For several weeks we’ve been posting Scientology’s advertising for its big June 27 “All-Ideal USA” fundraising event, the closest the organization gets to a big international event these days as the pandemic hangs on.
We know that Scientology leader David Miscavige is close to opening new “Ideal Orgs” that were delayed because of the lockdowns in places like Austin and Chicago. But he’s also charging ahead to get money raised for even more gleaming new cathedrals in places like New Haven, St. Louis, Long Island, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
Are new expensive facilities needed in those places because Scientology is experiencing a boom? Oh heck no. This is just more of Miscavige’s obsession with new buildings as his organization continues to dwindle.
Scientology claims to have millions of members, but look, they are bursting with pride that they managed to get 750 people to sign in for a Zoom blowout after weeks and weeks of heavy promotion.
And what happened during this online shindig? Oh, we’re sure it was off the hook. We figured you’d want to see the entire report, one of those lengthy visual flyers that were so common a few years ago.
Here it is, the state of Scientology in the USA today.
Whew. That’s a great report. And no time to relax — the next grab for your wallet is happening later today!
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“Very few engrams start out with words, usually they start out with something like ‘splat’ or ‘clink’ or ‘tinkle’ or ‘thump.’ There’s something ahead of what you are running. People who have non-sonic don’t pick up this material too well, but it will still come through.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 11, 1950
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“Our Richard Gorman has done the most effectively gruesome anti-psychiatry poster I’ve ever seen. I photographed it in colour and it’s off to the pubs for colour photolitho and the world. US news has barely mentioned Rockefellers many later visits! Only European carried it hard. Couldn’t be US Press is censored? Or maybe owned? We were told to sail by pilot due to storm. We’ll be going when it abates. We’re all cleared out of port. Hence no liberty possible, sorry.” — The Commodore, July 11, 1969
“We are all spiritual beings. It is easy to hate the murderer, to hate the rapist, to hate Hitler – but even they are spiritual beings trapped in their own nightmare. If any of us were placed in the same life as they were, with the same experiences, same parents, same friends, we would have been exactly as they are. I know that can offend people, but our experiences determine our choices in life, this is a scientific fact. It may seem like I am pardoning the evils of the world but I assure you, I despise the actions, not the being. The less we confuse the spiritual self with the physical self, the happier we will be and the happier others will be around us. Who you really are can only be found out and experienced by you, and helped along by your auditor.”
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2000: A statement by former Scientologist Susan MacDonald was posted to a.r.s this week by Stacy Brooks, President of the Lisa McPherson Trust. “Following are some of the major outpoints that I have observed with some examples and my conclusion as to what each means to me. Class IV and V Orgs have contracted, or at best remained the same size for 20 years. I have observed the course and growth (or lack thereof) of my own local organization for over 15 years. Despite the peaks and valleys of more staff at times and less staff at times, the overall result is that the org is not one bit larger, nor is it producing any more products than it was 15 years ago. I thought this might have been an isolated org, so I began questioning friends who live in other cities about their local orgs. The information is the same. Most of them have a staff of not over 20 and most of these are part-time staff members. Lower orgs than the AOs and FLAG are being used like missions to an org they send their public to the higher orgs as rapidly as possible. Those public that remain on the local level are moving so slowly up the Bridge and are so few in number that the orgs are slowly dying from lack of support.”
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“In Hubbard’s own words the Church of Scientology is an anti-democratic organization whose stated goal is world domination. The German government has deemed Scientology a totalitarian orientated group and has decided that Scientologists are ineligible to hold certain government jobs. I believe this is a very wise decision on their part.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for August 9. Trial tentatively scheduled for early November.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference August 21 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Sept 9.
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 to US Supreme Court submitted on May 26. Scientology responded on June 25.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court granted review on May 26 and asked the Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Oral arguments scheduled for Oct 5.
— 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: Third 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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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
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 BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. 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] ‘Scientology’s Hogwarts’ and other schools got PPP loans
[TWO years ago] Scientology and the FDA: The conspiracy that never was
[THREE years ago] Scientology hip-hop continues to amaze us, and we hope it transports you as well
[FOUR years ago] How Humira, the world’s best selling drug, is helping to finance Scientology into the future
[FIVE years ago] Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s caretaker and friend, Steve ‘Sarge’ Pfauth, 1945-2016
[SIX years ago] The story of Brian Sheen and his ‘disconnected’ Scientology daughter you haven’t heard
[SEVEN years ago] Ken Dandar could use a cool million in his fight against Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] Mike Rinder: Is the Leah Remini Anonymous Smear Website Coming Soon?
[NINE years ago] Scientology Relents: Will Hold a Memorial for Son of Church President, Mother Not Invited
[TEN years ago] Listen: A Scientologist’s Anthem to the “Galactic Patrol”
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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 2,358 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,863 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,383 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,403 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,294 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,601 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,469 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,243 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,573 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,047 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,363 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,929 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,848 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,016 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,597 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,858 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,896 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,609 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,134 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 489 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,664 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,215 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,364 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,684 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,539 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,658 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,014 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,317 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,423 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,825 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,697 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,280 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,775 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,029 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,138 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 11, 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
