Mayor Bilger. "They Totally Misrepresented What They Are Doing"
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."
The name "Narconon"® is trademarked to the Scientology
organization through one of their many front groups. The name
"Scientology"® is also trademarked to the "Church"
of Scientology. Neither this web page, nor this web site, nor any of the
individuals mentioned herein assisting to educate the public about the
dangers of the Narconon scam are members of or representitives of the
Scientology organization.
If you or a loved one needs help -- real help -- there are
a number of rehabilitation programs you can contact. The real
Narcotics Anonymous organization
can get you in touch with real people who can help you.
Click [HERE] to visit Narcotics
Anonymous's web site. Narcotics Anonymous's telephone number is
1 (818) 773-9999.
Return to The NarCONon exposure's main Index page.
Forward: For a systematic, detailed, professional exposure of
Scientology's "Narconon" front group, visit the
Narconon Exposed web site.
By Scott McCartney
Associated Press Writer
13 July 1989
The views and opinions stated within this web page are those of the author
or authors which wrote them and may not reflect the views and opinions of
the ISP or account user which hosts the web page. The opinions may or may
not be those of the Chairman of The Skeptic Tank.