Scientologists given free, taxpayer-funded facility

[lionking]

http://www.theage.com.au/national/scientologists-living-rentfree-in-one-of-victorias-grand-lodges-20080928-4por.html?page=3

I normally look at my state of Victoria, Australia as one of the more reasonably governed places around, but now find that Scientologists have been running a dubious drug treatment centre courtesy of taxpayers.

I know mainstream churches get tax breaks etc and religious schools get government funding, but to give these charlatans a leg up is outrageous, IMO.

Or am I going a bit over the top. Should I be giving them the benefit of the doubt and say to myself "at least they are trying to help druggies"?

[Crundy]

No, they are using rehab to draw in vulnerable people with addictive personality disorders to bleed them dry. They are not the good guys.

[lionking]

Just discovered that the treatment used, Narconon, was "sponsored" by L Ron himself. Enough said, chuck them out.

[geni]

No, they are using rehab to draw in vulnerable people with addictive personality disorders to bleed them dry.

Well partly. They have also realised that it is one tactic that allows them to look good while doing it.

[Gurdur]

I've heard really bad stories about what went on in a certain Australian Narconon place back in the '80's.

Apart from the above, which is of course possibly utterly discountable:

there is no way on Earth anyone should be helping $cientology and Narconon in any kind of way whatsoever. Narconon is of no great help to addicts, and $cientology is of course of no help to anyone at all.

[luchog]

Well partly. They have also realised that it is one tactic that allows them to look good while doing it.

Yeah, after all, why should the 12-Steppers have all the fun?

[a_unique_person]

No, they are using rehab to draw in vulnerable people with addictive personality disorders to bleed them dry.

That's all it's about.

[Macoy]

I'm afraid that all the clams seem to have jumped into their B52s and scarpered.

Wot a bunch of tossers.

[lionking]

Predictably enough, there were two letters to the editor to the "Age" today from scientologists effectively saying that they were doing the public a favour taking this pesky mountain retreat off their hands and mowing the grass. Pathetic. The least they should do is start paying commercial rental.