quoted as saying at that time. Clearwater is now home of the Flag Land Base of the Church and offers the same advanced training previously available only in Saint Hill, Sussex, England, or on the ocean fleet. Despite the legal hassles upon moving to town, the Scientologists seem to have had few other problems with their Clearwater neighbors once the truth about who they were and where they came from was made known. Scientology has a long history of prob- lems with the re st of the orthodox world. The most recent came after a nine month Spanish probe into the group' s Narconon unit in that COuntry. According to a December 1988 edition of the Orange County (California) Register, the president of the Los Angeles based Church of Scientology and 10 other mem- bers were arrested in an investigation of alleged fraud and tax evasion charges. Judge Jose Maria Vazquez Honrubia of Madrid, Spare, said Narconon, a church- linked drug-rehabilitation program, swindled its clients and lured them into Scientology. Church President Heber Jentzsch was re- leased on $1.1 million bail, and 10 foreign- ers were expelled from the country. Earlier, the Register noted that Jentzsch and 70 other people were detained as part of an investigation into charges of fraud, crimi- nal association and tax evasion. Judge Vazquez Honrubia said authorities had fro- zen $1.76 million in bank accounts belong- ing to officials of the US based Church of Scientology and the Church's Drug'Reha- bilitation program, Narconon. Spain has twice refused to grant the orga- nization legal status as a religious entity in that country. The Spanish probe.. Spanish Inquisition, according to church officials... was prompted by complaints from Spaniards who said they had been swindled out of money through drag-rehabilitation programs and other ac- tivities related to the Church of Scientology. In 1983, Hubbard' s wife was sentenced to four years in prison for conspiring with other Scientologists to bug and burglarize govern- ment agencies including the IRS, Time maga- zine reported. A Portland, Ore., jury awarded $2 million toJulie C. Titchbourne on August 15, 1979, according to the World Book 1980 Year- book. She was a former member of the Church of Scientology, and accused the cult of defrauding her on its promise to give her a better life. Five Scientologists were sentenced to prison terms of four or five years in Decem- ber, 1979 after they were convicted of con- spiring to obstruct justice and to obtain gov- ernment documents pertaining to the cult. During a telephone conversation last Fri- day, while researching this story, the Cali- fornia Attorney General's office in Sacra- mento volunteered that they were very fa- miliar with the operations of Narconon and Scientology, and had in fact convicted and jailed a "spy" whom they had discovered working in their offices. Hubbard was sentenced in his absence to 4 years imprisonment in Paris in 1978 after being found guilty of obtaining money un- der false pretences through Scientology, according to the Science Fiction Encyclope- dia. The same book also reports that Hubbard was deported from the United Kingdom as an undesirable alien in 1968, after which he took to his fleet of ships to direct his world- wide operations. Life and Newsweek also reported the incident. Life said the British government felt Scientology to be "Socially harmful," and barred foreign Scientologists from entering the country to participate in the World Scientology Congress scheduled at the Saint Hill, Sussex, England church complex. Newsweek said the British government's ban on foreign Scientologists was because of the groups "authoritarian principles... a potential menace to the per- sonality and well being of those so deluded as to become its followers," and because of the cult's "technology of the human spirit" as well as its rejection of psychiatry and other scientifically endorsed approaches to mental health problems. But even before that, the cult had its prob- lems. A Board of Inquiry (released as the Anderson Report of 1965) in the State of Victoria, Australia in 1963 found that "Sci- entology is evil; its techniques are evil; its practice a serious threat to the community, medically, morally, and socially; and its adherents sadly deluded and often mentally ill." The board reached its conclusions after examining 15 1 witnesses. Scientology was banned in Victoria. The Australian government branded Hubbard a "fraud" in 1965, and called Sci- entology "evil, fantastic and impossible, its 5 principles perverted and ill-rounded, its tech- niques debased and harmful," according to Tune. Life magazine, in 1968 quotes the Victo- rian government as calling Scientology "the world' s largest organization of unqualified persons engaged in the practice of danger- ous techniques which masquerade as mental therapy." In 1971, Scientologists won a fight with the Food and Drug Administration over their E-meters. The agency had confiscated them from the group's Washington D.C. head- quarters in a raid in 1963. The Feds claimed that Scientology falsely promised the cure of "neuroses, psychoses, schizophrenia and all psychosomatic illnesses." After years of legal wrangling, Scientolo- gists got their E-meters back, but only after agreeing to put disclaimers of any therapeu- tic power on the machines. The IRS in 1959 got courts to deny Scien- tology a tax exemption. But after the case was over, the cult won limited recognition as a religion according to a Newsweek report in 1974. From the beginning, Hubbard's methods and technology have drawn sharp profes- sional criticism. Newsweek noted that the medical and psychiatric community re- sponded "with alann" to Hubbards book. Professional psychologists condemned Dianetics as amateurish and potentially dan- gerous meddling with serious mental prob- lems, according to Time. A joumalist who took the courses said in Life magazine that Scientology "is scary" and uses potentially disastrous techniques. He reports that Dr. William Menninger denounced Dianetic Auditing as potentially dangerous. Backwater Cowboys Whoa, now! Maybe it's time for us back- water Cowboys and Indians to slow down our wagons and ponies a bit, before we git stampeded into thunderation by a bunch of slick talkin' riverboat shysters toutin' some new fangled snake oil cure for the fire-water frazzles. Like olden days when Dr. Malingerer visited the town with his wagon of "tonic" guaranteed to cure everything from gout to the vapors in man or beast, we' re about to be hoodwinked by another bunch of bamboozelers. We need to wake up quick and smell the horse apples. This Narconon outfit appears to be a front for the Church of Scientology and it's founder L. Ron Hubbard. It looks right like a religious cult... a religious con that makes TV preachers look like choir boys. Hubbard' s Wagon seems to be filled with bottles of hocus-pocus, engrams, E-meters and other imaginary whoo-ha designed to dazzle the desperate and free from their wretched bodies not only their "Thetans", but also their bucks. That this pseudo-theological mumbo- jumbo not only exists, but is actually grow- ing is a credit to Mr. Hubbard's ability as a convincing science fiction writer. Conanon .... I mean Narconon is settin' up shop at Chilocco with some "generous" as- sistance from a philanthropic outfit called the Association for Better Living & Educa- tion (ABLE) which says it has been im- pressed with Narconon' s worldwide record. Just like it was a separate outfit looking for a good cause. And the Naronon guy pro- fusely thanks the ABLE lady for the "dona- tion" that will insure the success of the Chilocco project! How wonderful it all is. The melodrama is tearjerking. ABLE and the Narconon International Association share the same building in Los Angeles. In fact. they share the same floor of the same building. In fact, they share the exact same office suite of the same floor of the same building. Why did they bother to come here to "donate" the money from their left hand to their right? Unless it was a hokum-pokum show for us dummies out here in the gulch! They aln't selling snake oil, tax free ciga- rettes, or nickel bingo. What they're selling is hope, vitamin pills and steam baths. Pack- aged in blarney. Their own propaganda says their treatments "cannot be construed as a recommendation of medical treatment or medication and it is undertaken or delivered by anyone on his own responsibility." In other words, if it don't work, tough cookies. Narconon says it has an 86 percent cure rate, but a West Berlin study showed the rate to be about 10 percent. Of course, if the first two weeks of the basic program don' t work - and they probably won't - there are many more courses available that might. Nineteen volumes of them, in fact. All part of the "unique technology" of Mr. Hubbard. How much money can Narconon rake out of In- dian Health Care funds that could otherwise be used for legitimate medical expenses? Information we have read suggests that dependency upon drugs is simply replaced with dependency upon Scientology. A soci- ology professor in California has warned us that similar establishments have been used by this group in the past as warehouses for dissident members. The isolation is ideal. The lack of outside scrutiny is perfect. The potential is frightening beyond anything we have dealt with before. These mental messiahs with forked tongues are treading on our Indian neigh- bors' hopes of economic and social develop- ment. What they really want is the isolation of Indian land, exempt from state and local law enforcement jurisdiction. And in the deal, they' 11 get a ready made crop of Indian "patients." With Indian Health Care picking up the tab for nearly all of them while they get "processed" down the path of "enlight- enment." And beyond the swindle of Indian health care funds, how many patients will actually wind up believing they are "Super Thems" capable of taking intergalactic voyages by leaving their bodies behind? How many people will forgo medical care while trying to "erase" the "engrams" that are causing their heart trouble? How many will die? It only takes a few more courses to get there. And money, of course. How many of our sons and daughters will wind up working as Scientology missionar- ies or Narconon staffers in order to pay for their unending array of enlightening courses? In return, Narconon is offering a measly $3.2 million per tribe for a 25 year lease on misery. Our Indian neighbors have again been let down by the "agencies" designed to help and protect all of us from shysters and swindlers. Especially the Oklahoma Health Planning Commission, which must have had it's head plugged into an E-meter not to discover the true nature of this malignity. Surely information so readily available in the Newkirk Public Library is available in Oklahoma City. If you think this all sounds like I've been smoking funnygrass, I suggest you trot on over there and look it up yourself. If you need a list of references, I' ve got lots of 'em. But just reading today' s paper will give you the general idea. And you won't need an E- meter to get the mental picture. We've already got too many drunks and dopers. Do we want a bunch of space cadets, too? We may be the only voice crying in the wildemess, but we suggest that Narconon is no answer to our area' s drug problem, or it' s economic problem. It would behoove us all to encourage Hubbard's hucksters to hook up their horses and get their asteroids on down the road. 6 Learn To Live With It... State Boys Say Chilocco Is A Done Deal NEWKIRK, May 11, 1989 - About 80 persons appeared at the Newkirk City Com- mission meeting Monday evening for an informational session on the Chilocco In- dian School project. Present at the meeting were Mr. Howard Miles, designee of the Commissioner of Health, who presides over the Oklahoma Health Planning Commis- sion; Mr. Leroy Bridges, public affairs spe- cialist with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health; and Mr. William Mehojah, chairman of the Kaw Tribe, along with sev- eral members of the Chilocco Development Authority. Mr. Miles, Mr. Bridges, and Mr. Mehojah were at the meeting at the invita- tion of Mayor Garry Bilger. Mr. Miles explained to the group the pur- pose of the Health Planning Commission, which is to oversee the growth of health services in the state so that they occur in an orderly fashion and along guidelines of an existing 4 year plan. He said the operators of the proposed Chilocco project have com- plied with the existing rules and regulations of the S hate of Oklahoma, and that they have been issued a Certificate of Need, that the statutory period of objection is over and that the certificate is not subject to recall, even in court. The next step, Mr. Miles said, is for the Oklahoma Health Department to issue a license, which, in the case of alcohol and drug abuse facilities, concerns only the physi- cal facilities. The buildings. Plans are pre- sented to the S tale Health DeparUnent, which assigns an architect, who approves the plans. Then the work proceeds, and when finished, the State Health Department inspects the facility for compliance with the approved plans. If the facility is approved, it is li- censed. The State Health Department li- cense applies only to the physical facility, and has nothing to do with the program or staffing. That falls under the Department of Mental Health, which certifies the program and staff- ing, and is Mr. Bridges' department. Mr. Bridges said that plans for the Chi- locco project were submitted and will go through the regular process just like any other project in the state. He said that once the facility has been licensed by the State Health Department... when the facility has been approved... the State Mental health Department will send an inspection team to the site to approve the program, if it com- plies with the normally accepted standards for such facilities in the State of Oklahoma. He said that according to documents sub- mitted to his department by the operators, the staff would consist of "certified alcohol and drug counselors, certified drug counsel- ors, medical doctors, and nurses... This is the kind of program that all of the people com- ply with before they are certified in the State of Oklahoma. Concerning the patients, Mr. Bridges said "All of' em will be referred from other states into here except the local Indian people who will be given a chance to have first choice on beds out there if they are not able to pay. The local Indian people. All the rest of them will be from other states. Nobody from Okla- homa except the Indian people." Mr. Bridges pointed out that if the pro- gram and treatment proposed for the Chi- locco center does not violate the laws of the State of Oklahoma, the state can not refuse to issue a Certification from the Mental Health Department He said he called Mr. John Wilson, of the Alcohol and Drug Authority of the State of California, who reported they "had no prob- lems" with the organization. He presented several other instances of reference check- ing his department had made in regard to the matter, and reported that no negative infor- mation had been received. Following the presentation by Mr. Bridges and Mr. Miles, there was a question and answer session. In response to a question about prior no- tice, Mr. Miles pointed out that notice was published in the Newkirk Herald Journal in January of this year that the operators had applied for their Certificate of Need, well in advance of the hearing. To a question concerning the unanimity of the decision to lease Chilocco, Miles said he couldn't answer, but that the documents his deparunent received were in order. He said the Bureau of Indian Affairs had approved the lease contract, but that he didn't know if the decision by the Chilocco Development 7 Authority had been unanimous or just by majority, and that he had no information concerning any internal problems of the CDA. If the validity of the CDA's decision to lease Chilocco comes under question, then the matter would be in the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts, he said. One person sug- gested that the authority of a tribal chairman was in question due to an election dispute. Another questioner was assured that no Indian Health funds would be used, that no money from any govemmental agency would be used in establishing the center. "They're a leg itimate service, and they've received a legitimate hearing, and a legiti- mate authority to proceed." according to Mr. Miles, "If they do what they said they were gonna do, they'll be all right. And if they don't do it, there is a process that works that will usher them across the state line." He added, "Let's just assume there is no such thing as Narconon, and all we re talking about is the Church of Scientology. What difference does it make?" If they do what they' ve applied for, and they do what they' ve been approved for, he said, then they have complied with state law. "Now, if they start making it into some- thing more than that, they start doing things that exceed their authority, if they violate the laws of the state in any manner than they have to answer for that." "All we can go on is the history of what they' ve done, the record they' ve made in the United States and their statements they've made.g." Miles said the terms of the agreement between the operator and the CDA were none of the state' s business. "The business arrangements... are not a function of our commission." In response to the question of law enforce- ment and state regulation, Miles said, "Well, first of all let me say that there is control. The Chilocco Development Authority and Nar- conon both, have placed themselves under the jurisdiction of the State of Oklahoma for operation of a health care facility ." "They are not functioning as Indian coun- try he said, "The county sheriff will have police jurisdiction there, State Highway Pa- trol will have jurisdiction there, State Bu- reau of Investigation will have jurisdiction there, the investigative staff of the State Department of Health... will have jurisdic- tion there. So it will not he without govern- ment controls." They could have sought exclusion from state laws, and in light of court decisions recently, they could have gotten exclusion, he said, but instead, they voluntarily placed themselves under state jurisdiction. Mx. Bridges responded to a question about payment for services at Chilocco. He said that all patients will be from out of state, except local Indians who do not have the ability to pay. "Nobody pays for it" "They have provided 25% of the beds for the local Indian people, and nobody pays for it. They would be provided that opportu- nity." A prison was a possibility at one time at Chilocco," one member of the audience said, "but the problem was jurisdiction. They couldn't waive jurisdiction then, so I don't see how the state can change jurisdiction now." Dave Baldwin, a member of the CDA answered that the State ofOldahoma couldn' t afford the $17 million to construct the pri son, jurisdiction was not the problem. One lady said she would have preferred the prison, "I know something about the Church of Scientology, I know a lady and her son is in it - and I know what happened to them," she said. "That's why I am so concerned." She received a round of ap- plause. Another in the audience asked if patients would be restricted to the Chilocco facility. Mr. Miles said State law prohibits restricting movement of residents. Mr. Bridges said there were already three treatment plants in Kay County, and saw no reason to be con- cerned about the freedom of movement that Chilocco patients would have. "Chilocco - they are somewhat isolated, these are not prisoners." Bridges said they are just people like us who have alcohol or drug problems, who have insurance. He said theyj ust want to come here for treatment and go back home. Mr. Bridges pointed out the CDA mem- bers in the audience, Dave Baldwin, Cynthia Stoner, and Mr. Mehojah. He noted that Bill Grant, who was not at the meeting, had told him just last week what a wonderful pro- gram Chilocco was. Bridges asked Mr. Mehoj ah to confn'm Grant' s attitude, which he did. "A lot of the workers out there will be local Indian people, they're gonna be trained and brought on." Bridges said. He suggested there was nothing to fear from them. Miles responded to a radio reporter' s ques- tion about the alleged connection between Narconon and the Church of Scientology: "the answer we received was that there was no direct relationship between the Church of Scientology and Narconon. That there were members of the Church of Scientology who had been involved in the creation of Nar- conon, but the two organizations are totally separate. We questioned whether or not the philosophy of L. Ron Hubbard would be used, because they were mentioned in the application. And it was pointed out that only 4 methods, not the philosophy, would be utilized. Those methods with the exception of sauna, are common to all alcohol and drug treatment procedures. The sauna, well we don't have any feel for it..." He then referred to the lady who said she knew someone in the Church of Scientol- ogy, "I've shared the same experience and I think my reaction probably was very similar to hers." But that experience, he said, was not grounds for refusing permission to oper- ate in the state. Bridges told the radio reporter that coun- selors will be certified in Oklahoma "by a local certifying group that certifies all the alcohol and drug counselors." Some of the members of the CDA told of being in a Narconon facility last week in downtown Los Angeles, and gave glowing reports of what they saw there. They told of people cured of addiction in only 10 weeks, and of a five year follow-up program. Miles said that most Narconon facilities are out-patient clinics, and that the Los An- geles program is the only in-patient program in operation. He said the OHPC had checked with state people in several states while gathering information for the certificate of need hearing. As an example of how the investigation works he told an anecdote about a nursing home operator who wished to locate in the state, but when investigation proved the man' s previous operations had been closed by health officials in six states, he was re- fused a certificate. "He had no standing because his history was all negative." "We try to check deep enough to try to determine something about the character of the applicant Miles added. 8 How many doctors, someone asked, and from where, and how often will the state check the facility? Bridges answered that most places like this contracted with local doctors. "Quite often," he responded to the query about inspection. Miles added that the facility would be inspected at least 6 times a year, unan- nounced. He said the program meets the legal requirements of the state, and "that's the end of it" Kaw Tribal Chairman Mehojah reviewed the history of Chilocco for the group, and said the CDA had been working to find a use for the land. He said they had tried to do what they felt best for the economic benefit of the Indian people, and to provide jobs. He said the contract they have entered into has a 5 year review clause, but that a corporation needs a long term lease in order to recoup their investment. He said the BIA had ap- proved the contract as a sound document that would protect the Indians. He also told of his visit recently to the Los Angeles facility where he observed people undergo- ing treatment. Following Mehojah's comments, Miles informed the group that if they had any reason to believe that the operators were not complying with state law that they should contact the State Attomey General, the Com- missioner of Health, or the Commissioner of Mental Health. Miles and Heraid Journal Publisher Bob Lobsinger sparred a bit over an editorial, for which Lobsinger offered apology. Then they sparred again over references in a recent story. Miles suggested Lobsinger had mis- read the material, but changed his mind when Lobsinger produced the magazine and showed him the passage in question. This segment of the meeting ended, and commissioners proceeded to other items on the agenda. If It Looks Like A Duck, Don't Overlook the Obvious Well, now. Haven' t I been put in my place. I guess now I know better than to mess with big, important foils from LA. Narconon, it rams out, is a wonderful program after all. They said so. And that, of course, is what AP reported last weekend, gutsy organization that they are. Now, we already had enough of Narconon's own material to tell you what they would say about their program. Of course it's wonderful. What else would you expect them to say? We thought you had a right to know what they weren't saying. And we found plenty they were staying quiet about. There is no shame in not knowing the difference between an ugly duck and the goose that laid the golden egg. The shame is in not changing ones thinking when one finds out the difference. Mr. Miles, from the Health Planning Com- mission is a likable individual in a tough spot. His head is not hooked to an E-meter after all. He simply has to live by somebody else's regulations. Mr. Bridges is a free fellow, too, with a sincere, personal interest in trying to help the Indian people. But he's in the same situation. Which boils down to the fact that the state can do nothing about the situation because everything is quite legal. Narconon says it is not connected in any way with the Church of Scientology. Fine. It was just started by Scientologists, and Sci- entologists run it. But that is a coincidence of nature... Suppose that next week, Doc S. announces he is going to start a Birth Control Clinic that adheres to the methods of John Paul II. What are you to believe about his operation? This deal is no different. A consistent history and long term reputation, documented in print doesn't change just because one refuses to read it or check it out. No matter how many times you "play it again, Sam," the record stays the same. We'd all like the Chilocco project to be the grand and glorious establishment it's makers say it will be... helping humanity and providing economic assistance to the Indian people as well. But I'm afraid if it looks like a duck, and sounds like a duck, and walks like a duck, it's probably a duck. 9 Planned Newkirk Drug Clinic May Be World's Biggest By Michael McNutt Enid Bureau May 18, 1989 NEWKIRK-Backers of a drug rehabilita- tion center scheduled to open later this year on the Chilocco Indian School grounds north of here say the facility has the potential to be the biggest of its kind in the world. However, residents in this northern Okla- homa town eight miles from the Kansas border are concerned Narconon International is a front for the Church of Scientology, and, instead of rehabilitating alcohol and drug addicts, it will recruit new members and raise money for the controversial group. The person overseeing renovation work at Chilocco for Narconon is identified as an "experienced purification rundown in charge" by the Church of Scientology's of- ficial newsletter. "Trained Scie ntolog ists to staff huge Okla- homa facility," reads a headline in the Feb- ruary 1989 issue of "The Auditor," a copy of which was made available to "The Oklaho- man." Narconon, the article states, gets Sci- entology founder L. Ron Hubbard's "tech- nology applied broadly in the society." Meanwhile, state officials who approved a certificate of need for the facility say it should not matter who operates the facility as long as they follow acceptedpractices and standards in the field. Representatives of five Indian tribes who stand to earn $16 million over the next 25 years by leasing the Indian school campus to Narconon say they have visited Narconon' s drug rehabilitation facility in Los Angeles and are satisfied the organization is legiti- mate. Harold Miles, with the State Department of Health and a member of the Health Plan- ning Commission which approved a certifi- cate of need license for Narconon in Janu- ary, said no one opposed the organization then and now it is too late to appeal the state decision. Narconon still must get a license and be certified by the state, Miles said. Unrest over Narconon developed after the Newkirk newspaper published two stories quoting various publications that Narconon was associated with the Church of Scientol- ogy, which often is referred to as more of a cult than a religion. Betty Cook of Enid, with the Oklahoma Cult Awareness Network, said Narconon is a "front group" for Scientology. And in the September 1981 issue of "Reader's Digest," then-senior editor Eu- gene H. Methvin called Narconon "Scientology's biggest social reform gim- mick." Miles said state officials could fmd no link between Narconon and the Church of Scien- tology and that California officials were satisfied with Narconon' s 25-bed drug reha- bilitation center in Los Angeles. According to published reports, the joint Narconon-Chilocco Development Author- ity received $200,000 from the Association for Better Living & Education, an organiza- tion identified in "The Auditor" as part of Narconon. Miles and Leroy Bridges, with the State DeparUnent ofMe ntal Health, tried to assure about 100 people who jammed into a public hearing held here last week that the state would inspect regularly the facility once it opened. Renovation of several buildings on 165 acres of land leased by Narconon is under- way with the facility scheduled to open in August or September. Once opened, the program will be veiwed by Mental Health Department workers for certification, Bridges said, and will be re- viewed continuously at least six times a year. Miles said Narconon is subject to punitive action if workers operate outside the law or its program outlined to the state. "Narconon is a legitimate enterprise, pro- posing to do a legitimate service," he said. "If they do what they said they're going to do, they will be all right, and if they don' t do it, there is a process at work that will usher them across the state line." John Duff, president of Narconon, said the 23 year old agency is not directly connected with the Church of Scientology. 10 "It's a non-issue question," he said. But Duff said the church is a supporter of Narconon and provides volunteers. Hubbard, Duff said, once gave Narconon $75,000 because Narconon uses five of his methods-complete withdrawal, supplements, balanced diet, exercise and using a sauna. Hubbard, a science fiction writer who started Scientology in 1953, died in 1986. Advertisements for his 1950 book, "Dianetics; The Modem Science of Mental Health," still can be seen on television. At f~rst, the Nat, con'on facility at Chilocco will use five or six of the 80 buildings on the campus in developing a 75-bed facility. Renovation costs are expected to cost at least $400,000, Duff said. About a dozen Indians have been hired to do the work and three Narconon staff members are at Chi- IcEco. Duff said 25 percent of those beds will be set aside for indigent Indians who suffer from chemical substance abuse. Chilocco is being developed as a national program and most of its clients will be re- ferred to the facility from Narconon offices throughout the country and will come from other states and' Canada, Duff said. Duff said he expects Narconon will em- ploy a staff of about 35 and said he did not know if Edna Fulton, now serving as project director at Chilocco, will continue in that capacity. However, "The Auditor" article stated that Tom Armstrong, identified by Cook as a Scientologist leader, will be in charge of the Chilocco project and that Fulton will be a member of the core staff. Duff would not discuss the specifics of the contract with the five Indian tribes that make up the Chilocco Development Authority- Pawnee, Ponca, Otoe-Missouria, Kaw and Tonkawa-saying only the tribes would di- vide $16 million over the next 25 years with an option to renew the lease another 25 years. Narconon Official speaks Out... To The Editor: Our society today is faced with a battle against drugs that can literally destroy our future generations. There are 500,000 or more people dealing drugs in the United States alone selling bil- lions of dollars in drugs each year and oar children are the customers. Narconon International is in the forefront of the battle against drugs and is saving lives around the world through its' drug preven- tion and rehabilitation programs. Over the last 23 years Narconon has suc- cessfully rehabilitated tens of thousands of drug addicts and has spoken to over 1/2 million students in schools, parents, teach- ers and professionals in the community through the Narconon drug education pro- gram. In Spain an outside study was done that showed 69.2% of those that completed the Narconon program were successfully off drugs after 2 years. In Sweden an outside study found tha178.6% of those that finished the program were successfully off drugs after 2 years. We have recently acquired a 25 year lease of the former Chilocco Indian Agricultural School from the Chilocco Development Authority made up of representatives from the Kaw, Otoe-Missouria, Pawnee, Ponca & Tonkawa Northern Oklahoman Tribes. A national drug rehabilitation program is being set up at Chilocco with 75 beds and we are currently in the process of complying with the Oklahoma State Department of Health - fire, safety & health codes. This facility represents a powerful tool against those that are pushing drugs and there will be those that will not want Nar- conon to succeed at Chilocco because they are for drugs and are on the other side in the battle against drugs. A recent article in the Newkirk Herald Journal critical of Narconon and our efforts to stop drugs was simply a collection of old articles and opinions. If the writer of this article was to have done an article in 1933 about a Jewish project in Germany based on research in newspaper articles back then, what would have this article said? Put them in the oven" If his "research" consisted of paraphrasing articles about Native Ameri- cans written 100 years ago what would his article have said? It is very simple. Narconon is a non-profit public benefit corporation with the job of saving lives and getting these former drug addicts back into society as productive drug - tree members. This is our job and has been for the last 23 years. Our success is based on hard work and a drug rehabilitation program that was developed by L. Ron Hubbard, on of the most acclaimed and widely read au- thors of all time. The Board of Directors of Narconon Intemational adopted this pro- gram because it is highly successful and has proven itself over the years. Only those that are in favor of a drug ridden society or those who are directly profiting from the drug racket would oppose such a program. We look forward to the Narconon Chi- locco New Life Center becomes a bright spot in society bringing new life to those addicted to drugs and it has been an honor to us to be able to work with the Kaw, Otoe- Missouria, Pawnee, Ponca, Tonkawa, the Oklahoma Indian Business Development Center and the Oklahoma Health Planning Commission. We invite you to call or visit our facility once we are underway and as employment is available we will be notifying the local pa- pers. If you have questions about Narconon I would love to hear from you. Please write: John S. Duff, President, Narconon Intema- tional, 3540 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 300 Los Angeles, CA. 90010. Respectfully Yours, /s/John S. Duff President Narconon International 11 We're Pretty 'Clear' On That! We have this terrible urge to refer to the writer of the above letter as "Dully Duck", but we won't, simply because we feel a certain sympathy for individuals so taken in by the rose of Scientology. Beyond that, personality is not at issue, no more than is qualified and appropriate drug rehabilita- tion, or freedom of religion. What is at issue is the long and spurious reputation of Scientology. Documented in print since the imagination of the first "Old articles," he calls them, without re- futing their accuracy. As old as Scientology itself. And as new, too. Scientology's own magazine, TheAuditor, in it's February 1989 edition further confirms our opinion. "Trained Scientologists to staff huge Okla- homa facility," brags the headline of one article. And yet with straight face they tell us there is no connection. Americans will tolerate practically any- thing one chooses to believe in the name of religion, if they are convinced it is a religion to begin with. Scientology is science fiction. Unlike religion, it was science fiction at its conception, albeit good enough science fic- tion that the naive amongst us began to believe it was real science. Only when the scientific community in mass began to debunk it did it decide to become a "religion." And that, my friends, is why it has been so poorly tolerated in spite of the legal manipulations it has undertaken to make it look like religion. It remains what it has always been. Science fiction. Accepting the occasional abuse of religious freedom is still preferable to limiting religious freedom. Scientology is a successful business en- terprise. It accepts people who are, or think they are, in trouble. Often it even relieves them of their real or perceived problems as it allows them to brainwash themselves down the unending path ofL Ron's "unique meth- ods and technology." Narconon is simply one of many methods Scientology uses to get their "technology applied broadly in the society," as The Audi- tor gently puts it. Hubbard said it more bluntly in a 1960 Communications Order to his followers: "It is a maxim that unless you have bodies in the shop you get no income. So on any pretext get the bodies in the place..." If the "shop" can offer a service, like drug detox, along the way that will be paid for by insurance or some other third party, then so much the better. We have little doubt that the Narconon drug detoxification methods work as well as any other dry-out clinic. We find it interest- ing that L. Ron Hubbard claims patent to food, exercise, and vitamin therapy. We'll concede sauna baths may be his own idea. And we will give him full credit for the "counseling and training" sessions that go along with it. What is unique about Hubbard' s methods is not that he feeds his patients, or exercises them, or gives them vitamins. The "unique" part is that his counseling and training meth- ods dissipate dependency on drugs while creating dependency on Scientology. And maybe that's not all bad, if only they were straight forward enough to admit it. It would be interesting to know how many Spanish Narconon patients were Scientolo- gists after their treatment. That would tell us an awful lot more than cure rates. We sus- pect the number is about 69.2%. These are some of our concerns about Narconon and Scientology. But in a fashion true to their historical reputation and back- ground, they have failed to address them, and instead resort to calling our citizens drug racketeers "in favor of a drug ridden soci- ety..." for questioning their motives. It's a duffy... I mean daffy world they want us to live in, we're pretty "clear" on that. 12 Renovation Underway At Chilocco Indian School 08 June 1989 NEWKIRK, - Renovations have begun on buildings at nearby Chilocco Indian School, according to Simon Hogarth, a representa- tive of the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE) which owns Narconon, the proposed drug rehabilitation center to be located on the grounds. A press release issued Monday by Hogarth said that Narconon has obtained a Certifi- cate of Need from the Oklahoma State Plan- ning Commission to establish a 75-bed facil- ity at Chilocco for drug and alcohol abusers. The center is currently employing 25 people and now has one local volunteer. Edna Fulton, the Executive Director, is from Los Angeles, California. Mr, and Mrs. Jamie Culleeney recently arrived with their two children from Glendale, California. Mr. Jim Davidson is from Bristol, Virginia. The vol- unteer was not named. Sixteen local residents are employed on the renovation crew and five local residents are working in the office and are beginning on the job training, according to the release. "We have been working closely with the Native American Leaders at the Chilocco Development Authority," Miss Fulton said, "and look forward to bringing back life to the Chilocco facility." According to it's promoters, "The Nar- conon program, which has proven success- ful throughout the world, utilizes the drug rehabilitation technology developed by L. Ron Hubbard, philosopher, humanitarian and one of the most acclaimed and widely read authors of all time." The release continues, "Narconon's pro- gram is a completely drug-free method of helping abusers to kick the habit. It com- hines a regimen of vitamins with the use of sauna and exercise, which enables an indi- vidual to rid his body of toxic drug residues. The program not only safely gets a person off drugs, but eliminates the adverse effects of drugs that continue long after such sub- stances have been ingested." Narconon's release continues, "The Chi- lccco program will service people from all over the United States who wish to free themselves from the debilitating conse- quences of drug and alcohol abuse." Miss Fulton predicts the renovations will cost in excess of $1 million and the program plans to provide more jobs for local resi- dents. Visitors are invited to tour the grounds during daylight hours, seven days a week. Opening of the facility is now scheduled for September, according to Hogarth. Changing Strategy - Scientology Now Steps Right Up To Controversy By Stephen Koff St. Petersburg Times Reprinted 13 July 1989 CLEARWATER, FLA. Dec. 23, 1988 - After years of sparring with the townsfolk and veiling itself in secrecy, the Church of Scientology has succeeded in turning Clearwater into its spiritual mecca. Scien- tologists quietly run teen nightclubs, schools, day-care centers, management consulting fn-ms and other businesses, records and in- terviews show. Now the strategy of the organization, long- time observers say, is to confront contro- versy, gain converts and make money - lots of it. Scientology's Clearwater operation brings in $1.5-million to $2-million a week, say church watchers who include Clearwater police, former Scientology security chief Richard Azneran and former Scientologist- turned-author Bent Corydon. Fee schedules show how the dollars add up: 12 1/2 hours of basic Scientology coun- seling in Clearwater costs $8,000, not count- ing meals and accommodations. Scientology brochures boast that Clearwater has the "largest community of Scientologists in the world." with more than 1,000 Scientologists servedby "several hun- dred" staff members. Authorities cannot confirm those num- bers, but the claim itself is a dramatic change from the secretive Scientology of 1975, when the organization used an assumed name - United Churches of Florida, Inc. - to buy the Fort Hamson Hotel for $2.3-million in cash. Armed guards ringed the downtown hotel, and for weeks the church would not reveal its true identity. The stealthy move was followed by deep suspicion between the Scientologists and community leaders. Church documents seized by the FBI later would show that Scientologists tried to frame then-Mayor Gabe Cazares with a hit-and-run accident, and Bette Orsini, a St. Petersburg Times investigative reporter, was targeted as a Sci- entology "enemy" and harassed. But some things have changed in 13 years - among them the way Scientology presents itself. "It' s obvious that there' s some effort to be less visible, in tenns of either making attacks on people or in terms of making more of a 13 splash around here," said Jim Sheeler, Clearwater' s community developmentman- ager. "They want to be pan of the community," said C. David Carley, Jr.; chairman of the Citizens Bank of Clearwater, "And you can- not blame them for that." S cientology officials, most notably spokes- man Richard Haworth, are frequent guests on local radio shows and a prime=-time staple of Vision Cable' s community access channel. "They have a public relations cam- paign to present themselves as the person you work with, your friend, or the person next door," said Randy Kabrich, program- ing director for Q 105 -FM, a station on which Haworth has denounced Scientology's de- tractors. "And I am not aware of any other religious group, cult or non-cult, that has gone to that extent." Scientology officials and their lawyers would not comment for this series of ar- ticles. Asked again for comment (after last week' s story first appeared) chief Scientol- ogy counsel Earle C. Cooley of Boston said, "The article that appeared... is the most vi- cious and malicious perversion of the truth that I have seen in 32 years." Suprised by sponsors Sometimes, it's hard to tell when the Sci- entologists are involved in an event or pro- motion. Some visitors say they were invited to Clearwater by innocuous-sounding groups that turned out to be promoting Scientology principles or programs. For instance, leaders of American Indian tribes were brought to the Fort Harrison in February (1988) by the Concerned Businessmen ' sAssociation of America. Their invitations mentioned programs for drug and alcohol abuse prevention, but said noth- ing about Scientology, according to Indians who received them. The Concerned Businessmen ' s Associa- tion, based in Glendale, Calif., is a group of Scientologists. "I thought it was going to be a group of concerned businessmen who had money to help Indian tribes," said Raymond Reyes, then executive directorof the Coeur d'Alene tribe in Idaho and now director of Indian educationat Gonzaga University. "I thought it was going to be a group of fundees who could meet funding sources, bzstead, it was all this L. Ron Hubbard stuff." The Concerned Businessmen's Associa- tion did not respond to repeated calls and a letter from the St. Petersburg Times. U.S. Rep. Floyd Flake, D-NJ., accepted a trip to attend a black history and arts seminar at the Fort Hamson last year. He said he thought the sponsoring group was called Celebration of the Arts. "We did not know it was Scientology," said Flake's press aide Edwin Reed, who also attended. "We didn't really realize that, but with L.Ron Hubbard's (pictures) all around, (we thought), "What in the heck is this? .... Taxes and public relations That's a question many Clearwater resi- dents are still trying to answer, despite Sci- entologists' attempts to fade into the main- stream. Former mayor Cazares said, "Just the fact that they're quiet doesn't mean that they're not active. The nature of the beast has not changed." Longtime residents "stir believe that some- thing is going on," said current Mayor Rita Garvey, 'The general public is still leery and would like to see them out of town, which of course is not a reality, but the public's stir concerned." So are Pinellas government officials. The City of Clearwater and the church are in the midst of a five-year legal fight over an ordi- nance that, if enforced, would require Scien- tology to disclose extensive information about its finances. The church says the law is unconstitutional. Then there's Scientology's tax bill; with more than $21-million in assessed property, the Church of Scientology is the biggest property owner in downtown Clearwater. Since moving to Clearwater, the organiza- tion has assembled 12 properties on nine parcels of land. It hasn't paid property taxes since 1981, and its tax bill to date stands at $2.84-million, said O. Sanford Jasper, Pinellas tax collector. Pinellas Property Appraiser Ron Schultz argues that Scientology should have to pay the taxes. To that end, County Attorney Susan Churuti said in court documents that the church' s Clearwater operation is merely an "alter ego: of California-run Scientology operations - which, according to a federal judge, helped enrich the group's founder, L.Ron Hubbard. The Pinellas tax battle may be settled in court in 1989, said Circuit Judge Howard P. Rives. Several years ago, the church offered to pay its tax bill in a display of public spirit - as long as the money was considered a "gift" rather than a tax. But Schultz said he was in office to assess taxes, not gifts. He declined the offer, and insisted on calling taxes just that: taxes. Community influence While the church presses its tax case in the courts, it continues to extend its influence in the community and court public opinion. The church' s own publications reinforce the theme of a community-minded public rela- tions strategy. The scientology magazine Impact recently recycled this message from group founder Hubbard: Hit for the key sports by whatever means, the head of the women's club, the personnel director of a company, the leader of a good orchestra, the president's secre- tary, the advisor of the trade union - any key spot. Make a good sound living at it, drive a good car, but get your job done, handle and better the people you meet and bring about a better earth." Scientologists hold key spots in a variety of ventures around Pinellas, and several pri- vate businesses in Clearwater - Snow Soft- ware, Arlene' s Childcare and Making Magic, Inc., a distributor of velvet art, among them 14 - are mn by church members, according to a Scientology directory. These businesses' owners would not talk to a reporter, saying their religion has no public relevance. Three Clearwater enterprises, however, have stronger ties to the church: True School, Jefferson Academy and Singer Consultants. True School, at 1831 Drew St., and Jefferson Academy, 1740 N. Highland Ave., are private "Hubbard Method" schools that use an approach developed by Scientology' s founder. Vivian Godfrey, one of two teachers at Jefferson, said that "Hubbard educational technology deals only with education... The school has absolutely no connection with the Church of Scientology." Ms. Godfrey and the other teacher, Sandy Mesmer, are listed as "participating mem- bers of the Church of S cientology" in Who' s Here?, a directory of church members around Tampa Bay. As for True School, an advertisement in Who's Here? lists "child auditing" among the school's programs. Auditing, a form of counseling, is the basis of Scientology prac- tice. True School officials did not respond to a reporter' s requests for an interview. Singer Consultants, 1001 S. Myrtle Ave., is a management consulting firm catering to chiropractors. Like California-based Ster- ling Management Consultants (dentists) and Uptre nds of New Hampshire (computer pro- fessionals), Singer is licensed by Scientol- ogy to teach Hubbard "management tech- nology." Marketing, billing and staff devel- opment are emphasized and clients say Sci- entology is touted as a selfqmprovement option. Singer managers did not return a reporter' s calls, but last year said they don' t recruit for the church. However, a recent Singer adver- tisement in a directory of S cientologists said that "more people have been moved onto and up the Bridge" - a term referring to fulfiRing Scientology' s goals - "by this group than any other in history, and this is just the beginning ." Elsewhere around Clearwater: Muriel McKay, once a Scientology public affairs official, serves on the executive corn~ mittee of the Pinellas County Republican Party and represents a Clearwater voting precinct. "She conducts herself admirably," said Edrie Kennedy, the GOP' s parliamentarian. "She is officious, she is not pushy, she is a really good member." Ms. McKay did not respond to several telephone messages from a reporter seeking her comment. The teen nightclubs Off Limits, in Clearwater and Brandon, are owned and operated by a partnership of at least two Scientologists. Off Limits serves no alcohol and "provides a safe place for kids to have fun," said part owner LaVonna Applebaum. County licenses and state corporate records show that the partnership that owns the clubs is named Tone 40 Limited. 'Tone 40" is a term distinctive to Scientology: it is the ultimate level on Scientology's "tone scale" of existence, which runs from 0.1, fordying, to 40, for "serenity ofbeingness," according to the Dianetics and Scientology Technical Dictionary. "The church has absolutely no connection with the business, just as the Catholic Church has no connection with businesses owned by members of that church," said Ray Cassano, listed on state records as the sole director of Tone 40 Limited. Richie Stone, 18, is a former bouncer at the Clearwater club, 14100 U.S. 19 S. He said Ms. Applebaum used to tell employees, "Why don' t you all go to the classes with us? It's good for your attitudes. It's good for your tempers." Ms. Applebaum said, "Quite frankly, if I can find a way to help somebody, I try to help - if they ask for it. If they did not ask for help, I would not offer it." Stone said he did not seek that advice. Mayor Bilger... "They Totally Misrepresented What They Are Doing" By Scott McCartney Associated Press Writer 13 July 1989 NEWKIRK, OK., (AP) Crews chip away old paint and hack at knee-high weeds at the abandoned Chilocco Indian School, seem- ingly unaffected by the tempest brewing in this remote comer of Oklahoma~ When a California group received state permission for a 75-bed drug and alcohol treatment center, Newkirk thought the project on the reservation six miles away would solve local economic troubles brought on by oil and fanning slumps. But the initial euphoria, like the old paint, has chipped away, replaced by distrust, frus- tration, even fear. Townspeople say Narconon International hasn't been honest about its affiliation with the Church of Scientology, its financing, its medical credentials and its plans for the project, which will draw mostly out-of-state clients. They say Narconon denied the project had anything to do with Scientology until Newkirk officials turned up a Scientology magazine with a story headlined "Trained Scientologists to Staff Huge Oklahoma Fa- cility ." And the mayor says Narconon tried to dupe locals at a staged ceremony, where a $200,000 check and a glowing study were presented to Narconon by a group that turned out to be part of Narconon itself. Now the town fears it could earn a "cult image" because of the project's ties to Scien- tology, which follows the teachings of the late science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. Former members have accused Scientology of fraud and mental abuse, and the Internal Revenue Service has challenged its tax-ex- empt status as a religion. "People interested in coming to this town will see the Church of Scientology thing - the cult thing - and I think that that image will hurt our possibilities for growth and devel- opment," Mayor Garry Bilger said in an interview last month. Some townspeople say they worry about the kind of people the project will attract and that the stately 80-building campus, built of native Oklahoma stone and tucked more than a mile off the nearest road, will become a Scientology recruiting station. "I don't think any of us are against drug abusers getting rehabilitation, ," said Mike Clifton, pastor of the First Christian Church. "(But) there' s a lot of concern in the commu- nity because we really don't know what these folks are exactly about. What really worries us is what they're not saying." In the basement of the First Baptist Church, pastor Mark Jones is making copies of a videotape of a British Broadcasting Corp. documentary on Scientology, which he showed to his congregation at a worship service. The tapes, along with Scientology litera- ture, have been circulating in this town of 2,400. There have been town meetings and public forums, including a sometimes heated session with state officials who approved the Narconon project before the town knew it was supported by Scientology. "The town got the shaft," said insurance agent Charles Eisenhauer. "I don't think anybody can undo anything that' s been done so far." The center is scheduled to open in September. Narconon officials say Newkirk's con- cern is inflated and unwarranted. Narconon is a legitimate, worldwide drug and alcohol rehabilitation program with 23 years' expe- rience and an 86 percent success rate, they assert. Narconon spokesman Gary Smith said he tried to reassure the town that Narconon's "sole intention is to get people off drugs." He said the town has been misled. "There' s fear being put into the town by false information being fed in there by some- body who' s in favor of drug abuse. They' re either connected to selling drugs or they're using drugs," Smith said. Smith declined to be more specific about the identity or whereabouts of these "outside sources with criminal motives." "Trust me, I know," he said. Another Narconon attempt at persuasion provoked an angry response. In a letter printed May 18 on the front page of the weekly Newkirk Herald Journal, Nar- conon president John Duff wrote: "There will be those that will not want Narconon to succeed at Chilocco because they are for drugs and are on the other side in the battle against drugs." Jones, the Baptist minister, responded the 15 following week, writing he "resented the implication, or more accurately the accusa- tion, that was made by Narconon' s Mr. Duff. He accused me of supporting illegal drug use in our area ff I did not swallow his program hook, line and sinker." B ilger said he had been so optimistic about the promise of a revitalized Chilocco that last December he wrote Oklahoma health officials supporting Narconon. But the mayor said his winter hope turned to disillusionment by spring w hen he learned of Narconon's history, and he came to be- lieve he had been misled when Narconon held an emotional ceremony April 8 in which the Association for Better Living and Edu- cation presented a glowing study of Nar- conon and the $200,000 check. Later Bilger learned that ABLE shared a street address in Los Angeles with Nar- conon, and is identified in a Scientology magazine as part of Narconon. "They totally misrepresented what was going on," Bilger said. "I came away with the impression that we had an independent group here interested in mankind and they had researched the Nar- conon process. Then I find out ABLE and Narconon are part of the same organiza- tion," he said. "I try to be straightforward, and when somebody doesn't do that, I wonder why." In late June, Narconon's Smith used a copy of Bilger's December letter of support to suggest to The Associated Press that the mayor supported Narconon. Bilger says the December letter no longer reflects his feelings. "I imagine if I was in his shoes I'd use it, too," Bilger said. "I just think now it (Nar- conon) is a problem and if all the facts were out at the time, things might have been done differently ." The Chilocco Indian School closed in 1980 and was declared surplus property by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which turned control over to five Indian tribes - Ponca, Kaw, Pawnee, Otoe -Missouria and Tonkawa. Last year, Narconon invited representa- tives of tribes throughout the country to a meet'rag in Clearwater, Ha. Narconon touted its program and said it was looking for a site for a treatmen t center. Currently, Narconon' s only U.S. inpatient center is a Los Angeles clinic with 12 beds. A Ponca representative told Narconon about the Chilocco site. The 25-year lease eventually drawn up offers the tribes a per- centage of gross earnings, up to $16 million. The tribal leadership remains enthusiastic about the Narconon project. In January, the Oklahoma Health Plan- ning Commission gave Narconon approval for an initial 75 beds. The group seeks 150 beds with growth projected to 400. Robert Lobsinger, publisher of the weekly Herald Journal, was by then becoming curi- ous about Narconon. In Newkirk's tiny li- brary he found articles about ties to Scientol- ogy and past run-ins with officials. His first story, published April 27 under the headline "Chilocco Drug Treatment Center May Be Part Of Notorious Religious Cult," set the town abuzz. Townspeople said they have repeatedly asked Narconon what medical credentials they have, and so far, have received no answer. "My first question is, do they think that everyone down here is stupid? said Jones. "People around here are not world travelers, but they've got a lot of corrunon sense and they ask a lot of questions." "We've encountered deceit from the be- ginning," he said. "There have been smoke screens everywhere, and there have been flat-out lies." In May, state officials told residents they believed Narconon was a legitimate enter- prise and would be inspected by the state once operating. "A lot of people want to get their church (Scientology) involved and the way state law is written... church affiliation has noth- ing to do with it. The state of Oklahoma shouldn't get involved in discussions of church affiliations," said Leroy Bridges, Department of Mental Health spokesman. Sheriff Glenn Guinn says he and others are not reassured by the state, or by the Narconon officials with whom he has met. He said he was originally told the alcohol- ism and drug abuse center would be for local Indians but now has learned only 25 percent of the beds have been promised to indigent Indians. Narconon, like Scientology, has had a sometimes turbulent history. In Spain last year, authorities charged Narconon with swindling clients and luring them into Sci- entology. Seventy-one people were arrested, including Scientology president Heber Jentzsch. Hundreds of document were seized, and a Spanish judge froze bank accounts holding $900,000 while an investigation continues. S cientology, founded by Hubbard in 1954, has grown into an intemational religion that at its mid-1970s peak claimed 6 million members and $100 million in annual earn- ings. The faith is based on Hubbard's con- cepts of mental health through which mem- bers can achieve a "clear state." Critics have labeled Scientology a cult. Scientologists have battled the IRS and fought lawsuits filed by former members. In June, the Supreme Court ruled that "fixed donations" made by Scientology members are not tax-exempt contributions. Narconon is supported financially by Sci- entology, spokesman Simon Hogarth ac- knowledged, but the group maintains it has no "direct ties" to Scientology. Narconon says its rehabilitation program is based on Hubbard' s methods, using with- drawal, diet supplements, exercise and sauna sessions