Scientology going big with its new focus on kids: More photos of new facilities

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Rumored for years, Scientology’s new focus on children is here, and it appears to be going worldwide. In Los Angeles and in South Africa, crowds of youngsters were assembled as new course rooms had their grand openings, and more are coming. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“Ethics is so native to the individual that when it goes off the rails he will always seek to overcome his own lack of Ethics. He knows he has an Ethics blind spot the moment he develops it. At that moment he starts trying to put Ethics in on himself and, to the degree that he can envision long-term survival concepts, he may be successful, even though lacking the actual tech of Ethics. All too often, however, the bank is triggered by an out-ethics situation and, if the individual has no tech with which to handle it analytically, his «handling» is to mock up motivators. In other words, he tends to believe or pretend that something was done to him that prompted or justified his out-ethics action, and at that point he starts down hill.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981

 
——————–

Source Code

“Look, you know that a thetan has been sitting around here for a couple of hundred trillion years. You realize that there have been psychiatrists all over the track? I mean, you probably didn’t realize that it was a stupid universe, but it is. Been psychiatrists all over the track; they’ve been electric shocking people. Well, that certainly should have upset the GPMs, shouldn’t it have? Huh?” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 26, 1963

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“THE BEACH: Cagliari’s old town (mostly bombed out in WW II) is reputed to be more expensive and a bit ‘clip.’ The new town is over the hill and is reputed to be fairer in price. These shore people will give you bad money exchange rates if you don’t watch it.” — March 26, 1969

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“LRH did not have super OT powers. LRH did not return. Thus it is obvious that LRH tech is not perfect and that following it absolutely will not lead to a state of perfection. LRH, with the Pre-Logics, Logics and Axioms, created a foundation for a science of the mind and spirit that is unparalleled. Critics go poopoo at LRH but they are totally incapable of creating anything comparable. There is no other spiritual practice that has a foundation in logical premises. I anticipate spending many lifetimes involved in the expansion of LRH’s work.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1999: The St. Petersburg Times published the two articles on on the litigation history of Scientology. “When prosecutors filed charges in the death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson, the Clearwater-based Church of Scientology – the defendant – had one clear response: The litigation will be ‘complex’ and ‘voluminous’ and will require ‘a significant number of hearings and significant hearing time.’ Those words should echo ominously for Pinellas County prosecutors. In a 14-month, worldwide survey, the St. Petersburg Times has documented a consistent pattern of church officials’ relentlessly pursuing its critics in legal actions that some charge are designed as much to harass as to achieve legal victory. In one year alone, the Times has found, Scientology spent more than $30-million on legal and professional fees. From critics outside the church to former members who sue for fraud and abuse, when Scientology goes to court, most often it is with lawyers and legal papers that can overwhelm less wealthy opponents. In France, England, Sweden and Germany, the pattern is similar: sue the critics, sue the government, and sometimes overwhelm the judges. Whenever necessary, use private investigators to probe your opponents’ weaknesses and exploit them. In two days of interviews, officials from the Church of Scientology and five of its lawyers answered a wide range of questions in an effort to combat the church’s reputation as litigious, secretive and closed to scrutiny. Continually citing the 1993 IRS decision to grant the church tax-exempt status, they compared their operations with mainline church denominations, including the Catholic Church, and compared their litigation history with that of the St. Petersburg Times. ‘History has vindicated us on every front,’ Rathbun says. ‘We are at the turn of the millennium. A lot has changed, across the rest of the United States and the rest of the world when you say you’re from the Church of Scientology, you immediately get respect.'”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“So the owner of a gay bar took money from the Church of Scientology? AAAAGGHH! Now I’m really in a bad mood.”

 
——————–

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 March 9.

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, which is now fully briefed. Awaiting the setting of an oral arguments hearing.
— 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. Oral arguments hearing on March 3.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration. Trial has been set for January 10, 2028.

 
——————–

 
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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] VIDEO: Can Scientology lure you to the happiest place on Earth?
[TWO years ago] Leah Remini’s proposed changes to Scientology lawsuit show what she’s really fighting for
[THREE years ago] Mark Bunker: Meeting an old Scientology friend on the streets of Clearwater
[FOUR years ago] ‘Oh gosh’: Judge views alleged rape filmed on phone of Scientology private eye
[FIVE years ago] ABC gives platform to Scientologist named one of 12 biggest sources of vaccine disinfo
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s bizarre response to the pandemic: Handing out sketchy cleaning products
[SEVEN years ago] Tom Cruise’s son Connor to marry Scientology staffer in the church’s Florida mecca
[EIGHT years ago] Leah Remini is still being stalked, and now Scientology has turned to an ex-NYPD detective
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s gateway drug: The personality test and what it’s actually telling you
[TEN years ago] Talking Scientology with actor and podcaster Ethan McKinley
[ELEVEN years ago] ‘Going Clear’: Sara Goldberg on how Scientology turned her own daughter against her
[TWELVE years ago] Jillian Schlesinger: How I got into Scientology, and how I got out
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology’s Version of Family Values: The Group is Everything

 
——————–

 
——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on March 26, 2026 at 07:00

E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter.

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)

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates.

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone