Religion News Blog is a non-profit service providing academics, religion professionals and other researchers with religion & cult news

Religion news articles about religious cults, sects, world religions, and related issues

Navigation:

Search

Scientologists to March Against Health Plans

Evening Mail, via BlackEnterprise.com, UK
Feb. 7, 2006
Andy Shipley
www.blackenterprise.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Tuesday February 7, 2006

Cult Protest Over Unit Bid

Protesters from a religious cult will take to the streets next week in opposition to a planned mental health unit in Bordesley Green.

Human rights activists from a branch of the Church of Scientology are expected to be among the marchers campaigning against the proposed 80-patient medium secure mental facility on the former Yardley Green Hospital site.

The church is based on the writings of 1960s science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard and was dubbed the religion of the stars after Hollywood actors Tom Cruise and John Travolta became devotees.

Consumer Alert: Scientology

“Scientology is evil; its techniques are evil; its practice is a serious threat to the community, medically, morally, and socially; and its adherents are sadly deluded and often mentally ill… (Scientology is) the world’s largest organization of unqualified persons engaged in the practice of dangerous techniques which masquerade as mental therapy.”
- Justice Anderson, Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia, quoted at What judges have to say about Scientology

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights Birmingham, established by the Church of Scientology in 1969 to “investigate psychiatric violations of human rights,” has organised the rally.

Campaigners said they would be out in force on Thursday, from 1pm, in Hagley Road.

Chris Wrapson, spokesman for CCHR Birmingham, said: “Psychiatry’s lack of real results is a cause for great concern.”

He added that members of CCHR are opposing the mental health unit because of past mistakes in the care of mental health patients.

The group has pointed to the cases of Ogilpis Hamilton and Abdul Rehman who both killed while under psychiatric care.