to treat addicts. William Mehoj ah, chairman of the Kaws, said the tribes would not allow Scientology activities, at Chilocco and would hold Nar- conon to its contract. "We are attempting to provide service to people who need it." Mehojah said. "This is our way of cornbating (society' s) drug prob- lem. This is our stand." Hogarth said Narconon has "had a very good response" from Newkirk, which he said had eagerly embraced the idea of a drug and alcoholism treatment center. But Bilger said he did not think Hogarth changed any minds. "I am still concerned and I think most people in town feel that way," the mayor said. "Nobody wanted that thing to be a success more than me. Now I'm disappointed. I still hope there' s a way it can work for everyone. But right now, I'm disappointed." Scientology Faces New Charges Of Harassment By Stephen Koff St. Petersburg Times Reprinted 06 July 1989 ST. PETERSBURG, Dec. 22, 1988 -- The year was 1976, one year after the Church of Scientology had secretly moved its spiri- tual headquarters to Clearwater (Fla.), and Mayor Gabe Cazares was complaining too loudly for the church's comfort. So, as documents seized by the FBI would later show, the church's Clearwater office devised a scheme to "ruin Mayor Gabriel Cazares' political career by spreading scan- dal about his sex life." Church officials came up with ways to get Cazares' school records, birth records, any- thing - from checking with the Catholic Church to looking in graveyards for head- stones with Cazares' name - that might dis- credit the mayor. The next year, the FBI raided church of- fices and seized hundreds of documents. Eleven church members were subsequently convicted of crimes. And the Church of Scientology promised that it had cleaned house. Such dirty tricks, said the church, were things of the past. Consider, then, the more recent case of Charles O'Reilly, an aggressive California lawyer who was another thorn in the side of Scientology. O'Reilly represented some former Scientologists who were suing the church, and he refused to settle their cases. One client, who said the church nearly drove him insane, had won a $30-million verdict against the sect. Church executives were irate, one of their former lawyers recalled in sworn testimony. So in the spring of 1987, top-ranking Scientologists and lawyers called a meeting at their headquarters on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles to talk over the O'Reilly mat- ter. According to their former lawyer, Jo- seph Yanny, the Scientologists planned to steal confidential files on O'Reilly from the Betty Ford Center and other alcohol - and drug - treatment centers. Yanny said the Scientologists figured that such records could be used to blackmail O'Reilly. Ultimately, the plan to steal the records was scaled back, then dropped altogether. But the idea was similar to other plans that were carried out, say former top Scientology officials and representatives. Although such claims have been made before by alleged victims of the church' s tricks, the new charges are coming from people who were inside the highest circles of Scientology. These officials include a church executive who recently left Scientology, a former church security chief, a California lawyer who until recently helped formulate Scientology's legal strategy, the church's former international president, and dozens of former church members, including one who has written a book critical of the church and its founder, L. Ron Hubbard. Cumulatively, the new charges lead to a stinging conclusion about Scientology: De- spite its assurances of reform, a pattern of abuses continues against church critics. In some cases, those abuses cross the line of criminal law, according to authorities. A judge in Spain recently reached the same conclusion. After a nine-month inves- tigation, Judge Jose Maria Vazquez Honrubia on Nov. 20 (1988) detained 71 Scientolo- gists in Madrid and ordered 11 of them jailed. Those held included Heber Jentzsch, a 53-year-old American and president of the Church of Scientology International. After three weeks, Jentzsch and the church mem- bers were released on S 1.1-million bail but now must report to the court three times a week. They could face charges of coercion, fraud, flight of capital, illicit association and labor law violations. They say they are the victims of an international conspiracy. Similarly, 15 Scientologists and the church itself are awaiting trial in Canada on charges stemming from a 1983 police raid in which about 2 million stolen government docu- ments were seized from church offices. Sci- entology lawyers said the sect would donate money to charity if charges against the church were dismissed, but Ontario Attomey Gen- eral Ian Scott declined the offer. Scientologists and their lawyers would not answer questions for this series of ar- ticles. The church and the St. Petersburg Times are adversaries in a federal court case, and chief Scientology counsel Earle C. Cooley of Boston attributed the church's "no com- ment" to that dispute. The Times seeks to unseal files in four lawsuits against Scientol- ogy settled in 1986. Although court files are normally open, the judge granted the church' s request to seal these cases over the objec- tions of opposing lawyers. The Church of Scientology now wants to keep them closed. Times lawyers argued in a motion in Octo- ber that closing the ffies violates the First Amendment. The First Amendment to the Constitution, among other things, gives a guarantee of a free press, and Times lawyers said that closing the files interferes with the newspaper' s right to gather and publish news. The Times won a Pulitzer Prize in 1980 for exposes of abuse by the church. In 1984, California Superior Judge Paul G. Breckenridge ruled that "the organization clearly is schizophrenic and paranoid." "It hasn't changed at all," said William Franks, who until 1982 was chairman and executive director of the Church of Scientol- ogy International. Franks left the church after a showdown between church leaders and owners of.numerous Scientology "mis- sions," or franchises. Franks has said that despite public state- ments, it became clear that church execu- tives never intended to change Scientology' s character. Franks is now a businessman in Philadelphia; his replacement as Scientology's international president was Jentzsch, who is now out on bail in Spain. Embarrassing the opposition Although it has a large presence in Pinetlas County (Ha), Scientology keeps its business headquarters in Califomia, and it was there that top S cientologists and lawyers gathered to talk about O'Reilly, the lawyer who was causing them trouble. Joseph Yanny, 38, was one of those law- yers. He has since fallen out with the church, but at the time, he was one of Scientology's top lawyers. Yanny began representing Sci- entology in trademark matters in 1983. His other clients include Corona Beer and the rock group Grateful Dead. By 1985, Yanny was "closely involved in the formulation of legal strategy," according to court docu- ments filed by Scientologists. "I and others were told by (Scientology executive) Many Rathburn that on orders of David Miscavige, the successor of L. Ron Hubbard as the head of the cult, that the medical records of O'Reilly were to be sto- len from the Betty Ford Center, and another location in Santa Barbara, to show that he was using cocaine, discredit him, and possi- bly blackmail him into casing off on his $30- million verdict now on appeal," Yanny said last summer when questioned by Scientol- 17 ogy lawyers. Yanny balked. "I wanted no part of any criminal conduct to obtain the stuff," he said in an interview with the Times. "An alterna- tive plan was quickly arrived at to settle my nerves," he said when questioned by other lawyers. The new tack: Rather than steal the records, lawyers would get them through the judicial process. Subpoenas were prepared for records from the Betty Ford Center, the Eisenhower Medical Center and Cottage Care Center, all in Califomia. Specifically requested in the subpoenas, which are now on file in federal court, were "records of admittance for treatment of alcohol an/or drug use or dependency, records of treat- ment of Mr. O 'Reilly for alcohol and/or drug usage, records concerning any known distri- bution or receipt by Mr. O'Reilly of any illegal drug." Yanny said he protested again, saying the Scientologists were abusing the legal sys- tem. He said he refused to sign the subpoe- nas, and although they were filed with the court, they were ultimately never served. Yanny resigned as church counsel. Since then, Yanny has been sued by the Church of Scientology, which says that after quitting he supplied church adversaries with privileged Scientology legal information. An account from inside She was 22, a former Unitarian. He was a former Marine air traffic controller with two tours in Vietnam. They were taking courses at Mountainview Junior College in Dallas when Vickl McRae met Richard Azneran. "He told me that there was a guy in Austin named Whit Whitford who was a Scientolo- gist... and that this fellow could do all sorts of magical things, like make butterflies come out of the sky and things like that," she remembered when questioned by lawyers in June. "That conversation ended pretty quickly, because I told him I thought it was bulls--." Ms. McRae's skepticism yielded to Azneran's curiosity, though, and before long both were Scientologists, later they became husband and wife. Scientologists - their leader called the group a religion, but said it didn't require abandoning other religious beliefs. It was a religion of man: a belief that through a form of one-on-one counseling called "auditing," man could free himself of deep-rooted psy- chological baggage and live a self-deter- mined life. This auditing was accomplished with the help of an "E-meter," a device similar to a lie-detector. The founder of this religion was L. Ron Hubbard, a science fiction writer in the 1940s whose 1950 book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health planted the seed for the Scientology movement. In its sim- plest explanation, Dianetics was a science of the mind, and Scientology was the theology it embraced. Hubbard wrote that the human mind is a camera with thousands of tiny images. These "engrams" were regularly picked up by the mind - they could have been recorded by a person almost as early as conception - and profoundly affected human behavior, even creating physical maladies. They had to be excised before man could rid himself and the planet of neurosis, war, crime and disease, Hubbard said. The end result was a state called "clear." Vicki Azneran, like millions of other people around the world, was intrigued. She began taking Scientology courses at a Dallas Dianetics center and soon joined the staff. In time she advanced to the national staff, put- ting in 18-hour days in exchange for $10 a week plus room and board and auditing privileges, she said. She was rewarded with prestige, and in 1983 was promoted to presi- dent of Religious Technology Center (RTC). This was the Scientology branch. based in Los Angeles, that made sure Hubbard's teachings were delivered in a standard for- mat. The position made her one of the high- est-ranking Scientologists in the world. Vicki Azneran had become part of Scientology's elite. She knew the complex myriad of organizations and sub-organiza- tions and how they fit together. She now says that Scientology's corporate web was cre- ated as a way of beating taxes. S he also knew other details, and recently testified about them in federal court proceedings. Among other things, she disclosed the systematic destruction of church documents. Scientologists feared those records might show that Hubbard secreted millions of dol- lars of church money into his own accounts, she testified. (A federal Judge last year ruled that Hubbard did just that.) Since the church claimed to be not-for-profit - a contention disputed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - any such records could be damaging. Vicki Azneran said she and her husband helped make sure the records were never released. They shredded financial documents in 1980 in Clearwater, she said, and again in 1981. Then in 1986, she said, she and Rich- ard "participated in the coverup of expendi- tures... in anticipation of an IRS audit" in California. Meantime, in 1984, she said, she destroyed other documents - which a California judge had ordered the church to yield. The church had personal records on Gerry Armstrong, a former Scientologist in litigation with the sect. Now Judge Paul Breckenridge of Cali- fornia Superior Court was ordering the Church of Scientology to turn over these records, called "PC" files, or pre-clear files. The fLIeS, kept on all Scientologists, contain personal information - from secret desires to confessions of misconduct - extracted dur- ing auditing sessions. "I removed documents from Gerry Armstrong's PC folders to keep them from being turned over to the court," Vicki Azneran said. "I went through them and removed things from them. And some of those things I destroyed, and some of them I gave away or gave to someone in OSA (Office of Special Affairs), I believe." Richard Azneran, who also had risen through the ranks - becoming Hubbard's public relations representative and later su- pervising church security - said culling pre- clear files was standard church practice. He said he also carried out similar tasks. Among the duties he described in deposi- tions: bugging staff members' rooms, dig- ging through adversarial lawyers' garbage and investigating so-called enemies of the church. In 1985, Scientology executive David Miscavige told him to set up eavesdropping equipment in all the offices of Author Ser- vices Incorporated, Azneran said. Author Services is Scientology' s for-profit division, licensing the copyrights to the prolific Hubbard's works. Miscavige feared a raid by the IRS and wanted to photograph and record "everything that any agent ever said to each other" so it could be used in plotting a defense, Azneran said. Rick Azneran also devised and helped implement a system to destroy church com- puter tapes, he said. The way it worked, records from the church's Southern Califomia centers were transferred from computer discs to tapes and taken to rented storage facilities in Ventura, Orange and Riverside counties outside Los Angeles County to create possible jurisdic- tional problems for the police. Electronic machines that erase magnetic tapes "were set up in a row right next to the storage racks where the daily backup tapes were kept," Azneran said. "We drilled on a regular basis being able to destroy the infor- mation on those magnetic tapes in a given amount of time, which is what we thought we would have should there be a mid." And what if the FBI or IRS tried to force their way into the actual computer centers? The Scientologists had thought of that, too, Azneran said. "Earlier on in the com- puter rooms, the glass... that had been in- stalled was all two-inch, two-and-a-half- inch bullet-proof glass so that they couldn't break in with sledge hammers and so forth." Punishment and escape Why are the Aznerans saying such terrible things about their former colleagues? It goes back to 1986 - specifically, Jan. 24, the day the reclusive L. Ron Hubbard, 74, died of a stroke at his ranch in Creston, Calif. There was some struggle within Scientology' s top ranks to succeed Hubbard, and Vicki Azneran found herself in the wrong faction, she says now. As a result, she was sent to the Rehabilita- tion Project Force (RPF), a military-like work detail that former members say exists at nearly all major Scientology centers. Her assignment was to Happy Valley, a Scien- tology camp in the California desert. Guards ordered her to run wherever she went and sleep with a dozen women in one room, and a female guard stayed with her when she showered, she said. S he herself had dispatched dozens of oth- ers to the RPF for misdeeds against the church, she said. She had personally done stints in the RPF on her way up the Scientol- ogy ladder. But this time was different, she said. This time, she was sick. A uterine infection gave her a fever, and the guards wouldn't let her leave to see a doctor. So in March of 1987, when two compan- ions ran away and later came back in a rented car, she joined them and left. She had de- cided, as had Richard, it was time to leave Scientology, she told lawyers. Their separation from the church seemed amicable. They even accepted a $20,000 loan, to be paid back at 5 percent interest over 10 years. They took the money and started aprivate investigation fu'rn in Dallas. But Vicki and Richard Azneran held a grudge. On April 1 this year (1988) they filed a $70-million lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles against the Church of Scientol- ogy of California, RTC and other church divisions, and several Scientology execu- tives. The 11-count suit claimed false im- prisonment, infliction of emotional distress, loss ofconsortiam, conspiracy, fraud, breach of contract, invasion of privacy and breach of duty to pay minimum wage and overtime. Scientology lawyers denied the charges. Suing their lawyer On June 15, Scientology lawyers called Yanny, the former lawyer, to a meeting. "They told me they were going to sue me," Yanny said. "Howard Weitzman (a promi- nent Los Angeles lawyer) said they wanted to make this all go away. He said to me, "This doesn't have to happen if you can make the Azneran case go away." "End of meeting." "And so I got sued, And fur started fly- ing ." The Church of Scientology Interuationai, the Church of Scientology of California and RTC charged in the suit, filed eight days after the meeting, that Yanny violated the attorney-client privilege. According to the Scientologists, Yanny presided over a series of "clandestine meetings" in March at his Hermosa Beach home with various Law- yers, aides, the Aznerans and Bent Corydon. Corydon, of Riverside. Calif., wrote the 1987 book L. Ron Hubbard: Messiah or Mad- man?, and has faced a barrage of litigation from the church. The Scientologists said that Yanny, who had inside information, now was aiding, even encouraging, the Aznerans. As proof, the Scientologists presented affidavits from two former employees of Yanny who said they were present during the meetings with the Aznerans and Corydon. The Scientolo- gists also submitted photographs, taken by a private investigator, showing Corydon' s car parked behind Yanny's house. On the basis of this information, a California Judge ruled that neither Yanny nor his lawyers could represent the Aznerans because of an ap- pearance of impropriety. Although Yanny acknowledged a friend- ship with the Aznerans and Corydon, he said he has not helped them with their suits. But the Scientologists had other charges as well. Their suit said that of the $1.8-million Yanny's firm billed the sect in four years, a substantial portion was padded or fraudu- lent. And they said that Yanny performed incompetent work "while under the influ- ence of drugs and alcohol." Later they amended the suit. They dropped the part about incompetence, chugs and al- cohol. The rearview mirror Joe Yanny took a plane from Los Angeles to Dallas and then another to Pittsburgh last June (1988). In Pittsburgh, he rented a car to go to his sister' s home in Bellaire, Ohio. He said he thought he was being followed. The Grateful Dead, one of his clients, was playing in Buckeye Lakes while he was in Ohio, so Yanny and three friends got into the car and drove to the concert. Coming back, he though he was being followed. He sped up and lost the tail. But when he got into town, alongside his sister's house, four police cruisers pulled up with lights flashing. The officers said they had a tip, phoned in anonymously to the Ohio Highway Patrol. Yanny, they said they were told, had fire- arms and cocaine in the car. "I was told at that point in time that I and those in my company could be searched, including the vehicle, or that I could be arrested on the spot," Yanny said. "The choice was mine." He agreed to be searched, as did the oth- ers. The police found nothing. The next day, Bellaire police stopped a different rented car in town. The men in the car gave a story the police did not believe, so the police persisted, and the men in the rental car finally acknowledged that they were watching Yanny. "The police were informed that these people had been hired by - the name Eco- nomic Research Group from New York was mentioned," Yanny said in a deposition. "They were from the Washington, D.C., area and had been hired by a firm named Williams & Connelly. At least this is the information that was given to the Police. (Williams & Connelly) had represented the cult of Scientology on various matters, and various of its chief executives such as David Miscavige." Will iams & Connelly lawyer Gerald Feffer said he would likely know of any Scientol- ogy matters involving the firm, but knew nothing about the incident. He said he has used the Economic Research Group - an investigation firm that would not return a reporter's calls - but said, "I don't, and would never, under any circumstances, hire anyone to harass anybody." Capt. Robert Wallace of the Bellaire po- lice said: "Mr. Yanny's account would be correct. And yes, the Bellaire Police Depart- mentcan confirm that." He said the only part of the story he could not verify was whether the private investigators phoned in the tip about Yanny carrying drugs. But he said: "It is extremely coincidental, to say the least." (The above story is reprinted with permis- sion from the St. Petersburg, Fla., Times, December 22, 1988.) Narconon One Of Many Scientology Organizations By Stephen Koff St. Petersburg Times Reprinted 06 July 1989 ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. Dec. 12, 1988 -- Operating under auspices of the Church of Scientology are dozens of groups, many of them separate legal entities. Untangling Scientology's lines of organizations can be difficult; even the sect's own charts that have been used in court cases are complex. Here are some of Scientology's organiza- tions. Flag Service Organization - The legal name of Scientology's Clearwater (Fla.) operation, which serves as the sect' s spiri- tuai headquarters. Before 1981 the organiza- tion was part of the Church of Scientology of California, and Pinellas County (Fla.) offi- ciais contend that Flag is still an "alter ego" of the California church. The distinction could be worth millions of dollars in tax exemption, and Scientology lawyers deny the Pinellas claim. Sea Org - Short for Sea Organization, a corp of dedicated Scientologists who wear navy-style uniforms and sign billion-year loyalty contracts. (Scientologist believe in reincarnation.) Before Scientology's move to Clearwater in 1975, members of the Sea Org served with sectfounderL. Ron Hubbard aboard ships roaming the globe. International Association of Scientolo- gists - A group formed by church leaders in 1984 to combat "external" threats to Scien- tology such as lawsuits and critical media coverage. Membership in the association makes one an official member of the church, according to association publications. The Freewinds - A 500-passenger ship bought in 1986 by the Intemationai Associa- tion of Scientologists. Previously berthed in St. Petersburg as the cruise ship Boheme, the Freewinds was renovated and now is based in the southern Caribbean, where upper- level Scientology training is offered. Among those who have cruised are Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis, who took a honeymoon trip on the ship in October. Bridge Publications - Publisher of L. Ron Hubbard' s works, including his Battle- field Earth science fiction series and the seminal Scientology work Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. Bridge is a for-profit company. Concerned Businessmen's Association of America - A Glendale, Calif. - based group of Scientologists that promotes drug- free living through its "Way to Happiness" book and like-named campaign, targeted to school-age children. The association's In- tertribal Council brought American Indian leaders to Scientology's Clearwater head- quarters in February (1988) to talk about drug treatment programs. A related group, called the Hubbard Foundation, did detoxi- fication of the B lackfeet reservation in Mon- tana "for a while," said Jim Ferres, B lackfeet treatment services director. "They don't do it anymore... I view alcoholism as a disease, and don' t believe in this guru kind of stuff." Narconon - A Scientologist-run drug edu- cation and rehabilitation program based on a regimen of megavitamins and saunas. Nar- cohort boasts an 80 percent success rate, but health officials and former Narconon em- ployees dispute that claim. Narconon offices were among those raided in the Spanish investigation of Scientology in November. (Ed note - in a March 29, 1989 story, the St. Petersburg Tunes also reported that 75 Scientologists were to go before an Italian court in Milan to face a list of charges including fraud, extortion and tax evasion related to the Italian Scientology, Dianetics, and Narconon operations. The action fol- lowed a massive investigation started in 1981) WISE - An acronym for World Institute of Scientology Enterprises, the sect's divi- sion that teaches "Hubbard management tech" to businesses and professionals. Among the Scientologist-run consulting fn'ms li- censed under WISE are Singer Consultants (specializing in chiropractors), Sterling Management. Consultants (dentists) and Uptrends (computer professionals). Any- where from 20 percent (a Singer estimate) to 50 percent (an Uptrends figure) of WISE clients wind up taking Scientology courses or buying Hubbard books. Citizen 's Commission on Human Rights - A Scientology division that crusades against many applications of psychiatry, particu- larly the use ofRitalin, a drug used to control hyperactivity in children. Scientology has a distinctly anti-psychiatric, anti-medical bent, which psychiatrists say is a result of Dianetics being shunned by organized medicine. (The above article is reprinted from the St. Petersburg Times, Dec. 22, 1988, with per- mission) 2O Scientology CosmologJ~... Cruel Ruler Of Universe Turns Earth Into Prison By Stephen Koff St. Petersburg Times Reprinted 06 July 1989 ST. PETERSBURG, FLA., Dec. 23, 1988 - It was like something out of a science fiction script - but L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, claimed it was fact. "Xenu," he called the central character. Xenu ruled the 90-planet Galactic Confed- eration 75-million years ago, when over- population was a problem. So Xenu solved the problem: He trapped selected beings and flew them to volcanoes on Earth, then called Teegeeach. He then dropped powerful H-bombs on the volca- noes. The beings were destroyed in a wall of fLre. However, their spirits, or "thetans," weren't. Gathering them into clusters, Xenu trapped the thetans in frozen alcohol and glycol. Then he finished his cruel plan: He elec- tronically implanted the thetans so they would reproduce in subsequent generations of man and cause sexual perversion and other ab- normal behavior. The implants are in us - each of us - today. Though such beliefs may seem far-fetched, Scientology documents show they are part of upper-level Scientology training known as OT III, short for Operating Thetan HI. OT III is the third of 15 steps on Scientology's advanced ladder, climbed by believers after reaching the state of "clear." OT III training, which is supposed to remove the implants by revisiting the Xenu incident and breaking through the wall of fire, is offered in Clearwater at a cost of $6,500, according to a fall 1988 rate sheet. Details of OT III are considered confiden- tial. When church documents describing Xenu surfaced during a 1985 trial in Los Angeles, Scientology lawyers tried unsuc- cessfully to immediately seal them. Gerald Armstrong, a former Scientologist who dis- covered that many of Hubbard' s credentials and claims were false, described in a court document why the group so closely guards Xenu. "In Scientology, people are told that if they read even part of the story before they have progressed through all the various lower Scientology steps, at the cost of tens of thousands of dollars, their subconscious minds will be restimulated, and they will "freewheel,..."" Armstrong said, "Theirmind will go out of control, they will not be able to eat or sleep and they will die." A Hubbard memo obtained by Clearwater police said pneumonia may also result, as the implants are calculated to kill by pneu- monia anyone who tries to "solve" them ~ son of like a pharaoh' s curse, Hubbard noted. That's why only properly applied training would succeed, Hubbard said. Armstrong said the Xenu story was iden- tical to the screenplay for Revolt in the S tars, a film written by Hubbard. The film never got commercial financing and was not re- leased. (Above story is reprinted from the St. Petersburg, Fla., Times, Dec. 23, 1988 with permission. It is one of several published reports reflecting the same:incident - all reports are essentially the same in content.) 21 Mail From Everywhere... Mayor Launches Narconon Inquiry After Receiving Adverse Reports From At Least Five Other States 27 July 1989 Newkirk Mayor Garry Bilger says in the past two weeks he has been receiving mail from all over the country since an Associ- ated Press article concerning Narconon Chi- locco was released. The article, which appeared in newspa- pers from Corpus Christi, Tx. to the New York Times, seems to have prompted the letters to Bilger. "I haven't received a letter favorable to the Narconon program yet... they are all negative. ! For example, a writer from Illinois says, "I can empathize with your town' s plight and have the utmost admiration for those who are fighting to close down Narconon's new- est operation before it actually is in opera- tion. "... it is strictly a method of recruitment, and their recovery claims are unfounded," the letter continues. The writer goes on... "The Oklahoma Health Plan (sic) Com- mission had better do some fast and thor- ough homework - the information is avail- able. They probably have never before been confronted with such a slick and deceptive organization." Enclosed with the letter were clippings about Narconon' s troubles in Italy and Spain. A hand written letter from Pennsylvania says, "Without becoming too emotional, I want to tell you (my sister) gave thousands of dollars to Scientology, left all her Chris- tian upbringing behind, and let Ron Hubbard rule her life with his values and teachings. Scientology is very sneaky, with their pseud- onyms such as "Big Apple Schools" and "Narconon" - and practically took over a town in Florida." She concludes, "Please, be very careful in letting them come into your town on their false pretenses." Another example: "I have just read the New York Times article on your situation with Narconon and Scientology," this former Scientologist writes. "...I will tell you straight out that Nar- conon is a sham. It is a front and a device used by the Church of Scientology to lure people into Scientology. You must realize that you are dealing with a very determined and ruthless bunch of fanatics. They resort to any deceit, any trick- ery to get their way... which is to promote and lure people into Scientology. Narconon fits very nicely into this as most people are concerned about Drug abuse and addiction and will give time and money to anything that looks like it might help. Narconon is an elaborate scheme to entice people into Scientology, to promote Scien- tology and the name of L. Ron Hubbard. It looks like a noble work for the good of society. They will trot out a handful of people who will claim that they were helped with Narconon. They might even bring out a celebrity or two. Scientology will use very little of their own money in this con. They will go after Grants, donations, etc. and they are very skilled in getting other peoples money." "...Sadly enough, most of the lower level Scientologists are not aware of the con and deception that they are involved with. They don't realize that they have been brajn- washed. I didn't and went busily around promoting Scientology and Narconon all the while believing that I was working in a noble cause ...." "You can use what I have said here in any way you find useful. I would ask that you don't give my name or address to anyone connected to Narconon or Scientology. Gary Smith, the Narconon spokesman quoted in the Times article, is lying through his teeth. You can quote me - I was there," concludes the writer. Included with the letters are newspaper clippings from across the country alleging that Narconon units in at least five states have been shut down or severely curtailed over the years after questions were raised about their effectiveness and ties with Scien- tology. In Michigan, for instance, a prison psy- chologist is reported to have charged that Narconon is a "con" to gain money and recruits for the Church of Scien~ology. A California report done for that state's De- partment of Health said Narconon's use of megavitamins to detoxify addicts is a "haz- ardous" and "in some cases lethal" practice. Prison programs in Delaware, Connecti- cut and Minnesota were reported terminated after questions were raised about the program' s effectiveness. In Clearwater, Florida, the program ap- parently never got off the ground, Scientol- ogy spokesmen complained in one clipping, due to the "climate" created by negative media reports about the Church of Scientol- ogy. Michigan prison psychologist John Hand has been quoted as saying, "They are phony, a front for the Church of Scientology, We found out in Michigan that most of the money that we were paying Narconon was laundered back into the Church of Scientol- ogy." Gary Smith, Narconon's spokesman, was quoted in the same article, and branded Hand's assertion that money in Michigan was "laundered" as "ridiculous." "It's just a basic technology whereby a person can get off drugs, back into life and be happy. We don't push it (Scientology) on anybody. We never have," Smith was quoted as saying. But in view of the mounting material from across the country, as well as reports from abroack Mayor Bilger has instructed an at- toruey to contact Corrections Department and Health Department officials in Michi- gan, California, Delaware, Connecticut, and Minnesota to find out the math about the allegations. 22 Commission, Chamber, School Board City Leaders Call For State Review Of Narconon Program At Chilocco Indian School North Of Town 17 August 1989 Newkirk's School Board, City Commis- sion, andChamber of Commerce have jointly sent a 67 page document to 16 State and National leaders asking them to support a special review of the Narconon-Chilocco drug rehabilitation program and it' s connec- tion with Scientology. The cover letter of the package of exhibits says in part, "Based on this information, it appears that Narconon's primary objective is S cientology recruitment and not drug abuse treatment. Our community is very concerned and we are requesting your help in obtaining a complete review of their operation and the licensing procedure which allows Narconon to operate in Oklahoma. It is signed by the Mayor, the President of the Newkirk Board of Education, and the President of the Newkirk Chamber of Commerce. The first exhibit alleges that there have been several instances of misrepresentation made by Narconon to the community, and the balance of the package contains indi- vidual documents, media reports, and sources of further information that the signers hope will cause officials to take a second look at Narconon. Mayor Garry Bilger feels that it is pretty well documented that Narconon is a Scien- tology controlled organization. He points to a ceremony held at Chilocco on April 8, 1989. At the ceremony Bilger observed a representative of the Association For Better Living and Education (ABLE) "donate" at $200,000.00 check to Narconon for seed money to get the project started. Bilger contends that at the ceremony an obvious effort was made to have everyone believe that ABLE and Narconon were two entirely separate organizations that had noth- ing to do with each other until then. But Narconon's own promotional mate- rial says it is owned by ABLE. And ABLE turns out to be one of the many organizations on the Scientology organization chart. At a public meeting in Newkirk on May 8, 1989, Mr. Leroy Bridges of the State Mental health Department told a group of about 80 people that there would be "no Oklahoma patients" treated at the facility, except for a few indigent Indians. Mr. Bridges also Said that no state money would be involved. But a document in the package, written sometime before July 1988, allegedly by Mr. John Duff, president of Narconon Inter- national, lists local and Oklahoma people as the top priorities in the Narconon marketing plan. It also lists "State Contracts that pay for beds," as a priority. At the same meeting, Mr. Bridges told the citizens of Newkirk that Narconon had vol- untarily placed itself under jurisdiction of the state for matters of law enforcement and inspection of their program and facilities. However, a letter from Sheriff Glenn Guinn included in the package says, "As I understand it. I have no authority on Chilocco land. Everything at Chilocco comes under the F.B.I., and we have one F.B.I. agent in this area stationed at Enid." The document allegeally authored by Mr. Duff also says that it is "essential" to procure state certification and licensing "because we will be providing services to both Indian and Non-Indian people paid through a fee for service, insurance coverage and possible state contracts. State licensing is mandatory for us to be able to accept Non-Indian clien- tele." The package sent to the state says, "We find it curious that Narconon wants to be licensed in order to collect on state contracts and insurance policies from people Mr. Bridges has flatly said would not be served at the facility." Narconon has consistently said it is not connected with the Church of Scientology, but the material in the package sent to the state seems to indicate that except for a "cold turkey" detoxification period, nearly all of the rest of the treatment consists of courses and programs also found on the Church of Scientology's religious progress chart known as "The Bridge To Total Freedom." City leaders are also questioning the cure rates claimed by Narconon. They consider it an exaggerated figure and say they have seen no data to support it. Several individuals involved in drug and alcohol rehabilitation in this area have said the cure rate for any program is between 15% and 30% at best. Narconon spokesmen have said that the con version rate of Narconon patients to S ci- entology is, variously, between 1% and 3%, and "under 10%." But an evaluation Team Report made to the California State Depart- ment of Health said "it was clear that nearly all the patients hoped to become Scientolo- gists." Other reports from former Scientol- ogy members and Narconon patients puts the figure at between 50% and 75%. Other exhibits contained in the package mailed to state officials consists of charts, news reports from around the country and several foreign countries, a radio transcript, and 13 pages of references for further read- ing or information which city leaders hope will be enough to convince the state that it needs to take a much closer look at this project before it is licensed for operation in the State of Oklahoma. 23 Scientific And Medical Accuracy Of Narconon Program Questioned 17 August 1989 A Professor of Chemistry and Biochemis- try at the University of Oklahoma calls it "pure unadulterated 'cow pies"'. A Doctor of Internal Medicine in Ponca City says it is 'Tfiled with ...many false generalizations, internal inconsistencies, outright lies, and potentially dangerous treat- ments." They are talking about the Purification part of the Narconon drug rehabilitation program that will be offered at Chilocco. According to a document called the Nar- conon Technical Line-Up copyrighted 1984 by Narconon, their rehabilitation program consists of several steps: First, there is a Detoxification and With- drawal program, followed by a Drug Educa- tion/Orientation lecture, Hard TR's (Train- ing Routines), the Purification program, Objectives, the Drug Rundown, and the Way To Happiness Rundown. Several area individuals have ask for and have been promised a copy of the Narconon "protocols" that will be used when Nar- conon is in operation, but after several weeks, nothing has been forthcoming from Nar- conon. However, Narconon and Scientology documents have been provided by former Scientologists, Narconon volunteers, and Narconon patients which give a pretty clear idea of program contents. One of those documents, a Hubbard Com- munications Bulletin called "The Purifica- tion Rundown Replaces The Sweat Pro- gram" is said to contain the core of L. Ron Hubbard's "technology" regarding the re- moral of toxic substances such as drugs from the body. It is a regimen which includes exercise, sauna sweat out, nutrition including vita- mins, minerals, etc, as well as oil intake, and a properly ordered schedule of activity. This and several related documents were offered for evaluation by a University of Oklahoma Professor of Chemistry and Bio- chemistry, and by a Ponca City Doctor who specializes in internal medicine. Their re- ports are being forwarded by city leaders to the State Health Department. The OU Professor in his August 4, 1989 report, writes, "My overall comment on Mr. Hubbard' s literature is that there is an abso- lute lack of data to support his assertion that the Purification Program succeeds in doing what the presently adopted programs fall to do. The documents reviewed also contain many truths and half-truths." "However," he continues, "there is no evidence that Mr. Hubbard's approach will cure these ills. "(Hubbard' s statement that) "Them is no such thing as a fat cell" is a meaningless statement," the professor says. "'Fat tissue' should be adipose tissue which consists of many cell types and the major lipid storage cell is termed a 'brown cell"' Where Hubbard suggests that in 1973 someone got a Nobel Prize for curing insan- ity with niacin, the OU report says it is "too absurd to comment on." As far as can be determined, the professor said by telephone, no such prize was ever given. The OU report complains of a lack of scientific data within the documents to sup- port the statements made, and concludes that, "Overall the program proposed by Mr. Hubbard is pure unadulterated 'cow pies'. It is filled with some scientific truth but mainly is illogical and the conclusions drawn by Mr. Hubbard are without any basis in scientific fact." A report received August 14 from a Ponca City doctor specializing in Internal Medi- cine says... "As a previous Medical Director of two alcohol and drug rehabilitation units, I feel I am qualified by training, interest and expe- rience to comment specifically on the pro- posed treatment center's so called Purifica- tion rundown. The Purification Rundown is apparently either all or part ofNarconon' s initial detoxi- fication program. The ... document is in general a poorly written program. There is extremely poor organization. The material is full of generalizations that have no substan- tiation in fact. There are internal inconsis- tent statements. There is no documentation. 24 The Purification Rundown is somewhat patterned after many reputable detoxifica- lion programs in which diet, exercise, edu- cation and behavioral modification are used. But due to the above mentioned deficiencies as well as several outright untruths, I think that it is fair to say that the Purification Rundown is without merit." Some specific points made in the report: "There is certainly no scientific documenta- tion that exercise significantly speeds up the detoxification process." "The author states throughout, that sweat- ing increases the rate at which drugs in general leave the body. This is certainly untrue of many drugs, as most drugs of abuse are eliminated from the body by detoxifica- tion through the liver, or by passage through the kidney, or occasionally by passage through the lungs. Although minute quanti- ties of some drugs may appear in the sweat it is such a small fraction of drug elimination that no matter how much a patient were made to sweat it could not significantly increase his clearing of most drugs ." "The author states 'There is no such thing as a fat cell.' This is absolutely false and can be disproven by any college student who has had a course in Histology." "The author' s recommendation for taking Vegetable Oil to replace the oils in our fat tissue that are contaminated with drugs has no documentation or basis in fact." "Perhaps the most blatantly false state- ment made in the entire document (is where the) author states, 'niacin's biochemical re- action is my own private personal discovery in the middle of the 1950's. Niacin was discovered several decades before the 1950's and its importance and multiple biochemical reactions have been studied from that time until present." "The author further goes on to state 'Nia- cin runs out radiation' ... There is no scien- tific documentation that niacin in any way gets radiation out of the body. The symp- toms of which the author talks are due to dilation of the blood vessels of the skin and is a known side-effect of niacin administra- tion ." The report continues... "there are aspects ... which I find medically unsafe. (Parts of the program) suggest that the author expects that in many cases heat exhaustion will oc- cur. Any treatment which leads to heat ex- haustion is unsound and unsafe." Regarding suggested use of a medical officer, the report states, "It seems quite apparent that medical officer does not equate with medical doctor or physician as the author...goes on to say 'the medical officer gives aperson an OK to go on to the program after insuring the person' s blood pressure is normal and he is not anemic. The medical officer does these checks himself where he is trained to do so'. Therefore, it seems medi- cally unqualified persons are going to be supervising this program which I think is quite dangerous." The report concludes, "While a drug free society is a worthwhile goal of any institu- tion, when the initial entry into this program, i.e. the Purification Rundown is filled with so many false generalizations, internal in- consistencies, outright lies, and potentially dangerous trealments, I think it is without question that Narconon will be a detriment to the Newkirk area, Kay County, and the State of Oklahoma as a whole." City leaders say they intend to forward complete, signed copies of the two reports to the same state and federal officials who previously received other packages of mate- rial concerning Narconon. Narconon Researches Opposition Scientology Group Hires Investigator, Buys Ad 31 August 1989 According to a story by Michael McNutt in the August 251h edition of The Daily Oklahoman, an alleged Scientology group operating as Narconon near Newkirk has hired a private investigator to find the extent of illegal drug use in Kay County and the identity of those opposing "effective drug rehabilitation programs." Actually, the private investigator was hired over a month ago. Newkirk Mayor Garry Bilger says that he was visited by Woody Bastemeyer, owner of Western Investigat- ing, 4423 N. Greenvale Circle, Stillwater, about July 201h. Bilger said Bastemeyer told him he had been hired by Narconon to find out who had been supplying the city with information about Scientology and Narconon, and was particularly interested in the source of a British Broadcasting Company documen- tary program on Scientology that has been circulating in the area. Several other area residents have also re- ported being contacted by Mr. Bastemeyer. Bastemeyer resurfaced around the first of August, according to Bilger, and wanted, but didn' t receive, copies of letters the mayor had received from dissident Scientologists from across the country. He also visited with some local law enforcement people at that time. On Tuesday, August 22, an advertisement appeared in the Ponca City News. It was placed by Western Investigating, and asked people to give the names, addresses, place of employment, and type of vehicle driven by anyone known to be selling drugs or op- posed to "effective drug rehabilitation pro- grams." On Thursday, August 24, Kay County Sheriff Glenn Guinn was contacted by Bastemeyer who was requesting informa- tion about Newkirk Herald Journal Pub- lisher Bob Lobsinger's wife and children. The Western Investigating ad reappeared the next day in the Ponca City News. According to the story in the Oklahoman, Narconon plans to use the information to convince opponents in the area that a need exists for their drug treatment facility. The North Central Major Crimes Task Force ran a similar ad in June, asking readers to identify who is selling drugs and where the suspect lives and works. The Western Investigating ad, however, also asks readers to list "anyone who may be opposed to effective drug rehabilitation programs." Narconon's Gary Smith is quoted in the Oklahoman article as saying, "That' s in there from past experiences that we've had in other areas ....It's something that we're in- vestigating ." The Oklahoman says .Smith told them they only intend to send those people infor- mational brochures, "We're not trying to hurt anybody or do any kind of blackmail thing," Smith is quoted as saying, but added that information about suspected criminal activity will be "turned over to the proper authorities." 25 Open Letter To Kay County Residents About Narconon Printed 31 August 1989 Newkirk Herald Journal HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STATE OF OKLAHOMA August 25, 1989 OPEN LETTER TO CITI7~NS OF NEWKIRK AND KAY COLINTY: In response to your packet and the numerous letters of protest concerning the Narconon Drug treatment facility to be located at the Chilocco Indian School complex, I want you to know that I, too, am extremely concerned and am doing everything I know to stop this development. I have contacted and expressed my concerns to every individual and entity in state government that I felt might be of assistance in this matter and the process is continuing. At my request, all notice of applications for certification, staff reports and board agendas concerning drug rehabilitation centers in North Central Oklahoma will be forwarded to certain community leaders. Before licensing or cenffication will take place, the citizens of Newkirk will have the opportunity to air their concerns at public hearings. I have been assured that certification does include a thorough review of rehabilitation methods. The article in Friday's Oklahoman would be humorous if this situation weren't so serious. The Narconon group has hired a private investigator to identify those opposing "effective drug rehabilitation programs". I believe everyone in Kay County realizes this opposition has nothing to do with drug rehabilitation and everything to do with Scientology. From the responses I have received, I believe Narconon could much more quickly get a list of those opposing them by xeroxing a Newkirk phone book and marking off those few that might be employed by them or are otherwise connected. For those who may be reading about this for the first time, the Church of S cientology was founded by L. Ron Hubbard. L. Ron Hubbard originally was a science fiction writer before starting his Church of S cientology. A quote later attributed to him was "Why write science fiction for a penny a word? If you want a million dollars, start a religion." A former Scientologist, who has since escaped the church, has given some insight into the secret "O.T. Levels of Scientology". "O>T>" stands for "operating thetan". A "thetan" is supposedly a spirit or being that controls behavior. The "O.T. Levels of Scientology" are based on the story of "Xenu", ruler of the 90-planet Galactic Confederation about 75-million years ago. According to closely guarded Scientology materials, "Xenu" trapped selected beings in volcanoes on Earth, then dripped powerful H-bombs, thus killing their physical bodies. He then implanted their "remaining spirits", so they would produce abnormal conduct in all future generations of the Haman Race. According to the story, only Scientology can remove the "thetans" and end aberrant behavior. I believe the primary objective of Narconon is Scientology recruitment. Newkirk City officials sent information concerning the treatments at Narconon to a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Oklahoma and to a Medical Doctor, specializing in Internal Medicine and practicing In Ponca City, Oklahoma. One called the program "pure unadulterated cow pies", while the other said the program was "without merit". What we must do is start a public awareness campaign to educate everyone about the Narconon Drug Treatment facility and what appears to be their suspect activities. The methods used in Newkirk closely parallel their methods used in every city they have entered. Just reading ahead to the next chapter, I envision those in Newkirk, who are leading the charge in "uncovering" them, being set up and accused of some sort of criminal activity which will be uncovered by the Narconon's private investigators. hopefully, by disclosing what has happened in other cities, we can take the air out of their sails in advance. I encourage everyone to become aware of these people and spread the word. If you would like to know more or receive a packet of information conceming this organization, you may contact me. While the people of Newkirk are relatively aware of this situation, this letter is being sent to all Kay County media to assist you in your efforts. Sincerely, /s/Jim Reese State Representative District 38 26 Bellmon Advised Against Signing Narconon Support Document 07 September 1989 OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Gov. Henry Bellmon is being advised not to get involved in a dispute over a proposed drug treatment center in Newkirk, an aide says. "It would be inappropriate for the gover- nor to sign any document endorsing a drag treatment center prior to completion of the Department of Mental Health's review of the facility for certification," Andrew Tevington, Bellmon's aide, said Wednes- day. A group of Native Americans asked Bellmort to sign a proclamation about drug abuse that mentions the Narconon Chilocco New Life Treatment Center. A few members of the group made speeches on the south steps of the Capitol Wednesday, saying five Indian nations in Oklahoma have banded together to address the problem of drug abuse. But some critics feel the group is simply trying to promote the Narconon center cause the company wants to use 165 acres of the 96-year-old Chilocco Indian School, which closed in 1980. The Chilocco Development Authority has representatives from the Ponca, Kaw, Paw- nee, Otoe-Missouria and Tonkawa tribes. The authority leased Chilocco to Narconon for 25 years in an arrangement that could bring in up to $16 million. The Native American group's proclama- tion says the Indian nations were showing their dedication to the war against drug abuse by helping establish the Narconon center. The Narconon proposal has generated op- position in Newkirk because of Narconon' s reported link to the Church of Scientology, which some consider a religious cult. Narconon plans to open a 75-bed center this fall, and buildings are being renovated. The Oklahoma Health Planning Commis- sion approved Narconon's application in January, granting the organization approval for an initial 75 beds. Organizers said the Narconon center will draw on the group' s six outpatient clinics in the United States and Canada. Some beds will be available for local drug abusers as well, officials said. The state Department of Mental Health will assess the Narconon drug treatment program when it is in place and rate it ac- cording to accepted standards in the field, state officials said. State Worker Linked To Narconon Promoter Mental Health Staffer's Activities Probed By Randy Ellis and Michael McNutt Oklahoman Staff Writers 14 September 1989 As an employee of the Oklahoma Depart- ment of Mental Health, Leroy Bridges "ac- tively lobbied" his colleagues in support of Narconon International's proposed drug treatment center near Newkirk, a memo states. Meanwhile, Bridges had ties to a consult- ing firm hired by Narconon International to help that controversial drug treatment orga- nization in its application for a certificate of need from the Oklahoma Health Planning Commission. Bridges denies any wrongdoing, but his activities are being probed by federal inves- tigators. Records on file in the Oklahoma Secretary of State's office show that Bridges filed a document June 6, 1988, in which he applied to reserve the name Treatment Development Corporation. Treatment Development Corp. was hired by Narconon International to help the Los Angeles based finn with its certificate of need application, according to both Bridges and Sherry Barry, a Norman woman who heads Treatment Development Corp. The proposed treatment center has been controversial because of Narconon's links to the Church of Scientology; which some people consider a cult. Bridges acknowledgedreserving the name Treatment Development Corporation, but said he did not have any direct connection with the consulting firm. "If you'll look at the documents, you'll see that the corporation and everything was set up for Sherry," Bridges said. "She set it up. Since I'm at the Capitol Building, I've done this for several people-check a name. I Just reserved the name until she could set it up." Barry also denied that Bridges, whom she described as a friend, has any role with the company which is operated out of her Norman apartment 27 However, attorney Richard Mildren, who is listed as service agent for Treatment De- velopment Corporation, said he agreed to serve in that capacity at the request of Bridges, whom he described as a friend. Mildren said Bridges also apparently signed him up to serve as service agent for Narconon International. Mildren said he knew almost nothing about either corporation and didn't' even know he was listed as the service agent for Narconon International until he received a notice from the Oklahoma Tax Commission. Mildren said a senior partner in his law firm has asked him to withdraw as Narconon' s registered agent and he is trying to take that action. Mildren said he did not know if Bridges received money for his actions in behalf of Narconon or Treatment Development Cor- poration. Bridges said he was not paid. Both Barry and Bridges attended a cer- emony in April at the old Chilocco Indian School with Narconon and tribal officials associated with the Chilocco Development Authority. Bridges was listed as vice chairman of the Oklahoma Cultural Diversity and Economic Development Task Force and a member of the founding board of Red Earth Inc., while Barry was listed as being with Treatment Development Corporation. Opposition to the facility began a month later when a Newkirk newspaper editor pub~ lished articles linking Narconon to the Church of Scientology. During a public hearing held in May by Newkirk city officials, Bridges, along with Howard Miles, a member of the Health Plan- ning Commission, tried to calm residents' fears about the Narconon facility. Bridges said Narconon's drug treatment plan was based on philosophies of Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, but said he found the plan to be acceptable and added it would have to be certified by the state Department of Mental Health before Narconon could open. Although Bridges presented for Newkirk residents a positive view of Narconon, such views were not universal with the Mental Health Department. Steve West, director of the alcohol and drug abuse division of the Department of Mental Health, had expressed strong oppo- sition to Narconon's proposed treatment center in an October 18, 1988 memo to Frank James, who was then mental health commissioner. West cited Narconon's relationship with the Church of Scientology and stated, "As I understand it, Narconon will allow indigent clients to work off their bill. The Indians they are supposed to be helping could be- come indentured servants." "I have heard they want to start with 150 beds and eventually go to 1,000. This is a factory, not a center. "Narconon has never been certified as a treatment program in California where they currently operate," he said. "Although Leroy Bridges has been favor- ably impressed with this program and ac- tively lobbied for its existence, I cannot agree," West wrote. "I think from what I have heard, there is little substance to the program and we could regret, ever getting it started in Oklahoma." Bridges, in an interview last week, said he no longer is involved in state Department of Mental Health dealings with Narconon's proposed facility. Bridges, who had served as legislative liaison for the Mental Health Department, was reassigned earlier this year by interim Commissioner Don Anderson and is now coordinator of special projects. Mental Health administrators sent out a memo last week reminding employees to remain impartial concerning Narconon's proposed treatment center. Batty said she "sometimes" still does con- sulting work for Narconon, which is now seeking certification from the state Depart- ment of Mental Health to open its 75-bed facility. (Staff writer Ed Godfrey contributed to this report. It is reprinted with permission from the Saturday Oklahoman and Times, September 9, 1989) When Hell Freezes Over The Newkirk Herald Journal will heartily support the Narconon/Scientology drug abuse treatment program at Chilocco as soon as Narconon... 1) produces the necessary scientifically acceptable studies that they should have done during the 23 years they claim to have been in business... studies done by non- Scientologists, reviewed thoroughly by Okla- homa professionals, that will confirm with- out doubt that their system is safe, effective, reliable, and medically sound. 