How I know your Scientology files weren’t confidential: It was my job to dig through them

I was called to the Bosun’s office with no explanation. It wasn’t the first time, and certainly wouldn’t be the last time either.

Nobody in the Sea Org is really required to explain themselves. So I ran through the tunnels as fast as I could, because I was being summoned. It could be for something really really bad, or nothing at all. We never knew until we got there. We just ran.

In the late 1980s, my brother and I were both on the adult RPF, the Sea Org’s prison program, the Rehabilitation Project Force. “Your brother has blown,” the Bosun said, “I need you to locate him since you know better than anyone else where he might go.

He was blown.

A “blow” in Scientology is the unauthorized departure of a person (AWOL). This story is about blows from the Sea Org, and how Sea Org members are used to get the person to return.

Sea Org members sign billion-year contracts, committing themselves to the goals of Scientology and the Sea Org, no matter what it takes. It is a huge commitment that is hard to break, on many levels.

Some who try to leave the proper way (telling the “correct” person in the org that they want out), end up in months or years long “handlings” to stay. So some chose to leave without permission.

I knew my brother and his “twin,” his partner in the RPF buddy system, were having a huge amount of trouble. So my brother had had enough. I guessed he just needed to get away for a while.

But I knew where he went immediately. It was early in the morning, and I spent all day looking everywhere except where I knew he was. I knew he needed a break for a day. At the end of the day, I went to where I knew he was. As soon as he saw me, he got up and came back. I was deeply sorry to have done that to him. He was clearly miserable in the Sea Org and did not want to be there.

That was the first time I had to help Scientology and the Sea Org because someone had blown, but many times afterwards it became my duty to help recover blows.

I feel horrible for my involvement in this, and many other things I did while in the Sea Org. Everyone including Sea Org members should have a right to their own decisions and choices and not be forced or coerced to change their minds. And yet for me, and others, it was our full time job to “retain” people in the Sea Org. How?

In later years, the “blow drill” was in full effect. It consisted of having other staff members go out to train stations, airports, bus stations, and other places to search for the missing person. Also, there was always someone in the Sea Org who was a travel agent who could look up information to see if any flights or other transportation were booked and meet that person and get them to come back. When Pat Gualteri blew while on the RPF, there was an all out search and recovery to find him, probably because he was a higher value target such as those who had too much information. Pat was a well-known event planner and Vietnam Vet who was considered an asset to the public side of Scientology

He disappeared in the early afternoon one day and a crew of 25 people were sent to find him at bus stops and train stations and airports. Pat knew this and had arranged several changes in his transport (bus to train to car, etc). Because of Scientology’s long reach, he was still located despite his best efforts.

But what if the person did not want to come back?

That’s where I came in. I was not part of the physical recovery team, but the behind-the-scenes person. I was a “Case Supervisor” who pored through all of the person’s files to determine why anyone would want to leave. We would look for things they felt were unheard, or unacknowledged, such as upsets or transgressions. I would list this out to be used by the team, to talk them into chilling out and wanting to come back and leave properly.

So everything compiled from all of the confidential files get used to persuade them to come back and fix things. This list, or record, ends up wherever is nearest to the person being recovered. These are often priest/penitent privileged files, and notes from them just float around. Or come back and leave the proper way (which takes months of interrogations and isolation as well).

In March, Tony wrote about Scientology’s lawyer Eric Lieberman claiming in an academic book that although a Scientologist’s files are viewed by more than one person, they are still absolutely confidential, and so Scientology deserves the same legal protections that other churches do. What he left out was that those multiple people might be looking through a file in order to track down people who had escaped, and information would then be shared to many other people who normally wouldn’t have access to the file.

Very often a person who has blown could be persuaded to return and leave the Sea Org through the interrogations, because that way they would still be able to be in touch with other friends and family in Scientology and the Sea Org. If they did not return and ended up SP declared, they would be essentially shunned by all Scientology and Sea Org.

Of course we all believed that the only reason anyone left was because of their own transgressions against the group, but we didn’t mention that until we had them back on property and isolated so they would not affect other staff with their disaffection. As soon as they were back, they were under 24 hours watch and interrogated for their “sins.” And those interrogations could go on for months and months until the person gave in and wanted to stay. If Hubbard said something was truth, then it was truth. So interrogations happened until the person no longer wanted to leave.

There are many who have been interrogated multiple times because they blew. There has been no accountability from Scientology for inhumane treatment, because the belief is everything is the fault of the person who tried to leave.

