It’s becoming increasingly clear that what terrifies Scientology most about the coronavirus pandemic is that while its few remaining members are stuck at home, L. Ron Hubbard’s control techniques are going to wear off, and reality is going to begin to set in.
How do you enforce the manipulation of the Training Routines and the constant pressure of “regging” when you can’t scream “R-factors” at people down at the org? Left at home to their own devices, cruising around online to look at news about the pandemic, the chances are increased that a bored home-quarantined Scientologist is going to stumble on a website like this one, and prohibited thoughts may begin to seep in.
So we’re seeing now, after initially resisting the idea of closing the orgs, that Scientology is turning to the strategy of trying to keep stuck-at-home Scientologists as busy as possible with “extension courses” and other silliness in order to keep members from thinking too much about their situation.
Here’s a fun example that Rod Keller found for us. In Chicago, they’re trying to get their “Ideal Org” ready for opening, and what bad timing for the health crisis. But let’s start a new extension course game so people can earn points! And have them send in photos for even more points! Can you feel the excitement?
In Columbus, after we twice busted the Ideal Org there for having a full parking lot in defiance of Governor DeWine’s stay at home order, the org is finally closed, and so it has asked its members to send in photos of them diligently reading L. Ron Hubbard books in a “Home Study Marathon”…
As we pointed out yesterday, however, despite many Scientologists being stuck home, a Los Angeles memo alluded to the fact that the Advanced Orgs in Los Angeles and in Florida are continuing business as usual, with upper level auditing going on and Sea Org workers still being bused around from facility to facility.
We showed you some of Deb Maxwell’s footage of Sea Org workers coming off a crammed bus. She now has footage of a Clearwater police officer who was told he’d been called by the org on a complaint about her recording that footage. When she points out that the Scientologists themselves are crowded together on the buses, he says “I know.”
We talked on Friday to incoming Clearwater city councilman Mark Bunker about this situation. We learned that he was still waiting for the results of the COVID-19 test he’d taken twelve days earlier. After we asked him about the situation at Flag and who would be enforcing social distancing rules, he said he put in a question to City Manager Bill Horne to get some clarification on that. We’ll check back in with him again today.
In South Africa, Orlando, Ventura, and Kansas City, we’ve seen evidence of Scientology “Volunteer Ministers” going door to door to hand out cleaning materials and booklets in completely irresponsible ways that could only help spread the virus.
Here are a couple of new photos from Kansas City…
Actual caption: “We are going door-to-door to distribute disinfectants and sanitizers for peoples homes to ensure everyone in KC is safe!”
Actual caption: “We headed out to the local neighborhoods yesterday and gave out disinfectant to those in need. We also did a survey of anything else people might require and helped with anything we could!”
In South Africa, the “Decon Seven Sanitation Team” is now asking for donations, naturally. You have to love the message here: “We save a lot of life’s daily against Covid19. Please donate to a worthy cause”…
Rod also found for us a couple of videos posted by London Org cheerleader Charlie Wakley, who is doing his best to keep Scientologists busy. Watch how excited he is to have a couple of dozen viewers…
And finally, Q-Anon obsessed moron and all around clown prince of England, John Mappin, decided to try out some Scientology group processing on Facebook yesterday. We honestly couldn’t bring ourselves to sit through it, but we thought someone might subject themselves to it and tell us all about it…
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“I don’t think ever in my life I even ever held out my hand for a fee. I don’t ever mention it. I’ve even acted sometimes as Registrar for an organization that didn’t have anything to do with money and people would walk in occasionally and throw some money on the desk and I’d invoice it so they could have a receipt. I gave it to them so they could have a receipt, not so I could have any money. Now, that’s about the wildest look you ever saw! I remember auditing some people in the early days and we never talked about money and they got embarrassed after a while and they gave me several thousand dollars. That’s a reverse look, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 30, 1965
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“SPs behave as they do because they are being manipulated telepathically to do so. This is possibly why OT 8 saved the world, there’s seriously evidence for the world changing after OT 8. We are winning and have won, it’s great, that was a big battle of freedom vs enslavement. And Trump announced the Space Force, it’s been around for years but finally it’s made public, the truth is all coming out bit by bit, the whole enslavement system is being dismantled and we are rising to higher heights. The 20th century was all about machine advancement which was amazing, but now the 21st is all about our personal advancement. Atlantis’ golden age has begun.”
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“The first time I heard about people having to pay for being sec checked I was gobsmacked. OT 7’s have to get sec checked every 6 months to the tune of twenty grand or thereabouts. Imagine if the cops started charging people to be interrogated? Without a lawyer!”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Jay Spina: Sentencing set for April 3 in White Plains
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for April 14 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Waiting for an appellate decision from the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for June 17
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology: April 22 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice), June (demurrers by Masterson and Scientology), June (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe’s attorneys have asked for discovery, depositions (Warren McShane, Lynn Farny), April 20 hearing set (motion to compel arbitration)
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed.
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Start making your plans…
Head over to the convention website and meet us in St. Louis!
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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] Leaving Scientology’s ‘Sea Org’ isn’t easy, and some turn to desperate measures
[TWO years ago] Georgia police department closes its case on Arnie Lerma attempted murder-suicide
[THREE years ago] Dungeons & Dragons and Scientology collide: Can we get a saving throw on that engram?
[FOUR years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige in Atlanta on Saturday: Can you feel the excitement?
[FIVE years ago] AUDIO LEAK: Hear a Scientologist being declared suppressive and facing the loss of her family
[SIX years ago] Sunday Funnies: These fliers should convince you to give all your cash to Scientology!
[SEVEN years ago] Independent Scientology: The Ballad of Captain Bill
[EIGHT years ago] VIDEO: Proof that L. Ron Hubbard Was the Most Awesome Human Being Ever
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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 1,892 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,396 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,916 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 936 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 827 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,134 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,002 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,776 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,550 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,896 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,462 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,381 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,549 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,130 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,391 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,429 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,142 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,667 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,197 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,757 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,897 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,217 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,072 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,192 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,547 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,850 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,956 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,358 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,230 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,813 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,308 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,562 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,671 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 30, 2020 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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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
