TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Scientology fundraises all year round, but there’s something special about the way they try to convince members that giving over their hard-earned cash in December is the most magical thing ever. Check out this latest video announcement from the coolest religion on Earth! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Remember, the pc is always willing to reveal. He or she doesn’t know What to reveal. Therein lies the difficulty. Pcs get driven out of session when asked to reveal something yet do not know what to reveal. By the auditor’s saying ‘There’ or ‘What’s that?’ quietly each time the needle reacts newly, the pc is led to discover what should be revealed. Auditors and pcs get into a games condition in Integrity Processing and rudiments only when the auditor refuses this help to the pc.” — 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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“All this of course is, is, I’m just, I’m just kidding you mostly. I don’t believe that you’ve been in the universe seventy-six trillion years. I don’t believe you have any past before birth. I don’t believe that there’s any reason whatsoever for this universe to be here except that some fellow called the devil or something that built it. Uh, I don’t believe any of these things. And I don’t want to be agreed with about them. It infuriates me to be agreed with about them, so I’m not asking for anybody to agree with me. But I’m not asking for anybody to disagree with me either.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 1, 1952
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“NEXT PORT: The next port has its drawbacks but also its advantages. It is a bit dusty and occasionally smelly. But it is very quiet. It has an interesting native area. And you can have ash trays by the ton at the pottery shop. Remember to bargain hard. Offer a third or less of what is asked and come up a bit when buying odds and ends.” — The Commodore, December 1, 1970
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“I used to wonder what if I accidentally ended up in a female body next time around. Oh my god, I couldn’t act like a woman, that’s just not me. Would I also solve this with a sex change or just turn dyke? Well into Solo NOTs, that’s no longer a concern, as these considerations on gender-beingness and identity have gone out the window since and I no longer have any issues or concerns which one I end up with, as I would be comfortable now operating whichever lot fell my way. It’s really just a matter of willingness to assume a beingness and take responsibility for it which I previously would have rejected as … ugghh, puke. I’m pretty sure Bruce Jenner could have been contented with his sex and accepted it for what it is had he gone up the Bridge instead of under the knife. Psych alter-is = complications, non-comprehensibles = professionals trained in the schools of false data = MONEY, STATUS. Who’d wanna mess with a such a good thing? Forgettingness is part of aging. It has to do with shedding responsibility for the stuff of this lifetime. I’m not saying it’s inevitable; I’m just saying that it’s common out in the world. One thing that can happen: thetan goes along, and lifetime after lifetime, he lives to about the same age. He gets used to that. Now along comes a lifetime where he’s surpassing that age. But he starts to experience the symptoms of aging at the time he would normally be dying, even though he’s nowhere near dying this lifetime. Habit. Interesting comment about the body remembering what the thetan isn’t paying attention to. I often wondered about that. I rather suspect the GE has its own bank going on. I think maybe the GE records everything, but I’m (thetan) more selective. I tend to draw a blank during times of injury, and it’s not from being engrammically anaten; rather, I tend to exteriorize when the body is about to get hurt (when I don’t prevent the injury in the first place), because I don’t like or want to experience the pain. The GE probably gets it full force, but I don’t.”
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2001: The Riverside Press-Enterprise reported that Scientology is shooting a movie at Gold Base, near Hemet, California. “A booming cannon shoots toward a row of cottonwood trees on the lush, grassy fields of 17th-century France. Fifteen minutes later, the fire lands among a cluster of charging soldiers wearing goatees, creamy white cravats and feathers in their hats. Three of them drop. Then they get up and try it again. When it’s finished, Golden Era Productions will have an educational video showing how war never solves mankind’s real problems. Golden Era Productions, located in Gilman Hot Springs northwest of San Jacinto, makes educational and training films for the Church of Scientology. Staff members who work on the 520-acre site do everything from sewing costumes to acting and filming. The film will be used for educational purposes in Scientology churches all over the world.”
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“I’m putting out a shoop challenge. I’m envisioning a shoop of LRH with a doll of Miscavige sitting on his lap and Tiny Cancer has a Tom Cruise doll sitting on his lap. The prize to the winner is a chicken dinner or a quadrillion Howdy bucks.”
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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, 2023.
— ‘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 November 15.
— 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] Undercover investigation: Scientology’s dangerous games with mental health care
[TWO years ago] After Danny Masterson mistrial: Transcript of the press conference and more reactions
[THREE years ago] The Danny Masterson court cases and Scientology: A video update
[FOUR years ago] If the feds are sniffing around, they might look at Danny Masterson’s besties
[FIVE years ago] Scientology amps up shattering suppression in the wake of Leah Remini’s onslaught
[SIX years ago] President George H.W. Bush dies at 94, and we remember a fateful October 1991 day
[SEVEN years ago] How L. Ron Hubbard used ‘past lives’ to set a trap for Scientologists
[EIGHT years ago] Leah Remini: Scientology’s new attack has a Katie Holmes angle they aren’t talking about
[NINE years ago] Legoland theme park donates $10,000 to Scientology front on behalf of Jenna Elfman
[TEN years ago] Hey, Dr. Phil, get a clue about Scientology and stop stiff-arming Lori Hodgson
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Fundraising Mailers Galore!
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Joe Reaiche (1958-2024) did not see his daughter Alanna Masterson in his final 6,999 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,100 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,595 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,110 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,660 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,650 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,036 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,531 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,835 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,706 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,258 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,599 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,166 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,085 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,253 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,835 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,095 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,131 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,847 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,411 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,726 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,901 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,583 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,920 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,774 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,889 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,251 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,554 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,660 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,058 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,934 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,499 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,010 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,266 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,374 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 1, 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
