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Scientology official spells out the church’s expectations that Save the Garden will fail

 
TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: While Clearwater’s council faces a voter revolt against its gift of a street to Scientology, a familiar face has made the church’s position clear. We have Mark Bunker’s reaction. ALSO: Another whale is harpooned for a new mission, and Charlie Wakley is back! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“A chain of locks can be thought of as a single engram. When thought of in this fashion it becomes apparent that the signs of reduction of an engram would also be the signs for the reduction of a chain of locks. The main thing to note is the reduction of tension within the preclear as he goes through this material. Quite often lock scanning will produce a reduction in the familiar terms of yawns, tears, lessening of somatics, etc. In addition to the signs of reduction, it is also possible to measure the reduction of a chain by the length of time in which it takes to scan. This, of course, should not be considered completely unassailable proof that the chain has been reduced, since the preclear may be simply lightening the contact which he has with the chain on each successive trip through; but, coupled with other signs of deintensification, the lessening of running time is a clue that the chain has been reduced. As in many engrams, the second, third or fourth runs through a chain of locks will reveal additional material, sometimes additional locks. Indeed, at the end of running through a particularly aberrative chain, a preclear may have made available for his analytical thinking five or ten times the number of incidents of this type that were accessible before the run. One of the most important by-products of lock scanning is that it is tremendously effective in recovering a vast amount of usable experience for the analytical mind.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1951

 
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Source Code

“You want to know what is wrong with the fellow? Let’s say that when he is very young somebody decides to take his tonsils out….Later on he meets some doctor who says, ‘Well, the reason you have ulcers is because … ?’ Actually, it was because one of the doctors during the tonsillectomy — this fellow’s earlier colleague — had an elbow in the patient’s stomach. I think doctors knew this all the time, by the way. I am sure they had this all worked out. The doctor leans his elbow on this young would-be writer’s stomach, and he grinds this elbow down while he is holding the patient. Later on the fellow has to be operated on for ulcers. You can make more money this way and send your children to better colleges.” — L. Ron Hubbard, October 22, 1951

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“Sea Org members are highly acceptable to one another. Where evidence seems to be to the contrary it is an urgency to uphold the standards of the group which after all has a very arduous and important job to do.” — The Commodore, October 22, 1970

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“There are many blogs that publish a lot bad news about ‘Scientology’ when they are not really talking about Scientology at all, but rather about the CHURCH of Scientology and its suppressive ‘leaders.’ After reading some of those, it is such a pleasure to read about the great personal wins that people are having applying actual Scientology rather than the pretend stuff, e.g., GAT. Exposing the crimes of the Church of Scientology is a very important thing to do, but the wins that people are giving and receiving using the TECH will always be the more important story in the long run. The church will die thanks to those who bring the light of truth to expose its contra-survival acts. But people helping themselves and other people with the TECH and enhancing life all over the world are also important positive forces creating a better future.”

