Recently, we’ve been learning how much Scientology’s wealthy donors have been forking out as church leader David Miscavige makes a big fundraising push for his remaining “Ideal Org” projects in the US.
In April we stopped by the special convention they had in the San Fernando Valley, where the richies were hit up for the big bucks, and in the weeks since then Scientology has been issuing announcements of just how much cheddar they’ve turned over.
This time, we’re hearing about Judy Norton, 65, the former The Waltons actress who is such a dedicated Scientologist these days.
And this announcement indicates that she and her husband have now donated $2.9 million (29 “humanitarians”) for the Ideal Org push.
$2.9 million! And Judy doesn’t even get to put her name on the whatever building that’s used for.
For years Judy has been one of the most enthusiastic, most earnest of Scientology’s celebrities, and a real David Miscavige fangirl.
At the official Miscavige website, she’s featured in a gushing video about him.
He has a presence regardless of whether he is addressing all of the members of the Church with information about our expansion or plans or successes in ways that we are aiding different individuals in the world. Whether it’s, you know, disaster relief in our Volunteer Minister Program or whether it’s filling us in on what’s happening with the expansion of L. Ron Hubbard’s education technology and how that’s changing lives. So when he’s doing that I mean, he’s very professional but there’s always this twinkle in his eye. And there’s always this sense of life in him that is just—he’s magnetic.
At this point, the only two celebrities Scientology has who are willing to put their names on their big donations are Judy Norton and Nancy Cartwright (the voice of Bart Simpson, $21 million for the IAS).
As always, we wonder, are the other celebrities really slacking in this department, or are they merely keeping their donations from being published?
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“A problem is not a condition or a terminal. It is a ‘how’ or ‘whether.’ It is a doingness, not a person. ‘My wife’ is no answer to a present time problem question. ‘How to live with my wife’ is a problem. ‘Whether or not to live with my wife’ is a problem. ‘My wife’s illness’ is not a problem. ‘How to cure my wife’s illness’ is a problem.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1958
——————–
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.
——————–
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
——————–
“If we weren’t here, the lights of Earth’s civilization would be out in another 25 years. And people know who is sitting, baying at them. But you see the great ease it would be to scoop me up, or shoot me down or do something to me. You might ask, why is it that this has never really happened? It’s come close to happening a couple of times. There’s been an airplane out on a landing field warming up, waiting to kidnap me, and a couple of hoods standing by, real tough mugs. Only they couldn’t handle a .45, and I could. This in the confines of Los Angeles. The war cooled off, as far as I was concerned, many, many years ago, and I don’t expect it to hot up at all. I don’t even bother to lock the doors. And it’s not case as far as I’m concerned. I’m just pointing that out to you as a matter of record. Because if I had a men, number of overts here, or if I had a bugginess going here, the attack on you and the attack on me would be fantastic. But you see, if you haven’t got tremendous motivators, they can’t get a big enough overt going against you, because you just don’t suck it in, that’s all. You see? And that mechanism alone is why we’re still alive. ” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 21, 1961
——————–
“MONEY: If somebody gets on money collection we’ll maybe someday have some upper level bonuses. AUDITOR C/S BONUSES are not cancelled. The w.d. hours and the completion bonsues are paid. Qual Internes are not paid bonuses but will draw SO pay when their 25 hours are made in a week. The bonus B of I is sort of up in the air. The 20% does cover these and B bonuses. Somebody tried to pay me my full bonus when no one else was eligible. I’m sending it back. Total Bonus has to be covered by 20% of the GI before C D E bonuses can be paid. The ‘postulate checks’ got in our hair on this. Anyhow, get the stats up and we’ll soon have some new FEBCs out who will pay their bills! It’s not as it says on the GF, All Black. There’s lots of F/N VGIs around this lovely new tech in auditing and supervising and the eventual prospect of an OT crew.” — The Commodore, June 21, 1971
——————–
“The few remaining wizards (or rulers or powers or whatever) left in the magical universe decided to invade this universe and come down in style. They’d round up escapees or collect beings from this universe, pull them all up into the magic universe, implant them, and make them up into an army. This seems to have been done five times. These are the five invader force waves, but that’s another story.”
——————–
1997: Several news items were posted from the Scientology magazine Good News this week. Included is the news of a new Scientology front group, Ebony Awakening. “The spectacular new addition to the RON Series, ‘RON Letters and Journals’, was presented by LRH’s Biographer, Mr. Dan Sherman, at the LRH Birthday Event in an awe-inspiring full length feature presentation of Ron’s life. This multimedia performance with live musical accompaniment, hundreds of never before seen photographs and footage from Ron’s life and adventures, brings deeper appreciation of what he has done for all of us and for mankind. Also echoing appreciation for the results of LRH tech in society were the Governor and General Secretary of the State in the Venezuelan state of Lara. They proclaimed, ‘The Governor’s Office of the State of Lara in Venezuela presents this to L. Ronald Hubbard, Educator and Philosopher. In recognition of his administrative technology, which focuses on the improvement of organizational management, and in gratitude to the Hubbard College of Administration in Venezuela for its assistance in support of our government’. ‘A pilot program using ‘The Way to Happiness’ was conducted with 900 school children over the past five months in the Baja schools. The results were so impressive that the Governor of Baja just signed into LAW that all students in the state are to do ‘The Way to Happiness’ program over the next three years. That’s 1.2 million children enrolled!”
——————–
“You cannot detox addicts NON-MEDICALLY. It is INSANE, SADISTIC, and DANGEROUS.”
——————–
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.
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology: Valerie Haney has no choice but to submit to the church’s authority
[TWO years ago] If you ever wondered what Suri Cruise might be like if she had never left Scientology
[THREE years ago] What are Scientologists being told about the Danny Masterson rape case?
[FOUR years ago] Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, ‘Provost Marshal’: Another apologist claim debunked
[FIVE years ago] Opportunity missed: What Erika Christensen should have been asked about Scientology
[SIX years ago] Source: Scientology ship avoiding Dutch waters after evading surprise government search
[SEVEN years ago] Nearly four years after Stacy Murphy’s death, Scientology files motion to kill much of lawsuit
[EIGHT years ago] ‘Book ’em, Danno’: Just for fun, L. Ron Hubbard’s fingerprints, revealed!
[NINE years ago] Ryan Hamilton files lawsuit 14 against Scientology’s drug rehab, and other updates
[TEN years ago] In His New Book, Is Neil Gaiman Exorcising His Scientology Past?
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Goons Rough Up Aussie TV Journos
——————–
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 3,067 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,578 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,128 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,118 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,003 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,307 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,178 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,283 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,730 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,072 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,638 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,557 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,724 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,306 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,567 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,603 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,319 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,883 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,198 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,373 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,924 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,055 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,393 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,248 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,367 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,723 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,026 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,132 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,530 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,406 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,989 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,484 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,738 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,847 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on June 21, 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
