Our photographer goes back for more Scientology ‘body routing’ on the streets of LA

 
The anonymous photographer who captured images of Scientology body routers for us recently was shocked by the story we wrote Tuesday. We discovered that one of the people in his photos was Irving Sorrentini, the 68-year-old father who “disconnected” from his daughter Jamie Sorrentini Lugli in 2010.

The last time Jamie had seen her father was in Florida that summer. But because she had developed doubts about the church and went to visit Scientology’s former official, Mark “Marty” Rathbun in Texas, she was labeled an enemy of the organization and her father was forced to cut off all ties from her. He’s never seen her 6-year-old daughter, Veda, and she had lost all track of him. Jamie was stunned to see that our photographer had captured him outside a Los Angeles metro station, working as a “body router.”

That’s Scientology language for the staff members who work city streets looking for new recruits, handing out invitations to see a Scientology movie or take a personality test. Jamie’s father is OT, meaning he’s high on Scientology’s expensive “Bridge to Total Freedom,” but Jamie said she wasn’t entirely surprised to see him working such a basic job for the church. “All he wants to do is Scientology. All he ever wanted was to be on the Bridge all the time, so if he could join staff or the Sea Org and have no other job, he would,” she told us.

Since we posted the photo, she says it’s been a “rough couple of days.”

Inspired by our story, the photographer went back to the sidewalks outside the new San Fernando Valley “Ideal Org” to capture some more images. And what stunned him this time was the badge that one woman was wearing on her staff uniform.

“I thought that ‘body router’ was just informal jargon. They actually officially wear it like a name tag job description?” he asked us. And sure enough, take a look at the badge…

 
“Body Routing I/C Fdn” means that this woman is the “in charge” of the body routing by the “Foundation” — meaning evening shift — of the Valley org. Does anyone recognize her?

Our photographer caught a few images of her working the passersby outside the Valley Org.

 
“I don’t think they like me anymore. One of them went back inside the building, came out, pointed and then fifteen minutes later reinforcements arrived in the form of six body routers all at once,” he says.

 
Hey, don’t let some goon activity scare you away, shutterbug! We hope to see more quality work in the future.

 
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Chris Shelton on Dianetics and Scientology

Says Chris: “I realized I’ve been negligent all these years in not actually giving a broad overview of where Dianetics and Scientology came from. In what order did L. Ron Hubbard came up with the materials and ideas of his destructive cult? In this video, I give a brief overview of the timeline with some commentary on what Scientologists think of this stuff now.”

 
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Bonus items from our tipsters

Ooh, here’s a chance to get into the Fort Harrison Hotel this Saturday. If you’re near Clearwater, put this on your list!

The Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization cordially invites you to its “Historic Building Tour.”

The Historic Building tour takes place at the Landmark Fort Harrison, the international religious retreat of the Church of Scientology’s spiritual headquarters.

During the tour you will see its detailed architectural restoration, well-maintained decor and beautiful furnishings and learn about its history and current community activities.

Tour starts at 1:30 PM, please arrive by 1:15pm

Historic Fort Harrison
210 S. Fort Harrison Ave,
Clearwater, FL 33755

• No cost to attend
• Complimentary valet parking
• Light refreshments served
• Guests are welcome

To participate please contact Amber Skjelset at (727) 467-6966 or amber@cos.flag.org providing first and last names for the guest list.

 
Trish Duggan and her son David are among the wealthy Scientologists enjoying some kind of retreat in Italy this week, which our tipster noted is just about a year after a similar shindig last year.

 
Here’s David Duggan’s charming caption to this view from the Villa D’Este Tivoli near Rome: “Nothing like a lovely afternoon gazing over the peasants”

 
Here’s a teaser from Monday’s 2-hour “Aftermath” special, with that set of six guests we told you about!

 
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Countdown to Denver!

 
HowdyCon 2017: Denver, June 23-25 at the Residence Inn Denver City Center. Go here to start making your plans.

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 25, 2017 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information about the book, and our 2015 book tour, can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts

Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield