In the words of L. Ron Hubbard himself, the goals of Scientology are: “a civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper, and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights.” (See What Is Scientology?)
As the objective for the individual, Scientology pursues the salvation of man, his spiritual liberation and the freedom of the barriers which existence has been imposing on him. But no man can be free without the society also being free. The search for responsibility is the main road through which Scientologists seek their freedom; responsibility which requires bettering our life and that of our fellow man before reaching superior goals.
Goals of such breadth could not be reached solely through pastoral work carried out by the followers. For that reason, the Church of Scientology International created different groups or associations which carry out social campaigns dedicated to those purposes. One of them is ABLE (Association for Better Living and Education) which sponsors several programs of help in the community: Narconon, which delivers services of prevention and rehabilitation in the field of drugs; Criminon, which has programs in various countries to educate and rehabilitate criminals; Applied Scholastics, which conducts education and literacy campaigns in disadvantaged areas and neighborhoods; and the Way to Happiness Foundation, which is based on the book of the same title by L. Ron Hubbard and develops campaigns with children and adolescents to reestablish codes of conduct which help the community, such as programs for the protection of the environment, study programs, civil assistance programs, etc.
Another important group created by the Church of Scientology is the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, which has received international awards for its investigations and exposés carried out in the field of mental health.
Of special importance is the Volunteer Ministers Corps, formed by Scientologists around the world, who work together with experts and authorities in cases of accidents, natural disasters or tragic events in which help is needed. These volunteers are perfectly trained to give solace and first aid to people while the medical corps and civil defense workers take action.
