Scientologists push mental health law

[DoYouEverWonder]

April 9, 2005

TALLAHASSEE - Legislation backed by an offshoot of the Church of Scientology aims to discourage public school students from seeking mental health services.

The measure would require schools to tell parents that any mental health treatment would be part of a student's permanent record, which is true only in limited cases now.

<snip>

The bills (HB209 and SB1766) are being pushed by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, or CCHR, established in 1969 by the Church of Scientology to carry out its mental health mission. Scientologists oppose psychiatry and other mental health services.

The legislation is being fought by several mental health organizations, including the state Office of Suicide Prevention.

The sponsors, Tampa Republican Sen. Victor Crist and Miami Beach Republican Rep. Gustavo Barreiro, were guest speakers recently at Scientology's anniversary celebration. Crist touted the bill at the event and Barreiro gave the church an award for its volunteer efforts during last summer's hurricanes.

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/04/09/State/Scientologists_push_m.shtml

So the Scientologists oppose psychiatry but they seem to have no problem with brain washing?

[Dogmudgeon]

1. It's a turf war

Or, to the $c1ent010g1sts, "Third-Dynamic Entheta".

--p!

[BattyDem]

2. If this law passes ...

it won't be long before some kid kills himself and/or someone else because he didn't seek counseling on account of his parents finding out. Maybe his parents are the problem.

The lawsuits will be filed before the body is cold.


Why is it that lately, whenever a religious organization gets involved in something, it's never to help people, it's always to impose their will on people. :mad:

[BlueIris]

29. I couldn't tell from the article--does anyone know if this has any

real chance of passing?

[Doremus]

30. Federal law trumps state law.

Or have they forgotten last year's federal legislation requiring schools to provide mental health screenings on ALL kids without notifying the parents?

The beneficiaries of that bill, of course, are the sugar daddy drug companies who swoon at the thought of all those new scripts for their designer drugs.

It's fun watching the whores juggle their bedmates.

[VegasWolf]

3. Sigh! Florida used to be a nice place. Only mullet heads can live

there now.

[DoYouEverWonder]

11. I agree, Florida is a pretty wacky place

[obxhead]

32. yeah, I was born there

Family moved away after I turned 12. Now I go back to visit from time to time and it's really gone to hell in 15 or so years.

[Kimber Scott]

4. All of these churches need to back the hell off the legislature. I don't

care what church it is. The only law a church should promote is one which concerns specifically and only itself. Like say, you can't build a booby bar next door to a church. Likewise, you can't build a church next to a booby bar. If they want to run schools, they need to open their own. If they want to say what people should read, they need to open their own libraries. If they want to tell people what medicines they can, or cannot, have they need to open hospitals and pharmacies that cater only to their members and sympathizers.

Believe what you want, Churches. Enjoy yourselves. Wait for the end days, or pine for the old days. Have potlucks and build community centers. Feed your elderly members and pay your younger members' light bills when they get their electricity shut off. Start a coop. Grow some vegetables. Sing Kumbaya till the cows come home. Live your lives with purpose and meaning. Be good people. We will look to you and wonder if what you have is really good. Some of us may want to be a part of you. Some of us won't. That's it. Welcome us when we come, or smile at us when we pass. Shove your crap down our throats and we will puke it back in your laps - on fire.

[dsc]

5. I am glad MLK's church didn't feel that way

One can only guess where would be if it did.

[Kimber Scott]

8. The Civil Rights Movement wasn't a church. nt

[dsc]

25. No it was made up of several churches

and temples. If you took out all the religious inspired activity in the civil rights movement, you would have only a little bit left.

[Catt03]

10. I think there is a big difference in violence against an entire

segment of the population and the state of Florida refusing mental health services to children in the public schools. There also may be a wee difference between MLK and L Ron Hubbard.

:eyes:

[dsc]

24. So it isn't the involvment of churches

but which churches are involved. That is a whole different concept.

