Association for Better Living and Education

Organization associated with Church of Scientology

Applied Scholastics
Criminon
Narconon
The Way to Happiness

AffiliationsScientologyWebsiteable.org

Formerly called

Association for Better Living and Education (1988-2000)^[4]^[5]

The Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE) is a non-profit organization headquartered in Los Angeles, California, established by the Church of Scientology. It states that it is "dedicated to creating a better future for children and communities."^[6] It promotes secular uses of L. Ron Hubbard's works, and has been classified as a "Scientology-related entity". Founded in 1988, ABLE's main office is located at 7065 Hollywood Boulevard, the former headquarters for the Screen Actors Guild.^[7]^[8]

Programs

ABLE is an umbrella organization which manages the four entities:^[8]^[9]^[10]

Applied Scholastics, educational programs based on study technology
Criminon, a rehabilitation program for prisoners
Narconon, a drug rehabilitation program
The Way to Happiness Foundation, dedicated to disseminating Hubbard's "non-religious moral code".

Criticism

Although various Scientology groups are registered as legally separate corporations and entities, critics note this has no bearing on whether or not they are controlled by the Church of Scientology. Studytech.org, a Scientology watchdog site, notes: "Applied Scholastics is indeed a legally separate corporation. However, it has so many ties to the Church of Scientology and its corporate alter ego, the Church of Spiritual Technology, that it cannot be regarded as being anything other than a Scientology subsidiary.^[11]

Nanette Asimov, reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, in an article critical of ABLE and Narconon, summed it up this way:

A popular anti-drug program provided free to schools in San Francisco and elsewhere teaches concepts straight out of the Church of Scientology, including medical theories that some addiction experts described as "irresponsible" and "pseudoscience." As a result, students are being introduced to some beliefs and methods of Scientology without their knowledge.^[8]

ABLE and its groups were included in the 1993 closing agreement between the IRS and the Church of Scientology, and are classified as "Scientology-related entities".^[12]

References

^ "President's Message". Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
^
- Form 1023 – Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code – Church of Scientology International, Washington, DC, August 18, 1993
- "Attachment to form 1023 by Church of Scientology International" (PDF). Retrieved March 25, 2023 – via David S. Touretzky.
^ Reitman, Janet (2011). Inside Scientology: The Story of America's Most Secretive Religion. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. ISBN 9780618883028. OL 24881847M.
^ Mantesso, Sean (May 4, 2019). "Scientology's controversial push to enter schools with learning material — including in Australia". ABC News (Australia).
^ "Corporate documents". Secretary of State of California. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
^ ABLE website
^ LA Weekly - News - Hollywood Ups and Downs - Madelynn Amalfitano - The Essential Online Resource for Los Angeles Archived June 30, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^ ^a ^b ^c Asimov, Nanette (June 9, 2004). "Scientology link to public schools". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved February 21, 2008.
^ Mantesso, Sean (May 4, 2019). "Scientology's controversial push to enter schools with learning material — including in Australia". ABC Online.
^ Asimov, Nanette (May 25, 2014). "Narconon: Misleading antidrug program back in public schools". SFGate.com.
^ Scientology's Education Fronts - Applied Scholastics International Archived April 18, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
^ "Scientology Settles With IRS". The Wall Street Journal. December 30, 1997.