TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: As Scientology leader David Miscavige prepares to break ground in Clearwater tonight, his push for more empty cathedrals continues. We consider evidence of multiple new ‘Ideal Org’ projects coming in various parts of the world. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“So long as the strange belief was held that a man was only a stimulus-response animal and that his entire being was only a collection of aberrations, that his personality was only a matter of distortions of reality, no individuality or desire was safe from question or condemnation. This was a sort of slave psychology which, accidentally or otherwise, sought to block personal individuality and initiative. Under that philosophy one could be condemned, when he said he wanted to do something to further his name beyond his physical death, as an ‘egomaniac,’ whatever that is. When one had confidence in the ability of a group to sweep all before it, he could be called monomanic. When he enjoyed sex, he could be called a satyr. And when he wanted to do something for Mankind he could be labeled a ‘paranoid,’ whatever that is. Because he could thus be assailed and pounded by these nonsensical and precisely indefinable terms, and because engrams could here and there distort these natural desires and make them unnatural, the society was pounded down, man by man, into a herd.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“I was auditing a preclear one day that had a history of lesbianism and I learned this lesson but good. She was very sensitive about it and wanted to get over it. I knew this. I knew that this was a broken-up case. I mean the person was in bad shape. She was very spinny….You’ve got this individual sitting there as I had this lesbian and at the end of twenty-five minutes I suddenly realized that I was being ‘awfully nice.’ And I was getting nowhere….So I just broke out my Scientological scalpel and I said, ‘Women are nice, aren’t they? Particularly in bed.’ Dahhhhhhwwwwww! Wild needle slams and so forth. First lock of the Rock that came off of that case was being in charge, way, way back on the track, as the high priestess of the Vestal Virgins who weren’t virgin anymore, for which she was quietly and lengthily cooked over a slow fire, and which was making her avoid being a housewife because housewives have to cook. One of the innumerable computations that came off of this case.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 1, 1958
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“The VIII sessions being done by Belkacem Ferradj, Connie Broadbent and Quentin Hubbard are well above the Org VIII Course standard for consistency and fast case change. As soon as a couple more auditors qualify for full time Dianetic Qual assignment, Joan Robertson can join the full time Course to get her VIII. We do not have enough VIIIs coming up for the ship and the AOSH group so somebody better find the throttle on his study and begin to fill this gap. I’m told in the field an VIII is looked on like God.” — The Commodore, August 1, 1969
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“Justin Craig made statements in a public YouTube video that ‘Scientology is dead’ because his version of Scientology has not been broadly accepted. This enturbulated the field and has brought great disrepute to the independent field and Scientology in general. The flap is now being propagandized in ‘tabloid’ websites.”
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2000: The Birmingham Post reported on the Scientology exhibit there. “Devotees of the controversial new religion Scientology will launch a four-day exhibition in Birmingham today in a bid to shake off their ‘cult’ image. The exhibition, at the Burlington Hotel in New Street, is being held to dispel the wilder rumours surrounding the group, including a worship of beings from outer space and allegations of intimidation and harassment. Scientology promoters said the exhibition would demonstrate the religion’s openness and its work for the public good, which included drug rehabilitation and anti-crime programmes. Spokesman Mr Graeme Wilson said: ‘The cult image is a stereotype placed on any new religion. The purpose of this exhibition is for people to find out who we really are. Mr Wilson
said the confusion about Scientologists’ worship of an alien race called Thetans may have arisen from the science fiction writings of the group’s founder, L Ron Hubbard. Another source of concern for many people was Scientology’s method of recruitment. The woman, from Birmingham, said her daughter had been approached by an unidentified person outside New Street Station and asked to complete a detailed questionnaire about every facet of her life, before she was offered expensive courses to correct her ‘personality problems’. Mr Wilson said personality tests were an important tool in recruiting, but every representative should announce who they were and why the test was being carried out.”
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“Go to the Icke message board and search ‘Scientology.’ They think the Church of Scientology is either part of the NWO/Illuminati/Reptilian conspiracy or that the Scientologists are crazy. Ha!”
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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, oral arguments scheduled for June 25. 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. Now serving time in 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 June 19.
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. Oral arguments hearing set for July 23.
— 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 upheld on appeal. Scientology expected to file additional petitions before case can return to Kalra’s court.
— 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 has your summer fun lined up: Three parties with Ron!
[TWO years ago] Judge denies Valeska Paris redo: Trafficking case still stuck in arbitration
[THREE years ago] Some personal news from Tony Ortega, the Underground Bunker’s proprietor
[FOUR years ago] He inscribed the night sky like no one else — and now he gets his due at Lowell Observatory
[FIVE years ago] If this video doesn’t convince you Scientology is the world’s coolest religion, nothing will
[SIX years ago] Two years after filing their appeal, why there’s hope for the Garcias against Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] Scientologists in Texas neighborhood battle turn out to include Lori Hodgson’s daughter
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology TV is the best thing to happen to television — says Scientology
[NINE years ago] Clearwater Baptist pastor reflects on his message about Scientology, stands by it
[TEN years ago] Scientology opened a new ‘Ideal Org’ in Harlem, and we weren’t made to feel very welcome
[ELEVEN years ago] When Jesse Prince sec-checked David Miscavige: A Scientology interrogation for the ages
[TWELVE years ago] Kirstie Alley ‘disconnects’ from not one but two men over their friendship with Leah Remini
[THIRTEEN years ago] Leah Remini Retaliation? Suddenly, Scientology “Fair Gaming” Of Critics Is Way Up
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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 3,707 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,211 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,717 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,267 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,643 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,138 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,444 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,093 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,311 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,865 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,206 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,777 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,693 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,860 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,446 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,705 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,453 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,022 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,333 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,508 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,190 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,527 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,380 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,496 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,858 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,657 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,541 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,116 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,617 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,877 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,981 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 1, 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
