Yesterday we learned that Scientology is preparing a “Done Sir” congratulation to church leader David Miscavige for the way he seized on the coronavirus pandemic as a public relations opportunity.
Meanwhile, we’ve seen evidence that the orgs are reopening in various places, and are trying to get back to business as usual. But how well has Scientology come through the health crisis?
For years, Scientology has been a movement in decline, with many longtime loyal members leaving the fundraising-heavy and controlling organization under Miscavige. Our best estimate is that from a high of about 100,000 worldwide members 30 years ago, today there are only about 15,000 active members on the planet. (Scientology has never had the “millions” it always claimed.)
But those remaining are still as much L. Ron Hubbard fans and David Miscavige cheerleaders as ever, and they don’t seem to have been shaken by recent events. We’re basing that on a relatively new source of information we’ve been getting recently. An Underground Bunker reader has access to an inside distribution network of emails and Facebook postings that are supposed to be accessed only by fellow Scientologists.
Some of our best recent items have come through this pipeline, and yesterday’s delivery was really a bumper crop. We thought we’d share some of the best items with you to give you some idea of how peppy Scientologists are about their “wins” and “gains” even as the organization struggles to get back into business.
And we’ll start off with Buffy, who announced that she’s gone Clear, an important milestone for any Scientologist…
Jen refuses to use the “c” word and, like Miscavige, refers to the pandemic as “bullbait”…
Olivia says it is real power they wield as Scientologists…
Imagine how much therapy Ananya is going to need as an adult…
Life is Jessica’s chessboard…
Marianne Granica shows off her new Clear bracelet. So in 70 years, L. Ron Hubbard’s movement has produced 73,659 Clears, about 1,000 per year. This planet will be cleared in no time.
An intensive of auditing for her 7th birthday. And still, law enforcement does nothing.
Steve Cannane under cross-examination
Steve Cannane began testifying this week in his trial in Sydney. We watched some of his cross-examination last night by barrister Sue Chrysanthou, who is representing two former Chelmsford Private Hospital doctors who, a royal inquiry found some thirty years ago, were responsible for multiple deaths with a disgraced method known as “deep sleep therapy.”
Since we last wrote about the trial, former doctor John Herron admitted under cross-examination that he was experimenting with lethal doses of the barbiturate Tuinal on patients who died, but he claimed that this was how advances in medicine were found.
“It was a terrible scandal and terrible abuse, and it should not be forgotten,” Cannane’s barrister Tom Blackburn argued about the testimony of both Herron and Dr. John Gill.
But Blackburn anticipated that Chrysanthou would question Cannane about avenues he didn’t go down, research he didn’t do, and phone calls he didn’t make during the preparation of his book, Fair Game. Blackburn argued that it was easy to argue that “the reporter could have done better,” because you can always say that, but that it doesn’t go to the real issue of whether these doctors were defamed by a book in 2016 when their reputations were actually destroyed in the 1980s and 1990s.
And sure enough, that was Chrysanthou’s approach as she cross-examined Cannane, asking him about transcripts he didn’t read or questions he didn’t ask when he did his research.
A key moment last night (which was Tuesday morning in Sydney) was Chrysanthou’s focus on a transcript Cannane hadn’t read that might have called the credibility of a key source into question. She asked Cannane that if he has now read that transcript for the trial, if he could would he change his book to reflect what was in it?
Blackburn objected, saying that what Cannane might do today isn’t on trial, but what he knew when he wrote the book.
Chrysanthou strongly defended her question, saying that it went to damages in the case.
Then the judge said that she would allow the question to be asked, but she didn’t think it was relevant to the case.
We’re really interested to see how Justice Jagot rules, because her rulings have tended to go this way. She found that Cannane had to stand trial based on current Australian defamation law (which is terrible), but she hasn’t seemed very impressed by Chrysanthou’s objections.
Weeks more testimony to come.
“The individual is in contest with his environment. We’ll just take off from that point. Now, that’s a very true observation. Particularly, if we qualify that observation just a little bit further and we say that a contest is not necessarily a battle of fisticuffs….Once umpty-skillion years ago I got swatted, and sat there very, very immobile, being right. I went on being right for quite a little while. See, by permitting myself to be immobilized, it made the other fellow wrong. It wasn’t really doing anything to him, taking no action, absolutely no forward thrust of any kind whatsoever, no outward motion, no outward flow of any kind, not even a thought of an outward flow and yet that was the method of handling the environment. So the way we qualify this is the method is not necessarily smart.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 16, 1964
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“I have screenshots of this stuff, so there’s all the proof I need. You have played this game for far too long and when I put my intention and attention on something, I win. Believe me, I will put an end to your suppressive actions and this suppressive group. This is NOT Scientology, this is PURE ENTHETA.”
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“There are no theologians in Scientology. No one is allowed to interpret or tell a student what they think L. Ron Hubbard meant.”
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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 August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: 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 dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
— 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!
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] While Scientology shrinks, its ‘Ideal Orgs’ pretend they are booming
[TWO years ago] The trauma of leaving Scientology: ‘Who wants to believe they’ve thrown away their best years?’
[THREE years ago] Marty Rathbun’s project becomes clear: Someone’s worried about Scientology & the IRS
[FOUR years ago] Our money maverick dives into Scientology’s latest financial house of horrors
[FIVE years ago] O Canada! All eyes in the Scientology-watching world will be looking north next week
[SIX years ago] LEAKED: The slick campaign Scientology had planned for UK expansion!
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: When David Miscavige Made RTC Look Like The Matrix
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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 1,970 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,474 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,994 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,014 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 905 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,212 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,080 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,854 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,628 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,974 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,540 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,459 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,627 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,208 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,469 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,507 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,220 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,745 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,275 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,835 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,975 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,295 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,150 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,270 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,625 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,928 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,034 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,436 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,308 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,891 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,386 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,640 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,749 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 16, 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
