Scientology-Narconon vs. Catholic Church

The ongoing controversy concerning the Church of Scientology, Narconon Trois-Rivières and now potentially involving the Catholic Oblates (secular nuns), in Quebec, Canada, may be heading to the courts — at the discretion of the Catholic Oblates.

Legal Land Registry documents arrived in the writer’s email box recently, with connotations of “Opening King Tut’s Tomb” being the expression of the day. More than eighty-eight pages of Property Sale Agreements, transfers of ownership, and lease information from an anonymous source scattered the desk top. Most were in French, but many of the pertinent legal passages with potential litigation ramifications were informally translated into English.

On Nov. 19, 2001, OMMI (Catholic Oblates) sold their Trois-Rivières property to two private individuals who are Scientologists, Antonino (Tony) Putorti and Mario Desrochers, at less than market value. In a struggling Quebec economy, why would the Oblates sell a massive commercial property, capable of housing more than one hundred persons, at far below market value?

Special condition of sale number four on pages 6-7 of the deed of sale was the bombshell that stood out in bold letters in the translated text. Informal translation:

“The buyer or any tenant or nominee or company that operates within the premises included in the present sale promise to exercise no activity in connection with the Church of Scientology, and this in or on all buildings and/or grounds included in the present sale. They also promise not to sell any of the property acquired by this sale to the Church of Scientology directly or indirectly, under penalty of lawsuit for damages and interest by the seller [the nuns].”

In addition, special sale condition eight on page 7 specifically states:

“The seller (the Oblates) is aware that the buyer will lease the premises included in this sale or part of them to an organization known as Narconon, and the nature of this organization must be not-for-profit.”

As of Aug. 28, 2001, the property was evaluated at $727,000 by the City of Trois-Rivières. The sale price was $575,000 ($365,000 cash, $210,000 by 42 monthly payments of $5,000 plus 5% interest calculated and paid monthly). However, the Oblates continue to live on the property and the monthly rent they agreed to pay was equal to the monthly payments the new owners had to pay the Oblates. In effect, the property was sold for only half its market value.

On November 19, 2001, the Sale Agreement of 7525, 7535, 7555, 7595 Parent Boulevard, Trois-Rivières by, "Les Oblates missionnaires de Marie Immaculée" (the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate) to Antonino (aka Tony) Putorti and Mario Desrochers was completed. The deed states that Antonino (Tony) Putorti was married since Sept. 15, 1984 to Lucille Proulx, and that Mario Desrochers was married since May 7, 1983 to Micheline Lecavalier.

The subject property was then leased to the Scientology money-making entity Narconon Trois-Rivières, contravening the sale agreement. The lease agreement was for a period of ten years commencing November 19, 2001 and maturing on October 18, 2011.

On February 2, 2005, Mario Desrochers sold, for $230,000, his 50% share to Lucille Proulx (30%) and Cynthia Putorti (20%). Antonino Putorti ceded 10% to his wife, Lucille Proulx. The proportions of property ownership after this transaction were: Antonino Putorti 40%; Lucille Proulx 40%; Cynthia Putorti 20%.

On February 27, 2007, the subject property was sold by Antonino Putorti, Lucille Proulx, and Cynthia Putorti to Thetasoft Inc., represented by Antonino Putorti, president and secretary, and Lucille Putorti. The sale price was $575,000 ($340,547.45 paid by a May 23, 2006 mortgage, $234,452.55 to be paid by installments interest-free).

On March 6, 2009, a loan in the amount of $1,284,000 was granted by Caisse Desjardins Les Estacades to Thetasoft Inc. (registered as number 1147484001 on Feb. 26, 1998), represented by Antonino Putorti, president and secretary, and Lucille Proulx, shareholder, at 15% annual interest.

Several properties were used as collateral, including the one Narconon Trois-Rivièes leases from Thetasoft. As of July 1, 2008, the City of Trois-Rivières evaluated the subject property for tax purposes at $765,000.

Mr. Antonio Putorti, president of Thetasoft, is no virgin to controversy or to being stained with attempts to bend laws and government regulations. Antonino took over ownership of Golf des Forges in Trois-Rivières on or about February 7, 2007 and ended up in hot water when he introduced as a condition and part of an employment contract that employees accept L. Ron Hubbard Scientology administrative policy. Employees who refused to participate were dismissed and filed complaints followed by out of court settlements.

Executives at Narconon Trois-Rivières and the Church of Scientology in Montreal vehemently deny that Narconon is connected to Scientology in any way whatsoever. On July 13, 2010, Marc Bernard, Narconon director stated to Le Nouvelliste Newspaper, “We are not a religious propaganda centre or whatnot.” Mr. Bernard then admits to using Scientology doctrines at Narconon Trois-Rivières to help employees who are distracted by oppression. He states, “This is when negative things happen to us and this is why the method encourages ‘disconnection’.”

