TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: What few Scientology missions survive today are barely hanging on. And we’ve suspected that they serve an aging population holding on to the idea that Scientology is a living, growing thing. Well, we didn’t expect a single mailer to corroborate all of that. Yikes. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“The right ear, injured, also gets echoes with a somatic in the left ear. You audit the right ear only. Pc comes up with a sore left ear!
You can actually direct a pc’s attention to it (non-standard but a research technique) and he can find where the uninjured ear echoed the injured ear. Where you can’t fully repair a crippled left leg, don’t be surprised to find it was the right leg that was hurt. You audit the left leg somatic in vain. If you do, start auditing somatics in the OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE BODY.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1970
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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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“If the child has suffered a great deal of restimulation such as a recent death on the case, and you know that the emotional content of the prenatal bank is very heavy, you could try to get that death out. But you are liable to find yourself back in the prenatal area, into material that the child can’t handle. The best thing to do is just keep a child from getting restimulated. Limit therapy on a child to picking up little odds and ends. Make them happy, give it to them when you think they need it, stay as late in the case as possible, and above all don’t get the case stirred up to a point where it will swamp the child with anything you suspect may be there. Any prenatal bank is full of infamy. It is extremely embarrassing to try to run some little girl back into the coitus chain who doesn’t know what on earth is going on. She only knows that she is uncomfortable. The words and actions are a complete mystery to her. She is flabbergasted. She will get it off by syllables.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 14, 1950
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“We will be here 3 or 4 days. There will be Liberty. The port is reported full of refugees who try to stow away so be careful not to give them a chance aboard as we would have to bring them back. The ship is beginning to shape up. The ‘new’ recruits are getting to be old hands, things are ironing out well. The bookstore should stock up on small gifts, sandals etc. Now we’ve got water save it. Long time between here and next drink. Enjoy your liberty.” — The Commodore, June 14, 1969
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“A KR from you is a validation per ‘Signs of Success’ PL. They aren’t KRs to the field. KRs were never intended to be broadly published. What you do is natter in the guise of a Scientology concept, and nothing more. You have incredible misunderstood on what KRs are, what they are for, and ethics itself. You’re no ethics officer. You’re a lonely old man with far too much time on his hands who wants to feel powerful by attempts at making other people feel small under threat of defamation. We know WHO you ARE and WHAT you are doing.”
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1999: The San Jose Business Journal published a story on Amazon’s decision to drop A Piece of Blue Sky, a book critical of Scientology. “Amazon.com is about to be tested by one of the most litigious cults ever assembled — and consumers soon will learn how much grit the Seattle-based online bookseller has. In February Amazon removed from its offerings a controversial expose critical of the Church of Scientology, founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in 1959. To Amazon’s credit, it reversed its position just before Memorial Day and is again offering the book. Amazon was deluged with complaints from angry customers — myself included — following the disclosure that it had removed the book from its shelves. Scientology has a tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service, since it has won the right to call itself a ‘church.’ Yet it makes millions annually from mandatory charges to its members, as well as from sales of its books and videos. It’s a business. I’m sure it has some sort of spiritual meaning to its members — there’s a longing soul looking for badly needed enlightenment born every day. But it has revenue and profit, and the fact it pays no income taxes while at the same time whining about copyright infringement has raised my hackles. Look, if Scientology is able to get over on the Feds, with the support of the courts, more power to it, I suppose. But to sue writers, ex-church members, opponents, publishers or anyone who shares with the world its doctrine, on the basis of copyright infringement, and then duck behind its tax-exempt status, it galling. It shouldn’t be allowed to have it both ways. Either it is a tax-exempt church that should not be able to copyright its doctrine any more than the Bible, Talmud or Koran can be patented; or it’s a business that can copyright its written word, but then which must pay taxes on the profits of those works like any other publisher.”
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“My dad grew up dirt poor during the Depression and he would eat a jar of pig’s knuckles in one sitting as well as all kinds of other ungodly shit.”
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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.
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] Scientology fundraising is reaching epic levels of awesomeness, you doubters
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s new hype video is off the charts, kids. Prepare to put the pedal to the metal!
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s heyday: When you got golden tickets for past-life therapy
[FOUR years ago] Hanging out with Scientologists going door-to-door in ‘Volunteer Minister’ hazmat suits
[FIVE years ago] Scientology trots out new propaganda ploy: Pretending to support journalists
[SIX years ago] DOX: Quebec church owes other Scientology orgs heaps, pays its workers peanuts
[SEVEN years ago] Marty Rathbun tries to rewrite the record on Scientology spying. But we have the dox.
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology claims L. Ron Hubbard chose David Miscavige to succeed him, proving he didn’t
[NINE years ago] Good morning, New York! Paulette Cooper is dishing on Scientology in the Big Apple today
[TEN years ago] L. Ron Hubbard’s mesmerizing lore, and tales of Scientology’s secretive Int Base
[ELEVEN years ago] The Fair-Gaming of ESMB’s Michelle “Emma” Sterling
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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 2,931 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,426 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,941 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,491 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,481 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,362 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,666 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,537 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,089 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,430 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,997 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,916 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,084 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,665 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,926 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,962 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,678 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,242 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,557 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,732 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,283 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,414 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,752 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,605 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,726 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,082 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,385 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,491 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,889 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,765 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,330 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,843 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,097 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,205 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 14, 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), 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