[Catt03]

31. OK

I will agree that churches were involved in the movement.

Maybe the difference is that the SCLC was just a little quieter than the Randall Terrys and the Dobsons, ect.

Maybe it was because of Martin Luther King and his message of nonviolence, or at least I do not remember that he advocated killing judges or impeaching the Supreme Court.

Maybe it was because I had the experience of being in the moment in time with the movement.

Maybe is is because MLC did not shove religion down my throat. I don't remember that he ever said I had to believe in anything. I believe he described as a spiritual problem of the South.

And surely, I admit, it is because I am a Democrat and I am partisan.

[QC]

18. $cientology is not a church. n/t

[Kimber Scott]

19. Church of Scientology - Locate a "church" near you...

http://www.scientology.org/mapscn/mqinterconnect?link=pub/cos/scientology/en_US/feature/locator/find

"Scientology Churches are located in dozens of countries around the world. These organizations offer a variety of services including free films, introductory lectures, seminars, courses, counselling as well as other books and lectures by L. Ron Hubbard."

[realisticphish]

6. jesus

"The path of least resistance is to medicate rather than find creative ways to help kids," Barreiro said. "What is the worst case scenario if this bill passes? We move toward the middle and medicate less."

hey, FUCKTARDS. YOU KNOW WHAT THAT FUCKING MIDDLE AREA IS? THERAPY.

you pass this law, and there will be FEWER KIDS GOING TO THERAPISTS. Not just fewer medication cases, but fewer therapies. Thus, this "culture of life" is directly contributing to the death of children

[Catt03]

7. This is criminal

So what Crist is saying is if a child is; raped, beat, neglected, loses a parent or a sibling, that if they get mental health services, they have a permanent record?

What a Neanderthal.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Don't children in this time get counseling when a fellow student dies?

Will they be discouraged from receiving those services?

[Catt03]

14. Seems that is what the bill states...

no mental health couseling. He appears to think that every child that receives couseling gets medication. So, to stop the medication, stop the couseling.

?????????? :headbang:

[More Than A Feeling]

9. That's chock full of creepiness

I am stunned, but I probably shouldn't be. They aren't even trying to hide anymore. :eyes:

[Selteri]

13. I see some validity in their point, but at the same time

it's completely idiotic to impose that level of control over the situation. Yes, we have to respect their rights, that doesn't mean that they get to dictate to us.

Keep your religion out of my government and I'll not sue you for imposing your religion over mine.

[Celebration]

15. agreed-- turf war

Counsling is one thing, and mandatory mental health testing for all school children is another (as is being introduced in Illinois--probably thanks to drug company lobby). Keep in mind that it is the pharmaceutical company agenda to label every type of different personality as a "disorder" that should be treated with drugs. I am guessing that they think counseling will lead to suggestions to go to child psychologists, which will lead to over medicating, which will lead to...............who knows? Most of the school shooters have been on antidepressants, don't forget. Plus there are the recent stories about coverups by drug companies of untoward effects of SSRIs on children. I am not a fan of scientology, but there sure is a reason to be wary of the path that leads to irresponsible medicating of children.

[Kimber Scott]

20. That's for parents, doctors and psychiatrists to decide. Not a bunch of

strangers.

[drduffy]

34. Nonsense

This is simply nonsense. Child Psychologists (and I am a Clinical Neuropsychologist (with additional specialties in child and family therapy and geropsychology) and who sees many children and families referred by the schools, DSS and others), do not prescribe (except with respect to two states where Psychologists have now obtained prescriptive privileges). But in any case, psychologists are very conservative with respect to the whole issue of medications - preferring non-pharmacological treatment whenever possible. And for a variety of reasons which I will not go into right now.

And to assume that Psychologists are not at least as aware as you are of the issues of overmedication and negative side effects of medication...and the problems with over-diagnosing - is silly and to accuse our profession (or even that of psychiatry) of being irresponsible is itself irresponsible. There are idiots in any profession(s) but all-in-all psychology and psychiatry do a fair job and have the most stringent ethical standards (particularly in Psychology as codified by the American Psychological Association) of just about any profession.

