Things may look dark for Scientology right now, with its cruise ship the laughingstock of the world, its celebrities constantly mocked and jeered in pop culture, and church leader David Miscavige becoming increasingly known for banishing his wife to an uncertain fate.
But if there’s one thing we know about Scientology, it never gives up. We have a good example of that for you today. Among our more knowledgeable readers a particularly visible example of Scientology’s struggles is its poor showing in Canada’s biggest city. The building that housed the former Toronto org on Yonge Street is an eyesore, and for years we’ve seen no activity at all that would suggest it would be turning into a gleaming new Ideal Org.
Until recently, that is. Now, in yet another example of how a project can sit entirely ignored for a decade before suddenly catching fire, our Scientologist neighbors to the north have turned on the afterburners to get the Toronto org funded.
Yes, it’s always fundraising with these big beings, and Toronto is now well into that crazy period of any Ideal Org’s evolution when the locals are taking part in themed parties and giving enormous sums of money. Oh, the humanity.
Our thanks to a local who has been feeding us some great internal Scientology fliers on this stuff. You know the project has reached a fever pitch when they put out these super-jumbo fliers that take forever to scroll through. We live for the kinds of observations our readers make about them. So please, hold nothing back.
Yes, in April Scientology in Canada held a samurai-sword-themed fundraising party after a man named Brian Statler reportedly wielding a similar kind of sword was shot dead by police at the Inglewood, California Church of Scientology on March 27. (We’re still waiting for Inglewood police to say anything about what Statler was doing with a sword there and after having driven up in a Bentley.)
The most ethical people on the planet!
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HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles
THURSDAY NIGHT OPPORTUNITY: This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. But we also want to point out that Cathy Schenkelberg’s “Squeeze My Cans” will be running at the Hollywood Fringe, and we encourage HowdyCon attendees to see her show on Thursday night, June 20. Tickets and more dates available here.
Friday night June 21 we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.
On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.
HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22. Note: You need to ask for the “family reunion” special rate.
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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?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology’s bizarre international base and its near-prison life: A Marc Headley classic
[TWO years ago] On probation and his house of horrors shut down, Tennessee Scientologist talks up Mexico
[THREE years ago] ‘Freedom’ magazine is back after a six-month absence, and it arrived with a surprise!
[FOUR years ago] As seen in the Daily Beast: ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ is on sale and ready to startle you
[FIVE years ago] Sunday Funnies: What part of ‘rebel’ doesn’t Scientology understand?
[SIX years ago] PORTLAND LIVE: Mark Bunker at Scientology’s “Ideal Org” Event
[SEVEN years ago] The Best Reasons Why You Should Doubt the Allegations in the John Travolta Sex-Assault Lawsuit
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Operation Against Washington Post Reporter Richard Leiby Exposed
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,443 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,572 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,076 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,556 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 616 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 507 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,814 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,682 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,456 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,230 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,576 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,142 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,062 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,229 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,810 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,071 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,110 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,822 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,348 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,437 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,577 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 2,897 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,753 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,872 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,228 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,530 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,636 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,038 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 1,910 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,493 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 1,988 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,242 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,351 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 11, 2019 at 07:00
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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
