"'Sec Checking,' 'Integrity Processing' and 'Confessionals' are all the exact same procedure and any materials on these subjects is interchangeable under these titles." (HCOB 24 Jan 1977 Tech Correction Round-Up)
A Confessional must be done only by a well trained auditor, skilled in TRs, basic auditing and metering, who can make a prepared list read, and who has been fully checked out and drilled on these techniques.
As an auditing action it is done in model session with Rudiments in.
Every reading question of an Integrity Processing Form is F/Ned. The actual form question must be taken to F/N, not some other question.
Here is the basic procedure for a Confessional.
1. Set up the room, chairs, table, etc., as you would for any auditing session with all admin to hand, worksheet paper, questions you will use, etc.
2. Make sure your pc's hands are not too dry or moist, the cans are the correct size and the pc knows how to hold them. Ref. False TA HCO Bs.
3. Start the Confessional. Model Session is used. If TA high or low do not try to fly a Rud but do a C/S Series 53RK (SF), assess and handle. If you are not trained in doing a C/S Series 53, end off for C/S instruction.
4. Put in any needed R-Factor on doing the Confessional. Briefly explain the meter and the procedure to the person if they are not already known to him or her. Explain why the person is being given a Confessional and that the information given will not necessarily be kept confidential unless it is a Scientology Confessional done in session.
"The term 'I am not auditing you' only occurs when a Confessional is done for justice reasons. Otherwise the procedure is the same. " (LRH)
All worksheets are routed to Tech Services so they can be included in the person's folder. (Ref. HCOB 28 Oct 1976 Auditing Folders, Omissions In Completeness.)
A Confessional is not auditing and the data uncovered is not withheld from the proper authorities. The Scientology Confessional is auditing and is kept confidential.
By F/Ning each question that reads, and by the use of Examiner and Review, there is a great deal of case gain in a Confessional. It permits the person to again feel a part of his group
5. Clear the procedure and the use of the buttons "suppress" and "false" etc. If necessary as an example run a non-significant question to demonstrate the procedure (e.g. Have you ever eaten an apple?).
6. Take up the first question and clear the words backwards, then the full command noting any read while clearing, which is valid. See BTB 2 May 72R, "Clearing Commands", and HCO B 28 Feb 71, C/S Series 24, "Metering Reading Items". Then, as needed, groove in the question further by asking for the time period the question would cover, the activities and people that would be involved, etc. This will steer the pc to the area and bring it into view.
7. With good TR 1 give the pc the first question, keeping an eye on the meter and noting any instant read. Even the smallest change of characteristic is checked in Integrity Processing and that question taken up if it develops into an "SF", "F", "LF" or "LFBD".
8. Take up each reading question getting the who, what, when and where of every overt, going earlier similar to F/N. Get specifics, not general or vague answers. For Security Investigation purposes, get all the exact details of names, dates, addresses, phone numbers, any other information that might be helpful in investigating the case further. If the person gives off another's overt, ask him if he ever did something like that. You want what the person has done.
"Some people you have to ask exact questions. If your Questions is even faintly off they F/N. Low responsibility of pc does this. " (LRH)
A Confessional is not a rote procedure. Your job is to get the data and help the pc. Sometimes you will be thrown curves or may encounter attempts to be led off in the wrong direction. This is simply a sure indicator the subject is withholding and that the withhold is in restimulation. "One has to ignore the volunteer misdirections of the pc as the pc is of course misdirecting, and simply get the read E/Sed or the W/H F/Ned. " (LRH) You must use your tools as given in LRH materials and Tape Demonstrations since 1961.
9. Take the original reading question to F/N. Not some other question. Always repeat the original question as part of the earlier similar command to keep the pc on that question.
"You don't ask the question again after an F/N. It would ruin someone. " (LRH)
10. If the question does not read and does not F/N put in Suppress on the question (and if necessary Invalidate, Abandoned, Not-Is, etc.) asking, "On the question ______ has anything been suppressed?" and noting any instant read. If Suppress (or one of the other buttons read) has read it means the read has transferred from the question to the button, so take up the question as in 8 above to F/N. If there is no read on the buttons the question should just F/N. After the question is taken to F/N there is no need to then check Suppress. Just go on to the next question.
11. If the pc gets critical realize you have missed a withhold and pull the MWH.
12. "One must always report a Rockslam in the Auditing Report, note it with session date and page inside the left cover of the pc's folder and report it to ethics including the question or subject which rockslammed, phrased exactly. " (HCOB 10 Aug 76, R/Ses, What They Mean.)
As a R/S is probably the single most important and dangerous read on the meter, it is important that they are carefully noted when doing a Confessional.
"For a pc to be branded as an R/Ser is a very serious thing. Also for a real R/Ser to be overlooked by an auditor is a catastrophe both the pc and to those around that particular person. " (Ref: HCOB 24 Jan 77 Tech Correction Round-Up.)
13. "If you want a pc to stop fiddling with the cans you make them put their hands on the table and keep them there. " (LRH)
14. HCO or Executives may request a Confessional be done but neither Tech nor Qual are bound by such requests as an FES could reveal that the trouble stems from "out lists" or other matters needing correction. They should however take cognizance of such requests and do all possible to get the person handled.
15. If a reading question does not go to F/N and bogs or the TA goes high, take up an LCRA (Confessional Repair List, BTB 8 Dec 72RB), assess and handle per instructions.
16. Examiner. All Integrity Processing sessions must be followed immediately by a standard pc examination.
"The C/S looks for any non sequitur F/N on some other subject. It's the primary thing he inspects.
"If a person falls on his head after a session on this, an LCRA is given. However, an FES to find missing questions that F/Ned on something else is done. " (LRH) Standard C/S rules apply to Confessionals.
17. On any Bad Exam Report (non-F/N, BIs or non-optimum statement) after a Confessional, or on any pc who gets sick or upset or does not do well or has a high or low TA, give an LCRA as the next action.
The 24 Hour Red Tag Rule must be strictly enforced.
A poor or comm lag TR 2, hidden from the view of the C/S, can also mess up a pc on a Confessional. It invalidates his answers and makes him feel he hasn't gotten it off. If suspected this could be checked by DofP Interview or pc to Exams: "What did the 'auditor' do?"
"A wrong or challenging auditor attitude can throw the scene off as there is a destroyed comm cycle. " (LRH)
Anyone doing a Confessional should be fully trained and interned by doing a course and internship in the handling of Confessionals.
"…you had better determine to become an expert in it, since an auditor's inability to handle this is a fast route to 'how to win enemies and wrongly influence people'." (HCOB 24 Jan 77 Tech Correction Round-Up.)
[This bulletin can be compared to BTB 5 Dec 72RA Procedure, Integrity Processing Series 2RA]