In the long run, the best way out of the Sea Org or Scientology is to blow. You will get declared suppressive, but then you will know what true freedom really feels like.

— Sunny Pereira

 
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Source Code

“There are lines of force in a galaxy. And these cookies had actually found how to detach matter along a line of force. And so they’d set a Magellanic Cloud loose along one of these lines of force and it would swing out of balance and move on out and engulf a system, and then swinging out further would engulf another system, and would spend an awful long time hanging around the system as it went by, you see? And frankly, these clouds would get to systems which they didn’t come near for maybe thousands and thousands of years. They didn’t direct these clouds intimately, they just set them loose and they would drift out through space. And these wise professors — I’ve never trusted a professor since — would sit around stroking their diplomas saying, ‘Well, this is the natural consequences of the disintegration of a galaxy. A certain period in the life of a galaxy, the Magellanic radioactive masses at the interior of the hub begin to disperse themselves out toward the rim. And this is known as the Keplin-Spreplin law and the Booplum-Booplin law, and the calculations are M to the gup-gup squared or the rippety-rip-bop to the tenth power.’” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 23, 1963

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“Psychology and psychiatry have been traced as the direct authors of Fascism and today propound the Fascist message of violence and death across the world. This tangled web is being laid out like a carpet from documents being unearthed from the Nuremberg trials of war criminals and other sources. We always knew they were bad. We did not know Psychologists and Psychiatrists were the men behind Hitler and the gas chambers. By documents unearthed there is no difference whatever between psychiatric doctrine now being voiced in the East and West and Nazi doctrines so abhorred by all the world. ‘Racial Purity,’ ‘eradicated minorities,’ ‘genes,’ the lot. So it all begins to fit into a pattern. We had to be fought, for the appearance of real mental tech on the planet spelled the end of Fascist usage of false mental tech to politically dominate the world. Until we came along they were winning very nicely. So that’s one reason it’s so important to establish Scientology in Europe and England. And we’re making it.” — The Commodore, May 23, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“LRH was a high volume thetan. My personal opinion was that he was probably controlling two bodies at once – Cecil Rhodes and Mark Twain. The similarities between Twain and Hubbard are rather amazing.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2001: The trial of Jesse Prince, accused of growing marijuana at his home in Largo, Florida was held this week. The jury could not reach a verdict, and the prosecutor has decided not to re-try the case. The Tampa Tribune reported that Scientology’s private investigators were involved in the investigation. “For months, a high-profile attorney for a prominent critic of the Church of Scientology has tried to show the church is behind a minor drug charge against his client. Now, on the eve of Jesse Prince’s trial on a misdemeanor charge of growing marijuana, defense lawyer Denis deVlaming has hit what he considers pay dirt. Largo police Sgt. Howard Crosby testified he quickly learned of the church’s involvement after a private detective accused Prince of being a marijuana and cocaine dealer. ‘From Day One, when they told me who these people were that were involved and what’s going on, I just wanted to get rid of this case as quickly as possible,’ Crosby said. After Prince’s August 2000 arrest on the misdemeanor cultivation charge, the private detective suggested additional charges of sale or possession of drugs within 1,000 feet of a school, because a school was near Prince’s home, and child abuse, because two children lived in the home, Crosby said. ‘And I said, a marijuana plant on the back porch? I’m not going to go there.'”

 
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Random Howdy

“I love churches, cathedrals, mosques and I’ve visited more than few of them. I just don’t like what’s being taught in a lot of them.”

Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next pretrial conference May 31. Trial scheduled for August 29.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for June 2.
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.

Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court.
— 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.’ Valerie’s motion for reconsideration denied on March 15.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Next hearing scheduled for June 29.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior 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.

 
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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.

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] How Scientology can make a tragedy worse, and then even worse again
[TWO years ago] AUDIO: Scientology recruiter says wrecked families small price for salvaged planet
[THREE years ago] Scientology tries stealthy opening of new drug rehab in Canada and gets stuffed
[FOUR years ago] Scientology asks court to freeze Laura D’s forced-abortion case for a long-shot appeal
[FIVE years ago] When a Scientology ‘body-router’ turns out to be the father you haven’t seen in 7 years[SIX years ago] Scientology’s newest attack on Ron Miscavige: Could his son David be any whinier?
[SEVEN years ago] Jon Atack: Stop making excuses for L. Ron Hubbard and the Snow White Program!
[EIGHT years ago] Richard Teague speaks out after his horrific ordeal at a Scientology rehab center
[NINE years ago] A Womb With a View: More Dianetics Just-So Stories

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 23, 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