And btw, I am against mandatory mental health testing - even though such a practice would certainly be financially beneficial to me. But I am not against required psychological intervention/evaluations when a child exhibits significant behavioral or emotional problems whether at school or elsewhere. There are many addtional issues here which are complex and if you or others ever wish to discuss them that's ok.

And, yes, the problems children exhibit are very frequently problems with parents and that is why we seek to intervene with children AND their families. Simply medicating a child without consideration of all the dynamics would be unethical. And recommending medication for a child when it is not necessary would also be unethical.

[derby378]

16. L. Ron Hubbard taught that thought has mass

I have a picture or two of LRH hooking up a tomato to an E-Meter.

Someone tell the CCHR to take a leap into Lake Xenu.

[onager]

23. Was the tomato a Suppresive Person?

:hi:

I agree with the general drift here. As long as the kooks are just passing out their shiterature on Hollywood Blvd. and letting me practice the tone and modulation of my hearty "Fuck off!," no problem.

Letting them horn in on writing laws is a really stupid idea. Just like $camintoloty itself.

[Catt03]

17. or maybe to push private schools and the voucher program

Scientology have schools?

[thingsarelookingup]

36. Scientology does have schools

Read Piece Of Blue Sky, an expose on Scientology. Basically a cult started by Sci-Fi writer. You go to expensive classes and never become actually "cured" (their opinion) so they can keep getting your money. The most advanced classes are at their headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. They "clear" you by hooking you up to a device that looks like orange juice cans connected to a machine. When you die you go hang out on Venus for a while and wait for a baby to inhabit. I just read something about Scientologists getting praises from this administration for "clearing" tsunami victims. Absolutely creepy.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

21. The followers of a phony religion invented by a

bad sci-fi writer want to talk about MENTAL HEALTH?????

When is the last time these people looked into a mirror?

[JohnLocke]

22. Like the Unification Church, Scientology is a dangerous cult

Sponsored by Republicans, of course. Who needs God when you can instead worship at the altar of the almighty dollar?
:banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:

[Orsino]

26. If there's one thing we need...

...it's less access to mental health care for teens in a nation obsessed with guns. Great going, Scientologists!

[BlueIris]

27. Indeed, it's not a church.

It's horrifying to me that these people are mixed up in an actual legislative effort. Please visit this essential link, filled with information about the "Church" of Scientology, its history and its future. I might be blind, but I haven't seen it posted here, yet: http://www.xenu.net

[DoYouEverWonder]

28. What do you expect

from a bunch of mind control freaks? They just want to eliminate the competition.

[obxhead]

33. I read the "what is scientology" section

Sounds like every other religion out there to me.

[gauguin57]

35. This is NOT a religion ... it is a money-grubbing cult.

Please read Time's package on Scientology, from 1991.

http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/time.htm

Scientology is a "religion" made up by a pulp-sci-fi writer. They find fake bad vibes inside you with a fake machine, and they charge you thousands and thousands of dollars for the "privilege."

Anyone who investigates them, anyone who has left the cult and tries to take action ... the "church" harasses them, invades their privacy and the privacy of their friends and family ...

Scientology is responsible for the deaths of people who should have been getting psychiatric help (instead of being locked in hotel rooms and being "audited" with the little fake machines.

These people have been gaining power for many years. The celebrities who shill for the cult don't help matters (travolta, cruise, kirstie alley, beck, anne archer, erika christensen ("traffic"), jenna elfman, nancy cartwright (voice of bart simpson), chick corea, isaac hayes, catherine bell (j.a.g.), giovanni ribisi, leah rimini, greta van susteren (she and husband are real muckity-mucks in the "church"), priscilla and lisa marie presley, kelly preston, etc. etc.