Wow, we didn’t expect to see these photos from Scientology this soon. We’re talking about the whales — what we call the big donors — that Scientology recognized on Saturday, November 4 at the IAS gala under the big tent at Saint Hill Manor in East Grinstead, England.
Scientology’s Impact magazine has helpfully collected the photos and labeled the whales for their “statuses,” which are the cute labels like “Gold Meritorious” and “Patron Laureate” that they bestow on these richies, depending on how much money they’ve turned over.
Before we show you the list, it’s really important to keep in mind that these are cumulative amounts given just to one Scientology initiative, the International Association of Scientologists, the church’s membership organization (and leader David Miscavige’s legal slush fund). Someone credited for giving $1 million, for example, may have given only a few thousand in recent months that enabled them to get past that plateau. (For an explanation of how we know what amounts the statuses represent or the estimates we’ve made for some of them, see our methodology here.)
We can tell you that never, in the many years we’ve been keeping track of these whales, have we ever seen this many recognized at a single event. Somehow, with all of the challenges that post-pandemic Scientology faces, church leader David Miscavige is convincing more wealthy members than ever to turn over huge sums.
OK, here we go. There are so many, we are only showing you the people who were recognized for donating at least a million dollars (Gold Meritorious).
(And please note, this post is waaaaay too long for email. Please go to tonyortega.substack.com to see the whole enchilada.)
Trish & Diana Duggan and Family, Platinum Patron of Legend, $300+ million
“I’m so excited for the future! If you think of what we’ve done in the past since we’ve been here, what do you think about the future? Oh my God! I’m just so thrilled. It’s really amazing.”
Tom & Victoria Cummins; Pietrasanta, Italy and Florida; Patron Invictus, $50 million
“We are back! It was incredible. It was epic. All the expansion and everything we have going on — phenomenal.”
[Not pictured: The Hechtman Family, Patron Excalibur With Honors, $21 million]
Alan & Sheila Atkinson-Baker, Florida, Patron Excalibur, $20 million
“There has been so much expansion. We are winning and creating a great future!”
Jim Bridgeforth; Pietrasanta, Italy; Diamond Laureate With Honors, $17.5 million
[Not pictured: Grant & Elena Cardone, Diamond Laureate, $15 million]
Steve Fabos & Peggy Oppenheim Fabos, Colorado, Platinum Laureate With Honors, $13.5 million
[Not pictured: Kurt & Jenny Listug, Platinum Laureate, $12 million]
The Agami Family, Florida and Mexico City, Patron Laureate With Honors, $11 million
Joyce Gaines, California, Diamond Meritorious With Honors, $7.5 million
Hans-Peter & Rita Fischer; Karlsruhe, Germany; Diamond Meritorious With Honors, $7.5 million
Kendrick & Aaradona Walker and Family, California, Diamond Meritorious, $5 million
Osman Ozsan, Florida, Diamond Meritorious, $5 million
Buz & Claire Taylor, North Carolina, Diamond Meritorious, $5 million
Dave & Liz Rolfe, California, Platinum Meritorious With Honors, $3.75 million
[Not pictured: Shahab & Catherine Emrani, Platinum Meritorious With Honors, $3.75 million]
[Not pictured: The Lonstein Family, Platinum Meritorious With Honors, $3.75 million]
Bob & Jeni Walker and Family, Minnesota, Platinum Meritorious, $2.5 million
The Kindlimann-Stäubli Family; Pfyn, Switzerland; Platinum Meritorious, $2.5 million
Fabrizio & Sonia Zampetti and Family, Milano, Platinum Meritorious, $2.5 million
Dominique & Laurence Dambrin and Family, Paris, Platinum Meritorious, $2.5 million
Manuel & Gaby Suarez and Family, Florida, Platinum Meritorious, $2.5 million
[Not pictured: The Klevit Family, Platinum Meritorious, $2.5 million]
[Not pictured: The Malin Family, Platinum Meritorious, $2.5 million]
[Not pictured: The Paine-Freihoff Family, Platinum Meritorious, $2.5 million]
Vineet Sidhu, Ottawa, Gold Meritorious With Honors, $1.75 million
Akio, Yuko & Yuki Kitaura, Tokyo, Gold Meritorious With Honors, $1.75 million
Cindy Hall, Nevada, Gold Meritorious With Honors, $1.75 million
Stuart & Vicky Guy and Family, Florida and England, Gold Meritorious With Honors, $1.75 million
Byrd & Hildegard Jessup, Texas, Gold Meritorious With Honors, $1.75 million
Aaron & Whitney Cordovez and Family, Florida, Gold Meritorious With Honors, $1.75 million
Chieko Mabe, Tokyo, Gold Meritorious With Honors, $1.75 million
Mark & Donna Isham, California, Gold Meritorious With Honors, $1.75 million
The Roeder Family; Wetzlar, Germany; Gold Meritorious With Honors, $1.75 million
Dr. Harry Wong & Alexa Alborzi, California, Gold Meritorious With Honors, $1.75 million
