TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: No matter how grim things seem to be for Scientology, it never gives up. And specifically, it never stops begging its remaining members for huge mountains of cash. Our tipsters passed along a couple of interesting items recently, and we figured you’d want to see them. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Processing is an action by which wrongnesses can be deleted from the case to the degree that rightnesses are present in the session. You cannot take a case that doesn’t have any rightness present and delete a wrongness. So you have to realize that there are rightnesses present and then you increase those rightnesses That makes it possible for you to pick up the wrongnesses and that’s what auditing consists of.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1964
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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 [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“Power of choice, when that is too badly thrown aside, people object to this thing. That is why slavery has gotten a bad name as a practice. In actual fact you look at the economics of it and you find a lot of things about a slave society which are quite interesting. You find a society which is, has no objection to this sort of thing and which can free slaves rather easily and you find a lot of people walking up and saying, ‘I want to be a slave.’ But slavery itself is this thing of a beingness, an enforced beingness over which an individual has no power of choice and therefore it gets a bad name.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 17, 1962
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“The activity called ‘Black Propaganda’ consists of spreading lies by hidden sources. It inevitably results in injustices being done by those who operate without verifying the truth. For instance all the attacks on Scientology were Black Propaganda from hidden Fascist groups. This has caused injustice. Black Propaganda was a Nazi specialty. But injustice recoills on those who deal in it. Thus a hidden lying source can cause authority to act. Thus authority can be undermined by being made to commit injustices….If the world were honest, justice and the need for it would vanish. The road out is the Road to Truth.” — The Commodore, May 17, 1971
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“The thirteen senators are alive and well today. Having escaped the effects of the Big Bang — they have resurfaced and disappeared many times throughout this universe’s almost endless history — affecting civilizations to a greater or lesser degree. So me seeing Thoth was correct — one of the senators. The bird-like deity. That is why I am allowed to understand this. Did I receive any help, or it is only my thetan who was the complete cause?”
1999: Jim Beebe posted an announcement to a.r.s this week that the files of the original Cult Awareness Network have been turned over to Scientology. “Scientology took over the CAN Files on May 3rd, last Monday. The storage Facility Mgr. gave me a brief report. The man who so skillfully used the Church of Scientology’s tax-exempt money to destroy the Cult Awareness Network, Kendrick Moxon, flew in for this auspicious event and was taking pictures and beside himself with glee. I thanked the Storage facility who went out of their way for CAN and actually contacted their own attorneys in an attempt to prevent this.”
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“Sherbet, if you saw ‘Heavenly Creatures’ — the best film Peter Jackson ever did — you would understand the similarities between the folie à deux world the girls live in and that of Scientologists. Plus it’s got clay modeling as well as Kate Winslet and ‘Rose’ from ‘Two and a Half Men’.”
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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. Sentenced to 30 years to life 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. Next pretrial hearing May 31, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Leah seeking to amend her complaint.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: motion to file new complaint, hearing on May 29.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, on hold until appeal over new judge heard.
— 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] After final rebuttal from prosecution this morning, the jury gets the case
[TWO years ago] Attorney to CA Supremes: Here’s how you can make history in Danny Masterson’s rape case
[THREE years ago] Scientology hits on the perfect theme for its Chicago fundraising: Blues Brothers!
[FOUR years ago] Leaked audio of Scientology ship commander giving marching orders during the pandemic
[FIVE years ago] Once again, Scientology celebrates a Nation of Islam bigot tonight in Los Angeles
[SIX years ago] Living with Scientology ‘disconnection’: ‘It’s important to never give up hope’
[SEVEN years ago] San Diego on Saturday: Psych-busting and Scientology hip hop!
[EIGHT years ago] Judge Doyle: I have Scientologists in the family, but I can be impartial in forced-abortion case
[NINE years ago] ‘The Unbreakable Miss Lovely’ goes on the road — and so does Paulette Cooper!
[TEN years ago] L. Ron Hubbard describes infiltrating a veterans’ hospital in a lecture only for Scientologists
[ELEVEN years ago] And Now For Something Completely Different: Scientology Stand Up!
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 2,903 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,398 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,913 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,463 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,453 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,334 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,638 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,509 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,061 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,402 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,969 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,888 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,056 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,637 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,898 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,934 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,650 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,214 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,529 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,704 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,255 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,386 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,724 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,577 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,698 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,054 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,357 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,463 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,861 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,737 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,302 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,815 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,069 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,177 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 17, 2024 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
