The Greek Holy Synod has issued a stark warning about Scientology, calling it “medically, socially and ethically dangerous” and urging the public to stay away. Branding it a “pseudo-religious organisation with socially dangerous activities“, the statement exposes Scientology’s use of front groups to further its aims, referencing programs such as Narconon and the ‘Foundation for a Drug Free World’.
Scientology maintains that while its ‘social betterment’ programs are funded by the Church, they operate independently and operate as secular bodies, with only official Scientology organisations carrying out the work of the Church. The Greek Synod however, warned today “in recent years, [Scientology] has been active under other names, fronting seemingly innocuous services such as self-improvement seminars or sales seminars for businesses.”
Operating under the name “Center of Applied Philosophy of Greece”, Scientology lacks religious recognition in Greece following a 1997 ruling that determined it to be a “profit-making group that endangers the mental and physical well-being of its members“. The judgement was upheld by the Court of Appeal the following year, with judges expanding on their concerns about the group: “Scientology causes a personality change in members and interferes with family relationships” and ordering the liquidation of Scientology’s assets.
Despite being raided by the authorities and ordered to close, Scientology continues to operate in Greece, opening a new Org in Athens in 2019. Today’s statement from the Greek Synod cites the judgements, saying it stands by the judicial system’s categorisation of Scientology as an “organisation with medically, socially, and ethically dangerous and harmful practices.”
The statement in full can be read in Greek on the Synod’s website, or translated into English below:
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, with a sense of responsibility, informs the Christian community that the Church of Scientology, which operated in Greece under the guise of the association named Center of Applied Philosophy of Greece (C.A.P.G.), has been characterized by two decisions of the Greek Justice (7380/1996 First Instance Court of Athens and 10.493/1997 Athens Court of Appeals) as an “organization with medically, socially, and ethically dangerous and harmful practices.”
Greek Holy Synod statement, 6th september 2023
In recent years, it has been active under other names, fronting seemingly innocuous services such as self-improvement seminars or sales seminars for businesses.
Today, following a similar past initiative known as Narconon, it attempts to intervene in the public sphere, seeking collaborations with public entities, social institutions, and even schools, under the pretext of a new program addressing the significant social issue of drugs named The Truth About Drugs.
The entity behind this initiative appears to be the Scientology Foundation titled A World Without Drugs (located at 6331 Hollywood Blvd., Suite 710, Los Angeles, CA 90028 United States), and its domestic implementation agency, originating from the same organization’s milieu, is Citizens’ Initiative for a Drug-Free Greece (Drug-Free World GR) (see websites www.notodrugs.gr, facebook.com/drugfreeworld.gr/, instagram.com/drugfreeworld.gr).
The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece stands with great respect, responsibility, and prayer, recognizing the honorable and brave efforts of our fellow humans who strive to disentangle themselves from the tragic world of various addictions.
It acknowledges and praises the invaluable help and honorable efforts of various scientific entities and communities assisting in the rehabilitation of our fellow humans.
At the same time, it informs public, social, and private entities working in the sensitive field of drug addiction rehabilitation not to inadvertently become sponsors or advertising tools of a pseudo-religious organization with socially dangerous activities.
After all, its antagonism and aversion towards the medical field of psychiatric science is well-known.
It is evident that no methodology and no guise of social contribution can distort the reality, as reflected by the judgment of the Greek Justice, which is not the only one, that Scientology is “an organization with medically, socially, and ethically dangerous and harmful practices.”