2) can prove that their treatment program does not consist of any of the first half dozen steps up the Scientology chart of religious progress known as the Bridge to Total Free- dom. 3) can provide accurate and accountable reports of results they have attained instead of wild guesses. 4) can prove that they have never, do not currently, and will not in the future use any type of "religious artifact" or require as part of the treatment, the services of a minister (or auditor) of any church in their treatment program, at Chilocco, or at any other Nar- conon establishment. or when Hell freezes over, whichever comes first. We will heartily support any drug abuse treatment program that can comply with these few simple requirements that insure quality treatment, separation of church and state, and basic honesty. And we have, in fact, suggested to Drug CzarWilliam Bennett that Chilocco would indeed make an excel- lent facility for legitimate drug treatment. We hope he is listening. 28 They're Shooting Themselves In The Foot...Again! Since Scientology/Narconon can' t refute facts, and they won't address the real con- ceres, all they have left is to attempt to discredit. And, as the reaction to their mail- ing last week proved, they did a rather mis- erable job, even, of that. More unity has been demonstrated in Newkirk than we can re- member in the past decade. Scientology spent a lot of money, used a lot of words, and managed to make just about e verybody in town unhappy with them, especially our former mayor, who said Mon- day that he felt he had been "raped." We didn't dream up Scientology. We didn't create its nefarious 30 year history. Scientology did. We didn't attempt to frame people like Paulerie Cooper and Gabe Cazares and Michael Flynn. Scientology did. We didn't break into Government offices. Scientology did. We didn't hire any "private investigators" to try to discredit Scientology. Scientology discredited themselves with- out our help. We didn't ruin Scientology' s reputation. Scientology did. We didn't shoot Scientology in the foot. They did it all by themselves. We just made sure everybody noticed. Which is our job. We simply insist that any drug rehab pro- gram at Chilocco be proven safe, effective, reliable, and medically sound by indepen- dent scientifically acceptable studies veri- fied by Oklahoma professionals. We insist that any drug rehab program at Chilocco not consist of any portion of the religious dogma of any religion, or require the services of a minister of any religion, or the use of any religious artifact as part of the treatment. And we insist on basic honesty and ac- countability. Why can't they do that? Is it because their program has never been independently proven safe, effective, reli- able, and medically sound? Is it because their treatment program does consists of the first steps up the Scientology chart of religious progress 'known as the Bridge to Total Freedom, thereby violating the principle of separation of church and state? Is it because they do require the services of a "minister" of the church of Scientology in their treatment? Is it because they have n__o accurate and accountable reports of the results they have attained? Item: "Noisy Investigations" are a trade- mark of Scientology. It's standard proce- dure to attempt to discredit those who op- pose them. Eugene Ingrain, sentby Scientol- ogy to "investigate" many of Newkirk's leading citizens, is reportedly a former Los Angeles Police Officer who left the depart- ment amid a cloud of un-prosecuted allega- tions that he was involved in pantiering, pimping, prostitution, and harboring narcot- ics dealers. The charges were later dropped for lack of evidence once he left the force. He was later allegedly implicated in an attempt to frame Boston lawyerMichael Flynn. Cur- rently, there is a warrant outstanding for his arrest in Kay County allegeally on charges of impersonating an investigator and carrying a concealed weapon. This is the type of individual a "church" sends out to investigate us? Item: Harassment is another lactic often used. KOCO's Larry Blunt was threatened with legal problems and told he would lose his job for reporting on Narconon. A KOTV reporter and cam. eiaman were pushed around when they attempted to report on Narconon. Mr. Ingrain' subtly suggested that Newkirk Mayor Garry Bilger and School Board Presi- dent Jana Shafer would be subject to some kind of phony "conspiracy" lawsuit if they didn't retract their opposition to Narconon. The Newkirk Herald, he suggested, would face legal trouble for running a "hate" cam- palgn. The only people who are allowed to have an opinion, it appears, are Scientologists. And they are only allowed to have one... the one written by their late leader, L. Ron Hubbard. Free thinking is not a hallmark of Scientology. Item: Deception is a Scientology artform. It' s called Training Routine L. Persons prop- erly trained in TR-L can "outflow false data effectively ." It is the opposite ofTR- 1 (which, incidentally, is one of the drills used in Narconon's program). The person who visited Mayor Bilger last Monday may have been trained in TR-L. He said he had a daughter in a government class at Ponca City High School who was sup- posed to interview a small town mayor to find out what his accomplishments were... what his goals were, and how small town government worked. It was a good story, except that PoncaCity High School has no one enrolled by this person' s name. The person who called the Herald Journal a few weeks ago may have been trained in TR-L. He said he had been hired by Pruden- tial Life Insurance to locate RWL and an- 29 other person because we were beneficiaries of a policy from Atlanta, Ga. Mostly, he wanted the other person' s address. He said we were both in line for a lot of money. He was told to put it in the mail. It was a good story, except that Prudential Life insurance doesn't know anything about it, and nothing ever arrived in the mail. The person from Brooklyn, N.Y. who wrote and called several ministers in town, all the city commissioners, and RWL sev- eral months ago told a sad story about a child hooked on drugs who wanted her to send money for Narconon, she said. But she had heard this "bad publicity" about Narconon and wanted to know the source of it... It was a good story, except she gave a couple of different names but the same phone number to se verai different people. One time it was her son on drugs - the next, it was her daughter. She probably had poor TR-L. We suspect all of the above incidents (and a few others) are deceptive attempts to gain information from those opposed to Scientol- ogy/Narconon. We can't prove it, of course, but it's funny we never received any "sto- ries" that wouldn't check out before Nar- conon arrived in our midst. These "Battle" tactics were outlined by their leader, L. Ron Hubbard, in 1969. Some more of his advice (paraphrased to avoid infringing on the gentleman's many copy- rights) is as follows: 1. Make those who oppose Scientology unpopular to the point of total annihila- tion. 9. Cut off communications, funds, con- nections. Deprive the opposition of politi- cal advantages. Take over opposition ter- ritory. Raid and harass. 10. Public Opinion is what Scientology is trying to win. Make people love Scien- tology and hate the opposition by using standard wartime propaganda... complete with "atrocity, war crimes trials, the loL" 11. Preserve and improve the image of Scientology and degrade the image of the opposition to "beast level." There's more. but you get the point. If we are running a "hate" campaign, it is a campaign against deception, against ha- rassment, against fraud, against smear tac- tics, against frame-ups, and against intimi- chation. But we surely don't hate Scientologists. They are more the victims than we are of their own warped management practices. We could care less what the "religious beliefs" of Scientology are. But we are very aware of the outrageous behavior of the organization. We don't think it is deserving of our taxes or our insurance benefit money. The war on drug abuse is too important to allow a dime of it to be waisted on an outfit like Scientology' s Narconon. To the Editor: September 9, I wrote a letter to Narconon at Chilocco in support of their drug rehabili- tation center which I felt to be a necessity because of the drug problems that our coun- try faces today. I feel very strongly that we need growth in our community and that a drug center would be an asset to us. In the letter that I wrote, I told Mr. Ingram that he could use it in it's entirety, but not to use any single part of it. On September 22, a letter was sent to every resident of Newkirk, which had only two small excerpts of the letter that I wrote. I feel I have been used, and that the purpose of my letter has been distorted. I feel that I owe Bob Lobsinger and the people of Newkirk an apology for the way my letter was used against the community. I still feel that a drug rehabilitation center would be an asset to our community. But I do not think that any state or federal funds should be used to support any church related facility. Yours truly, Lanio Roberts LETTER OF COMMENDATION 2. Gain the backing or fidelity of the news media. (Are you awake, Ark City?) 3. Get command or loyalty of top politi- cal figures. 4. Take over those who oversee finance, and shift them into an unstable situation. 5. Blame everything on a conspiracy headed by psychiatry and psychology. 6. Always attack. Never defend. 7. Never be reasonable. Give non- sequiteur answers (double talk) 8. Fight on somebody else's turf, never Scientology's. LETTER OF COMMENDATION BE IT KNOWN on this 12th day of September, 1989, that the NEWKIRK BUSINESS CLUB has unanimously voted to present this letter of commendation to BOB LOBSINGER owner and editor of the NEWKIRK HERALD JOURNAL, for his journalistic endeavor which alerted and informed this community of the non-credibility of the Church of Scientology and Narconon. WE COMMEND his quiet, indepth search for facts which have yet to be discredited by either party. WE COMMEND his initial presentation and follow-up which were written with integrity and which have since been channeled through the news media with their credibility still intact. WE COMMEND his fortitude in pursuing such a task and his courage in printing his findings - qualities found lacking in many editorial offices today. AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, WE COMMEND him for his loyalty and service to this community and his commitment to his profession. He surely bears the mark of a hue journalist. SIGNED IN GRATITUDE by the officers and members of the NEWKIRK BUSINESS CLUB. 3O Poncans Question Legality Of Chilocco Lease Agreement 02 November 1989 The Ponca Tribe is concerned that the lease allowing the controversial Narconon drug treatment center to establish itself at Chilocco Indian school north of Newkirk could be illegal, a Ponca tribal leader said Saturday. In a report published in Sunday's Oklaho- man, Ponca Tribal Chairman Delbert Cole was quoted as saying that business commit- tee members are concerned that past com- mittee chair-woman Cynthia Stoner "over- stepped her scope of authority" because the tribe cannot legally lease tribal land formore than 10 years. The Narconon lease agreement with the Chilocco Development Authority is for 25 years. The Ponca Tribe is one of five tribes who own the Chilocco land. The other mem- bers are the Pawnees, Kaws, Tonkawas and Otoe-Missourias. Ponca leaders have decided to get a legal opinion on the lease. "We think the lease is invalid since this has occurred," Cole said. Cole also said his committee is unsure if the Tonkawas had signed the Narconon lease. Narconon recently announced that the BIA has approved their master renovation plan and that they intended to proceed with the project. Oklahoma 'Cult'-ural Center Of Universe? Oklahoma is becoming the CULT-ural Center of the Country, it would appear. With the announcement in last Friday's Daily Oklahoman that the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi plans to build a 640 acre "City of the Immortals" west of Tulsa, and Scientology already trying to set up shop on Chilocco Indian Land, maybe it's time our legislators looked into whatever it is that makes Okla- homa appear to be such fertile ground for every wierdo bunch that fails off a lotus leaf. Yogi, in case you don't remember, is the guru ofTM - Transcendental Meditation - to whom the Beatles once pledged allegiance. It's another authoritarian cult which relies on the four techniques of Mind Control. Yogi controls his followers physical envi- ronment, their thoughts, their emotions, and their sources of information. No different than our own problem up north. Yogi has a sense of humor about him, however. He calls his followers by an en- dearing ancient Sanskxit term, which, when translated, means "Jackasses." Like Scientology, TM has it's assortment of celebrities they parade about in public relations dog and pony shows. Some of them include Joe Namath, Carol Burnett, and the Rolling Stones. Like Scientology, TM has a variety of front organizations, including Students In- ternational Meditation Society, World Plan Executive Council, American Foundation for Creative Intelligence, American Medita- tion Society, and the Institute for Fitness and Athletic Excellence, all designed to recruit new members. Unlike Scientology, the leader of TM has a real college degree in physics. TM's purpose is to relieve tension and stress, increase productivity, heighten cre- ativity and intelligence. Sound familiar? The techniques include a few extensive and expensive lectures on the basic methods of meditation, and upon graduation, each student receives his own secret and personal manira or chant syllable to be repeated pri- vately for twenty minutes each morning and evening to "clear" his mind and relax his body. Adherents find it astounding that if they become disillusioned with one TM teacher and quickly sw itch to another, the new teacher will quite often issue a second personal manira that is identical to the first one issued. How insightful TM truly is! The true insight is that there were only 16 mantras ever issued, based on the age of the seeker. A secret personal manira will change only if the seeker has celebrated a particular birthday since the issuance of his last man- Ira. How simply deluding cults can be. Graduation includes submission to the Puja ceremony, including repeated bowing and worship of a picture of Guru Dev, the Maharishi' s main source of inspiration, who was an Indian Hindu religious leader who died in 1953. TM is camouflaged Hinduism, and few TM devotees in the West realize they are paying for an ancient Eastern religion in a new package. Hindus believe there are seven levels of growth from "sleep" up through "unity con- sciousness", where a student breaks free from the need of passing through reincarna- tions and reaches oneness with god. Maharishi says that through his methods a person can learn to float or levilate and pass through walls. We hope our legislators are successful in finding a way to make them pass through Oklahoma. In the meantime, our Scientology friends from up north have re-emerged from obscu- rity and have spent every afternoon from last Wednesday to Saturday out "surveying" Newkirk citizens in front of the Post Office, at EZ Mart, and near the cafe. They don' t tell you who they are unless you ask. They want to know what you like and dislike about Newkirk; who you like and dislike in Newkirk; and what a "new group" would have to do to become "accepted" in Newkirk. You, of course, have no obligation what- ever to participate in this silly little exhibi- tion... even if they run over and write down your license plate number. They are desper- ately trying to find someone in town who will support their activities... For the most part, they are sincere, dedi- cated, albeit misguided low level Scientolo- gists who think they are saving the world. If you've read all I've printed on the subject, you know more about Scientology than they do. 31 Essay On Destructive Cults 07 December 1989 Webster' s New World Dictionary defines a "Cult" as a group of followers. Which means all of us are cult members to some degree. All of us belong to something, or follow some line of thinking or belief. Where two are gathered together, any one of three things may happen: If both are leaders, a state of war develops. If both are followers, a state of confusion develops. But if one is a leader and one a follower, a new cult develops. And so, cults are nothing to be unduly concerned about. But according to author Steve Hassan, when cults develop and grow by implement- ing components that result in total control of their members' minds, the cult is said to be destructive. Hassan, who holds a master's degree in counseling psychology from Cam- bridge College, is the author of"Combatting Cult Mind Control", and a former member of the Moonies. Much of the information in this editorial is extracted from his book. Mind control is not brainwashing. Brain- washing is coercive. The victim knows from the start that he is in the hands of an enemy, and usually complies only to gain rebel from some type of oppression, and then attempts to justify the compliance by changing his beliefs to fit his action. The effect is usually not lasting, and disappears once the threat- ening force is gone. Mind control is more sophisticated and subtle. Victims are manipulated and deceived instead of'being directly threatened. They respond to prescribed choices and never realize what is happening to them. Mind control is more permanent and more devas- tating than brainwashing. There are four recognized components of Mind Control, according to Hassan: control of behavior, control of thoughts, control of emotions, and control of information. All destructive cults employ these four compo- nents in order to gain "voluntary" compli- ance from their members. Once a leader can regulate a person's physical reality (control behavior), includ- ing where he lives, what he wears, when he sleeps, or what jobs he does... then that person begins to think that what is happen- ing to him is what is supposed to be happen- ing to him. Bingo... control of thought is automatic. Thought control in most destructive cults is reinforced by the foundation of a new language system and an absolute doctrine that allows no gray area, but develops a bipolar attitude about reality. Everything is "in or out", "black or white", "us or them". Thought-stopping rituals are employed by most destructive cults to block out nega- tive thoughts. After all, if the leader is per- fect, and the doctrine is perfect, then any negative thought about them must be a de- fect in the follower. So he puts the thought out of his head. Before he starts feeling guilty about thinking it... Because if he does, he's sucked into the next level of Mind Control... emotional con- trol. Since the leader is perfect and the doc- trine is perfect, a destructive cult member feels guilty if he doubts. And he fears that his doubts will become exposed and earn the wrath of the group. He also fears that if he doesn't live up to the group' s expectations, he will be the cause of their failure, and subject to whatever bogeyman the group has devised to punish such failure. Finally, if a destructive cult member has no access to external information, he has nothing by which to judge his situation. Many cult members shun external informa- tion sources, because the leader and the doctrine are perfect... so why bother with anything else? Often, even information about the cult itself is controlled from within. The higher levels are confidential, or the inner circles are unknown to those in the outer circles. A destructive cult prospect doesn't know what all he is buying until he' s trapped. If it were all laid out to start with, nobody would join. That' s why information control is necessary to the success of destructive cults. By this point, a recruit is deep into the quagmire of Mind Control and will protest vehemently that he is not a victim of "brain- washing." And he's right, nobody brain- washed him. But the results are the same, and they last longer. ~ Destructive cults actively recruit new members, often through deceptive "front' organizations. ~' Destructive cults claim to offer abso- lute Truth. Their teachings are not (to them) mere theory or speculation. The most effec- 32 tive cult doctrines are those which are un- verifiable and unevaluable. ~ Destructive cults reduce everything to a bi-polar attitude: "for us, or against us." ~ Destructive cults generate some kind of external "pet devil" with which to threaten their members if they should doubt, or fail, or ever leave the group. ~ Destructive cults lead their members to believe they are somehow superior to all other humans on the earth. ~ Destructive cults put the will of the group above the will of the individual. This is often reinforced with simplistic games or rituals of some type designed to make the individual subservient to the group. ~ Destructive cults teach that the end justifies the means. ~ Destructive cults teach strict obedience to superiors and encourage the development of behavior patterns that are similar to those of the leader. ~ Destructive cults offer acceptance by the ~oup for good performance, and con- versely, withhold it for poor performance. ~ In destructive cults, fear is a major motivator. Guilt is a close second, and shame is third. Only the cult leader is perfect, so everyone below is fearful that those above will find out their shortcomings. Cult mem- bers feel constantly guilty for having those real or imagined shortcomings, and are ashamed that they haven't worked harder to get rid of them. ~ Destructive cult members swing from emotional highs, to emotional lows regu- larly. Lows are not long tolerated, and result in more indoctdnation, or even ejection from the group if they last too long. ~ Destructive cults tend to re-write their members' past, manipulate their present, and distort their future. Disrupting time ori- entation is an honored technique of all such cults. ~ And, finally, there is never a legitimate reason for leaving a destructive cult. The only reason members leave a perfect system, is because they are imperfect in some re- spect, and will be punished for it. No matter which destructive cult you choose, the above 13 items will almost uni- versally apply. Study the methods ofest, LaRouche, Tran- scendental Meditation, Truth Station, Nichiren Soshu (Soka Gakkai), The Way International, Children of God, Temple of Set, Syrianon, Scientology, The Peoples Temple, Unification Church, Hare Krishnas, House of Judah, Ramtha, Garbage Eaters, Rajneesh, ECK, Church Universal and Tri- umphant, Elan Vital, Posse Comitatus, or any of the others .... they use the same tech- niques, even though each of them claims unique and absolute ownership of the "truth ." You'll notice that not all destructive cults are religious in nature. There are, in fact, destructive cults in several arenas: Reli- gious, of course, but also Political, Psycho- therapy / Educational, and even Commer- cial. Still, the overriding principles of their success are the same thirteen items above. The more faithfully they adhere to those principles, the more successful they become. See how easily the 13 techniques of Mind Control are implemented with regard to our current problem in this area: ~ Scientology has it's many front orgs (Narconon, Criminon, Concerned Business- men of America, Foundation for the Ad- vancement of Science and Education, and most recently the Save Our Society cam- paign, among many, many others.) all re- crniting for the cause. ~ Scientology' s doctrine is absolute truth to Scientologists. It is also extraordinarily unverifiable and unevaluable, often confus- ing inscrutability with wisdom. ~ Scientology reduces reality to the bi- polar "us against them" attitude: Persons opposed to their drug treatment program are obviously (to them) drug pushers. ~ Scientology tells it's members that it is the "Road to Total Freedom" and without their training, persons are doomed to life after abetrated life with no hope of freeing the Operating Thetan (god) trapped in this parade of physical bodies throughout eter- nity. ~ Scientology teaches its members that they are the most superior humans on the planet. Members have an arrogance, a trucu- lence about them that belies this training, and insulates them from the reasonable word. ~ Scientology teaches that the goal and purpose of its existence is to "Clear the Planet." Everyone in Scientology is work- ing for the goal of the group. Group depen- dency is developed through the early train- ing steps called TR's and similar repeated drills throughout a member' s career in Sci- entology. ~ Scientology's history of break-ins, frame-ups, harassment, and intimidation confirms that anything that furthers the ends of Scientology is an acceptable means. ~r Scientology requires strict obedience without question by all its members, and has developed a complicated structure of en- forcement agencies to insure compliance, such as the Ethics Office, Finance Police, Guardian' s Office (now the Office of Spe- cial Affairs), Religious Technology Center, and others. ~ Scientology pays it's staff members based on production. The more recruits, the more they get paid. Performance is rewarded, failure to perform up to "slats" might result in a stinton the "Rehabilitation Project Force" doing laundry or chipping paint. ~ Scientologists fear reprisals from their superiors, but recognize it only as their own failure to come up to expectations of the group. They think there is something wrong with them if they can' t produce the expected result, which fosters guilt and shame. They also fear being thrown out and facing an eternity of reincarnation without ever attain- ing "Total Freedom". To a believer, this is a worse fate than any offered by "outside" beliefs. ~ Scientologists have been dumped when they became ill, or were otherwise unable to perform for the group. Others are routinely RPF'd to menial tasks when they have an attitude problem. Low attitude is not toler- ated for long without some kind of official sanction being taken. Highs are reinforced through constant "auditing" to produce "wins" for the members. Hassan compares this process to post hypnotic suggestion. ~ Just about every recruit into Scientol- ogy in the past 30 years has been told that with his or her help, Scientology could "Clear The Planet" in this decade. But the decades have come and gone, and the older ones are still telling the younger ones the same thing. Members view their pre-Scientology life as unbelievably bad, and see the future outside of Scientology as unbearable, all reinforced with continual "auditing". ~ The only fight way to leave Scientol- ogy is to become 'Totally Free" like founder L. Ron Hubbard, who, they say, "causatively" left his body to go to a higher plane of existence. "Causatively" means he was in charge of his body and determined when he wanted it to die. In simpler terminology, he was the cause of his own death. Can we assume, then, that suicide is at the end of the "Road to Total Freedom"? 33 God Didn't Quite Get It Right... God, it appears, didn't do it right. It took the omnipotent and very late Oper- ating Thetan L. Ron Hubbub to get the 10 Commandments written up proper for us aberrated humans. Only there are 19 of 'em instead of 10. That' s something God would have known if He'd only consulted with L-Boy a bit sooner and not been in such a hurry to get them written in stone. But you know better, now. If you subscribe to the esteemed journal from our south, you now know that "The Way To Happiness" has been plotted out for you by his eminence, LRH, and delivered to you in booklet form, courtesy of Narconon- Chilocco. Forget God. Forget your upbringing and your tradi- tional values. They are all figments of your aberrated human condition. Only L. Ron Hubbub knows the way to your salvation. In its simplistic manner, "The Way To Happiness" looks suspiciously like it has been crudely translated from stone tablets found near Mount Sinai, without giving credit to the Original Author. Hubbard, in- stead, wants all the credit for guiding the world' s morality. "The Way To Happiness" is produced by The Way To Happiness Foundation, a sub- structure of the cult of Scientology. It is distributed by The Concerned B usinessmen' s Association Of America, another substruc- ture of the cult of Scientology. (which inci- dentally, is the outfit that first seduced our Indian tribes to Clearwater, Rorida, where they were sold the bill of bads known as Narconon, which is yet another substructure of the cult of Scientology) It is published by a Scientology controlled f'n-m called Bridge Publications, Inc., whose sole purpose is the promulgation of the works of L, Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology and self-proclaimed Source of all true wisdom and knowledge in the universe. And all of it is designed to get you to go "up the Bridge to Total Freedom." "The Way To Happiness" is an innocuous piece of prose. Had there not been a much earlier version, written on Greater Authority and in a more consolidated form - there might have even been a need for such a document. We refer Mr. Hubbard to section 13 of his little booklet. "Do not Steal." He tells us that stealing is an admission that one can not come by something honestly. Or that one is suffering from a flash of insanity. It's one or the other, he tells us. From which was he suffering when he hit upon the unscrupulous idea of taking credit for a paraphrased version of the Ten Com- mandments? From which was he suffering when he hit upon the idea of taking credit for Abreaction Therapy (a part of Dianetics that works), when that type of treatment was fully de- scribed years earlier (1923) in the book "Mneme" by Richard Simon? From which'was he suffering when he hit upon the idea of taking credit for the science of General Semantics (the study of differen- tiation, another pan that works) which was formulated in 1933 by noted Polish math- ematician Count Alfred Korzybski and ex- pounded upon in his book "Science and Sanity"? From which was he suffering when he hit upon the idea ofrehashing and incorporating into his "technology" some of the strange and Occult works of Aleister Crowley (who signed himsel(. "The Beast 666), and other practitioners of "Black Magick"? Plagiarism, according to an old journalis- tic wit, is stealing from one source. Re- search, on the other hand, is stealing from many sources. In this regard, and this regardalone, Elron appears to have been a true "researcher." 34 It's time for your lesson on the way to get happy. Today we will discuss Chapter 9, "Don' t Do Anything Illegal ." S o go dig your little book out of the trash and study along with the rest of us. The Father of World Morality, who wrote the book, tells us that an illegal act is an act which can result in retribution by the state and courts. Like, for instance, infltrating government and private offices to steal documents and inserting disinformation in particular files. Those are illegal acts. As he prepared to sentence the top Scien- tology Guardian's Officer and wife of the "Source" of the Way to Happiness for her part in instigating and carrying out such schemes, US District Judge Charles R. Ritchey told Mrs. L. Ron (Mary Sue) Hubbard that "we have a precious system of government in the United States... For any- one to use the benefits of those laws or to seek under the guise of those laws to destroy the very foundation of the government is totally wrong and cannot be condoned by any responsible citizen." She got 5 years and $10,000 in fines. Nine Scientologists were convicted, in- cluding none other than a Scientology Guardian's Office deputy named Henning Heldt. Henning Heldt is also one of the three original founding directors of Narconon. The other two are Scientology "Reverend" Arthur Marin, who has seen his own troubles with the law, and William Benitez, who was already in jail when he was lured into Scien- tology. All three signatures are clearly vis- ible on the original incorporation papers dated 16 May, 1970, and filed with the Secretary of the State of California on 20 May, 1970. Mrs. Hubbard' s husband, that omnipotent Operating Thetan of the highest order, most knowledgeable and aware person on the planet... or in the universe for that matter... didn't know any of this illegal stuff was going on. "I learned about it like everyone else, after the fact and could only shake my head in dismay..." he is quoted as saying with a naivete that seems inappropriate to his OT status. Elron was, in fact. labelled an "UnindiCted Co-Conspirator" by the FBI. This is the fype of person we are to entrust with our morality? With our mental health? With our eternity? Put the book back in the trash. Since last we visited on the subject, Nar- conon and it' s progenitor, Scientology, have been staying out of our spotlight. This week, however, they have resurfaced with predic- tions that they will be open in a couple of months. So, to bring you up to date on what' s been happening in the wierd world of Operating Thetans, here are bits of a few of the tales we've uncovered recently: ~ We have talked with several former Narconon employees who all tell of being required to study Elron's Organization Ex- ecutive Course material... and when they elected not to, were somehow discredited and fired within a few weeks. The Organi- zation Executive Course is a massive collec- tion of "Official Policies of the Church of Scientology." It says so on every page. ~ One individual tells of being ordered to set beer cans inside the living quarters of another employee whom they wished to find Premonitions... a reason to terminate. He was later termi- nated himselfmnid a flurry of police activity that resulted in lots of intimidation but no charges being filed because all of the allega- tions against him were so obviously phony. He was not drunk. There was no hostage. The gun was his .22 rifle that was unloaded in the gun rack in his vehicle where it had been since he went to work there months earlier. Police released him immediately, and within a half hour, he was trying to contact me to tell his harrowing story. ~ Another former employee says he found himself on the way from his assigned living quarters at Chilocco to jail in Pawnee on what he says were trumped up charges... and they obviously were, because he is out free now with nothing filed and no court date. Just re leased. And told not to set foot on Chilocco again. I don' t think they let you out that easy if you've really pulled a knife on someone and threatened their life, and that's 35 what he tells me they were accusing him of. ~ It appears that if you don't want to study the policies of the Church of Scientol- ogy, you won't have a job for long at Chi- locco. Even subcontractors working out there have been encouraged to take their courses. ~ On a broader scale~ Scientology made news again in California in January, where police found a Scientologist who was "treat- ing" his mentally ill wife according to the tenants of his "religion" by keeping her locked up in her bedroom with only a mat- tress on the floor. The windows were boarded up, according to the news report, and she was fed through a slot in the door. No charges fled. Police were studying the tenants of the "religion" at last report. The wife, however, was reported to be recovering nicely in areal hospital. ~ Scientologists in Clearwater, Fla. who run a currency exchange and gold bullion business were busted by federal agents in the middle of December for allegeally operating a money laundering scheme. No word on whether they think Scientology is suspected of being directly involved or not. Hard to tell the bad apples from the bad apples, I guess. ~ American Airlines received so many complaints that it announced in December that it would no longer carry Scientology ads in its monthly in-flight magazine, American Way. The ads were apparently part of a huge PR campaign by Scientology that is running in such magazines as House and Garden, Discover, Business Week, and Newsweek. Over $300,000.00 has been spent on Newsweek alone, according to published reports. ~ The IRS suspects that the Church of Scientology of Clearwater, Fla. has violated it's tax-exempt status, and wants to study 47 categories of Scientology documents for the years 1985 thru 1987, according to a January report. ~ About a week ago, a former Scientol- ogy lawyer, Joseph A. Yanny, who left the organization after allegeally being asked to perform illegal tasks for the cult, won a $154,000.00 judgemerit. A jury felt he had been a victim of Scientology's "Fair Game" policy which allows Scientologists to trice sue, lie to, or destroy their enemies. The jadgement was the largest the judge would allow. Scientology had sued Yanny for al- legeally padding his bills to them while he was still in the cult, but the jury found no evidence of that whatsoever. ~ On March 23 of this year, a former Scientologist named Lawrence Wol lersheim will have his day before the Supreme Court of the United States. Wollersheim was also a victim of the "Fair Game" policy accord- ing to a jury which was so outraged that it awarded him a $30,000,000.00 verdict. That' s $30 million. The award was reduced on appeal to $2,500,000.00, which is still a tremendous amount of money. Wollersheim contends that Scientology makes a mockery or counterfeit of religion by such tactics as the "Fair Game" policy, and should be once and for all exposed and the abuses ended. His appeal before the Supreme Court may accomplish that. Scientology doesn't want the case to go that far. They have offered, in writing, to pay him off with $4 million rather than go to the Supreme Court. When he refused that, they made him a verbal offer of $6 million to settle. Which he also refused. This man must have gone thru terrors unknown to tum down $6 million dollars just to take a chance on a court decision. ~ In another pending case, a former very high level Scientologist is accusing the orga- nization of ordering her to a "Rehabilitation Project Force" where she was forced to run around an orange telephone pole every day from 7 am until 9:30 pm for about 120 days, with minimal break periods. Her husband. during one period of his tenure with the "church", says he also fell into disfavor because his construction project was not proceeding fast enough, and was forced to work without pay from 9 am to 12 midnight without any days off, to sleep outdoors, and to eat only rice and beans. These are premonitions of just some of the things to come if Narconon is allowed to open at Chilocco and Scientology is allowed to get a foothold in our state. Send this column to Secretary of State Hannah D. Arkins, Room 101, State Capitol Building, Oklahoma City, Ok 73105, and ask her to see to it that there is a Public Hearing in Newkirk before Narconon is licensed to operate in Oklahoma. N Wi He House and similar in the Senate), and Govemor Henry Bellmon has signed a law which should insure that Oklahoma will certify only legitimate, medically safe drug and alcohol treatment facilities for operation in our state. Practitioners of Body Thetan exorcism and other hocus pocus won't cut it. The law requires that drug abuse treatment providers be accredited by the Joint Commis- sion on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, or be in compliance with approved medical and professional standards as determined by the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Board of the State of Oklahoma. It requires a pre-certification review of any new applications that appear to use nontradi- tional methods of treatment, and allows the certification board to select an independent, recognized authority in Oklahoma to review such programs and to make recommendations to the board as to the validity of the proposed program. It also mandates that all claims made by such organizations, including but not limited to patient count and success rates, must be documented and verifiable by the Board. ~ Narconon is not and has never been accredited by anyone, anywhere, except other Scientology organizations. ~ Narconon's "treatment" approach is at the very best "nontraditional", and should require intensive review by independent (read "non-ScientologyI'), recognized Oklahoma authorities. ~ Narconon has publicized outrageous patient count figures and ridiculous "cure rates" that simply cannot be documented and verified to anyone's satisfaction except other gullible Rondroicls. Failure to comply with these provisions of Oklahoma Law will result in the withholding or withdrawal of Certification in the State. Operation without Certification is a misde- meanor. Punishable, my lawyer says, by up to a year in jail and $1,000 f'me. Per day. Further, without S late Certification, Narconon-Chilocco will not be an eligible facility for use by persons with insurance coverage. Nor will it be eligible to apply for state or federal 36 programs that pay for treatments. Narconon's Certificate of Need - which foolishly allowed them to set up shop at Chilocco in the first place - expires June 30, 1990. Narconon is supposed to apply for state licensing and certification before then. As of Monday, May 21, they have not done SO. The State Alcohol and Substance Abuse Department requires that a provider apply for a "temporary certification" before they begin delivering treatment. Once they are in operation, they must apply for "permanent" or 12 Month Renewable Certification. In order to apply for either, the provider must have a valid Certificate of Need.. Two things come to mind: First, if the Great Xenu Zappers intend to become Certified in the State of Oklahoma, they must apply before June 30, or their Certificate of Need goes Ka-Poofy. Second, they haven't even applied for their temporary certification yet, but they're al- ready bragging all over Califomia about how many people have gone through their treatment program at Chilocco. The Attor- ney General has copies of their brochures telling all about it. He probably had a Rock Slam when he found out. Of course, there is always the possibility that Scientology has no intention of comply- ing with state law. Which comes as no sur- prise, either. Never before has Scientology spent anywhere near this much money on a Narconon unit. Usually, the big money is used for major headquarters establishments like Clearwater, FL., or St. Hill in Sussex, England. Chilocco is larger, more isolated, and much more insulated from government scrutiny than any of their other establish- ments. Jumpin' BTs, that's a spooky thought... But Narconon continues to blunder for- ward at Chilocco, as always, ignoring the real issues and planning their grand opening for June 29. They're selling $2,000.00 apiece tickets to this public relations gimmick, which will feature a recognition ceremony for dupes who have donated money to the project. (Scientology never spends its own money), a reception with "opinion leaders, celebri- ties, politicians and Native American lead- ers from around the United States," tours, an Indian Pow Wow, and Western barbeque. Itls all designeck the flyer says, to "help establish overwhelming public popularity for LRH." Overwhelming the public with phony pub- licity stunts is a Scientology hallmark. It is interesting to take note of the following Church of Scientology Board Policy Letter of 12 January 1973, Reissued 29 June 1975, entitled "The Safe Point" (Paraphrased, of course, to avoid copyright infringement): Public Relations actions to be taken in a new location can proceed so far as to cream a whole new history and future for the planned organization. The Organization can be made to appear long-lived, entrenched, perma- nent, dependable, competent, prolific, and expanding all before it even gets started. Public Relations people plant in advance everything that is associated with the new organization except the product it is to pro- duce. Once public relations in a new area is under control, the new organization can start up without any waves and will be considered totally ordinary and satisfactory. In other words, mock it up. Which is what they did, and is why they should never be given any status as a legitimate organization in our state. This new state law will go far towards accomplishing that end. Our State government is listening to us. They might like to receive a thank-you note for sticking their political necks out for us. By the way, tickets to the big bash are limited to the first thousand sold, but I wouldn't get in any hurry to buy one. I don't think they are refundable. About a year ago, Narconon said they would be completely under Oklahomaj uris- diction and would comply with Oklahoma health Department requirements and all other state laws. Saturday, on KFOR-TV, Narconon told the world that they are on Indian Land, and not subject to Oklahoma rules and laws. Surprise, surprise. More lies, more lies. Add it to the collection... 1. There's no connection between Nar- conon and Scientology. Fact: Narconon was rounded by Scien- tologists, is run by Scientology, is staffed by Scientologists, and uses Scientology 'ltech- nology" exclusively in it's programs. 2. ABLE (Association for Better Living and Education) is a philanthropic organiza- tion that has studied Narconon and found it worthy of a $200,000.00 "seed money" do- nation to get Narconon started at Chilocco. Fact: ABLE is on the Command Chart of Scientology, it was founded by Scientolo- gists, is run by Scientology, is staffed by Scientologists, and it owns Narconon, among other Scientology fronts, which it operates solely for the purpose of "pushing LRH's (L. Ron Hubbard, founder) Tech out into soci- ety." That's cult recruiting. 3. Narconon does not recruit for Scientol- ogy. Fact: A person doing the "Narconon Tech- nical Line-Up" is doing the exact same things he would be doing if he walked in the front door of a Scientology organization and signed up. Whether he was a drug addict or not. 37 Whether he knows it or not. And usually, he doesn't. That's cult recruiting. 4. Narconon has worldwide success and acceptance. Fact: Narconon has only one small in- patient facility in the US, and a few "offices" around the country. More Narconon pro- grams have been shut down across the coun- try than are currently in operation. Usually, they shut down when their corporate and govemment funding sources find out they are a fraud... not because they have cured all the drug addicts in the area! 5. Narconon has an 86% "cure rate". Right! And I sell 100,000 papers each week. I can't document that claim, and nei- ther can they. Anything that sounds too good to be true usually is. 6. Scientology helps people in a troubled world... Fact: It helps separate them from their money. It takes control of their mind and does their thinking for them. It demands their total commitment and ability. And fi- nally, it throws them away when they f'mally figure out they've been conned. And if they object or protest, they are declared "Sup- pressire Persons", subject to any evil any other Scientologist can dream up to harass and ruin them. Documented proof?. Courts have ordered Scientology to pay millions to the victims of such "fair game" tactics. 7. Scientology enhances one's apprecia- tion of his own Christian religion. Fact: In the "confidential" upper level of Scientology known as OT III, Hubbard cat- egorically informs his thoroughly brain- baked followers that "there is no Christ.*' There isn't enough room to continue. Sci- entology is a lie. Narconon is a part of Scientology. Narconon has lied to the people of Oklahoma since it first cast greedy eyes on the Chilocco complex. Saturday's televi- sion announcement is only the latest confir- marion that they intended to deceive us from the beginning. An organization that teachers "Truth is what is true for you" admits it doesn't know the difference. An organization that allows the end to justify the means admits to its own morality. An organization that requires the total commitment of its followers before they can be trusted with its secret upper levels is paranoid. And an organization which does all of those things is a destructive mind controlling cult. Grand Oepning Set This Weekend... National Chilocco Alumni Association Unanimously Passes Resolution And Position Statement Opposing Narconon OKLA CITY, 28 June 1990- The National Chilocco Alumni Association unanimously approved a resolution on Saturday, June 9, strongly opposing the establishment of Scientology's front organization Narconon on the old Chilocco Indian Agricultural School just north of Newkirk. The resolution, presented to the member- ship during the business meeting at the an- nual Chilocco Reunion in Oklahoma City, was overwhelmingly approved following about 30 minutes of discussion. Copies of the resolution were to be for- warded to all of the members of the Chilocco Development Authority, the chiefs or chair- persons of each of the five tribes which own Chilocco Campus, and will be distributed across the state for publication or broadcast. The National Chilocco Alumni Associa- tion has members in nearly every state in the union, and former Chilocco students repre- sent dozens of tribes from Alaska to Florida. In addition to the resolution, the Chilocco Alumni Association has issued a Position Statement which reads as follows: "Chilocco Indian Agricultural School came into being by an act of Congress, approved May 17, 1882, which appropriated $25,000 for the puropse of constructing a building. It opened its doors in 1884; sadly, it lcosed its doors as an educational center for Indian children in 1980... less than a century later. We use the term educational center because Chilocco was more than a school; it was: A home for those who had none. A family for those who had none. Parents for those who had none. A teach- ing center for those with a thirst to learn. A training ground for those with a desire for new skills. A discovery in the pride of being Indian. The memories of thousand of students from five generations inhabit the halls and grounds of Chilocco. These lives have touched others from coast to coast, to Eu- rope, to Southeas Asia, and all parts of the globe. In more cases than our pleasant to remember, many of our own never came home from those far-flung lands. The lives of our graduates have inspired and influenced the course of other lives because of the skills and direction discov- ered at Chilocco. We have contributed to the fields of medicine, education, business, law, trades and fine arts, and just about any other profession which comes to mind. We are legion! Chilocco, then, holds a very special place in the hearts of all of us. It is home! As our home, it retains certain ideals which we hold dear: dignity, respect, honesty, courage, and integrity. When representatives of Narconon first spoke to us, they said we were always wel- come. Today, they require us to pay for the privilege of walking those grounds which we made sacred. When representatives of Narconon first spoke to us, they said we were free to visit. Today, they restrict, under arms, those grounds which we roamed in the freedom of a family. When representatives of Narconon first spoke to us, they said they worked to help cure those illnesses of alcohol and substance abuse which afflict us. Today, they train their own in disciplines which are foreign to 38 everything the Indian holds dear. When representatives of Narconon first spoke to us, they said 15 out of every 100 beds would be free for Indians. Today, they have fewer than 100 beds, none of which are free. When representatives of Narconon first spoke to us, they said they had no connection to the Church of Scientology. Today, they recruit freely on the campus of Chilocco. In short, Narconon dishonors all Chiloccoans! For the reasons specified above, we, the members of the Chilocco National Alumni Association have passed the resolution which is attached to this position statement. There are many other reasons for the objection to the use of the Chilocco campus by Nar- conon, but, we feel that those we have stated amply justify the position we publicly take." Resolution "A Resolution Duly Adopted By The Chi- locco National Alumni Association Reject- ing The Continued Use Of The Chilocco Campus By Narconon Whereas, Narconon representatives in- formed the Chilocco National Alumni Asso- ciation that the campus was to be used as a drug rehabilitation center only; and Whereas, Narconon misrepresented the use of the Chilocco campus, as stated by John Duff (Tulsa, June '89), by developing a training center for Scientology; and Whereas, Narconon further misrepre- sented the use of the Chilocco campus, as stated by Ms. E. Fulton (Tulsa, June '89), who proclaimed that Narconon had no con- nection with the Church of Scientology; and Whereas, Narconon has begun an active recruiting campaign on the Chilocco cam- pus for the Church of Scientology Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved the Chi- locco National Alumni Association does not support the continued use of the Chilocco campus by Narconon; and Be It Further Resolved the Chilocco Na- tional Alumni Association rejects in the stron- gest possible terms, the use by Narconon of the name Chilocco for any purpose; and Be It Further Resolved the Chilocco Natioanl Alunmi Association urges the Board of the Chilocco Development Authority to consider other, more appropriate ventures for the use of the Chilocco campus; and Be It Finally Resolved the Chilocco Na- tional Alunmi Association requests the Chi- locco Development Authority to require Narconon to discontinue the use of the name Chilocco in further activities. Certification We, james R. McGirt, President, and Emily King Bunny, Secretany, Chilocco National Alumni Association, do hereby certify that this Resolution is a true and exact copy as approved by the membership at the annual meeting held on June 9, 1990. There was a quorum present and this Resolution was adopted unanimously with none opposed and none abstaining." Attached to the Position Statement and Resolution were the names of the members of the National Chilocco Alumni Associa- tion Board of Directors, and names of the presidents of each of the Regional Chilocco Alumni chapters. One of the members told the group she was from Califomia and her daughter had "gotten hooked up" with Scientology out there. "I know what it's all about!" she told the audience. Another person related how she had stopped by Chilocco on the way to the an- nual meeting. "They stopped us at the gate, made us sign in, and tried to charge us $5 each for a tour!" she said indignantly. "We couldn't go anywhere by oruselves.. we had to have a guide. I 'know that campus inti- mately. Ifs my home! I know it better than any of those people. I sure don't need a guided tour." Others told similar stories. This Friday, Narconon has announced it will begin its three day grand opening cel- ebration at the Chilocco campus. But it will apparently do so with no support from the Chilocco Alumni Association. And little support from the leadership of the five tribes who own the campus. According to one tribal chairperson, chairpersons from three of the tribes have indicated they will not attend the ceremony; another tribe is consid- ering boycotting the event, and only one tribal chair appears to be interested in attend- ing the $2,000.00 per person event. Instead, there will be a special meeting of the mem- bers of the Chilocco Development Author- ity Friday, during which the lease agreement with Narconon will be discussed. In a June 23 story in the Tulsa World by Patti Weaver, the head of the Chilocco De- velopment Authority, Robert Chapman, is quoted as saying he was not pleased with the terms of the lease. CDA vice chairman Delbert A. Cole, who is also chairman of the Ponca tribe, said in the same article that he considers the lease "a bad business deal." "Our attorney is researching the business lease to f'md out if it is stated anywhere they (Narconon) must have state certification before they can operate." Cole said. Narconon and Scientology printed mate- rial indicates that Narconon has been treat- ing patients since about March at the Chi- locco facility. But State Mental Health De- paranent spokesperson Rosemary Brown said Narconon has not applied for state cer- tification. Narconon's certificate of need expires June 30, and Brown said it would be impossible for them to obtain certification by that date since the board does not meet until July 12. "We want them to abide by state rules and regulations," Chapman said. "I expect them to be state certified like the plans in the beginning. Cole told the World he has been instructed by the Ponca tribal council "not to have anything to do with Narconon." "They sidestep the issues. We can't get a direct answer from them" Cole said of his difficulty in getting information from Nar- conon officials. Narconon Patient Says Center Treating Mostly Non-Indians NEWKIRK July 5, 1990- John Carraro is a bright, articulate, street smart heroinjunkie. Not at all what one would expect of a 12 year needle veteran. He's 33 years old and he tested positive for HIV virus 5 years ago. He could develop AIDS symptoms at any time, but so far he has been lucky. John Cartaro is Italian, with a bit of Ger- man mixed in. He's from Long Island, New York. He is not Indian. He's been on a methadone maintenance program for the past year and a half, but says he has occasionally laced his dose with co- caine. He says he wanted to get off the daily methadone routine, and a customer at his parent's record and book store suggested he try Narconon. That's how John Carraro came to be one of about 15 non-Indian patients who he says were being treated at the unlicensed and uncertified Narconon facility at Chilocco last week. Carraro says one of the 20 patients at Narconon was an Indian. Of the rest, he says a few were from foreign countries - Austra- lia, for instance. The others were non-Indian Americans just like him. Carraro was planning his get-away from Narconon the same day that an AP report appeared in the Ponca City News and other state papers quoting Narconon attorneys as saying only Indian patients were being treated at the facility. "They said the only knowledge that they had about it was Indians at the time (being treated, ... They said they didn't think the state had any licensing power over Indian activities on Indian Lands." said District Attorney Joe Wideman, who's comanents were reported in a Daily Oklahoman story last Thursday. Carraro, who says he told Narconon offi- cials he was HIV positive, became con- cerned when he found out there were no trained doctors or nurses at Chilocco. "They did take me to a doctor in Arkansas City for a physical," he said. "You know, the stethoscope on the chest, and we talked about my hernia. They drew blood and did some of the blood work in his office. But the HIV test they had to send off. I guess I won't be around here long enough to find out the results, but it doesn't matter. I've been tested 39 before, and it always comes out positive." Carram said. Carraro doesn't know how he contracted the HIV virus. "I had some surgery and a blood transfusion just before they started screening for HIV. But it could have been needles, or it could have been some of the women I used to hang out with. You'd think they would have somebody on the (Nar- conon) staff who would be trained to deal with stuff like that. All they did was tell me not to mention it to anyone." Carfare, who said Scientology was never officially mentioned during his short stay at Narconon, thumbed through copies of Hubbard Communications Bulletins. HCOBs, as they are called, are instruc- tions written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard to his followers. One of them is called Training and CCH Processes. "Yeah, we did that," he said, referring to the training drills. "I did up to about (drill number) six. It was insane. That stuff has nothing to do with drug treatment." He says they told him the drills were supposed to improve his ability to communi- cate. They gave him "Cal-Mag," a concoction of oil, vinegar, calcium, and magnesium. "Only we called it 'Cal-Gag.'" He started on two glasses of the stuff a day, then he said they wanted him to increase it to four glasses a day. "All it did was give me the runs," he said. Cal-Mag is described in an HCOB docu- ment called "The Purification Rundown Replaces The Sweat Program," which bears a typed signature reading "The Boards of Directors of the Churches of Scientology", but says nothing about Narconon. "Yeah, that's it." Carraro said, looking at the document. "They also gave us vitamin pills. They called them Drug Bombs. And they do the sauna thing for 5 hours a day. I didn't get that far." The vitamin and sauna regimen is also described in the Purification HCOB. The same document suggests that admin- istrators of the pro~am "see that the person understands that the action is being under- taken to help free him as a spirit and is not a medical treatment." It also says they should make no promises. Carraro told of being offered "touch as- sists", which are Scientology "physical therapy" routines that are said to relieve the pain and anxiety of an injury or other lamen- table experience. "I saw all that L. Ron Hubbard stuff when I first got there, and I knew something was wrong," Carraro said Saturday morning. "He used to do science fiction stories and started one of those 'new age' religions or some- thing. His picture is all over the place out there." Friday, Carraro left Narconon by a back road. He took only a couple of bottles of water, and one change of clothes in his backpack. "They had these security guards with walkie-talkies chasing me all around in a field. When they stopped me, they had their clubs out and one of them said he had been told to handcuff me and bring me back, if he had to." "A guy named Jeff, who is a staff member in training or something, came by and told them to back off." Jeff tried to change Carraro's mind, but finally dropped him off at EZ Mart in Newkirk. John met some local people who put him up over night in the 77 Ranch Motel, and Saturday morning, he contacted the Herald Journal with his story. John Carraro is home in Long Island now, And his parents are relieved. "The literature we asked for on Narconon didn't arrive until the day after we put him on the plane. When I read 'L. Ron Hubbard', my heart sank. I thought, 'what have I done to my boy'. If I'd have known about that L. Ron Hubbard stuff before, I would have never put him on the airplane." his mother said. The Carraros paid $6,000.00 in advance, with another $4,000.00 due later for John's treatment at Chilocco. The money was in an envelope, sealed inside John's luggage. The Carraros say they intend to press for a re- fund, and the return of John'~ belongings.. Dear Newkirk Friends, I am writing you on my typewriter, but from my heart. This letter of thanks is very important to me as it is a reminder of the warmth and concern that was extended to me during a most difficult time. I shall never be able to forget the mediate response that was given to me unquestioningly and without hesitation. From the "gang" down at the CharRon to Officer Stone, an unwavering community effort seemed more than a little evident in answering the alarm that I sounded, and which was evidently on standby in all your hearts and minds. But the real aim and purpose of this note is to remind you of what you are up against... For whatever is going on out at the "space camp", you can be sure it is not of any God that we as Christians of any denomination look to. You are a rare people in a time when most of the country is looking for "magic" solutions to all their trouble s, w hen half the world seems to need a drag, or a drink, or an empty promise to lean on, it is a pleasure and comfort to know there are people who still know that a friend is really all the help that most of us ever really needed. So, thanks friends, /s/John J. Carraro New York The Scientology Story By Robert Welkos and Joel Sappel, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers Was Reprinted With Permission In Several Parts During July and August 1990 4O State Asks Court For Injunction To Halt Narconon Operation At Chilocco NEWKIRK August 2, 1990- Kay County district Attorney Joseph A. Wideman, Mon~ day filed a petition seeking to enjoin Nar- conon International, Inc., from operating an unlicensed and uncertified alcohol and drug abuse treatment service at Chilocco. The application for injunction names the State of Oklahoma Commissioner of Health Joan K. Leavitt, M.D., and the Oklahoma State De- partment of Health as plaintiffs, and Nat- cohort International, Inc. as defendant. Narconon's service agent of record was served with the appropriate papers about noon Monday, Wideman said. There will be a hearing on the state's application for injunction before the chief judge of the District Court, Neal Beelcman, on Tuesday, August 14th at 9 a.m. in Court- room A at the Kay County Courthouse in Newkirk. The petition filed by the state says that Narconon is operating an uncertified and unlicensed alcohol and drug abuse treatment service in violation of Oklahoma law. It notes that while Narconon is housed on Indian land, it is operated by non-Indians and is providing services mainly to non- Indians. Narconon, according to the petition filed Monday, is housing persons in need of sub- stance abuse treatment and is providing care and receiving compensation without being licensed by the Oklahoma State Department of Health or being certified by the Depart- ment of Mental Health. The petition says Narconon has been in violation of state law since February 1990 and continuing through the present. The state's petition asks the court to "tem- porarily and permanently enjoin the Defen- dant from operating an unlicensed alcohol and drug abuse treatment service..." and asks that Narconon be made responsible for attorney fees and court costs. In an attached brief supporting its case, the state says that... "The defendant (Narconon) has failed to become certified and licensed by the proper regulatory bodies prior to its operation. Therefore, injunctive relief should be granted." "The integrity of legitimate trealment ser- vices are jeopardized when unauthorized and unlicensed facilities are allowed to oper- ate. Injunctive relief is necessary, appropri- ate, and mandated by both case law and statute. The second major proposition of the sup- porting brief argues that the state does have licensing and certification jurisdiction over Narconon, even though it is on Indian land. "The state courts have jurisdiction over the conduct of defendant, a non-Indian en- tity engaging in activity on Indian Land due to the state's strong interest in providing health care to its citizens and its minimal impact on Indian self-government. Wideman said Monday that there are four considerations that determine whether the state maintains jurisdiction in such cases: First, Federal law must not pre-empt state law in the matter at issue. Second, state law must not infringe upon the fights of reserva- tion Indians to govern themselves. Third, the organization itself is non-Indian owned and operated, and fourth, it is treating primarily non-Indians. Concludes the brief: "This Court has juris- diction over this cause since state action is not federally pre-empted and tribal self- government is not burdened. Narconon is neither owned nor operated by Indians. Their facility is primarily treating non-Indians. Narconon has failed to become certified and licensed by the proper regulatory bod- ies. Injunctive relief should be granted." Narconon spokesman Bruce Pyle has been quoted in printed reports as saying Monday that Narconon still intends to apply for state certification and licensing. Narconon's Cer- tificate of Need expired June 20. Pyle would not comment on whether non-Indian patient have been treated at the facility. Today's installment of the Scientology Story is the last in this series researched and produced by the Los Angeles Times. Your knowledge of this dangerous, destructive and sinister mind control cult will protect you and your family from its attempts to expand by feeding off of an unsuspecting society. For nearly two years now, Scientology and its recruiting front, Narconon, have tried to gain acceptance in our area. They have attempted every devious and deceptive practice one can imagine. They have been caught in their own lies almost every time they have opened their mouths. Pseudo-medicine and psychobabble aside ... the fact remains that Narconon is operating an unlicensed and uncertified facility at Chilocco, in violation of Oklahoma State Law. The State Health Department has asked the District Court for an injunction to shut the operation down. District Attorney Joe Wideman has filed the paperwork, and next Tuesday at 9 am in Courtroom A at the Kay County Courthouse in Newkirk, Judge Beckman will be asked to issue that injunction. You can be sure that Scientology will be well represented by duped believers and slick lawyers, all bent on protecting their investment in fraud and deception. The Health Department deserves your support... and your silent presence in the court- room... next Tuesday morning, as they assert their right to protect your health and welfare from such charlatans. Sometimes government does work to your benefit. Give it a helping hand Tuesday morning. Be there. 