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Raising money in the time of the virus: Scientology will always find a way!

 
We’re sure you can all conjure up plenty of things you miss while on lockdown. Restaurants. Movies. Concerts. Hell, just going to the grocery without taking your life in your hands.

And one of the things we also miss about life under quarantine are reports from goofy Scientology fundraisers. But lucky for us, one of our correspondents noticed that a video has been posted by the Plymouth Org of the last fundraiser they held before the virus shut everything down. It took place on February 29, and it looks like it was a whale of a time…

 

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The folks in Plymouth are desperately trying to raise enough money to complete renovations so they can open their new ‘Ideal Org’ by September 16. That happens to be the 400th anniversary of the sailing of the Mayflower from Plymouth, and huge celebrations are planned in the city. (Will they happen? Damn, this microbe has ruined everything, hasn’t it?)

Well, virus or no virus, Scientology will continue to encourage its members to fork over huge amounts of money to the cause. Plymouth is going with a pirate theme, and we thought you’d like to see the status levels they’ve come up with for those who tap into their kids’ college fund…

 

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Bonus items from our tipsters

Meanwhile, it’s business as usual wherever this guy went Clear this week…

 

 
Actual caption from Pasadena Scientology: “Everyone meet Major Sims! The first dog to become a monthly supporter of the IAS (International Association of Scientologists)!”

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Source Code

“The first time you ask your preclear, ‘Now let’s go out across the country until we find a sawmill running. All right, now step into the buzz saw.’ He’s going to say gulp. It’s going to astonish him. But you’d be surprised what happens to him when he finds out he can do just that. He’s going to realize all of a sudden that there he is. He can be anything. Well, if he can be anything then he can have an unlimited number of viewpoints. If he can have an unlimited number of viewpoints, then he can know anything, can’t he? Well, if it’s written down, he can certainly be in the middle of a book at the library and read it. Well, that’s very easy. Or if somebody knows it at that time, he can go pick that somebody’s brains. That’s right. Read somebody’s mind.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 24, 1953

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Scientology and LRH accomplished an effective impact on the world, despite everything! It’s difficult to prove, but this world would have been far different had there been no Scientology whatsoever.”

 
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Random Howdy

“You can’t even receive auditing if you’re engaged in other ‘spiritual’ practices like meditation. The whole ‘other religions are OK with us’ is demonstrably false.”

 
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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 October 7 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: May 1 (Masterson new demurrer due), July 8 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice), August 31-Sept 1 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe’s attorneys have asked for discovery, depositions (Warren McShane, Lynn Farny), amended complaint filed
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!

[Kelly Preston, Jason Dohring, and Anne Archer]

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] It’s an anniversary of shame for Scientology: Will they go for a repeat?
[TWO years ago] Scientologist pair running for office double down on their denials about church involvement
[THREE years ago] Nan McLean in 1973: Rare Scientology documentary goes online, and it rocks
[FOUR years ago] Texas Supreme Court asks for Monique Rathbun’s response to Scientology’s petition
[FIVE years ago] Scientology opens a new ‘Ideal Org’ in Basel this weekend — nearly a year after its last one
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s drug rehab hit with another lawsuit; Laura D asked to turn over computer
[SEVEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY TO FEDERAL COURT: Let Us Refute The Garcia Declarations, And Then Butt Out of Our Religion
[EIGHT years ago] Charges Dropped Against Scientology Executive Jan Eastgate

 
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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 1,917 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,421 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,941 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 961 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 852 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,159 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,027 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,801 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,575 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,921 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,487 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,406 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,574 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,155 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,416 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,454 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,167 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,692 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,222 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,782 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,922 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,242 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,097 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,217 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,572 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,875 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,981 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,383 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,255 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,838 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,333 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,587 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,696 days.

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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 24, 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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