Ukrainian refugees might think twice about Scientology offering ‘help’

Ireland is such a strange animal in the Scientology universe. In the last Irish census, only 87 people — yes, 87, in a country of 5 million souls — identified themselves as Scientologists. But that hasn’t prevented church leader David Miscavige from spending tens of millions there in recent years, building a new national office, a new Ideal Org and Community Centre in Dublin, and a new Narconon, which on its own required an expensive court battle.

Why? We’ve seen some pretty odd theories entertained by the press over there, but we’re convinced that Dave’s mad splurge is simply to impress his best pal, Tom Cruise, who in 2013 received honorary Irish citizenship and expressed some admiration for the country.

But even with millions spent and Scientology workers parachuted in from around the world, there’s no sign that the locals are any more interested in Scientology now than when Dave began his campaign. In fact, the locals keep a sharp eye out for Scientology’s sneaky moves.

And that’s why we heard from Mike Garde this week. He’s director of Dialogue Ireland, and he’s kept close watch on Scientology for decades. He wanted us to know about an event that’s scheduled for Friday night at the Scientology Community Centre in Firhouse, Dublin.

A flier and an online listing suggest that this is an event for a good cause: As a member of the European Union, Ireland has absorbed many Ukrainian refugees. But even as they’ve found a safe haven from the terrible war in their home country, many refugees are struggling.

So the event scheduled for Friday night will not only hope to raise money for Ukrainian refugees, but it will feature some folk dancing groups from places like Slovakia, Georgia, and Lithuania.

 
Certainly, these appear to be legitimate groups trying to raise money for a legitimate purpose. But Garde contacted us not only because the event will take place at the Scientology Community Centre, but also because one of the charities the event is hoping to raise money for is United for Human Rights. (We’ve highlighted it with a red box on the flier.)

Mike knew that we’d written about that group before.

“This is what Scientology does. It uses its building to gain influence, because they don’t have a community of their own,” he says.

United for Human Rights is a Scientology front group that was founded in 2001 by Scientologist Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, who has also tried to push Scientology on schools through the front group Applied Scholastics. And how do we know that Scientology leader David Miscavige uses UHR as a concerted effort to pave the way for Scientology to spread its influence?

Well, because he said exactly that, and we have it on a rare video.

We first posted the video about five years ago, although that particular embed no longer exists. So we dug it out again, because we want journalists to see Scientology’s own leader explaining how United for Human Rights is a Scientology campaign for Scientology purposes.

In this video, filmed at the 2006 Maiden Voyage event on Scientology’s private cruise ship the Freewinds, David Miscavige makes it explicit that Scientology had seized on a mostly forgotten “Universal Declaration of Human Rights” published by the United Nations in 1948. (For some reason Miscavige and Scientology never point out that the Declaration was largely a project spearheaded by Eleanor Roosevelt.)

You will hear Miscavige explain that Scientology can’t “clear” the planet until their human rights campaign has created the right conditions for its spread. He then introduces Heber Jentzsch to go into details about the kind of promotional materials that UHR had been putting out.

The irony here is off the charts. In 2006 when this was filmed, it had already been two years since Miscavige had created a prison for his own top executives that came to be known as “The Hole,” and Heber had been one of the most prominent prisoners in it.

We know that Heber was a prisoner in The Hole because he was seen there by other people being held in the office trailer that Miscavige had repurposed as a holding cell. One of them was Mike Rinder, the former Scientology spokesman who has become so well known for his work with actress Leah Remini.

Mike has talked about being a prisoner in the Hole and then being dragged out when Miscavige needed him. In his case Mike was pulled out of the Hole in 2007 in order to “handle” BBC journalist John Sweeney.

Here, Heber — who years earlier had been the personable, well known spokesman for Scientology and was actually well liked by journalists at the time — has been pulled out of his incarceration long enough to give this presentation.

He’s clearly scared shitless. Just listen to his forced, rapid-fire recitation, terrified that Miscavige is about to have him go lick a bathroom floor somewhere if he screws up.

After this Maiden Voyage presentation, Heber went right back to the Hole. And he’s never really left. We believe he’s still being kept behind the fences at Int Base, now well into his 80s and in poor health. This was the last speech he gave to his fellow Scientologists.

