Scientology is back!
Oh wow, it’s been so long since we’ve seen this version of Scientology — Dave’s push to get all of the orgs ‘Ideal’ and all at once — that we nearly forgot how fun it was.
Scientology has been mostly shut down for the last year, of course, just like everything else, but now it’s reemerging from the pandemic and leader David Miscavige has clearly put the word out that it’s time to get the extreme fundraising going again.
If you remember, since 2003 Miscavige had been gradually converting standard “orgs” (their word for churches) in large cities around the world into new “Ideal” versions, spending millions on renovating buildings and then having showy grand openings, from London to New York to Madrid to Tokyo.
Along the way, he had paid huge amounts for buildings in places like Chicago and Detroit and Kansas City that had sat rotting for about a decade until it was finally their turn to be spruced up for a show.
But then, and we nearly forgot about this, just before the pandemic hit Miscavige had suddenly changed his tune. Now he was abandoning the gradual, city by city approach and wanted Scientologists in every place in the world to push to get their local org turned Ideal and right now, now, now!
Then the coronavirus arrived, and everything went dormant. But with the pandemic beginning to recede in most places, it’s time to get back on the fundraising train, baby!
And what would Scientology fundraising be without fun video trailers! Our thanks to the reader who sent this clip along. Get ready USA, to go Ideal here, there, and everywhere!
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Bonus items from our tipsters
Things are ratcheting up in Chicago!
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Leah Remini podcast: Devon Graham Hammonds
Says Mike: “This week we talk with our guardian angel at A&E, Devon Graham Hammonds. Devon was VP Programming (she has since moved on and is now an executive at the production company that produced the show) and oversaw The Aftermath show in every respect. We talk about how the show came to be with a lot of behind-the-scenes glimpses into what it was like to make The Aftermath — including the Fair Gaming of everyone concerned and the challenges the network and production company and everyone who worked on the show faced. We also cover why the show ended (it was not, as Scientology crowed ‘because we got it canceled’).” Listen to the episode here!
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“Every physicist, every single physicist, including Newton, and all the rest of the boys, have fallen flat on their faces by not establishing the basic conditions of what they were dealing with. They have started from an unreasonable assumption. They’ve assumed that somebody knew what space was, and have gone on from there. And they’ve decided that somebody knew what a static was, and they’ve gone on from there. And of course they’d wind us up in trouble sooner or later with a thing like an atom bomb. Naturally, they’d wind us up in trouble because they didn’t know where they were proceeding. This is not an indictment, you understand, of science at large. It’s just hoping it will perish soon. Because if this is the scientific method, to start with unreasonable assumptions and never discover what your definitions are before you proceed into a problem, then we want nothing to do with a scientific method. And you actually are then not following the scientific method, because that is the scientific method. You’re really not dealing, then, in the field of science if the field of science is what we have had in psychology and physics. Because then we are not dealing with this. Because we do this, and there are a new set of principles established here. And the only thing you could call them, I guess, would be a Scientological method, as unhandy as Scientology becomes when you start to add suffixes to it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 4, 1954
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“HARD WORK: Diana, in readying up the CS-6 post so she could leave, worked 72 hours straight through and then boarded the plane. It is not fully known that, with Franchise and Celebrity Centres, Diana handles many more orgs herself than the whole FB. Blackburn Smith is standing in as her deputy during her three week absence. Due to the jumbled state my photo gear was allowed to get into I couldn’t find a camera to give her but fixed it so she could buy one and thus bring back pictures of her travels. I think this is her first vacation in four years in the SO.” — The Commodore, May 4, 1971
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“Why am I a Scientologist? Just naturally smart. I was born very intelligent. And intelligence is the ability to resolve problems relating to survival.”
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1995: Farewell to Jonathon “the Idiot,” who posted frequently to a.r.s in the past few weeks about there being no representatives of Scientology among the active posters in the group. Here’s his sign-off. “Retraction: I retract all statements I have been previously [posting] on this newsgroup and in e-mail. I am not in a position to make statements regarding the applied religious philosophy known as Scientology nor the Church of Scientology. I apologize for any confusion I may have caused here. As a declared SP, I cannot be fully trusted and my past ethics history gives evidence to this. Disregard my previous postings and e-mail messages. Thank you, Jonathon”
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“People keep calling for the government to do something about Scientology. I just hope none of those people are the same people calling for a lot less government, because that would be kind of hypocritical, don’t you think? And I’ll leave it at that.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Preliminary hearing set for May 18.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for June 18.
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.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. June 7: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 24.
Concluded litigation:
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— 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.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. 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 a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Danny Masterson: Drop me from Scientology lawsuit if the ‘Jane Does’ won’t name themselves
[TWO years ago] Scientology measles ship back in Curaçao, which talks tough about quarantine
[THREE years ago] Federal judge smacks down Scientology’s shameless attempt to delay forced-abortion case
[FOUR years ago] Forced abortions, beatings, and sleep deprivation: The FBI on Scientology’s Sea Org
[FIVE years ago] Scientology confirms it won’t oppose Monique Rathbun’s plans to ditch lawsuit
[SIX years ago] More from a secretly-recorded executive griping about Scientology’s sad state of affairs
[SEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology says, May the Fourth be with you
[EIGHT years ago] SCIENTOLOGY TO CALIFORNIA SUPREMES: State’s Priest-Penitent Law is Unconstitutional
[NINE years ago] Amanda Palmer Loved Kate Bornstein’s Memoir So Much, She Crashed the Book Party
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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 2,291 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,795 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,315 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,335 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,226 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,533 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,401 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,175 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,505 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,979 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,295 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,861 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,780 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,948 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,529 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,790 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,828 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,541 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,066 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 421 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,596 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,147 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,296 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,616 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,471 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,590 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,946 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,249 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,355 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,757 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,629 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,212 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,707 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,961 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,070 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 4, 2021 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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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, 15 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
