The gang is back together this week for some Group Therapy, but given the magnitude of this week’s Scientology news, we thought we’d make this episode available to everyone.
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Technology Cocktail
“A theta bopping goal, in assessment, usually becomes a falling goal. In short the goal wouldn’t be expected to continue to theta bop. But if it does now, the terminal must also theta bop. But both could turn into falls instead.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1961
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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 [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman
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“Oh, Scientology. Oh, oh, yes, Scientology, all right. That’s, that’s fine. Well, they’ll make you an Operating Thetan there, and you’ll be nine feet tall, and you’ll be able to beat up on the local government, and you’ll be able to throw your wife in the Pacific Ocean, you won’t have to bother with her anymore. And you’ll just be all-powerful and so forth. Well, it probably wouldn’t be very real to the individual, even if he believed it. I can assure you it’s going to take him several years to make it and by the time he makes it he won’t have any interest in throwing his wife in the local ocean or beating up the local council.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 9, 1965
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“Jerry McLarty went off post to Chief Engineer of Bolivar and is reported by the new chief to have left things in beautiful order — ‘a piece of cake.’ I was thinking maybe we should award this type of action. It is usually the reverse. Joe Blow leaves and the incomer spends the next few weeks just trying to find the comm basket under that mess. So a guy leaving a post in good order and running well with a grooved in relief deserves an inspection and a reward. Any suggestions of how to get such a thing in and what award should be given?” — The Commodore, September 9, 1970
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“I accept that our pursuit is a spiritual one, but I would expect to see many more people make loads of money along the levels made by aberrated wogs. Something is not right and that is why I am not against new tech as long as the existing, standard tech is not just abandoned.”
2000: Christianity Today published articles this week on Scientology and its attempt to dominate Clearwater. “Some Christians in Clearwater call Scientology a pushy, money-driven cult that preys on the vulnerable. Others avoid confrontation, striving to tolerate or even welcome Scientology as a member of the religious community. Bill Anderson, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church of Clearwater for the past 25 years, says it has been difficult to treat Scientologists with love while countering their teachings with biblical truth. ‘This has really sharpened my focus about the exclusivity of the gospel,’ Anderson told Christianity Today. ‘Part of my challenge as a pastor has been trying to help my people live not only as good people but to live as good witnesses. Too often, I’m afraid, Christians are afraid to stand on the fact that only Jesus can save you.’ Scientologists have made persistent and persuasive efforts to win the favor of key officials and municipal leaders in Clearwater. Scientology members clean vacant lots, plant sea oats to stop beach erosion, and hang holiday decorations in December. They led volunteer citizen councils to prepare the city for Y2K and created their own Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops. Scientologists hold annual parties for local orphans, support anti-drug education in community schools, and sponsor Winter Wonderland, a children’s carnival, every Christmas season. Scientologists say they were welcomed by some religious leaders, including Otis and Barbara Green of Everybody’s Tabernacle, the rabbinic leaders of Congregation of Beth Shalom, and the United Church of Christ’s hospice director, Doyce Wise. Largely unwelcome in most of Clearwater’s religious circles, Scientologists created their own interfaith council and launched ministry projects for the community. Scientologists also actively engaged in community service, outchurching Clearwater’s Christians. But some residents question their desire to serve. ‘Their true agenda is control,’ Anderson says. ‘They don’t really want to be known. They want to get along like a tiger wants to get along with a rabbit.'”
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“After my dad’s POS father had abandoned him and my grandma in a one-room shack in the Arizona desert, and my dad, grandma, and his two sisters ended up in Northern California, I guess my grandfather ended up being one of the biggest contractors in the Tempe/Phoenix area. When he died he was worth millions and my dad and his two sisters never saw a dime. His new wife was a Mormon and all the money went to her and the cult.”
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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. Sentencing on Sep 7.
— ‘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.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, first hearing set for Dec 4.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— 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 sentencing of Masterson on Sep 7. Next hearing set for Sept 26.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Next hearing Nov 6.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
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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] Olmedo rules: Read the decision to deny Danny Masterson’s latest trial delay attempt
[TWO years ago] Let’s help the new Scientology ‘Ideal Org’ in Austin get staffed up!
[THREE years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 15: Jeffrey Riffer
[FIVE years ago] By any means necessary: Scientology’s bizarre war against psychiatry
[SIX years ago] Supporting Leah Remini and her show — what’s the risk for viewers who expose Scientology?
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s ‘disconnection’ policy gets sacrificed on the Burning Man altar
[EIGHT years ago] David Miscavige: Scientology saved the universe from its ‘reverse point’ in 2006
[NINE years ago] Longtime Scientologist Jim Jackson remembers Lyman Spurlock, 1945-2014
[TEN years ago] Scientology and Nation Of Islam Education Hucksters Marching on Sacramento!
[ELEVEN years ago] Voice Readers Raise Thousands For Couple That Refused to Spy for Scientology
[TWELVE years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 10: Lisa McPherson
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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 3,147 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,662 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,212 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,202 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,083 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,387 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,258 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 2,363 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,810 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,152 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,718 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,637 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,804 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,386 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,647 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,683 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,399 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,963 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,278 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,453 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,004 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,135 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,473 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,328 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,447 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,803 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,106 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,212 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,610 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,486 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,051 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,564 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,818 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,927 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 9, 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
