Claire Headley and Chris Shelton on Scientology’s creepy new focus on kids

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: At the L. Ron Hubbard Birthday Event on March 14, Tom Cruise and John Travolta applauded Scientology leader David Miscavige, who unveiled a new initiative aimed at kids. We wanted to get the perspective of a couple of experts on this ‘Golden Age for the New Generation.’ [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“Based on the earliest cases completed on the Happiness Rundown, there is no fading of the initial glow on completing the HRD. Not only was there no fade but those persons report an increase or expansion of their gains following the HRD. The result promises not only to be stable, but to actually get better as the person goes on in life applying the principles learned. Due to the immense popularity of the HRD amongst the pcs, auditors and others in contact with it, the demand for the HRD can be expected to be very high, and it can be expected to accelerate in each area where it is delivered. The combination of the booklet: «The Way to Happiness» and the availability of the Happiness Rundown are a boon to FSMs and Distribution Divisions. The goal for Mankind and this planet of a world without war, insanity or criminality and happiness for all, is now much much closer.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981

 
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Source Code

“Now, if you were to duplicate teeth on a preclear, you just say, ‘All right. Now, let’s duplicate teeth.’ And he starts duplicating teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, teeth, till he gets lots of teeth, lots of teeth, lots of teeth. First thing you know out of this big pile of teeth which he’s gotten out there, he’ll start to get the emotion ‘Whee! Let’s all be teeth. Let’s fill the whole universe up full of teeth. Everything’s got to be teeth.’ Well, of course this is the central motive as far as teeth are concerned. Everything must duplicate teeth. Any object has this as an obsession. It must be duplicated. If it goes downhill it gets down to a point, finally, where, of course, it must not be duplicated, which is it must hide, withdraw, get very small, be hard, compact.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 2, 1954

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“I hope no desperate casualties resulted from the APRIL FOOL OOD. All Fools Day originated when they changed the Gregorian Calendar in 1564. The first day of the year was April 1st before then. When New Years Day became January 1st, those who persisted in celebrating it as April 1st became targets. It originated in France where they are called APRIL FISH and went to Scotland where they are called APRIL GAWKS. Through the English speaking world it is APRIL FOOLS. All from a PR stunt to teach the new Calendar! So when Al Bornstein, FAO PR wrote up an April Fool OODs with Geoff Barnes and Gorman the Management carried out a reversal even on them. In the Immortal Words of Product Officer FAO Amos Jessup, ‘Anyone who was taken in by that OOD had better review his Data Series!’ So would the FEBCs do a Data Analysis on that April Fools OOD as an exercise. Self preservation demands they be able to recognize real OUT POINTS when they get back to their orgs. People were in stitches over the results of the joke, so I hope no bruised feelings remain.” — The Commodore, April 2, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“PCs don’t return to auditors if the results are poor. So the Freezone is sort of self-qualifying. Auditors that are still in practice have to be good auditors. There are many auditors to choose from who have held their space. It could be compared to a free market, people go out of business when they sell faulty products.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1999: Dennis Erlich posted a declaration filed in his copyright infringement case. “This declaration addresses the central feature Scientology practice which claims to provide a form of spiritual absolution and ascension through ‘confession,’ the maintenance of various files containing information
based upon these confessions by numerous Scientology entities, and the expectation of confidentiality associated with these confessional activities and files. [D]uring each auditing session, the auditor is required to maintain detailed notes on a worksheet which records the information discussed. These worksheets are placed into the person’s ‘preclear’ or ‘pc’ file. In my experience, preclears are indoctrinated to believe that confessions made or elicited during an auditing session are kept confidential. Despite this expectation, and in accordance with numerous Hubbard policies, after the session an auditor is required to report any
transgressions or breaches of Scientology’s numerous codes and policies in writing to the preclear’s ‘ethics’ file. Although most preclears do not know or understand this, an auditor is required to make special note of any potential ‘ethics’ matters that come up during an auditing session (for example, needle readings that indicate negative thoughts about L. Ron Hubbard or transgressions of policy) and report them to a Case Supervisor. When a Scientologist does an act or expresses a thought that might be considered to be counter to Hubbard’s intention, he or she can be placed in a ‘lower ethics condition.’ A Scientologist in a lower ethics condition is often ordered by an Ethics Officer, among other things, to go through a process called writing up ‘overts and withholds’ to help determine and
ameliorate the reason for the lower condition. The confessions made in an O/W write-up, while not formal auditing, are according to Scientology policy, considered to be ‘case actions’ to be filed in the confessional folder and considered to be confidential. A person cannot complete any action in Scientology or progress to the next action without writing a glowing ‘Success Story’ praising the gains they have made. Part of the graduation procedure from any level requires the parishioner to be sent to the Examiner who reads the Success Story and if it is glowing, puts the person on the e-meter and asks what is called the ‘Key Question,’ that is, ‘would you like others to have similar gains to yours?’ The person cannot ‘pass’ unless the e-meter needle ‘floats.’ If the person does not write a glowing success story, he is sent to the Department of Review for correction at his own expense. I would consider the information in my ‘ethics’ file to be confidential, and subject to the same privilege as material in my preclear file. It should also be noted that in discovery the plaintiff failed to turn over either my ethics files or my pc files, claiming that they had been lost. Instead what they produced were selected copies of discreditable materials culled from both folders. Although Mr. McShane acknowledged that Scientology considers material in a person’s preclear file to be confidential and privileged, it should be noted that Scientology considers that a person who has been declared a Suppressive such as myself is no longer entitled to such protection. Accordingly, as a matter of Scientology doctrine, plaintiffs would consider themselves to be entitled to use information culled from a confessional setting (during auditing or otherwise) to impeach or discredit a witness.”

 
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Random Howdy

“Why would Scientologists feel love for each other? According to Hubbard they are just random thetans occupying random meat bodies. Your children aren’t really ‘your’ children. That’s one of the reasons it seems so easy for some Scientologists to disconnect. Your relatives are merely other pod people.”

 
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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] Slimy Scientology attorney asks Clearwater for its Mike Rinder records
[TWO years ago] Scientology and the Great American Eclipse, 2024 edition
[THREE years ago] Tampa Bay Times identifies developer acting as Scientology’s front in Clearwater
[FOUR years ago] Academic forum caves to scary Scientology attorneys, spikes our presentation
[FIVE years ago] SNL produced the best parody of Scientology ever — and then hired a Scientologist
[SIX years ago] Scientology is dying to keep you well from the pandemic it doesn’t believe in
[SEVEN years ago] Thetans in the Jungle: Scientology in Papua New Guinea’s Highlands
[EIGHT years ago] Mike Rinder: Scientology is ‘disappearing at a consistent unchanging unwavering rate’
[NINE years ago] Scientology for your plants? In the grand tradition of L. Ron Hubbard, yes!
[TEN years ago] Scientology’s demonology: Where L. Ron Hubbard got the idea for your space cooties
[ELEVEN years ago] Robert Vaughn Young on L. Ron Hubbard’s final days — another ‘Secret Lives’ video outtake
[TWELVE years ago] Florida attorney Ken Dandar hit with $1 million penalty for taking on Scientology
[THIRTEEN years ago] Why Isn’t Scientology More Open About Its Space Opera Beliefs? It’s the Best Part!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 2, 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.

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