41 Shifting Into Their 'Delay Game' In predictable fashion, Scientology's Narconon managed to avoid the injunction hearing set for last Tuesday by asking for a "continu- ance'L They got the hearing delayed until September 7 at 2:30 pm because their latest lawyer had a vacation scheduled for this week. Or quickly scheduled one. In the meantime, Narconon continues to operate an unlicensed and uncertified facility. The date for the new hearing is September 7, incidentally, not September 2 which is a Sunday. The wrong date was widely publicized earlier this week in other area papers. But it makes little difference... In the meantime, Narconon continues to operate an unlicensed and uncertified facility. According to District Attorney Joe Wideman, Narconon has until about August 30 to ask for "removal" to Federal Court. In the meantime, Narconon continues to operate an unlicensed and uncertified facility. That would negate the September 7th day in District Court... and a new date, probably in October, will have to be set for Federal Court in Oklahoma City instead of Newkirk. So few of us will be able to attend anyway. In the meantime, Narconon continues to operate an unlicensed and uncertified facility. In October, Narconon will probably ask for a "continuance" in Federal Court... and a new date will be set for November. In the meantime, Narconon continues to operate an unlicensed and uncertified facility. You kinda get the picture? It has been written by the gum ofpsychobabble that his followers are never to allow legal problems to interfere with the delivery of "services". They recognize how easy that is to do. We hope the court system also recognizes that fact, because... In the meantime, Narconon continues to operate an unlicensed and uncertified facility. Judge Gives Narconon 30 Days To Comply With State Law By Michael McNutt Enid Bureau, Daily Oklahoman Reprinted 13 September 1990 A judge on Friday ordered the Oklahoma Department of Mental health to determine by next month whether a substance abuse center operating without state approval should be certified to remain open. In the meantime, the Narconon Chilocco New Life Center will be allowed to operate, but is prohibited from accepting new pa- tients, according to an order issued by Dis- trict Judge Neat Beckman. Thirty-live patients are at the facility, lo- cated on the grounds of the old Chilocco Indian School, said Bill Burkett, an Okla- homa City lawyer representing Narconon. Friday's heating, attended by more than 60 people, was held after the state Depart- ment of Health sought a temporary injunc- tion to shut down the facility. Beckman issued his order after both sides came to an agreement during more than two hours of discussion in his chambers. Rob Cole, a lawyer with the State Health Department, said officials with the agency will have access to Narconon records to make sure no additional patients are ac- cepted until the facility wins state certifica- tion and licensing. "I don't envision them violating the court order," he said. "S ignificant sanctions would be imposed if they violate the court order." Tim Bowles, a lawyer with Narconon's offices in Los Angeles, refused to comment after the hearing. But Burkerr said he was confident Nar- conon could meet the mental health department's certification requirements. "We don' see any problems with that," he 42 said. If Narconon is turned down in its certi- fication bid, "then it's a new problem," he said. The facility, operated by Narconon Inter- national, has been treating patients since February without a license from the Depart- ment of Health or certification from the Department of Mental Health. Narconon originally contended the facil- ity was exempt from state law because it is on Indian land. But Narconon's agreement to comply with Beekman's order seems to make that argument moot. Narconon last month applied to have its program certified by the Mental Health De- parUnent. An agency spokeswoman said then that Narconon's program could not be in- spected sooner than November and that the State Mental Health Board would not act until January. Beekman ordered the Mental Health De- partment to inspect Narconon by the end of this month and have its staff make a recom- mendation on certification at the board's October meeting. Janie Hipp, an assistant state attorney gen- eral assigned to the Mental Health Depart- ment, said the state agency can meet Beekmanls schedule. Hipp said people wanting a public hearing would have to make a written request to the Mental Health Department after the staff recommendations are released but before the October board meeting. Mostof the people attending Friday's hear- ing said they were against Narconon prima- rily because of its ties with the Church of Scientology, which some consider a cult. "I would like to see Narconon removed from Kay County, the state of Oklahoma and the United States." said one man, who like most other would speak only on terms of anonymity. "I do not like the Church of Scientology." If Narconon wins certification from the Mental Health Department, it still must be licensed by the Health Department. (Re- printed with permission from the Saturday Oklahoma, September 8, 1990) Commissioners Request Public Hearing In Newkirk On Narconon Certification NEWKIRK, Sept. 13, 1990 - The letters slipped quietly from one commissioner to the next. Each read the words on the papers, and signed them without comment or con- versation. The letters were to State Depart- ment of Mental Health officials, formally requesting a copy of the department's evalu- ation and inspection team report and recom- mendations regarding the certification of Narconon as soon as the report is available. The letters also formally ask for a public hearing in Newkirk prior to the October board meeting of the Department of Mental health "so that citizens will have the oppor- tunity to voice their opinion about Nar- COhOrt." The Mental Health Department will be sending a two person audit team to evaluate and inspect the Narconon facility within the next week or so, according to Mental Health Department spokesperson Rosemary Brown. Neitherperson on the team will be medically qualified, she said, but both will be experi- enced, qualified and educated social work- ers. One holds a master's degree, she added. Judge Neal Beekman last Friday ordered that the certification process be expedited so that it may appear on the October agenda of the Mental Health Board. Narconon applied for certification on August 281h after the State health Department announced they would seek an injunction to stop operation of the unlicensed and uncertified facility, which began treating patients in February. In order to apply for certification, Brown said it was necessary to have a current Cer- tificate of Need. Narconon's Certificate of Need expired June 30, but Health Depart- ment spokesman Brent VanMeter said Tues- day that Narconon had requested an exten- sion "prior to June 30th." Although Narconon's request for an extension had not been granted as of Monday afternoon, VanMeter said they were considering it a current certificate. Judge Beekman's decision left open the option of a public hearing on the matter should anyone wish to request one. The Newkirk City Commission did just that Monday night. The State Health Department struck a temporary deal with the devil last Friday afternoon. They agreed to allow the unlicensed and uncertified Scientology organization known as Narconon to continue in operation with its current 35 "patients." But there are some important details in the free print. For one thing, Narconon, by agreeing to the settlement, has accepted the jurisdiction of the state, and will find it very difficult to bring up the matter of Indian sovereignty again in the future. For another, Narconon is now tied to a time frame of about 30 days in which to get it's act together. It's been trying for 18 months or longer and hasn't been able to, so there is little reason to believe it will change its ways by the October meeting of the Mental Health Board. In the meantime, Narconon can not accept any new patients until it complies with state law. Had the court issued an inj unction, chances are Narconon would have ignored it anyway until the appeals processes had been ex- hausted. That could have taken years. The State Mental Health Department will send a two person audit team to Narconon this month to study their "treatment" pro- gram and make recommendations to the Mental health Board, which will decide whether or not to certify Narconon at it's October meeting. The evaluation team report will be a pub- lic document. you can request a copy by writing Don Anderson, Chainnan of the Department of Mental health. P.O. Box 53277 Capitot Station, Oklahoma City, OK 73152. They will send it as soon as it is available.. If necessary, once the evaluation report is complete - anyone can call for a public 43 hearing in Newkirk on the matter. The City Commission already has. If for some unimaginable reason the evalu- ation team is snowed into recommending certification there will be a public heating called, and your comments will be attached to the report that goes before the Mental Health Board. Scientology has characterized members of the Mental health profession as "barba- rous criminals bent on creating insanity and madness with their tools of torture." On of Scientology's avowed goals is the worldwide replacement of legitimate men- tal health care with the hocus-pocus of Dianetic processing. Scientology echoes the shallow thinking of their founder, who made such obtuse and absurd pronouncements as "There is no such thing as a fat cell," and "Niacin runs out radiation." Statements, incidentally, which are indigenous to the Narconon treatment program. Others, equally foolish, abound. Scientologists quote with reverence this man who claimed to be a nuclear physicist after taking and flunking one course in mo- lecular phenomena at George Washington University... this phony who's doctorate de- gree came from a mail-order diploma mill. It is difficult to believe that the Oklahoma Mental Health Board, composed primarily of eminent mental health professionals with legitimate credentials, could ever condone the operation of an establishment like Nar- conon in our state... let alone certify it as coming any where close to the professional standards they are sworn to uphold. It would be prudent nevertheless for each of us to notify the members of the Board of Mental health of our concern that they be aware of the deep deception and double speak of which Scientology is capable... that they inform and educate themselves about it's history, methods, and purposes, before they make their decision. If nothing else, send them this column. Their addresses follow: Mrs. Dorothy Stanaslaus, Chairperson, 701 E. 1 lth Claremore, OK 74017; Murray E. Abowitz, Esq., Box 1937, Oklahoma City, OK 73101; Dr. Stewart R. Beasley, Ph.D. Box 1573, Edmond, OK 73083; Dr. Helen Randolph Carter, 1001 Dean Place, Okla- homa City, OK 73117; Dr. John W. Drake, M.D., 31200 West Wilshire Blvd., Okla- homa City, OK 73116; and Mr. LaVern Phillips, 23 15 Downs Avenue, Woodward, OK 73801. First sincere thanks to the many, many good folks of Newkirk, Kildare, and sur- rounding area who donated the $1,300.00 it cost to have our special section printed and insetted in the Ponca City news a couple of weeks ago. From the people who received it we have heard nothing but praise for bring- ing it to their attention. Your commitment to helping inform the rest of the people in our County of the facts about Scientology and its front groups such as Narconon is very gratifying. Credit for your individual gifts will be made privately, because however much we would like to acknowledge them publicly, it would not be prudent. But all you have to do is simply look around you. It makes us very humble to live in such a town, in spite of the time I spend on my soap box. Second, the latest Narconon snafu seems to have come from the State Mental Health Department itself. Last Thursday, they dis- patched Bill Marion and Margaret Bradford to Ch ilocco to perform the ir audit inspection of Narconoffs operation. Concurrently, the Mental Health Board was meeting in Vinita. Board members were appraised of the court ruling at that meeting, and they decided that the court had no juris- diction to order them to expedite the inspec- tion, since they were not a party to the court action. It was, they decided, a matter be- tween the State Health Department and Nar- conon. So they recalled their auditing team in mid investigation. Narconon has to be loving that. The Mental Health Board is now waiting for their legal counsel to review the situation and tell them what the appropriate action should be. Judge Beekman said Monday he was un- aware of the Mental Health Board's action. District Attorney Joe Wideman was out of town and unavailable for comment. It sounds like a game of hot-potato catch to me. In the meantime, it appears that the eco- nomic boom Narconon promised our area is turning bust, as predicted. Narconon claims to have spent gobs of money renovating Chilocco. But a lot of the folks who did the work are wondering where their money is. Empire Plumbing Supply is the first fu'm we know of to take legal action. They're suing Narconon for $21,471.03 in plumbing supplies for which they haven't been paid. It's case number C -90-220 at the court house. Monday rooming, an airconditioning con- tractor in Arkansas City called us saying he was near bankruptcy because he hasn't been paid for labor or supplies used trying to get Narconon in shape for their Grand Opening bash last June 30. Monday afternoon, a sign painter in Ar- kansas City called saying someone should wam the public about that "wonderful, car- ing organization that's trying to help people" just north of us a Chilocco. He hasn't been paid, either, he said. An Arkansas City appliance dealer says he hasn't been paid for renting an air condi- tioner and refrigerator to Narconon "for Barbara Mandrell's" appearance during the Grand Opening 3 months ago. Narconon 44 wanted to buy television sets and air condi- tioners on credit he added, saying he refused to go along with that economic boom. Another Ark City merchant not affected by Narconoffs credit buying spree, says friends of his in the furniture business are wondering when they'll get paid. A ceramic tile supplier is wondering the same thing. So is the gas company. So are a bunch of motels in the area, which housed all of those big shots brought in to witness the GO Show. Word is the Indian tribes haven'tbeen paid for equipment they have been renting to Narconon, either. Last Friday, tribal work- men going through town said they were headed to Narconon to confiscate the equip- ment and lock it up in the armory out there. Barbara Mandrell reportedly took home over $60,000 for her 2 hour performance. Quite a gold mine. The merchants who pro- vided the materials and performed the labor to get the Con-anon Show ready got what was left. The shaft. Funny how they can find the money to pay for the smoke and mirror show but can't find the money for the hardware behind it. None of Newkirk's merchants seem to have been victimized by the scare, however. And we '11 take a little bit of the credit for that thank you. Third, word from the hinterland indicates that S cientology intends to continue the fraud. Propaganda circulating out West this week suggests that people should donate $1,000.00 to $500,000.00 to Narconon Chilocco for "Phase Two" which will bring the facility up to 1,000 beds and 400 staff and "tminees" by March 1991. Never mind that they aren't licensed or certified. Never mind that their Certificate of Need was limited to 75 beds, and that it expired June 301h. Never mind the Court Order forbidding them to accept new pa- tients. Never mind that they haven't even paid for the last batch of work and goods they ordered. If you liked the economic benefits Nar- conon brought you with Phase One, wait tit you get a taste of Phase Two ! And finally, another little tidbit we uncov- ered this week, that Narconon hasn't been making much noise about in this part of the COuntry: The "Criminal Rehabilitation Branch of Narconon, International" known as "Criminon" now claims to have programs established in five Oklahoma penal facili- ties" Jack Brandon at McAlister, Joseph Harp at Lexington, the Lexington Assess- ment and Reception Center, the Oklahoma State Penitentiary at McAlister, and the Oklahoma State Reformatory at Granite. Who's paying for those? New City Fi re Response Pol icy Excludes Chilocco Indian Lands NEWKIRK Sept. 27, 1990 - Fires starting on Indian Land will no longer be extin- guished by the Newkirk Fire Department. City Commissioners Monday evening voted to adopt that new policy, and to inform each of the tribes who own land in the area, the Chilocco Development Authority, and Narconon of their decision by letter. Land covered by the policy includes the area of Chilocco leased by Narconon, the area controlled by the CDA, and the adjacent lands owned by the Cherokee, Ponca, Otoe, Pawnee, Kaw, and Tonkawa tribes. The policy does not affect the Kaw Housing development east of Newkirk. The policy is not unlike that adopted pre- viously which applies to Corps of Engineers land near Kaw Lake. The Corps of Engi- neers has a no pay policy, and has told the city to let fires on their land bum. City Manager David Haynes said fighting fires on Indian land is also a losing proposition. He cited an unpaid $1,400 bill sent to Nar- conon for fighting a wild trash fire, and an outstanding $300.00 bill for a fire run to Chilocco several years ago before Narconon entered the picture. The Fire Department will continue tO re- spond to fires starting outside of Indian land, and to fires that spread off of Indian land and threaten non-Indian property. Privately, com- missioners and the city manager agreed that in the event of any fife-threatening danger, the department would be obligated to re- spond, no matter where the fire was located or where it started. Letters from the city attorney notifying the proper officials of the policy change should already be in the mail. On September 27, 1990, a two column by eight and a half inch blank spot appeared in the Newkirk Herald Journal right on the front page. 45 Narconon Public Hearing NHS Auditorium, Tuesday, Oct. 9, I pm About our blank spot last week - We had proof that Darrell Ayoub of Carlsbad, Ca., was admitted to Narconon as a patient on September 121h, just five days after Nar- conon agreed in court that they would take no more patients until they were certified. What we didn't have was confirmation of the exact sequence of events leading up to his enrollment on September 12th, and the Health Department man didn' t call with that information soon enough for us to leave it in the paper. According to Health Department investi- gators and Mrs. Ayoub, a Narconon sales- man arrived at the Ayoub home on Septem- ber 6th and spent 3 hours trying to "hard sell" the program to them. Darrell, a 23 year old who got himself messed up fooling with methamphetamines about a year and a half ago, has been under psychiatric care, and has previously under- gone treatment at the Betty Ford Center. On September 7, he decided to accept the Narconon sales pitch, but on the 8 th changed his mind and rejected the idea. Then, Darrell got into trouble with the law and wound up in jail. Guess who bailed him out? The Narconon salesman, of course, who con- vinced his grandmother that he would go back to jail if he wasn't immediately sent to Chilocco for treatment. Ayoub was actually enrolled as a patient at Narconon on Septem- ber 12th. We don't know how Health Department lawyers view this infraction, but we didn't expect Narconon to have the integrity to tell the Ayoubs that they couldn't accept Darrell on September 121h because they were unli- censed and uncertified and under a court order not to accept more patients. She found that out later. Five thousand of the $15,000.00 treat- ment fee was wired to Narconon up front. But within a week, Darrell was wanting out, and his parents began investigating. When they discovered more about this outfit, they demanded he be retumed to them, and on Friday evening, September 21 st, Darrell was sent home on a plane from Wichita, accord- ing to Mrs. Ayoub. We jerked the column because Scientol- ogy scares the bejabbers out of us, and we don't want to give them any options by accidently printing something we aren't sure of. We're not as free to twist the facts as SOme. Scientology, on the other hand, seems to be "Totally Free" to do whatever they see fit. The Ayoub case is just the latest demonstra- tion of their continuing deceit. It started when they adamantly denied their connection to Narconon. When Narconon's Incorporation papers prove it was founded by Scientology's Rev. Arthur Maren, Scientology Guardian's Officer Henning Heldt, and yes, William Benitez. It continued when they tried to fool us into believing that ABLE, one of their sub-orga- nizations. was an independent philanthropic group that had donated $200,000.00 in seed money to get Narconon started, when in fact ABLE owns Narconon. It became almost humorous when they tried to make us believe they had an 86% cure rate and world wide acceptance when in fact their cure rate claims are unsubstanti- ated and they have closed more Narconon units in the US than they currently have operating. Did they run out of addicts to cure, or what? It grew when Narconon said they weren't going to recruit local people, when in fact, that was the very first marketing item on their Action Plan. Not to mention the solici- tation cards mailed out to most residents just last weekend. It got deeper the day they told the Health Department they were only treating Indians. That was the day John Carraro, a German- Italian from New York, got away from them and told us most of the patients out there were non-Indians just like him. It got thicker still when they enrolled Ayoub. That's what we find the most repulsive of all about this whole organization. The hy- pocrisy and deception foisted upon us at every turn. Scientology claims to be the "Bridge to Total Freedom." And according to an old 1974 Narconon News, Narconon is "the bridge to the Bridge of Total Freedom." The illustration shows that Narconon leads in- variably to Scientology. It proves our case that Narconon is primarily a Scientology recruiting tool. Which is the biggest deceit of all. No matter the good Narconon may do, the end never justifies the means. Their motive is the worldwide expansion of "LRH Tech"; drug treatment is simply an exploit- able method of accomplishing that end. The State Mental Health Department has called a Public Hearing for next Tuesday at 1 pm at the School Auditorium. Go and tell 'em you're tired of listening to Narconon's lies. 46 Narconon Friends, Foes Voice Views On Certification By Michael McNutt Enid Bureau, Daily Oklahoman 11 October 1990 Some praised the Narconon Chilocco New Life Center as the best substance abuse facil- ity in the country while others said during a public hearing Tuesday it is a cult recruiting tool. About 400 people crowded into the West Chapel of the Marland Mansion complex for a chance to listen to speakers argue whether the center should be certified by the state mental health department. Most of the people wore "I Support Nar- conon Chilocco" pins, and staff members brought their children who wore Narconon T-Shirts. Gary Smith, president of Narconon Chi- locco, said about 30 people were brought in from Los Angeles, Texas, and New York to speak or attend the hearing. Actor Parker Stevenson read a letter from actress Kitstie Alley, his wife and spokes- woman for Narconon Chilocco, stating that she owed her success to the Narconon pro- gram. Alley claimed Narconon Intemational's substance abuse center in Los Angeles helped her kick her cocaine habit in 1979. But Bob Lobsinger, publisher of the Newkirk Herald Journal, called the Nar- conon program "a recruiting front" for the Church of Scientology. Dr. Forest S. Tennant, who once served as drug adviser to the National Footbail League, said Narconon's program "equals or exceeds" national standards. Lobsinger quoted from a 1974 report Termant made on Narconon's Los Angeles center in which he wrote of a "relationship between Narconon and the Church of Scien- tology that specifically religious practices are commonly used in the treatment of cli- ents.'' Narconon Chilocco has been operating since February without a state license. It applied for me ntal health department certifi- cation last month after state officials sought to shut down the facility. The State Mental Health Board is sched- uled to make a decision on Narconon's appli- cation for the 75 bed center at its October 18 meeting in Norman. Newkirk mayor Garry Bilger and other residents of the tiny Kay County town spoke out against Narconon Chilocco's application because of the program's ties to the Church of Scientology. B ilger said investigators and lawyers hired by Narconon wrote letters and visited town residents to intimidate them to not speak out against Narconon Chilocco. Smith said that Narconon was founded using beliefs of the late L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. Treat- ment at Narconon includes saunas and vita- mins, methods advocated by Hubbard. Sandy Wyninger, Los Angeles, who said she spent 13 years as a Church of Scientol- ogy minister, claimed the center should not be certified because it only replaces drug addiction with a dependency on Scientol- ogy. State Mental Health And Substance Abuse Board To Consider Narconon Certification At Today's Meeting NEWKIRK, Nov. 8, 1990 - The Okla- homa Board of Mental Health meets at 9 am today at Western State Hospital to consider the certification of Narconon, the controver- sial drug treatment program at Chilocco Indian School north of Newkirk. Narconon Wednesday morning asked the Oklahoma City District Court for an injunc- tion to prevent the Board from discussing their certification at the meeting. At press time the results of that court action were unknown. A charter bus-load of between 30 and 40 Newkirk citizens plan to leave this morning at 4 am to attend the meeting and express their opposition to certification of the facil- ity, which has been operating since Febru- ary. The bus was paid for by donations from Newkirk and area residents concerned about the unlicensed establishment. Early last week, according to sources, a Blue Ribbon Panel of experts was to have visited the facility, but was denied access by Narconon officials. The panel was to have been headed by Jerrold Jaffe, a drug abuse and treatment expert with the federal gov- ernment; Dr. L.J. West, professor of psy- chiatry at the University of California at Los Angeles; and David Dietch, who has served as chief executive of a large chain of drug abuse treatment centers in the U.S. About the same time, Dennis Clarke, presi- dent of the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights appeared on a Ponca City television and radio station and contended that the leaders of the inspection team were preju- diced against both the Church of Scientol- ogy and Indians. In answer to a question, Clarke said his commission was rounded by the Church of Scientology. Narconon is also an organization closely connected to Scien- tology, and uses treatment methods pre- scribed by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Last Thursday, Mental Health and Sub- stance Abuse Department officials completed and released to Narconon it's recommenda- tion that the facility not be certified. "We are outraged," said Gary Smith, presi- dent of the Narconon center at Chilocco in 47 an interview with the Saturday Oklahoman. Smith said that the recommendation was based on "biased, false, distorted informa- tion on Narconon." Mental Health Department spokeswoman Rosemary Brown said the agency would not comment on Narconon's allegations of per- secution. We were hoping that we would have an orderly process of discussion of this at the board meeting," she said. "We prefer not to discuss it outside that setting where everything is on the record and official." Claims of a conspiracy within the state mental health department in handling of Narconon's certification application surfaced Monday afternoon. Representatives of Nar- conon said they discovered a predated, un- signed letter in the files of the mental health department notifying Narconon that the program's certification has been denied. "We have finally found our smoking gun," Smith said. "There definitely is a conspiracy hem." But mental health spokeswoman Rose- mary Brown denied the accusation, and said that the letter was routinely prepared in anticipation that the board would follow the agency's staff reconunendation that Nar- conon not receive state certification. "There's nothing sinister here. It's simply a time saving measure to expedite the notifi- cation procedure," Brown said. If the board rejects the staffs recommendation and certi- fies Narconon, a new letter will be prepared, Brown said. The board concurs with staff recommendations "more times than not," she said in an interview with the Daily Okla- homan on Tuesday. The staff recommendation was prompted, according to the Oklahoman story, by Narconon's failure to allow an independent review team to inspect the center's "non- traditional" treatment techniques at the cen- ter, Brown said. Smith claimed in the same story that the team included "religious and racial bigots," who were predisposed to rule against the center. Brown said claims by nearby resi- dents of harassment by Narconon employ- ees, the centers failure to pay contractors and the absence of Natcohort staff members at a state training seminar also contributed to the staffs negative recommendation, accord- ing to the Oklahoman story. Smith claims the conspiracy involves "the department of mental health or someone in it." Justice Should Be Blind, But Not Ignorant Geeese, I was goana leave it alone for awhile and see what the rest of the world was doing, but as a true "born again Wog" I just can' t resist... Most of you know by now that Narconon managed to get Judge Leaman Freeman to toss out the State Mental Health Department staff reconunendation against the certifica- tion of Narconon. "Biased", he said. Then Narconon went to Federal Court and screamed Indian sovereignty again, just for good measure. So the board, withoutbenefit of staff coun_ set or recommendation, did nothing. But they have a much truer picture now of the beast than they might have had before last Thursday' s meeting in Ft. Supply. The Mental Health Department' s staff had probably rigared out that L. Ron Hubbard was totally unqualified to be in the drug treatment business; -that his program has never been indepen- dently proven medically or scientifically acceptable; -that it inculcates the Scientology religion in its patients as part of the treatment; -that more Narconon units in the US have been closed than are currently in operation; -that the cult exhibits identifiable attributes of mind control; -and that it is maliciously antagonistic towards the mental health professions. Lots of documentation proves it. Lots of people know it. Even former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop knows it. He belongs to the National Coalition Against Health Care Fraud, which is vigorously protesting the promotion of the "Hubbard Method" (that's what they call Narconon's Purification pro- gram when they don' t want you to know it' s the Purification program). If they do their job about half thoroughly, anybody the board picks to review Nar- conon will come up '~biased". The Judge can make a career of tossing them out, one after the other. All the way up to Dr. Koop. 'Spose the judge would throw him out too? Standardly applied, this precedent setting decision could help establish the system of "Hubbardian Justice" broadly in society: -Toss out the evidence, the witnesses, and the facts. -Have the defendant tell his story to the jury. -And then have the jurors vote to let him oO That how a Com-Ev party works? (inside joke) If only the unbiased are allowed to pro- vide information to the board, Narconon and it's stable of Scientology experts and law- yers should also be disqualified. Talk about biased... These are the folks who believe that psy- chiatrists and psychologists are outright murders and classify them as criminals. These are the people who follow a man who proclaimed that they should take over total control of all mental healing in the West. These are the "beings" who proclaim them- selves superior to all others on earth... Who 48 derisively refer to the rest of us as "Wogs"... Whose leader was the epitome of sanity, so rational that he believed he had visited Heaven. Twice. These are the folks who find themselves in the awkward position of applying to the S late Board of Mental Health for permission to propagate their folly. No wonder they're trying to intimidate our legal system. They know the Mental Health Department has the facts. And they know the courts don' t. Justice may be blind, but it should not be ignorant. Tulsa Psychiatrist To Review Narconon Program For Board By Michael McNutt Dally Oklahoman, Enid Bureau 20 December 1990 A state agency barred by a court order from inspecting a Kay county substance abuse center named a Tulsa man Thursday to evaluate the facility. Dr. John Chelf, a board-certified psychia- trist specializing in addiction, will make the review and report to the State Mental health Board, said Rosemary Brown, a spokes- woman with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health. The Narconon Chilocco New Life Center last month successfully blocked board mem- bers from reviewing reports from an earlier inspection. They claimed the documents were biased against the facility because of its ties with the Church of Scientology. Mental health board members last month talked of naming the agency's advocate gen- eral, the person who represents complaining patients of mental health and substance abuse facilities but reconsidered after Narconon objected, Brown said. An Oklahoma County associate district judge last month ruled the department was biased against Narconon. The ruling came a day before board members were scheduled to act on certifying the program, which has been questioned because of its emphasis on saunas and vitamins, a method devised by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. Chelf has the freedom to make an evalua- tion of Narconon by himself or ask for help from experts not employed by the mental health department, Brown said. (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Oldahoman, Friday, December 14, 1990) Kaws Want Narconon Out Great purple postulations! The Kaw Tribe has approved a resolution calling for the termination of the lease be- tween the Chilocco Development Authority and Narconon International, Inc. The resolution lists seven points the tribe says represent "a flagrant disregard of the proprieties" between the parties involved. The resolution says Narconon lease pay- ments have been consistently late, and some have been returned due to insufficient funds. It says there have been difficulties encoun- tered in the process of (Narconon) returning (borrowed) property to the Chilocco Devel- opment Authority, and that the tribe suspects Narconon of fraud in the reporting of the number of patients served. It says Narconon has failed to become certified under the State Department of Mental Health, that Narconon is suspected of fraud in reporting of their direct relationship to the Church of Scientol- ogy, and is suspected of dumping solid waste materials on Kaw Nation property. The resolution "recommends and fully supports the termination of the Lease Agree- ment..." and "officially directs and autho- rizes" Kaw Chairperson Wanda Stone to initiate the process to terminate the lease. The resolution was approved on February 2, 1991 by the Executive Committee with 6 votes in favor, none against, and one absten- tion. Good sense prevails. Narconon responded characteristically, in a letter to the tribe, by attacking former Scientologists who have come to their senses and subtly suggesting that there will be "trouble" if the tribal leaders don't agree with them. All the while failing to address any of the real problems and concerns that exist about their organization. Narconon begins it's second year of unli- censed and uncertified operation this month. You try opening a barber shop without a license and see how long it takes the state to shut you down. Even if you call it the Church of the Holy Haircut, they'll be on you in a New York minute. Narconon will blame the delay on the state, of course. But the fact is, they can't be certified because their "treatment" is "Scientology religion" and the state cannot sanction or franchise any religion. As medi- cal or scientific protocol, it is pure malarkey. But you can't collect insurance money or public assistance selling religion unless you can dupe enough people into believing it is medicine. Trouble is, we didn't dupe up right. We've been content, lately, to allow the system to run it's course, but Scientology apparently is becoming worried again. One of the other front groups, "The Citizen's Commission on Human Rights:, which at- tacks legitimate mental health care, appears to be targeting the Laureate Psychiatric Clinic and Hospital in Tulsa. Big article in Tuesday's Tulsa World. Funny thing. That hospital is where Dr. Dwight Holden works. Who's Dr. Dwight Holden? One of the certifying members of the State Board of Mental Health, of Course. Before they're done, they'll try to intimidate and frighten him and everyone else on the board. It's standard Scientology operating procedure. Nothing's changed. 49 While we've been content, lately, to let the system work, Goofyology has been milking the media for publicity every chance it gets. This week, they really got their wish... com- pliments of Time Magazine. For those of you who have been unable to locate a copy of the May 6th Time Magazine anywhere in the county, we are reprinting the entire cover story in today's Herald Jour- nal. Including a page from the International Edition that didn't appear in the domestic issue. The Time story, as did the Los Angeles Tunes series last summer, further confirms everything we have uncovered about the menace of the Rondroids.. Empty news stands all over the county attest to the high interest this story has gen- erated... or the high interest someone has in preventing you from reading it! Scientology is not an organization we need in our midst, no matter how many TV barmaids they parade before the governor. It was just another of their desperation dog and pony shows to try to generate a little free publicity and impress folks who don't know any better yet. Hollywood, long the neurotic center of the universe, and it's equally strange population of overpaid shiny people fails to impress most Oklahomans, who tend to laugh at them instead of with them. There's a big difference; it just doesn't show up as good in Nielson ratings. But nothing has changed in the past few months. Natcohort is still unlicensed, uncenified, unsavory and unsafe, trying to market their brand of "religion" in a medical package, and hoping the state people won't notice the difference. And they are still saying one thing and doing another: Like circulating dyers soliciting new cus- tomers among the kids at Tri-State in Enid last weekend. Just a few months ago, they were telling us they had no intention of treating any Oklahomans. (Not that out-of- staters deserve that kind of treatment, ei- ther...) Maybe they really do wake up in a new world every day! During the last week in April, Dr. John Chelf of Tulsa visited Narconon, and his report to the Mental Health Board is due later this month. Barring more Narconon induced delays, the matter of licensing and certification should come up on their June agenda. Scientologist like to call their upper level members "OTs" (Operating thetans). These are the wisest most knowledgeable, lucid, rational, sapient individuals in the clut... They claim to have magical "abilities" to make things happen. So it's perplexing to them when us back- water Okies don't buy their bilgewater. It's simple: "Livin' in the real OT (Okla- homa Territory) gives us some "abilities" of our own. Like the ability to think for our- selves. The average Okie is more "OT" by accident that Hubbard's Them ever was on purpose. Dr. Chelfs credentials suggest he is an above average Okie. Caught It In The Wringer, Again Scientology, according to Time Maga- zine, engages in everything from outright deception and burglary to dirty tricks like going through people's garbage in order to advance their agenda. Propaganda intended to refute those "dirty trick" charges was mailed by Narconon (which still claims no connection with Sci- entology) to most of you last week... ironi- cally using exact names and addresses some- how "appropriated" from the circulation list of the Newkirk Herald Journal. None of our new s rack customers received the package of slick, expensive booklets, but all of our mail customers did. All were addressed the same unique way we carry the names on our computer. And there were far too many of them to fall into the realm of mere coincidence, as will be alleged by Narconon, which has managed once again to get it's Thetan caught in the wringer. Not only that, but the names they took came from a list of active subscribers from the second half of last year. New subscribers since January did not receive the package. We know where the list came from. They know where it came from, and now you know where it came from, because you know if you're on our circulation list or not, when you subscribed, and whether or not you received their stuff. It was our list. No doubt about it. The mailing was simply too selec- tive to have come from public records, phone books, or anywhere but our office. In their feeble attempt to rebuild a self- sullied reputation, Scientology's package of public relations pizzazz weakly attempted to construct a "conspiracy" between Time Magazine and dozens of other companies, business, and individuals on two continents which it blames for the Time allegations... a story that courageously confumed every- thing we have been telling you for two years. In Scientology lingo, it's a "Dead Agent" package... designed to discredit an "enemy" agent to the point that he will be ineffective and hence, a "dead" agent. True to Scientol- ogy policy, they have attempted to divert attention from Scientology's own misdeeds by pointing fingers and blaming everyone else for their problems. Just because every reporter who pokes around in their sordid history comes up with the same set of facts, they want you to believe there is a grand conspiracy out to malign them. In this desperate and poorly thought-out 5O effort to polish their reputation, these foils apparently believed using our circulation list to invade your privacy would help them achieve that goal. Did it? While they were at it, they got ahold of an un-circulated brochure printed on July 13th for the Cult Awareness Network, which is having its annual National Conference in O~ahoma City this November. Michael McNutt, a reporter for the Dally Oklahoman; George Tomick from KFOR- TV in Oklahoma City and I have agreed to host a media workshop at the conference, although none of us are members of CAN. That information was only listed on those brochures. Nowhere else! On Tuesday night, July 161h, McNutt re- ceived a telephone call at his home from an oft-quoted local Narconon spokesman. The caller had a "pile" of suggestions for McNutt, including the comment that McNutt's pro- fessional reputation would be mined ff he didn't back out of the CAN workshop. The caller also suggested that there would be demonstrations and possibly violence at the CAN conference and it wouldn't be very safe for McNutt to attend. Can, whose leadership boasts Catholic priests, Jewish Rabbis, all klncls of Protes- tants, some nothings, and an especially healthy sprinkling of former Ministers of Scientology, is considered a "National Anti- Religious Hate Group" by Scientology. They have a "Dead Agent" pack already made up on that, too, which you may be getting next, addressed with our labels. The District Attorney and the State Attor- ney General kind of wonder how they got those addresses. So do we. You don't suppose they dispatched an Operating Thetan to leave his body and slither through the crack beneath our door and then telepathically extract the contents of our circulation file from the computer? They can do that, you know! Most of them are already out of their mind, so leaving their body is no big deal. They haven't got it all perfected yet, though. When they get back, TR-L (outflowing false information effec- tively) sets in, and they can't remember what they did while they were gone, so they make something up to explain it... like a phone book story, or something. Or did they just grovel round in our trash, instead? Like ordinary mortal scumbags do. Which was it, guys? An OT in action, or just Dirty Tricks? Did you really think that either would enhance your reputation in our community? Narconon Granted Further Licensing Delay By State Board Of Mental Health OKLAHOMA CITY (AP), Oct. 24, 1991 - The state Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse has voted to postpone a decision on whether to grant certification to the controversial Narconon Chilocco New Life Center. Board members announced at 11:45 p.m. Friday that they would make their decision on the center' s application Dec. 13. The center near Newkirk in far northem Oklahoma was the subject of a daylong public hearing Friday on Narconon's peti- tion for state certification. More than 250 people attended the hearing, 200 of which supported the facility. State Mental Health Department staff- ers are recommending Narconon' s certifica- tion request be denied. And Dr. John Chelf, a Tulsa psychiatrist hired by the board to evaluate Narconon, submitted a report ques- tioning its effectiveness. He said during an April visit, he was told patients dependent on alcohol and drugs were treated mostly with saunas and vita- mins. Chelf said such treatment during the withdrawal process could be risky. However, Narconon medical director Dr. Ray Stowers testified that he prescribes Valium and sedatives by phone to patients going through difficult withdrawals. After some board members questioned why Narconon has no licensed person, like a nurse, on staff to distribute medicine, Nar- conon lawyer Harry Woods Jr. said the cen- ter would hire one. Under further questioning, Stowers agreed that the center' s program is not actu- ally "drag-free," as its literature claims. Mike St. Amnons, the center's public relations director, said under questioning that Narconon's manual describing the pro- gram as drug-free should be changed. Among those testifying on behalf of Narconon was actress Kirstie Alley, who credits the Narconon program with saving her life. Ms. Alley now is national spokes- woman for Narconon. "I think it' s the best rehab in the world." said Ms. Alley, who has given about $380,000 to Narconon Chilocco for renovation work and scholarships for patients. Ms. Alley, who said she broke her co- caine habit after undergoing a Narconon program in Los Angeles, advised the board members not to worry about details and to certify Narconon because the treatment works. A Los Angeles doctor who developed the National Football League's drug treat- ment program testified that Narconon' s pro- gram is safe. "Does it work?" Dr. Forrest Tennant asked. "Beats me. There's no scientific evi- dence that it does. What' s important is they apparently don't hurt." St. Amnons testified that the set fee for treatment at Narconon Chilocco was $20,000, up from $12,000 when the center began operations. He said that members of the Five Civilized Tribes received free treatment. 