TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: A federal judge has denied the motion by Valeska Paris asking him to do something about Scientology’s ‘religious arbitration’ becoming intolerable. The judge didn’t even compel Scientology to put an end date on what has already lasted 15 days, with no end in sight. Incredible. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Psychotics deal with doing people in. Their whole mission in life is destruction. They inveigh against lower level gains and seek to discredit them since these run
contrary to their aberrated purpose. But when it gets to Clears and OT levels, psychos go berzerk! They are, it happens, terrified of punishment for their own crimes. The thought of someone being sensible or powerful enough to punish them (the way they would do) is more than they can stand. You can, with the utmost certainty, identify a criminal psychotic by the way he vilifies or degrades or seeks to stop Clears and OTs from coming into existence.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1982
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“Now you get down toward the Center of this galaxy and the possibility of finding somebody without the Helatrobus Implants, of finding any foreign implant system, will probably be totally negligible. Probably nonextant, you see? But out here you got a mixed bag and we don’t know what they did in the next galaxy. See? Now, science fiction writers following the cue of some chap, I’ve forgotten his name now, Einstein, Beinstein, something like that, who said that MC squared over C wouldn’t go, man, and that the speed of light could not be excessive. And actually I was looking up some speed tables the other day, and a trillion light years per day is not full throttle on a space wagon. So there’s traffic between galaxies and there’s traffic between islands of galaxies and other islands of galaxies. Interesting.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 21, 1963
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“The auditing was in general better today. Auditors go in fads — now it’s ‘feelings.’ Nobody has any aches, pains or misemotions. They have ‘feelings!’ What happened to good old PAIN. Some aren’t able to confront the flak we get into. It takes a bit of guts to be around Flag. And some get very nervous and want to leave. We have 3 or 4 good things I don’t quit. Thanks for holding the ship together.” — The Commodore, May 21, 1969
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“The local ruling corporeals sit around in their disposable clones in their underground arenas doing figure-figure on who will be the prophesied coming messiah, poor devils. I’m glad you saw this for yourself and on the higher levels of the playing field(s). I can only ask myself, ‘What is your (meaning ‘my’) cause?’ so as not to get into self-defeating contention with those who hold onto non-life and covert goals. Eyes wide open.”
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1998: The Boston Herald published a story on the death of Philip Gale this week. “Alone in a 15th-floor classroom, MIT sophomore Philip C. Gale drew a physics formula on a blackboard showing what happens when a body falls from a great height. Then he slammed a chair through the classroom window and jumped more than 200 feet to his death, as horrified students watched from a plaza below. As evidence emerged that Gale was suffering from depression, students and staff wondered aloud about why the high-pressure school’s psychological safety net didn’t save him. And friends raised questions about whether his upbringing in a controversial religion – the Church of Scientology – played a part in his suicide. Gale had quit the church. Even so, he chose to kill himself on March 13, the church’s most important annual holiday marking the birthday of the late Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. The suicide provoked intense debate on campus, and on the Internet newsgroup alt.religion.scientology, about whether it was linked to Gale’s Scientology upbringing. And Munsey soon created a Web page titled ‘Who is Philip Gale?’ raising questions about a link between Scientology and the suicide. According to Gale’s friends, depression – or what he called ‘boredom’ or a ‘void’ – had long been masked by his irreverent sense of humor. The tall, skinny overachiever with close-cropped, bright red hair began to see his computer and music classwork as ‘inane.’ He spent hours banging on a drum set and playing computer games. Gale was still coming to terms with the sudden death of his father two years ago – at age 47 – of a heart attack, said Lauren McLeod, 22, a college friend who is now a reporter for the Concord Journal. And Gale had recently paid one visit to a therapist. He rarely talked about quitting the Church of Scientology, where his mother, Marie Gale, remained a prominent church official, the friends said.”
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“The only other ‘church’ I can think of that stoops to calling people names is the Westboro Baptist Church.”
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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] Brooks Gibbs and the grass-roots movement that made Scientology blink
[TWO years ago] Another ‘Tom Cruise leaving Scientology’ squawk from the tabs, and the weakest ever
[THREE years ago] Scientology spying on Amy Scobee and Mat Pesch: Cameras pointed in their home
[FOUR years ago] THE VALESKA PARIS DECLARATION: Here’s her full report to Clearwater PD on Scientology abuses
[FIVE years ago] Day four of the Danny Masterson prelim: The arguments and a ruling!
[SIX years ago] Scientology so stoked you watched ‘Spread a Smile’ video, it’s trying to cash in tonight
[SEVEN years ago] A Scientologist is brutally murdered in Peoria, but you didn’t hear it from Scientology
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s elaborate use of child labor for pennies an hour, spelled out in black and white
[NINE years ago] Scientology may be crumbling, but around the world it’s still plotting a planetary takeover
[TEN years ago] Atack: Contradictions in L. Ron Hubbard’s “tech” only increase Scientology discipline
[ELEVEN years ago] Leah Remini and Paulette Cooper? Scientology can start worrying now
[TWELVE years ago] No, LA Weekly, Tom Cruise’s career was not ruined by a GIF
[THIRTEEN years ago] Disconnection: Scientology’s Most Toxic Sacrament
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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 3,635 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,139 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,645 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,195 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,185 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,571 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,066 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,370 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,021 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,239 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,793 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,134 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,705 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,621 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,788 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,374 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,633 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,381 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,950 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,261 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,436 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,118 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,455 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,308 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,424 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,786 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,200 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,585 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,469 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,033 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,545 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,805 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,909 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 21, 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
