We get a lot of inquiries about Scientology here at the Bunker, but this one was different from any that we’d previously received. It’s a delicate situation, and rather than make our own suggestions, we proposed presenting this reader’s questions to our commenting community for feedback. He agreed to that idea.
With the many former Scientologists we have here, and expert counselors and attorneys, we figured some good strategies would emerge. Here’s the conversation we had, only lightly edited for clarity and to remove identifying information…
Reader: My ex-wife is a Scientologist and she is trying to raise my son as one. He’s 4-and-a-half-years-old and she already has him starting the auditing. She’s told him multiple things concerning it and I don’t want those ideas to be stuck in his head. I just want to know if there’s suggestions that you have for deterring him away from it. I’ve Googled everywhere and I can’t really find any message boards or anything relating to this. If I do find one then it doesn’t have any posts newer than a year. Any help would be appreciated.
The Bunker: That’s a tough one. Does she have custody? Do you have an attorney? What’s your agreement with her regarding his schooling?
Reader: We have 50/50 custody, and when I went to court I made sure that he had to get vaccinations and that she couldn’t move him out of [redacted county/state]. With schooling, I’m making sure that he goes to a legit daycare that’s not associated with Scientology in any way. Also, since he’s primarily going to daycare out where I live, I’m planning on putting him in school here as well. She’s been agreeing with most stuff like that because she doesn’t want to go back to court, but I have no clue what’s going on when she has him. He’s the the one who told me about the auditing. And then we looked it up and they have a room specifically for child auditing at [the local org].
The Bunker: In the custody agreement, was there any stipulation made about your son’s “religious” upbringing?
Reader: The custody agreement only has that we have to follow the pediatrician guidelines for vaccinations and anything health-related. He needed speech therapy pretty badly and she didn’t want him to go, but I made sure that was in the agreement. Everything is 50/50. I tried to include the religion, but her lawyers fought against it, and if we kept arguing then the judge would have had us go to a court evaluator and it just would have prolonged everything even more. I’m glad I got what I was able to, though. So legally, I can’t do anything about it, but I don’t know if there are things that I could do at home to try and steer him away from it.
The Bunker: That’s a tough one. Should we write a story about it and get suggestions from the many ex-members among our readers? We could leave out any identifying information, but the church might still guess who is asking about their four-year-old.
Reader: I want to do whatever works. I’m just at a loss as to where to go from here. Her mom used to be an auditor, and now she got a promotion to something else. Her sister is one of those people who live at one of the churches and do whatever they tell her to. I don’t want my son to grow up and have that happen to him. When my current wife and I mention anything Scientology-related, my son says something. And that’s how we found out about the auditing being done to him. Leaving out the identifying information is fine. Whatever help I can get is great.
The Bunker: So what advice do our former church members have for this father who wants to keep his son from adopting the Hubbard way of thinking?
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HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles
THURSDAY NIGHT OPPORTUNITY: This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. But we also want to point out that Cathy Schenkelberg’s “Squeeze My Cans” will be running at the Hollywood Fringe, and we encourage HowdyCon attendees to see her show on Thursday night, June 20. Tickets and more dates available here.
Friday night June 21 we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.
On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.
HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22. Note: You need to ask for the “family reunion” special rate.
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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] The US government continues to fret over how other countries treat Scientology
[TWO years ago] Scientology to federal court: A judge calling our members directly? Are you nuts?
[THREE years ago] ‘Ross & Carrie’ conclude their Scientology investigation by calling it ‘ridiculously creepy’
[FOUR years ago] Scientology routed: What the national press hasn’t figured out about the Trout Run defeat
[FIVE years ago] Federal judge again declines to intervene for Ken Dandar, but leaves a door open
[SIX years ago] L. Ron Hubbard Intends to Rid You Of a 43-Trillion-Year-Old Implant. What Was That Like?
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Wins a Major Award Again! Galaxy Press Vindicated!
[EIGHT years ago] Jan Eastgate, Scientology Official, Arrested in Australia for Covering Up Sexual Abuse Claims
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,466 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,595 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,099 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,619 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 639 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 530 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,837 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,705 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,479 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,253 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,599 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,165 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,085 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,252 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,833 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,094 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,133 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,845 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,371 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,460 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,600 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,920 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,776 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,895 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,251 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,553 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,659 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,061 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,933 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,516 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,011 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,265 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,374 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 3, 2019 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post 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 new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, 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 can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
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)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | 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 | 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 | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
