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In the pandemic epicenter, Scientology’s New York Org puts on a fab virtual ‘Sunday Service’

 
We want to thank the tipster who sent us a link to this fabulous video put out by Scientology’s New York ‘Ideal Org.’ It’s pretty much everything we needed in this moment.

We don’t hear too much from the New York org. Despite its amazing location right off of Times Square on 46th Street, New York City isn’t really a big Scientology town, and the church here takes a back seat to the major outlets in England, Los Angeles, and Clearwater, Florida.

So it’s fun to finally see some faces at the Time Square location, and to hear from them as they, like all of the other orgs around the world, try to fulfill “command intention” and promote leader David Miscavige’s program that he spelled out in a March 13 special bulletin.

Goal number one: PROTECT THE ORG. And the way to protect Scientology, Miscavige has decided, is to pretend that it’s on the forefront of getting information to the public about washing hands and keeping social distance out to the public (weeks after that information was already drilled into our heads by legitimate health organizations).

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So the first eight minutes of this video is a repetitive litany of appeals to get you to go to the main Scientology website to watch some videos about staying safe from the virus, like it was breaking news. And then, the “Sunday Service” gets rolling in earnest.

First, there’s a fun song by the talented Julius Dilligard Jr, and then Gerry Metoyer takes over to guide you through the usual L. Ron Hubbard malarkey. (“What’s true for you is what you have observed for yourself,” etc., snore…)

Experienced Scientologists will tell you that Scientology is actually a series of courses and auditing levels, and that “Sunday Service” is a sop to the public, which expects a “church” to have one. And a virtual Sunday Service? Brilliant PR move for the lockdown.

Sit through it, if you can, and let us know what parts you enjoyed the most. It’s a hoot.

 

 
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Bonus items from our tipsters

Another sighting of Scientologists out handing out pamphlets about staying home and washing your hands, this time in Sussex…

 

 
The Joburg Org says it will be back in normal operation “soon,” so book those intensives now!

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Source Code

“I think California has laws that nobody can cure cancer. And they’ve just disobeyed that law in England because a doctor up there, who is a Dianetic Auditor, has just cured somebody of totally proven cancer. Has taken him over to the medical association and a big conference and so on, and displayed him complete with the X-rays and so forth. So, gee it’s a good thing he didn’t do that in California. We had an auditor, in 1950s, who was actually arrested for the fact of — proven conclusively, because he’d audited somebody and they had gotten well and it was against the law to cure that disease. He got off, there wasn’t anything happened to him at all, somebody was just making a push on it locally. Pretty crazy, huh? Proved it conclusively. Against the law to heal it and he’d done it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 7, 1972

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Nothing substitutes the action of people in the field writing knowledge reports on dangerous auditors. The problem is that those knowledge reports written by people in the field have been not-ised (deleted) by Facebook group owners. That only protects and enboldens the dangerous auditors being reported. The problem is at the level of group owners. The ones that protect offending auditors. Look at the WHY Finding post in this group. It describes the problem.”

 
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Random Howdy

“‘Revolt in the Stars’ should be a new reality show where Scientology celebs are put into the Sea Org and the viewers watch as one by one they quit in anguish and leave stupid Scientology.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
Jay Spina: Sentencing was 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 and Danny Masterson: April 22 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice), May 1 (Masterson new demurrer due), July 24 (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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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[The Big Three: Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Kirstie Alley]

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] Foreign ‘expansion,’ thanks to US Scientologists forking over the millions
[TWO years ago] On Day One, 2018’s Writers of the Future party betrays its connection to Scientology’s abuses
[THREE years ago] XENU VICTORIOUS: Scientology bamboozles USA Today to help it fight the ‘evil psychs’
[FOUR years ago] Phil Jones reflects on the media frenzy at the dedication of his anti-Scientology billboard
[FIVE years ago] 25 of the biggest lies told by L. Ron Hubbard and the Church of Scientology
[SIX years ago] SHOCK DOX: Scientology’s 2011 book value for just two of its entities is $1.2 billion
[SEVEN years ago] Narconon Tackles NFL Legend Jim Brown, Anne Archer Snags a Kennedy

 
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 1,900 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,404 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,924 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 944 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 835 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,142 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,010 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,784 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,558 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,904 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,470 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,389 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,557 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,138 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,399 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,437 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,150 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,675 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,205 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,765 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,905 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,225 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,080 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,200 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,555 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,858 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,964 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,366 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,238 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,821 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,316 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,570 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,679 days.

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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 7, 2020 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, 1995-2019 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

 

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