TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: She was in Scientology’s first official ‘religious’ wedding in the UK, and it got her on the BBC where she denied that silly Xenu story was real. Now, she’s gone through the ‘Wall of Fire’ and read the story for herself. And wow, it’s changed her life. We have her testimonial! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“A bad practice has arisen to ‘beat’ the low TA. This is to have the pc wipe his hands every few minutes to get the TA up above 2.0. Not only does this distract the pc and yank him out of session, but it is by inference putting his attention on the meter, a thing a good auditor does NOT do in a formal session. The pc’s attention must be on his own case in a session, not on the meter or his hands. An answer to low TA because of wet hands is foot plates. But the best answer is to get the pc up scale so he doesn’t have perspiring hands. Overwhelming TRs is the commonest reason for low TAs. Not all the hand wiping in the world will cure poor TRs.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1972
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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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“Now, we are not in conflict with the customs and philosophy of the planet or the universe. Quite the contrary. It’s not a case of everybody is out of step but Jim. It’s a case of others want people badly out of step. And they’re getting them pretty badly out of step. But if you can talk to and communicate with anybody on the subject of Scientology, he agrees with what you’d say. He agrees very rapidly with what you say, unless he misses a word. If he misses a word then he won’t agree with what you’ve said, but you are actually talking to him about things which have been with him as customs, far, far, far longer than any Johnny-come-lately psychology or mental science that has been foisted off on him in recent times.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 15, 1964
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“With a lot of fireworks of all kinds the Great Word Clearing Festival got off to a start. There was a small amount of excitement when two lions escaped and rushed to the galley. But instead of eating the cook, he put them to work washing dishes. That’s why you had paw prints on your plates this morning.” — The Commodore, September 15, 1971
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“As far as this society goes, I’m out there in the world, I see the decline. As an example, I work with a couple who are upper middle class and I have gotten to know their friends. My couple are the very few who don’t do psychiatric drugs or drugs of any kind and the only ones winning in their marriage — thanks to this tech. Ron had his hands full is all I can say. Anyone attacking him and the tech are the ‘classifiables.’ I have a much better understanding of why it was hard to have the dynamics in and to make money on staff. Believe it or not it is still the 3D that is going to clear this planet and it has to be done.”
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2001: After the World Trade Center attacks, the St. Petersburg Times reported the appearance of a phone number for Scientology at the bottom of a Fox News broadcast. “Television viewers who turned to Fox News on Friday for coverage of the terrorist attack also saw a message scrolling across the bottom of their screens – National Mental Health Assistance: 800-FOR-TRUTH. Unknown to the cable news channel, the phone number connects to a Church of Scientology center in Los Angeles, where Scientologists were manning the phones. ‘It was entirely a good-faith attempt to help people,’ said Ben Shaw, a Clearwater Scientology official. Church spokesman Kurt Weiland in Los Angeles said the phrase ‘National Mental Health Assistance’ must have come from Fox. ‘I can assure you it didn’t come from us,’ he said. Scientology firmly opposes psychiatry, and church members campaign to eliminate psychiatric practices in mental health. Fox News spokesman Robert Zimmerman said the station received an e-mail about the hotline and aired the number without checking it. ‘The bottom line is we (messed) up,’ Zimmerman said. ‘Unfortunately, it didn’t get vetted. We apologize.’ The hotline information ran for several hours – once appearing below the image of President Bush and his wife, Laura, at the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance in Washington. The news channel yanked the information Friday after learning of the Scientology connection, Zimmerman said.”
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“Jeez, does everybody around here have a sock except me?”
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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:
— 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 PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR UNDER OATH: Quizzed about following Leah Remini
[TWO years ago] Paul Haggis opposes motion to keep Scientology out of next month’s trial
[THREE years ago] Would you purchase a Scientology E-meter from this man?
[FOUR years ago] Scientologist chiro Nobbe: There’s an innocent explanation, judge. Prosecutors: No there isn’t.
[FIVE years ago] Scientology reels in politicians and gets photo ops out of Hurricane Dorian
[SIX years ago] Sharp new memoir digs into Scientology’s toxic cruelty experienced by those who grow up in it
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s newest infiltration — Rebecca Minkoff and Meghan Fialkoff at Nasdaq!
[EIGHT years ago] SCIENTOLOGY DENIED: California Supreme Court rejects appeal in forced-abortion lawsuit
[NINE years ago] Back where it all started: Hoping to see you in Phoenix to talk Scientology then and now
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s secret plans for world domination — even better than the last time!
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Texas Memories, Valley Whales, and Top Secret Plans!
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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 3,024 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,519 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,034 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,584 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,574 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 4,960 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,455 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,759 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,630 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,182 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,523 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,090 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,009 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,177 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,759 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,019 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,055 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,771 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,335 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,650 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,825 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,376 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,507 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,845 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,698 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,819 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,175 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,478 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,584 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,982 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,858 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,423 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,936 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,190 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,298 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 15, 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
