After ‘Roe,’ can Scientology continue to force Sea Org women into unwanted abortions?

It was a question we heard from a number of our readers and sources after news broke Friday that the US Supreme Court had (as expected) struck down the landmark 1973 opinion Roe v. Wade.

Abortion is no longer federally protected in the United States, and it’s resulted in the procedure being banned immediately in a number of US states, and days of protest across the country. But the question we were hearing from readers was, how will this affect Scientology and its notorious policy of coercing Sea Org women into unwanted abortions?

We thought we’d put that question to two women who understand this situation as well as anyone. Claire Headley and Sunny Pereira were two of the women featured in Tom Tobin’s 2010 Tampa Bay Times investigation, “No Kids Allowed,” which exposed Scientology’s policy.

Both Claire and Sunny were coerced into two abortions each when they were Sea Org officials, having signed billion-year contracts that expected them to be completely dedicated to the organization to the exclusion of all else, including having children.

Tobin’s deeply researched story explains that in the Sea Org marriages are common, even at an early age, but pregnancies are considered a betrayal of the organization. Women are told that they must follow a key dictum from founder L. Ron Hubbard to do the thing that would be “the greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics.” That is, think of the group (the Sea Org) and not themselves. If they insist on having a child, a couple is told they will be shipped to some unproductive church in a distant place. And women are made to feel that they are hurting their male partner’s career. Under this kind of pressure, the women often cave and are then driven to a local clinic.

Tobin also interviewed Gary Morehead — and he has described to us as well — who said that part of his job as head of security at Scientology’s Int Base was to pressure pregnant Sea Org women by assigning them to hard labor until they cracked.

And although Tobin’s article makes it sound like the coerced abortion policy only appeared in 1996, the former Sea Org workers themselves tell us this isn’t the case. Another former Sea Org member, Gary Weber, told us that he was driving a Scientology van that took women to have coerced abortions in the early 1980s. We heard from another woman that she had been pressured to have an abortion in the late 1970s.

“I remember at 10 hearing of a woman who got forced to have an abortion in 1985,” Claire tells us.

As for the present day, one of the most recent defectors from the Sea Org, Bree Mood, who left the organization just four years ago, told Chris Shelton that she had been coerced into having an abortion and that the practice was still in full force.

And just last November, we published photographic evidence that Sea Org women are still being taken by Scientology van to a local clinic in Clearwater for the procedure.

Scientology itself gives no interviews these days, but when Tobin wrote his story then-spokesman Tommy Davis gave the usual denials, but did admit that children are not allowed in the Sea Org.

So, if David Miscavige is still having his Sea Org heavies pressure women into having abortions, how will it be affected by the Supreme Court striking down Roe v Wade?

Not in the slightest, both Claire and Sunny tell us.

“I don’t think it changes anything in the Sea Org,” Sunny says. “Children are considered a distraction from what they’re trying to do in the Sea Org. They will find a way.”

Interviewed separately, Claire used almost the same language.

“It’s not going to result in more births in the Sea Org,” she says. “They’ll find ways around it. If one state won’t do it, they’ll just go to another state.”

Most of Scientology’s Sea Org is concentrated in two places: Los Angeles, California and Clearwater, Florida.

California officials have already indicated that abortion will remain legal in the state and access to it may actually be widened.

Florida is another matter. While abortion remains legal there for now, its conservative governor, Ron DeSantis, has signed a new law that restricts abortion to the first fifteen weeks of pregnancy. The new law immediately faced legal challenges based on Florida’s state constitution which, it turns out, has a pretty unique protection for its citizens.

In 1980, Florida passed a constitutional amendment that protected its citizens “from governmental intrusion into the person’s private life.” This reference to privacy is key, abortion supporters say, and will keep abortion legal in the state, at least for now.

But we asked Claire and Sunny, if DeSantis is successful in restricting abortion in Florida to 15 weeks or even further, what will Scientology do?

“The three people I personally knew who got abortions in the Sea Org were in Los Angeles, New York, and Florida,” Sunny says. “If there’s a problem in Florida, they will send pregnant women to New York or California.”

“They would ship people to wherever they can. That’s why this is just a nightmare from beginning to end,” Claire says, agreeing with Sunny’s statement that the women would be sent to New York or LA.

And as for restrictions on the number of weeks, Claire says, “I knew of a woman who got an abortion when she was six months pregnant.” Under pressure from the church? “Absolutely.”

Five years earlier, that same woman had helped pressure another Sea Org worker to end her pregnancy with an unwanted abortion.

We told Claire that one of the things that puzzled us about the coerced abortions stretching back so far into time, and before David Miscavige took over, was that founder L. Ron Hubbard spoke in critical terms about abortion in his 1950 book Dianetics that started off the Scientology movement.

We told her we found it hard to resolve that under Hubbard then, a policy would develop to pressure women to have abortions.

“That’s resolved by what’s ‘the greatest good for the greatest number of dynamics.’ Obviously the greatest good is to stay in the Sea Org, and kids are a distraction,” she says.

Sunny gave us another example of the policy that we hadn’t heard before. She told us about a Sea Org couple who got pregnant, and when they decided to have the baby, were shipped off to a struggling distant “org” (Scientology’s word for churches). But then, the father was allowed to return to the Sea Org ten years later (and remains in good standing today).

