Bob Lobsingeer * News article

Narconon Religion, Foe Says

By Pat Gilliland

Sunday Oklahoman September 27, 1992

After more than three years of writing editorials and reprinting reports about Narconon and the Church of Scientology, Newkirk Herald Journal publisher Bob Lobsinger says his mission is complete. "My situation now is simply there is nothing else to tell," the newspaper publisher said.

"My whole point and purpose over the past three years was to educate our people" about the Church of Scientology and "tactics" it has used to advance its causes, he said.

"I have read everything that was in Time and Life" and other general-interest publications in the past 20 years, Lobsinger said.

"Frankly, there is very little good to report."

He said his research convinced him that Narconon, which is seeking a license for a drug-treatment center at the former Chilocco Indian school campus north of Newkirk, is a religion rather than drug treatment.

As a comparison, he said Catholic hospitals don't require patients to say a rosary 15 times a day as part of their treatment.

"Narconon's entire program comes directly off the bridge to freedom," a concept developed by Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, Lobsinger said.

Still, Lobsinger said he now expects Narconon Chilocco New Life Center to win state approval. If it does, he plans to continue to monitor its operation.

"I would very much like their system to work," Lobsinger said.

"Frankly, I find little evidence it will. ... Frankly, I think it's a big scam."

Narconon and Church of Scientology officials have dismissed Lobsinger's opposition by saying he appears to have ties to the Cult Awareness Network. Lobsinger acknowledged that he subscribes to a newsletter published by the Cult Awareness Network but said he is not a member of the organization that is one of Scientology's harshest critics. Scientology also is among the network's harshest critics.

Lobsinger said many of the people involved with the Cult Awareness Network formerly were in cults and sects, among which he includes Scientology, that "invariably believe that the end justifies the means."