Mayor says about Narconon 'They Totally Misrepresented What They Are Doing'

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, seemingly unaffected by the tempest brewing in this remote corner 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 farming slumps.

But the initial euphoria, like the old paint, has chipped away, replaced by distrust, frustration, 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 Facility."

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 Scientology, 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-exempt 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 development," 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 community 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 literature, 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 is a legitimate, worldwide drug and alcohol rehabilitation program with 23 years' experience 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 somebody 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, Narconon 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 following week, writing he "resented the implication, or more accurately the accusation, that was made by Narconon's Mr. Duff. He accused me of supporting illegal drug use in our area if I did not swallow his program hook, line and sinker."

Bilger 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 when he learned of Narconon's history, and he came to believe he had been misled when Narconon held an emotional ceremony April 8 in which the Association for Better Living and Education presented a glowing study of Narconon and the $200,000 check.

Later Bilger learned that ABLE ® shared a street address in Los Angeles with Narconon, 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 Narconon process. Then I find out ABLE and Narconon are part of the same organization," 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.

"I imagine if I was in his shoes I'd use it, too," Bilger said. "I just think now it (Narconon) 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 representatives of tribes throughout the country to a meeting in Clearwater, Fla. Narconon touted its program and said it was looking for a site for a treatment 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 percentage of gross earnings, up to $16 million. The tribal leadership remains enthusiastic about the Narconon project.

In January, the Oklahoma Health Planning 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 curious about Narconon. In Newkirk's tiny library he found articles about ties to Scientology 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 common sense and they ask a lot of questions."

"We've encountered deceit from the beginning," 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 enterprise 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 nothing 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 alcoholism 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 Scientology. 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.

Scientology, founded by Hubbard in 1954, has grown into an international religion that at its mid-1970s peak claimed 6 million members and $100 million in annual earnings. The faith is based on Hubbard's concepts of mental health through which members 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 Scientology, spokesman Simon Hogarth acknowledged, but the group maintains it has no "direct ties" to Scientology.

Narconon says its rehabilitation program is based on Hubbard's methods, using withdrawal, diet supplements, exercise and sauna sessions to treat addicts.

William Mehojah, chairman of the Kaws, said the tribes would not allow Scientology activities at Chilocco and would hold Narconon to its contract. "We are attempting to provide service to people who need it," Mehojah said. "This is our way of combating (society's) drug problem. 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."