[Not pictured: The Peens Family, Gold Meritorious With Honors, $1.75 million]
[Not pictured: Cathilea & Henry Robinett and Family, Gold Meritorious With Honors, $1.75 million]
Jozsef Buza; Szekesfehervar, Hungary; Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Dylan Gaines, California, Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Stephan & Kathrin Streicher; Basel, Switzerland; Gold Meritorious, $1 million
The Malama Family, Athens, Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Earl Wertheim, Florida, Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Ira Finkelstein & Lisa Germano, Oregon, Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Assaff & Narayanee Rawner and Family; East Grinstead, England; Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Hans Kellerer; East Grinstead, England; Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Daniel & Honor Duggan, Florida, Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Eva Scott, Mississippi, Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Heiko & Diana Paul and Family; Hamburg, Germany; Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Chris & Kendra Gaines and Family, Texas, Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Fabio & Elena Serena Rizzo; Parma, Italy; Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Andre Adair, California, Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Jeff & Kelley Pomerantz, California, Gold Meritorious, $1 million
Serge & Karen Ramelli, Florida, Gold Meritorious, $1 million
The Lima Family, Panama City, Gold Meritorious, $1 million
[Not pictured: The Chauchet Family, Gold Meritorious, $1 million]
[Not pictured: The Dobbin Family, Gold Meritorious, $1 million]
[Not pictured: Anica Kath & Martin Soler and Family, Gold Meritorious, $1 million]
[Not pictured: Bolke Koster & Jeanine Robles, Gold Meritorious, $1 million]
[Not pictured: Laura & Todd Zaspel, Gold Meritorious, $1 million]
Also, 13 families at Silver Meritorious With Honors, $750,000
14 families at Silver Meritorious, $500,000
23 families at Patron Meritorious, $250,000 (including Vick Tipnes)
59 families at Patron with Honors, $100,000
and 74 families at Patron, $50,000
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Continuing our year in review: The stories of April 2023
No April Fool, we actually did start off the month by inviting John Sweeney onto the podcast. What a treat.
Tracey McManus had another startling scoop at the Tampa Bay Times. She outed developer Rodney Riley as Scientology’s shill, operating in the church’s interest to head a large project in the north marina area of Scientology. Mark Bunker helped us understand the weird ramifications of it.
A reader gave us an eyewitness account of David Miscavige’s LRH Birthday Event speech, and nailed the correct four Ideal Orgs coming: Austin, Chicago, Mexico City, and Paris.
The retired NYPD detective who stalked Leah Remini for Scientology, Yanti Michael Greene, tries to haul us into court. He fails.
An intriguing mystery appears: It turns out that Scientology had quietly paid $13.5 million for a former church just a few blocks away from its Big Blue campus in Hollywood. But why? We’re still waiting to see what they do with this new acquisition.
A new book, The Bad Cadet, describes what it’s like to grow up in Scientology’s bizarre paramilitary culture.
On April 17, jury selection begins in the Danny Masterson retrial, and we’re in the courtroom serving as pool reporter. Here we go!
The next day, based on what we overheard in court, we reported that a grand jury is still looking into Scientology, five years after it began. When are we going to see some indictments?
With a jury seated, we took a bike ride out to Scientology’s Valley Org to crash the fundraising party there, and spotted one of the major whales!
Opening statements in the trial began on April 24, and we also got the first witness, Jane Doe 3, who had gone second the last time. Her cross-examination begins on April 26. Two days later, it was Jane Doe 1’s turn to begin her testimony.
And on the last day of the month, David Miscavige turned 63. Hip, hip, hooray!
A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2022: Scientology frightened the folks at Emory University into removing a video presentation they’d invited us to do. YouTube chiropractor Dr. Eric Berg was sued for forcing Scientology on an employee, and after we told his son Ian Rafalko about it, Berg threw in the towel. Scientologist actor Eddie Deezen was arrested again, and was being held on a mental health watch. We’re leaked audio of David Miscavige announcing the new “Golden Age of Admin” release. Valeska Paris and two other former Sea Org workers living in Australia file a new labor trafficking lawsuit against Scientology in Tampa, Florida.
