On 9/11, Scientology leader’s ‘wake-up call’ was supposed to expand the church

On this solemn 20th anniversary, we are continuing to look back at the events that changed our lives in such significant ways on September 11, 2001.

Yesterday, we had a piece at The Daily Beast about Scientology’s reaction to 9/11, and described how Bruce Hines was on the roof of the 46th Street org when the attacks began. We also talked to Mike Rinder about how underwhelming he found the New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Program, which started in 2003, when he took Barbara Walters through it.

We also talked to Marc Headley about his memories of that era. We knew he was in California at the time, but he did have some interesting observations that contribute to what Bruce and Mike told us…

I remember when this was being set up. The New York Detox/Tom Cruise set-up was a watered-down Scientology Purification Program. It has all the exact L. Ron Hubbard instructions and writings. They just had the Scientologese stripped out of them and said, “based on the works of L Ron Hubbard.” This is the same thing that is done for the Narconon courses. The NY detox program likely uses the same courses as a Narconon. If the courses are different, it is likely just the branding and packaging that varies from course to course. The Detox portion would also be the Scientology Purification Program part of the Narconon program without the other Scientology course components.

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Around this time at the base, 2004, Dave Miscavige had a giant hard-on for anything Tom Cruise was doing. I talk about this a bit in my book, Blown For Good. After many years (since the early 1990s) of not coming to the Int Base to play around with Miscavige, Tom Cruise was coming to the base again. He was using the Scientology filming facilities for film research. In daily meetings, Miscavige told us that he was briefing Tom Cruise on what fuck ups the Int Base Sea Org members were. In addition, Dave Miscavige told us that Tom Cruise had offered his services to get us “in-line” himself if needed. This was his way of saying that Tom Cruise would come and kick our asses for Dave Miscavige if he wanted. This, of course, never happened. If it did happen, it would have been like the Lollipop Guild taking on the crew of the Love Boat, which would have been one hell of a story.

In terms of the NY Detox, I remember having video teams there shooting whatever Cruise did with the NYC fire stations and the detox centers. We also interviewed a ton of firefighters and first responders for these videos. We made a video that should be in someone’s collection. The video would likely be in the New Year’s event video for 2004. If it is not in that one, it would be in the videos for 2004 LRH birthday, March 13. So we made a video either way. I am also pretty sure that we used some of the footage in the 2004 Tom Cruise Freedom Medal award video as well.

The Tom Cruise award video talks about how Tom Cruise has introduced “millions or billions” of people to Scientology and LRH tech. And, of course, the NY Detox program media and program reach is being counted in that insanely grossly inflated figure.

 
There’s another landmark that’s reaching its 20-year anniversary that we must mention in the 9/11 context. And that’s David Miscavige’s response to it, his special “Inspector General Network Bulletin No. 44,” also known as “The Wake-Up Call.”

Like he did last year when the pandemic hit, Miscavige produced an IGN bulletin as a call to arms to his followers, and at least in 2001 there were more church members to answer the call.

“Bluntly, we are the only people of Earth who can reverse the decline, and we do not have an endless amount of time to pull it off. Every sector of Scientology activity plays a vital role that must be fulfilled,” Miscavige wrote with characteristic bombast.

And Scientologists, of course, understood the real cause of the tragedies on 9/11.

“Every one of these attacks, and endless world conflicts, can be traced to a lack of real technology of the mind and reliance on false mental therapies of psychiatry and psychology.”

So what should Scientologists do about this “wake-up call?” Would you be shocked to learn that Miscavige’s battle cry was about spending money on Scientology courses?

“It does matter that you take a course. Putting it off until later, or fitting it in two hours a week, in between other ‘interesting’ activities, will not do. Your future as a being is at stake. So is the future of those you love and the world at large. It does matter that you avail yourself of auditing and move personally up The Bridge. Again, it is your eternity. But it also helps all dynamics with one more Clear or OT as a stable datum, bringing that much more sanity to this planet.”

Spend a boatload on Scientology auditing and save the world! What better message could there be with smoldering ruins in New York and Washington?

The goal, he explained, was expansion of Scientology. But how was that different than any other year, when Scientologists were constantly under pressure from Miscavige to fork over larger and larger amounts, and with promises that the organization was growing faster than ever?

Looking back, we’re surprised to see Miscavige even attempt to acknowledge that in his bulletin.

“Yes, we are far bigger and more influential than in any previous year. And that size makes expansion easier. We have stable bases of operation in our Churches and social betterment activities. With even more on the way.”

Oh, OK. But this time it’s different.

Anyway, it’s a great document, and we thought you might want to look it over as we all take stock of this somber occasion.

 
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Another Scientologist chiropractor facing prison time

In 2018 we noted that a South Carolina chiropractor, Joseph Ben Barton, was being sued by an ex-employee who claimed he had not only tried to force her to have sex with him, but that he’d also attempted to force Scientology on her.

