Here we were, waiting for the Salt Lake City “Ideal Org” to open up any day now (UPDATE: It’s happening today!), and David Miscavige tries to sneak one past us! After years of intense fundraising, the “Silicon Valley” Ideal Org in Mountain View, California is ready for its grand opening, which we’ve been told will happen tomorrow, on Sunday.
An especially sneaky tipster got us these images from the location itself…
It’s funny, isn’t it, that Scientology tries its best to get no attention from the outside world, or even the local press, when it celebrates its supposed “expansion” with these openings.
We know, of course, that it’s just a sham. After spending years pressuring the locals to fork over millions, Miscavige opens these “Ideal Orgs” not to represent expansion, but merely to replace less opulent local churches so he can show video of these openings at the large annual events.
To remind you, here’s some rah-rah the church sent out during the days of really heavy pressure to raise money for the Silicon Valley project, back in 2014…
And now it has all come to fruition with tomorrow’s big opening. We can hardly wait to see which local luminaries Miscavige manages to rope in for the ceremony, which will be included with the church’s own inevitable press release after the event.
But until then, shhhhh — don’t tell the local newspapers that this is happening! We don’t want to spoil Dave’s surprise!
UPDATE: Salt Lake City is opening today! Miscavige is setting a personal best of two Ideal Org grand openings in a single weekend, bless his heart.
Rod Keller will have more details about SLC tomorrow.
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Ray Jeffrey on Marty Rathbun
We reported earlier that an attempt by Marty and Monique Rathbun’s former attorneys — Ray Jeffrey, Marc Wiegand, and Elliott Cappuccio — to have the Rathbuns deposed was denied by a San Antonio judge on a technicality, and that they could re-file their request with a court in San Patricio County, where the Rathbuns live. We have asked Jeffrey numerous times whether he plans to re-file that court request, and last night he put up this answer on Facebook…
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Make your plans now!
Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,028 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 1,631 days
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 174 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,237 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,011 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 2,785 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,131 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 2,625 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 1,665 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,377 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 903 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 4,992 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,132 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,452 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,427 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 783 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,085 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,191 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 1,594 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,466 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,048 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,553 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 1,797 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 12,906 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 17, 2018 at 07:00
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Our book, 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, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
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
Other links: 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
