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A cry for help: Disturbing handwritten letter found outside Scientology ‘mecca’

 
Sunday, we received a message from a person in Clearwater we had heard from a few times before.

He’s not an uncontroversial figure. His name is Gerald McGuire (he goes by Jerry online), and he was arrested in 2018 for making a suggestion on Twitter that someone should “shoot” former local Congressman David Jolly.

However, what McGuire found on the ground on the south side of Scientology’s “Flag Building” in its “spiritual mecca,” the Flag Land Base, was interesting and looked genuine, so we asked him to send us a copy of it. Instead, he delivered what he found — two handwritten notes — to Clearwater Vice Mayor Mark Bunker.

Bunker tells us that McGuire said a Scientology security guard told him the notes were his, and tried to take them from him, but McGuire refused and threatened to call police.

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We have showed the two handwritten notes to former Scientology executives, who say they look genuine. McGuire does not appear to be capable of having faked them, and we are taking these notes seriously.

Both notes were written by the same person, whose name we are holding back. The person is identified as an “Outer Org Trainee,” and we’re also holding back the name of the “org” — Scientology’s word for church — that they are visiting the Flag Land Base from.

Outer Org Trainees come to “Flag” for specialized training in order to deliver the “technology” of Scientology back at their home orgs. And these trainees are in for grueling conditions, which is reflected in the notes.

The note we’re going to show you (the other one is mostly just a repeat of the first) is labeled a “CSW” for “completed staff work,” which is actually a plea for permission to do something. At the bottom, the trainee writes “App” for approve, and “Disapp” for disapprove, hoping that their CSW is granted.

This CSW is dated June 10, and evokes the grueling conditions that these Scientology workers go through.

Data: I feel nauseous, head/migraine, dizzy and forgetting things, I think I’m dehydrated.

Sit[uation]: I have had loose stool for 2 days and headaches, been increasing my electrolytes and water and salt and it helps a little.

I was hungry this morning and ate breakfast and then got nauseous and at Chinese School felt like passing out, my team mate said I turned green. I’ve had more salt and electrolytes but couldn’t eat lunch, had a yogurt and bread and more water and electrolytes.

I did NOT want to have a cigarette after I ate which is very unusual.

Sol[ution]: Approve me to go home and rest and hydrate so I’m studentable tomorrow.

App:
Disapp:

The trainee is asking for permission simply to go home for the day and get some rest, and we don’t know if their request was approved or not.

We only know that this call for help ended up on the ground outside the Flag Land Base, and that it evokes so much of what we’ve been told about the place from so many people who have left Scientology.

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“This is exactly how a CSW is written,” says Karen de la Carriere, a former top Scientology auditor and Sea Org member. “And asking permission to be off the job requires such.” She said the document appeared authentic.

The reference to “Chinese School,” Karen explained, was “when a whole crew of an org chant like parrots the words of [Scientology founder] L. Ron Hubbard: The ‘Code of an Auditor,’ ‘Code of a Scientologist,’ ‘Code of Honor,” etc. It is painful to be a parrot, and it can last 30 minutes or more.”

She sent along this image from one of Scientology’s own publications demonstrating a “Chinese School,” with the original caption.

 

 
“If this isn’t mind implanting, I don’t know what is,” she added. “Imagine having to beg for a slot of time off when one is sick as a dog.”

 
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Technology Cocktail

“We know now just exactly what clears people. And we know exactly what a clear is. And we know exactly how to train and process. These are hard won riches. Don’t waste them and your time, too. This is the way out! Are some people so fond of the trap they avoid the flaming beacons which show the entrance? Or are they afraid to set Man free?” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1958

 
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

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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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Source Code

“Frankly it’s pure idiocy to cure somebody of an illness. This is idiocy. They just go and get sick again. You talk about a thankless task! It’s actually thankless, endless, does nothing for the society, gains nothing for the individual or anything else to amount to anything. This guy’s got an earache. So you work like mad to get this guy to recover from this earache, see. And so you cure him from his earache. Well, great day in the morning, he has now not got an earache. Great. How to raise society heroically onward and forward! Now, if you cure his earache, if you’re foolish enough to cure his earache, and work in just-in no direction but to cure his earache, you’re working exactly against his hidden standard. And, you aren’t really trying to remove the causes of having a hidden standard. So what’s he going to do? Well, next day he’s got ulcers. See?” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 13, 1963

