NYHETER - Oslo, Nov 28, 1991 - Wart Land (Our Land) Scientolog-folere for samarbeid med kriken SCIENTOLOGIST PUTS OUT FEELERS FOR CO-OPERATION WITH THE CHURCH Suggestion for combined initiative against drugs. The Church of Scientology is currently visiting parishes and church organisations in Oslo to invite them to take part in an initiative to fight drug abuse. According to their Press Spokesman Knut Jorgen Plesner the Soientologists wish to work together with the Norwegian Church and gain contacts within the church. Scientologist Arne Riediger works resolutely to spread the fringe organisation' view among Christians. On Tuesday Riediger appeared at Harald Bekken's office in Valerengen Church in Oslo. Vart Land is aware that the same person has also been to the Bible School in Staffeldtsgate and to the Church's Town Mission. But Riediger has visited more Christian organisations than this. He has presented to these an initiative for treatment of drug addicts which is approved by the Church of Scientology and which he wishes to have support for. What this support should consist of has been more vague. Letter from Falldin. The initiative for treatment carries the name "Narconon", meaning "No drugs". In Sweden there are three institutions working on this model, which took off in Arizona in 1966, according to the organisation's information services* During his visits to churches and church organisations Riediger refers to a letter written by the then Prime Minister Thorbjorn Falldin to "Narconon" in 1982. Vart Land has seen the letter, which states that Falldin "has great respect for the work in Narconon". No from Heloe. There has been a previous attempt to get the "Narconon" approach to treatment accepted in Norway. This happened when the then Minister of Social Affairs Leif Arne Heloe was in the Cabinet from 1981 to 1986. But Heloe said No, Thank you to the initiative, which builds upon the ideology of the Church of Scientology. "Riediger makes visits to Christian, and also other religious environments three times a week, for some hours at a time. The idea is to gain contacts, pass on information about Scientology, and make ourselves known by showing who we are. Naturally our hope is that in turn this will forge a basis for working together. As you know the Church is not at all neutral with regard to us, they have loaded the media with their view. "But all things considered, the response has been positive", Plesner said to Vart Land. He explained that the Church of Scientology has a realistic hope of being able to start up the treatment of drug addicts in Norway too, preferably working together with others."Our central concern is treating drug addicts, not evangelising. It is apparent in Sweden that very few of the people receiving treatment have become Scientologists", he said. "Underhand method" The Organiser of Collecting for the Church's Town Mission, Revd Finn Brondal, was visited by Riediger. "He said nothing about being a Scientologist before we were well inside my office. The reason we came to talk to him was that he requested a meeting with a priest. We thought he needed spiritual comfort. The method was underhand", Brondal said to Vart Land. He invited Riediger to go to the General Secretary if he had something on his mind. Erling Lautrizsen of the Victims of Scientology Support Croup warns in the strongest terms against having any connection with Scientologists. He dismisses as ridiculous the idea that they wish to co-operate with the Church. "I don't know which is worse, being a drug addict or being a Scientologist", he said to Vart Land. Bekken said no. Harald Bekken of Valerengen parish also said no when the Scientologists knocked on his door on Tuesday. "I have had contact with several parents whose children have ended up in the claws of the Scientologists. I am very critical of them. I said just the same to Riediger", Bekken told Vart Land. * SOS NORGE Photograph Captions The Scientologists are currently visiting parishes and church organisations in Oslo for working together against drug abuse. "Our central concern is treating drug addicts, not evangelising", says Press Spokesman Knut Jorgen Plesner. Translation: Celia Waterhouse --------------------- Image of this article is HERE http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/norway-narconon.jpg Text of this article is here http://www.lermanet.com/scientologynews/norway-narconon.txt