We know you’re hearing some pretty grim things about Scientology’s prospects these days, with dwindling membership, damning lawsuits, and terrible press, but as we never hesitate to point out, Scientology never gives up.
And those still caught in its clutches do their best to pretend that things have never looked better for L. Ron Hubbard’s devoted fans.
In particular, we’ve noted how the staff of Scientology’s London ‘Ideal Org’ does more than most other staffs as far as putting on a show to make it seem that all is well.
Of the London staffers, we’ve been fascinated by Sandrine Mootoo, who, maybe more than anyone else there, works the PR line like an old pro.
And wow, does she have something to crow about now. On the one hand, a staffer completing OT 3 might be a sign that things are so slow at the org the staffers actually have the time to complete OT levels.
On the other hand, Sandrine has completed OT 3! She’s learned about Xenu and galactic genocide and body thetans and that the reasons for her upsets are not her own fault but caused by countless invisible alien entities attached to her, invisible entities she’s going to be spending the next several years trying to get rid of!
Hip, hip, hooray!
Well, check for yourself how happy she is about finally getting through what Hubbard called the “Wall of Fire.”
We love the touch in the photo, above, that her fellow staffers got out fire extinguishers because she’s been through the Wall of Fire. Very cute.
You see, Hubbard claimed that in order to discover this stuff — like that Xenu was a galactic overlord who planted disembodied alien souls on earth 75 million years ago — he had to push through mental booby-traps laid in by evil psychiatrists, and getting to the truth nearly cost him his life. Getting through it, he said, was like getting through a wall of fire, and now his followers can do the same with less fear of injury — but at a much higher cost to your wallet. Sandrine presumably got to do OT 3 at a discount rate as a staffer. But mere mortals have to shell out hundreds of thousands to get through all the steps on the Bridge up to OT 3.
What are you waiting for, pilgrim!
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Technology Cocktail
“Auditing a person with a broken leg after it is set and he is comfortable, to remove the engram of the accident or treatment and the earlier “reason” he or she was distraught or had the accident, can improve the bone knitting time by as much as 2/3rds by actual test. This would be six weeks down to two weeks.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1969
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?
[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH
— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see
[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf
— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond
[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman
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“Christ bore the burdens of all man and the world, didn’t he? So, if a person keeps on offending, offending, offending against the seventh dynamic, he will eventually offend so wrongly and so widely and broadly that his only solution to it is to wind up as Christ. This isn’t saying that’s the route that Christ went although some of the lost books of the Bible tell you how he spent his early youth using his powers to destroy those around him. You may not be aware of these early accounts. There’s one story, in these lost books of the Bible, about his blinding a playmate merely by telling him to go blind.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 8, 1952
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“THE RUMOURS: The landing ships out in the harbour ‘briefed’ their men on how this ship was out of bounds as ‘full of draft dodgers, marijuana smokers, free love, hypnotism,’ said to have been briefed by their ‘upper echelon.’ We are sending Ensign Dunleavy and a boat out (the sea sled) to call on their senior captain to get it handled. Their men are upsetting the Greeks also. We’ll take care of it. Captains in the US Navy who ‘can’t handle their men’ (the one thing Admirals in the US go bonkers about) are seldom promoted any more. We hold all the aces. We’ll handle it on the lower echelon level and run it back to some psychiatrist they’ve got aboard, I’m sure. Poor old SMERSH.” — The Commodore, March 8, 1969
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“A few have said that they communicate with LRH telepathically, but none that I have found credible. I suspect that he did bypass a lot of charge and that he needs time to recover. I expect to meet him again one day but it might be a while.”
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2000: Der Spiegel reported that the German government will be conducting a source code review of Windows 2000 out of concern that a component of the software was created by a Scientologist. The report was denied by Microsoft. “The Federal Interior Ministry is examining an offer by software giant Microsoft to have the source code of its new Windows 2000 programs inspected. Microsoft apparently is afraid that without the official seal of approval from the German agency, its Windows program will not be installed and that private individuals would also hesitate to buy it. The suspicion is directed at the ‘Diskeeper’ program module, which was developed by a company belonging to Scientologist Craig Jensen. Experts think it possible that, with the help of Diskeeper, data on the hard drive of Windows 2000 computers would be accessible to unauthorized outside sources.”
“I’d bet the farm that this isn’t the end of the battle for the mind of poor Suri. This was only round one. Things will get ugly, real ugly, further down the road.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing March 26, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.
Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, motion to strike/anti-SLAPP motions by Scientology to be heard January 9, 2024.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: motion to file new complaint, hearing on March 20.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, hearing on March 26.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.
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After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: 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] Is this Scientology’s greatest fundraising flier ever? It’s ‘Mission Earth’ stupendous!
[TWO years ago] Danny Masterson joins Scientology asking CA supremes to review ‘arbitration’ defeat
[THREE years ago] SHELLY MISCAVIGE ON VIDEO: Never-before-seen footage from before her disappearance
[FOUR years ago] Forcing Scientology ‘arbitration’ on rape victims would be US courts imposing religion
[FIVE years ago] Can Scientology be tripped up by consumer protection? You must hear this pitch.
[SIX years ago] While in hiding, Scientology’s L. Ron Hubbard sent advice to newly elected Ronald Reagan
[SEVEN years ago] Danny Masterson: Victim C gets support from a veteran actress, but will LAPD answer the call?
[EIGHT years ago] BACK ON: Scientology ‘disconnection’ billboard OK’d by competitor after Outfront Media bails
[NINE years ago] Scientology really, really, really doesn’t want you to see this movie
[TEN years ago] Jon Atack: Why it takes so long to recover from Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology Targets Aussie Kindergartners, Swedish Grade Schoolers
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 2,833 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,328 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,843 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,393 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,383 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,264 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,568 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,439 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,991 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,332 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,899 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,818 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,986 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,567 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,828 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,864 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,580 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,144 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,459 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,634 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 7,185 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,316 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,654 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,509 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,627 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,984 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,287 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,393 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,791 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,667 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,232 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,745 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,999 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,108 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 8, 2024 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
