We’re continuing to mine some material that a former Scientology large donor sent our way, including some videos from what we call “peak Scientology,” the era when leader David Miscavige obviously felt pretty invincible.
On Saturday, we showed you a short segment from the March 13, 2004 L. Ron Hubbard Birthday Event which demonstrated how Miscavige defines “clearing the planet,” which is Scientology’s ultimate aim. For Dave, it means nothing less than Scientology “orgs” in every city on Earth, and then control of the globe.
We wanted to show you another segment from that same presentation because it helps answer a question we hear a lot, and particularly from other journalists: What’s the connection between Scientology and the drug rehab network Narconon?
We often see media organizations tiptoe around this, saying that Narconon claims to have nothing to do with Scientology, but that they might be “affiliated” in some way.
But when reporters ask us, we tell them this just isn’t the case. The truth is that Scientology leader David Miscavige controls Narconon through a Scientology subsidiary, the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE), which is staffed by Sea Org members.
Narconon is Scientology, and the church considers it an arm of the organization that helps spread Scientology’s influence — not only with the people who may end up using its services, but also with public officials and “opinion leaders” who are gulled into thinking Narconon is anything but medical quackery.
We have often told reporters that the proof is that in various presentations, Miscavige has made it plain that Narconon is an arm of Scientology and part of its expansion effort. But until now, we didn’t have some footage to show them.
Now we do.
In this 2004 presentation, Miscavige is explaining how the “Ideal Org” program is the key to Scientology’s planetary takeover effort, because each Ideal Org will feature television screens showing short films about all of Scientology’s “technology” and also its efforts to reach the public, which include Narconon, Criminon (programs for prison inmates), and Applied Scholastics (which tries to get Hubbard materials into schools).
We’re very glad to have this footage now, and so in the future when reporters ask about the connection between Scientology and its rehab front, we can point them here.
You’ll see two short segments in the video. Another thing to keep in mind is that so many people we’ve talked to who joined Scientology in the 60s and 70s will tell you about how it was the personal touch that brought them in — the attention they got from someone at a mission or org who enticed them with explanations about what Scientology had to offer. But Miscavige doesn’t trust his own people to do that, and with his Ideal Orgs he has television screens explain what Scientology is to new people coming in off the street. At the end of this short video, you’ll see just how excited he is that films can be served up at the touch of a button to indoctrinate the new meat.
After nearly 20 years of Ideal Org projects around the world, however, it’s quite obvious that Dave’s cold, technology-based Ideal Orgs aren’t bringing in new people at all, and are sitting empty. But he’s only pushing his followers to build more and more of the things.
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“This is probably how the ancient magician enchanted things. Possibly princes have turned into deer in the forest. If you took a period in the magic universe when thetans were still capable of mocking up their own bodies, and you pulled some shocking stunt on the person and sandwiched them in that ‘You are now a deer,’ why, he’d cease to mock up the prince and start mocking up a deer, don’t you see? And he would be an enchanted deer. That would be how enchantments were accomplished. I mean, the mechanism of enchantment is no cruder than that.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 24, 1962
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“FISH AND SAUSAGES: There’s a native street off the main drag where fresh grilled fish, and a kind of hot dog and other bits cost about 10 cents apiece or less. Cokes can be gotten nearby. Don’t shoot the prices up. Interesting area.” — The Commodore, May 24, 1970
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“When I see former corporate Scientologists in the free world expressing doubts or outright disagreements with the truth or workability of Scientology – or railing against KSW, the thought immediately comes to mind that the person was failed by the organization somewhere along the line. Either that, or that person is a true SP who is only interested in using the tech to suppress and dominate others.”
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1995: It was reported this week that “A Piece of Blue Sky” was banned in Britain. This report was quickly followed by the following correction. “This is not, in fact, the case, and ‘A Piece of Blue Sky’ continues to be available […]. The rumour has arisen out of a court judgement awarded against Atack in a case brought by one Margaret Hodkyn, headmistress of the Greenfield School, the Scientology school in East Grinstead, Sussex, UK, which ordered the removal of a paragraph included in the book: specifically, the court ordered that no copies of the book containing a specific paragraph (first para, page 336 in the US edition) may be distributed in the UK.” The paragraph in question was posted to the group several times this week. “The head of the Scientology school in East Grinstead was being called as a witness She denied that a twelve-year-old girl had received a ‘withhold pulling session’ at the hand of three of the school’s staff To ‘pull withholds’ is Scientologese for making someone confess to their transgressions. Minutes of the school’s boards meetings had to be publicly available, yet the filed copy made no reference to the ‘withhold-pulling’ session. I obtained an unedited copy of the school’s board minutes, which not only proved the headmistress’s sworn statement untrue, but showed the school’s attempt at concealment.”
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“There are no shortage of folks here who enjoy a serious discourse, and there are those like myself who love satire, snark, and the absurd. That’s what makes this place so special. You need to be able to appreciate both to truly get the whole groovy effect of this place. And there’s a difference between respecting people and respecting their ‘beliefs’.”
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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 pretrial conference May 31. Trial scheduled for August 29.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference June 9 in Los Angeles
— Joseph ‘Ben’ Barton, Medicare fraud: Pleaded guilty, awaiting sentencing.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court.
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Eleventh Circuit affirmed ruling granting Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Garcias considering next move.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Valerie’s motion for reconsideration denied on March 15.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Next hearing scheduled for June 29.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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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] How the Scientology drama in Danny Masterson’s prelim appeared to a former Sea Org official
[TWO years ago] VIDEO: Proof Scientology still promotes Hubbard’s bizarre ideas about evolution
[THREE years ago] How Scientology created its own prison for children who chafed at lifetime service
[FOUR years ago] When rabid Scientologists got into a fistfight with US marshals to protect L. Ron Hubbard
[FIVE years ago] Believe it or not, a second season of Reza Aslan’s ‘Believer’ is coming
[SIX years ago] As Scientology sinks, does Tom Cruise really have to go down with the ship?
[SEVEN years ago] Paulette Cooper has a surprise for Scientology and the residents of a certain Florida town
[EIGHT years ago] When Scientologists sell each other Scientology: ‘I’m me for the first time in trillions of years’
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Enforcer Has a New Book: Will This Be The One We’re Waiting For?
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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 2,674 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,179 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,729 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,719 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,610 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,916 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,785 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,559 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,890 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,363 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,679 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,245 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,164 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,332 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,912 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,174 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,210 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,925 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,450 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 805 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,980 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,531 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,680 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,000 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,855 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,974 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,330 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,633 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,739 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,137 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,013 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,596 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,091 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,345 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,454 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 24, 2022 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