And it was about, of all things, human rights. Miscavige’s cynicism here, having his prisoner Heber Jentzsch talking about rights, is off the charts.

 
As for Friday night’s event in Dublin, concern for Ukrainian refugees will be used not only to get some warm bodies into Scientology’s Community Centre, but also to raise some money for its front group. We wanted the people taking part to know that.

We thanked Mike Garde for bringing this to our attention. He’s also trying to get some local media raising questions about this, and we hope he succeeds.

 
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Source Code

“The Romans were very kind; the early Christian was very, very cruel. So now we find out the Romans were very cruel and the early Christians were very kind. But the records don’t bear this out. Now, as far as survival is concerned, if you want to survive, I guess, be cruel. I suppose that’s the most short-term method of survival. But it’s not any long-term method of survival. But being kind and being ineffective, of course, is a fast way to the electric chair; it is a fast way to insolvency; it’s a fast way to bankruptcy of all kinds and descriptions; it’s a fast way to the death chamber and the cemetery. And more important to us, it is a fast way to oblivion on the whole track, being very kind.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 15, 1961

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“We have an overnight trip to our next port and arrive at 0700 hrs. Wake ups to be done at 0615 hrs so that ALL Condition I are on post by 0700, not just my Org Officer and I. A rapid turnout is expected. As it usually takes us more than an hour to enter, dock, neat up lines and secure to breakfast, Dept III must arrange to have coffee and rolls ready, at 0615 for Cond I to give ’em some vittles so they can lift hawsers and fenders. Have a good day.” — Lt. N.F. Starkey, Captain Apollo, June 15, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“I cannot say enough good things about NOTs — it is the most incredible level there is and there are many incredible levels. I was fortunate in not getting it in the Church of Scientology, but unfortunate in not getting it for so many years that I could have. I have also cleaned up people who have gotten it in the church to where they are really winning with it now. SPs don’t want you to do NOTs correctly as they will fade away into oblivion, which is their correct place in this world.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1996: The Cult Awareness Network (CAN) was forced to disband this week, as a result of the $1 million award against CAN in the Jason Scott case. Scott’s attorney was cult member Kendrick Moxon. Reuters reported: “A jury’s decision to award $1 million to a Kirkland man who had sued the Cult Awareness Network is forcing the non-profit group that monitors religious cults to shut down. The bankruptcy will force the network, based in Barrington, Ill., to liquidate its assets and shut down its telephone hot line, which takes an average of 20,000 calls a year.”

 
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Random Howdy

“Miscavige became emperor through the Hubbard-approved Roman rules of ascension which he achieved by his control of the Praetorian guard of the Sea Org, the CMO. Once becoming Caesar how could he smash his name into the history books of his hermit kingdom? He can’t add to the ‘tech’ so all that is left for him to do is BUILD BUILD BUILD. It’s all about the ruinous runt’s ego.”

 
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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 June 30. Trial scheduled for October 11.
— ‘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: Readiness hearing scheduled for August 22 in Los Angeles

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.

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] What lessons from the Nxivm prosecution should Scientology watchers take?
[TWO years ago] DONE SIR: Scientology leader David Miscavige caught flattering himself for virus PR ploy
[THREE years ago] Spend hundreds of thousands on Scientology, and the rain will part for you!
[FOUR years ago] First person: In Scientology, children are punished for being kids
[FIVE years ago] Marty Rathbun, Victoria Britton has a question for you about Scientology and judges
[SIX years ago] Wacky scenes from Scientology’s ‘Battlefield Earth’ launch on Hollywood Boulevard
[SEVEN years ago] The Scientology spy who came in from the cold: Len Zinberg, who apologized to Paulette Cooper
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Valley rocks as the fundraising rolls ever onward
[NINE years ago] OT Powers: Jon Atack on Scientology’s Promise to Make You Superhuman
[TEN years ago] VIDEO: Watch Sacto Mayor and Former NBA Star Kevin Johnson Suck Up to Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Inside Scientology Promises a Lot, and Delivers

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 15, 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

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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