One thing that’s consistent about the accounts by former Scientology staffers and Sea Org members is the feeling of being utterly trapped that they describe.
Whether the contract you sign is for five years or for a billion years, you will be working long hours for little or no pay, and getting a day off takes a minor miracle.
We were reminded of this by a reader who responded after we recently posted some recruitment mailers from the Orlando org.
“I found an old CSW that my wife wrote while we were on staff at a Class V Org,” our tipster says.
“CSW” is Hubbard for “completed staff work,” a document that a Scientologist carries around to get approvals from his or her superiors in order to get something done. Or, in this case, to get a rare day off.
Before she could get an opportunity to celebrate a holiday with family, our reader’s wife had to get a CSW signed.
“I think it says a lot when you read between the lines. I can’t believe the amount of family events that she provides examples of missing in an effort to beg her senior to let her travel for July 4th.”
Some information is redacted to protect the identity of our tipster, but we think you’ll get the idea.
Now, imagine living under that kind of control month after month, year after year, and having to keep up the illusion that Scientology is still going gangbusters.
It must be exhausting, right? Tell us about your own attempts to get a day off from the org.
——————–
Leah Remini podcast: Marc Headley
Says Mike: “We welcome back our old friend Marc Headley to talk about Scientology and the internet, including covering the bonkers domain names scientology has registered, and how they have unsuccessfully attempted to control access to information on the World Wide Web.” Listen to the episode right here!
Sign up for a daily email when we post a new story on Scientology.
Did you know you can get an email every morning when we post our daily Scientology story? We know some of the folks who come to the Underground Bunker aren’t here to talk about the politics of the day, and that’s why we created a daily politics feature over at our other blog, The Lowdown, and we ask readers to take their political discussions over there. And if you drop us a line at tonyo94 AT gmail, we’ll put you on the list so you get a morning reminder that a new Scientology story has been posted — and only for our Scientology stories.
——————–
“I had the officers of six other ships in my squadron come aboard, and only one of them stood alongside of me, and the other five were trying to convince me that if I kept this up I was going to get everybody killed. I said, ‘Kept what up?’ ‘You keep attacking these submarines.’ I said, ‘What are we supposed to be doing, gentlemen?’ And they said, ‘Well, every time a submarine shows up, you needn’t signal attack! It’s stupid! You’re going to get somebody hurt!’ I proved to them tactically that if you did not suddenly attack a submarine and if you did retire behind the convoy every time one showed up, you’re going to get yourself killed for sure — for sure! This was not in their level of agreement. They never did get it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 1, 1957
——————–
“You realize, Officers and Crew, if you bring this cruise off splendidly, no port of the entire Med or Continental Europe is closed to us. The enemy anti-ship action will have been totally defeated. Keep that in mind when a little extra zing has to go into the action. It will be a big coup if you bring it off.” — The Commodore, February 1, 1970
——————–
“I got a private message from someone who was from Ron’s Org. He claims he has done superstatic rundown at Ron’s org. I asked him if a being went completely out of the physical universe to a complete void and re-entered the physical universe in another time then what would that be. He said that is superstatic rundown. Able to leave this physical universe and enter into any other time period. It happened to me when the class 8 auditor was doing integrity processing on me and asked me a question that would take me into a past life. The past life of this orb [thetan with a location] I’m running is blank, because this orb was created new right out of the source, like inelia Benz, but the meter was reading an incident on one of my timelines. I had to go out of this physical universe to source and re-enter in my other timelines track to erase the incident.”
——————–
1996: Larry Wollersheim has won his case in the California Appellate Court, in which he charged Scientology under the SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) statute. Scientology posted an official comment on the decision. “The decision by the Second Appellate District Court is an unfortunate example of what Dr. Bryan Wilson of Oxford University in England — who has testified as an expert witness on religions before courts and governments all over the world — described as the ‘pervasive climate of punitive intolerance’ which has impeded attempts by the Church of Scientology to win fair justice in certain courts.”
——————–
“I still keep coming back to the fact that the mind control/brainwashing/undue influence only worked on a very small percentage of those exposed to it. I think that the focus should be on what the 5 percent (or thereabouts) of the exposed population who joined groups like Scientology, the NSDAP or the Khmer Rouge have in common.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for February 8. Trial scheduled for August 29.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference March 25 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for February 11.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Next hearing February 15.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ US Supreme Court denied Valerie’s petition Oct 4.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Scientology has said it will file an anti-SLAPP motion.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for June 28.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 23. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27. Awaiting a ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
——————–
THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Did Tom Mesereau just reveal his strategy for Danny Masterson’s crucial prelim?
[TWO years ago] What are Valerie Haney’s options after Scientology won its arbitration motion?
[THREE years ago] NFL great Marshall Faulk plugs Scientology front group on Fox News
[FOUR years ago] Viewers react to Tampa NBC affiliate saying Scientology is sponsoring Winter Olympics
[FIVE years ago] The odd and slightly troubling thing Elon Musk and L. Ron Hubbard have in common
[SIX years ago] MONIQUE RATHBUN FIRES HER ENTIRE LEGAL TEAM, REPORTEDLY SEEKS SETTLEMENT
[SEVEN years ago] About that Scientology ad you saw on TV before and during the Super Bowl
[EIGHT years ago] Jon Atack takes apart the Scientology E-meter
[NINE years ago] Blogging Dianetics, Part 5: Your Mind is a 1950s Computer
[TEN years ago] The 5 Worst Things Judges Have Said About Scientology
——————–
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 2,562 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,067 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,587 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,607 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,498 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,805 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,673 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,447 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,778 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,251 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,567 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,133 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,052 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,220 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,801 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,062 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,098 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,813 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,338 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 693 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,868 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,419 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,568 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,888 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,743 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,862 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,218 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,521 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,627 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,025 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,901 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,484 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,979 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,233 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,342 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on February 1, 2022 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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, 15 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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