A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2021: Ben Schneiders uncorked a beauty about Scientology’s finances in Australia. OT 8 art dealer Izzy Chait went on to his reward. SNL’s breakout new star, Chloe Fineman, is a Scientologist and the child of Scientologists. New York chiropractor and Scientology donor Jay Spina was sentenced to nine years in prison for Medicare fraud. Tommy Davis and his new wife welcomed a son into the world.
A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2020: Whoopi Goldberg recommended Narconon. Wealthy Scientologist Jim Mathers said of Covid, “healthy people don’t get sick.” Scientology started putting out some very weird videos as a result of members being locked down at home. LRH 2.0 faced a revolt. Another confirmation from Scientology itself that its numbers are in the thousands, not millions. David Miscavige turned 60.
A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2019: Shooting victim Brian Statler was identified. Chris Owen filled us in on Scientology’s odd efforts in Papua New Guinea. Graham Berry shared another stunning demand letter with us. Sunny Perreira told us her story about Brad Pitt bringing his pet igauna to the Celebrity Centre for some auditing. Danny Masterson’s accusers and Mike Rinder’s daughter had a confrontation caught on video.
A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2018: Chris Owen found that L. Ron Hubbard tried to buy Malawi. Leah Remini was subjected to a Scientology “noisy investigation.” We chatted with the convicted felon who says he’s the returned L. Ron Hubbard. Tommy Davis showed up with a new look. Kim Poff was finally able to give us an interview about getting fired by Oklahoma for blowing the whistle on Narconon. Rocker Cedric Bixler-Zavala told us about the harassment his wife Chrissie Carnell Bixler was going through after coming forward as a victim of Scientologist actor Danny Masterson.
A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2017: Scientologist actor Erika Christensen raised eyebrows for playing a Christian convert on film. We dug up a reference to ‘Mount Xenu’ in a Hubbard lecture. Dee Findlay schooled the Clearwater city council. A 1973 documentary featuring Nan McLean resurfaced.
A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2016: David Miscavige was filmed opening an Ideal Org in Atlanta. Phil and Willie Jones put up a billboard in Los Angeles about Scientology disconnection. We revealed that Giovanni Ribisi’s daughter Lucia Ribisi had ditched Scientology. The Gregg Hagglund story — seeing a Fair Game operation from both ends. How David Miscavige ripped apart his own family, and how Lisa Marie Presley became (at least for a short time) his biggest nightmare. David Miscavige threatened to sue his own Dad, and we were live on the scene as Laura DeCrescenzo’s lawsuit survived a second motion for summary judgment. Was this the greatest single month for news in the history of the Bunker? It was certainly up there.
A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2015: We broke down the elements that made SNL’s parody, ‘Neurotology,’ so great. We brought you full audio tapes of police interviews with the Scientology private eyes who stalked Ron Miscavige. And we dug up the true history of Tom Cruise and Mimi Rogers.
A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2014: We checked with his tailor to find out David Miscavige’s actual height. Tax documents spelled out Scientology’s amazing cash value. And an insider provided us documents showing that Narconon Arrowhead is running on fumes.
A LOOK BACK AT APRIL 2013: Live-blogging Rock Center‘s Narconon expose, behind the scenes at Int Base with “Love in the Time of Miscavige,” and Narconon in Georgia raided.
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Technology Cocktail
“The reason 33 1/3 percent of all psycho-analytic patients are said to have committed suicide in their first three months of treatment is not that they ‘came too late’ but that a lot of wild data was thrown at them to get at their ‘source of guilt’ and they went head on into the reactive bank, sought to demonstrate their ‘guilt’ by making others guilty and killing themselves.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1964
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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 as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman
“You’ll find that there’s a hollow spot in back of the body. And if you will let one of those hollow spots — at least, there’s at least one — if you’ll let it say ‘hello’ backwards, you know, have a spot in back of the body say ‘hello’ backwards, you will discover some of the more interesting spaces. You get why that is? A thetan has always come in on the body on the back, you see, and nobody has ever said ‘hello’ to him. There’s quite often a machine pulled in there, which is one of the more interesting things you run into with this process. Big, big juicy machine with valves, tubes, endless belts and every other thing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 24, 1954
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“There has never been any order permitting mail to be taken directly to the post office by individuals. I would like to find out who started this. It is illegal to send mail any other way than via the Dept of Comm.” — N. Jessup, CS-1, December 24, 1968
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“Disconnection is an individual’s choice. Yes, Ethics might encourage someone to do it, but at the end of the day it’s the persons who do it, who are to accept responsibility for it and not blame the church with the ‘following orders’ excuse. I don’t blame the church when my friends in the church disconnected from me. I blame them and their inability to confront the truth, and also just that they were happy with the church and I’m cool with that, it was their personal decision to disconnect from me, not the church’s. But I just don’t like it when people blame big organizations for actions they do. For example, it wasn’t Hitler’s fault for the holocaust, it was the SS soldiers who did it. They believed in the cause, they wanted to do it, they thought what they were doing was right, they should take responsibility for it and should be blamed for it.”
