We first told you about Brian Sheen’s struggle to reconnect with his grown daughter Springsong in 2015.
Sheen had spent some time in Scientology, but it was decades earlier, and he’d never said anything publicly about the reasons why he had left. So it was a mystery to him why the church suddenly required his daughter to cut off all contact with him in another example of its toxic “disconnection” policy.
Although Sheen had been out of the church for many years, he had never discouraged his daughter from being involved in it. But after her marriage into one of Scientology’s wealthiest donor families (who are also behind the Atkinson-Baker court reporting empire), Spring was suddenly instructed to cut Sheen out of her life.
Sheen fought back fiercely, trying in vain to get government agencies interested in the matter. And then adding to his heartbreak, Spring gave birth to a baby boy, a grandson Sheen has never seen.
Now, Sheen has put together a gripping illustrated book about his struggle, laying out the full narrative of his involvement in Scientology and his fight against disconnection.
We were particularly interested in the pages about his experience filming for a television series that was never aired and that was going to feature Jamie DeWolf as its presenter. In a case of bad timing, the series was slated to be aired on the A&E network around the same time as Leah Remini’s series premiered and blew up with huge ratings. As a result, the DeWolf series was shelved and has never been seen. (We’ve published accounts by some of the other people who were filmed for the series, including Derek Bloch, Phil Jones, and Carol Nyburg.)
“Six years since seeing my daughter, I never thought it would go this long,” Brian tells us.
We salute his perseverance, and hope you’ll pick up a copy of his book to see how he has turned his struggle into a vivid visual adventure.
——————–
Heartwarming Tom Cruise story making the rounds
It’s Elisabeth, not Elizabeth, and otherwise we don’t have independent confirmation of this tale. But we thought you’d like to see what is getting spread around on social media before it turns into a breathless tabloid “exclusive.”
Leah Remini podcast: Chris Shelton, part 1
Says Mike: “This is a fascinating discussion that covers a wide range of topics — so much so that we recorded a second episode which will be Part 2 next week, taking a deep dive into two topics. A lot of what we talk about today concerns the fake ‘religious’ aspects of Scientology.” Listen to the podast here:
——————–
“You will be seeing a lot of this org board. And I’m merely pointing out to you about this, that there is something about it to understand. The first is that the org board does not change regardless of the size of the organization. It may get longer at the bottom, but it doesn’t change in its significant characteristics, departments, divisions or anything else. They remain constant, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a Class Zero Org consisting of three guys trying to lift their heads up off the pavement as an organization, or an organization of 200,000 staff members, it would be the same org board. And I know that startles you, but I almost told you the real figure: two billion. This board has a lot of back history, and it is a refined board. And I may as well tell you the truth here amongst us girls. This is a refined board that I spoke to you about in an earlier lecture of an old galactic civilization. And you say what’s that doing amongst us? Well, we applied Scientology to it, and found out why the civilization eventually failed. They lacked a couple of departments and that was enough to mess it all up. And they only lasted eighty trillion. We’ll be going a lot longer than that, so we want to get something substantial. We don’t want these temporary fly-by-night affairs, you know.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 6, 1965
——————–
“ARTICLE: MSH has just had a hard hitting article by her published in the British ‘Mayfair’ magazine. SYSTEMS: The IBM Systems Engineers sales handbook is now drawn up using Scientology basic. This is the world’s largest electronic firms. The Moon Rocket and Fail-Safe bomb systems and almost every corporation’s computers are all IBM. I’m sure they’ve forgotten they used to use me in their ads 32 years ago ‘Famous Writer Uses IBM Electric Typewriters’. VALIDATION: When one wishes to help, is trying to help and is brought up sharly, he gets a failed purpose. I’d be very glad to hear how anyone’s effort to help has become invalidated. That’s all we’ve got really — both yours and my willingness to help.” — The Commodore, April 6, 1970
——————–
“It’s been my life goal since embarking onto Scientology to have some kind of knowledge retention or spiritual stabilization that will serve me on the next ‘go-around’ whenever and whenever that may be? Through all my life’s adventures my attention has always been on this! Even moreso, like the late great Chick Corea’s music philosophy reflects, a hope to eventually ‘return to forever.’ If we somehow don’t learn to ‘end cycle’ on our slavery to the body, whatever will our civilization become?”
——————–
1996: An anonymous person this week posted the partially recovered contents of a floppy disk he found in Tampa. “…important symbolic step towards Clearing the Planet, the Church of Scientology announced today it has obtained regulatory approval for a new satellite television network. Transmission is expected to begin in the the third quarter of 1996. The new satellite service, tentatively called KSWN (for ‘Keeping Scientology Working Network’), will broadcast Scientology and Dianetics news and technical programming 24 hours a day on two transponder channels. The second, scrambled, channel will consist of Scientology and Dianetics course material and training films, many of them produced by the late L.Ron Hubbard himself. Programming on the scrambled channel will be available to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis.”
——————–
“Scientology ‘the religion’ is still engaged in medical fraud and could be charged as such if politicians in general had any balls or morals.”
——————–
Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to April 13.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Charged in Brooklyn federal court on Feb 4. Arraigned on Feb 9. Pretrial conference set for Apr 29.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. June 7: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 24.
Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
——————–
SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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’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] Scientology million-dollar donor on COVID-19: ‘Healthy people don’t get sick’
[TWO years ago] Paulette Cooper’s ‘Scandal of Scientology’: The book that made Miss Lovely a target
[THREE years ago] Is Scientology really any different than other ‘churches’? Oh, you bet. Here’s one example.
[FOUR years ago] Scientology disconnection: A toxic policy that punishes innocent people every day of the week
[FIVE years ago] Lucia Ribisi ditches Scientology and says of famous dad Giovanni: ‘He’s questioned it’
[SIX years ago] Mike Rowe uses Facebook to rip Scientology over the treatment of his friend Spanky Taylor
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Sydney nears its big day, and Silicon Valley is in high gear!
[EIGHT years ago] Reporter Sues Scientology’s Drug Rehab Facility, Alleges She Witnessed Sex for Drugs
[NINE years ago] Nancy Cartwright and Karen Black Announced For ‘Writers of the Future’ Gala — a Direct Response to the Voice?
——————–
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 2,263 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,767 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,287 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,307 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,198 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,505 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,373 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,147 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,477 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,951 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,267 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,833 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,752 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,920 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,501 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,762 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,800 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,513 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,038 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 393 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,568 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,119 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,268 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,588 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,443 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,562 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,918 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,221 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,327 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,729 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,601 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,184 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,679 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,933 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,042 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on April 6, 2021 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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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