51 The Guru Of Gubblebum It appears that if you offer a drug ueatment program that consists of standing on your head, eating mashed potatoes, and reciting Alice in Wonderland while chewing bubble gum, you have a fair chance of getting certified as legitimate health care in Oklahoma. As long as it "doesn't hurt anyone." All you need is a TV barmaid to swear it worked for her. Never mind that four of your own doctors say there is no scientific evidence that it works. Never mind that the only real independent study ever proposed for your program was turned down by the research facility' s committee on Human Subject Review as unfit for human experimentation. Never mind that you advertise it as "over 75%" successful when fewer than half your patients even complete the course. Never mind that your policy calls for a "totally drug free" program, when it really isn't. Never mind that you' ve been trying to get licensed for a couple of years and are just now getting around to hiring a real nurse to pass out the pills you advertise that you don't give. Never mind that your "medical director" of 2 months tenure botched two blood tests and had another test report came back "almost incompatible with human life," and nobody on your staff was even trained well enough to weed them out from the material you presented to the state certitication board. (That certainly shows your expertise.) And never mind that standing on your head causes your custom- ers' brains to melt until they absorb any goofball thing you tell them while they're in this upside down trance. Never mind that all of your training material has to be "secular- ized" to hide it's origins because you're a disciple of the Guru of Gubblebum... that everything you teach your customers while they're in this condition is the output of that dead egocentric who decided to call his ramblings a religion because real science laughed at him. Imagine.. the Guru of Gubblebum, perched upside-down on a W- meter (Weight Meter, or bathroom scales), spouting the verses of Alice, with mashed potatoes running out of his ears as he tries to chew his way into a state of infinity. I believe I'd try to keep the Mental Health Board from hearing about that connection myself. Yep. I believe I'd scream for my first amendment rights, too. Never mind that it's mostly a program of mind-manipulation. Druggies, after all, need their brains washed. They need to learn to communicate the good old fashioned way, with words like "beingness," "entheta," '?TSness," "havingness," "C/S-ing," "Q and A-ing," and other "enturbulating" terms of common, everyday usage. Never mind that most of your graduates proudly announce that they are taking your "job placement" training; or are already working for you (in the medical records department?). You're not, after all, in the business of recruiting members for the guru, it's just that they naturally tend to lean that direction when they get done standing on their heads. Never mind that stuff. You have a pretty fair chance of eventually getting a license because you "don't hurt anyone." That's great medicine. That's a real comfort to the consumer. You want a license to be proud of?. First get real proof that the program works. Second, clean up the petty stuff. Third, put a sign out there saying it's a religious organization operated by the followers of the Gum of Gubblebum for the spiritual treatment of drug abuse. Then fully publicize all the tenants of Gubblebumism so your customers can decide if they want to join or not before they spend their shekels. All the tenantS. Even those "confidentiai" ones. No one will die of pneumonia. Trust me. You do that, and most of your entheta will evaporate into nothing- ness. And I'll even quit Q and A-ing you. (The events, processes and characters depicted in this editorial are fictional and any resemblance to any persons, processes, or events in the MEST Universe, living or dead, is purely coincidental) Publisher To speak At National Cult Awareness Conference Friday Robert Lobsinger, speaking November 1 at the Cult Awareness Network (CAN) annual national conference at the Sheraton Century Center Hotel in Oklahoma City, will detail the deceptive history behind Scientology and the establishment of Narconon in Okla- homa. Lobsinger is owner and publisher of the Newkirk Herald Journal. He will speak at 12:00 noon. When Scientology established its questionable drug treatment program, Narconon, at Chilocco Indian School in 1989, it was Robert Lobsinger who recognized Narconon's connection to Scien- tology, and he received a joint commendation from the Oklahoma Legislature for his courageous coverage of the Scientology issue in Oklahoma. The May 6, 1991 TIME Magazine cover story labeled Scientology "the cult of greed," and characterized the cult as being responsible for "mined lives, lost fortunes," and federal crimes." Despite controversial and exhaustive hearings on Narconon's Chilocco facility, it remains uncertitied and the Oklahoma Mental Health Board has given Narconon until December 131h to comply with all state regulations. This makes Lobsinger's presentation to the national Cult Awareness Network particularly timely and impor- tant, providing facts crucial to the people of Oklahoma, on a cult which this month's Reader's Digest identifies with the headline "A dangerous cult goes mainstream." Also featured as a speaker by CAN on November 2, will be 52 William A. Kolibash, United States Attor- ney for the Northern District of West Vir- ginia. Kolibash successfully prosecuted the leader and a devotee of the infamous West Virginia-based hare Kirshnas earlier this year for racketeering activity, concluding murder and other crimes. A third devotee was convicted of mail fraud. Kolibash will focus on successful pros- ecution of destructive cults where criminal activity exists. Michael McNutt of the Daily Oklahoman and George Tomek of KFOR-TV of Okla- homa City will participate with Lobsinger in a program on November 2 on "Responsible Media Coverage of Cults.. CAN is a national non-profit educational organization with 23 affdiates nationwide which was formed in 1978, the year of the Jonestown murder-suicides of 913 foliow- eB of Jim Jones of the Peoples Temple. It receives and responds to more than 15,000 inquiries annually concerning destructive cults and problems they pose to society. CAN's 2,000 members include mental health professionals, educators, clergy, law enforce- ment, ex-cult members and families victim- ized by cults. That 'Anti-Religious Hate Group'... Many of you have been told by Scientol- ogy that I am a member of the Cult Aware- ness Network, which it calls a "national anti- religious hate group." But as usual, they are wrong on all counts. First, I am not a member of CAN. Until Scientology tried to sneak their Narconon unit into Chilocco, I had no idea there even was a Cult Awareness Network. But thank goodness there is. Second, this "anti-religious hate group" boasts highly credentialed clergy of all reli- gions. It even has a healthy sprinkling of Scientology "ministers" among it's ecumentical ranks. Third, CAN "hates "no one. It was born of the love parents and family members have for the victims of destructive cults. CAN's purpose is to educate. It monitors the activity of some 200 destructive cults, be they politi- cal, psychotherapy, commercial, religious, or just weird in nature. The common denominator of all destruc- tive cults is that they operate on the illogical and immoral principal that the end justifies the means. Most destructive cults also have a single source authoritarian leadership, and abody of "protected" knowledge, made avail- able only to the most trusted inner circle of members. Many destructive cults also em- ploy the techniques of mind control. CAN gathers facts that identify these so- cially destructive organizations and makes that information available to anyone who Legitimate, commercial concerns do not feel the need to attack the Cult Awareness Network. Legitimate Political organizations have felt no need to lainbast CAN. The scientific community feels unthreatened by CAN. Genuine religions see no need to deni- grate CAN. Suppose CAN came out with some ridicu- lous claim that GM was really a "cult". Would GM spend a fortune harassing CAN members? Would they demonstrate at CAN functions? Would they protest the designa- tion with all the fury and wrath at their disposal? No I suspect they would laugh. Because the claim would melt under the slightest scrutiny. And that, of course, is why CAN doesn't claim GM is a cult. Because it simply isn't. But for some reason, Scientology, which claims it is not a cult, feels it necessary to attack CAN; to demonstrate at it's confer- ences; to spread disinformation and innu- endo about its members; and to whimper and whine to the media about its rights being violated. Methinks they doth protest too much. Funny how only the cults get worked up about the Cult Awareness Network. Funny how Scientology, which claims to have the bridge to total freedom (however confiden- tial they try to keep it) can be so vehemently opposed to a tiny group like CAN which only works to protect freedom of thought. Could it be that they have another agenda for your thoughts? How Germans Feel About Narconon reprinted from Der Spiegel October 21, 1991 with permission 53 'Deaths In Dianetics/Scientology Institutions Spur Inquiry' Suppose your newspaper received the fol- lowing press release: "Deaths In Dianetics/Scientology Institutions Spur Inquiry Charging that it has uncovered a number of questionable deaths in Dianetics and or Scientology Institutions, a national citizens rights group today launched a probe into all deaths of members of those organizations over the last decade. The probe was initiated in a letter from the Citizens Commission on Freedom of Thought (CCFOT) Executive Director to David Miscavige, Chairman of Religious Technology Co., the parent organization of Dianetics/Scientology, requesting the name and cause of death of all persons who died while undergoing Dianetics or Scientology training courses since 1980. According to CCFOT, the high number of questionable deaths among members of the Dianetics/Scientology organizations appar- ently arises from a lack of concern for the lives of persons who have been placed in the hands of Scientology auditors. One of the cases under investigation by CCFOT involves a person who apparently died during the group's "Purification Run- down", which includes several hours a day in a sauna. "It appears that this person was killed by the Scientology treatment he was given, and yet no autopsy was performed" said the Director. "It is intolerable that deaths like this have occurred with no concern demon- strated by the Scientologists involved for the possibility that they are actually killing their patients ." CCFOT's letter specifies that if patient confidentiality provisions prohibit the re- lease of names, the list may consist solely of total deaths and an enumeration of the re- ported causes of death. "The lives of thousands of Scientologists depend on a thorough investigation of all deaths of members of aH Dianetics / Scien- tology groups. Only by finding out the causes of these deaths will it be possible to prevent future needless deaths at the hands of Scien- tology," said the Director. CCFOT was established in 1991 by the Cult Awareness Network to investigate and expose Scientology's violations of Freedom of Thought through mind control tech- niques." Sounds horrible, doesn't it? Yet a very similar release was received this week by most newspapers in the state. EXcept that it was from Scientology's Citizen's Commis- sion on Human Rights, charging the state Mental Health Department with alleged abuses. Forty years Scientology has been around, and it's not until they fear they won't get their phony Narcono n drug program licensed that they decide to give a damn about Oklahoma's mentally ill. We trust that the state recognizes this simple ploy for what it is - further attempts to intimidate the state into granting legitimacy to a huge confi- dence game. Further- we wonder just how Scientology would respond to such a probe of their own inner sanctum. Proven charges of abuses can be rectified in the state system. Scientology operates in the murky area beyond laws which protect their members' interests. One suspects that CCFOT would have little success in gaining any credible infor- mation from Scientology on the subject, in spite of the fact that former members tell many harrowing tales of suicides and myste- rious deaths allegeally attributable to the organization' s methods of operation. We suspect that CCFOT would be met only with predictable self-righteous rage and demagoguery. Nevertheless, if the kettle is going to start calling the pot names, maybe it should be done. 54 Reconstructing Human History Human history is long, tedious road with many missing bricks. It is based on a few artifacts, some rather outstanding individual lives, some written words, and a lot of oral tradition. The farther back in history one travels, the less clear the picture. Details fall by the wayside. Assumptions take theirplace. Current events become history. History be- comes archeology. Archeology becomes educated guesswork. Guesswork becomes theory. Suppose .... just suppose there was a way to rebuild the entire history of the human race. One life at a time. Accurately, com- pletely, in absolute minuscule detail. What a remarkable historical record could be con- structed, like a long road, one brick at a time. What a boon to the artifact hunters, to the historians, to the politicians who seemed doomed to repeat history for lack of knowl- edge about it. What a solid, incontrovertible record that would be. No more guesswork. No more wondering. Our friends up north have, they claim, the ability to recall their past lives over trillions of years. They know who they were, and what they did or did not do in those past lives. They can replay their "whole track" of lives, even back into other planets and galax- ies. Now, with this remarkable trait, and a membership now claimed to be at 8 million, they could put down an awful lot of bricks on our historical road. Lets see. Eight million members each with a span of say, 50 years per life. Why, in just the span of the last 10,000 years, that works out to about 1,600 million lives. That's a bunch of bricks, and would pave a lot of history. Probably more history than we really need to reconstruct. What credibility it would add to the orga- nization able to accomplish such a task... To fill in those gaps in history where little is known. To build upon what is recorded and known. To prove their ability to the world, and give humanity back it's heritage in three dimensional detail... With this possibility in mind, I asked some of those who have "experienced" their past lives, just who they were in the "before." It was a meagre attempt to reconstruct some small measure of history myself, and thus prove it possible to regain all lost knowledge of the past. My interviews so far have included one Joan of Arc, a couple of Napoleons, several Julius Caesars, a few Jesus Christs, and one "biological" father of Jesus Christ. But no stable boys, hod carriers, or potato farmers. And each of them knows of others who have also been Napoleon, or Julius Caesar, or Jesus Christ. Absurd as it may seem, they believed it. It was true for them. So much for an accurate historical record based on the recall of past lives. But then, what would you expect from an outfit that teaches "Truth is what is true for you" ? Which is exactly what is taught at Nar- conon, on page 201 of Book 6. An organization that removes the anchor points of reality from people's lives is a dangerous entity. Few things are absolute. Real truth is one of them. Without absolute truth, nothing can be proven correct, nothing can be proven false. Anything can be good or bad as the organization's goals suggest. It leads invariably to the false logic that the end justifies the means. An organization which has historically proven that it wili use any means to accom- plish it's goals is ultimately destructive in nature. Critical thinking ceases. Thought control sets in. Absurdity becomes reality. Should the Mental Health Board fall to recognize these flaws in the Narconon oint- ment, and mistakenly license Narconon as legitimate health care in the state, they will ultimately have more Napoleans than they can say grace over. 55 Good Inspection Won't Ensure Narconon Permit By Michael McNutt, Enid Bureau The Daily Oklahoman, Tuesday, December 10, 1991 A controversial drug and alcohol treat- ment center seeking state certification re- ceived high scores on a recent state inspec- tion, but that is no guarantee of certification, a state official said Monday. "The only official word is that the (De- partment of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services) staff denied it last time, and it doesn't look like there 's going to be much change on that," Guy Hurst of the Oklahoma Attorney General's office, said. Hurst, who represents the mental health department staff, said no official recommen- dation has been prepared yet by the staff members. Gary Smith, president of Narconon Chi- 1occo New Life Center near Newkirk, issued a press release stating the facility's high scores "show that we do meet or exceed the mental health standards for drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers." The Oklahoma Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Serivces is scheduled to issue a decision Friday on whether to certify Narconon Chilocco, which has been accepting patients since February 1990. The state inspection report will be one factor the board will consider. Board members, who met for almost 16 hours in October to hear comments about Narconon's operation, set 13 requirements for certification. One was allowing depart- ment staff on campus to ascertain compli- ance with the requirements. Others were to improve medical records kept at the treatment center and to hire ap- propriate, medically trained employees to administer medication and supervise the center' s sauna and exercise programs. A five member team inspected the center last month, Smith said. He released a document Monday showing Narconon scored 100 percent on governing authority, 92 percent on program manage- ment and 90 percent on program services. Hurst said the center needed to score 100 in all three areas. But Smith said state regulations require only a minimum of 75 percent to qualify for provisional certification. Smith did not send the rest of the inspector' s report, which listed several defi- ciencies. Hurst said those deficiencies included fail- ing to have enough nurses to dispense medi- cation and failing to keep complete medical records. '~They're serious (deficiencies) in that they're all required," he said. "If you don't have them, you're not supposed to be li- censed." Smith said patients are closely monitored by the medical staff, "but it didn't show on the records." He also said the center has hired two registered nurses and plans to hire an addi- tional nurse today. Hurst said Narconon Chilocco needs at least four nurses. He said inspectors also listed concerns over the lack of drug and alcohol education materials given to patients. Patients are given mostly materials from the late L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientol- ogy. Board members during their October hear- ing expressed concerns about medical pro- cedures, and they asked for improvements in record keeping and patient monitoring to make sure they face no health risk as patients go through Narconon's treatment of vita- mins, sauna and exercise. Narconon has billed :~ts treatment at "to- tally drug-free" but its recently appointed medical director, Dr. Ray S towers, told board members that drugs are used on some pa- tients in the withdrawal phase. Narconon Certification Hearing Tomorrow, Friday, December 13, 1991 9:00 a.m. Department of Mental Health Building 1300 North 13th Street Oklahoma City, Ok Public Encouraged To Attend 56 State Mental Health Board Denies Narconon Certification Bid By Robert W. Lobsinger 19 December 1991 The State Board of Mental Health Friday denied certification for a controversial drug and alcohol treatment center known as Nar- conon, and gave the facility seven days to move out its patients. The meeting was attended by 136 inter- ested spectators, about 60 of them from Newkirk. Almost no one attending actually heard what was going on because of the lack of space in the meeting room. Most specta- tors stood or sat patiently in the ante-rooms as the board heard testimony. Media cover- age was abundant, however. The board's decision ended a lengthy eb fort by Narconon Chilocco New Life Center to win certification for their treatment mo- dalities, which were formulated by the late science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard. But another battle is brewing, as Nar- conon attorney Harry Woods, Jr., indicated at the meeting that he would appeal the board' s decision in Oklahoma County Dis- trict Court. Narconon' s president, Gary Smith, said in television and newspaper interviews fol- lowing the decision that certification was denied because the Mental health Depart- ment was putting their bias and prejudice into their reports, which have twice recom- mended against certifying the facility. The Oklahoma Board of Mental health and Substance Abuse Services voted 6-0 to deny certification for Narconon, which sought permission to operate a 75 bed facil- ity north of Newkirk at the former Chilocco Indian School. Dr. Sue Ellen Read abstained from voting because she did not attend an October hearing when members listened to more than 12 hours of evidence before de- laying their decision again until last Friday. Dr. Dwight Holden, who toured the facil- ity a week ago today, said it lacked a certified drug and alcohol abuse counselor and the staff had little formal training in the field. Dr. Stewart R. Beasley, Jr., asked that the 27 patients currently enrolled at Chilocco be transferred to other facilities within seven days because "the program is basically un- safe. Their well being is at risk." His motion to that effect was approved by the board over the objection of Mr. Murray Abowitz, who felt a longer period of time should be given for the transfer. The program relies on a sauna and exer- cise program and until October was adver- tised as being "drag-free". But at the October hearing, Dr. Ray Stowers of Mealford, who had been hired in September by Narconon as their medical director, told the board that drugs were ad- ministered during the detoxification part of the program. Holden said Dr. Stowers efforts at making improvements at the facility were noticed, but he said there were too many health concerns to certify it. There "is a need to prove the safety and effectiveness" of such unorthodox treatment programs, Holden said. State Attorney General's office lawyer Guy Hnrst said the state will ask for dis- missal of an Oklahoma County court order that allowed Narconon to treat up to 40 patients while its certification was pending. State officials will have authority to shut down the facility once the seven day transfer period is over, Hurst said, even though the facility is on Indian land, because it is a non- Indian operation. Tribal police could be asked to intervene if jurisdictional problems arise, he added. The Board refused a request by Woods to allow the facility to continue in operation until the appeal process is exhausted. Hurst noted that such a process could take several years if the matter goes before the Oklahoma Supreme Court. Board members made their decision after a 3 hour closed deliberative session, follow- ing about 4 hours of testimony including that of two former students who, among other things, said that the sauna temperatures were as high as 200 degrees. One graduate of the program said he was told he could drink "a few" beers after completing the program without problems. But, he said, he went back to Narconon twice after going on drinking hinges following his graduation from the program. 'I believed them," he said. Reasons for denial of certification were listed in a document called Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, which was re- leased following the meeting by Hurst. Some of those findings are quoted as follows: Findings of Fact "In reviewing the application and deter- mining the merits of the application the Board on the October 18, 1991 and Decem- ber 13, 1991 hearings heard evidence and considered the issues of safety and effective - ness of the treatment modality utilized by the Applicant. Most drugs of abuse are removed from the body by detoxification and excretion through the liver, kidneys, and the lungs. Although minute quantities of some drugs may be found in sweat the amount represents a small fraction of drug elimination. The Narconon drug treatment modality treats all drug addictions the same. No scien- tific evidence was produced to show that all drug addictions are properly treated in the same manner. The terms "patient, .... student" and "cli- ent'' are used interchangeably in these Find- ings. The Narconon Program exposes its pa- tients to the risk of delayed withdrawal phe- nomena such as seizures, delirium and/or hallucinations. The Board has not considered any evi- dence of the beliefs or opinions of any wit- ness on matters of religion in making its findings of fact. To the extent there may be some affiliation between Narconon and any religion such affiliation has been totally dis- regarded by the Board. The Board has not made its decision on certification based upon any consideration of religion or religious affiliation. The Board concludes that the Applicant, Narconon Intematlonal, has the burden of proving that its program meets all require- ments for certification and specifically the burden of proving its program is both safe 57 and effective. Narconon has not sustained its burden of proving its program is either safe or effective. However, regardless of whether Narconon International has the burden of proof the Board concludes there is substan- tial credible evidence, as found by the Board, that the Narconon Program is unsafe and ineffective. The Narconon program requires its pa- tients to sweat up to five hours per day, seven days a week, for approximately thirty days. The rationale, according to Narconon for the sweat-out is to rid the body of fat-stored drugs and chemicals through sweat. How- ever, there is no scientific basis for the tech- nique. Most drugs of abuse are removed from the body by detoxification and excre- tion through the liver, kidneys and (in some instances) through the lungs. Although minute quantities of some drugs may be found in sweat, the amount represents such a small fraction of drug elimination that no matter how much an individual sweated through exercise or saunas, the clearance of most drugs of abuse would not be signifi- cantly increased. The Narconon program includes the ad- ministration of high doses of vitamins and minerals to the Narconon patient as part of their treatment. The use of high amounts of vitamins and minerals in the amounts de- scribed administered by Narconon can be potentially dangerous to the patients of Nar- conon according to the more credible medi- cal evidence. The relationship between drug abuse and psychiatric disorders is well established. Most drug abusers who enter residential drug treatment facilities have high levels of anxiety, depression, hostility or apathy. Fur- ther, a chemical dependency disorder may co-exist with - or be secondary to - a specific psychiatric illness, such as schizophrenia or major depression, which should be treated by established psychiatric procedures. The Narconon program presents a potential risk to the patients of the Narconon program that delayed withdrawal phenomena such as sei- zures, delirium or hallucination that are oc- casionally seen several days after cessation of drugs such as benzodiazepines may be misinterpreted by Narconon's non-medical staff as the effect of mobilizing the drug from fat during the sauna sweat-out proce- dure period. There is also a potential risk that the reported re-experience of the abused drugs' effect during the sauna sweat-out program may be the result of misinterpreted symptoms of hyperthermia or electrolyte irabalance since vital signs and serum elec- trolyte levels have not been consistently monitored during the sweat-out procedures or when a student is reporting the phenom- ena. The progress notes for the patients at Nar- conon do not consistently evidence that vital signs are recorded every six hours in the detoxification process; nor do the progress notes record fluid intake for detoxification clients. Discharge summaries of patients at Nar- conon were not routinely completed within fifteen days of the patient'~ discharge. The chnical records of patients at Nar- conon do not consistently reflect the record- ing of vital signs every six hours for clients as required under non-medical detoxifica- tion standards of the Department. There is credible evidence by way of wit- ness testimony and review of Narconon charts which reflect that there were patients who' had psychiatric problems who were taken off of their previously prescribed psychiat- ric medication who did not do well and subsequently developed psychiatric prob- lems. This evidence indicates a lack of safety and effectiveness in connection with the program. Clients of Narconon suffering from psy- chiatric illness, when taken off their pre- scribed medications, did poorly in the Nar- conon program and were placed in a segre- gated facility called "destern". This practice endangers the safety, health and/or the physi- cal and mental well being of Narconon's clients. Narconon' s program lacks any acceptable degree of quality control of the sauna tem- peratures and treatment. Such a lack of con- trol endangers the safety, health and/or the physical or mental well being of its clients. Narconon hires former students to work at Narconon - Chilocco immediately upon graduation and the former students work directly with the present students. While former patients of drug and alcohol rehabili- tation clinics can be employed in such clin- 58 ics after graduation, the former patient's recovery from his addiction should be estab- lished with more passage of time to ensure sobriety and to avoid putting patients in contact with addicts who are not fully recov- ered. This practice could negatively impact the safety and effectiveness of the program. Narconon does not maintain a sufficient level of follow-up of its students after gradu- ation, which impacts the effectiveness of the program allowing for relapses and lack of recovery. During an on-site visit in November 1991 a student was found with a potentially dan- gerous low level of potassium which could lead to cramps, (muscular, skeletal prob- lems) and cardiac arrhythmia. The vast majority of time spent in the Narconon treatment plan and course work does not in any way relate to or involve education about drug and alcohol abuse treat- ment, issues, and/or addiction. The Nar- conon treatment plan thus has deficiencies which render it ineffective. The Narconon treatment plan is general in nature, applies categorically to all students and is not indi- viduaiized. The treatment plan also lacks measurable individualized objectives which the students should seek to achieve in the program. For instance, the treatment plan sets a patient's objective as follows: "To have a clear mind." This objective is essen- tially meaningless. In order for a bonafide drug treatment plan to be effective it is essential to have individualized measured objectives which Narconon' s treatment plan lacks. Part of the Narconon treatment program involves touch assists between patients. Touch assists involve massages between patients in rooms by themselves. Narconon has both male and female patients who are involved in the drug and alcohol rehabilita- tion program. This practice of touch assists could likely lead to improper sexual contact between drug addicts or alcoholics in the process of recovery. An accepted standard in such programs is for the patients to keep their hands to themselves. The practice of touch assists between male and female pa- tients who are recovering drug addicts or alcoholics in private rooms renders the pro- gram unsafe in this respect. The discharge planning is not adequate and commences only very shortly prior to discharge. This lack of discharge planning renders Narconon's program ineffective. Narconon clients are counseled by Nar- conon staff that it is acceptable for the client to drink alcohol after being discharged from the Narconon program and if the client is incapable of being able to drink alcohol, then this fact evidences the clients need for further treatment. Such counseling endan- gers the client's safety, health and/or the physical or mental well being, and is not in accord with acceptable drug and alcohol counseling and treatment. Narconon employes staff inadequately educated and trained in the care and treat- ment of drug and alcohol abuse clients. Such a practice endangers the safety, health and/ or the physical or mental well being of the clients of Narconon. Narconon permits clients under treatment for drug and alcohol abuse to handle and provide medications to fellow Narconon cli- ents, to supervise the sauna treatment of fellow Narconon clients, and to supervise Narconon clients with psychiatric disorders. Such practices endanger the client' s health and safety and are not in accord with accept- able drug and alcohol treatment. There is substantial medical literature which indicates that sauna therapy may pose significant health risks to intravenous hero- ine addicts, which is likely to be treated at Narconon, because such drug use may im- pair normal physiological response and prob- lems associated with high temperature sau- nas which could be detected. The Narconon Program includes running to stimulate circulation followed by pre- scribed periods in a sauna for up to 5 hours at extremely high temperatures (i.e. 135ø to 200ø F) and as such endangers the safety, health and/or the physical or mental well being of its clients. Such a procedure ex- poses the client to the health hazards of dehydration and heat injury. This sauna re- gime also creates a risk of hyperthermia and electrolyte imbalance. Narconon restricts access by Narconon clients to their personal physicians, family, attorneys, clergy and others by not permit- ting communications except at limited and designated hours. such a practice may en- danger the physical or mental well being of Narconon' s clients. The Narconon program falls to provide adequate follow-up and treatment for Nar- conon clients demonstrating abnormal lab tests and other medical problems. Such fail- ures endanger the safety, health and/or the physical or mental well being of the Nar- conon clients and is not in accord with ac- ceptable drug and alcohol care and treat- ment. There was no evidence that the Narconon staff inventoried and verified the medica- tions brought on to the campus by Narconon clients. such a failure endangers the safety, health and/or the physical or mental well being of Narconon's clients. The Board recognizes that Narconon has in the past few weeks adopted many new policies. The evidence did not disclose ad- herence to many if not all of these policies. There was no measurable and identifiable compliance by Narconon to its newly adopted policies in the areas of taking and recorda- tion of vital signs, drug and alcohol instruc- tions to clients, handling of medicalions, withdrawal and discharge procedures, lab testing, procedures for emergency medical supplies and others. Narconon clients are routinely adminis- tered clonidine. Narconon fails to provide adequate supervision for clients prescribed this medicalion given this drug's risks and potential for adverse consequences. Such failure to adequately supervise endangers the safety, health and/or the physical or mental well being of the Narconon clients. The vast majority of Narconon's course materials in its drug and alcohol abuse pro- gram are not designed to educate and/or treat clients in the area of drug and alcohol abuse. In addition, there was only evidence of occa- sional lectures to Narconon clients in areas of drug and alcohol abuse. As such, Narconon' s program lacks sufficient instruc- tion and education in the area of drug and alcohol abuse. There is no credible scientific evidence that the Narconon program is effective in the 50 treatment of chemical dependency. There is no credible scientific evidence that exercise speeds up the detoxification process. Large doses of niacin are administered to patients during the Narconon program to rid the body of radiation. There is no credible scientific evidence that niacin in any way gets radiation out of the patient's body. Rather, the more credible medical evidence supports the existence of potential medical risks to persons receiving high doses of niacin. There is no credible evidence establishing the safety of the Narconon program to its patients. There is no credible evidence establishing the effectiveness of the Narconon program to its patients. Conclusions Of Law Any finding of fact which should be in- cluded in the conclusion of law such matters are included hereby by reference. In order for the Application to be granted by the Board it must be shown by a prepon- derance of the evidence that the program is safe and effective for the non-medical resi- dential treatment of alcohol and drug abuse. Th purpose of Mental health law in the State of Oklahoma is to provide humane care and treatment of persons who require treatment for drugs or alcohol abuse. Resi- dents of the S late of Oklahoma are entitled to medical care and treatment in accordance with the highest standards accepted in medi- cal practice. 43A O.S. Supp. 1990, 1-102. The Narconon Chilocco program does not conform to the principles of traditional chemical dependency treatment. The Board' s conclusion that the Narconon Chilocco pro- gram is non-traditional does not form the basis, in any respect, for the Board's deci- sion on the Narconon application for certifi- cation. No scientifically well-controlled studies were found that documented the safety of the Narconon program. There are potential dan- gers from the use of non-medical staff who may be unable to interpret the possibility of seizures, delirious, cardiac arrythmia, or hallucinations that are phenomena associ- ated with the cessation of drugs. Them is also a potential risk of the reported reexperi- ence of the abused drug effect during the sauna sweat out program may be the result of misinterpreted symptoms of hyperthermia or electrolyte irabalance. Moreover, the multiple findings of fact heretofore entered by the Board establish that Narconon's pro- gram is not safe. Drug treatment program offered by Nar- conon Chilocco is an experimental treat- ment and not proven safe or effective and is not in accord with the highest standards accepted in medical practice as required by statute. No scientifically wee-controlled indepen- dent, long-term outcome studies were found that directly and clearly establish the effec- tiveness of the Narconon program for the treatment of chemical dependency and the more credible evidence establishes Narconon's program is not effective. The Board determines that the Narconon Pro- gram is not effective in the treatment of chemical dependency. The Board concludes that the program offered by Narconon Chilocco is not medi- cally safe. The Board has reviewed the proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law sub- mitted by the Department and Narconon. Any proposed f'mding of fact and/or conclu- sion of law inconsistent with those entered by the Board is denied. Certification is denied." We have printed, today, the reasoning behind the Mental Health Board's decision not to certify Narconon as legitimate health care in the state of Oklahoma. All of it. It's long. But it is important that somebody put it in the public record. The simple fact is that Narconon is unsafe and ineffective as health care. Period. Never was, never will be. It's exactly what we said it was two and a half years ago: a snake oil cure, which at any price is a rip-off. Thanks to the Mental Health Board, tax- payers' money and insurance benefits will not be wasted on Hubbard' s Hucksters. Des- perate people will no longer be fed false hopes and dangerous hocum, at least at Chi- Iocco. However, the Narconuts continue to blow smoke up the media's tailpipe, blaming their failure to pass muster on everyone and ev- erything else except the real problem: It doesn't work, and it isn't safe. Over 20 years they' ve been taking people' s money and yet there is not one piece of scientifically credible evidence that their program works. Four of their own doctors admitted that at the hearings. Is it safe? Sure, most people survive it. That's not the point. The point is that some- one might not survive a 200 degree sauna. Keep in mind that water boils at 212 degrees. One can bake brownies in less than 5 hours at 200 degrees, but that's how long debili- tated addicts are expected to spend in the Narconon sauna each day. Considering that all of Narconon's staff (except their new medical director, inciden- tally) have been through the program at least once, it is not difficult to understand why they have such a hard time comprehending the board's decision. Their brains have obviously been baked. Which is further indication that Narconon doesn't work and is unsafe. We were especially unimpressed with Ms. Bimbo Barmaid for informing us of how arrogant and irresponsible the Mental Health Board is. Fortunately, she doesn't mn any- thing but her mouth. And even then. she usually uses somebody else's words. Some- one might pay attention to her if she had the credentials of even one member of the Men- tal Health Board. No matter how often she reads the script they give her, she can't make Narconon safe, and she can't make it work. Narconon's latest lactic is to start a peti- tion drive across the state. They've been spotted lurking in the dorm halls at OSU, and were invited off the property at Wall-Mart and Food Warehouse in Ponca over the weekend. With assistance from the police. The idea apparently is that if enough people sign a petition to do something that is dan- gerous, the people who know better will let them do it anyway. This is Narconon's con- cept of helping their fellow man? All the names in the world on a petition don't make the Narconon system work, and they don't make it safe. In addition, they have again resorted to their old tactic of harassing people. At least one Mental Health Board member is getting strange phone calls and being followed where ever he goes. A lot of us in Newkirk have been through that foolishness before, too. Harassing board members doesn't make the Narconon program work, andit doesn'tmake it safe. Harassment like thisjust makes them more obnoxious. Then there is the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights (CCHR), Narconon's sis- ter org, which appears right on que to charge the Mental Health Department with undocu- mented heinous crimes everytime it looks like Narconon is going to get tossed out on it's ear. Trying to intimidate the Mental Health Department doesn't make the Nar- conon system safe, or effective. All of these things they do, without ad- dressing the real problem: Narconon is dan- gerous and it doesn' t work. Until they recog- nize that fact, they might as well be trying to teach a pig to sing. Which wastes a lot of time and it irritates the p~g. 60 Freeman Gets Narconon Appeal By Michael McNutt Enid Bureau December 26, 1991 An Oklahoma County judge who previ- ously has ruled in favor of Narconon Chi- Iocco New Life Center has been assigned to hear the center' s latest court case, a lawyer for the center said Saturday. Harry Woods Jr. said a court appeal of the state mental health board' s denial of certifi- cation for the facility has been assigned to District Judge Leamon Freeman. Freeman also will rule on a request to allow Narconon Chilocco to remain open through the appeal process, Woods said. The actions were flied just before court offices closed Friday in Oklahoma County, Woods said. No hearing date has been set for the request to stay the mental health board' s decision, pending appeals. State officials likely will title motions ar- guing against the appeal, and against allow- ing Narconon Chilocco to remain open through the appeal process, which could take as long as two or three years. Lawyers for Narconon Chilocco origi- naily said the appeal would be filed in Okla- homa County but then said it would be filed in Kay County District Court because that is where the facility is located. But Woods said he found a 1991 court case that allowed Narconon Chilocco to file its appeal in Oklahoma County because that is the home county of the state mental health board and the Oklahoma Depart- ment of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Freeman last November granted a stay for Narconon Chilocco that allowed the facility to remain open and to accept new patients while it went through the state licensing process. Freeman' s order countered an earlier or- der by a Kay County judge that blocked Narconon Chilocco from accepting any more patients until it is certified. Freeman also last year blocked the state mental health board from using a mental health departmen t staff report re commend- ing denial. Freeman said the staff report was biased and criticized the department for using an expert he considered biased against Narconon Chilocco. "It's like having an independent investi- gator to look into the situation in Kuwait and sending Saddam Hussein to do it," Freeman said last November. Narconon Chilocco, ordered by the state board to close last week, was allowed to remain open to take care of its 27 patients. Oklahoma County District Judge John Amick's order was to remain in effect until a hearing could be scheduled on the facility' s request to continue operating during the appeal process. However, Narconon Chilocco cannot ac- cept new patients, Amick said. Amick made his ruling after a lawyer for the state mental health board asked for dis- missal of Freeman' s 1990 order that allowed Narconon Chilocco to operate until the board ruled on certification. State officials said the order should have been droppedbecause the state mental health board made a ruling on certification. Woods said Freeman probably will set a hearing next month on Narconon C hilocco's stay request. On the appeal, Freeman can overturn the board' s denial or order a new hearing by the board, Woods said. The judge also can up- hold the board's findings. Narconon Chilocco's appeal claims that "throughout its application for certification Narconon has been subjected to an exces- sive wave of constitutional violations, statu- tory violations, disparate treatment," Gary Smith, Narconon Chilocco' s president, said. "We were forced to take this measure to protect the fights of our present and future clients that do the Narconon program," Smith said. A petition drive is under way to garner support for the facility, with more than 1,000 signing, Smith said. More than 3,000 letters from supporters have been sent to state offi- cials, he said. (Reprinted with permission, Sunday Oklahoman, Dec. 22, 1991) 61 Narconon Denied Request to Accept Former Patient By Michael McNutt, Enid Bureau, Daily Oklahoman Thursday, Jan. 9, 1992 A drug and alcohol treatment center or- dered last month to shut down was denied permission Friday accept a former patient who asked to return to the facility. State lawyers, meanwhile, argued that a stay requested by Narconon Chilocco New Life Center to remain open should be turned down because it never was licensed by Okla- homa. Oklahoma County District Judge Leeman Freeman denied a request from Narconon Chilocco to admit the former patient, said to be from New York. Freeman said lawyers for Narconon Chi- locco could file a similar request with Dis- trict Judge John Amick, who is presiding over an Oklahoma County case filed by Narconon Chilocco last year against the Oklahoma Board of Mental Health and Sub- stance Abuse. Harry Woods Jr., Narconon Chilocco's lawyer, said the facility is considering filing the request with Amick. Mental health board members last month voted to deny certification for Narconon Chilocco's treatment program, saying it was medically unsafe and experimental. Narconon Chilocco, which has been ac- cepting patients since February 1990, has appealed and asked that a stay be issued allowing the facility, located north of Newkirk, to remain open until a hearing on its appeal could be heard. Guy Hurst, assistant state attorney gen- eral, said Friday that Narconon Chilocco's request for a stay order is inappropriate because the facility never was licensed by the state. Stays usually are granted to a licensed facility that asks to remain open after a state board suspends its license, he said. "There's nothing to stay," Hurst said. "They were unlicensed. There was a hear- ing. They're still unlicensed." Hurst said he will make the same argu- ment later this month when Freeman pre- sides over a hearing on whether a stay should be issued. Freeman also is expected to hear Nar- conon Chilocco's appeal. That hearing is scheduled for May 15. When board members denied certifica- tion, they also prohibited Narconon Chi- 1occo from accepting new patients. At the time of the board' s decision, Nar- conon Chilocco had 27 patients. Hurst said he was told the facility Friday had 16 pa- tients. Immediately after the Dec. 13 decision Narconon Chilocco officials started a peti- tion drive seeking signatures in support of the center. A Newkirk area resident, meanwhile, has started his own petition drive, seeking signa- tures of those who support the board' s deci- sion. "All we' re doing is affirming our support of that agency of government that has made that decision," Frank Johns said. "We feel a decision has been made by a bona fide agency of government and it should be abided by." (Reprinted with permission, Saturday Okla- homan, January 4, 1992) Narconon Files Appeal To Operate Center By Michael McNutt, Enid Bureau, Dally Oklahoman Thursday, Jan 16, 1992 A drug and alcohol treatment center de- nied state approval has filed court papers asking a judge to overtum the state action and allow it to operate. Lawyers for Narconon International, which operates Narconon Chilocco New Life Center north of Newkirk, on Friday fried a petition for a judicial review in the Ponca City division of Kay County District Court. No hearing date has been set. In their 103 page document, lawyers ask District Judge Neat Beekman to set aside the Dec. 13 decision by the Oklahoma Board of Mental health and Substance Abuse Ser- vices to deny certification for Narconon Chilocco's treatment program. Board members said the center's treat- ment program, which relies heavily on vita- mins and a sauna and exercise program, was experimental and medically unsafe. Board members also ordered that Nar- conon Chilocco be closed by Dec. 23, but lawyers appealed the board's action. That appeal kept the facility open. However, the center is prohibited from admitting new patients. The center, which sought approval for 75 beds, had 27 patients on Dec. 13, and 16 last week. Lawyers for Narconon Chilocco last week were unsuccessful in getting a court order to allow the center to admit a former patient who they said needed follow-up treatment. Meanwhile, a Feb. 27 hearing has been scheduled in Ponca City to take up the issue of a petition filed in 1990 in Kay County to close the facility. District Attorney Joe Wideman is expected to make oral arguments during that hearing on why the facility should be closed. The case has been pending since 1990 because the judge postponed acting on the application to close the drug treatment cen- ter until after the state mental health board ruled on its certification application. Narconon Chilocco began accepting pa- tients in February 1990, and applied for state certification only after state officials sought 62 a court order to close it. Lawyers for the treatment center then tied up the process in the court system for about a year, forcing the board to hire an indepen- dent inspector to evaluate the program. Mental health department staffers were allowed to get back into the certification process four months ago. S taffrecommended denial of the center' s application. (Reprinted with permission from the Sunday Oklaho- man, Jan. 12, 1992) Board Reply Opposes Narconon By Michael McNutt Enid Bureau January 23, 1992 A request for a court order to allow Nar- conon Chilocco New Life Center to remain open and continue treating patients should be rejected, according to papers filed Wednesday (Jan 15) in Oklahoma County. Narconon Chilocco should be shut down to comply with a Dec. 13 ruling by the oklahoma Board of Mental Health and Sub- stance Abuse Services instead of being ai- 1owed to remain open while lawyers for the facility appeal the board's action, the docu- ments said. The papers were filed in Oklahoma County District Court by board lawyer George S. Corbyn Jr., in response to Narconon Chilocco's motion seeking a stay. District Judge Leamon Freeman is sched- uled to rule on the matter Jan. 31. Meanwhile, lawyers with the state attor- ney general' s office have filed court papers seeking to dismiss Narconon Chilocco's appeal in Oklahoma County District Court. Guy Hurst, an assistant state attorney gen- eral, said Narconon Chilocco fried its appeal in the wrong county. The appeal should be filed in Kay County, where the 75-bed facil- ity is located. Lawyers for Narconon Chilocco last week (also) fried (their) appeal in Kay County District Court. Narconon Chilocco lawyers have kept the facility open by going to court and filing requests for a stay and asking a judge to over rule the mental health board's decision. The center, which had 27 patients when the board denied its application for certifica- tion, now has 16. Corbyn said Narconon Chilocco' s request for a stay should be denied because the facility, which has been accepting patients since February 1990, never was licensed. He and his law firm were hired by the mental health board after Narconon Chi- locco last year won a court ruling prohibit- ing the attorney general's office from par- ticipating at that time in the case. In its request for a stay, lawyers for Nar~ conon Chilocco said mental health board members did not use substantial evidence in denying the facility' s request for certifica- tion and were biased because of Narconon Intemationai's ties with the. Church of Sci- entology. (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Oklahoman, Thursday, january 16, 1992) Narconon Loses Bid To Stay By Michael McNutt Enid Bureau, Daily Oklahoman February 2, 1992 An unlicensed alcohol and drug treatment center has lost its bid to remain open while it appealed a state board' s ruling that its treat- mentprogram is medically unsafe and should be shut down. Oklahoma County district Judge Lemon Freeman denied a request from narconon chilocco New Life Center to remain open and accept new patients because the facility never has been licensed. The center has been accepting patients since February 1990. Freeman on Wednesday (Jan. 29) said he could not issue a stay order because the center was not licensed before the Okla- homa Board of Mental Health and Sub- stance Abuse Services voted last month to deny certification. Guy Hurst, a lawyer in the state attorney general's office, said Thursday (Jan. 30) it was unclear what action state officials would take. It is clear the facility cannot accept new patients, he said. Narconon Chilocco's financial director said the center could close if it cannot imme- diately start admitting new patients. Lawyers for Narconon Chilocco on Thurs- day (Jan. 30) filed a request in Oklahoma County District Court for a permanent in- j unction to prohibit state officials from clos- ing the facility, six miles north of Newkirk. Harry Woods Jr. said the motion was ~ed before District Judge John Amick, who last month left in place a restraining order allow- ing Narconon Chilocco to remain open after the state mental health board voted to deny certification. Board members also had voted to have Narconon Chilocco closed within a week, saying they feared for the safety of the 27 patients then at the facility. Board members said Narconon Chilocco's treatment program, which relies heavily on vitamins, sauna and exercise, was medically unsafe and experimental. Lawyers for Narconon Chilocco have filed appeals in Oklahoma and Kay counties. If Freeman had upheld Narconon Chilocco's request for a stay, it would have allowed the center to accept up to 40 patients and operate until the appeal was decided. A hearing is scheduled next month in Ponca City on the state's request to shut down Narconon Chilocco because it is oper- ating without a state license. Barred from admitting new or former pa- tients since Dec. 13, the center is unable to earn money and is being forced to scale down its operation to stay financially afloat, according to an affidavit signed by the finan- 63 cial director for Narconon Chilocco. The center recently started training staff members for other Narconon cneters, but the revenue is considerably less than that from patients, who pay an average of $21,000 for a three-month program, said Maureen St. Amand. St. Amand said Narconon Chilocco owes creditors $328,000. Contributions and fees raised from training staff fall far below the facility's $172,000 monthly operating ex- penses, she said. As of last week, narconon Chilocco had 15 patients, but eight are Indians who are receiving free treatment, as provided in the center' s agreement to lease the old Chilocco Indian school. "Without the immediate reinstatement of Narconon's ability to enroll new students at Chilocco, the facility will have to close for lack of revenue ,, she said. (Reprinted from the Daily Oklahoman, Friday, January 31, 1992 with permission. Staffwriter Charolette Aiken contributed to this report. It was origi- nally slated to run in the Feb. 6 issue of the Herald Journal, but was pulled for space and later updates as the next item indicates.) Narconon Ordered To Move Patients, End Treatments By Michael McNutt, Enid Bureau, Daily Oklahoman Feb. 6, 1992 Narconon Chilocco New Life Center was ordered Friday (Jan. 31) to move its patients out and stop providing drug and alcohol abuse treatment in 10 days. Oklahoma County District Judge John Amick set the Feb. 10 deadline after he denied another request from the unlicensed facility to remain open and admit new pa- tients. Narconon Chilocco lost a request earlier this (last) week for a court stay to continue operating while it appeals a decision by the Oklahoma Board of Mental health and S ub- stance Abuse Services that denied certifica- tion for its treatment program. Amick also dismissed a temporary re- straining order he issued last year to allow Narconon Chilocco to treat up to 40 patients while its certification application was pend- ing. With the mental health board denying certification and the denial of Narconon Chilocco' s request for a stay, the temporary restraining order no longer was applicable, lawyers for the state said. The center could appeal to the state Su- preme Court for another district court hear- ing. Harry Woods Jr., a lawyer for Narconon Chilocco, said he is discussing options with officials at the facility, at the old Chilocco Indian school about six miles north of Newkirk. Three pending legal matters concerning. Narconon Chilocco are two appeals seeking to overturn the mental health board' s deci- sion and a hearing later this month on a state petition for a permanent injunction to close Narconon Chilocco. An appeal decision could take two years. Guy Hurst, a lawyer with the attorney general's office, said the mental health de- partment will offer Narconon Chilocco help in relocating its 15 patients. Narconon Chilocco began accepting pa- tients in February 1990 and did not seek state certification until state officials filed papers in Kay County District Court to close it. (The above was reprinted from the Saturday Okla- homan & Times, Feb. 1, 1992 with permis- sion) In an Oklahoman story of Tuesday, Feb. 4, Narconon spokesmen are quoted as saying that they intend to stay at the facility and continue legal attempts to keep the facility open. b/ttorney General' s lawyer Guy Hurst said Tuesday afternoon that there will be another hearing in Oklahoma District Court Judge Leamon Freeman' s court today, but that he had not yet seen the plearings. Narconon Tries Defense On Indian Sovereignty By Michael McNutt Daily Oklahoman Enid Bureau March 5, 1992 Lawyers for an unlicensed drug and alco- hol treatment center argued Thursday that it is exempt from state regulations under the cloak of Indian sovereignty. Narconon Chilocco New Life Center is on the campus of the old Chilocco Indian school north of Newkirk and as a result is exempt from state efforts to shut it down, lawyer Harry Woods Jr., said. But state lawyers, in a hearing in which the Oklahoma State Department of Health is seeking a court injunction to shut down Narconon Chilocco, said the facility' s loca- tion is not enough to claim Indian sover- eignty. Narconon Chilocco is a non-Indian entity that treats non-Indians, Robert Cole, a law- yer for the health department said. Henry Hansell, Jr., a public health admin- istrator with the health department, said to claim sovereignty a facility must be owned by Indians, on Indian land, and treat only Indians. Hartsell noted that the state recognizes sovereignty for a Cherokee Indian treatment center and a Choctaw Indian drug and alco- hol treatment center because each meets those three requirements. District Judge Neal Beekman presided over the five-hour heating and took the mat- ter under advisement. He asked lawyers on both sides to prepare written arguments within three weeks. He said he could make a ruling by the end of next month. Woods said the state should back away from regulating the center. He showed a letter sent earlier this week from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs to Narconon Chilocco to show that the federal government is taking on jurisdiction. But the letter, from L.W. Collier, Jr., area director of the BIA office in Anadarko, tells Narconon Chilocco it has a month to get its program certified by the state or it will be violating its leas with the Chilocco Develop- ment Authority, an Indian board that man- ages the Chilocco campus. Collier's letter says Narconon Chilocco agreed to comply with Oklahoma laws in the lease, which includes getting its program certified by the Oklahoma Board of Mental health and Substance Abuse Services. Collier also told Narconon Chilocco to make arrangements to move its patients to licensed facilities. Marcellus Chouteau, a former Kaw tribal chairman and former chairman of the Chi- locco Development Authority, testified that the BIA made a mistake in giving the state of Oklahoma any authority in the Narconon Chilocco lease. "That land is Indian land," he said. "The state has no pan in it. We had governments even before this state became a state. Now the state of Oklahoma is trying to cram it down our throats." Narconon Chilocco started accepting pa- tients in February 1990. S tale officials sought an injunction to close it, and an application for certification filed with the state mental health board has been rejected. (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Oklahoman, Friday, February 28, 1992) 64 Narconon To Ignore BIA Order To Close Chilocco Facility By Michael McNutt Enid Bureau 12 March 1992 An unlicensed drug and alcohol treatment center on Indian land will continue to treat patients despite receiving notice from the Bureau of Indian Affairs that it should close because it violated terms of its lease, the facility's president said. Gary Smith, president of Narconon Chi- locco New Life Center, is asking to meet with BIA officials to go over reasons why his facility should be allowed to continue operating. "We find no valid ground to make plans for transfer of Narconon' s students," Smith said. "Under the high level of medical super- vision in place, Narconon is currently and will continue to deliver its life-saying ser- vices to those in need as required by the lease ." L.W. Collier Jr., area director of the BIA office in Anadarko, said Narconon Chilocco must comply by March 25 with regulations of the Oklahoma State Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services or it should transfer its patients. "I'm sure we'll meet with them eventu- ally," Collier said Monday. "Whatever was contained in that letter is still in effect until something happens that they convince us otherwise that we're wrong." Collier, in a letter dated February 25 to Narconon Chilocco, said a lease that allows Narconon Chilocco to use the old Chilocco Indian school includes a provision that re- quires it to comply with state laws. Narconon Chilocco, which has been ac- cepting patients since February 1990, was denied certification late last year by the state mental health board. Board members ques- tioned the safety and effectiveness of its treatment program. Narconon Chilocco has appealed in Okla- homa County District Court. To generate revenue in the meantime, Narconon Chilocco has taken in staff people from Narconon centers around the world for training classes. Non-Indian patients last month were trans- ferred to a Narconon facility in Los Angeles, but Narconon continues to treat Indian pa- tients at Chilocco. State lawyers argue that Narconon Chi- locco needs a state approval to operate. Ex- emptions are given to facilities on Indian land, but they also have to be owned by Indians and must treat only Indians. Last month a Kay County district judge took under advisement a motion by state lawyers to close down Narconon Chilocco because it is unlicensed. Narconon Chilocco lawyers claim the fa- cility is exempt from state regulations and is protected by Indian sovereignty. The lease between Narconon Chilocco and the Chilocco Development Authority, an Indian board responsible for managing the old Indian school about six miles north of Newkirk, states that Narconon Chilocco will not use the premises for "any unlawful con- duct or purpose which is in violation of... the laws of the state of Oklahoma." Any violation of this clause, the lease states, "shall render the lease voidable." But Smith said there is no requirement in the lease that Narconon Chilocco be certi- fied or licensed by the state of Oklahoma. They said: "Narconon has gotten over a hundred thousand people off drugs." You heard 'em. They said "Narconon has no connection with the Church of Scientology." You heard 'era. I heard 'era. Everybody heard 'em. Over and over for the past 3 years! We didn't believe it, but we heard it. Now comes Narconon head duck John Duff before KOCO's TV cameras recently, to tell us we didn't hear that after all. Duff was in Oklahoma City lobbying legislators when the cameras caught up with him. Heber Jebbies, prexy of the "church" with which Narconon is not connected. was there with him, smiling and blaming all of Narconon's problems on psychiatry, as usual. Says Daffy, uh, Duff: Narconon, over the 65 Nor, he said, "was any such state approval made a prerequisite for operation by Nar- conon or the CDA under the lease." Smith said the only agreement between Narconon Chilocco and the tribes concern- ing state approval was that Narconon Chi- locco voluntarily would seek state certifica- tion "in order to increase the facility' s client base through availability of third-party in- surance payments." "If unsuccessful with the state, it was and is Narconon's intent to seek other tribally endorsed sources of accreditation to allow such third-party payments." Smith said an on-site inspection is sched- uled for April by the Commission on Ac- creditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. Smith also took issue with the BIA that training staff violates terms of Narconon's lease. An integral past of Narconon Chilocco's drug and alcohol rehabilitation program is the training staff from other Narconon cen- ters, Smith said. (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Oklahoman, Tuesday, March 10. 