Disconnection strips away a person’s freedom to associate with any friend or family member who speaks against Scientology or Narconon.

In the interview with Le Nouvelliste, Marc Bernard states he has never hidden the fact that the writings of L. Ron Hubbard inspire the method used by Narconon, but without in any way turning Narconon into a religious recruitment centre.

When one weighs the entire Narconon program with the Scientology doctrines and teachings at the Church of Scientology, it is clear that Narconon Trois-Rivières is Scientology in every aspect.

In 2009 Scientology Dianetics books were given to patients by members of the Church of Scientology of Montreal. Scientology videos were brought in to Narconon by ABLE Canada, the entity which charges licence fees to Narconon Trois-Rivières. Scientology anti-pharmaceutical and anti-psychiatry videos were brought in by Scientology church members for Narconon patients to watch in the dining room.

Scientology E-Meters were also at Narconon Trois-Rivières. An E-meter is an electronic device used during Dianetics and Scientology auditing. The Church of Scientology restricts the use of the E-meter to trained Scientologists, treating it as "a religious artifact. At Narconon, one such E-Meter was used on a regular basis by a Case Supervisor in self-auditing sessions and another E-Meter was used by two staff members at the Narconon premises in a Scientology auditing session.

While nearing completion of one patient’s Narconon program, the patient was forced to view a Scientology video in the executive board room with a Narconon Executive present during the viewing.

When some patients complete their Narconon program, cases of Scientology books are given to the graduate. Several cases of these books were readily available to potential recruits.

Clearly, Narconon Trois-Rivières is Scientology with only the corporate entity name that separates the two. Back in 2001 when the Oblates sold the property to Scientologist Antonino (Tony) Putorti, it was easy to disguise Narconon as a simple not-for-profit organization which operated as an addiction treatment facility helping society cure addiction. To the Oblates, this probably seemed like a noble cause and they thus sold the subject property at a reduced price to facilitate charitable work.

The key agreement to the property sale and purchase is;

“The buyer or any tenant or nominee or company that operates within the premises included in the present sale promise to exercise no activity in connection with the Church of Scientology, and this in or on all buildings and/or grounds included in the present sale. They also promise not to sell any of the property acquired by this sale to the Church of Scientology directly or indirectly, under penalty of lawsuit for damages and interest by the seller [the nuns].”

By: David Edgar Love

Documents concerning the sale of property owned by Les Oblates Missionaires de Marie Immaculée (OMMI) to Scientologists and lease of the property to the Scientology front group Narconon Trois-Rivières

On Nov. 19, 2001, OMMI sold their property to two private individuals who are Scientologists, Antonino (Tony)Putortiand Mario Desrochers, at less than market value on the condition that the property not be used for Scientology or sold to Scientology, otherwise the seller (OMMI) can sue the buyers (see below), and with the understanding that the property would be leased for ten years to a non-profit organization called Narconon. These conditions appear to have been violated.
The property has been owned since Feb. 27, 2007 by Thetasoft Inc., which belongs to Antonino (Tony)Putortiand his wife, Lucille Proulx. Incidentally, AntoninoPutortitook over the "Golf des Forges" and imposed Scientology training on the employees, who refused, were dismissed, filed complaints, and settled out of court.

Narconon TR's ten-year lease expires on Oct. 18, 2011.

============

Attachment: 2001-11-20 Vente AL_44_466_312_image_001.pdf

Sale: Nov. 19, 2001

Sale of 7525, 7535, 7555, 7595 Parent Boulevard, Trois-Rivières by "Les Oblates missionnaires de Marie Immaculée" (the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate) to Antonino (aka Tony)Putortiand Mario Desrochers.

Antonino (Tony) Putortimarried since Sept. 15, 1984 to Lucille Proulx, Mario Desrochers married since May 7, 1983 to Micheline Lecavalier.

Special condition 4, page 6-7

L'acheteur aux présentes ou tout locataire ou prête-nom ou compagnie devant agir à l'intérieur des locaux faisant l'objet de la présente vente, s'engage à ne tenir aucune activité en lien avec l'église de scientologie et ce dans tous les bâtiments et/ou sur les terrains faisant l'objet de présente vente et s'engage également à ne pas revendre toutes les propriétés acquises aux présentes à l'église de scientologie de façon directe ou indirecte, sous peine de poursuites en dommages et intérêt par le vendeur aux présentes.

