The Marlin Democrat published three (3) separate Narconon ads yesterday in its “Community Events” section. Here they are:

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION

Substance abuse and child abuse are inseparably linked. Nationally, statistics show that drug or alcohol abuse is frequently present in cases of child abuse. Narconon can help by offering addiction counseling, referrals and assessments to centers nationwide. No child should be left behind, call today 800-468-6933 or log on to www.stopaddiction.com

DRUG AND ALCOHOL IN OUR SCHOOLS

Drug abuse and addiction affects school aged children in many ways. Some kids live with an addicted family member while others have started using themselves. If you suspect that someone is struggling with addiction, call Narconon Arrowhead today! Narconon offers free addiction counseling, assessments and referrals to rehabilitation centers nationwide. Call 800-468-6933 or log on to www.stopaddiction.com to speak to a qualified counselor today.

GET YOUR FREE BOOKLET TODAY

To learn about the three barriers to successful recovery call Narconon at 800-468-6933 and receive a free booklet entitled The Life Cycle and Mechanics of Addiction or log on to www.stopaddiction.com. Narconon offers free addiction counseling, assessments and referrals to centers nationwide. Don’t lose your loved one to addiction, call today.

Notice the impersonal, non-local tone. Compare to the other, non-cult ads:

OCC PLANT SALE IS SATURDAY IN ROSEBUD

Operation Christmas Child Plant Sale will be held Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. on the First Baptist Church parking lot on Main Street in Rosebud. Plants for the sale have once again been donated by Donath’s Transplant of Rosebud.

POWERS CHAPEL TO HOLD WORK DAY

Powers Chapel Cemetery Association will hold another work day Saturday in preparation for the annual Powers Chapel Memorial Tribute on Sunday.

SOFTBALL TOURNEY FUNDRAISER IS MAY 24

Westphalia Celebration Park is sponsoring a softball tournament to raise funds for the newly completed concession stand and rest rooms on Saturday. To register a team or for more information, contact Emily Hering at [number].

Seems a bit odd to see a recruiting front for a multi-million dollar international organization using the same advertising space as local churches and softball parks. Something tells me they’re not paying the top dollar they can easily afford to spam the Marlin Democrat’s ad page for the same ad three times.

Good day,

I noticed on Thursday’s Community Events page that there are three separate ads for the group Narconon: [url]

I wanted to inform you that Narconon is a front group for the Church of Scientology. I find it unusual to see an international organization with no local presence advertising three times on a “Community Events” page.

The Church of Scientology can no doubt afford paying for ad space like any other major multinational corporation. Posting three ads on your Community Events column to peddle their medically dangerous and scientifically disproven Narconon vitamin regimine comes across as taking advantage of a community service the Marlin Democrat provides.

Thanks,

Anonymous

Will update if anything happens.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 23rd, 2008 at 6:06 pm and is filed under Media, Science. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.