Scientology group stages tasteless circus

All week long I’ve read about the tragic death of James Alenson at Lincoln-Sudbury high school, allegedly caused by John Odgren, bitten my lip, and swallowed my gall.

As I wrote in this paper last fall, I am the mother of four children who have been or are on the autism spectrum, one with a diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome.

I know a little something about life with spectrum kids, the caution and care that goes into medication choices, the anxieties and fears that dog every parent but especially those of a special needs child, and uniquely those of an Asperger’s child. […]

Now, though I would wish to avoid this subject, I feel compelled to speak in response to the signs and displays put forward by the Citizen’s Commission on Human Rights, a group founded by the Church of Scientology, and displayed in Sudbury on the day of James Alenson’s funeral.

Surely there is a better way to promote awareness of the potential harmful effects of psychiatric medications than to stage a circus at a time and a place when the victims’ hearts are so raw.

Surely there is a more effective way to be heard than to alienate an entire community.

There is no martyr’s merit in speaking out in this way. If science is indeed the basis of Scientology, engage the scientific community. Conduct studies, present findings to the appropriate councils for drug safety or psychiatric practice. If your position can be substantiated, you will be heard.

But what right do you have to demand to know the medications John Odgren took? His medical history is private. […]

To flippantly ascribe last week’s tragedy to Odgren’s medications is irresponsible in the extreme. […]

And just because you can point to some success stories involving alternative therapies, don’t assume they’re universal cures. […]

This is a summary extract from the full article as it appeared on MetroWest Daily News, Jan 26, 2007
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