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Past is Prologue

1998: Former Scientologist Charlotte Kates posted an affidavit she submitted in Keith Henson’s case, in which she described her experiences with the medical practices of Scientology. “I was personally ordered by Tiffany Woods, the Senior HAS (Hubbard Communications Office Area Secretary) EUS (Eastern United States) and Jenny Porta, the LRH Communicator EUS, to stop taking medication that had been prescribed for me by a doctor to alleviate my thyroid condition–Grave’s disease–upon my signing of a Sea Organization contract. Ms. Woods and Ms. Porta told me that I would otherwise be ineligible for Scientology services, and told me that my medical condition could be cured with PTS (Potential Trouble Source) handlings and Scientology auditing. I was informed that the cause of all illness is ‘PTSness’, and showed a reference from L. Ron Hubbard indicating that the root of all illness and/or injury is a PTS condition. Scientology believes it can handle and cure any and all such ‘PTS conditions’. I was told therefore, I did not need the medicines prescribed to me by my physician, and that Scientology auditing would cure my illness. Scientology procedures were specifically not designed to complement traditional medicine; in fact, I was told that if I continued to take my prescribed medical drugs, I would be ineligible for this Scientology cure. I was not told to visit or ask a doctor’s advice. I was ordered to cease medication on the advice of two medically untrained Scientology staff members. I witnessed several other cases of Scientology being promoted as a medical cure, including the case of one public Scientologist active at the Philadelphia Organization. She became involved with Scientology in mid-1997. Years before, she had suffered from Lyme disease, which had been treated by a medical doctor. Not long after her initial involvement with Scientology, she suffered a recurrence of the illness, which became apparent to her as she began to suffer from memory loss, periods of blacking out, severe headaches and similar effects. A medical doctor did confirm her symptoms as being a recurrence of Lyme disease; however, before beginning medical treatment, she sought the advice of Scientologist chiropractors, nutritionists and other alternative medical practitioners. It was recommended to her that she cease medical treatment for Lyme disease; she was informed that the cause of all illness was ‘PTSness.’ She received many PTS handlings, at the cost of thousands of dollars in auditing fees. However, as she was still ill, she was now sold NED (New Era Dianetics) Assists (Scientology processes used to ‘handle’ illness or injury) as a cure for illness. NED Assists are commonly sold to ill Scientologists as cures for illness, and as replacements for medical care. She was sold several intensives (12 1/2 hour blocks of time) of Scientology auditing at the Flag Land Base on the premise that there, at ‘the mecca of technical perfection,’ her Lyme disease would be finally ‘handled,’ and that, therefore, the auditing was worth the exorbitant prices. She took out a second mortgage loan on her house to pay for these intensives of auditing. When these did not ‘handle’ her Lyme disease, she was told she had not purchased enough auditing. In a very intense registration session, she nearly maxed out her credit cards to purchase further intensives of Flag auditing, and was further promised a cure for her Lyme disease. Once again, she was not recommended to see a doctor, and was, in fact, discouraged from doing so. She was told that she would need $8000 worth of additional auditing. She was given a list of the names and telephone numbers of wealthy Clearwater Scientologists, and told to call them until one of them agreed to let her put her intensive on his credit card. She resisted the idea, and once again, felt forced to back down. Calling down the list, asking people she did not know for a credit card number for an $8000 intensive, she hated the idea but her resistance had been broken down. Eventually, one agreed.”

 
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Random Howdy

“So when your certificates get canceled, whose job is it to track down all those engrams and body thetans and tell them they need to re-implant and re-attach themselves?”

 
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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 heard and submitted, waiting for ruling. 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. Scientology’s attempt to gut the case failed, and appeals court upheld. Back to trial court in December.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ 17 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. Case returning 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. Hearing on arbitration motion set for March, 2027.

 
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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] The Church of Letting Go: How Scientology sells the silence of self-erasure
[TWO years ago] Danny Masterson attorney Cliff Gardner gets a month extension for appeal brief
[THREE years ago] Bruce Hines: Scientology made David Mayo out to be a villain, but I knew the real man
[FOUR years ago] PODCAST: Looking back at the first week of testimony in the Danny Masterson trial
[FIVE years ago] Could a Scientologist be the next governor of Nevada?
[SIX years ago] Could Marsy’s Law foil Scientology’s attempt to force rape victims into ‘arbitration’?
[SEVEN years ago] DAVID MISCAVIGE, YOU HAVE BEEN SERVED
[EIGHT years ago] A call to arms for Scientology voters: ‘Religious freedom’ vs. the evil psychs!
[NINE years ago] Wally Hanks, Scientology ranch terror recently portrayed on ‘Leah Remini,’ dies at 70
[TEN years ago] Who was responsible when Scientology finally paid Lawrence Wollersheim a lot of thin dimes?
[ELEVEN years ago] A Scientology childhood: What it’s like to grow up under the Hubbard spell
[TWELVE years ago] Tom Cruise and his Freedom Medal of Valor: Where’s the tabloid press?
[THIRTEEN years ago] Scientology Has No City Permit for IAS Gala or Other Events: Is It Keeping The Party Private?

 
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Scientology disconnection, a reminder

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 3,789 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,293 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,799 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,349 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,725 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,220 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,526 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,175 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,393 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,947 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,288 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,858 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,775 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,942 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,528 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,787 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,535 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,104 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,415 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,590 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,272 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,609 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,462 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,578 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,940 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,739 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,583 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,198 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,699 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,959 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 16,063 days.

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on October 22, 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, 1995-2025 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

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

 

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