Scientology Lies

by Laura Crimaldi

Here's guessing Brooke Shields didn't get the Scientologists' 14- part documentary series - titled "Psychiatry: An Industry of Death" - as a wedding favor at TomKat's nuptials yesterday.

The DVDs and brochure were produced by the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, which was founded in part by the Church of Scientology, and they're getting handed out in the Hub and elsewhere as part of the group's latest campaign against the traditional mental health system.

"We realized that people weren't understanding the harm done," said Kevin Hall, New England director of the Citizens Commision on Human Rights. "We are passing them out to reach people like you."

The series includes segments on the Judge Rotenberg Center in Canton, which critics have blasted in the past for its use of shock therapy.

The documentary was shown for the second time ever in Boston in August. Two weeks ago, Scientologists gathered in Boston to pick up the DVD edition, which costs $30 a pop on the CCHR Web site. The agency hopes to distribute a million copies worldwide, Hall said.

The DVD's wide distribution comes as Shields joined a legion of stars at the wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes in a Scientology ceremony in a castle at Lake Bracciano, Italy.

Cruise, an A-list Scientologist, had blasted Shields for taking antidepressants to treat her post-partum depression and got testy about psychiatry on the "Today" show with Matt Lauer. Since then, Cruise has apologized to Shields, who attended the fairy-tale wedding with her husband, Chris Henchy.

Scientology ceremonies contain many elements of traditional weddings, including rings and vows. But they also include certain Scientology fundamentals, including vowing never to go to bed without communicating about any differences.