We know that if you read this website and watch Leah Remini’s A&E series, sooner or later the advertising algorithms are going to track you down and swamp you with a lot of Scientology propaganda on your social media feeds or in the form of web ads. You might also end up seeing some of Scientology’s smear websites, most of which operate anonymously, but at least one, aimed at Leah’s show, that doesn’t hide that the Church of Scientology itself operates it.
And once you do get hit with all of that Scientology shouting, what you’ll most often hear is that the people who have left the church and spoken out about its abuses are, to the man or woman, a liar.
That’s it. That’s Scientology’s number one assertion. That anyone who has ever had anything critical to say about its practices, its controversies, or its toxic policies, is simply not telling the truth.
We know that for the most part, people see through Scientology’s smears, and we generally ignore them. But every once in a while, we think it’s worth pointing out how dishonest Scientology’s attacks are.
For one thing, it’s important to point out that testimony by former members is only one part of the evidence about Scientology’s abuses, and whether you’re watching an Alex Gibney documentary or reading a book by Steve Cannane or Lawrence Wright, or reading one of our articles, you’re often going to see Scientology’s own films and documents as evidence.
We have a good reminder of that today. We told you Marie Bilheimer’s incredible story in 2016, and she was featured on Scientology and the Aftermath last year. Recently she was doing some cleaning and found this great letter that was sent to her by the church after it decided to kick her out of her job, just two months after her young Sea Org husband, Aaron Poulin, had committed suicide…
FITNESS TURNDOWN CERTIFICATE
MARIE CARROLL (POULIN)A Fitness Board was held to examine the fitness of Marie Carroll Poulin as a Sea Org member. Per HCO PL 28 Nov 70, points B and F and HCO PL 11 Nov 76RB I, STATISTIC CHANGE, HCOs AND QUAL DEFINITIONS, point E, she was found unqualified.
Marie needs to complete the following program before she can apply for employment for staff:
1. Pay freeloader debt in full.
2. Marie is assigned a condition of Doubt and is to complete lower conditions up through Liability under a qualified Ethics Officer.
3. Marie is to re-do the PTS/SP Detection, Routing & Handling Course and the Hubbard Ethics Specialist Course.
4. Test and correct on all prior auditor training though Class IV before being allowed to audit.
5. Train up to Permanent Class VI Auditor and get audited up to OT III.
6. Apply for re-entry.
LRH states in HCO PL 2 Dec 69R, FREELOADERS:
Advertisement“A condition of Doubt is automatically assigned and may not be lifted until the matter has been handled.
“Their certs and awards are suspended.”
FITNESS BOARD CMO IXU
The Bunker: So tell us about this “fitness board.” Why were they judging you?
Marie: It’s a requirement for anyone leaving, no matter the reasons. Mine was held by my two best friends, who were also my roommates. It was super awkward. They meet with you, ask you why you want to leave (or other questions depending on the reason the fitness board was called). In my case my only out-qualification was that I wanted to leave. They also asked what you plan to do when you leave, getting on course, staying connected. I told them I’d probably work for a WISE (Scientologist-owned) company, which I did.
The Bunker: They saddled you with a freeloader debt. How much was it?
Marie: $150,000. I never paid it. I wrote to senior C/S, assuming he would have heard of Aaron’s death, but he hadn’t. (In hindsight he was probably already in the Hole). He had me meet with senior I&R Int who basically asked me what I wanted to do. I told him I didn’t think I should have to pay a freeloader debt, since I left under unusual circumstances. He wiped it clean.
The Bunker: So they gave in pretty easily in your case?
Marie: It was a matter of months I would guess. Maybe a year at the most. The day after I left I called Kirsten at OSA Int wondering when I would go in session because I was in the middle of a NED Assist on Aaron’s death, and she told me it wouldn’t be until I paid off my freeloader debt. I assumed they’d still want me to at least finish that because I still believed they possessed some sort of humanity and compassion.
The Bunker: But again, they were putting you through a fitness board and saddling you with $150,000 debt after your husband had committed suicide.
Marie: Exactly.
The Bunker: And isn’t it interesting, that a letter which shows up years later, happens to document Marie’s story to the letter, and reflects exactly the kinds of things other former Scientologists have said about being kicked out of the church, about the steps they are told they’ll have to go through to get back in good standing, and about being saddled with a freeloader debt.
Funny how the documents that turn up always seem to corroborate exactly what former Scientologists are telling us. It’s almost like they were all telling the truth.
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Watch out for scummy new ops from you know who
We’ve been hearing some things lately that suggest to us that someone — cough, cough — is getting sort of desperate and is putting on some scummier dirty tricks ops than usual. Chris Shelton, for example, shared this ham-handed attempt to spook him, an email which he was good enough to share with us.
It was sent to Chris on January 14, and from “Justin Davies II,” an email address that appears to be bogus.
Chris,
I’m a reporter in Sydney with a few questions, if you don’t mind. Some courthouse observers have said that the Crown Prosecutor in the case has indicated the teen who committed this murder claims he was influenced by your videos and had corresponded with you.
1) Can you discuss the nature of your communications with the assailant? How recent were they?
2) Were you aware of his intentions, and did you encourage him?
3) Do you expect to be charged, and has the Prosecutor reached out to you yet? We’re not getting good answers.
4) Have you hired a barrister yet, and if so, may we speak with him or her?Thanks
We hear that at least one other ‘Aftermath’ participant got a similar message. To the rest, we suggest, keep your guard up.
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Bonus items from our tipsters
Oh joy, dissemination to the little ones…
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Start making your plans!
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology celeb Kerri Kasem marches for religious freedom in Hungary
[TWO years ago] Scientology wastes no time moving on the new president, but where does Trump stand?
[THREE years ago] Whale watching, 2016 edition: Who’s keeping Scientology afloat?
[FOUR years ago] VIDEO LEAK: Another segment from Marty Rathbun’s deposition — his ‘Liability Formula’
[FIVE years ago] Ray Jeffrey on Scientology in the courtroom: ‘Constantly getting tripped up on the facts’
[SIX years ago] SCIENTOLOGY SUED FOR FRAUD OVER REFUND SCHEME, MORE PLAINTIFFS TO COME
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Network TV Ads: More Precious Reactions!
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,338 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,469 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 1,971 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,451 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 514 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 402 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,709 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,577 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,351 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,125 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,471 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,037 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 6,957 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,124 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,705 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,965 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,005 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,717 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,243 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,332 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,472 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,792 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,648 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,767 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,123 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,425 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,531 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,934 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,805 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,388 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,883 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,137 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,246 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on January 23, 2019 at 07:00
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The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
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