TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Yesterday #Scientology members were asked to come down to their local ‘orgs’ to watch video of the L. Ron Hubbard birthday event filmed the week before in Florida. We have a couple of eyewitness reports from those local celebrations of the 114th birthday of Scientology’s founder. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
——————–
Technology Cocktail
“Dianetics is done differently than Scientology in that its auditors are trained up to New Era Dianetics Graduate only. Therefore they do not have various skills you will find in a Scientology auditor. Even when they become a Scientology auditor, Dianetics is still done as Dianetics. Therefore knowledge and skill above and beyond the training level of the New Era Dianetics Course is not to be expected of the New Era Dianetics auditor. There are also things in Book One we no longer use such as Repeater Technique, looking for phrases to explain conditions. We use Dianetics as it was re-worked in the early 60s and as currently being presented in the New Era Dianetics Series. If it isn’t on the checksheet of the Dianetics Course, then we don’t demand it. We do demand some skill with a meter and what a floating needle is.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1978
——————–
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.
——————–
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
——————–
“I’m not down on religion. I believe in religion, except I don’t believe in limited religion. If we’re going to have two gods let’s worship two gods, that’s all. If we’ve got to have worship of gods, let’s at least worship the minimum number allowable in this universe. Now, let’s not fool around with this religion, tell people what they can’t do with religion and what they can do with religion. We’ve just got religion — if we’re going to have religion, then let’s be honest with it and look and see and find this to be the case: that everybody who starts worshiping one god and one god only, and shaping his pathway straight toward one god and only one god and good, and it’s good, and that’s all we can have anything to do with is good, winds up bad. Ever know any minister’s sons?” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 23, 1953
——————–
“Had a good break today on Research. Cracked why one can’t be audited after exteriorization so one can. Will push OT ability up out of sight. I do get my own hats worn despite randomity!” — The Commodore, March 23, 1970
——————–
“Isn’t science fiction surely just science that hasn’t yet been developed, discovered and refined? Almost all of the technology we take for granted now has appeared in some form or another in sci-fi works before, and it’s definitely the case that sci-fi writers have been critical to introducing the ideas that inspire scientists to create amazing things. Some of the sci-fi writers were originally physicists, engineers and industrial chemists. Therefore, is it no surprise that the development of spirituality from being a series of myths and monsters into a systematised and evidence-based approach should have been made by a sci-fi writer? I would say it is because of, and not in spite of, that.”
——————–
2002: The St. Louis Post reported that Scientology’s Applied Scholastics program has purchased a former retirement home in St. Louis, Missouri to be its new headquarters. “A nonprofit organization promoting the teaching methods of L. Ron Hubbard, is moving its world headquarters to Villa Gesu, a former retirement home for Catholic nuns. Applied Scholastics International bought the complex from the School Sisters of Notre Dame in October for $2.9 million. For the previous 70 years, the 55 acres of brick buildings and rolling hills overlooking the Mississippi River had been home to infirm and elderly sisters who needed regular nursing care. The last of the sisters moved out at the end of the year. Bennetta Slaughter, chief executive of the organization, says she expects the facility to be up and running in the fall, although no date has been set. ‘We don’t even have design plans finished, frankly,’ she said. ‘We have a bit of a runway before we’ll be there.’ Asked about the relationship between the Church of Scientology and Applied Scholastics, Slaughter says there is none. ‘Obviously they’ve been very kind to the organization in terms of support,’ she said. ‘But we get our employees from the same place every secular corporation does. We advertise in the newspaper.’ Because the organization’s Los Angeles center will remain open with much of its current staff, the St. Louis headquarters will hire most of its employees locally. Teachers from throughout the country will come to the St. Louis center for short- and long-term courses, and although some will be able to stay in dormitories on the campus, most will stay in hotels. The sisters are using money from the sale for the renovation of their motherhouse in Lemay and for charitable works. Over the next 18 months, they’ll be working with Applied Scholastics and the Hubbard organization’s real-estate arm, Better Living Properties, to remove the remains of sisters who were buried on the property to another Catholic cemetery in the area. ‘We’re happy that this group is renovating the buildings and trying to maintain them as they are now,’ said Sister Joan DiProspere. ‘We wouldn’t want it, you know, to be used for any purpose that’s contrary to our values.'”
——————–
“I remember growing up in the 60’s, and this idea that all of our problems were due to suppressed subconscious desires or traumatic incidents we had ‘forgotten,’ and if some psych could make us remember we would be miraculously whole and normal again like Liz Taylor, was the concept that was being pushed on everyone. Hubbard just took the bullshit and ran with it.”
——————–
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. DA’s response to appeal brief due April 15.
— ‘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 March 31.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
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. 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.
——————–
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?
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] BANNED IN EAST GRINSTEAD: How we got blacklisted for asking about Scientology
[TWO years ago] Meet John Blosser, Scientology’s new shill, who is targeting Graham Berry
[THREE years ago] An insider’s report on David Miscavige at Scientology founder’s birthday event 2022
[FOUR years ago] Danny Masterson accusers take Scientology ‘arbitration’ to California Supreme Court
[FIVE years ago] The wealthy donors keeping Scientology in business, New Year’s 2020 edition
[SIX years ago] Carol Es on 20 years in Scientology: ‘You’re programmed to think emotions are weak’
[SEVEN years ago] Stop interacting with Scientology’s Internet trolls. Here’s proof it can backfire on you badly.
[EIGHT years ago] State investigators fired for blowing the whistle on Scientology’s rehabs get hearing in Denver
[NINE years ago] Scientology attorney Bert Deixler takes another swing at Karen de la Carriere
[TEN years ago] ‘Going Clear’: Mike Rinder helps us understand a Scientology document that will creep you out
[ELEVEN years ago] Three weeks out of Scientology: Fresh information from a ‘blown’ Sea Org member
[TWELVE years ago] Blood Brother Ron: Starting Out Life on the Wrong Blackfoot
——————–
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.
Mike Rinder (1955-2025) did not see his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in his final 7,589 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,212 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,707 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,222 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,772 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,762 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,148 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,643 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,947 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,818 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,370 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,711 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,278 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,197 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,365 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,947 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,206 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,243 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,959 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,523 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,838 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,013 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,695 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,032 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,886 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,001 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,363 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,772 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,170 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,046 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,611 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,122 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,378 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,486 days.
——————–
Posted by Tony Ortega on March 23, 2025 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
