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Leaked stats: Just how slow is a Scientology ‘Ideal Org’ these days?

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: After the hoopla of a Scientology ‘Ideal Org’ grand opening, these expensive cathedrals are said to generate little interest from the public. Now, we have leaked stats backing up that assertion, and they are stunning, especially for a place that should be a hotbed of woo. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“No matter how criminal an individual is, he will be trying, one way or another, to put Ethics in on himself. This explains why Hitler invited the world to destroy Germany. He had the whole war won before September, 1939, before he declared war. The allies were giving him everything he wanted; he had one of the finest intelligence organizations that ever walked; he had Germany well on the way to getting her colonies back and the idiot declared war! And he just caved himself and Germany right in. His brilliance was going at a mad rate in one direction and his native sense of Ethics was causing him to cave himself in at a mad rate in the other direction. The individual who lacks any Ethics technology is unable to put in Ethics on himself and restrain himself from contra-survival actions so he caves himself in. And the individual is not going to come alive unless he gets hold of the basic tech of Ethics and applies it to himself and others. He may find it a little unpalatable at first, but when you’re dying of malaria you don’t usually complain about the taste of the quinine: you may not like it, but you sure drink it.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1980

 
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Source Code

“I happen to be a nuclear physicist. I am not a psychologist nor a psychiatrist nor a medical doctor. To some degree, it was my responsibility that this world got itself an atom bomb, because there were only a handful of nuclear physicists in the thirties — only a handful. And we were all beating the desk and saying ‘How wonderful it will be if we discover atomic fission,’ because we decided that the thing to do with atomic fission was to go out and discover the stars, to make big passenger liners that would go ten times around the world on the same fuel. This was what we endeavored to do with atomic fission. The government stepped in and gave us three billion dollars. I had nothing to do with that program; I would not have had anything to do with the program. Three billion dollars to destroy all of man.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 6, 1952

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“If your parents or friends are the kind who worry about you, BE SURE AND WRITE THEM AN AIRMAIL LETTER regularly. Otherwise they give us DEV T by asking the government to check up on you to see if you’re all right. If uncertain about it, write them anyway. Also, if you haven’t written your family recently do so anyway. Otherwise they’ll think Scn put you OUT of communication. You can mail the letter straight from here.” — The Commodore, February 6, 1969

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“The postulate that worked for me that caused the rain in Australia had nothing to do with rain. I just become the planet and covered it with my beingness and decided it was all safe and OK. The thought of rain was also a previous one to this one but this one made it manifest.”

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Past is Prologue

2000: Mark Bunker, filmmaker for the Lisa McPherson Trust, was attacked this week by a worker at the home of German Scientologist Gottfried Helnwein. “This morning Mark Bunker went with German film maker Peter Reichelt and Hans Michael Kassel, director of documentary film for the German TV station ARD, to Gottfried Helnwein’s house on Palm Bluffs Road, about a mile and a half north of 33 N. Ft. Harrison. Gottfried is a Scientology artist in Germany who has apparently been denying he is a Scientologist, and Peter and Hans Michael were here gathering documentary footage to prove he is an active Scientologist. As Mark was videotaping, a man ran out of Gottfried’s house and assaulted Mark with a hammer. He hit Mark’s camera twice but luckily did not hurt Mark, although Mark was extremely frightened and shaken when this man ran at him and struck him with a dangerous weapon. The man then went back into the front door of Gottfried’s house, and soon after that two police officers arrived. Mark spoke to Officer Kelly, and told him that a man had just assaulted him with a hammer and asked the officer if he wanted to see it on videotape. He asked Mark if he had informed the man that he was audiotaping him. Then Officer Kelly told Mark that he was going to arrest him for audiotaping the hammer-wielding man without his knowledge! [W]ithin a few minutes Sergeant John Zegzdryn arrived on the scene. Officer Kelly conferred with Sergeant Zedzdryn and then beckoned for Mark, Peter and Hans Michael to go across the street to talk to him. He told them that he could arrest them right then and there and that they better not go anywhere near the particular property again or he would arrest them. He then had the groundskeeper officially notify them that they were
trespassing and that they were not wanted there. Then Officer Kelly released them and told them they were free to go. This was apparently all that was going to be done until Mark protested that nothing had been done about the man who had assaulted him with the hammer. Then Sergeant Zegzdryn approached Mark to see if he wanted to file a complaint about the man with the hammer. Mark said absolutely yes, he wanted the man arrested. But the police officers then told us that they were not going to arrest the man, that they were going to refer the matter to the state attorney’s office. The man who assaulted Mark with the hammer is named Richard Bernard.”

 
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Random Howdy

“If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have tried even harder to destroy myself.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7, 2023. Appeal now fully briefed, waiting for 2nd Appellate District court to set a hearing date. Masterson has also submitted a habeas corpus petition.
‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Pleaded guilty on Nov 10 to a 17-year prison sentence (eligible for parole in two to three more years). Awaiting transfer to state prison.
Aaron Matthes charged for SA of child under 12 years old: OT Scientologist facing multiple mandatory life sentences. Next pretrial court hearing set for Feb 2.

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. Leah’s respondent’s brief is due February 11.
Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 15 days of arbitration completed, Val waiting for further word from the IJC.
Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal. Appeal fully briefed. Motion to replace Jane Does’ AI-tainted brief denied by court. Awaiting a court hearing date.
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. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.

 
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Other links: The prosecution of Danny Masterson. Leah Remini’s Fair Game Podcast. Leah Remini’s A&E Series. Scientology’s Celebrities, from A to Z. Bryan Seymour’s suppressed series, 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] A new Scientology ‘success’ makes miracle claims we’re not used to seeing
[TWO years ago] Judge Hammock to rule today that RTC will remain in Leah Remini’s Scientology lawsuit
[THREE years ago] That time Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard bitched to followers about his income
[FOUR years ago] Shekter: How Scientology intervened in an intimate affair of the heart
[FIVE years ago] VIDEO: Jon Atack talks to Mike Rinder about his first months aboard Scientology’s ‘Apollo’
[SIX years ago] Scientology OT8 dentist closes office while patients confront him about their cash
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology TV wins a boatload of awards, and is the ‘fastest-growing TV network in history’!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology spies coming forward to spill their guts, then and now: A key example from the past
[NINE years ago] L. Ron Hubbard’s daughter — the one he wanted to disappear — surfaces online
[TEN years ago] ‘Are you 100 percent American?’ — ‘Ross & Carrie’ investigate joining Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology vs. the mayor: The full Gabe Cazares interview from 1997’s Secret Lives
[TWELVE years ago] The BBC’s John Sweeney gives us another glimpse of creepy Scientology intimidation

 
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 3,531 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,035 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,541 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,091 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,081 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,467 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,962 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,266 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,917 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,135 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,689 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,030 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,601 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,517 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,684 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,266 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,525 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,277 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,842 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,157 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,332 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,014 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,351 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,204 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,320 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,682 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,093 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,481 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,365 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,930 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,441 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,701 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,805 days.

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 6, 2026 at 07:00

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Our book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is 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, 1995-2024 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2024), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

 

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