Read this article the other day in the local paper.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/features/20050521-9999-lz1c21depress.html

I then read Tom Cruise's brilliant advice to Brooke Shields, and thought I'd drop this group a line...

Hi,

My name is Barbara Graham, and I am writing you because of a chance synchronicity. The article about post-partum depression in the U-T recently caught my attention, as Scientologist Tom Cruise has just come out publicly against treatment for this condition in an interview.

Scientology is actively promoting a bill in Florida, which would ban mental health screening in public schools, often behind the guise of its front group, the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/09/State/Scientologists_push_m.shtml

It amazes me that this group, labelled a destructive cult in France and Germany, could gain enough influence that politicians who know nothing about Scientology or its history as a human rights abuser would back a bill supported by them.

By its own admission, Scientology is dedicated to destroying legitimate mental health services and organizations, while offering nothing in its place.

Recently, high profile Scientologist Tom Cruise criticized Brooke Shields for taking Paxil to treat post-partum depression. In part, he was quoted as saying, "

"These drugs are dangerous. I have actually helped people come off," Cruise maintains to Bush. "When you talk about postpartum, you can take people today, women, and what you do is you use vitamins. There is a hormonal thing that is going on, scientifically, you can prove that. But when you talk about emotional, chemical imbalances in people, there is no science behind that. You can use vitamins to help a woman through those things." The rest of the article can be found here: http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/312166p-266946c.html

Scientology's simplistic view of mental problems being treatable with vitamins can be underscored by the number of suicides and murders committed by members with mental imbalances. A fairly recent example is that of Jeremy Perkins, a schizophrenic who was being treated by his Scientology parents rather than a qualified professional. http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/~dst/JeremyPerkins/

Scientology has managed to influence lawmakers in Florida, and is a serious threat to people who need treatment. If groups like yours do not speak out against this destructive and foolish notion that psychiatry is evil and vitamins can be used in place of antidepressants, their influence is likely to spread to other places. Florida is home to their main base in Clearwater, where they have literally taken over this little town, moving in under a false name back in the 70s and quietly buying up property as "United Churches of Florida."

Scientology has been active in San Diego lately as well. They have been giving free 'stress tests' and selling books at street fairs, Earth Day, downtown and in the airport. Please look at the links provided, and you will understand how destructive their stance on the mental health industry and their influence in the political arena can be. Their drug treatment program, Narconon, administers toxic doses of Niacin and other vitamins to treat drug addicts. Their program also subjects clients to Scientology indoctrination, which results in a considerable number of graduates becoming Scientologists. Narconon's drug education program was recently evaluated by the public school system, the result being their rejection from public schools.

The American Psychiatric Association has chosen to simply ignore Scientology's attacks on their profession. I think this is a mistake; by ignoring them, they are enabling them to make inroads into public mental health programs, which will inevitably take a terrible toll on innocent people.

--
--barb
Chaplain,ARSCC

"Imagine a church so dangerous, you must sign a release form before you can receive its "spiritual assistance." This assistance might involve holding you against your will for an indefinite period, isolating you from friends and family, and denying you access to appropriate medical care. You will of course be billed for this treatment - assuming you survive it. If not, the release form absolves your caretakers of all responsibility for your suffering and death.

Welcome to the Church of Scientology."

--Dr. Dave Touretzky Peter Alexander

Go Back