TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: An inquiry about cults is going on in Australia, including testimony about Scientology. But Alex Barnes-Ross realized that the inquiry had not heard about Scientology’s sneaky way it uses an Australian address to get around taxes in the UK. He did something about it. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“I have found that Man cannot be trusted with Justice. The truth is, Man cannot really be trusted with ‘punishment.’ With it he does not really seek discipline, he
wreaks injustice. He dramatizes his inability to get his own Ethics in by trying to get others to get their Ethics in: I invite you to examine what laughingly passes for ‘Justice’ in our current society. Many governments are so touchy about their divine rightness in judicial matters that you hardly open your mouth before they burst into uncontrolled violence. Getting into police hands is a catastrophe in its own right in many places, even when one is merely the plaintiff, much less the accused. Thus, social disturbance is at maximum in such areas.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981
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“It’s an interesting thing that there exists on Earth a cult which believes a hundred percent that it has the only god there is in this universe. And this is quite an interesting thing. See, this is terribly interesting. Anybody who says he has a total monopoly on all there is of something, which you can’t weigh, see or measure, is suspect. Christianity’s gain in the world and its departure from its own announced principles were in the main in the direction of control…It is not even a major group today in European and American spheres of influence. It keeps telling you that it is, but it isn’t. The majority of the white races today are not members of the Christian church. And there are about ten times as many Buddhists. Oh I don’t know, two hundred times as many Buddhists or something. Rather overwhelmingly big. But that was an effort to control. And an interesting effort to control, because when it failed in its own basic tenets it then departed from its basics. And our quarrel with it is, that in practice it isn’t what it says it is. That’s our only quarrel with it. It is something that tries to appear one way when it is something else.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 28, 1957
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“NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER go near a British Consul in any port we are in for passport renewal or any other reason. Send the person to another port we don’t use. The Corfu trouble has been traced by our Missionaires to FORTE the Corfu British Consul who told the most vile and fantastic lies about us such as the H&W men were now in an insane asylum in Athens! That we poisoned wells and did black magic. We are suing him there and also will kick it back to England. The whole Corfu incident was censored out of Greek press and has not hit International Press. So no ports know of it. Which is okay. But let that be a lesson to us about British Consuls. So that’s how they lost their empire! 3rd Party specialists. By the way they supply arms to both sides of the Biafra conflict and both sides in the Israel-Jordan Suez war! Also, by the way, an official protest was made by the Panama Consul General in Athens to the Greek govt. And so Panama is on our side. Also the Nomarch is being removed in Corfu. Hah! But the people there are terrified of arrest so we’re pulling our Mission out. We won after all.” — The Commodore, March 28, 1969
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“The many communications regarding Scientology on electronic media that rely on reporting the effects of ‘bad tech/policy’ practiced upon others as their only source of discussion upon Scientology or Dianetics is counterproductive in my opinion, and eventually follows the same path as suppression and insanity, a constant willingness and desire to destroy. Justice has been sadly lacking in application within the Scientology organisation and always has been since LRH disappeared and even he was subject to the extent it was lacking. The ethics guidelines in KSW1 fell on death ears for the most part. The exposing of the abuses and alterations and by whom must continue concerning Scientology, but there is another side which remains mostly hidden or open to instant ridicule upon social media and that is the positives of applying the correct technology. Never has there been truer words than, ‘make the tech your own.’”
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2001: Keith Henson posted an update on the legal situation of attorney Graham Berry, a long-time opponent of Scientology. “The clams got Graham’s car by assuring a bankruptcy judge that his 14 year old jeep, bald tires, marginal brakes, electrical problems, and water leaks would sell for $6700. Since in bankruptcy you can’t have a car worth more than $1900, they will sell it at auction to some public scn and give Graham $1900. There is a deposition of Donald Wager; in it he admits to a string of criminal actions in the Hurtado v. Berry case and related. Wager admits paying a street person in jail for false testimony and being paid back by Moxon. He also talks about taking the street person’s false testimony to the Sheriff in an attempt to get Graham arrested.”
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“I laugh when Scientologists state that Scientology has nothing to do with faith or belief, and that it doesn’t involve a belief in the supernatural or paranormal. Yeah, spirits, reincarnation, telekinesis, astral projection, demons (body thetans) have nothing to do with anything like that!”
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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 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.
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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] Scientology’s next ‘Ideal’ grand opening revealed: Dave’s on his way!
[TWO years ago] Val Ross: After the FBI raid, what it was like to return to work there — as a Scientology spy
[THREE years ago] Here’s the prosecution’s witness list for the Danny Masterson retrial
[FOUR years ago] No, Will Smith was not high on Scientology when he slugged Chris Rock at the Oscars
[FIVE years ago] Scientology social media: The gang’s all here, let’s clear the planet!
[SIX years ago] This is Scientology’s plan for bringing good ‘hygiene’ to your door
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s Narconon drug rehab expansion plans DENIED in Maryland and Michigan
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology TV was launched with a massive ad campaign — is it working?
[NINE years ago] Lawrence Wright goes to Nazareth; or, how Reza Aslan drove us into the arms of L. Ron Hubbard
[TEN years ago] Scientology at Comic Con: An attempt at a minor intervention, as told by Phil Jones
[ELEVEN years ago] On the eve of ‘Going Clear’, Leah Remini says she’s grateful to the people behind it
[TWELVE years ago] VIDEO: Learn the power of Scientology in L. Ron Hubbard’s Science of Survival lectures!
[THIRTEEN years ago] In Dianetics, the Uterus is a Frightening Place — ALSO: Nation of Islam Boosting Involvement?
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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.
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 3,581 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,085 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,591 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,141 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,131 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,517 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,012 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,316 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,967 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,185 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,739 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,080 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,651 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,567 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,734 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,316 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,575 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,327 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,892 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,207 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,382 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,064 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,401 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,254 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,370 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,732 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,143 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,531 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,415 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,979 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,491 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,751 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,855 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 28, 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)
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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
