We already told you how excited we were to find out that Paulette Cooper had talked to Leah Remini for her new podcast, and in that story we provided a lengthy excerpt from our 2015 book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.
Now the podcast episode itself is out, and we’ve embedded it for you here so you can hear Paulette tell her own story of how she became, in the words of Mike Rinder, “the OG of Fair Game victims.”
What a treat this show is. And no matter how many times we’ve heard it, we’re still astonished by what Paulette went through after daring to write a critical book about L. Ron Hubbard and his movement, The Scandal of Scientology, in 1971. Sued 19 times by Scientology, from the end of 1969 until a court settlement in 1985, Paulette was the target of the most elaborate, repetitive, nasty, and most relentless campaign of Scientology intimidation and psychological warfare in history.
We’ll just expand on a couple of things that Paulette brought up during the show. First, right from the start she refers to one of our favorite experiences with her, which our longest-suffering readers know well, and that’s how we helped Paulette discover details about her own Holocaust past.
When we started digging into Paulette’s story for the first time in 2011 while editing the Village Voice, we were struck by how many gaps there were not only in what was online about Paulette’s history, but also what she didn’t know herself. Even Wikipedia, for example, repeated the mistaken idea that she’d been born in Auschwitz at the Nazi concentration camp there. She was actually born in Belgium, and her parents Chaim and Ruchla Bucholc were each, in 1942, separately sent to Auschwitz to their deaths. Paulette and her sister Suzy were also supposed to be sent to the camp, but somehow they had escaped that fate. But how? Even Paulette didn’t know.
Fortunately, after we first raised that question in a story at the Voice, within a day that question was raised by newspapers in Belgium, and soon Paulette heard from a man there who believed his father had helped rescue the girls from Nazi extermination. That led us to other evidence that helped us put together the chapter in Unbreakable about how a Nazi camp commander was bribed enough in money and goods to agree to have the girls smuggled to an orphanage rather than be shipped to Auschwitz. (We even managed to track down a photo of that commander, Philipp Schmitt, and his German Shephard, Lump.)
Another thing we wanted to follow up on was the discussion that Paulette, Leah, and Mike get into about “R2-45.” They didn’t explain the origin of this notorious Scientology policy by L. Ron Hubbard, that during a lecture in Philadelphia and referring to “R2,” one of Hubbard’s arcane theories about Scientology processing that involved “exteriorization” — the spirit leaving the body and perceiving things independent of that body — he created a scene by pulling out a pistol and fired it into the stage. He called this “R2-45” and said it was a quick way to make sure the spirit left a body. A joke, right? Well, except that later Hubbard targeted enemies of Scientology by saying they were subject to R2-45, and it didn’t appear to be a joke at all.
Was Hubbard really saying that there was a policy for murder in Scientology? We’ve written about how, while some took this as a joke, the people who were then subject to the threat of R2-45 didn’t see it as a joke at all. New documents we unearthed with the help of researcher R.M. Seibert demonstrated that in the 1960s, the threat of R2-45 was used as an intimidation method against such Scientology defectors as Jack Horner and Charles Berner.
Here’s what we said about it in a 2017 story…
Until now, debates about R2-45 — Hubbard’s idea that a person could be “exteriorized” from his body with a bullet to the head — had argued on the one hand whether Scientology actually ordered murders of enemies, or whether it was all just a joke by Hubbard.
These documents suggest that there was a third possibility: Hubbard’s references to separating the mind from the body with the use of a .45-caliber weapon was another form of intimidation he used against former members.
Whether or not these men (and Paulette Cooper, for that matter) were actually targeted for homicide, the point was that Scientology wanted them to think that they were.
As Mike explains in the show, the point of Fair Game was to create terror so that the target backed off from criticizing Scientology.
And, as Mike and Leah also point out, everything that happened to Paulette, as revolting as it was, was according to existing Scientology policy that has not changed.
“It won’t ever change,” Leah says.
Another great episode of this gripping podcast.
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“You’ve heard time and again how dangerous it is. You mustn’t fool around with the mind! Perfectly all right to take a meat ax to the brain, but you mustn’t fool around with the mind! I got my belly so full in 1950 of psychoanalysts telling me how dangerous it was to fool around with the mind. But I finally more or less rejected it with laughter, because I looked at who was talking. And when he said fool around, man, he meant fool around, because I found out he could not study Dianetics; he could not do it. And do you know our main departure from training psychoanalysts and psychiatrists and medical doctors is not really based on the fact we are antipathetic toward them at all. It’s the fact that they can’t seem to duplicate study materials. And it’s just so hard, it’s so tough.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 18, 1966
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“So how come you keep bashing LRH 2.0 (Justin)? Have you talked to him, have you studied the tech he is putting out, have you run the processes? I have done all three. I have known the being that is LRH for many, many years and lifetimes. I tell you and all who listen that he is LRH and this new tech of LRH’s is magic. Magic that works in days not years. His game had been to find a one-shot Clear process. He never got that, came close on SCS. But this tech is as close to a one-shot OT as has ever been created. So instead of giving your opinion get some of the facts then talk.”
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“Not only are there numerous loopholes allowing dangerous cults to operate freely, there are numerous loopholes allowing idiots to buy wild, endangered animals. A portion of these animals end up at canned hunting operations in Dumbfuckistan where they are gunned down by Dick Cheney and evil fucks of that ilk. It’s gotta stop.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Motion for reconsideration denied on August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (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, trial set for Nov 9, 2021. Plaintiffs granted permission to file changes to amended complaint by Sept 4.
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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 is staffing its Narconon in Ireland like it’s already won court approval
[TWO years ago] From Jon Atack’s ‘Blue Sky’: Reorganizing Scientology as L. Ron Hubbard’s life waned
[THREE years ago] As he predicted, Pastor Willy Rice gets the Scientology ‘Fair Game’ treatment
[FOUR years ago] New Scientology financial disclosures reflect the dire state of its chief drug rehab
[FIVE years ago] Google helps Scientology huckster Per Wickstrom bury a rehab patient death
[SIX years ago] Scientology graduation videos from Copenhagen? Yes, please!
[SEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: A Scientology Advertising Bonanza!
[EIGHT years ago] Former President of Narconon Oklahoma Now Calls It “Watered-Down Version of Introductory Scientology”
[NINE years ago] Scientology Watching Hits the Beach!
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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 2,033 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,537 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,057 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,077 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 968 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,275 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,143 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,917 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,721 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,037 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,603 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,522 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,690 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,271 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,532 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,570 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,283 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,808 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,338 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,898 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,038 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,358 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,213 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,332 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,688 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,991 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,097 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,499 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,371 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,954 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,449 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,703 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,812 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 18, 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