1992) past 24 years, has graduated about 14,000 people. On TV he says this, in a fit of uncharacteristic honesty... The rest, he says, went through the same program in the Church of Scientology, which up til now had no connection with Nar- cohort. Fact is, everybody who joins the Church of Scientology takes the Purif. Drug users, oc- casional aspirin poppers, and even folks who once got a bad sunburn are all consid- ered "abberated" by drugs, medicine, sun- shine, or something equally horrible that requires them to get saunafled, vitaminized, and have their oil and their minds changed. Narconon just "borrowed" the extra sta- tistics to make themselves sound better. Af- ter all, its the same thing, we find out now. This from folks fond of spouting off about their "ethics." Lets look at these new statistics a bit closer. Narconon has been in business about 24 years. They say they currently have 33 facilities around the world. That' s an average of less than 18 grads per unit per year. If you give them credit for a 70% cure rate (it used to be higher than that, but nobody was buying it) that gets them a grand total of 12.6 successes per facility per year. If you take the more credible industry rate of 30% success at the outside edge, it gives them 5.4 cures per facility per year. This is the most effective drag mhab pro- gram in the world? Not. As the kids say. The Narconon program is so indefensible they have nothing left but to attack those who have exposed it. And the onslaught of character assassination is well underway. Rep. Jim Reese is now a victim of their maliciousness, as is the Cult Awareness Network, and myself. The problem with that lactic is that it doesn't solve their real prob- lem. It merely attempts to shift the focus and avoid the issue. It doesn't make the Nar- conon program safe or effective. They are accusing Rep. Reese of the crime of informing himself about distructive cults and attempting to protect our state from their noxious activities. Disgusting conduct! So far, they've accused me of gathering facts and documents about Narconon' s pro- gram, passing them on to the people who make decisions about such things, and re- porting the story to you. No one asked us to do it. No one paid us to do it. We did it because it was the right thing to do for our community and our state. Such odious be- havior! Of course, it sounds more sinister than that when they say it. It's supposed to sound sinister. That way, you'll decide that I'm an obnoxious, smart-alec so and so. Which may be true, but it still doesn' t make Narconon' s program safe or effective. On our daughter's wedding day, they subpoened me to appear in California, with all my source notes. It was invalid and we ignored it. On my birthday, they tried to make me give up my notes, documents, and even my telephone bills. Harassment is their forte. It' s all a fishing expedition. As sure as the sun comes up every rooming, my sources will become the next victims of harassment and intimidation if Narconon is allowed access to my notes. Consequently, we chose to invoke the newsman' s shield, and refused to answer. Were it not for the courage of those source s, we would not have been able to expose the facts about Narconon that they find so im- possible to disprove. We'll be back in court again next week to continue to protect those SOurCeS. But none of this legal wrangling makes Narconon safe or effective. Narconon is scared to death of the Cult Awareness Network, which simply attempts "to promote public awareness of the harmful effects of mind control, confining (its) con- cerns to unethical or illegal practices with- out judging doctrines or beliefs." Narconon is scared to death of indepen- dent scientific research. Why else do you suppose they prefer to spend millions on lawyers but not a penny for scientific proof?. Narconon is still an unlicensed and uncertified entity squatting on Indian Land in violation of the Mental Health Board, a court order, their own lease, and now, the Bureau of Indian Mfairs. Only distinctive cults fear information and education about cults. Only charlatans fear independent research. Only bogus treat- ment programs fail certification. Only those so arrogant as to believe they are above the law frotally Free), feel the need to ignore it. For three years, Narconon has had the opportunity to provide the Mental Health Board - and Oklahomans in general - with substantial facts regarding their operation. What have they told us? They have told us that Narconon has treated "hundreds of thousands" of drug addicts in the past 24 years. Then they said it was more like 14,000. They "borrowed" the rest of them from the church with which they aren't associated. They have told us that their cure rate is, well, "over 50%", or maybe "70%" or even an astounding 86%, depending on who's doing the talking. Narconon's drug expert told WJ1A-TV awhile back that counseling-type programs were useless. Then he told us he fully supported Narconon's counseling-type treatment program. We've heard Narconon say theirs is a totally drug free program. We've been told by their "medical director" that he prescribes withdrawal drugs. We've heard Narconon's "expert" tell us that he doesn't know if Narconon's program works or not, but he doesn't think it hurts anyone. Yet two Michigan Universities say the method is not suitable for human experimentation. In Oklahoma, they say their purification rundown is a secular treatment program; In Italy, they say it is a religious ritual, and even got a court to agree with them. On Chilocco renovations, they say they've spent, lets see... once it was $3 million, then it was $5 million, then it was back down to $2.6 million, then it was... Narconon believes it is OK for their supporters to send information to the Mental Health Board, but it's not OK for anyone else to send information the same board. Narconon seems to feel it is OK for their attorney to invite board members to visit them (ex-parte) and hear their side of the story, but it is not OK for me to invite board members (ex parte) to talk with former patients and staff who tell a much different story. Narconon says it will abide by state laws. Narconon says it doesn't have to abide by state laws... etc, etc, ad infinitum... Everyone knows what a spoonerism is: The transposition of syllables that render unintended meanings, such as "The queer old dean" instead of "The dear old queen." It was such a frequent trait of W.A. Spooner that it came to bear his name. Another quirk of speech is about to gain similar recognition. A narconism is the making of two or more contradictory statements with a straight face, none of which can be believed. Narconon, Critics Spar as Hearing Nears By Michael McNutt Daily Oklahoman, Enid Bureau 09 April 1992 With a crucial court date coming up next month, representatives of Narconon Chi- locco New Life Center are trying to silence their most vocal critics. Narconon' s targets, a local state represen- tative and a Newkirk newspaper publisher, say they will remain vigilant of the facility that has operated two years without state approval at the old Chilocco Indian school about six miles north of Newkirk. Despite Narconon Chilocco's actions against them, they say the center continues a program the Oklahoma Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has found medically unsafe and experimental. "They're trying to shift the emphasis pri- marfly off of them and onto somebody or anybody else," said Robert Lobsinger, pub- lisher of the weekly Newkirk Herald'Jour- nal. "They have a tradition of trying to assas- sinate the reputation of their critics." "Their program is still unsafe and ineffec- tive and they haven't done a thing to im- prove it. All they' ve done is attempt to ruin everybody else." Narconon Chilocco president Gary Smith says he is trying to get a fair hearing by exposing what he says resembles a con- spiracy to prevent the center' s operation. "There' s a lot of different players in this but they're all kind of hooked together," he said. Since the mental health board denied cer- tification in December, the center' s lawyers have gone to court several times to try to keep its doors open. Narconon Chilocco now is challenging the state' s authority because the center is on Indian land and has treated only American Indians since February. While a Kay County district judge consid- ers a state request to close it, the center's lawyers are gearing up for a May 15 appeal in Oklahoma County District Court of the board' s ruling. In the past several weeks, Narconon Chi- locco has tried to discredit Rep. Jim Reese, R-Deer Creek, and Lobsinger. Narconon lawyers sought telephone records and Lobsinger's files on the center because Lobsinger sent state officials ar- ticles about Narconon International, the center' s parent organization, and the Church of Scientology, which has ties with Nar- COhOrt. Lobsinger eventually complied with a court order last month to answer questions about his correspondence with state offi- cials, but he was not required to turn over his records. However, he may be charged court costs, which could reach about $3,000 with attor- ney fees. "Certainly they can break me but that doesn't make their program work any bet- ter," Lobsinger said. The center has issued a news release quot- ing Oklahoma County District Judge Leamort Freeman describing Lobsinger as "an ob- noxious smart alec so and so." Freeman, who excused himself from the case after receiving mail from Lobsinger said he refused to answer him because "I wouldn' t put myself in the gutter with him." In refusing to release his records, Lobsinger sought protection under state shield laws that protect news reporters. Oklahoma County District Judge Daniel Owens ordered Lobsinger to answer their questions. 'Tin adamantly opposed to newspaper people using their newspaper as a club and a shield and basically saying they can do any- thing they want because they are affiliated with the newspaper, and this is what is hap- pening in this case," Owens said. "This was not a newsman working on a story, but a newsman on a personal cru- sade." Lobsinger said he did not object to an- swering questions but "what I didn't want to do was give them free access to all of my records ." The center also issued a news release saying Smith filed a complaint against Reese with the Kay County Republican Party and claimed he was using a public office to advance a personal campaign. Reese has opposed the center since learn- ing it is connected to the Church of Scientol- ogy. In August 1989 Reese said he would do "everything I know how to stop this devel- opment" after he received material calling Scientology "the most dangerous religious cult in America." Smith said Reese is using his office, time 67 and stationery paid by state taxpayers "to spread lies and rumors about the religious beliefs of some Narconon staff." "If he had his way," Smith said, "Repre- sentative Reese would wipe out a successful drug rehab facility just because he disagrees with the religion of some of its staff." In a complaint to Deanna Hunter of Ponca City, Smith asked for action against Reese to curtail his "offensive and possibly illegal behavior." Smith said Reese is showing bias by spon- soring legislation to change procedures to certify alcohol and drug abuse facilities. Hunter answered Smith in a letter calling Reese "one of our outstanding Republican legislators." "Jim is in good standing with the Kay County Republican Party and he has our full support," Hunter wrote. Legislation Reese sponsored two years ago eliminated the Oklahoma health Plan- ning Commission, which initially approved Narconon Chilocco, and placed its duties in the state health department. This session, he is sponsoring a bill to allow the mental health board to use evi- dence besides information given at public meetings and for the public record. The evidence could consist of letters, tele- phone calls or observations by mental health staffers. "Anything that they (state inspectors) find out there on a site visit should be able to be used," Reese said. Smith says the center opposes the bill because false information could be submit- ted against an applicant. He claims a reason Narconon was denied certification was "communications coming to the board from all over the place, and they were taking it, outside of the realm of what their responsibilities were as an investiga- live body." Reese said he does not intend to bow to Narconon pressure. "They're grasping at straws trying to at- tack people who have opposed them," he said. Lobsinger says he is not surprised Nar- conon is lashing out. "It's predictable," he said. Lobsinger exposed the center's Scientol- ogy ties in early 1989, shortly after it won a certificate of need from the state and an- nounced plans for its 75-bed treatment cen- ter. Since then, Lobsinger has written editori- als urging the state to close the center.(Reprinted with permission) In the 1970s, Maharishi Mehesh Yogi, the gum of Transcendental Meditation, managed to convince many schools, prisons, and even some facets of the US Military that his system of behavior control through TM would eliminate many of their deportment problems, including drug abuse. Transcendental Meditation is a repackaged version of the ancient Hindu religion. Hindu is as venerable a religion as exists in the world. To repackage this religion and install it as mandatory activity in public schools, prisons, and military institutions, however, is a violation of the principle of separation of church and state. TM advocates claimed the repackaged version was not religion. TM critics fell into two categories: One group opposed TM on the basis that it was religious in nature and its use should not be mandated by government. Another group simply said it didn't work and could even be unsafe. TM had little scientific evidence to counteract that claim. :~ Narconon, the licensee of the Church of Scientology's religious Purification Rundown and related courses, wishes to sell this re- packaged Scientology program as a state authorized treatment for drug and alcohol abuse. Narconon' s advocates claim the repackaged version is not religion. Narconon's critics fall into two groups: Some oppose the certification of Narconon on the basis that it is religious in nature and should not be approved as state authorized treatment because it would violate the principle of separation of church and state. Others oppose Narconon because they say it is unsafe and ineffec- tive. Narconon can provide no credible independent scientific evidence to the contrary. If, as a religious experience, one wishes to believe he can leam to levilate... or purge contaminates from his body through sweating in a sauna .... so be it. There is no scientific basis for either claim. As religion, there doesn't have to be. Shouldn't be. But as public policy, approved and authorized by the state, there must be. And there isn' t. :~:~ Ultimately, the courts decided that TM was indeed repackaged religion and the practice of establishing mandatory TM training in public facilities ceased in this country. While Scientology seems to have a long way to go before it gains respect as a venerable religion, the principle remains the same in both cases. It will be interesting to see if the courts can dispense consistent opinions, or if they are just interested in slapping around obnoxious newsmen. Commission Ignores Narconon Request For Newkirk Fire, Ambulance Protection CExerpt from June 11, t 992 City Commis- sion story) City Manager David Haynes told the com- mission that the city has received a request from Narconon asking for fire and ambu- lance service to their facility at Chilocco. He also passed out copies of a letter from the city attorney of Arkansas City, Otis W. Morrow, to Narconon which said in part, "... the City (of Arkansas City) has concluded ills relationship with (Narconon)... the city will no longer provide fire protection or ambulance service after May 25, 1992." Morrow's letter cited Narconon's failure to complete a written contract for such ser- vices, and its failure to provide any kind of remuneration for services rendered during the past two years as reasons for the termina- tion of services. The commission was unin- terested in taking any action on the request. In The Meantime... Most of the action regarding the Nar- conon story had shifted during April and May to the Oklahoma City area, outside of our territory. Court decisions and other reports were carried across the state by larger newspapers. In a nutshell, Judge Beekman of Kay County issued a permanent inj unction shut- ting Narconon down for operating without a license. The next day, he gave them 10 days to appeal to the State Supreme Court. ~The injunction had been sought by the State Health Department. It is now before the state Supreme Court. Narconon lawyers deposed me per Judge Freeman's order, but I refused to answer on the grounds that the subpoena exceeded the scope of Freeman's order, and took the Shield Law. Narconon went to Judge Daniel Owens' court to get an order compelling me to an- swer. Judge Owens compelled me to answer within the scope of Judge Freeman's order. I gave my deposition the same day in Okla- homa City. Narconon then went back to court to try to collect $7,000.00 in costs and fees be- cause of the "delay" I had caused them by refusing to answer. Judge Owens agreed, but only allowed them $2,150.00. The de- cision was made not to pay; however citi- zens in Newkirk are holding fund-raisers to collect the money, which will be sent directly to Judge Owens. Judge Freeman refused to overturn the (Continued On Next Page) 68 Henry David Thoreau, of Walden' s Pond fame, intrudes into my life from time to time. He is not my favorite author, nor my favorite philosopher. I'm not an avid natu- ralist as was he. I don't even have a pond. But Thoreau taught me that one of the most important lessons a man can learn in this life is to do what he has to do, when it has to be done, whether he likes it or not. Thoreau believed strongly in the indepen- dence of man. Of his right to think for himself and determine his own destiny free of coercive authoritarianism. The smart alec old writer landed in jail on account of that kind of thinking. But from all accounts he could sleep with a clear con- science. Now some judge in Oklahoma City has decided that I'm to pay $2,150.00 for not In The Meantime.., (Continued From Previous Page) Mental Health Board's decision not to certify Narconon. This was the hearing in which my deposition was used by Nar- conon to try and show a big conspiracy to defraud them of their rights. This matter is also before the Supreme Court. During this period, the Tonkawa Tribe, one of the five who own Chilocco, has decided to go into the Health Regulation business and set up their own Health Department (probably courtesy of Nar- conon lawyers) which immediately certi- fied Narconon. Narconon also applied to CARF (Com- mittee on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities) out of Tuscon, AZ., for ac- creditation. CARF sent several investi- gators to Narconon, which immediately hired two of them as "consultants". CARF granted Narconon a one year accredita- tion. Narconon has asked for another hear- ing before the Mental Health Board, hop- ing to receive an "exception" to the state law requiring state certification because they are accredited by CARF. That hear- ~g is supposed to be in July. giving a coercive authoritarian cult free ac- cess to my notes and sources. Like Thoreau, I'm not disposed to paying anyone for the right to keep what is mine. Which means I' m probably looking at a new orange jump suit in Glenn Guinn' s Concrete Hilton next to the court house. It is time, maybe, to quit being a taxpayer and allow the system to feed, clothe, and house me for awhile instead of the other way around. I could appeal to the Supreme Court, of course, for another $6 to $10 thousand, but it would be imprudent to sell one of my chil- dren. Scientology's sharks know that. One can obviously get all the "due pro- cess" one can purchase. Scientology can buy more of it than I can... and probably will. They are now suing practically the rest of the world including the University of Califor- nia, Time Magazine, Eli Lilly, and Reader' s Digest. It's the old "Everybody else is out of step but my Ronnie" syndrome. We broke the story ofNarconon' s connec- tion with the cult of Scientology nearly 3 years ago. Since then they have proven by their actions to be equal to the sordid reputa- tion which preceded them to our area. They are masters of deception, magicians of ma- nipulation, and proliferators of propaganda designed to entrap the unwary. They have pervaded every worthy cause from environmental awareness and tax re- form to drug rehabilitation in order to further their own growth. Narconon is but one ten- tacle. When Blind Justice cannot see this, igno- rant justice is the result, and the legal system falls. Consumers must beware, because they will most certainly be alone. Those of you who can read, must read! Those of you who can hear, must hear! Those of you who can question, must ques- tion ! Otherwise, the lure of the cult, with it' s ready-made answers to all of life's prob- lems, will be the totalitarianism of the next century. The L. Ron Hubbards of the world will be your dictators. If this newspaper has provided the infor- mation necessary to keep our readers from succumbing to this threat, no matter what the consequences, it has been worth the risk. Except for paying those consequences, my job is mostly complete. I did what I had to do, when I had to do it, whether I liked it or not. I would like to believe that truth is mighty and will prevail. But as Mark Twain once noted, "There is nothing the matter with this except it ain't so." I sleep well at night, however. Something sharks and dictators have trouble doing. To The Editor: I read with much interest and pride your June 25 editorial opinion. What a privilege to live in a small community with a newspaper editor who is willing to risk his all for what he believes in. We have followed with much interest all the action our local community and the total Kay County community have involved themselves in since the onset of Narconon. If the Newkirk Community and the Kay County Community were to have a candidate for a "True Patriotic American Citizen" you should be the winner by a country mile. Thanks again for your involvement in not only the Narconon issue but all issues of importance for the preservation of our American Way. Sincerely, AI and Theda Sheets 69 Editor Risks Jail Rather Than Pay Narconon Court Costs (ED NOTE: The following appeared on National AP newswire July 4, 1992, but was not reprinted in the Herald Journal. The story originally by Tim Foltz of the Tulsa Tribune was carded by the Tulsa World, Daily Oklahoman, Ponca City News, and other papers across the country.) NEWKIRK, Okla. (AP) _ Local citi- zens have opened their wallets in support of a newspaper editor ordered to pay the costs a controversial drug treatment center in- curred in forcing him to reveal information about sources for stories on the facility. "Bob has gone out on a limb to make sure everyone knows what has transpired with Narconon and the Church of Scientol- ogy," said Newkirk Mayor Garry Bilger. "We really appreciate what he has done." Citizens intend to pay the court fees, and already have collected $1,800, Bilger said. District Judge Daniel Owens in Okla- homa County ordered Robert Lobsinger of the Newkirk Herald Journal on June 9 to pay $2,150.32 in attorney fees to Narconon Chi- locco. Narconon is fighting a state effort to close the unlicensed drug-treatment center, on Indian land near Kansas. Lobsinger and his 1,500-circulation newspaper have done extensive stories on Narconon and its ties to the Church of Scien- tology. The Oklahoma Press Association will defend Lobsinger if the editor asks for its help, OPA manager Ben Blackstock said. "Narconon jumped in and tried to si- lence (Lobsinger) in my opinion," Blackstock said. Lobsinger said he ~11 go to jail rather than pay Narconon's costs. "I just cannot in good faith pay for this," Lobsinger said. "If they come and get me and take me to jail, I guess that's what will happen. But there's a principle." District Judge Daniel Owens in Okla- homa County ordered Lobsinger on June 9 to pay $2,150.32 in attomey fees to Nar- conon Chilocco. Oklahoma County District Judge Leamon Freeman in February granted Narconon' s request to take Lobsinger' s depo- sition on his interviews with state Mental Health Board members about the center. "The next thing I knew, I was served with a subpoena asking for three years of my phone records, all my contacts, all my corre- spondence, videotapes and all my notes," Lobsinger said. "Frankly, it scared ... me." Marie Evans, attorney with the Okla- homa City law firm representing Narconon, said her side did not mean the subpoenas to be invasive. "We never intended to ask for more than the producti~On of the documents Judge Free- man outlined," Ms. Evans said. Lobsinger cited the shield law, which protects journalists from revealing some sources, in refusing to give the deposition. On a motion from Narconon, Owens directed the editor to give the deposition but said Narconon attorneys could ask Lobsinger only about the interviews with state Mental Health Board members. Owens' June order directed Lobsinger to pay Narconon attorneys' costs of motions against Lobsinger and their car rental to drive to Newkirk to get the deposition. "The time and expense involved in ob- taining what turned out to be a fairly short and simple deposition was oppressive to the plaintiff and cannot be condoned by the court," Owens said in his order. Lobsinger gave the deposition. He said the order to pay Narconon's legal costs was unfair, but he can't afford to appeal it. Oklahoma's shield law has never been tested in court, Blackstock said. Lobsinger' s case would have been a good time for the OPA to test it, he said. i~iiii:! i:! i:::iii:iiiii",i 'ii ',,'!::i i ii:',:',iiiiiii:,i',iiiiiiii: i',,i:',i::i)5',,',,iii!!!~',,',,',,iiji',~:Z',,ii~ii',,:iii:iiii:iiiii~i i i::;~;~;~n~iiii~n~gii~ iiiii~iii~iiiiiiiii~:::~i~!~iiiiii~ii~i~i~ii~!ii~!i !~i~i i!:~::~:::i:~ ii~ ii ii ',i:ii ii 'i} i!: :!i iii:i !:i':: i',: ',,~:!ii~ !i !,'!iiii i:':, :i :i i~ i;:i~ ii!! ~i:!i::~!i!!~'::! !i:!~i: :i~:~ i,:i !!i,::,',!i:!:~!!:iii!iii:iii~iii~iiii~ii~iiiii ~iiiiii ~i:ii:::::i!~:i ii~! i!~i 'ii ii~::::!ii:ii',~',,i: iiiiii:~ii!!i~.----'~ji:!~:!i!:~:: iii!ii!~:!iii!i:i'iii::~::;i:,!~iii:!iiSi:i:;~!i ~i!i:,:iii :!i'~,:iii,:iiiii:ii::i:!,:i:ii~:iiiii~ii:i~',ii~ii', :,!: :!:i:;~ ~!!!i:,~:,i:iiiii~i!ii~i~,;:i~i: ~:;i:~i':~!i ~'--::;,:-~.~:~ii 'i~;~Si:', '::i:T:~i,~,,~ii!: ~:i~/i::r:,iii~ii ;~'~/~ ~: ~::;~'~:~ ~::, ':',, '~:~ ~';, ~:::, :~::,~::~::'~ ~:~ ~ ',::~ :~ ~:,~ :~ ~ '~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~5 :~:~ ::,:~ ::,~: ::,~:'::~ ~:~:~:~:~ :~::~ ~ :i'~i~:~::::::,:::::',"::~';;:;:~J~J June 13, 1992 A Resolution Duly Adopted by the Membership of the Chilocco National Alumni Association condemning the N~conon ac~ons towed the Newkirk Herald-Journal... Whereas, ~e N~conon organization made cemin representations to the Chilocco National ~mni Association which were never fulfilled: ~d Whereas, ~e Chilocco Nation~ Association un~imously adopted a resolution opposing the N~conon operation on the fomer Chilocco Indian School cmpus; and Whereas, Mr. Ro~rt Lobsinger, in his capacity as owner and editor of the Newark Her~d-Joum~ has diligently mMe public ~e activities of the N~conon org~izafion; ~d Whereas, ~e N~conon org~izafion h~ opposed the public repoaing of ~eir activities by the Her~d-Joum~. Now, Therebre, Be It Resolved the Chilocco Nadon~ ~mni Association m~fims its op~sition to ~e N~conon use of the fomer Chilocco Indian School cmpus as expressed in ~e resolution Mopted June 9, 1990; and Be It Further Resolved ~e action of N~conon ag~nst ~e Newkkk Herald-Joum~ is condemned ~ vindictive and ~esponsible and an attempt to prevent public ~zsclos~e certain actions by N~conon; ~d Be It Further Resolved Mr. Robert Lobsinger is co~ended for his courageous ~d cont~uing public re~ing of questionable activities by N~conon; ~d Be It F~ally Resolved the Chil~co Nafion~ Alumni Association s~ongly reaft~s its op~sition and condemnation of N~conon ~d iB activities on the fomer Chilocco Indian Sch~l cmpus. Adopted by Chilocco National Alumni Association June 13, 1992 70 To The Editor: I have just finished reading your article concerning those pesky folks located north of Newkirk. I congratulate you on your dedication in attempting to keep us informed about "Ronnie and his buddies". Do you suppose that if Narconon was located close to the Oklahoma City area that it's possible the judge would feel differently about the whole situation? This state has survived quite well without them for sometime and I'm sure the drug problem is more severe in California than in north central Oklahoma. Maybe they need to have it simplified for them: You're not wanted here, or needed. Take your beliefs, idealisms, money and leave. Basically, don't let the door hit you in the butt! Keep up the good work. TB Ponca City To The Editor: Check for the Newkirk Defense Fund. We hope it goes over the top and you appeal! BC Enid To The Editor: Hooray for you! My little check may help some! I feel Narconon is questionable and we don't need more queer places. Most sincerely, MB Ponca City To The Editor: I do not have much to give - would like to help so here's my check. Good to have some- one fight Narconon. I{PH Newkirk To The Editor: I support you completely. We need more like you. CJ Ponca City (Many other letters of support also printed in July 161h issue) It is both humbling and heartening to have received such widespread support in the commumty. We thank you - no matter what the outcome of this situation - from the bottom of our hearts. It is not difficult to expose the frauds this organization perpetuates on society, but it is sometimes difficult to understand the judicial system that is supposed to protect us from such groups. We would be appalled if our judicial system allowed an organization convicted of criminal activity in another location to set up shop in our state. But that is just what it is being asked to do. Within just the past 10 days or so, the "church" of S cientology was convicted in Toronto, Canada of breach of trust for planting spies in the offices of the Ontario Provincial Police and Attorney General's Office, and stealing documents from them. In Oklahoma, it seems, all they have to do to try and get private information is lumber into a courtroom. The many letters, cards, and notes sent to the Newkirk Defense Fund continue to come in from across the state and nation. We have been notified that because of your efforts, the unjust assessment has been paid from those donations; the challenge to our sources has been thwarted, our notes have been protected, and our nose is still here at the grindstone. It is too little to offer our thanks for your encouragement and suppork and your deep understanding of the seriousness of the problem. We have not seen a complete list, nor do we yet 'know how much money has been raised in our behalf, but be assured that every one will be acknowledged. All 2,000 plus of them. You are a vast army, educated to carry forward what we have exposed. Scientology is not merely the over-zealous new fangled religion it claims to be, but a political entity determined to either swallow you up or run you down. Consider the words of L. Ron in Dianetics, page 534: "Perhaps at some distant date only the unaberrated (Scientologist) person will be granted civil rights before law. Perhaps the goal will be reached at some fitture time when only the unaberrated person can attain to and benefit from citizenship. These are desirable goals..." Indeed. Desirable for whom? To this point, Narconon remains unlicensed by the state of Oklahoma. It is awaiting a decision (maybe in Septermber) by the State Supreme Court on whether or not to enforce a State Health Department injunction to shut them down for operating without a license. Narconon has also asked for a new trial in Kay County Court since Oklahoma County Court refused to overturn the Mental Health Board's decision not to license them. And in addition, they have asked the Mental Health Board to consider giving them an "exemption" from state law since they have obtained C.A.R.F. accreditation. (And incidentally, they have "hired" the first two C.A.R.F. inspectors sent to evaluate their operation.) These last two items are set for August 14, 1992. 71 State Board OKs Exemption For Narconon By Michael McNutt, Enid Bureau August 20, 1992 A controversial drug and alcohol abuse center in north-central Oklahoma achieved a big victory Friday in its two-year battle for state approval. Less than a year after calling Narconon Chilocco New Life Center' s treatment pro- gram unsafe and experimental, the Okla- homa Board of Mental health and Substance Abuse Services voted unanimously Friday to exempt the facility from a requirement to be certified by the state. The decision came after Narconon showed it had gained approval from aprivate organi- zation, the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. That allows for an exemption under state law, said Patrick Ryan, an attorney representing the board. Ryan said the board's decision was based entirely on the statutory exemption. "That's different from certifying them," he said. "The board has not ever, and did not by today' s action, give a stamp of approval of Narconon. It simply says because of the statute, we're going to recognize it (the ex- emption)." Narconon Chilocco still must be licensed by the state Health Department. The state licensing would be based primarily on whether a facility's buildings, which were the old Chilocco Indian School north of Newkirk, meet fire and safety codes. The health department could rule the cen- ter does not need a state license, harry Woods, a lawyer for Narconon Chilocco, said. "I expect that the department of health will recognize that with this exemption from certification, Narconon can lawfully operate in Oklahoma," Woods said. "The form of the action would either be a license, or a decision by them that we don't need a li- cense ." Narconon Chilocco officials said Friday they were confident the center would be licensed, possibly by the end of the month. Gary Smith, Narconon Chilocco presi- dent, said he was pleased the center is the closest yet to being allowed to operate at full capacity. Smith said Narconon Chilocco will go ahead with plans to operate a 75-bed facility but will wait until the state Health Depart- ment rules before accepting new patients. Those patients would pay more than $20,000 for a three-month program that is based on saunas and vitamins. Long-range plans call for doubling the center's capacity within the next five years. "We're going to make sure that we're doing this the way we're supposed to," Smith said. After being denied certification last year, Narconon Chilocco limited its operation to accepting Indian patients whose bills were paid by contributors. Smith said Friday there were seven patients and 24 employees. State mental health board members, who voted in December against Narconon Chi- Iocco, agreed Friday with the center's con- tention that it was eligible for the exemption because it was accredited in June by the private Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. The state attorney general' s office, how- ever, argued against the exemption, saying that the board did not have the authority to exempt a drug and alcohol abuse center based solely on the commission' s accredita- tion. "The statute says that only a list of certain people can be exempted," said assistant at- torney general Guy Hurst. "All others need to be certified." Hurst said he also does not believe Nar- conon Chilocco is eligible for licensing by the state Health Department because the center was not certified by the mental health board. "The way I read the statute is the only way you can get licensed from the health depart- ment is to be certified - if you're exempted from certification you can' t get licensed," he said. Lawyers for the state health department were unavailable for comment. Narconon Chilocco accreditation expires in June 1993. If it fails to get accredited next year, it likely will have to return to the state mental health board to ask for certification, officials said. Woods, who guided Narconon Chilocco through several state hearings and lawsuits, said the center plans to drop two lawsuits it flied against the state mental health board. Meanwhile, the mayor of Newkirk said many residents were disappointed by the state mental health board' s action. Many in the town said they were opposed to Narconon Chilocco because of its ties with the Church of Scientology. Some said they were threatened after they spoke against it in 1990. Garry Bilger said residents felt helpless as their concerns about Narconon Chilocco's treatment program and the safety of patients seemed to be lost in legal arguments made by Narconon Chilocco to state officials and in subsequent lawsuits filed against the state. "It got so tangled in regulations and laws and rules," he said. "We would like to see them gone from this area because we deft- nitely do not agree with some of the things that they're doing." (Reprinted from the Saturday Oklahoman & Times, August 15, 1992. The Associated Press contributed to this report.) But .... It ain't over Til its over .... 72 Narconon Granted License From State Health Agency (The following is reprinted with permis- sion from the Daily Oklahoman, Tuesday, October 27, 1992.) By Michael McNutt Enid Bureau It' s been described as controversial, weird, unsafe and strange, but now Narconon Chi- locco New Life Center can be called li- censed. The Oklahoma State Department of Health issued a license Monday to the drug and alcohol abuse center, marking the first time since it opened for business more than two years ago that it officially can be called legal. The president of Narconon Chilocco called it a milestone. The license issued Monday dealt with the structures and buildings making up Nar- cohort Chilocco, located on the campus of the old Chilocco Indian school about six miles north of Newkirk. The license is good for a year and can be renewed. The center passed an inspection last week that looked at the conditions of buildings and food and sanitary services to see that ftre safety and health codes are being met, said Brent VanMeter, the health department's deputy commissioner for special health ser- vices. Gary Smith, president of Narconon Chi- locco, said plans are being made to get the center ready to accommodate as many as 75 patients at a time. "Receiving this license from the depart- ment of health sigmfies a milestone in our desire and original intention to supply drug and alcohol rehabilitation services to those in need," he said. "Our purpose has always been to help those with drug and alcohol problems. "We are just very excited," Smith said. Narconon Chilocco opened in February 1990. Its critics questioned its ties with the Church of Scientology and were skeptical of its treatment plan that includes spending time in saunas and taking special vitamins and supplements. Members of the Oklahoma State Board of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Ser- vices, before deciding a legal loophole al- lowed the center to bypass board certifica- tion, called Narconon Chilocco's treatment plan experimental and medically unsafe. State licensing makes it easier for Nar- conon Chilocco or its patients to get reim- bursement for its services through insurance companies. Smith said plans continue to be developed to double the size of its patient beds, but no application would be fried until after the center's census reaches and stays around 75 patients. The center had 14 patients Monday, Smith said. Most of the patients were from various Indian tribes. Narconon Chilocco has lim- ited treatment primarily to Indians since the mental health board voted not to certify its treatment plan last December and while vari- ous court appeals and cases were pending. Smith said he is unsure when the center will reach capacity. Narconon Chilocco's program lasts about three months and costs $22,750. State licensing became possible after the mental health board in August granted Nar- conon Chilocco an exemption from certifi- cation because its program was accredited by a private agency, the Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. The accreditation runs through June 1993 and the exemption from mental health board certification will continue as long as Nar- conon Chilocco is accredited by the com- mission. Newkirk Mayor Garry Bilger said a ma- jority of residents in town still challenge the center's effectiveness and purpose. Meanwhile... On Monday, October 9, 1992 1 received a call from a frightened and distraught young lady who said her mother was Edith Clark who works at Narconon. She told the usual horror stories about her mother not being paid on time, if ever. Long hours of overtime at no pay. Unpaid bonuses, etc. She said there were several non-Scientologist employees there all of whom were wanting to leave, but couldn't because they had no money and no way to get out. She relayed other stories as well, but they were all second hand, about "trainees" at Narconon wading waist deep in the sewer lagoon raking sewage out so it would appear to be working properly; about bad food and vermin infestation; about child abuse and neglect .... I suggested she visit with Brent Van Meter at the Health Department, and she said she had already talked with him. When I talked with Van Meter later, he confirmed her story, but said his inspectors probably wouldn't find anything wrong unless they caught them in the act. He said he was thinking of applying for a special appropriation to keep an inspector on the site permanently. On Tuesday, October 27, Edith Clark, Jean Chance, Mr. and Mrs. Gene McCormick, their niece Carol Shumate, and another man not associated with Narconon called me - interrupted a phone call with an emergency message, in fact - wanting to come to the office and tell their stories. It was the day after Narconon was issued their Health Department license. I stalled them off until the next day, and then set up an interview for them with Channel 5, Channel 9, and McNutt of the Daily Oklahoman. On Wednesday afternoon, they arrived and confirmed everything Clark's daughter had told me the week before. They had been allowed to leave as soon as the license was in place. They think they quit, but it appears to be a concerted effort by Scientology to starve them out. All of them agreed that Narconon was moving in more and more Scientology staff people to take their places. McNutt's story in the Thursday, October 29, 1992 Daily Oklahoma tells part of their story. .... 73 Late Narconon Pay, Tie to Scientology Hit By Michael McNutt Daily Oklahoman, Enid Bureau Thursday, October 29, 1992 NEWKIRK - Several former employees ofNarconon Chil occo New Life Center criti- cized the facility Wednesday for failing to promptly pay their salaries and overtime, and claimed that the recently licensed drug and alcohol abuse facility is a front for the Church of Scientology. Gene McCormick, who quit as Narconon Chilocco's chief of security on Monday, and Edith Clark, whose duties included head of international training, had the harshest words for the 75 bed facility when the group met with reporters Wednesday in a downtown Newkirk building. Clark said Narconon Chilocco owed her an undetermined amount of back wages be- cause she said the facility refused to pay her overtime even though she says she worked 60 to 70 hours a week. Clark, who worked at Narconon Chilocco for 19 months, said she has complained to the U.S. Department of Labor. Most employees are paid minimum wage and have to sign contracts, Clark said. Many are required to read material that comes from the Church of Scientology. "It's a front for Scicntology," McCormick said. More Scientologists are scheduled to ar- rive at the facility shortly, he said. Narconon Chilocco president Gary Smith called comments from his former employ- ees unfortunate. "In the last 2 1/2 years we have employed over 300 people and now there a few that are complaining," Smith said in a statement. "It's unfortunate that anyone would continue to oppose our efforts to get people off drugs. "We are a licensed facility and have passed all tests and inspections, I can find 1,000 supporters of Narconon Chilocco for each detractor," he said. "We are open and we will continue to get people off drugs." Bruce Pyle, a public information officer at the facility con fumed McCormick and Clark worked at the facility. Smith has denied any ties with the Church of Scientology. However, Narconon Chilocco staff mem- bers said during public hearings last year that some materials from the late L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology, are used in some drug and alcohol rehabilitation COurSeS. McCormick said he never was approached to join the Church of Scientology, but he has seen Scientology literature given to staff and trainees. Pictures of Hubbard are hung in each of the buildings but religious pictures or books are banned at the facility, he said. Clark said she was asked several times to read Scientology material, and she believes Narconon Chilocco is being used as a re- cruiting tool by the Church of Scientology. "Why would they make me study it if it's not a front for Scientology?" she said. "Ifit's not Scientology, why would they force the people to study it" "The whole point is they want to turn anybody there into a Scientologist." McCormick called Narconon Chilocco disorganized, and said he has seen a number of former students who completed the pro- gram return because they failed to stay off drugs or alcohol. He said it was common for tralnees to walk the six miles from the Narconon Chi- locco campus to Newkirk to go to bars and drink beer. McCormick said Narconon Chilocco has trouble keeping patients. Some leave a week or two after arriving because of austere con- ditions. Clark said living quarters are not air-con- ditioned, and dining and kitchen facilities were dirty. She said she often saw cock- roaches in the kitchen. Hamburgers and hot dogs make up most meals, she said, for staff and for patients who pay $22,750 for a three-month course. "For people that pay the amount of money they do to come through the rehab center is ridiculous," Clark said. She said some trainees at the facility have contagious diseases and some lack proper immigration cards. McCormick said he quit after two-and-a- half years because of late pay. On December 1, 1992, the United States Department of Labor Office in Tulsa con- fumed that there was an investigation under- way regarcling the cases of at least one of the non-Scientology employees who had left Chi- locco following their Health DeparUnent li- censing. Results of the investigation are un- known at this time and it may be late Decem- ber or early next year before they can be obtained through the Freedom of Information act. Reports have come in, unconfumed as yet, that the remaining few non-Scientology em- ployees at Narconon have been asked to leave, including Bill Grant and his wife, who are supposed to be some kind of relatives to Garry Smith's wife. 74 Narconon's State Taxes Overdue; Warrant Filed By Michael McNutt Daily Oklahoman, Enid Bureau Thursday, Feb. 25, 1993, Pg 4 NEWKIRK -- A drug and alcohol abuse center that fought more than two years to get a state license apparently needed to be re- minded to pay its state taxes. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission this week filed a tax warrant against Narconon Chilocco New Life Cen- ter stating that it failed to pay almost $3,000 in unemployment compensation taxes last Last weekend, we had the very great pleasure of attending the annual national convention of the Cult Awareness Network. This year it was held in Los Angeles. You'll remember Oklahoma City hosted the event last year, where I was asked to speak, and was honored to receive the Leo J. Ryan Award. Congressman Leo J. Ryan died in his attempt to find the truth about Jim Jones and the People' s Temple cult in Jonestown, Guyana. Over 900 people, under the mind controlling influence of Jim Jones, committed suicide at his request. Those who didn't were murdered, along with Congressman Ryan and several others. That tragic event took place the same year we came to Newkirk to publish the Newkirk Herald Joumal. The Ryan Award is presented each year to the person "who exhibits extraordinary courage, tenacity and perseverance in the battle against tyranny over the mind of man." And so it was with great satisfaction that we were present this year to see the award presented to Rich Behar, Associate Editor of Time Magazine, for his courageous 1991 story on Scientology, which we were pleased to reprint in full shortly thereafter. Mr. Behar most surely deserves the award. He has attempted to do for our nation what we have tried to do for Newkirk and Oklahoma. We applaud his work, and we hope his efforts inspire others in the national media to delve deeply into this subject matter, instead of treating such subjects as humorous, harmless kooks. The conference was marred by a few picketing members of Scientology who mostly made themselves look like the southbound ends of northbound horses. Among those speaking at the conference were Dr. Robert J. Cialdini, professor of psychology at Arizona State University and author of the book Influence. His presentation was interrupted by a false fire alarm. The presentation by Dr. Louis Jolyon West, M.D., professor of psychiatry at UCLA, was delayed by the vain attempt of cult members to have him arrested so he couldn't speak. Dr. West is also a former Ryan Award winner. They arrogantly attempted to confound the registration of guests at the conference in order to disrupt and delay the first presentation of the conference, which was successfully delivered by Dr. Margaret Thaler Singer, Ph.D. She is an Adjunct Professor in the department of psychology at the University of California at Berkeley, and a past Ryan Award winner. Speaker at the Leo J. Ryan Award Banquet was the original host of the "Tonight Show", Mr. Steve Allen. Mr. Allen also happens to be a member of the Cult Awareness Network Advisory Board, and himself the father of a cult victim, now successfully recovered from the experience. It was our pleasure to be invited to join Mr. Allen at the speakers table during the banquet. A new and strong supporter of the efforts of the Cult Awareness Network is Mr. Mike Fenell ofM.A.S .H. fame, who spoke briefly to the audience of his advocacy of human rights and strong family commitments. He artended with his teenaged son. Not all celebrities are nuts, after all. It can only be a testament to the effectiveness of the Cult Awareness Network in spreading the truth about dangerous and destructive cults that Scientology has currently filed over 30 lawsuits against the organization in an attempt to "legally" silence its supporters. When all it really has to do is quit acting like a destructive cult. 75 year. Gary Smith, Narconon Chilocco's presi- dent, said Wednesday that failure to pay the tax was an oversight. "It should have been paid," Smith said. "it's just an administrative oversight but it's being taken care of now." Smith said the non-profit facility plans to pay the overdue tax this week. The warrant, filed Tuesday, states Nar- conon Chilocco failed to pay $2,999 in un- employment compensation taxes for the sec- ond and third quarters of 1992. narconon Chilocco also was hit with a $364 penalty and was charged $74 in inter- est on the overdue tax. The warrant seeks a total payment of $3,438. Mter a series of delays, the Oklahoma State Department of Health issued a license last fall to Narconon Chilocco, which opened for business more than two years earlier. Narconon Chilocco is located on the cam- pus of the old Chilocco Indian School about six miles north of Newkirk. Saturday, Feb. 27, 1993 Saturday Oklahoman & Times, Pg 11: Narconon Chilocco Pays Taxes NEWKIRK -- A drug and alcohol abuse center has paid its delinquent tax bill. Nar- conon Chilocco New Life Centerpaid $3,438 in overdue unemployment compensation taxes and penalties to the Oklahoma Em- ployment Security Commission, according to a warrant filed Thursday in Kay County District Court. Narconon Chilocco settled its delinquent tax two days after the state commission filed a claim seeking payment. Narconon Chilocco President Gary Smith said that failure to pay the tax was an over- sight. The employment commission filed the warrant against Narconon Chilocco because the center failed to pay $2,999 in unemploy- ment compensation taxes for the second and third quarters of 1992. Narconon Chilocco also was hit with a $364 penalty and was charged $74 in inter- est on the overdue tax. Bob Lobsinger Wins Beachy Musselman Award For Research Qf Narconon Facility Near Newkirk The Oklahoma Publisher February 1993 Bob Lobsinger, editor and publisher of the Newkirk Herald-Journal, was the 1993 re- cipient of the annual Beachy Musselman Award. The award was presented at the OPA (Oklahoma Press Association) Mid-Winter Convention, Feb. 4-7, in Oklahoma City. Lobsinger has owned the Herald-Journal since 1978. For three years he reported on the Church of Scientology and Narconon. His relentless research turned up ties between the church and Narconon, a drug rehabilitation facility that developed a drug treatment facility at the nearby old Chilocco Indian School. The facility, which had been a residential school for Indians for many years, had fallen into disuse. The Chilocco Development Authority, composed of representatives of four (sic - actually five) area Indian tribes, leased the school site to Narconon in 1989. As Narconon fought to obtain a state li- cense for the center, Lobsinger reported ex- tensively on the center and its connections to the Church of Scientology in the Herald- Journal. In February 1992, Narconon attorneys were granted a request to take depositions from Lobsinger on his interviews with state Mental health Board members about the center. He was then served with a subpoena ask- ing for three years of phone records, all contacts, all correspondence, videotapes and notes. Lobsinger refused to give the deposition, cifmg the shield law. An Oklahoma County district judge up- held the motion, but said Narconon attor- neys could ask Lobsinger about the inter- views with the state Mental health Board members. The judge then indicated Lobsinger could be held responsible for the costs and fees because Narcononls attorneys were not told before the deposition that he would decline to answer questions. On June 9, 1992, Lobsinger was ordered to pay $2,150.32 in attorney fees for Nar- conon. (When Lobsinger refused to pay) Community residents supportedLobsinger's position and raised money to pay his fine. In 1991, he received the Leo J. Ryan Award from the Cult Awareness Network for his coverage of the Narconon Center. A 1962 graduate of Enid (Memorial) High School, Lobsinger artended Phillips Univer- sity; the University of Georgia; University of Maryland; Oklahoma State University, and Northern Oklahoma College at Tonkawa (sic - not entirely accurate). After being discharged from the U.S. Army as a staff sergeant, he worked for several Florida newspapers, the Enid News and Eagle, Atlanta (Ga.) Joumal Constitution and the Ponca City News. (sic - chronology not accurate) He and his wife Susan have four children: Michael Robert, Judy Sue, John Allen and Steven Richard. The Beach Musselman Award is presented annually by the Oklahoma Newspaper Foun- dation from a gift in memory of the late Norman Beachy Musselman, publisher of the Shawnee News-Star from 1945 to 1963 and president of OPA in 1962. The $750 award, donated by N. Burkey Musselman, son of the newspapennan, is now in its 191h year. Narconon's Trash Service Halted By Michael McNutt Oklahoman & Times, Enid Bureau Saturday, March 6, 1993 NEWKIRK -- An official of a sanitation company said Friday the firm has stopped trash and garbage pickup service for a drug and alcohol abuse center because it failed to pay its bill. Gary Davis, owner of Davis Sanitation of Tonkawa, said Narconon Chilocco New Life Center has not paid its trash service bill in more than four months. "We just felt like we couldn't let them get behind any more than they were," Davis said. Davis said his company earlier this week removed its four trash dumpsters that Nar- conon Chilocco had been using for its trash and garbage. "I donlt know what they've got going on up there but we've had an awful time," he said. "We've always had to call them and just plead with them to pay their bill and they say that they're waiting for somebody to donate some money." Narconon Chilocco owes about $1,800, Davis said. Gary Smith, president of Narconon Chi- locco, said he was unaware there was a problem with paying the facility's trash bill. "I don't handle that end of it," Smith said. "All I know is we've got dumpsters out here. I don't know what exactly happened. It's the estate managerIs job. We're f'me on the trash." Smith said he did not know whose trash dumpsters were on the grounds of his center. "It's a little out of my area~" he said. Davis said his company is the primmy 76 trash service in rural Kay County areas. Trash service would resume to Narconon Chilocco, located on the campus of the old Chilocco Indian school about six miles north of Newkirk, if and when the facility pays its outstanding bill, Davis said. "We're not coming back until they pay us up," he said. If no effort is made to pay the bill shortly, the company likely will file a suit in Kay County District Court in order to get pay- ment, Davis said. Delinquent payment of bills during 1991 was one concern state officials had when they considered a request from Narconon Chilocco to be licensed. Concerns about Narconon Chilocco's fi- nancial stability was one reason the center's application was denied by the state Depart- ment of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Narconon Chilocco eventually obtained a state license last year after it received ac- creditation from a private nonprofit group. Last week, Narconon Chilocco paid $3,438 in overdue unemployment compensation taxes and penalties to the Oklahoma Em- ployment Security Commission. Narconon Chilocco settled its delinquent tax two days after the state commission filed a claim seeking payment. Smith said that failure to pay the tax was an oversight. The unemployment security commission f'ded the warrant against Narconon Chilocco because the facility failed to pay $2,999 in unemployment compensation taxes for the second and third quarters of 1992. Narconon Chilocco also was hit with a $364 penalty and was charged $74 in inter- est on the overdue Indian Leaders Want Narconon Chilocco Audit By Michael McNutt Daily Oklahoman, Enid Bureau Thursday, March 25, 1993 NEWKIRK -- Some Indian leaders are disappointed with the amount of revenue being generated by a drug and alcohol abuse treatment center that promised to pay five tribes millions of dollars over the next two decades. As a result, the leaders of the Kaw and Pawnee tribes have asked the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs to audit the Narconon Chi- locco New Life Center to determine whether the non-Indian facility is meeting payment terms of a 25-year lease. In 1989, Narconon Chilocco leaders said it would pay the five tribes of the Chilocco Development Authority $16 million during the next 25 years in return for leasing the old Chilocco Indian school for a 75-bed drug and alcohol abuse treatment center. "At the rate we're going, we won't even get a million," said Wanda Stone, Kaw tribal chairwoman. Stone said payments the tribes receive from Narconon Chilocco usually are tardy. "They haven't paid us with a payment since last September," she said. Stone and Robert Chapman, chairman of the Pawnee tribe's business committee, said the Indian tribes must depend on Narconon Chilocco to provide figures to determine lease payments. Narconon Chilocco agreed on lease pay~ ments based on the number of patients and the amount of money patients pay per month. Payment schedules forpatients range from no charge for low-income Indians to about $30,000 for a three-month treatment. "There's no scale of any kind that we can base what we should be getting," Stone said. "All we know is what they send us." Narconon Chilocco's plans to develop the facility were stalled formore than two years while it tried to get state approval. Stone said an audit released by Narconon Chilocco showed it had underpaid about $4,600 to the authority through September. However, an analysis by a former finan- cial officer of the Kaw tribe on Narconon Chilocco's figures showed the facility owed more than $133,000, Stone said. "A lot of it was, expenses that they took out were not allowable," she said. There is no provision in the lease for an independent audit. Gary Smith, Narconon Chilocco presi- dent, said the facility's audit is accurate. The BIA has the right to conduct an audit of his facility. He said questions about Narconon Chilocco's audit are based on "misinterpre- tation of the actual audit," Smith said. He said he did not know the amount of money his facility has paid in lease pay- ments the past three years but said it was more than $150,000. Smith said Stone's and Chapman's allega- tions were made to cover up the fact that the B IA has been asked to audit financial records of the development authority. "It's nothing more than a smoke screen from anybody that might have something that they might be a little nervous about," smith said. Stone said the Narconon Chilocco audit was prepared on plain paper without letter- head or other information stating who con- ducted the audit. Chapman and S tone reported the informa- tion to about 30 members of the Pawnee, Ponca, Otoe-Missouria, Kaw and Tonkawa tribes, each of which has a representative on the authority. "We wanted tribal members to understand that we're not stealing from them... We just haven't received our fair share, as we have always suspected," Chapman said. 77 "1 have high hopes of smashing my name into history so violently that it will take a legendary form .... That goal is the real goal as far as I am concerned." -L. Ron Hubbard, writing to the first of his three wives in 1938, more than a decade before he created Scientology. Defining The Theology... The Religion Abounds in Galactic Tales; Deepest Secrets Known to Few By Joel Sappell and Robert W. Welkos (c) 1990, Los Angeles Times What is Scientology? Not even the vast majority of Scien- tologists can fully answer the ques- tion. In the Church of Scientology, there is no one book that comprehen- sirely sets forth the religion's beliefs in the fashion of, say, the Bible or the Koran. Rather, Scientology's theology is scattered among the voluminous writ- ings and tape-recorded discourses of the late science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, who founder the religion in the early 1950s. Piece by piece, his teachings are revealed to church members through a progression of sometimes secret courses that take years to complete and cost tens of thousands of dollars. Out of a