A VALUABLE PROGRAM

In order to create the controversy necessary to make her story on the
Church of Scientology's youth anti-drug program qualify as news (``Program
has surprising link,'' Page 5B, May 7), your reporter forgot the most
important thing: the children of this area who are the Drug-Free Marshals.

Your reporter had to go three states away to find someone who would make
contemptuous comments about the program. Such is his bigotry that he would
tell these children to their face that what they are doing is no good. What
has he done to help keep school children off of drugs?

The story creates an incorrect impression by failing to present full facts.
One such fact is that the church was granted full religious charitable
status in 1993 after the most thorough investigation of any non-profit
organization.

The suggestion in your article that the church's sponsorship of the
Drug-Free Marshals program is not at once apparent is erroneous. The Church
of Scientology has been actively and loudly combating drug abuse for five
decades. The Drug-Free Marshals program has been ongoing here since its
inception in 1993.

The Drug-Free Marshals is one of the most innovative, effective and needed
drug education programs in the United States. The program deputizes
school-age children as ``Drug-Free Marshals'' who pledge to keep
themselves, their friends and their family drug-free. It has won numerous
plaudits.

- -- Darlene Bright Director of Public Affairs, Church of Scientology, San Jose

Checked-by: jwjohnson@netmagic.net (Joel W. Johnson)