Back a few months ago, Dr. James Randi noted that the US administration chose to support a dangerous and vindictive “religion,” L. Ron Hubbard’s “Scientology” farce. Margarita Lopez, a Manhattan, New York, council member successfully lobbied for $630,000 in funding of a controversial Scientology “medical treatment” for a couple of rescue workers who worked on the 9/11 disaster. Well it turns out that - surprise, surprise, she has received nearly $100,000 in her political campaign account from Hubbard followers.

The “New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project,” which based its “therapy” on Hubbard’s book, "Clear Body, Clear Mind," called for the rescue workers to abandon traditional medical treatment in favor of large amounts of niacin, long sauna baths and exercise. Hubbard was against all pharmaceuticals and preached “natural” modes of treatment. Of further interest is the fact that the “Project” was co-founded by Scientologist Tom Cruise. Questioned about the wisdom of Hubbard’s system, Lopez asked, "This is a programme that should be funded. Who are the stupid people who are criticizing it?" Well, Ms. Lopez, just about everyone who doesn’t believe that intergalactic alien octopi were here billions of years ago imprisoning criminal souls in volcanoes…


The “Project” also has supporters in Congress. Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Charles Rangel have both come out in favour of it and Representatives Vito Fossella and Carolyn McCarthy have requested $1.5 million in federal funds for the New York programmes. But, after all, Scientology is a religion and offers “faith-based” reasons for acceptance, so it must be okay with the White House, right?