Scientology front group Youth for Human Rights wound up its annual conference at the United Nations in New York yesterday. It’s a three-day event that brings Scientology allies together to discuss the importance of human rights and continue the process of “safepointing” the church. Associating Scientology with the U.N. is a huge victory in itself for public relations purposes. The possibility of recruiting new allies makes it one of the most important PR events on the Scientology calendar.
Founder L. Ron Hubbard instructed that Scientology safepoint by recruiting allies, non-Scientologists who would come to his aid when a government agency attempted to prosecute, tax, or regulate the group. Front groups allow Scientology to recruit powerful allies in the name of a cause that they agree with, such as fighting drug abuse or promoting human rights.
This appears to be Whpei and Sulimani’s first contact with Scientology. They are being recruited as new allies. Guercio has been an ally of Scientology since at least 2009 when she participated in the opening of the Rome Ideal Org. Having allies at Scientology-organized events is the payoff and they are used as tools when the church is threatened. Scientology wants to be known as a defender of human rights to shield them when former members accuse Scientology of violating theirs.
Mixing with the human rights activists are the Scientologists. Actress Sheena Chohan has few screen credits, but has appeared on the cover of Celebrity magazine, published by Scientology. Lynn Posyton heads the front group Foundation for a Drug Free World in Clearwater and made an appearance this week in New York.
Scientology’s front groups are all controlled by the Office of Special Affairs, or OSA. They are the secret police of Scientology and are responsible for all contact between the church and the outside world, including public relations, lawsuits, dirty tricks and dealing with critics. Beth Akiyama is now in the National Affairs Office in Washington housed in the Fraser Mansion, a Scientology building devoted to OSA operations. She was previously in OSA in the New York org.
She spoke about the right to education, part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The irony is that young Scientologists are routinely denied an education if their parents are on staff or in the Sea Org. The whole event is ironic, that Scientology is promoting itself as a defender of human rights when they deny parents the right to see their children if they leave the church. They deny Sea Org members a living wage and proper health care. They deny members the right to leave through threats to family and employment. It’s an embarrassment for the United Nations that they continue to host this event.
— Rod Keller
——————–
Susan Gerbic introduces us to Skeptic Zone listeners
We had a chance to chat with Susan for a few minutes before the main event at HowdyCon. Susan leads a team of editors who maintain Wikipedia’s pages on Scientology and many other topics. Our segment is about 36 minutes in…
——————–
Bonus items from our tipsters
Meanwhile, in Toronto…
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology scam: ‘It hadn’t occurred to me I was getting appalling advice from Church execs’
[TWO years ago] We have the letter Scientologists are receiving from a federal judge!
[THREE years ago] Scientology produces miracles — but you only get to hear about them in one place
[FOUR years ago] Paulette Cooper back in Clearwater for the first time since the 1982 Scientology hearings
[FIVE years ago] That time L. Ron Hubbard was hit by lightning while wearing full armor: It’s science!
[SIX years ago] Tampa Bay Times Portrays Twin Sister of Scientology Leader as Dope-Smoking Slumlord
[SEVEN years ago] What Katie Holmes is Saving Suri From: Scientology’s Interrogation of Children
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Goon Squads Face Fines After Texas Town Rallies To Marty Rathbun’s Cause
——————–
Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,493 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,622 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,126 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,646 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 666 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 557 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,864 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,732 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,506 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,280 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,626 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,192 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,111 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,279 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,860 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,121 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,160 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,872 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,398 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,487 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,627 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,947 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,803 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,922 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,277 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,580 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,686 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,088 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,960 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,543 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,038 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,292 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,401 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on June 30, 2019 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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, ten 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