membership estimated by the church to be 6.5 million, only a tiny fraction have climbed to the upper reaches. In fact, according to a Scien- tology publication earlier this year, fewer than 900 members have com- pleted the church's highest course, nicknamed "Truth Revealed." While Hubbard's "Dianetics: The Modem Science of Mental Health" typically is one of the first books read by church members, its relationship to Scientology is like that of a grade school to a university. What Scientologists learn in their courses is never publicly discussed by the church, which is trying to shake its cultish image and establish itself as a mainstream religion. For to the unini- tiated, Hubbard' s theology would re- semble pure science fiction, complete with galactic battles, interplanetary civilizations and tyrants who roam the universe. Here, based on court records, church documents and Hubbard lectures that span the past four decades, is a rare look at portions of Scientology's the- ology and the cosmological musings of the man who wrote it. Central to Scientology is a belief in an immortal soul, or "thetan," that passes from one body to the next through countless reincarnations span- ning trillions of years. Together and collectively, thetans created the universe - all the stars and planets, every plant and animal. To function within their creation, thetans built bodies for themselves of wildly varying appearances, the human form being just one. But each them is vulnerable to pain- ful experiences that can diminish its powers and create emotional and physi- cal problems in the individual it inhab- its. The goal of Scientology is to purge these experiences from the thetan, making it again omnipotent and re- turning spiritual and bodily health to its host. The painful experiences are called "engrams." Hubbard said some hap- pen by accident - from ancient plane- tary wars, for example - while others are intentionally inflicted by other thetans who have gone bad and want power. In Scientology, these engrams are called "implants." According to Hubbard, the bad thet- ans through the eons have electroni- cally implanted other thetans with in- formation intended to confuse them and make them forget the powers they inherently possess - kind of a brain- washing procedure. While Hubbard was not always pre- cise about the origins of the implants, he was very clear about the impact. "Implants," Hubbard said, "result in all varieties of illness, apathy, degra- dation, neurosis and insanity and are the principal cause of these in man." Hubbard identified numerous im- plants that he said have occurred through the ages and that are addressed during Scientology courses aimed at neutralizing their harmful effects. Hubbard maintained, for example, that the concept of a Christian heaven is the product of two implants dating back more than 43 trillion years. Heaven, he said, is a "false dream" and a "very painful lie" intended to direct thetans toward a non-existent goal and convince them they have only one life. In reality, Hubbard said, them is no heaven and there was no Christ. "The [implanted] symbol of a cruci- fied Christ is very apt indeed," Hub- bard said. "It' s the symbol of a thetan betrayed." Hubbard said that one of the worst implants happens after a person dies. While Hubbard' s story of this implant may seem outlandish to some, he ad- vanced it as a factual account of rein- carnation. "Of all the nasty, mean and vicious implants that have ever been invented, this one is it," he declared during a lecture in the 1950s. "And it's been going on for thousands of years." Hubbard said that when a person dies, his or her thetan goes to a "land- ing station" on Venus, where it is programmed with lies about its past life and its next life. The lies include a promise that it will be returned to Earth by being lovingly shunted into the body of a newborn baby. Not so, said Hubbard, who described the thetan's re-entry this way: "What actually happens to you, you're simply capsuled and dumped in the gulf of lower California. Splash. The hell with ya. And you're on your own, man. If you can get out of that, and through that, and wander around through the cities and find some girl who looks like she is going to get married or have a baby or something like that, you're an set. And if you can find the matemity ward to a hospital or something, you're OK. "And you just eventually just pick up a baby." But Hubbard offered his followers an easy way to outwit the implant: Scientologists should simply select a location other than Venus to go "when they kick the bucket." Another notorious implant led Hubbard to construct an entire course for Scientologists who want to be rid of it. Shrouded in mystery and kept in locked cabinets at select church loca- tions, the course is called Operating Thetan III, billed by the church as "the final secret of the catastrophe which laid waste to this sector of the galaxy." It is taught only to the most advanced church members, at fees ranging to $6,000. Hubbard told his followers that while unlocking the secret, he "became very ill, almost lost this body and somehow or another brought it off and obtained the material and was able to live through it." Here's what he said he leameal: Seventy-five million years ago a tyrant named Xenu (pronounced Zee- new) ruled the Galactic Confedera- tion, an alliance of 76 planets, includ- ing Earth, then called Teegeeack. To control overpopulation and so- lidify his power, Xenu instructed his loyal officers to capture beings of all shapes and sizes from the various plan- ets, freeze them in a compound of alcohol and glycol and fly them by the billions to Earth in planes resembling DC-8s. Some of the beings were cap- tured after they were duped into show- ing up for a phony tax investigation. The beings were deposited or chained near 10 volcanoes scattered around the planet. After hydrogen bombs were dropped on them, their thetans were captured by Xenu' s forces and implanted with sexual perversion, religion and other notions to obscure their memory of what Xenu had done. Soon after, a revolt erupted. Xenu was imprisoned in a wire cage within a mountain, where he remains today. But the damage was done. During the last 75 million years, these implanted thetans have affixed themselves by the thousands to people on Earth. Called "body thetans," they overwhelm the main thetan who re- sides within a person, causing confu- sion and internal conflict. In the Operating Thetan III course, Scientologists are taught to scan their About This Section The Newkirk Herald Joumal today reprints a multi-part series on the Church of Scientology, the controversial organization rounded by the late author L. Ron Hubbard. This special report was researched and written by Joel Sappell and Robert W. Welkos, staff writers at the Los Angeles Times. The series was published by the Los Angeles Times in July of this year, and has also been published by the St. Petersburg, (Fla.) Times. Los Angeles, Ca., and Clearwater, Ft., both have large Scientology installa- tions, but neither city has a Scientology controlled organization as large as the 167 acre unlicensed and uncertified Narconon facility currently operating on Chilocco Indian School land. For that reason, the series deserves publication in this area. The Newkirk Herald Journal appreciates the co-operation of the management of the Los Angeles Times to whom we are indebted for both the copy and the permission to reprint it. Since its creation nearly four decades ago, Scientology has grown into a worldwide movement that, in recent months, has spent millions of dollars promoting its founder and his self-help book, "Dianetics: The Modem Science of Mental Health." In the past five years alone, more than 20 of Hubbard's fiction and nonfictionbooks have become national best-sellers - most of them achieving that status after his death in January, 1986. Scientology executives estimate the church's membership to be more than 6.5 million, although some former members believe the actual number is smaller. Scientology's largest stronghold is in Hollywood, the organizationls man- agement nerve center. The church is also a major presence in Clearwater, FI., where Scientologists from around the world go for training. No other contemporary religion has endured a more turbulent past or a more sustained assault on its existence than the Church of Scientology. It has weathered crises that would have crippled, if not destroyed, other fledgling religious movements - testimony to the group's determination to survive. Eleven of its top leaders - including Hubbard's wife - were jailed for burglarizing the U.S. Justice Department and other federal agencies in the 1970s. Within the church, there have been widespread purges and defections. Some former members have filed lawsuits accusing the church of intimidating its critics, breaking up families and using high-pressure sales techniques to bodies for "pressure points," indicat- ing the presence of these bad thetans. Using techniques prescribed by Hub- bard, church members make telepathic contact with these thetans and remind them of Xenu's treachery. With that, Hubbard said, the thetans detach them- selves. Hubbard first unveiled his Scien- tology theories during a series of often breathless lectures he delivered in Wichita, Kan., Phoenix and Philadel- phia in 1952. His talks were sprinkled with tales ofinterplanetary adventures he said he had experienced during earlier lives. There was the time, for instance, that Hubbard said he was resting in a peaceful valley on a barren planet in some remote galaxy, and decided to spruce up the place. He said he "fixed up a lake" and "managed to coax into existence a few vines." Then, "all of a sudden - zoop boom - and there was a spaceship," Hubbard recalled, saying "I got pretty mad about the whole thing." "I remember bringing a thunder- storm," Hubbard said. "Moved it over the ship ....And then [I] let them have it." Hubbard told associates that he had been many people before being born as Lafayette Ronald Hubbard on March 13, 1911, in Tilden, Nob. One of them was Cecil Rhodes, the British-born diamond king of southern Africa. An- other, according to a former aide, was a marshal to Joan of Arc. After Hubbard's death in 1986, a S cientolog y publication de scribed him as "the original musician," who 3 mil- lion years ago invented music while going by the name "Arpen Polo." The publication noted that "he wrote his f'trst song a bit after the first tick of time." Hubbard realized that his accounts of past lives, implants and extraterres- trial creatures might sound suspect to outsiders. So he counseled his dis- ciples to keep mum. "Don' t start walking around and tell- ing people about space opera because they're not going to believe you," he said, "and they're going to say, 'Well, that' s just Hubbard.'" About This Section separate large sums of money from its followers. In 1986, Scientology paid an estimated $5 million to settle more than 20 of the suits, without admitting wrongdoing. In exchange, the plaintiffs agreed never again to criticize Scientology or Hubbard and to have their lawsuits forever sealed from the public view. Through all this, the church has persevered, clismissing its critics in govern- ment, psychiatry and the media as "criminals" and "anti-religion" demagogues who have conspired to persecute Scientology. Today, the Scientology movement is writing a new chapter in its history, one that has attracted a new generation of supporters and detractors. Through official church programs and a network of groups run by Scientology follow- ers, the movement is reaching into American society as never before to gain legitimacy and new members. The apparent intent is to position Hubbard as a sort of 20th-Century Renaissance man, lending new credibility to his Scientology teachings. Among other things, church members are disseminating his writings in schools across the U.S., assisted by groups that seldom publicize their Scien- tology connections. Scientology followers also have established a number of successful consult- ing fn'ms that sell Hubbard's management techniques to health care profession- als and businessmen. In the process, many are steered into the church. And Scientologists are the driving force behind two organizations active in the scientific community. The organizations have been busy trying to sell government agencies and the public on a chemical detoxification treatment developed by Hubbard. There is little question that, although Hubbard is gone, Scientology is here to stay - and doing its best to meet his expectations. "The world is ours," he once told his adherents. l'Own it." L. Ron Hubbard: A Religion of a Man's Imagining The Mind Behind The Religion A Path From 'Pulp Fiction'To 'Sacred Scriptures' By Joel Sappoll and Robert W. Welkos (c) 1990, Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES - It was a triumph of galactic proportions: Science fic- tion writer L. Ron Hubbard had dis- carded the body that bound him to the physical universe and was off to the next phase of his spiritual exploration - "on a planet a galaxy away." "Hip, hip, hurray!" thousands of Scientologists thundered inside the Hollywood Palladium, where they had just been told of this remarkable feat. "Hip, hip, hurray! Hip, hip, hurray!" they continued to chant, gazing at a large photograph of Hubbard, creator of their religion and author of the best- selling "Dianetics: The Modern Sci- ence of Mental Health." Earlier that day, the Church of Sci- entology had summoned the faithful throughout Los Angeles to a "big and exciting event" at the Palladium. They were told nothing more, just to be there. As evening fell, thousands arrived, most decked out in the spit-and-polish mock Navy uniforms that are sym- bolic of the organization's paramili- tary structure. The excited assemblage was about to learn that their beloved leader, a man who dubbed himself "The Com- modore," had died. Yet, death was never mentioned. Instead, the Scientologists were told that Hubbard had finished his spiritual research on this planet, charting a pre- cise path forman to achieve immortal- ity. And now it was on to bigger chal- lenges somewhere beyond the stars. His body had "become an impedi- ment to the work he now must do outside of its confines," the awe-struck 4 "You can be merciless whenever your will is crossed and you have the right to be merciless." -L. RonHubbard, vvriting to himself in a notebook that would surface decades later in Los Angeles Superior Court. crowd was informed. "The fact that he ... willingly discarded the body after it was no longer useful to him signifies his ultimate success: the conquest of life that he embarked upon half a cen- tury ago." The death certificate would show that Lafayette Ronald Hubbard, 74, who had not been seen publicly for nearly six years, died on Jan. 24, 1986, of a stroke on his ranch outside San Luis Obispo, Calif. But to Scientologists, the man they affectionately called "Ron" had ascended. The glorification ofL. Ron Hubbard that brisk January night was not sur- prising. Over more than three decades he had skillfully transformed him- self from a writer of pulp fiction to a writer of "sacred scriptures." Along the way, he made a fortune and achieved his dream of fame. "I have high hopes of smashing my name into history so violently that it will take a legendary form, even if all the books are destroyed," Hubbard wrote to the first of his three wives in 1938, more than a decade before he created Scientology. "That goal," he said, "is the real goal as far as I am concerned." From the ground up, Hubbard built an international empire that started as a collection of mental therapy centers and became one of the world's most controversial and secretive religions. The intensity, combativeness and salesmanship that distinguish Scien- tology from other religions can be traced directly to Hubbard. For, even in death, the man and his creation are inseparable. He wrote millions of words in scores of books instructing his followers on everything from how to market Scien- tology to how to fend off critics. His prolific and sometimes rambling dis- courses constitute the gospel of S cien- tology, its structure and its soul. De- viations are punishable. Through his writings, Hubbard for- titled his clannish organization with a powerful intolerance of criticism and a fierce will to endure and prosper. He wrote a Code of Honor that urged his followers to "never desert a group to which you owe your support" and "never fear to hurt another in a just cause .. The Making Of L. Ron Hubbard Promise Of Miracles Life Of Crisis He transmitted to his followers his suspicious view of the world - one populated, he insisted, by madmen bent on Scientology's destruction. His flaring temper and searing in- tensity are deeply branded into the church and reflected in the behavior of his faithful, who shout at adversaries and even at each other. As one former high -ranking member put it: "He made swearing cool." Hubbard's followers say his teach- ings have helped thousands kick drugs and allowed countless others to lead fuller lives through courses that im- prove communication skills, build serf- confidence and increase an individual' s (Continued On Page 2) (Continued From Page 1) ability to take control of his or her life. He was, they say, "the greatest hu- manitarian in history." But there was another side to this imaginative and intelligent man. And to understand Scientology, one must begin with L. Ron Hubbard. In the late 1940s, Hubbard was broke and in debt. A straggling writer of science fiction and fantasy, he was forced to sell his typewriter for $28.50 to get by. "I can still see Ron three-steps-at-a- time running up the stairs in around 1949 in order to borrow $30 from me to get out of town because he had a wife after him for alimony," recalled his former literary agent, Forrest J. Ackerman. At one point, Hubbard was reduced to begging the Veterans Administra- tion to let him keep a $ 51 overpayment of benefits. "I am nearly penniless," wrote Hubbard, a former Navy lieu- tenant. Hubbard was mentally troubled, too. In late 1947, he asked the Vet- erans Administra- tion to help him get psychiatric treat- ment. "Toward the end of my [military] service," Hubbard wrote to the VA, "I avoided out of pride any mental ex- aminations, hoping that time would balance a mind which I had every reason to suppose was seriously af- fected. "I cannot account for nor rise above long periods of moroseness and sui- cidal inclinations, and have newly come to realize that I must first tri- umph above this before I can hope to rehabilitate myself at all." In his most private moments, Hubbard wrote bizarre statements to himself in notebooks that would sur- face four decades later in Los Angeles County Superior Court. "All men are your slaves," he wrote in one. "You can be merciless whenever your will is crossed and you have the right to be merciless," he wrote in another. Hubbard was troubled, restless and adrift in those little known years of his life. But he never lost confidence in his ability as a writer. He had made a living with words in the past and he could do it again. Before the financial and emotional problems that consumed him in the 1940s, Hubbard had achieved moder- ate success writing for a variety of dime-store pulp magazines. He spe- cialized in shoot'em-up adventures, Westerns, mysteries, war stories and science fiction. His output, if not the writing itself, was spectacular. Using such pseud- onyms as Winchester Remington Colt and Rene LaFayette, he sometimes filled up entire issues virtually by him- self. Hubbard's life then was like a page from one of his adventure stories. He panned for gold in Puerto Rico and charted waterways in Alaska. He was a master sailor and glider pilot, with a reported penchant for eye-catching maneuvers. Although Hubbard' s health and writ- ing career foundered after the war, he remained a virtual factory of ideas. And his biggest was about to be born.< Hubbard had long been fascinated with mental phenomena and the mysteries of life. He was an expert in hypnotism. During a 1948 gathering of science fiction buffs in Los Angeles, he hyp- notized many of those in attendance, convincing one young man that he was cradling a tiny kangaroo in his hands. Hubbard sometimes spoke of hav- ing visions. His fonner literary agent, Ackerman, said Hubbard once told of dying on an operating table. And here, according to Ackerman, is what Hubbard said followed: "He arose in spirit form and looked at the body he no longer inhabited .... In the distance he saw a great ornate gate .... The gate opened of its own accord and he drifted through. There, spread out, was an intellectual smor- gasbord, the answers to everything that ever puzzled the mind of man. He was absorbing all this fantabulous in- formation .... Then he felt like a long umbilical cord pulling him back. And a voice was saying, 'No, not yet.'" Hubbard, according to Ackerman, said he returned to life and feverishly wrote his recollections. He said Hub- bard later tried to sell the manuscript but failed, claiming that "whoeverread it (a) went insane, or (b) committed suicide ." Hubbard's intense curiosity about the mind' s power led him into a friend- ship in 1946 with rocket fuel scientist John Whiteside Parsons. Parsons was a protege of British satanist Aleister Crowley and leader of a black magic group modeled after Crowley's infa- mous occult lodge in England. Hubbard also admired CrowIcy, and in a 1952 lecture described him as "my very good friend." Parsons and Hubbard lived in an aging mansion on South Orange Grove Avenue in Pasadena, Calif. The estate was home to an odd mix of Bohemian artists, writers, scientists and occult- ists. A small domed temple supported by six stone columns stood in the back yard. Hubbard met his second wife, Sara Northrup, at the mansion. Although she was Parsons' lover at the time, Hubbard was undererred. He married Northrup before divorcing his first wife. Long before the 1960s countercul- ture, some residents of the estate smoked marijuana and embraced a philosophy of promiscuous, ritualistic sex. "The neighbors began protesting when the rituals called for a naked pregnant woman to jump nine times through fire in the yard," recalled sci- ence fiction author L. Sprague de Camp, who knew both Hubbard and Parsons. Crowley biographers have written that Parsons and Hubbard practiced "sex magic." As the biographers tell it, a robed Hubbard chanted incantations while Parsons and his wife-to-be, Cameron, engaged in sexual inter- course intended to produce a child with superior intellect and powers. The ceremony was said to span 11 consecutive nights. Hubbard and Parsons finally had a falling out over a sailboat sales ven- ture that ended in a court dispute be- tween the two. In later years, Hubbard tried to dis- tance himself from his embarrassing association with Parsons, who was a founder of a government rocket project at the California Institute of Technol- ogy that later evolved into the famed Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Parsons died in 1952 when a chemical explo- 5 sion ripped through his garage lab. Hubbard insisted that he had been working undercover for Naval Intelli- gence to break up black magic in America and to investigate links be- tween the occultisis and prominent scientists at the Parsons mansion. Hubbard said the mission was so suc- cessful that the house was razed and the black magic group was dispersed. But Parsons' widow, Cameron, dis- puted Hubbard's account in a brief interview with the Los Angeles Times. She said the two men "liked each other very much" and "felt they were usher- ing in a force that was going to change things." In early 1950, Hubbard published an intriguing article in a 25 -cent maga- zine called Astounding Science Fic- tion. In it, he said that he had uncov- ered the source of man' s problems. The article grew into abook, written in one draft in just 30 days and entitled "Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health." It would become the most important book of Hubbard's life. The book's introduction declared that Hubbard had invented a new "men- tal science," a feat more important perhaps than "the invention of the wheel, the control of fire, the develop- ment of mathematics." Hubbard himself said he had uncov- ered the source of, and the cure for, virtually every aliment known to man. Dianetics, he said, could restore with- ered limbs, mend broken bones, erase the wrinkles of age and dramatically increase intelligence. Not surprisingly, the nation' s men- tal health professionals were unim- pressed. Fumed psychoanalyst Rollo May voiced the sentiments of many when he wrote in The New York Times that "books like this do harm by their gran- diose promises to troubled persons and by their oversimplification of hu- man psychological problems." But "Dianetics" was an instantbest- seller when it hit the stands in May, 1950, and made Hubbard an overnight celebrity. Arthur Ceppos, who pub- lished the book, said Hubbard spent his first royalties on a luxury Lincoln. Hubbard had tapped the public's growing fascination with psycho- therapy, then largely accessible only to the affluent. "Dianetics," in fact, was popularly dubbed "the poor man' s psychotherapy" because it could be practiced among friends for free. In the book, Hubbard claimed to have discovered the previously un- known "reactive mind," a depository for emotionally or physically painful events in a person's life. These trau- matic experiences, called "engrams," cause a variety of psychosomatic ill- nesses, including migraine headaches, ulcers, allergies, arthritis, poor vision and the common cold, Hubbard said. The goal ofdianetics, Hubbard said, is to purge these painful experiences and cream a "clear" inclividual who is able to realize his or her full potential. Catapulted from obscurity, Hubbard decided in the sununer of 1950 to prove in a big way that his new "sci- ence" was for real. He appeared before a crow d of thou- sands at the Shrine Auditorium to un- veil the "world' s first clear," a person he said had achieved a perfect memory. Journalists from numerous newspa- pers and magazines were there to docu - ment the event. He placed on display one Sonya Bianca, a young Boston physics ma- jor. But when Hubbard allowed the audience to question her, she per- formed dismally. Someone, for example, told Hubbard to turn his back while the gift was asked to describe the color of his tie. There was silence. The world's first clear drew a blank. "It was a tremendous embarrass- ment for Hubbard and his friends at the time," recalled Arthur Jean Cox, a science fiction buff who attended the presentation. More problems were on the way for the man whose book promised miracles but whose own life would move from one crisis to the next until his death. He became embroiled, for instance, in a nasty divorce and child custody battle that raised embarrassing ques- tions about his mental stability. His wife, Sara Northrnp Hubbard, accused him of subjecting her to "sci- entific torture experiments" and of suf- fering from "paranoid schizophrenia" - allegations that she would later re- tract in a signed statement but that would find their way into government files and continue to haunt Hubbard. She said in her suit that Hubbard had deprived her of sleep, beaten her and suggested that she kill herself, "as divorce would hurt his reputation." During the legal proceedings, Sara placed in the court record a letter she had received from Hubbard' s first wife. "Ron is not normal," it said. "I had hoped you could straighten him out. Your charges probably sound fantas- tic to the average person - but I've been through it - the beatings, threats on my life, all the saclistic traits which you charge - 12 years of it." At one point in the marital dispute with Sara, Hubbard spirited their 1- year-old daughter, Alexis, to Cuba. From there, he wrote to Sara: "I have been in the Cuban military hospital, and am being transferred to the United States as a classified scien- tist irmnune from interference of all kinds .... My fight side is paralyzed and getting more so. "I hope my heart lasts. I may live a long time and again I may not. But Dianetics will last ten thousand years - for the Army and Navy have it now." Hubbard, who had earlier accused his wife of infidelity and said she suf- fered brain damage, closed his letter by threatening to cut his infant daugh- ter from his will. "Alexis will get a fortune unless she goes to you, as she then would get nothing," he wrote. He also wrote a letter to the FBI at the height of the Red Scare accusing Sara of possibly being a Communist, along with others whom he said had infiltrated his dianetics movement. The FBI, after interviewing Hubbard, dismissed him as a "mental case." In one seven-page missive to the Department of Justice in 1951, he linked Sara to alleged physical as- saults on him. He said that on two separate occasions he was punched in his sleep by unidentified intruders. And then came the third attack. "I was in my apartment on February 23rd, about two or three o'clock in the morning when the apartment was en- tered, I was knocked out, had a needle thrust into my heart to give it aj et of air to produce 'coronary thrombosis' and was given an electric shock with a 110 volt current. This is all very blurred to me. I had no witnesses. But only one person had another key to that apart- ment and that was Sara." Aftermonths of sniping at each other - and a counter divorce suit by Hubbard in which he accused his wife of "gross neglect of duty and extreme cruelty" - the couple ended their stormy mar- riage, with Sara obtaining custody of the child. In later years, Hubbard would deny fathertrig the girl and, as threat- ened, did not leave her a cent. Not only was Hubbard's domestic life a shambles in 1951, his once- thriving self-help movement was cntmbling as public interest in his theo- ries waned. The foundations Hubbard had es- tablished to teach dianetics were in f'mancial ruin and his book had disap- peared from The New York Times best-seller list. But the resilient self-promoter came up with something new. He called it Scientology, and his metamorphosis from pop therapist to religious leader was under way. Scientology essentially gave a new twist to the Dianetics notion of painful experiences that lodge in the "reactive mind." In Scientology, Hubbard held that memories of such experiences also collect in a person' s soul and date back to past lives. For many of Hubbard's early fol- lowers, Scientology was not believ- able, and they broke with him. But others would soon take their place, conferring upon Hubbard an almost saintly status. But as Hubbard's renown and pros- perity grew in the 1960s, so, too, did the questions surrounding his f'mances and teachings. He was accused by various governments - including the U.S. - of quackery, of brainwashing, of bilking the gullible through high- pressure sales techniques. In 1967, Hubbard took several hun- dred of his followers to sea to escape the spreading hostility. But they found only temporary safe harbor from what they believed had become an interna- tional conspiracy to persecute them. Their three ships, led by a converted cattle ferry dubbed the "Apollo," were bounced from port to port in the Medi- terranean and Caribbean by govern- ments that wrongly suspected the American skipper and his secretive, clean-cut crew of being CIA opera- tives. While anchored at the Portuguese island of Madeira, they were stoned by townsfolk carrying torches and chant- ing anti-CIA slogans. "They [were] throwing Molotov cocktails onto the boat but they weren't lit," a crew member recalled. "Fortu- nately, this was not an experienced mob." The years at sea were a watershed for Hubbard and Scientology. He in- stituted a Navy-style command struc- ture that is evident today in the mili- tary dress and snap-to behavior of the organization' s staff members. Hubbard named himself the "Commodore," and subordinates followed his orders like Annapolis midshipmen. As former Scientology ship officer Hana Eltringham Whitfield put it: "Scientologists on the whole thought that Hubbard was like a god, that he could command the waves to do what he wanted, that he was totally in con- trol of his life and consequences of his actions." "With a running dog press and slavish government agencies the forces of evil have launched their lies and sought, by whatever twisted means, to check and destroy Scientology. " -L. Ron Hubbard in 1982 Staking A Clairn To Blood Brotherhood (c) 1990, Los Angeles Times As L. Ron Hubbard told it, he was 4 years old when a medicine man named "Old Tom" made him a "blood brother" of the Blackfeet Indians of Montana, provid- ing the inspiration for the Scientology founder' s first novel, "Buckskin Brigades." But one expert on the tribe doesn't buy Hubbard' s account. Historian Hugh Dempsey is associate director of the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta. He has exten- sively researched the tribe, of which his wife is a member. He said that blood brothers are "an old Hollywood idea" and that the act was "never done among the Blackfeet." As for "Old Tom," Dempsey has informed doubts. For one thing, he said, the name does not appear in a 1907 Blackfeet enrollment register containing the names of hundreds of tribal members. For another, "It's the kind of name, for that period [1915], that would practically not exist among the Blackfeet," he said. "At that time, Blackfeet did not have Christian names." In 1985, church leaders produced a document that they say proves Hubbard was not lying. Typed on Blackfeet Nation stationery, it states: "To commemorate the seventieth anniversary of L. Ron Hubbard becoming a blood brother of the Blackfeet Nation. Tree Manyfeathers in a ceremony re-estab- lished L. Ron Hubbard as a blood brother to the B lackfee t Tribe." The document actually is meaningless because none of the three men who signed it were authorized to take any action on the tribe' s behalf, according to Blackfeet Nation officials. The document was created by Richard Mataisz, a Scientologist of fractional Indian descent. Mataisz said in an interview he tried to prove that Hubbard was a Blackfeet blood brother but came up empty-handed. "It's not," he said, "something you go down to the courthouse and look up." So Mataisz, using the name Tree Manyfeathers, said he held a private ceremony, made Hubbard his own blood brother and, along with two other men, signed the commemorative document. "You should not give it [the document] very much credibility," said John Yellow Kidney, former vice president of the tribe' s executive committee. "I don't." 8 Burglaries And Lies Paved A Path To Prison A Web Of Criminal Conspiracy To discredit The Church's Foes Resulted In 5-Year Sentences For 11 Defendants. By Robert W. Welkos and Joel Sappell (c) 1990, Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES - It began with the title of a fairy tale - Snow White. That was the benign code name Sci- entology founder L. Ron Hubbard gave to an ominous plan that would en- velop his church in scandal and send its upper echelon to prison, a plan rooted in his ever-deepening fears and suspicions. Snow White began in 1973 as an effort by Scientology through Free- dom of Information proceedings to purge government files of what Hub- bard thought was false information being circulated worldwide to discredit him and the church. But the operation soon mushroomed into a massive criminal conspiracy, executed by the church' s legal and investigative arm, the Guardian Office. Under the direction of Hubbard's wife, Mary Sue, the Guardian Office hatched one scheme after another to discredit and unnerve Scientology's foes across the country. Guardian Office members were trained to lie, or in their words, "to outflow false data effectively." They compiled enemy lists and subjected those on the lists to smear campaigns and dirty tricks. Their targets were in the govern- ment, the press, the medical profes- sion, wherever a potential threat sur- faced. The Guardian Office saved the worst for author Paulette Cooper of New York City, whose scathing 1972 book, "The Scandal of S cientology," pushed her to the top of the church' s roster of enemies. Among other things, Cooper was framed on criminal charges by Guard- ian Office members, who obtained stationery she had touched and then used it to forge bomb threats to the church in her name. "You're like the Nazis or the Arabs - I'll bomb you, I'll kill you!" warned one of the rambling letters. The church reported the threat to the FBI and directed its agents to Cooper, whose fingerprints matched those on the letter. Cooper was indicted by a grand jury not only for the bomb threats, but for lying under oath about her innocence. Two years later, the author' s repu- tation and psyche in tatters, prosecu- tors dismissed the charges after she had spent nearly $20,000 in legal fees to defend herself and $6,000 on psy- chiatric treatment. It seemed that no plan against per- ceived enemies was too ambitious or daring. In Washington, Scientology spies penetrated such high-security agen- cies as the Department of Justice and the Internal Revenue Service to find what they had on Hubbard and the church. In nighttime raids, they rifled files and photocopied mountains of docu- ments, many of which the church had unsuccessfully sought under the fed- eral Freedom of Information Act. The thefts were inside jobs; the Guardian Office had planted one agent in the IRS as a clerk typist and another in the Department of Justice as the personal secretary of an assistant U.S. attorney who was handling Freedom of Information lawsuits filed by Sci- entology. So bold had they become that one Guardian Office operative slipped into an IRS conference room and wired a bugging device into a wall socket be- fore a crucial meeting on Scientology was to be convened. The operative rigged the device so he could eaves- drop over his car' s FM radio. The U.S. government was losing a war it did not even know it was fight- ing. But that was about to change. Two Scientologists used fake IRS credentials to gain access to govern- ment agencies and then photocopied documents related to the church. Their conspiracy was exposed when one of the suspects, after 11 months on the lain, became worried about his plight and confessed to authorities, prompt- ing the FBI to launch one of the big- gest raids in its history. Armed with power saws, crowbars and bolt cutters, 134 agents burst into three Scientology locations in Los Angeles and Washington. They carted off eavesdropping equipment, burglar tools and 48,000 documents detailing countless opera- tions against" enemies" in public and private life. In the end, Hubbard' s wife and the others were found guilty of charges of conspiracy and burglary. The grand jury named Hubbard as an unindicted co-conspirator; the seized Guardian Office files did not dirccfiy link him to the crimes and he professed ignorance of them. In a memorandum urging stiff sen- tences for the Scientologists, federal prosecutors wrote: "The crime committed by these de- fendants is of a breadth and scope previously unheard of. No building, office, desk, or file was safe from their snooping and prying. No individual or organization was free from theft des- picable conspiratofial minds. The tools of their trade wcrc miniature transmit- tcrs, lock picks, secret codes, forged credentials and any other device they found necessary to carry out theft con- spiratorial schemes." The 11 defendants were ordered to serve five years in federal prison. All are now free. Church leaders today maintain that this dark chapter in their religion's history was the work of renegade mem- bers who, yes, broke the law but be- The Final Days... Deep In Hiding, Hubbard Kept A Tight Grip On The Church By Robert W. Welkos and Joel Sappell (c) 1990, Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES - Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard often said that man's most basic drive is that of survival. And when it came to his own, he used whateverwas necessary - false identifies, cover stories, deception. There is no better illustration of this than the way he secretly controlled the Church of Scientology while hid- ing from a world he viewed as increas- ingly hostile. Hubbard was last seen publicly in February 1980, in the desert commu- nity of Hemet, Calif., a few miles from a high-security compound that houses thechurch's movie and recording stu- dio. His sudden departure fueled wild and intense speculation. The church said Hubbard went Burglaries And Lies lieved they were justified because the government for two decades had ha- rassed and persecuted Scientology. Boston attorney Earle C. Cooley, Scientology's national trial counsel, said the present church management does not condone the criminal activi- ties of the old Guardian Office. He said that one of Hubbard's most im- portant dictums was to "maintain friendly relations with the environ- ment and the public." "The question that I always have in my mind," Cooley said, "is for how long a time is the church going to have to continue to pay the price for what the (Guardian Office) did .... Unfortu- nately, the church continues to be confronted with it. "And the ironic thing is that the people being confronted with it are the people who wiped it out. And to the church, that' s a very frustrating thing ." into seclusion to continue his Scientology research and to resurrect his science fiction-writing career. But former aides have said he dropped from sight to avoid subpoenas and government tax agents probing aile- gations that he was skinuning church funds. Publications throughout the world ran stories about Hubbard' s disappear- ance. "Mystery of the Vanished Ruler" was the headline in Time magazine. In 1982, Hubbard' s estranged son filed a probate petition trying to wrest control of the Scientology empire. He argued that his father was either dead or mentally incompetent and that his riches were being plundered by Scien- tology executives. The suit was dismissed after Hubbard, through an attorney, sub- mitted an affidavit with his finger- prints, saying that he was well and wanted to be left alone. No doubt, Hubbard would have chuckled with satisfaction over the speculationsurrounding his where- abouts. For he had always considered himself a shrewd strategist and a mas- ter of the intelligence game, endlessly calculating ways to outwit his foes. Hubbard took with him only two people, a married couple named Pat and Anne Broeker. Pat Broeker, Hubbard's personal messenger at the time, had gone into hiding with him once before and knew how to ensure his security. Broeker relished cloak-and-dagger operations. His nickname among Hubbard' s other messengers was "007." Anne had been one of Hubbard' s top aides for years. She was cool under pressure and able to refuse Hubbard' s volatile temper. Hubbard and the Broekers spent their first several years together on the move. For months, they traveled the Pacific Northwest in a motor home. They lived in apartments in Newport Beach and other suburbs of Los Ange- les. Then, in the summer of 1983, they decided to settle down in a dusty ranch town of Creston, Calif., population 270, where the hot, arid climate would be kind to Hubbard's bursitis. About 30 miles inland from San Luis Obispo, it was a perfect spot for a man of notoriety to live in obscurity. In those parts, people don' t ask a lot of questions about someone else's busi- ness. Hubbard and the Broekers con- cocted an elaborate set of phony names and backgrounds to conceal their iden- ttities from the townsfolk. Pat and Anne Broeker went by the names Mike and Lisa Mitchell. Hubbard became Lisa' s father Jack, who impressed the locals as a chatty old man, charismatic but sometimes gruff. They purchased a 160-acre ranch known as the Whispering Winds for $700,000, using 30 cashier's checks drawn on various California banks. Pat Broeker told the sellers, Ed and Sherry Shahan, that he had recently inherited millions of dollars and was looking to leave his home in Upstate New York to raise livestock in Cali- fornia. At the time, the Shahans were suspicious. As Ed Shahan recalled," They were having trouble deciding whose name to put the property in." In less than three years, Hubbard poured an estimated $3 million into the local economy as he redesigned the ranch to his exacting and elaborate specifications. He launched one project after an- other, some of them seemingly sense- less, according to local residents. He ordered the construction of a quarter- mile horse-racing track with an obser- vation tower. The track reportedly was never used. The 10-room ranch house was gutted and remodeled so many times that it went virtually uninhabited dur- ing Hubbard's time there. He lived and worked in a luxurious 40-foot Bluebird motor home parked near the stables. All this was done without work permits, which meant that Hubbard and his aides would not have to worry about nosy county inspectors. Like Hubbard's aides in earlier years, the hired help saw extreme sides of the man who was chauffeured around the property in a black Subaru pickup by Anne Broeker. Fencing contractor Jim Froelicher of Paso Robles remembers asking him for advice on buying a camera. Sev- eral days later, Froelicher said, Hubbard presented him with a 35mm camera as a gift. Longtime Creston resident Ed Lindquist, on the other hand, said paint- ers dropped by the local tavern at lunch to talk about how the "old man" was acting eccentric. They said he had them paint the walls again and again because they "weren' t white enough ," according to Lindquist. Scientology officials insist that Hubbard was in fine mental and physi- cal health during his years in seclu- sion. Most of his days, they say, were spent reading, writing and enjoying the ranch' s beauty and livestock, which included llamas and buffalo. But Hubbard was doing much more, according to former aides. Even in hiding, they say, he kept a close watch and a tight grip on the church he built - as he had for decades. As early as 1966, Hubbard claimed to have relinquished managerial con- trol of the church. But ex- Scientologists and several court rul- ings have held that this was a maneu- ver to shield Hubbard from potential legal actions and accountability for the group's activities. Over the years, efforts to conceal Hubbard' s ties to the church were ex- tensive and extreme. In 1980, for example, a massive shredding operation was undertaken at the church's desert compound out- side Palm Springs after Scientology officials received an erroneous tip of an imminent FBI raid, according to a former aide. "Anything that indicated that L. Ron Hubbard controlled the church or was engaged in management was to be shredded," recalled Hubbard' s former public relations officer, Laurel SulFlvan. For more than two days, Sullivan said, roughly 200 Scientologists crammed thousands of documents into a huge shredder nicknamed" Jaws." Documents too valuable to destroy, she added, were buried in the ground or under floorboards. In his self-imposed exile, Hubbard continued to reign over Scientology with almost paranoid secrecy. He relayed his orders in writing or on tape cassettes to Pat Broeker, who then passed them to a ranking Scientologist named David Miscavige, the man responsible for seeing that church executives complied. Hubbard' s communiques travelled a circuitous route in the darkness of night, changing hands from Broeker to Miscavige at designated sites throughout Southem California. To mask the author's identity, the mis- sives were signed with codes that car- ried the weight of Hubbard's signa- ture. Sometimes Broeker himself ap- peared from parts unknown to person- ally deliver Hubbard' s instructions to church executives. From his secret seat of power in the oak-studded hills above San Luis Obispo, Hubbard also made sure that he would not be severed from the riches of his Scientology empire, high- level church defectors would later tell government investigators. They alleged that Hubbard skimmed millions of dollars from church coffers while he was in hiding - carrying on a tradition that the Inter- nal Revenue Service said he began practically at Scientology's inception about 30 years ago. Hubbard and his aides had always denied the allega- tions, and accused the IRS of waging a campaign against the church and its founder. While Hubbard was underground, the IRS launched a criminal investiga- tion of his finances. But the investiga- tion would soon be without a target, and ultimately abandoned. By late 1985, Hubbard' s directives to underlings had tapered off. At age 74, he no longer resembled the robust and natty man whose dated photo- graphs fill Scientology's promotional literature. Living in isolation, sepa- rated from his devoted followers, he had let himself go. His thin gray hair, with streaks of the old red, hung without sheen to his shoulders. He had grown a stringy, unkempt beard and mustache. His 10 round face was now sunken and his ruddy complexion had turned pasty. He was an old man and he was nearing death. On or about Jan. 17, 1986, Hub- bard suffered a" cerebral vascular accident," commonly known as a stroke. Caring for him was Gene Denk, a Scientologist doctor and Hubbard's physician for eight years. There was little Denk could do for Hubbard in those final days -the stroke was debilitating. He was bedridden and his speech was badly impaired. One week later, at 8 p.m. on Fri- day, Jan. 24, Hubbard died. Throughout the night, according to neighborRobertWhaley, heavy traf- fic inexplicably moved in and out of the ranch. Whaley, a retired advertis- ing executive, said that he was kept awake by headlights shining through his windows. For more than 11 hours, Hubbard' s body remained in the motor home where he died. Scientology attorney Earle Cooley had ordered that Hub- bard not be touched until he arrived by car from Los Angeles with another Scientology lawyer. The next morning, Cooley tele- phoned Reis Chapel, a San Luis Obispo mortuary, and arranged to have the body cremated. With Cooley present, Hubbard was transported to the mor- tuary. Once chapel officials learned who Hubbard was, however, they became concerned about the church' s rush to cremate him. They contacted the San Luis Obispo County coroner, who halted the cremation until the body could be examined and blood tests performed. When then-Deputy Coroner Don Hines arrived, Cooley presented him with a certificate that Hubbard had signed just four days before his death. It stated that, for religious reasons, he wanted no autopsy. Cooley also produced a will that Hubbard had signed the day before he died, directing that his body be promptly cremated and that his vast wealth be distributed according to the provisions of a confidential trust he had established. His once -ornate trade - mark signature was little more than a scrawl. After the blood tests and examina- tion revealed no foul play, coroner Hines approved the cremation. With Cooley's consent, he also photo- graphed the body and lifted finger- prints as a way to later confirm that it was the reclusive Hubbard and not a hoax. Within hours, Hubbard's ashes were scattered at sea by the Broekers and Miscavige. Two days after Hubbard' s death, Pat Broeker stood before a standing- room-only crowd of Scientologists at the Hollywood Palladium. It was his first public appearance in six years, and he had just broken the news of Hubbard' s passing. The cheers were deafening. Broeker announced that Hubbard had made a conscious decision to" sever all ties" to this world so he could continue his Scientology research in spirit form - testimony to the power of the man and his teachings. He "laid down in his bed and he left," Broeker said. "And that was it." Hubbard left behind an organiza- tion that would continue to function as though he were still alive. His millions of words - the lifeblood of Scientology - have now been computerized for wisdom and instructions at the touch of a button. In Scientology, he was - and al- ways will be - the" Source." "They were having trouble deciding whose name to put the property in." -Ed Shahan, who with his wife Sherry sold L. Ron Hubbard a 160-acre ranch near San Luis Obispo - known as the Whispering Winds - for $700,000 in 1983. The purchase was made with 30 cashier's checks drawn on various California banks. Church Scriptures Get High-Tech Protection By Robert W. Welkos and Joel Sappert (c) 1990, Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES - Scientology is determined that the words of L. Ron Hubbard shall live forever. Using state-of-the art technology, the movement has spent more than $15 million to protect Hubbard' s origi - nal writings, tape-recorded lectures and filmed treatises from natural and man-made calamities, including nu- clear holocaust. The effort illustrates two fundamental truths about the Scientology movement: It believes in its future and it never does anything halfheartedly. In charge of the preser- vation task is the Church of Spiritual Technology, which functions as ar- chivist for Hubbard's works. It has a staff - but no congregation - and its fiscal 1987 income was $503 million, according to court documents fried by the church. The organization has purchased ru- ral land in New Mexico, Northern California and Southern California' s San Bernardino Mountains to store the Hubbard gospel. According to Church of Spiritual Technology documents, the New Mexico site has a 670-foot tunnel with two deep vaults at the end. The tunnel is protected with thick concrete and has four doors with "maintenance-free lives of 1,000 years." Three of the doors purportedly will be "nu clear blast resistant." All this to house mere copies of the original works, which include 500,000 pages of Hubbard writings, 6,500 reels of tape and 42 films. The originals themselves are being kept under tight security on a sprawling Scientology complex near Lake Arrowhead, Calif. While details of the facility are sketchy, a San Bernardino County sheriffs deputy, who requested ano- nymity, said the group had burrowed a huge tunnel into a mountainside. At the Lake Arrowhead repository, sophisticated methods are being used to prepare Hubbard's works for the bomb-proof vaults. Here, according to Scientology officials and documents, is the process: First, the original writings are chemi- cally treated to rid the paper of acid that causes deterioration. Next, they are placed in plastic envelopes that church officials say will last 1,000 years. From there, they are packaged in titanium "time capsules" filled with argon gas to further aid preservation. Hubbard's writings also are being etched onto stainless steel plates with a strong acid. Scientology officials said the plates are so durable that they can be sprayed with salt water for 1,000 years and not deteriorate. As for Hubbard's taped lectures, they are being re-recorded onto spe- cial "pure gold" compact discs en- cased in glass that, according to Scientology archvists, are "designed to last at least 1,000 years with no deterioration of sound quality." Scientology Markets Its Gospel With High-Pressure Sales Pitch By Joel Sappell and Robert W. Welkos (c) 1990, Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES - Behind the reli- gious trappings, the Church of Scien- tology is run like a lean, no-nonsense business in which potential members are called "prospects," "raw meat" and "bodies in the shop." Its governing financial policy, writ- ten by the late Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, is simple and direct: "MAKE MONEY, MAKE MORE MONEY, MAKE OTHERS PRO- DUCE SO AS TO MAKE MONEY." The organization uses sophisticated sales tactics to sell a seemingly end- less progression of expensive courses, each serving as a prerequisite for the next. Known collectively as "The Bridge," the courses promise salva- tion, higher intelligence, superhuman powers and even possible survival from nuclear fallout - for those who can pay. Church tenets mandate that parish- ioners purchase Scientology goods and services under Hubbard' s "doctrine of exchange." A person must learn to give, he said, as well as receive. For its programs and books, the church charges "fixed donations" that range from $50 for an elementary course in improving communication skills to more than $13,000 for Hubbard' s secret teachings on the ori- gins of the universe and the genesis of mankind' s ills. The church currently is offering a "limited time only" deal on a select package of Hubbard courses, which represent a small portion of The Bridge. If bought individually, those courses would cost $55,455. The sale price: $33,399.50. As a promotional flyer for the dis- count observes, "YOU SAVE $22,055.50." To complete Hubbard' s progression of courses, a Scientologist could con- ceivably spend a lifetime and more than $400,000. Although few if any have doled out that much, the high cost of enlightenment in Scientology has left many deeply in debt to family, friends and banks. Ask former church member Marie Culloden of Manhattan Beach, Calif., who describes herself as a "recovering Scientologist." "I'm trying to recover my mort- gaged home," says Culloden, who spent 20 years in Scientology and ob- tained three mortgages totaling more than $80,000 to buy courses. The Scientology Bridge is always under construction, keeping the Su- preme Answer one step away from church members - a potent sales strat- egy devised by Hubbard to keep the money flowing, critics contend. New courses continually are added, each of which is said to be crucial for spiritual progress, each heavily pro- moted. Church members are warned that unless they keep purchasing Scientol- ogy services, misery and sickness may befall them. For the true believer, this is a powerful incentive to keep buying whatever the group is selling. Through the mail, Scientologists are bombarded with glossy, colorful bro- chures announcing the latest courses and discounts. Letters and postcards sound the dire warning, "Urgent! Ur- gent! Your future is at risk! ... It is time to ACT! NOW!... You must buy now !" By far the most expensive service offered by Scientology is "auditing" - a kind of confessional during which an individual reveals intimate and trau- matic details of his life while his re- sponses are monitored on a lie detec- tor-type device known as the E-meter. The purpose is to unburden a person of painful experiences, or "engrams," that block his spiritual growth, a proc- ess that can span hundreds of hours. Auditing is purchased in 12-hour chunks costing anywhere between $3,000 and $11,000 each, depending on where it is bought. Even Scientology's critics concede that auditing often helps people feel better by allowing them to air troub- ling aspects of their lives - much like a Catholic confessional or psychother- apy - and keeps them coming back for more. The church makes no apologies for 12 the methods it uses to raise funds and spread the gospel of its founder. Sci- entology spokesmen said in interviews that it takes money to cover overhead expenses and to finance the church's worldwide expansion, as it does for any religion. "You can't do it on bread and but- ter," said one. Church leaders will not discuss Scientology's gross income or net worth. But they contend that Scien- tologists who pay for spiritual pro- grams are no different from, say, Mor- mons who tithe 10 percent of their income for admittance to the temple, or from Jews who buy tickets to High Holiday services or from Christians who rent church pews. "The fact of the matter is that the parishioners of the Church of Scien- tology have felt and continue to feel that they get full value for their dona- tions," said Scientology lawyer Earle C. Cooley. Many Scientologists say that Hubbard' s teachings have resurrected their lives, some of which were marred by drugs, personal traumas, self doubts or a sense of alienation. They say that, through the church, they have gained confidence and learned to lead ethical lives and take responsibility for them- selves, while working to create a bet- ter world. Scientology "works," they say, and for that, no price is too high. "It takes money," acknowledged Scientologist Sheri Scott. "It took money for my father to buy his Cadil- lac. I wish he' d sell the damn thing and give me the money [for Scientology] .... I have never felt cheated at all." 