Informal translation: The buyer or any tenant or nominee or company that operates within the premises included in the present sale promise to exercise no activity in connection with the Church of Scientology, and this in or on all buildings and/or grounds included in the present sale. They also promise not to sell any of the property acquired by this sale to the Church of Scientology directly or indirectly, under penalty of lawsuit for damages and interest by the seller [the nuns].

Special condition 8, page 7

Il est à la connaissance du vendeur aux présentes, que l'acheteur louera les locaux faisant l'objet des présentes ou partie de ceux-ci à un organisme connu sous le nom de Narconon, car l'opération de cet organisme doit être une organisation sans but lucratif.

Informal translation: The seller [Ommi] is aware that the buyer will lease the premises included in this sale or part of them to an organization known as Narconon, given that the nature of this organization must be not-for-profit.

As of Aug. 28, 2001, the property was evaluated at $727,000 by the City of Trois-Rivières.

The sale price is $575,000 ($365,000 cash, $210,000 by 42 monthy payments of $5,000 plus 5% interest calculated and paid monthly)

Notary: Nelson Ward

Antonino Putorticeded 10% to his wife, Lucille Proulx.

Proportions of property ownership after this transaction:
Antonino Putorti40%
Lucille Proulx 40%
Cynthia Putorti 20%

Notary: Michel Carrier

============

Attachment: 2005-12-09 Bail AL_12_919_151_image_001.pdf

Notice of ten-year lease (Nov. 19, 2001 - Oct. 18, 2011) by which TonyPutortiand Mario Desrocher rent to Narconon Trois-Rivières 7535, 7535A, 7545, 7555, 7595 Parent Boulevard plus the land and forest behind 7555 and 7595.

Document prepared and signed by Yves Rocheleau, the lawyer who initially represented Narconon against David Love.

============

Attachment: 2006-05-23 Hypothèque 01__AL_13_304_363.htm

$360,000 mortgage granted by Caisse Desjardins Les Estacades to Antonino Putorti, Lucille Proulx, CynthiaPutortiat 15% annual interest. Collateral is the property at 7525-7595 Parent Boulevard for $360,000+$72,000.

Antonino (Tony) Putortimarried since Sept. 15, 1984 to Lucille Proulx
Cynthia Putortinever been married.

Notary: Michel Carrier

============

Attachment: 2007-02-28 Vente 01__AL_14_030_905.htm

Sale: Feb. 27, 2007

Antonio [sic]Putorti, Lucille Proulx, CynthiaPutortisold 7525 - 7595 Parent Boulevard to Thetasoft Inc., represented by AntoninoPutorti, president and secretary, and LucillePutorti.

The sale price is $575,000 ($340,547.45 paid by the May 23, 2006 mortgage, $234,452.55 to be paid by installments interest-free).

Notary: Michel Carrier

============

Attachment: 2007-04-25 Correction 01__AL_14_162_581.htm

Correction of the Feb. 27, 2007 in which Antonino Putortiwas incorrectly identified as "AntonioPutorti".

============

Attachment: 2007-04-25 Hypothèque 01__AL_14_162_580.htm

$195,000 variable credit contract granted by Caisse Desjardins Les Estacades to Thetasoft Inc., represented by Antonino Putorti, president and secretary, and Lucille Proulx, at 15% annual interest.

Collateral is the property at 7525-7595 Parent Boulevard for $195,000+$39,000.

Antonino (Tony)Putortimarried since Sept. 15, 1984 to Lucille Proulx
Cynthia Putortinever been married.

Notary: Michel Carrier

============

Attachment: 2009-03-06 Hypothèque 01__AL_15_996_864.htm

$1,284,000 loan granted by Caisse Desjardins Les Estacades to Thetasoft Inc. (registered as number 1147484001 on Feb. 26, 1998), represented by Antonino Putorti, president and secretary, and Lucille Proulx, shareholder, at 15% annual interest.

Collateral is the properties at:
1600, rue Léger, Trois-Rivières
35 and 37, rue Notre-Dame Est, Trois-Rivières
7525 - 7595, boul. Parent, Trois-Rivières
835 - 845, boul. Des Récollets, Trois-Rivières
858 - 862, 9e Avenue, Shawinigan-Sud
for $1,284,000+$256,800.00

Notary: Hugues Germain
============
Attachment: 2001-07-18 Évaluation – Ville de TR.jpg

The attached screen snapshot shows that, on July 1, 2008, the City of Trois-Rivières officially evaluated the Narconon TR property (7525-7595 Parent Boulevard, parcel number 2555001) for tax purposes at $765,000 ($175,000 for the land, $589,000 for the buildings) and for sale purposes at $787,950. The 2001 deed of sale states that the City of Trois-Rivières evaluated the property at $727,000 as of Aug. 28, 2001 and that the property was sold for $575,000 on Nov. 19, 2001.