We told you a few weeks ago that the fundraisers at Scientology couldn’t help themselves and they jumped on the Tom Cruise bandwagon, trying to get a piece of that ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ success.
Well, now we get to see the result. We always love to see these lengthy event reports from the church, and we think you like them too. Here’s what happened at the Top Gun extravaganza!
[Key to Scientology codes: Vanguard: $35,000. Humanitarian: $100,000. Silver Humanitarian: $250,000. Gold Humanitarian: $500,000. New Civilization Builder: $1 million.]
What’s that? The Fabos Factor hits ‘Ideal Civilization Builder’? What’s that, $2 million? $5 million?
This planet will be cleared in no time.
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Today in Los Angeles: The Bixler case is back
In January, a California appeals court issued a stunning decision that reversed a lower court ruling and ended a long winning streak for the Church of Scientology.
For several years, Scientology had successfully derailed lawsuits brought by former members by claiming that contracts Scientologists sign obliged them to take their grievances to Scientology’s own internal “religious arbitration” and not to a court of law. Three American judges had agreed with this logic, putting lawsuits in limbo.
But then in January California’s 2nd Appellate Division found that Danny Masterson’s accusers, who had sued him and the Church of Scientology for harassment, should not be held to the contracts they had signed while still members in the church. Because the allegations of stalking and harassment had occurred after the plaintiffs had left Scientology, the contracts should no longer apply, the 3-justice panel ruled.
So today is the first hearing back at Los Angeles Superior Court and in the courtroom of Judge Steven Kleifield since his ruling was overturned by the appellate court.
Both sides are asking for a stay in the case, but for very different reasons. The plaintiffs — Chrissie Carnell-Bixler, her husband rocker Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Bobette Riales, and two women going by Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 — want the lawsuit put on ice until the separate criminal case against Masterson is resolved. Masterson is scheduled to go to trial on October 11 for forcibly raping Carnell-Bixler and the two Jane Does, and if he’s convicted he faces 45 years to life. The trial is expected to last about four weeks.
Scientology, however doesn’t want the lawsuit held up for the criminal trial. Instead, it wants the case put on hold while it petitions the US Supreme Court about the January ruling by the 2nd Appellate District.
We expect it’s mostly going to be a technical, legalistic hearing this morning, but we’re interested to see if our observers there note anything about Kleifield having been overturned. We’ll let you know what they tell us.
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Technology cocktail
“THE BLACK THETAN GOALS: From about 390 trillion trillion years to 370 trillion trillion years ago, the Black Thetan goals were given. These were given in a glade surrounded by the stone heads of ‘black thetans’ who spat white energy at the trapped thetan. The trapped thetan was motionless. The pattern is the earliest “To” form of GPM now known. There were six RIs per goal, consisting of: Accomplished Not Accomplished Action (ing) Never Action (ing) Goal Not Goal. There were from 15 to 18 goals in the series, all of a simple nature such as To End, To be Dead, To be Asleep, etc. The full series will be published at a later date but is easily reconstructed, always following the same pattern of six.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1963
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Now available: A bonus for our supporters
In order to thank our subscribers for their generosity, we finally decided to put together something that people have been asking us about for a long time: Yes, we recorded the first Underground Bunker podcast this week. It went out Saturday to our paid subscribers, and features the inimitable Marc Headley telling us some great stories about Scientology leader David Miscavige that we had never heard before. Give it a listen!
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“If you’ve had dreams of just going right straight through to Clear without ever being a Release, why, you might as well come off of it because — That’s all right, you and a lot of others will learn how to do Class VII before you’re through, so. It isn’t too hard to do. But that’s the easiest and safest way. And then you find out R6 materials, they just run like a bomb. My God! There’s nothing to it because you’re just right straight at it and everything as-ises like mad.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 29, 1965
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“A shark swam alongside today and said, ‘Who is it?’ and I said ‘Who is what?’ and he said, ‘Who is petitioning to leave out here in mid ocean?’ And I said ‘How’d you know that?’ And he said, ‘you’re not tearing up your despatches very good before you throw them over.’ He was real put out. Thought I was invalidating him by saying he couldn’t read. I ordered him to Review and get rid of the ARC Break but he hasn’t any priority — and anyway he’ll have to wait for our waterproof E-Meter. He’s out there now muttering. Do I get some Dianetic sessions today or do I put the shark on course?” — The Commodore, June 29, 1969
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“I see there is just no use in reasoning with you. I’m convinced you’re quite literally insane (as per LRH’s version). The one thing that I’ll leave here is that if we don’t at least try to reach for awareness through becoming more Theta and less entheta, we all become objects. You will become part of MEST as will I if I don’t at least try. Your stuckness will literally make you stuck in MEST. It’s funny Because you’re trying so desperately to control the world around you, and in the end the world around you and Thetans will end up controlling you. There is still time. Consider this the last time you have to make changes, because you know what I say is true if you believe in the whole time track. I feel sorry for you, sincerely.”
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1996: The office of Scientology lawyer Kendrick Moxon issued a press release concerning the recent demise of the Cult Awareness Network. Moxon litigated the Scott case, which led to the award that caused CAN’s insolvency. “The civil rights attorney who filed the motion to dismiss CAN’s attempt to protect its assets in the bankruptcy court, Kendrick Moxon, said ‘CAN’s sole purpose now is to start paying off its victims and the people it has hurt’ referring to the $4.9 million judgment against CAN and three others in the kidnapping of a Seattle area man who belonged to a Pentecostal church. That 1994 civil rights case was brought under the federal statute commonly known as the Ku Klux Klan Act and was the largest civil damages award rendered against CAN or any deprogrammer in U.S. history. CAN tried to avoid paying the punitive and actual damages assessed against it by declaring Chapter 11 bankruptcy late last year. Moxon, who has fought for civil and religious rights for decades, added, ‘CAN was a hate group that promoted religious intolerance, broke up families and incited hatred. It had a long history of criminal acts and kidnapping activities. Religious freedom is a little more free now.'”
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“Tommy must shudder whenever he hears Leah’s name and he imagines what D.M. would be doing to him, if he could, considering his ‘you don’t have the fucking rank’ was a major catalyst in her defection.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— ‘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
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for September 19.
— 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] Can someone let Tom Cruise know that his Scientology bandleader has died?
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s global virus playacting was supplied by giant California slave labor plant
[THREE years ago] David Miscavige’s pet projects result in constant fundraising pressure
[FOUR years ago] In Scientology, going Clear is like leasing a car, and David Miscavige is Repo Man
[FIVE years ago] HowdyCon: Aussie journalist Steve Cannane’s response to Marty Rathbun
[SIX years ago] Why Lisa Marie Presley’s custody battle likely has nothing to do with Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] Augustine: Taking a hard look at Scientology’s slush fund, the unlicensed and unregulated IAS
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Nancy Cartwright freak-out edition
[NINE years ago] When Jon Atack Declared David Miscavige a Suppressive Person
[TEN years ago] SCIENTOLOGY ABANDONED BY L. RON HUBBARD’S GRANDDAUGHTER AND DAVID MISCAVIGE’S FATHER
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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 2,710 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,215 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,765 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,755 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,646 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,952 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,821 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,595 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,926 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,399 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,715 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,281 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,200 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,368 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,948 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,210 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,246 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,961 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,486 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 841 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,016 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,567 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,716 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,036 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,891 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,010 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,366 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,669 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,775 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,173 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,049 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,632 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,127 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,381 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,490 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 29, 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