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Avast, Ye Mateys

“SHORE STORY: Crew are reminded of our shore story — to know it and use it. QMs are reminded of our handouts — to use them (French ones). All crew are reminded that PR actions must also take security into mind. Some things you as Crew know about and should — that doesn’t mean “everyone” should know about them. Our operations in any country should be known by all crew and officers but only crew and officers. You are all now very aware of PR. Thank you — it’s really great and we can even improve it more — but lets become more aware now that security goes along with it.” — Lt. Barry Watson, PO, June 13, 1970

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Overheard in the FreeZone

“An individual can create a space of his own and it has no existence in this physical universe except by the postulate of its creator. Others can be invited to view and even enter this universe. It can grow and take on a life of its own. It can even become as large and ‘real’ as this universe, still having no existence in this universe. And so it has been. Another confusion that has been intentionally introduced, is that separate universes have their own timeline. So, to say that two or more universes can exist simultaneously is a bit hard to grasp and sort out. But with a good look, it can be understood.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1996: David and Julie Mayo posted extensive accounts of Scientology’s Fair Game policy against them in the last few years. David is being harassed for having founded a competing church to Scientology. “On August 4, 1994, Scientology(tm) utilized INTERPOL, the US DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency), and the DNCD (Dominicana Nacional Control de Drogas) to try to enforce Scientology’s(tm) religious beliefs on me, to persecute me and to get me jailed by false allegations to INTERPOL. INTERPOL had received and acted on a report that I was ‘practicing Scientology(tm) without a license’; that I had ‘destroyed Scientology(tm) property’; that I was ‘representing’ myself as a ‘Scientologist’. Ventura Bayonet, head of the Dominican Republic DNCD said that he decided to act as a result of a phone call from INTERPOL alleging that I had damaged ‘millions of dollars of Scientology(tm) property’. I was not representing myself as a Scientologist nor was I practicing Scientology(tm), with or without a license. I had not ‘damaged’ Scientology(tm) property. By 1992, all of the civil lawsuits brought against me by Scientology(tm) had been dismissed and in January 1993, the Central District of California had sanctioned RTC/Scientology(tm) plaintiffs 2.9 million dollars for abusive litigation against me. On August 4, 1994, our residence was surrounded by approximately 15 armed police, military and DNCD agents. I was not charged nor was I resented with any order but I was handcuffed. My home was searched for fire arms, drugs and money. No drugs or firearms were found. Nonetheless, I was taken to two police stations and eventually taken to Santo Domingo where I was put in prison with no charges, explanation or reason. I wasn’t allowed to make a phone call to anyone — not even to a lawyer, to my wife or to the American Embassy. That night, I was put in a small cell (about 12′ x 12′) stuffed with 10 – 12 other men overnight in abhorrent conditions — I had not been permitted food or water since the afternoon, there was no place to stretch out, the cell was filled with stench due to a blocked toilet and there were flies and mosquitoes. The next day I learned that it was INTERPOL that was investigating me at the request of Scientology(tm). I was released the next night, without being charged, but the incident was shockingly unexpected and intimidating.”

 
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Random Howdy

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“Hubbard was already in the process of killing the golden goose before he croaked.”

 
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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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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] Brighton rocks! Joy Villa provides her version of some great days of Scientology outreach
[TWO years ago] LEAKED: Watch Scientology ‘OTs’ pressured to donate tens of thousands in wild video
[THREE years ago] A strange and unsettling update to one of Scientology’s most awful recent scandals
[FOUR years ago] Jon Atack: Seduction, recruitment, and Scientology’s hard sell
[FIVE years ago] Why are New York politicians such easy marks for Scientology?
[SIX years ago] Photos shot by L. Ron Hubbard in 1975 capture how the founder wanted Scientology marketed
[SEVEN years ago] Karla Zamudio on Scientology, and capturing Marc and Claire Headley in the short film ‘Escape’
[EIGHT years ago] Google helps Scientology billionaire Bob Duggan hide a dark family secret
[NINE years ago] Why Giovanni Ribisi told Marc Maron there are no aliens in Scientology: A theory
[TEN years ago] This is Your Dianetics on Drugs: The Nitrous Engram
[ELEVEN years ago] How a Scientologist Loses Faith in His Church: A Case Study
[TWELVE years ago] ‘Inside Scientology’ Promises a Lot, And Delivers: David Miscavige Has Much to Worry About

 
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 3,059 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,564 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,114 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,104 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,995 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,299 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,170 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,275 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,722 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,064 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,630 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,549 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,716 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,298 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,559 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,595 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,311 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,875 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,190 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,365 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,916 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,047 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,385 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,240 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,359 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,715 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,018 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,124 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,522 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,398 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,981 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,476 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,730 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,839 days.

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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 13, 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

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

 

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