TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: It turns out that Scientology is serving up different ‘success stories’ on its digital magazines depending on what part of the world you’re logging in from. We’d love to get your thoughts about which continent is serving up the most effective slogans of success! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Man tears his idols apart trying to get a bit of desirable beingness. Every thetan wants to heal at sight; so they crucified Christ. And sold pieces of the cross. A pc who assumes the aches of another wishes to be that other. He is short on beingness. He accepts it obsessively.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1958
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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 as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney
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“Many an auditor falls for this because the PC wants to know how come he was on the planet Yuk-zuk in a railway conductor’s uniform, you see? What was he doing there? And that’s all very interesting and we can assuage his curiosity to some degree, but if we go in for just assuaging the curiosity of the thing — dramatizing watching TV or something like that, you see — we unfortunately get into the situation where we’re not following down an engramic chain. So here, you see, is another great liability in running engrams. We get so absorbed in dramatis personae and that sort of thing, that we actually aren’t running the chain of engrams at all, we are simply trying to find out. See, get that as a liability, because it is a liability. You actually can find out all about what this PC was doing on the planet Yuk-zuk. You could find out all about it. The only trouble is the basic on it was on the planet Pan-wan, which was a trillion years earlier. You see?” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 11, 1963
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“No member of the Ships Company as per Flag Order is permitted to bring any pet aboard without permission. Gerry McLarty and Maria Bosselaar have brought aboard birds of the Psittacine family and Julie Blundell has a bird of unknown variety. These birds may endanger our free pratique at the next port entry. More particularly, Psittacine birds can develop psittacosis, an infectious virus disease, which can be transmitted to humans and so are a health hazard.” — Capt. Mary Sue Hubbard, June 11, 1969
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“Of course anybody can offer an opinion on the subject of the destiny of LRH after death, and even comment on the several topics, ranging from Galactic Patrol commanders to reincarnated LRHs on Earth. But when these opinions are done by tech people with altitude, namely those in the independent field or the Europe/American Freezone, the opinion has great influence. If the commentator suffers from lack of understanding of the basic Scientology tech, then great damage is made. This is the case when tech people in the independent or Freezone or Church of Scientology field comment on the statement that LRH at death assumed the identity of Galactic Patrol Commander Elron Elrey at Galactic Central (comment made by Capt. Bill Robertson, the founder of the Freezone). If you happen to know well the data on the ‘Time Track of Theta’ tapes, and the ‘History of Man’ Series, you will understand that not only could LRH go to Galactic Central, but that he might have one or several reincarnations here on Earth, simultaneously.”
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2001: Leipziger Volkszeitung reported that Norbert Bluem accepted the Leipzig Human Rights award for his activism against Scientology. “Bluem received the ‘Leipzig Human Rights Award’ in the Old Stock Exchange. He was honored for his involvement against the Scientology Organization. Bluem was the only federal minister so far who had gotten publicly involved with Scientology’s ‘new totalitarianism,’ as the sect commissioner of the Berlin-Brandenburg Church, Thomas Gandow, read in the decision. Rev. Gandow is a founding member of the European-American Citizens Committee for Human Rights and Religious Freedom in the USA. This committee is active against new totalitarian movements and functions as the body responsible for the award. Bluem has already been attacked both verbally and in court by the Scientologists. So far without success. That never stopped him in Spiegel magazine, for example, from accusing the Scientologists of ‘psychological warfare’ or getting an order to stop them from running private employment agencies, Gandow remembered. He said that Bluem was the only high-ranking federal politician who had expressed himself publicly against the religious community. It said in the award basis that the the distinction should help support politicians in their efforts ‘to put an end to the human rights violations that are being committed by the Scientology organization in the USA and in Europe.’ Leipzig was chosen by the Citizens Committee from among several European candidates for the award site. ‘A totalitarian regime has already once been brought to collapse from Leipzig,’ stated Solveig Prass. For that reason the award continues to have a picture of the Nikolai Church.”
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“The fact that the mayor couldn’t revoke the license for the Scientologists to erect their circus tent in punishment for their egregious act I find outrageous. The U.S legal system is way too convoluted for my liking.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Trial scheduled for August 15.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for June 26 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs asking permission for interlocutory appeal.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through June 28.
— 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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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] Recent controversies & financial crimes of Scientology: Katherine Olson interview, Part 2
[TWO years ago] Scientology sends out a deluge of mailers as its newest Texas location prepares to open
[THREE years ago] Scientologist attorney gets her first ‘head on a pike’ with OC health officer resignation
[FOUR years ago] Justin Bieber in the octagon? Why he couldn’t handle Tom Cruise’s Scientology powers
[FIVE years ago] When Scientology keeps a mother from her child in the ER: Lori Hodgson’s story
[SIX years ago] Neil Gaiman’s sis begs her fellow Scientologists to donate to an already funded building
[SEVEN years ago] BILLBOARD 2.0 — Phil and Willie Jones set their sights on Scientology’s mecca in Florida
[EIGHT years ago] Augustine: How L. Ron Hubbard devised Scientology’s most diabolical legal mechanisms
[NINE years ago] OKLAHOMA EMPANELS GRAND JURY TO INVESTIGATE SCIENTOLOGY’S DRUG REHAB
[TEN years ago] Precious Bodily Fluids: Scientology and the Purification Rundown
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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 3,057 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,562 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,112 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,102 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,993 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,297 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,168 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,273 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,720 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,062 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,628 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,547 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,714 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,296 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,557 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,593 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,309 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,873 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,188 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,363 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,914 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,045 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,383 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,238 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,357 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,713 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,016 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,122 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,520 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,396 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,979 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,474 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,728 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,837 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 11, 2023 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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