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2001: The December, 2001 issue of Impact Magazine published a speech by Mike Rinder, the director of the Office of Special Affairs, at the annual IAS meeting. “Officials from the Moscow prosecutor’s office called in so-called experts from the Serbski Psychiatric Institute, notorious for its treatment of dissidents during Soviet days. Finding nothing, they invented a claim that our organizations were engaged in financial fraud, taking ‘creative accounting’ to criminal extremes to create fake evidence. Then they issued outrageous tax assessments and opened a criminal case against the Mission of Moscow. In March this year it all came to an end. The court declared the activities of our mission religious and exempt from tax, found the prosecutor guilty of extensive violations of criminal law, the governments cases were dismissed and the prosecutor was ordered to pay all our costs. Within a few short years, lawyers, justice officials, city and regional government personnel and every high level judge in the nation will truly understand Scientology. Because last month, the first official course on Scientology, using our books as the curriculum, became part of theology studies in every university and all institutes of higher learning in Russia! In Geneva, The runners from seven nations arrived at the United Nations Plaza on October 11. Local, national and international dignitaries joined us in force. More that fifty United Nations organizations and members of government delegations representing thirteen nations came, including the United States, Canada, Denmark, and Switzerland. They all pledged their commitment to the goals of the European Marathon for Human Rights and signed our petition. CCHR has been touring thousands through the Death Exhibit, from doctors and lawyers to legislators and authors. No matter their view when they walk in, when they leave, they are at cause, armed with the truth and ready to put and end to psych abuse. As we arm prosecutors with our evidence, they are having greater success
than ever putting these criminals where they really belong. The number of psychs jailed this past year was 222, another highest ever. But not only are we putting more psychs behind bars, we are eradicating their habitat. In the past year alone, 489 facilities have closed their doors. That’s more than double last year and another highest ever.”
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“‘If all Scientologists were John Travolta clones, Scientology would be a good deal.’ I’m not sure the Massage Association of America would agree with you on that one, Jimmy.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing January 29, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, motion to strike/anti-SLAPP motions by Scientology to be heard January 9, 2024.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Discovery phase.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
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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] PODCAST: How Tory Christman saved Rosie O’Donnell from joining Scientology
[TWO years ago] Feds suing ‘stem cell’ scammers for preying on the elderly. Oh, and they’re Scientologists.
[THREE years ago] Whoops. Letter shows Scientology gave Jane Doe #1 permission to sue Danny Masterson in 2004
[FOUR years ago] Scientology is denied an emergency hearing, but here is its ‘arbitration’ motion
[FIVE years ago] We got a correspondent into Scientology’s New Year’s Event Saturday in Los Angeles
[SIX years ago] Year in review: In April, Dee Findlay delivered a truth bomb to Scientology in its spiritual mecca
[SEVEN years ago] A Christmas Eve treat: Our man Down Under on Scientology’s antipodean troubles in 2016
[EIGHT years ago] Release the hounds! Scientology suddenly getting more aggressive with media: Report
[NINE years ago] As Luka Magnotta is convicted, questions about his Scientology involvement remain
[TEN years ago] The Underground Bunker Year-in-Review starts today: A January for the ages!
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s 2012 in Review: Springtime for Miscavige
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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 3,253 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,768 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,318 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,308 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,189 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,493 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,364 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,916 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,258 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,824 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,743 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,911 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,492 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,753 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,789 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,505 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,069 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,384 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,559 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,110 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,241 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,579 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,434 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,553 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,909 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,212 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,318 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,716 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,592 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,157 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,670 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,924 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,033 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 24, 2023 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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
