Scientology donors invited by Tom Cruise to premiere of ill-fated ‘Digger’

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: More evidence of how tight Tom Cruise remains with Scientology: the big donors he invited to the ‘Digger’ premiere in Los Angeles. ALSO: Save the Garden has met its goal as its petition is certified valid! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“There has never before in the history of the world been an opportunity for groups, since they did not know these things, to rehabilitate themselves and free themselves from the continuing concatenation of arbitraries. Thus, every group, once initiated, could thereafter experience only a dwindling spiral. Following these tenets, there is no reason why the tone of the group cannot continuously rise or, whenever it is depressed, to be brought back up on the tone scale again. It has been stated by past writers that the group’s highest point was the moment when it was formed, since then its ideals, ethic and rationale were intact. One can readily see that this has in the past been the case, but he can see also that the ideals, rationale and ethic of the group may be improved. Thus its tone scale can now go up from this point of formation. Further, emergency status’s can be reached and met, individuals can take command of various functions of the group for these emergency status’s, and the engrams of the group can thereafter be sorted out and resolved—run, in other words.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1951

 
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Source Code

“Have you ever run a sperm sequence? It doesn’t have any energy in it either but it has all the energy there is in it. Have you ever seen anybody lying on the couch in the sperm sequence, and seen his feet start to swing sideways in an impossible motion? He says, ‘What am I doing?’ The energy which is generating that was of the magnitude necessary to wiggle the tail of something which is only visible in a microscope. And yet this fellow is wiggling his whole body on this tiny, tiny amount of energy.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 10, 1951

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“The Sea Org proper was begun with Flag Order No. 1, 12 August 1967. On about that date the ‘Avon River’ was launched in Las Palmas. FO 639 gives 9 Oct 67 as the ‘proper’ beginning as it then had a function. But 12 Aug would be its real birthday.” — The Commodore, October 10, 1970

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“I would have to say I was quite neurotic and numb from many years of drug use and alcohol. I took a personality test and read Dianetics and found why I had asthma and allergies for most of my childhood years. That compelled me to dedicate my life more and more to study, first as a public and then on staff. I made gains every step of the way. There is so much to learn and study and big actions to address your case. First the ability to study and detox off drugs and alcohol with a Purification Rundown. You can choose how you learn but for me I dedicated intense study and case handling by joining staff and for 10 months completely studied and twinned up with others to learn practical training. I guess some are afraid to look into their minds and traumas in life. Scientology is a discipline to learn how to study clear words and to become more intelligent. I know it is the reason I love to help others now. I became a much better individual and ethical and now also I know I can learn any subject I choose to and my interests in life have expanded greatly. It is a Science.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2000: The Salt Lake City Tribune reported that U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch made comments in favor of Scientology’s efforts to discredit European countries for their efforts against cults. “Today, as democracies are born while people watch on worldwide television, it is important to guard religious freedom, Sen. Orrin Hatch told delegates to a symposium at BYU’s law school Sunday night. Hatch told delegates from 36 countries, including China, Mongolia and Iran, that the job of ensuring those freedoms is far from done — even in industrialized countries such as France. ‘Developments in France have been particularly troubling because one would expect France to be one of the leaders on a human-rights issue,’ Hatch said. But in ‘June of 1995, the French National Assembly established a parliamentary inquiry commission charged with ‘studying the sect phenomenon’ in the country. The French Senate will soon consider legislation that would ‘create a dangerously broad weapon for fighting unpopular religious groups,’ he said. Germany has also limited religious freedom, Hatch said. In Germany, the controversial Church of Scientology, founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard and embraced by a number of Hollywood celebrities, has endured discrimination by the government.”

 
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Random Howdy

“I lived through 70’s Punk, early 80’s hardcore, late 80’s alternative, and whatever passed for a scene in the first half of the 90’s, and most of my friends from those time periods are dead. But at least they had some really good times before their number came up. I don’t think Scientologists can say the same.”

 
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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 opens Silicon Valley ‘Ideal Mission’ — where it already has ‘Ideal Org’
[TWO years ago] As Scientology whistleblower Hana Whitfield braced for Milton, she had news for us
[THREE years ago] Biggest protest since Anonymous era planned for Scientology leader’s return to England
[FOUR years ago] The case against Danny Masterson: Details from the prosecution brief on the eve of trial
[FIVE years ago] Tom Cruise, looking puffy again between movie shoots, gets booed at SF game
[SIX years ago] Read the prosecution’s smackdown of Danny Masterson’s attempt to get out of rape charges
[SEVEN years ago] Nancy Cartwright tops $17 million as Scientology celebrates its whales
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s cruise ship the Freewinds: Why OT 8 needed to be delivered off-shore
[NINE years ago] Here’s how Scientology tried to keep you from seeing tonight’s episode of ‘Leah Remini’
[TEN years ago] One of Scientology’s new Narconons got inspected — and turned up one surprising result
[ELEVEN years ago] Another minor omen of the coming Scientology apocalypse appears in Florida
[TWELVE years ago] Vance Woodward’s lawsuit dismissed as judge grants Scientology’s anti-SLAPP motion
[THIRTEEN years ago] OOPS: Government Shutdown Stalls EEOC Lawsuit Against Miami Scientology Chiropractor

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 10, 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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