Letter to the Editor

My name is Stefani Hutchison. I am a writer, blogger and concerned activist dedicated to exposing the realities of the Church of Scientology. I was a guest on the Scientology Fair Game podcast and have spent the past three years addressing the issues surrounding Scientology and its many front groups.  

Recently it came to my attention that the Cordova Community Council will be including one of these groups as a resource targeting children at the Kid’s Day scheduled for April 24^th in Rancho Cordova. 

The Citizens Commission on Human Rights, CCHR, proffers itself as a watchdog organization dedicated to fighting abuses in the psychiatric community.

In reality Scientology is virulently against any form of professional mental health treatment, so much so that as a condition of becoming a member one must sign their Enrollment Agreement which states they are against psychiatry in all it’s forms and legally refuse to seek any psychiatric treatment should the need arise. 

Kid’s Day is supposed to be a venue to raise awareness of mental health in children. Scientology and their front group CCHR publicly teach that the struggles children face, such as ADHD for example, do not actually exist but are only behavioral issues. The CCHR states that mental illness is simply a construct of “Big Pharma” and is not real because there is no bio diagnostic tool (such as a blood test or x-Ray) to prove these conditions. 

CCHR’s website states; “Bear in mind that the ‘treatments’ being prescribed are for ‘disorders’ that are not physical illnesses—essentially, they are being prescribed for something that does not exist... There are no workable ADHD drugs for children. There are no workable ADHD drugs for adults.”

Beyond dismissing the reality of the daily challenges and struggles faced by children with this and other mental illnesses, Scientology has an extreme intolerance for any psychiatric/psychological condition. A former Scientologist shared her experience as a member who was raised in the cult; “The other thing that I wanted to touch on was autism and children who are born on the spectrum. I mean I’ve heard Scientologists refer to this as a ‘degraded condition’, and have said things like: ‘what kind of Being, meaning Spirit, picks a body that’s degraded and doesn’t function?’ And in their view that person should pass away and start again.”

“And in their view that person should pass away and start again.”

Children of Sea Org (Scientology’s pseudo military order) members are taught from early on that anything bad that happens in their life, be it illness, accident or any other trauma or disaster (including being molested), is their own fault. The child “pulled it in” on himself because in a past life he committed crimes. This is not a teaching conducive to healthy emotional and psychological living.

CCHR’s being included in this upcoming event is beyond specious, hypocritical and in fact fulfills Hubbard’s written policy on how to create good PR for the cult.

“...the time has come to also build a public image as an outflow publicity action…

“…you have to go civic, go outside Scientology, get support, organize committees, plot out campaigns, work for outside finance, etc…

“You can and must ally with real humanitarian and civil-rights groups (getting press coverage for every such contact).

“You can and must approach governors, parliamentary committees, big names, big activities and get press coverage for every contact…”

That Scientology is involved in this Kid’s Day is nothing more than an opportunity to use a legitimate and necessary event to obtain exposure for their own agenda. It is exposing children to misleading, intolerant information that could end tragically.

It is extremely important that the community be aware that a group who does not believe in mental Illnesses and who carries a deep and abiding hatred and fear for the psychiatric field is going to be interacting with the citizens and more seriously the children of Rancho Cordova. 

So vehemently is Scientology against psychiatry one of members posted on Twitter; “You claim CCHR has some sort of religious purpose. Wrong. CCHR’s overarching purpose is the total ANNIHILATION of psychiatry worldwide”

 

Dangerously, Jan Eastgate, President of the CCHR states “There are alternatives to psychiatric treatment. Seek out and support them for they can repair and build. They also work. Avoid psychiatry because it only tears apart and destroys. And it never works.”

 

Scientologists are routinely taught that psychiatrists are evil and are responsible for the Holocaust and 9/11. 

 

Members of this group are taught not to take any medications that are considered mind altering. This includes anything prescribed for depression or anxiety. It is the CCHR who runs the Psychiatry: An Industry of Death exhibition in Hollywood, California, as well as several touring exhibitions. One of these traveling shows set up at the University of Ottawa in 2020 resulting in campus protests by students who condemned the exhibit as “outrageous” and “hurtful to many members of the community”. 

 

Before Cordova Community Council agrees to allow any organization to participate in “a health and resources fair with providers on hand to engage parents and provide information” focused on young children each should be thoroughly vetted. In this case it is obvious the Cordova Community Council has not done their due diligence where Scientology’s CCHR is concerned. 

It is beyond concerning that the Cordova Community Council is supporting any organization that is, ultimately intolerant and dismissive of the reality of mental health issues and which vilifies and actively seeks the destruction of all the avenues available to those whose lives are so deeply affected by mental illness. 

Scientology’s intolerance towards mental illness would see the return of the stigma of shame which still affects so many, keeping them from seeking the help they desperately need. 

At the very least the Rancho Cordova community has a right to know about this suspect participation in order to be fully informed.

It is my most sincere hope that the Cordova Community Council will rethink the participation of the CCHR and choose to make a bold statement for mental health by severing this partnership. If not, I caution parents to be aware of who the CCHR is and what they stand for. 

Sincerely

Mrs. Stefani A. Hutchison