TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Another winter solstice has sneaked up on us here in the northern hemisphere, and to our antipodean friends, enjoy your summer! Once again it’s time to take stock of the year just past with our annual review of Scientology news, which begins today. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Food fadism and nutritional knowledge are interlocked in the public mind to such a degree that some unscrupulous fellow who knows better could advise people to eat only tree bark and they accommodatingly would. For instance there are books and books and books out currently, by M.D.s and others who should have done their homework, inveighing against ‘cholesterol’: This is a biochemical composition of animal oils and fats. They say it gets into the arteries and causes strokes and heart attacks. Well, that is all very well. But did you also know that every glandular secretion in the body, the secretions which keep one young and functioning are ALL made by the glands from cholesterol? If people do not take in cholesterol bearing foods they, by simple logic, could be seen to rapidly age and die. What’s wanted is the knowledge of how to keep cholesterol controlled not how to take everyone off cholesterol. One would think the American Medical Association owned shares in undertaking parlors.” — 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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“Once in a while you’ll send a preclear up to the moon, and Earth and sun, you know, doing a Grand Tour, and you get a fascinating reaction from him if he is really on the ball. There’s a space station on the back of the moon — that’s space station 33 — and it has corridors and observatory domes and a lot of other things, a lot of odds and ends. But these corridors are on different levels. So that we have a hallway, you see, a corridor, and then we have one which is maybe 12 or 15 feet above the level. You see, the next level. So we’d go down this corridor, and then we’d have to go up 12 or 15 feet to go down to the next corridor. And they’ll take a look at this and they will see that there is nothing but sheer wall face between this lower corridor and the upper corridor floor — 15 foot sheer drop between these two corridors. And they will say, ‘Something is wrong here. There are no stairs. I don’t know what I’m doing here, or what’s going on, but this place is kind of funny. There are no stairs here.’ Why should there be any stairs where gravity is so slight?” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 21, 1954
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“CHRISTMAS: I trust you like the place chosen for Christmas. Sure looks like a Christmas tree. It began by the pilots Out-PROing us. Remember that the pilots are not the rest of the harbour people and have their own set up. They sent us a lovely card, welcoming ‘the world’s largest yacht and its fantastic crew.’ Visit to port authorities went great. Plan to keep it very cool.” — The Commodore, December 21, 1969
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“I see the possibility of a renaissance of Scientology. It can be big again. A second opportunity. An opportunity to make it go right. To learn from past mistakes and not commit it again. However currently the group is going through a process of dying and in my opinion the process must be carried through its end. The place looks like a ghost town. It’s hard to see it, but to deny won’t help it. We must make an honest review, see what went wrong and do it again. The death of the Scientology group must probably be completed and at the same time we can try again. What were the worst mistakes of us? Give your opinion. Mine is: promising states that were never achievable. Pretension of having attained such states.”
2000: Marin News reported that a judge has refused Scientology’s request to hold Gerry Armstrong in contempt for speaking out against Scientology. “Church attorneys filed a contempt motion against Gerald Armstrong, a former Scientology archivist, for persistently violating a judge’s order in 1995 to stop criticizing the church and discussing his experiences as an employee there. As evidence, church attorneys submitted a sheaf of messages Armstrong had posted in Internet discussion groups between March 1998 and July of this year. The messages, most of which were posted on the alt.religion.scientology newsgroup, include bilious exchanges between church members and Armstrong – who refers to his former employer as the ‘Church of $cientology.’ But Judge Vernon Smith yesterday rejected the church’s motion for a contempt citation, saying the judge who issued the original order, Gary Thomas, is long retired, and the church had failed to explain why Smith himself should issue a contempt order. ‘The court has overwhelming evidence to hold him in contempt,’ protested Andrew Wilson, the church’s Sausalito-based attorney. ‘I’m not convinced of that,’ Smith said. But he continued the matter until next Wednesday, giving church attorneys a chance to file more briefs in support of their argument. Armstrong, who now lives in Chilliwack, British Columbia, was not present at the hearing. But reached by telephone yesterday, he described Smith’s action as ‘really cool.’ ‘I’m really glad that a judge has taken note of the fact that Scientology is not what they’re representing it to be,’ said Armstrong, 54. ‘This is an extraordinary time in my history.’ Armstong, during an interview yesterday, did not deny writing the Internet messages.
If anything, he said, the church understated his output. ‘My count was 2,289,’ he said. Armstrong also insists the 1986 agreement does not trump his First Amendment rights. ‘I settled my lawsuit against them for 12 and half years of lies and deceit and abuse,’ he said. ‘I did not settle with them to become a punching bag of the Church of Scientology.'”
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“Chinese food, Mexican food, good fish’n’chips and the occasional great hamburger and potatoes are all I need to live.”
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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. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— ‘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 January 13, 2025.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Judge Hammock’s ruling is on appeal.
— 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. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1.
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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] The Underground Bunker’s 2023 Scientology year-in-review starts today!
[TWO years ago] Richie Acunto, Scientology donor and ‘Survival Insurance’ mogul, dead at 70
[THREE years ago] The Underground Bunker’s 2021 Scientology year-in-review starts today!
[FOUR years ago] The Underground Bunker’s 2020 Scientology year-in-review starts today!
[FIVE years ago] The Underground Bunker’s 2019 Scientology year-in-review starts today!
[SIX years ago] The Underground Bunker’s 2018 Scientology year-in-review starts today!
[SEVEN years ago] The Underground Bunker’s 2017 Scientology year-in-review starts today!
[EIGHT years ago] The Underground Bunker’s 2016 Scientology year-in-review starts today!
[NINE years ago] The Underground Bunker’s 2015 Scientology year-in-review starts today!
[TEN years ago] The Underground Bunker’s 2014 Scientology year-in-review starts today!
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack: For Scientologists, thinking outside the church can feel like breaking a taboo
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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 3,120 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,615 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,130 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,680 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,670 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,056 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,551 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,855 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,726 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,278 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,619 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,186 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,105 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,273 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,855 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,115 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,151 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,867 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,431 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,746 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,921 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,603 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,940 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,794 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,909 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,271 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,574 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,680 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,078 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,954 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,519 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,030 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,286 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,394 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 21, 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