'Tin not glued to the sky or any- thing. I'm a very normal person," she added. "I just wish more people would take a look, would read [about Scien- tology], before they decide we're cuckoo." While other religions increasingly advertise and market themselve s, none approaches the Church of Scientology's commercial zeal and sophistication. Its tactics come directly from Hub- bard, who wrote entire treatises on how to create a market for, and sell, Scientology. He borrowed generously from a 1971 book called "Big League Sales Closing Techniques." Touted as the "selling secrets of a supersalesman," the book was written by former car dealer Les Dane, who has conducted popular seminars at Scientology head- quarters in Florida. Hubbard said that Scientology must be marketed through the "art of hard sell," meaning an "insistence that people buy." He said that, "regardless of who the person is or what he is, the motto is, 'Always sell something....'" Hubbard contended that such high- pressure tactics are imperative because a person's spiritual well being is at stake. Among other things, he directed his followers to: "rob the person of every opportunity to say 'No.' "; "help pros- pects work through financial stops impeding a sale"; "make the prospect think it was his idea to make the pur- chase"; utilize the two man "tag team" approach, and "overcome and rapidly handle any attempted prospect back- OUt." One Of the most important tech- niques in selling Scientology, Hub- bard said, is to create mystery. "If we tell him there is something to know and don't tell him what it is, we will zip people into" the organization, Hubbard wrote. "And one can keep doing this to a person - shuttle them along using mystery." Frequently, a person's first contact with Scientology comes when he is approached by a staff member on the street and offered a free personality test, or receives a lengthy question- naire in the mail. Using charts and graphs, the idea is to convince a person that he has some problem, or "ruin," that Scientology can fix, while assuaging concerns he may have about the church. Accord- ing to Hubbard, "if the job has been done well, the person should be wor- ried." With that accomplished, the cus- tomer is pushed to buy services he is told will improve his sorry condition and perhaps give him such powers as being able to spiritually travel outside his body - or, in Scientology jargon, to "exteriorize ." Former church member Andrew Lesco said he was told that he "would be able to project my mind into draw- ers, someone' s pocket, a wallet and I would be able to tell what' s inside ..... Church members are required to write testimonials - "success stories" - as they progress from one level to the next. The testimonials regularly appear in Scientology publications. Usually car- rying only the authors' initials, they are used to promote courses without the church itself assuming legal liabil- ity for promising results that may not occur, according to ex-Scientologists. Here is an example: "We were having trouble with the windshield wipers in our car. Some- times they would work and sometimes they wouldn't .... We were driving along, and my husband was driving. I got to thinking about the windshield wipers, left my body in the seat and took a look under the hood. I spotted the wires that were shorting and caused them to weld themselves together, like they were supposed to be. We haven't had any trouble with them since." Scientology staffers who sell Hubbard's courses are called "regis- trars .. They earn commissions on their sales and are skilled at eliciting every facet of an individual's finances, in- cluding bank accounts, stocks, cars, houses, whatever can be converted to cash. Like all Scientology staffers, a registmr's productivity is evaluated each week. Performance is judged by how much money he or she brings in by Thursday afternoon. And, in Scien- tology, declining or stagnant produc- tivity is not viewed benevolently, as former registrar Roger Barnes says he leameal. "I remember being dragged across a desk by my tie because I hadn't made my [sales quota]," said Barnes, who once toured the world selling Scien- tology until he had a bitter break with the group. Barnes and other ex-Scientologists say that this uncompromising push to generate more money each week places intense pressure on registrars. Another former Scientology sales- man in Los Angeles said he and other registrars would use a tactic called "crush regging." The technique, he said, employed no elaborate sales talk. They repeated three words again and again: "Sign the check. Sign the check." "This made the person feel so har- assed," he said, "that he would sign the check because it was the only way he was going to get out of there ." A 1984 investigative report by Ca- nadian authorities quoted a Toronto registrar as saying that members of the public want to be "bled of their money.... If they didn' t, they would be staff members eligible for free train- ing .. The Canadian report also recounted a meeting during which Scientology staffers chanted: "Go for the throat. Go for blood. Go for the bloody throat." Former Scientologist Donna Day of Ventura, Calif., said that church regis- trars accused her of throwing away money on rent and on food for her cats and dogs - "degraded beings," they called her pets. They said the money should be going to the church. "I was so upset, I finally left the house with them sitting in it," said Day, who sued the church to get back $25,000 she said she had spent on Scientology. Several years ago, church members persuaded a Florida woman to turn over a worker' s compensation settle- ment she received after the (Continued On Page6) (Continued From Page 5) death of her husband, Larry M. Wheaton, who left behind two chil- dren, ages 3 and 7. He was the pilot of an Air Florida jet that plunged into the Potomac River after it had departed National Airport in Washington, D .C ., in 1982. The Wheatons were longtime church members. Joanne Wheaton gave nearly $150,000 to the church and almost as much to a private business controlled by Scientologists. But the deal was blocked when a lawsuit was brought by an attorney appointed by the court to protect the children' s interests. The suit claimed that the Scientolo- gists had disregarded the future wel- fare and financial security of the Wheaton family by taking money that was supposed to be used solely for the support of the children and their mother. After protracted discussions, the money was refunded and the Scien- tologists who negotiated the deal were expelled by the church for their role in the affair. For years, one of Scientology's top promoters was Larry Wollersheim. He traveled the country inspiring others to follow him across Hubbard' s Bridge. Then he became disenchanted with the movement. In 1980, he filed a Los Angeles Superior Court lawsuit, accusing the church of subjecting him to psycho- logically damaging practices and of driving him to the brink of insanity and financial ruin after he had a falling out with the group. Three years ago, a jury awarded him $30 million. The award was recently reduced to $2.5 million. During the litigation, Wollersheim filed a 200-page affidavit in which he offered this analysis of what keeps Scientologists hooked: "Fear and hope are totally indoctri- nated into the cult [Scientology] mem- ber. He hopes that he will receive the miraculous and ridiculous claims made directly, indirectly and by rumor by the sect and its members. "He is afraid of the peer pressure for not proceeding up the prescribed pro- gram. He is intimidated and afraid of being accused of being a dilettante. He is afraid that if he doesn't do it now before the world ends or collapses he may never get the chance. He is afraid 14 if he doesn't claim he received gains and write a success testimonial he will be shunned .... "How many people could stand up to that kind of pressure and stand be- fore a group of applauding people and say: 'Hey, it really wasn't good.' ?" Wollersheim said that the courses provide only a temporary euphoria. "Then you're sold the next mystery and the next solution .... I've seen people sell their homes, stocks, inheri- tances and everything they own chas- ing their hopes for a fleeting, subjec- tive euphoria. I have never witnessed a greater preying on the hopes and fears of others than has been carefully engineered by the cult's leader." "(Hubbard) laid down in his bed and he left. And that was it." -Pat Broeker, who lived with L. Ron Hubbard during his final years, addressing a standing-room-only crowd of Scientologists at the Hollywood Palladium two days after Hubbard's death in 1986. The New Man In Control A Protege Of L. Ron Hubbard Now Leads The Church, Wielding Power With The Stern Approach Of His Mentor By Joel Sappell and Robert W. Welkos (c) 1990, Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES - The Church of Scientology today is run by a high- school dropout who grew up at the knee of the late L. Ron Hubbard and wields power with the iron-fisted ap- proach of his mentor. At 30, David Miscavige is chairman of the board of an organization that sits atop the bu- reaucratic labyrinth known as the Church of Scientology. This organi- zation, the Religious Technology Cen- ter, owns the trademarks that Scientol- ogy churches need to operate, includ- ing the words Scientology and Dianetics. The Religious Technology Center licenses the churches to use the trademarks and can revoke pennis- sion if a church falls to perform prop- erly. Therein rests much, but not all, of Miscavige's power. He is the man in control, charting a direction for the organization that is at once expansion- ist and combative - in keeping with the dictates and personality of Hubbard, his role model. He refused repeated requests to be interviewed for this re- port. Church spokesmen say Miscavige is a tireless, no-nonsense leader who works 15-hour days and whose vision is guiding the church' s foray into main- stream society. "He has a tremendous ability to cut through bull and get to the point," said one Scientology spokesman, who has worked closely with Miscavige." He's an initiator," said another. High-ranking former Scientologists describe him as a ruth- less infighter with a volatile temper. They say he speaks in a gritty street parlance, punctuated with expletives. One recalled the time that Miscavige became enraged with the performances of Scientology staffers on a church record album. He propped its cover against an embankment outside his Riverside County, Calif., office and shot it repeatedly with a .45-caliber pistol, said the associate. To the pub- lic, the Rev. Heber Jentz sch, president of the Church of Scientology Interna- tional, is portrayed as Scientology's top official. He appears regularly at news conferences and on talk shows, and was one of a group of Scientolo- gists detained recently by Spanish of- ficials investigating the church. In re- ality, Jentzsch appears to be chiefly responsible for church public relations. The real power is consolidated among a handful of Scientologists, led by Miscavige, who keep low public pro- files. Miscavige's climb to prominence is a lesson in the origins and nature of power in the church that Hubbard built. At the age of 14, with the blessing of his Scientologist parents, Miscavige joined a cadre of trusted youngsters called the" Commodore's messen- gers." In the beginning, they merely ran Hubbard's errands. But as they emerged from adolescence, Hubbard broadened their influence over even the highest-level church executives. In time, the messengers controlled the communication lines to and from Hub- bard - a critical component of power in an organization that revered him as almost saintly. When messengers spoke, they did so with Hubbard's authority. Bad-mouthing a messen- ger, Hubbard said, was tantamount to personally challenging him. When Hubbard went into hiding in 1980, he left behind but did not forget Miscav- ige, one of his favorites. It was Miscavige's job to ensure that Hubbard' s orders, secretly relayed to him, were followed by church execu- tives. In effect, Miscavige became the sole link between church leaders and Hubbard. Miscavige also was put in charge of a profit-making firm called Author Services Inc., which was es- tablished in 1981 to manage Hubbard' s literary and financial affairs. The job further enhanced Miscavige's reputa- tion as having Hubbard' s confidence. Church defectors say Miscavige wasted no time flexing his new muscles. Among other things, he spear- headed a purge in 1981 of upper-eche- lon Scientology executives accused of subverting Hubbard's teachings and plotting to seize control of the organi- zation. He also cracked down on own- ers of Scientology franchises, or mis- sions, who pay the church roughly 10 percent of their gross income. At a 1982 church conference, Miscavige accused the mission owners of cheat- ing the "mother church." He and his aides announced that" finance police" would audit the missions to ensure that the church was getting its fair share of money. And the audits would 15 cost the missions $15,000 a day. In taking command of Scientology after Hubbard' s death, Miscavige survived a challenge from two other Hubbard lieutenants once thought to be his likely successors: Pat and Anne Broeker, who had been in hiding with Hubbard. The power struggle was so intense at one point that even Hubbard' s final Scientology writings, revered as sa- cred scriptures, became the object of a tug of war between Miscavige and Pat Broeker, who threatened to use them to start his own church. Miscavige today has achieved exalted status within the Scientology movement. He has personal aides who walk his dog, shine his shoes and run his errands, according to Vicki Aznaran, a top Scientology executive who left the church in 1987 after a falling-out. In his rare public appearances, he is sur- rounded by respectful subordinates. And like Hubbard, who was frequently referred to by his initials, David Mis- cavige is called D.M. The Courting Of Celebrities Testimonials of the famous are prominent in the church's push for acceptability. John Travolta and Kirstie Alley are the current headliners. By Joel Sappell and Robert W. Weikos (c) 1990, Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES - The Church of Scientology uses celebrity spokesmen to endorse L. Ron Hubbard' s teach- ings and give Scientology greater acceptability in main- stream America. As far back as 1955, Hubbard recognized the value of famous people to his fledgling, off-beat church when he inaugurated "Project Celebrity." According to Hubbard, Scientologists should target prominent individuals as their "quarry" and bring them back like trophies for Scientol- ogy. He listed the following people of that era as suitable prey: Edward R. Murrow, Marlene Dietrich, Emest Hem- ingway, Howard Hughes, Greta Garbo, Walt Disney, Henry Luce, Billy Graham, Groucho Marx and others of similar stature. "If you bring one of them home you will get a small plaque as a reward," Hubbard wrote in a Scientology magazine more than three decades ago. Although the effort died, the idea of using celebrities to promote and defend Scientology survived - though per- haps not as grandly as Hubbard had dreamed. Today, the church' s most famous celebrity is actor John Travolta, who credits Hubbard's teachings with giving him confidence and direction. "All I've had are benefits," said Travolta, a church member since 1975. Another Scientology celebrity is actress Kirstie Alley, co-star of the television series "Cheers." Last year, Alley and Travolta teamed up in the blockbuster comedy film, "Look Who' s Talking." Alley is international spokeswoman for the Scientology movement' s controversial new drug and alcohol treatment center in Chilocco, Okla., which employs a rehabilitation regimen created years ago by Hubbard. A former cocaine abuser, Alley has said she discovered Hubbard's Narconon program in 1979 and that it "sal- vaged my life and began my acting career." Alley also has become active in disseminating a new 47- page booklet on ways to preserve the environment. The booklet, entitled "Cry Out," was named after a Hubbard song and was produced by Author Services Inc., his literary agency. Author Services is controlled by influen- tial Scientologists. In April, Alley provided nationwide exposure for the illustrated booklet - which mentions Hubbard but not Scientology - when she unveiled it on the popular Arsenio Hall Show. Since then, it has been distributed to prominent environmental groups throughout the U.S. Besides Alley and Travolta, the Scientology celebrity ranks also include: jazz pianist Chick Corea; singer AI Jarreau; actress Karen Black; opera star Julia Migenes; Priscilla Presley and her daughter Lisa Marie Presley, and Nancy Cartwright, who is the voice behind Bart Simpson, the wisecracking son on the animated TV hit, "The Simpsons." U.S. Olympic gymnast Charles Lakes also is a promi- nent Scientologist. After the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul, Lakes appeared on the cover of Celebrity magazine, a Scientology publica- tion that promotes church celebrities. In an interview with the magazine, Lakes credited Dianetics for his success and strength. "I am by far the healthiest person on the team," he said. "They [other team members] are actually resentful of me because I don't have to train as long as they do." Celebrities are considered so important to the movement' s expansion that the church created a special office to guide their careers and ensure their "correct utilization" for Scientology. The church has a special branch that ministers to promi- 16 nent individuals, providing them with funst-class treat- ment. Its headquarters, called Celebrity Centre Interna- tional, is housed in a magnificent old turreted mansion on Franklin Avenue, overlooking the Hollywood Freeway. In 1988, the movement tried to associate itself with a non-Scientology celebrity, race driver Mario Andretti, by sponsoring his car in the GTE World Challenge of Tampa, Fla. But the plan backfuned. When Andretti saw seven Dianetics logo decals stripped across his Porsche, he demanded that they be removed. "It' s not something I believe in, so I don' t want to make it appear like I'm endorsing it," he was quoted as saying. For years, Scientology's biggest celebrity spokesman was former San Francisco 49ers quarterback John Brodie. Brodie said that when pain in his throwing arm threat- ened his career, he applied Dianetics techniques and soon was "zipping the ball" again like a young man. Although he still admires Hubbard' s teachings, Brodie said he gave up promoting them after some of his friends in Scientology were expelled and harassed during a power struggle with church management. "There were many in the church I felt were treated unfairly," Brodie said. Defectors Recount Lives Of Hard Work, Punishment By Robert W. Welkos my head off that someday she would behavior, rewarded for conformity and and Joel Sappell be able to get out of it. worked beyond exhaustion to meet (c) 1990, Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES - Doffs Bralne says the transformation of her Patty Jo was heartbreaking. "It was," she said, "like my darling daughter had died." Before Patty Jo went to work for the Church of Scientolog y at the age of 20, she had been "fun and pretty and a joy to be with," recalled her 72-year-old mother. "Suddenly, she became a to- tally different person, shooting fire from her eyes." There were those hateful looks, and the dozens of letters that Patty Jo re- turned unopened. For two years, she would not even speak to her mother, who had criticized Scientology and refused to hand over $2,000 for church courses. And Patty Jo had taken to calling Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard her father. "I would cry all the time," recalled Bralne, a retired college dean. "I had to psych myself up to go to work, be charming and do a good job. But all day long I thought about her. I prayed "It took 15 years, but I think it was worth every prayer I said." In 1982, Patricia Braine left Scientology, disillusioned with the church and disappointed with herself for succumbing to an environment that, she said, twisted her thinking and iso- lated her from a world she had hoped to make better. Scientology, she said, "promises you euphoria but ends up taking your body, heart, mind, soul and family .... We were so brainwashed to believe that what we were doing was good for mankind that we were willing to put up with the worst conditions." Over the years, defecting Scientologi sis have come forward with similar accounts of how their lives and personalities were upended after they joined the church's huge staff. They say the organization promised spiri- tual liberation but delivered subjuga- tion. In interviews and public records, former staffers have said they were alienated from society, stripped of fa- miliar beliefs, punished for aberrant ever-escalating productivity quotas. "Slave labor" is how Canadian au- thorities in 1984 described the Scientology work force. Worldwide, there are nearly 12,000 church staff members, many of whom are in Los Angeles, one of the organization's largest strongholds. They have kept Scientology afloat through a turbulent history that, argu- ably, would have sunk any other newly emerging religion. Day and night they labor single- mindedly at jobs ranging from the meaningful to the menial. Some work in administrative areas such as promo- tion, legal affairs, finance, public rela- tions and fund raising. Thousands of others deliver the church's religious programs. Still others proselyt'tze on city sidewalks, sell books and wash dishes. Scientology spokesmen insist that the staff is treated well and not ex- ploited. They say that the detractors simply lacked the devotion to advance the religion' s aims and the morality to abide by its high ethical standards. Current staff members say that their lifestyle is no more unusual or harsh than that of a monk. Joining the Scien- tology staff, they say, was the supreme expression of their devotion to create, in Hubbard's words, "a civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can pros- per and honest beings can have rights ." The elite of Scientology's workers, at least 3,000 of them, belong to a zealous faction known as the Sea Or- ganization and are given room, board and a small weekly allowance. They sign contracts to serve Scientology in this and future life- times - for a billion years. Their motto is: "We come back." Dressed in mock navy uniforms adorned with ribbons, they bark or- ders with a clipped, military cadence. They hold ranks such as captain, lieu- tenant and ensign. Officers, including women, are addressed as "Sir." Hubbard called himself "The Com- modore," a reflection of his infatua- tion with the U.S. Navy. "The Sea Org is a very tough outfit," he once said. "It's no walk in the park .... We are short-tempered, but we do our job." Scientology staffers enter a clan- nish world of authoritarian rules and discipline based on Hubbard writings. His works govern every detail of the operation, from how to disseminate his teachings to how to cook baby food. When staffers observe transgres- sions of Hubbard' s dictums, they are required to inform on each other. The church says "knowledge reports" help the organization correct problems and ensure a high standard of operation. But critics contend that the practice works to stifle expressions of discon- tent or doubts about the church, even between husbands and wives. To break the group's rules or fall below work quotas can subject even top Scientologists to grueling interro- gations on a lie detector-type device called the E-meter, and perhaps land them in the Rehabilitation Project Force, or RPF. The Rev. Ken Hoden, a church spokesman in Los Angeles, once de- scribed the RPF like this: "Youj ust do some grounds work for a few weeks. That's all." Others, however, have called it in hindsight the most degrading ordeal of their lives - although one that they believed at the time was leading them to spiritual salvation. RPFers, as they are called, are sepa- rated from their family and friends for days, weeks, months or even longer. They cannot speak unless spoken to, they run wherever they go and they wear armbands to denote their lowly condition. The RPF provides the church with a pool of labor to perform building main- tenance, pull weeds, haul garbage, clean toilets or do anything else church executives deem necessary for redemp- tion. Former Sea Organization member Hana Eltringham Whitfield said in an affidavit that she once saw an RPF work crew eating like "unkempt con- victs," digging their hands into a large communal pot of food because there was no cutlery or plates. "The Church of Scientology, which was dedicated to saving the planet from insanity, had succeeded in turn- ing these human beings into savages," said Whitfield. Bill Franks, the church' s former in- temational executive director, said that he once lived in a crowded garage for seven months while assigned to the RPF. "We were indoctrinated on a con- tinuous, daily basis that we were sup- pressive people, that we were anti- social people, that we were criminals," said Franks, who had a falling out with the church in the early 1980s. He was accused by senior Scientologists of engineering a coup to wrest control of the church from them. The Church of Scientology says that the RPF was established in 1974 so that errant Sea Organization members would have a place to both work and study Hubbard' s writings without dis- tractions or substantive duties. But Hubbard' s former public rela- tions officer, Laurel Sullivan, testified in a Scientology lawsuit that Hubbard told her the RPF was created because "he wanted certain people segregated" whom he believed were "against him and against his instructions and against Scientology." In Scientology, a staff member is evaluated based on his or her produc- tivity. Hubbard made it clear in a 1964 directive that there is no excuse - short of death - for missing work. "If a staff member' s breath can be detected on a mirror," Hubbard said, "he or she can do his or her job." Measuring weekly productivity, Hubbard said, eliminates personality considerations from staff evaluations. Critics, however, say the system is alehumanizing. "There is no time for anything else, for compassion, for talking or going out," said Travers Harris, who left the Sea Organization in 1986 after nearly 14 years. "The only communication is about work. When work is finished you are too tired [and] you have to go to bed." Several years ago, some branches of the church initiated a pilot program to boost productivity even higher. Under the so-called Team Share Program, staffers who repeatedly failed in their jobs could be exiled to cramped living quarters called "pigs herthing" and fed only rice and beans. Those who kept their productivity up would be afforded special privileges and the distinction of wearing a silver star. Staffers become so consumed by their jobs that their children some- times get lost in the shuffle, according to former staff members who had youngsters and those who cared for them. At best, they say, children see their parents one hour a day at dinner and perhaps late in the evening. Some- times, according to ex-staffers, young- sters have gone for days without a visit from their parents, who believe that their work for the group is transcen- dent. In 1984, a British justice cited the case of a staff member who left her job to seek medical help for a daughter who had broken her ann. "She was directed to work all night as a penalty," the justice noted. He recounted the case of another woman who refused to take a church job that would have separated her from her daughter for two months. "She was shouted at and abused because she put the care of her child first," the justice wrote in connection with a child custody battle between a father who was a Scientologist and a mother who had defected. The mother was awarded custody. Former staff members say that they tolerated the harsh conditions for many reasons. They say they were captives both of their dreams of creating an enlightened world through Scientology and of their fears of leaving the orga- nization. Staff members are continuously told that there is no safe refuge for them outside the group because society is a breeding ground for criminals, the in- sane and people too ignorant to see that Scientology is the answer to mankind' s problems. In the church, non-Scientologists are derisively called "wogs," defined by Hubbard as "a common, ordinary, run-of-the-mill garden variety human- oid .... Somebody who isn't even try- ing ." A recruitment flyer for a school run by Scientologists exemplifies this mind-set: "If you turn your kids over to the enemy all day for 12-15 years, which side do you think they will come out on?" the flyer asks rhetorically. The enemy, in this case, is public educa- tion. The organization's fear of hostile outside influences is so institutional- ized that potential staff members are grilled about whether they are govern- ment agents or reporters or whether they harbor critical thoughts of Hubbard. Their answers are monitored on the E-meter. Security around church buildings is elaborate and sophisticated. Remote cameras sweep the streets outside. Scientologists with walkie-talkies scout the perimeters. In time, the staff member's world orbits ever more tightly around one man - Hubbard. "You finally are to the point where you do not examine, logically, Scientology," said former Scientologist Vicki Aznaran, who un- til two years ago was one of the most powerful figures in the church and is now locked in litigation with Scientology. "You are cut off from anything that might give you another viewpoint," she said. Some stay because they fear calam- ity will befall them if they are denied church courses they have been told are vital to spiritual and physical stability. Former Sea Organization member Janie Peterson, for one, once testified that she was "so indoctrinated into Scientology that I felt ... I would die" upon leaving. Other former members said they felt trapped by the church' s "freeloader debt" policy. Many Scientologists join the staff as a way to obtain the church' s expen- sive services for free. But should they leave before the expiration of their employment contracts - ranging from two years to 1 billion years - they must pay for the programs they had re- ceived at no cost. This "freeloader debt" can reach thousands of dollars. And on top of all this is the haunting fear that they will be ostracized by family and friends for shunning the religion. "For those like myself who had been 18 in Scientology for years, Scientology was our entire life, our friendships, our work, our home," said ex-Sea Or- ganization member Whitfield, who spent nearly two decades on the staff. "The organization had made us grow so entirely dependent on it, it was almost inconceivable to leave. "After all, we had no job skills, no jobs and we believed we would be immediately hit with thousands of dollars of freeloader debt." Whitfield said that she, like others, defected after reaching the conclusion that the church seemed "only inter- ested in controlling" its members. "I have looked back and said to myself, 'What an indoctrinated fool I was. What a fool.'" Scientology Courts Power Brokers To Help Expansion From Politicians To The Leaders Of Business, The Courts and The Media, The Church Works To Win Allies To Smooth The Way For Expansion. By Joel Sappell and Robert W. Welkos (c) 1990, Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES - To create a favor- able environment for Scientology's expansion, church executives are working to win allies among society' s power brokers and opinion leaders. It is a theme expounded in church publications. "We need to be able to approach the right people in order to get things done," wrote Heber Jentzsch, presi- dent of the Church of Scientology In- ternational, in the newspaper Scien- tology Today. "We need to find out how to reach key people in the media, in government, in the control points of society, the people who run things." Underscoring the campaign's breadth and determination, a pull-out questionnaire entitled "Communica- tion Lines to the World" was inserted in the newspaper. It asked Scientolo- gists to list their connections to people in six areas: ~ POLITICS: "This would be po- litical figures on a local, state or na- tional level, such as local city offi- cials, mayors, govemors, senators, con- gressmen, and members of parlia- ments. It would also include govern- ment agency officials and civil ser- VantS." '~ MEDIA: "This would be any media terminals that you know, such as owners or proprietors of magazines, newswire services, newspapers orpub- lishing houses, TV and radio networks or stations and publishers and editors of any type of news media." ~ LEGAL: "This would be any judges, law enforcement officials, law- yers, barristers and so on." ~ FINANCIAL-CORPORATE: "This would be any members of the board or presidents, vice presidents or other senior officials-executives with banks or other financial institutions (such as savings and loan companies, credit unions, etc.) financiers (this could be government or private indus- try) stockbrokers, financial advisers and commodities brokers." ~ ENTERTAINMENT / CELEB- RITIES: "This would be any produc- ers or directors in the stage, motion pictures or television; actors, artists, writers and any opinion leaders in these ~ OPINION LEADERS: "This would be anyone who is respected by or who influences the opinion of indi- viduals in the above categories." While developing support in the secular community, Scientology has also been working hard to gain sup- port from mainstream religious fig- ures. Spearheading this effort is the Reli- gious Freedom Crusade, a Scientol- ogy group that has attracted officials of various faiths. The crusade's rally- ing cry is that court actions brought against the Church of Scientology by disaffected members or government agencies pose a constitutional danger to all religions. In 1988, Scientologists mustered a multi denominational coalition to push a bill through the California Legisla- ture requiring judicial approval before religious groups or non-profit organi- zations can be sued for punitive dam- ages. The Church of Scientology had a special interest in the legislation: It has been ordered at least twice to pay huge punitive awards to ex-Scientolo- gists, although one award was reduced on appeal and the other was set aside. Scientologists not sure how to re- cruit religious allies got some tips in a document provided to the Los Ange- les Times by an ex-member, who said it was distributed at a Scientology meeting in the mid-1980s. The document suggested that Scien- tologists, after selecting an appropri- ate church, should attend Sunday serv- ices and praise the minister:" 'Your sermon was brilliant! Would you be willing to speak at our church?' (He'll Influence... 19 have a hard time refusing that one!)." It advised them to establish good communication with the minister's wife because "she can be an ally or an enemy and you want her support if possible ." After the service, "make friends with other congregation members," the document added. "... Circulate, but be sure to spend a few minutes with the minister and to meet his wife and fam- ily .... If you haven't gotten the minister's phone number earlier, get it before you go." Finally, the document urged, get the ministers to write a notarized affidavit or letter stating that "Scientology is a bona fide religion." Scientology Seeks Broader Role In Schools, Business, And Scientific Community By Robert W. Welkos and Joel Sappell (c) 1990, Los Angeles Times LOS ANGELES - Emerging from years of internal strife and public scan- dal, the Scientology movement has embarked on a sweeping and sophisti- cated campaign to gain new influence in America. The goal is torefurbish the tarnished image of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard and elevate him to the ranks of history's great humanitarians and thinkers. By so doing, the church hopes to broaden the acceptability of Hubbard' s Scientology teachings and attract millions of new members. The campaign relies on official church programs and a network of groups run by Scientology followers. Here is a sampler of their activities: -Scientologists are disseminating Hubbard' s writings in public and pri- vate school classrooms across the U. S., using groups that seldom publicize their Scientology connections. -In the business world, Scientolo- gists have established highly success- ful private consulting firms to pro- mote Hubbard as a management ex- pert, with a goal of harvesting new, affluent members. -Scientologists are the driving force behind two organizations active in the scientific community. The organiza- tions have been busy trying to sell government agencies a chemical de- toxification treatment developed by Hubbard. The Scientology movement's am- bitious quest to assimilate into the American mainstream comes less than a decade after the church seemed des- tined for collapse, testifying to its re- markable determination to survive and grow. In 1980, 11 top church leaders - including Hubbard's wife - were im- prisoned for bugging and burglarizing government offices as part of a shad- owy conspiracy to discredit the church' s perceived enemies. Today, Scientology executives in- sist that the organization is law-abid- ing, that the offenders have been purged and that the church has now entered an era in which harmony has replaced hostility. But as the movement attempts to broaden its reach, evidence is mount- ing that Hubbard's devotees are en- gaging in practices that, while not un- lawful, have begun to stir memories of its troubled past. Scientology and the Schools The Scientology movement has launched a concerted campaign to gain a foothold in the nation's schools by distributing to children millions of copies of a booklet that Hubbard wrote on basic moral values. The program is designed to win rec- ognition for Hubbard as an educator and moralist and, at the same time, introduce him to the nation's youth. The pocket-size booklet, entitled "The Way to Happiness," is a compi- lation of widely agreed upon values that Hubbard put into writing in 1981. Its 96 pages include such admonitions as "take care of yourself," "honor and help your parents," "do not murder" and "be worthy of trust." The booklet notes in small print that it was written by Hubbard as "an indi- vidual and is not part of any religious doctrine ." But Scientology publications have called the campaign "the largest dis- semination project in Scientology his- tory" and "the bridge between broad society and Scientology." Scientologists estimate that 3.5 mil- lion copies have been introduced into 4,500 elementary, junior high and se- nior high schools nationwide. Alto- gether, more than 28 million copies have been translated into at least 14 languages and distributed throughout the world. The booklet is distributed by the Concemed Businessmen's Associa- tion of America, an organization not officially connected to the church but run by Scientologists. The Scientology connection is downplayed by the group. Its leader, Barbara Ayash of Marina del Rey, a Los Angeles seaside community, said that she launched the association after five of her children became involved with drugs. Her group runs a nationwide conte st encouraging students to stay off drugs by following the precepts in Hubbard' s booklet. Participants in the "Set a Good Example" contest must come up with projects using the booklet as their guide. By focusing on the drug issue, the association has won the backing of school officials and political figures unaware of its links to Scientology. In Louisiana, a junior high school distributed Hubbard's booklet to stu- dents and then had them pledge in writing: "I promise to do my best to learn, practice and use the 21 points of good moral conduct contained in 'The Way to Happiness' book to improve my- self, set a good example for my friends, and to help my family, my community and my country." As an incentive to get campus ad- ministrators on board, the association awards $5,000 to the winning elemen- tary, junior high and senior high schools. At contest awards ceremonies, the winners and Hubbard' s book share the spotlight. For example, during a ceremony at the Charleston, W. Va., civic center, then-Gov. Arch Moore and other dig- nitaries were each presented a leather- bound copy of "The Way To Happi- ness." Scientology critics contend that the contest is being used to enlist new church members, who, as the theory goes, may be so inspired by "The Way to Happiness" that they will reach for Hubbard' s other writings. They argue that the booklet's distribution in pub- lic schools violates constitutional man- dates separating church and state. But Ayash of the businessmen's association insists that her group has no motive other than to help children lead better lives. "The Way to Happi- ness," she said, shows them the path in simple, direct language. For the most part, school officials whose campuses have participated in the contest said they were unaware of Hubbard' s Scientology connection or that his followers were directing the contest. They said Scientology was not openly promoted and they did not regret taking part. But one California public school system recently banned the contest after administrators conducted an in- vestigation and learned that Hubbard was the author of Scientology's doc- trine. For three years, students at E1Capi- tan Middle School in Fresno partici- pated in the nationwide contest. In spring 1989, the students won second place for organizing an anti-drug relay in which they passed each other a symbolic "torch" - Hubbard's book- let. Deluxe leather-bound copies were presented to mayors of the 15 cities along the relay route. Last fall, the contest' s sponsors de- cided to accelerate their efforts in Fresno County, urging the entire 5 '000- student Central Unified School Dis- trict to participate, instead of just one school. But they ran up against Geoff Garratt, the district' s director of edu- cational services and personnel. Garratt said that, while he was aware of Scientology, he had never heard of Hubbard. He said he learned of the connection at the local library, where he went to investigate Hubbard' s back- ground. "The more I investigated," Garratt 20 said, "I found it [the businessmen's association] represented a very small self-interest group: Scientology." Among other things, he said, he dis- covered that the association had the same phone number and address as the local Dianetics center. Garratt said he rejected the association's plea to expand the con- test, fearing that the booklet's distri- bution in the public schools might violate constitutional prohibitions against mixing matters of church and state. Garratt said that the association re- fused to consider the possibility of holding the contest without Hubbard' s booklet. "They said flat out, 'Without the book, there is no contest.'" Scientologists also are attempting to install a Hubbard tutorial program in public schools, using a church-af- filiated organization called Applied Scholastics. Yellow posters advertising Applied Scholastics have appeared in store- front windows throughout Los Ange- les. They promise better leaming skills but make no mention of the church. Applied Scholastics currently has plans to build a 1,000-acre campus, where the organization would train educators to teach Hubbard' s tutorial program. A recent Applied Scholas- tics mailer predicted that the training center will be a "model of real educa- tion for the world" and "create over- whelming public popularity" for Hub- bard. Developed for students of Scientol- ogy, the Hubbard program is built upon an elementary premise: learning difficulties arise when students read past words they do not understand. "The misunderstood word in a sub- ject produces a vast panorama of men- tal effects and is the prime factor in- volved in stupidity," Hubbard wrote in 1967. "This is a sweepingly fantas- tic discovery in the field of educa- tion ." The chief solution he propounds is simple: students must learn to use a dictionary when they encounter an unfamiliar or confusing word. In recent years, Applied Scholastics has targeted predominantly minority schools, where many students tend to do poorly on standardized tests. Ap- plied Scholastics considers these schools fertile ground because cam- pus administrators are willing to try new approaches to improve scores. The Compton (Calif.) Unified School District in 1987 and 1988 al- lowed the Hubbard program to be tested with 80 students at Centennial Senior High School. The program there was run by a substitute teacher named Frizell Clegg, a Scientologist who was an Applied Scholastics consultant. Clegg, who refused to be inter- viewed, was suspended from his teach- ing duties in 1988 after he reportedly gave discourses on Scientology in a history class. He no longer teaches at the school. In applying for district financing, Clegg said that the educational pro- gram was "developed by American writer and educator L. Ron Hubbard." Excluding any reference to Hubbard' s Scientology connection, he persuaded the board to provide $5,000 to tutor 30 sophomores with low reading scores and to conduct a parent workshop. After the program grew to 50 stu- dents, Applied Scholastics submitted a proposal increasing the number of students to 125 and the cost to $27,000. District officials killed the program, believing that Applied Scholastics was seeking to expand too quickly. Offi- cials were also displeased that the group, without district approval, was using its involvement with Centennial to market the program elsewhere, ac- cording to Acting Superintendent Elisa Sanchez. In promotional literature, Applied Scholastics made claims of remark- able success at Centennial High. While some parents said that the program helped their children, S anchez said the claims made by Applied Scholastics were unsubstantiated. Converting the Business World Scientology is using a network of private consulting firms to gain a foot- hold in the U.S. business community. The rirms promise businessmen higher eamings but appear to be mainly interested in recruiting new members for the church. Although these profit-making firms operate independently of each other, they sell the same product: Scientol- ogy founder Hubbard's methods for running a profitable enterprise. The Church of Scientology has for years employed these same methods - heavy marketing, high productivity and rigid rules of employee conduct - to amass hundreds of millions of dollars for itself. Critics contend that the consulting firms are concealing their Scientology links so they can attract to the church prosperous people who might other- wise be put off by Scientology's con- troversial reputation. The strategy appears to have proven effective. A Scientology publication in 1987 reported that the consultant network earned a combined $1.6 million a month selling Hubbard' s management methods to a variety of professionals, many of whom have reported improved incomes. It also said that 50 to 75 businessmen were recruited monthly into the church, where each week they spent a total of $250,000 on Scientol- ogy courses. Two of the movement' s firms have been ranked by Inc. magazine as among the fastest growing private businesses in America. The consulting firms use seminars and mailers to attract health profes- sionals, salesmen, office supply deal- ers, marketing specialists and others. Those who have dealt with the firms describe the process this way: Businessmen are drawn into Scien- tology after they have gained confi- dence in Hubbard's non-religious management methods. They are often told that, to achieve true business suc- cess, they should get their personal lives in order. From there, the church takes over, encouraging them to pur- chase spiritual enhancement courses and begin a process called "auditing ." During auditing, a person confesses his innermost thoughts while his re- sponses are monitored on a lie detec- tor-type device known as the E-meter. Auditing must be purchased in 12- hour chunks, costing between $3,000 and $11,000 each, depending on where it is bought. Spearheading all this is an arm of the church called World Institute of Scientology Enterprises, or WISE. In recent months, WISE has been encouraging Scientologists nationwide to become consultants within their re- spective professions. The appeal is simple: make money while dissemi- 21 nating your religion. In the process, WISE profits, too. It trains and licenses the firms to sell Hubbard' s copyrighted "management and administrative technology ." WISE charges roughly $12,000 for its basic no-frills training course. For consult- ing services, it charges $1,875 a day. On top of this, the consulting firms that sell Hubbard' s business methods must pay WISE 13 percent of their annual gross income. At the heart of Hubbard's business system is a concept he called "man- agement by statistics," which he said guarantees optimum office efficiency. Scientology critics maintain, however, that it creates an oppressive and regi- mented workplace environment. An employee is judged solely upon his productivity, which is charted on a graph each week. Sagging productiv- ity could bring a rebuke from the boss. Or it could lead to an employee' s f'tr- ing. The management techniques pro- motedby the consulting firms are iden- tical to those used by the church, ex- cept that all Scientology references have been deleted from the materials. The consultants even employ the most basic instrument used by the church to recruit new members off the street - a 200-question personality test that pur- ports to let people know if they have ruinous personality flaws. The consultants encourage business- men and their employees to purchase Scientology courses to remedy per- sonality problems uncovered by the test. One of the most successful consult- ing firms licensed by WISE is Sterling Management Systems, which targets dentists and other health care profes- sionals. For the past two years, Inc. magazine has ranked it among America's fastest-growing privately held businesses. Sterling, based in Glendale, Calif., claims to be the "largest health care management consulting group in the U.S." A company spokesman said that the firm charges clients $10,000 for its complete line of Hubbard courses and 30 hours of private consultation. The spokesman said that Sterling has helped dentists increase their income an average of $10,000 a month. He insisted that the company has "no connection" to the church, but added: "If people are interested in Sci- entology, we will make it available to them." Sterling publishes a tabloid called "Today' s Professional, the Joumal of Successful Practice Management." Mailed free to 300,000 health care professionals nationwide, it is filled with "management" articles by Hub- bard that are actually excerpts from Scientology' s goveming doctrines. The company also holds nationwide seminars that, according to its promo- tional literature, have been drawing 2,000 people a month. Sterling Management was founded in 1983 by Scientologist Gregory K. Hughes, at the time a prosperous den- fist in Vacaville, Calif. Hughes holds seminars across the country, offering himself as evidence that Hubbard's methods work. In promotional publications for Ster- ling, Hughes has said that his annual income soared from $257,000 in 1979 tomore than $1 million in 1985. In one month alone, he has claimed to have seen 350 new patients. Sterling's paper, Today's Profes- sional, has boasted that "the techniques that produced amazing results when applied to Greg's practice are being applied all over the U.S." But neither the paper' s readers nor those who attend Hughes' seminars are told that his dental office, which employed the high-volume Hubbard techniques that he imparts to others, has been accused by former patients of dental negligence and realpractice. Hughes currently is under investi- gation by the California Board of Den- tal Examiners. The board already has turned over some of its findings to the state attorney general's office, which will determine whether action should be taken against Hughes' dental li- cense. To date, there are more than 15 lawsuits are pending against Hughes and his dental associates, alleging ei- ther negligence or malpractice. He has denied the allegations. Attorney E. Bradley Nelson is rep- resenting most of those who have sued Hughes. "It is my opinion," he said, "that the overall quality of care took second place to the profit motive .... I' ve never seen anything approaching this vol- ume of complaints against one dentist in such a short period of time." In mid-1985, Hughes closed his of- fice without warning to devote full time to Sterling. He left behind a repu- tation so tarnished that he was unable to sell his million-dollar-a-year prac- tice, according to dentists in the area. "He actually had to walk away," said Roger Abrew, co-chairman of the peer review committee of the local dental society. He also left behind patients with worse problems than they had before they were treated by Hughes' office, according to Abrew and other den- tists, who have since been treating them. The dentists said that, based on their examinations, Hughes' office performed both substandard and un- necessary work. "I think its kind of ironic to see a guy who did such a botched job of den- tistry teaching others," said dentist David C. Aronson, summing up the sentiments of most of his colleagues in the small Northern California com- munity. Hughes, who continues to conduct his "Winning With Dentistry" semi- nars, refused to be interviewed for this story. But Frederick Bradley, an attor- ney defending him in the lawsuits, suggested that the Vacaville dentists may simply resent his client' s success because their patients had deserted them for Hughes. Another firm once licensed by Scientology's WISE organization to sell Hubbard's management tech- niques was Singer Consultants. Be- fore it merged with another manage- ment company, Singer was ranked as one of the nation's fastest growing private businesses. The company focused its training on America' s chiropractors. It brought hundreds of new members into the church and triggered a nationwide controversy among chiropractors over its links to Scientology. In fact, a chi- ropractic newspaper devoted almost an entire issue to letters praising and condemning Singer Consultants, which was located in Clearwater, Fla., where Scientology is a major pres- ence. "We felt that there were young doc- tors who didn't know they were being solicited to do something above and beyond the practice of their profes- sion," said Dynamic Chiropractic edi- tor Donald M. Peterson, explaining why his Huntington Beach, Calif.- based newspaper entered the contro- versy. Singer Consultants was headed by Scientologist David Singer, an accom- plished speaker and chiropractor who held nationwide seminars to pitch Hubbard' s business methods. Two years ago, the company was absorbed into another management fLnn owned by Scientologists. Although Singer refused to be inter- viewed by the Los Angeles Times, he told Dynamic Chiropractic: "Hubbard was a prolific writer and wrote on a multitude of subjects. We do not, have not and will not make part of our program the teaching of any religion." Scientology and Science Hubbard was so proud of a detoxifi- cation treatment he developed - and so hungry for plaudits - that he openly talked with his closest aides about winning a Nobel Prize. Although the man is gone, Scien- tologists are keeping the dream alive. They have embarked upon a contro- versial plan to win recognition for Hubbard and his treatment program in scientific and medical circles. The treatment purports to purge drugs and toxins from a person's sys- tem through a rigorous regimen of exercise, saunas and vitamins - a com- bination intended to dislodge the poi- sons from fatty tissues and sweat them out. Physicians affiliated with the regi- men have touted it as a major break- through, and a number of patients who have undergone the treatment say their (Continued On Page 8) ( Continued From Page 7) health improved. But some health au- thorities dismiss Hubbard' s program as a medical fraud that preys upon public fear of toxins. In the Church of Scientology, the treatment is called the "purification rundown." Church members are told it is a religious program that, for about $2,000, will purify the body and spirit. In the secular arena, however, Scien- tologists are promoting it exclusively as a medical treatment with no spiri- tual underpinnings. In that context, it is simply called the "Hubbard Method." The treatment is being aggressively pushed in the non-Scientology world by two organizations that sometimes work alone and sometimes in tandem. They have no formal church ties but both are controlled by church mem- bers. Seeking customers and credibility, the two groups have targeted govern- ment and private workers nationwide who are exposed to hazardous sub- stances in their jobs. They have pressed public agencies to endorse the method, lobbied unions to recommend it and written articles in trade journals that seem to be little more than advertise- ments for the treatment. One of these groups is the Los An- geles-based Foundation for Advance- ments in Science and Education. The non-profit foundation has forged links with scientists across the country to gain legitimacy for itself and, thus, for Hubbard' s detox method. Among its key functionaries is a toxicologist for the Environmental Protection Agency, whose advocacy of the treatment has raised conflict-of- interest questions. Building credentials and allies, the foundation has channeled tens of thou- sands of dollars in ~ants to educators and researchers studying toxicologi- cai hazards, most of whom were un- aware of the organization' s ties to the Scientology movement. In 1986, for example, the founda- tion gave $10,000 to the Los Angeles County Health Department for a study of potentially harmful ration gas. County officials say that they were not apprised of the organization's links with the Scientology movement. Bill Franks was instrumental in cre- ating the foundation in 1981 when he served as the Church of Scientology' s executive director, a post from which he was later ousted in apower struggle. Franks described the foundation in an interview as a Scientology "front group." "The concept," he said, "was to get some scientific recognition" for Hubbard's treatment without overtly linking it to the church. Buttressing Franks' account, the foundation's original incorporation papers state that its purpose was to "research the efficacy of and promote the use of the works of L. Ron Hub- bard in the solving of social problems; and to scientifically research and pro- vide public information and education concerning the efficacy of other pro- grams." The document was later amended, however, to remove Hubbard' s name, obscuring the foundation's ties to the Scientology movement and its founder in official records. Hubbard's name, however, contin- ues to appear regularly in the foundation's slick newsletter. In the latest edition, for instance, three dif- ferent articles advocate the "Hubbard method" as an effective therapy for chemical and drug detoxification. A fourth article did not mention Hubbard by name, but reported fa- vorably on Narconon, his drug and alcohol rehabilitation program, which is run by Scientologists. The other organization in the out- reach effort is HealthMed Clinic, which administers Hubbard' s treatment from offices in Los Angeles and Sacramento, Calif., and is run by Scientologists. An independent medical consultant in Maryland who reviewed the pro- gram for the city of Shreveport, La., dismissed Hubbard's treatment as "quackery ." The foundation and HealthMeal have attempted to create an impression that they are linked only by a shared con- cern over toxic hazards. In reality, however, they operate symbiotically. The foundation, for its part, tries to scientifically validate the Hubbard method through studies and articles by individuals who either are Scientolo- gists or hold foundation positions. HealthMeal then uses the foundation's credibility, writings and connections to get customers for the treatment. According to state corporate rec- ords, the foundation also holds stock in HealthMeal. Moreover, the foundation' s vice president, Scientolo- gist Jack Dirmann, has served as HeaithMed's administrator. In 1986, four doctors with the Cali- fornia Department of Health Services accused HealthMeal of making "false medical claims" and of "taking advan- tage of the fears of workers and the public and about toxic chemicals and their potential health effects, includ- ing cancer." The doctors also criti- cized the foundation for supporting "scientifically questionable" research. The state physicians, who evaluate potential toxic hazards in the work- place, leveled the accusations in a let- ter that triggered an investigation by the state Board of Medical Quality Assurance. That probe was concluded last year without a finding of whether the detox treatment works. Investiga- tors said that they were stymied by HealthMed's refusal to provide pa- tient records and by a lack of com- plaints from those who had undergone the regimen. The four physicians who prompted the investigation said that they de- cided to study the Hubbard treatment after receiving calls from union repre- sentatives, public agencies and indi- vidual workers throughout the state who had been solicited by the clinics. Among them were the California High- way Patrol, the International Brother- hood of Electrical Workers, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. and the Los Ange- les County Fire and Sheriffs depart- ments. "It was the accumulation of these calls that led us to say, 'Hey, this is going on all over the state. Let's look into it,' "recalled Gideon Letz, one of the doctors. The foundation and HealthMed have worked particularly hard to tap one large pool of potential clients: fire- fighters. The Hubbard method has been pitched to them as a cure for exposure to a carcinogen sometimes encoun- tered during fires. Known as PCBs, the now-banned chemical compound was once widely used to insulate trans- formers. City officials in Shreveport, La., said they paid HealthMeal $80,000 - and were ready to spend a lot more - until they hired a consultant, who de- nounced the treatments as unneces- sary and worthless. What happened in Shreveport is a case study of how the foundation and HealthMed have worked together to draw customers through methods that critics contend are exploitalive. In April 1987, dozens of Shreveport firemen were exposed to PCBs when they responded to an early morning transformer explosion at the Louisi- ana State University Medical Center. In the aftermath, some began to com- plain of headaches, dizziness, skin rashes, memory loss and other symp- toms that they attributed to the expo- 'Stall:;. Blood and tissue tests by the univer- sity medical center showed no abnor- mal levels of PCBs in their systems. But the tiremen wondered if the uni- versity was trying to protect itself from liability because the explosion had occurred there. Searching for alternatives, one of the firemen came across an article in Fire Engineering magazine. Headlined "Chemical Exposure in Firefighting: The Enemy Within," it was written by Gerald T. Lionelli, "senior research associate for the Foundation for Ad- vancements in Science and Educa- tion ." Lionelli discussed the frightening consequences of chemical exposure and then got to the point. He said that the foundation had found an effective detoxification techni9ue developed by "the late American researcher L. Ron Hubbard" and delivered by Health- Meal Clinic. The article did not mention another of Hubbard' s notable developments - Scientology. The firemen contacted HealthMeal, and, before long, were sold on the program. They went next to Howard Foggin, then the city' s medical claims officer, and gave him HealthMeal lit- erature and a Washington, D .C . , phone number th