April 14, 2009 News

Scientology's CCHR group at Concordia

Students protest as Scientology group settles in library atrium

by John Coy

A holocaust display at the CCHR exhibit
Photo Elsa Jabre

On April 9, the Montreal branch of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights—an organization opposed to psychiatry and psychiatric drugs—set up a large exhibit occupying the whole atrium of Concordia University’s downtown library building.

Students had no way of knowing that the CCHR is a sister organization of the Church of Scientology, unless they read the fine print of pamphlets being handed out.

By 6 p.m. a small group of students stood outside of the exhibit’s entrance with a sign reading, “This is the Church of Scientology.” Numerous students who witnessed the event were taken aback by the display.

“This is extremely creepy […] it’s pretty ridiculous,” said Kyle*, a first-year electroacoustic student, about the large exhibit’s many television and graphic displays.

The CCHR’s presentation included images of Adolph Hitler and the holocaust, blaming psychiatry for the genocide and headlines that read, “Controlling man like an animal.”

There was no advertising on campus in the week before the CCHR exhibit opened, but a notice was posted on Concordia’s website’s Daily Events page.

Richer Dumais, the president of CCHR Montreal, opened the exhibit with a short French speech where he stressed that everything at the presentation was from credible and documented sources.

“One of the most common treatments today is aimed at students of school age, the majority of which are completely normal,” Dumais said as he called for strict limits on Ritalin prescriptions. “Sadly, more and more children are subject to pills and treatments that are dangerous for the goal of ending a problem created by their education.”

Some students cheered during Dumais’ speech, applauding the presentation as an indicator of Concordia’s commitment to free speech. Other students expressed concern at the precedent created by allowing a religious special-interest group on campus.

According to the CCHR’s website, the organization was founded by the Church of Scientology in 1969. The website stresses that the CCHR is an independent organization and “comprises members of the Church of Scientology and many other people of various denominations, faiths and cultural beliefs.”

The website also writes

that the CCHR works closely with the Church of Scientology and that its objection to psychiatry is based on the Church of Scientology’s dogma.

Concordia University could not be reached for comment.

*Last name withheld to protect identity.