We pointed out that the lawsuit included sordid accusations such as…

“After Doe received the first $1,700 bonus check, Barton told Doe if she wanted to keep receiving bonuses and be employed at MPM she would either have to give him oral sex or to show Barton her naked breasts.”

“Barton requested that Doe not wear panties to work.”

“Barton sexually harassed Doe…by texting her…’You ever do a black guy?’…’Just making sure. I don’t like banging chicks that screw blacks.’”

We predicted that the lawsuit would be settled quickly. But now it turns out that Barton is in even bigger trouble as he’s pleaded guilty to Medicare fraud. It’s not on the scale of his fellow Scientologist chiropractor Jay Spina, who was accused of diverting some $80 million through fraud and is currently serving 9 years in prison, but the $194,000 that Barton is accused of falsely billing still has him facing up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Jeffrey Augustine has the details, and the federal press release, over at his blog.

 
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Jon Atack on black and white thinking

 
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Source Code

“Several things need clarifying. And one is the length of the time track. And a lot of you have had considerable protest on the subject of the length of the time track. Because trillions of trillions of trillions of trillions of trillions of years, you know, T-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-T-T, you know and, ‘Oh, my God, ho, ho, ho! Oh, ho, ho dear! Getting so long. Da, dsa, dya, dya, dya, oh! Uh!’ You hear that around every once in a while. You probably felt like that yourself, you know. Well, I just have good news for you in that particular department. What I would choose to call ‘modern times’ extends from trillions – thirteen till now. That’s modern times. The stuff that’s more likely to influence the preclear in present time. Well, this is very germane.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 11, 1963

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“The Russian Cholera spread has altered our sailing schedule. The Eastern Med is crawling with Cholera bugs with red hammers and sickles stamped on them and certified to be lethal by the World Health Organization who needs a PR push to grab a quick buck from governments. It really isn’t dangerous but we’ll stay away from such areas. All ships except the Russian vessels carrying the disease are subject to Quarantine. Coming from a cholera port could get us one month quarantine which would mean no Couriers. So we just don’t risk being in a port that can be declared a cholera port or is one. Simple.” — The Commodore, September 11, 1970

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“My feeling regarding LRH at the moment is that he experienced far more difficulties with implementing Scientology here than he anticipated and is taking his time to destimulate before jumping into the morass again. I suspect that Justin Craig was a BT from LRH who wasn’t fully handled.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1999: Court files in a criminal case against Scientologists in Marseilles have been destroyed, leading to speculation that Scientology was involved in the operation. From the Associated Press: “France’s Justice Ministry opened an investigation Wednesday into the destruction of evidence against the Church of Scientology in a Marseilles court. ‘I will shed light on this malfunction,’ said Justice Minister Elisabeth Guigou. ‘It’s serious that this evidence has disappeared.’ Marseilles court officials alerted the Justice Ministry to the removal of more than three tons of evidence in August, saying the destruction appeared to be accidental. The Marseilles prosecutor’s office said in a statement that the disposal of certain sealed files was a result of ‘negligence’ by a court clerk and not an intentional act. The documents relate to an investigation opened in 1990 against regional Scientology leaders in the southern coastal cities of Marseilles and Nice for alleged fraud and illegal practice of medicine. Seven of those leaders are scheduled to go on trial Sept. 20. The destruction of the evidence will not delay the trial, the officials said. According to a lawyer representing the plaintiff, a former Scientologist, the evidence destroyed includes financial statements, notes concerning Scientology members and apparatus known as ‘electrometers,’ designed to measure ‘self-control.'”

 
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Random Howdy

“You would think a Scientology connection would be enough to kill any political campaign if it was really played up in the media.”

 
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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 November 10. Trial tentatively scheduled for February.
— 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 October 7 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for November 19.

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30, 2020 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 23. Appeal hearing held Aug 23-27.

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.

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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 BLACK OPS: Episode 3 leaks online, with bizarre kidnap attempt in broad daylight
[TWO years ago] After 3 years of Hurricane Leah: ‘Scientology today is light years ahead of what it was’
[THREE years ago] A visit from a private investigator has us wondering if Scientology is behind it
[FOUR years ago] HURRICANE LEAH: ‘The defenses are crumbling. Scientology in Los Angeles is dying.’
[FIVE years ago] How Scientology repackages itself and takes in the New York Police Department and NY schools
[SIX years ago] US Army catches Scientology ‘detox’ study rigging results, government document shows
[SEVEN years ago] DOX: Scientology drug rehab center found deficient after a 2010 California death
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Slackers: How to Audit Away Your Passive-Aggressive, Dominating Deviancy!
[NINE years ago] Scientology President’s Son Died of Prescribed Methadone While Sick With Pneumonia

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 11, 2021 at 07:00

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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

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