Sunny explained, “They are allowed to come back after the child is old enough to agree to join the Sea Org and sign a billion-year contract. And that is at 10 years of age,” she said, and she noted our astonishment. “Oh, you didn’t know that little asterisk?” she asked.

Scientology, it never fails to shock us.

 
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Technology Cocktail

“THE BEAR GOALS: From about 256 trillion trillion years ago to about 370 trillion trillion years ago the GPMs are the Bear Goals. These use the same pattern, similar amusement park arrangements, the same type of goals as the Gorilla Goals. The only real difference is that instead of a mechanical gorilla a mechanical or live bear was used, and the motion was even more violent. There is, however, a change of pattern in the Bear Goals in that TWO RIs were added. These come as a pair just below “The Vast Value of Goaling.” They are oppterm “Any worries about being or goaling” opposed by terminal “A worried goaler.” Aside from this addition, the pattern is the same as the Gorilla Goals. Mostly raw electric sprays are used in the Bear Goals to drive in the items. The Bear Goals were handled by a group called, I think, ‘The Brothers of the Bear’ and were the ancestors of the Hoipolloi.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1963

 
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Now available: A bonus for our supporters

In order to thank our subscribers for their generosity, we finally decided to put together something that people have been asking us about for a long time: Yes, we recorded the first Underground Bunker podcast this week. It went out Saturday to our paid subscribers, and features the inimitable Marc Headley telling us some great stories about Scientology leader David Miscavige that we had never heard before. Give it a listen!

 
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Source Code

“You’d feel awfully strange if a robot clanked into the room, sat down in the auditing chair and began to pump your hand. As a matter of fact, you’d feel a little queasy. And in view of the fact that this has probably happened quite often on the track, that a robot walked in and started to dismantle you or something of the sort because you’d just had your doll body revoked, you react very badly to something that doesn’t communicate. You probably wouldn’t even object to the robot dismantling your doll body if he came in and said, ‘Well, I got an order here from the general council that you, having been guilty of mopery and dopery in high space, are herewith deprived of one doll body, and we’re going to take it apart and leave it on the bench for seventy-two hours.’ No, that’s what I used to do. This is a different one.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 27, 1961

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“I’ve just had a grand slam across the boards on C/S. With Belkacem auditing most, some by Dusty Rhodes and one by Otto, we really swept it up 100%. Two Very Well Dones and the rest Well Dones. And not easy C/Ses to do either. Boy can we get auditing done. Rest of you students better get going. You’ve got a lot to live up to with the standard now being set.” — The Commodore, June 27, 1969

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“You are a rabble rouser, a trouble maker, you were kicked out of the Church a very long time ago for that reason! That is why you left in the 70’s, your Tech is not even up to date and you never finished the Class VI course, that is why you don’t have a cert to show. You need a serious ethics handling because you have no qualms in lying.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2001: The Oklahoman reported that Narconon is moving its Oklahoma facility from Newkirk to a new location near Canadian, OK. “Narconon is closing its Newkirk branch in favor of combining the entire treatment site at Arrowhead Lodge near Canadian in Pittsburg County. The center is expected to open in the next couple of months. The Narconon Chilocco New Life Center began accepting patients in 1990 under the premise that it didn’t need state certification, since the site near Newkirk was on tribal land. Residents heard stories that the center would have 1,000 beds and that the treatment used was one developed by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. Some residents helped the few clients who wandered into Newkirk wanting to leave Narconon. There were stories about what some thought was an unorthodox treatment using vitamins and saunas. Things have quieted since then in the Kay County community of 2,200 people. The fear that the drug treatment center would become a recruiting machine for Scientology seems to be gone. Although Narconon uses Hubbard’s techniques and received donations from the church, it isn’t and never was intended to be a recruiting tool for the church, said Gary Smith, executive director. ‘Here it’s 11 years later, and we’re still Narconon,’ he said.”

 
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Random Howdy

“You ever get up in front of 6,000 people who want to murder your ass until you prove you’re worthy of their adulation and they are spitting and throwing bottles and everything else they can lay their hands on? Because I have on numerous occasions.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next pretrial conference June 30. Trial scheduled for October 11.
— ‘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: Readiness hearing scheduled for August 22 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for September 19.
— 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] More minor Scientology celebrities making news, and not in a good way
[TWO years ago] The private eye who started out working for Danny Masterson & now may testify against him
[THREE years ago] Tommy Davis is tying the knot in Morocco, and we didn’t get an invite
[FOUR years ago] In the Sea Org, no one can hear you scream: Another small slice of Scientology horror
[FIVE years ago] REPORT: David Miscavige has not been to Scientology’s secretive ‘Int Base’ in four years
[SIX years ago] Leah Remini is shooting a TV series about Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] Did Scientology hire the man sent to prison for hacking us? Not his job to find out, judge said
[EIGHT years ago] Here’s a reminder of Scientology’s Cold War origins — L. Ron Hubbard on radiation!
[NINE years ago] Judge Whittemore Sets Evidentiary Hearing in Garcia Federal Fraud Lawsuit
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s ‘Martin Luther’ Nails Up His Disputation

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 27, 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