In 2011 we spent the month of August counting down a list of the “Top 25 People Crippling Scientology.” Nine years later, Scientology is still hurting, but church leader David Miscavige learned long ago that paid membership was only one resource that kept him in business. He also relies on a small army of enablers, some paid, some not, who help him stay in business even though they aren’t Scientologists themselves. So we thought we’d recognize them with this countdown.
For a few years now, we have been trying to warn parents with toddlers that if they subscribe to the educational software service ABCMouse, they are helping make one of Scientology’s biggest donors wealthy enough to give the church huge amounts of money.
ABCMouse is run by a company called Age of Learning, which is the brainchild of a man named Doug Dohring. Previously, he had made a fortune on the 1990s hit Neopets.
And we want to be clear about this because it always comes up: No, there is no Scientology content in either Neopets or ABCMouse.
However, Neopets and ABCMouse have made Dohring fabulously wealthy, and he’s showered that money on Scientology.
In October 2017, Dohring and his wife Laurie were photographed with their latest trophy at the International Association of Scientologists gala in East Grinstead, England, where they had reached the status of “Patron Excalibur” for cumulative donations of about $20 million.
Yes $20 million just to the IAS, not counting other donations the couple has given for other Scientology initiatives.
People often ask us how Scientology has so much money when its membership has been shrinking for decades and today probably numbers fewer than 20,000 people worldwide. It’s the Dohrings that are part of the answer. With no taxes to pay, and workers getting pennies an hour when they’re paid at all, Scientology is able to amass huge sums because it has many wealthy donors who turn over millions. And the Dohrings are near the top of the list, thanks to ABCMouse.
There’s just no question: When you give Age of Learning your ten bucks a month, you’re enabling one of Scientology’s biggest moneybags, and Scientology itself.
You’re also helping Scientology if you give money to other big church donors. If you’re actually paying Grant Cardone money to teach you how to be rich, it’s bad enough that you’re that much of a dumbass, but you’re also helping Scientology’s professional ham hock fork over millions to David Miscavige.
You should also be aware that you’re helping out Scientology if you use the Atkinson-Baker court reporting service, which is owned by wealthy IAS donors Sheila and Alan Atkinson-Baker.
The Atkinson-Bakers are also actively helping out with a case of disconnection, keeping their daughter-in-law, Spring, from her father, Brian Sheen.
How many judges have any idea that the court reporting in their cases is helping to prop up a totalitarian organization that rips apart families?
The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology
3: The judges
4: The LAPD
5: The dirty tricks private eyes
6: The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
7: The litigators
8: The ghost private eyes
9: The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office
10: Political shills
11: Gary Soter
12: The city of Clearwater, Florida
13: Google and other tech titans
14: The Los Angeles Times
16: James Packer
17: Louis Farrakhan
18: Mark “Marty” Rathbun
19: Wally Pope
20: Gensler
21: Parents who subscribe to ABCMouse
22: Graham Norton and other celebrity strokers
23: The apologist academics
24: Rebecca Dobkin and other low-level PI grunts
25: DirecTV and filmmakers buffing Dave’s channel
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Joy Villa gets around
News broke yesterday that Steve Bannon has been indicted along with three others on federal fraud charges in connection with a border wall fundraising organization. Bannon is accused of misusing money that was raised to pay for border wall construction at events like one that was held at the Cobo Center in Detroit.
We only mention it because we thought you’d like to know who sang the national anthem that night. (And thank you to Jeffrey Augustine for finding this snapshot.)
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“This quarter of the universe, by the way, is suffering from an overdose lousy civilization. See, that’s what it’s suffering from. It apparently has been recently conquered in recent times (in the last few hundred thousand years) but those who were conquered had already been — their governmental action had already been set up for their own failure, see? They’d been set up be conquered by using, themselves, mental technology which made slaves. They implanted their own troops. Oh-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho,
ah-ah-ah-ah-a ah-ah-ah.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 21, 1963
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“Justin Craig has initiated from the start a black PR campaign against Captain Bill Robertson’s tech and as such is expected to be an OSA operative at the service of David Miscavige and should be investigated fully.”
“It was speed which was readily available back in his day. When Hubbard talks about ‘Pinks & Grays’ he’s most likely talking about Dexedrine and Phenobarbital or Librium.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021. Plaintiffs granted permission to file changes to amended complaint by Sept 4.
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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] Has Scientology’s leader David Miscavige gone underground in the face of a legal onslaught?
[TWO years ago] See the Scientology-like ad for Scientologist-owned ABCMouse, made by Scientologists!
[THREE years ago] DOX: The full FBI file from its 2009-2010 human trafficking investigation of Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Who are the clergy Scientology convinces to attend its ‘interfaith’ farces?
[FIVE years ago] VIDEO: Scientology rehab salesmen — Just exactly the humanitarians you imagined
[SIX years ago] Jon Atack: The games L. Ron Hubbard played
[SEVEN years ago] MONIQUE RATHBUN FILES SUIT AGAINST SCIENTOLOGY OVER HARASSMENT
[EIGHT years ago] ISABELLA CRUISE CONSIDERS JOINING SCIENTOLOGY’S ‘SEA ORG’ AFTER BOYFRIEND SIGNS UP
[NINE years ago] Scientology Surf Report: Making Waves at the New York ‘Org’
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,036 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,540 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,060 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,080 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 971 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,278 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,146 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,920 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,724 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,040 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,606 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,525 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,693 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,274 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,535 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,573 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,286 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,811 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,341 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,901 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,041 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,361 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,216 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,335 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,691 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,994 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,100 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,502 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,374 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,957 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,452 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,706 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,815 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 21, 2020 at 06:00
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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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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
