"Commission for Offenses of Psychiatry"

["Kommission fuer Verstoesse der Psychiatrie"] Saturday in the City Wuerzburg (Bull), Germany
July 18, 2000
Volksblatt Wuerzburg-Stadt
The name of the Aesculapian Staff is wrapped around a cross.

With mouth wide open, the snake directs its look threateningly upon the observer. "Psychiatry destroys Religion" is the title of a glossy brochure with this provocative cover picture.

Possibly the magazine will be again be made available this Saturday, when the "Commission for Offenses of Psychiatry against Human Rights" (KVPM) sets up its information stand on the "Oberen Markt" in Wuerzburg. The KVPM association uses brochures and hand-outs to make a bad example of, among other things, the abuse of children and youth through drugs and psychiatrically prescribed pills. Not just tragedies like the mass slayings among American students, but also increasing aggressiveness and violence among youth in Germany, according to the KVPM, can be chalked up to unscrupulous children and youth psychiatrists.

Alfred Singer, speaker for issues of weltanschauung, religion and sects of Wuerzburg Diocese, issued a warning yesterday about the Commission, which had received a permit from the city administration for the 17th and 24th of June, and is present now in the city for the third time within a short period. The German KVPM was founded in 1972 by members of the Scientology Organization and is registered as an incorporated association (e.V.) with the Munich municipal court. According to the Wuerzburg minister's statements, the association belongs to a Scientology sub-organization with offices in Los Angeles.

According to Singer, the Commission is dangerous because of its attempts to get passersby to sign a written statement of intention.

In the so-called security letter, the signer declares his opposition to psychiatric or neurological treatment. Singer cites Bonn attorney Ingo Heinemann on the subject. The director of a group of parents' initiatives describes the KVPM as an extremely aggressive front organization for Scientology. It is said to carry out "slander campaigns" against psychiatry in Germany. The reason:

Scientology itself intends to be able to solve all psychological problems and views psychiatry as competition.

The security letter, which is formatted like a patient admittance form, could lead to misunderstanding if treatment is necessary. In general, though, the following applies, "Nobody can be submitted to treatment against their will." The statement also contains an extensive power of attorney and the authorization for legal representation for the signers. Those who sign can count on not only enormous expenses, but also their "private health matters" can be exploited by KVPM and thereby Scientology.

Alfred Singer reported that the Commission already had made a try two years ago in the Catholic and Evangelical communities.

Back then it criticized the fading awareness of guilt and shame and the growing influence of psychology and psychiatry upon religions.

As far as the Wuerzburg dioceses sect commissioner was concerned, that was an "all too transparent attempt to gain confidence by an ideology which is not compatible with the Christian belief."

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