TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Christian missionaries, lured in by a restored L. Ron Hubbard property, put through staring exercises at the Harlem org, some books taken home, some restless leg cured. This is the way Scientology recruitment is supposed to work, people! ALSO: Tom Cruise gets a new medal! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Recently, having found bottom on the mind and spirit some years ago, I have been looking into physical nutrition and biochemistry. These latter levels lie below the spirit and mind and could be loosely considered to be an undercut as they do impede spiritual gain. Many people are mainly fixated on the body and living as they do in an intensely materialistic society, they are caught between being a body in the work-a-day world and achieving spiritual freedom. This is of course paradoxical. The game of being a body is the only game they have in their eyes. Thus if something is wrong with their body they manifest having heavy problems and they are anxious at the thought of losing a body: in other words they have a hidden standard of body health as their measure of spiritual attainment which, though illogical, is where they are and what they are doing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1972
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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 [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones
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“Let’s take the ant kingdom. The ants have been granted beingness. The ants themselves are not a beingness — that is, an independent beingness, such as a thetan. And here we get an oddity; we get an oddity in behavior in terms of ants. You go around and trifle with an ant. As a thetan, you go around and you start pushing around an ant: put a beam through his head, short-circuit out some of the working parts, make him walk in small circles, and you immediately start getting this, the idea that there’s something someplace that is getting awfully mad at you. Funny, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 18, 1953
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“MISSION ACCOUNTS UK: COMMANDER HANA ELTRINGHAM and FELICE GREEN are very much welcomed back. They did a fine job straightening up accounts at WW, SH and Pubs. As an added bonus they found Pubs was owed about £300,000, nearly 3 times what it owes and that SH was owed over £90,000 and £50,000. SMERSH is noted as active in Edinburgh in the form of our being worked on to make us unpopular. Well, they can try. The Mission did a great and very long job. They are highly commended.” — The Commodore, December 18, 1968
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“Trust me, it might not be this life time, or perhaps the next, but this world WILL have decent, ethical, and legitimate orgs one day. Those that are left behind will eventually catch up. Independent Scientology makes more sense than any of these other superstitious religions. You’re right, we’re losing the war now because of the active suppression going on, but it won’t be forever.”
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1997: LA Weekly carried a follow-up to their article on Scientology textbooks and learning techniques. A misdirected fax provided evidence of a Scientology-led fax campaign against the paper. “A misrouted fax rolled into our offices the other day, from one Margaret McCarthy at Applied Scholastics headquarters to one ‘Daryl at Player’s Choice,’ a trophy shop in Santa Ana. By all appearances, Ms. McCarthy is directing Daryl on what to write in a letter to the editor of the Weekly. McCarthy opens the missive to ‘Daryl’ with instructions for her to re-type an enclosed letter to the editor on her own company letterhead. And then things get weird. McCarthy uses some secret symbolic notation – two vertical lines alternating with two dots – to warn Daryl against making mistakes in the letter. As in: ‘Be careful of typos, etc. This is a [secret symbol] publication and you know they’ll nail us for any boo boos.’ We called McCarthy and asked if she was orchestrating a letter-writing campaign against the Weekly, but she wouldn’t say.’ The notation, ‘1.1’, was in a fax – mistakenly sent to our machine – from an employee of Scientology-affiliated textbook publisher Applied Scholastics to a Santa Ana merchant, directing her on what to write in a letter to the Weekly’s editor. The fax warns: ‘Be careful of typos, etc. This is a 1.1 publication and you know they’ll nail us for any boo boos.’ The notation, as many readers kindly alerted us, comes from the late L. Ron Hubbard’s mental Tone Scale, which ranges from 40 (serenity of beingness) to negative 40 (total failure). According to the online Scientology handbook, 1.1, ‘the most dangerous and wicked level,’ means ‘covert hostility’ – a common designation bestowed on the Church’s perceived enemies. Applied Scholastics president Ian Lyons confirmed the notation’s meaning, saying, ‘There is no secret about it.'”
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“I think it’s safe to say at this point in the proceedings that the reason things are so bad in the unchurch of Scientology aren’t due merely to Miscavige being dumb or incompetent. It’s obvious that he is a purposeful sadist who actively enjoys plotting new ways to torment his captive flock. He’s King Joffrey, he’s Ivan the Terrible. He’s freaking nuts.”
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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, 2023. Appeal brief due by December 23.
— ‘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 January 13, 2025.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, convicted of fraud, awaiting sentencing.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson. Judge Upindra Kalra’s ruling denying Scientology’s motion to strike is on appeal.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, gets ruling to depose Jane Doe 1.
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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] HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY, CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY
[TWO years ago] PODCAST: If Scientology expert Claire Headley had testified at the Danny Masterson trial
[THREE years ago] INSIDER: Scientology has been devastated by the pandemic and is coming apart at the seams
[FOUR years ago] Oof: Jane Doe #1’s own attorneys flubbed and ID’d her and her IP address in court documents
[FIVE years ago] Why the IRS will likely do nothing about Mormon and Scientology illegal slush funds
[SIX years ago] Leah Remini asks ‘Where is Shelly’ as the Church of Scientology turns 65!
[SEVEN years ago] When love triumphs over Scientology: A fairy tale of New York for the holidays
[EIGHT years ago] Oh look, Scientology started a blog, and it already won an award
[NINE years ago] Compton scam rehab clinic definitely a Church of Scientology operation, witnesses say
[TEN years ago] Rick Ross has a new book that will help you get someone out of Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Happy Birthday, Church of Scientology!
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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.
Tammy Synovec has not seen her daughter Julia in 3,117 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 3,612 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,127 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 3,677 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 2,667 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,053 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 2,548 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 5,852 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 3,723 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,275 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 4,616 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,183 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,102 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,270 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 4,852 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,112 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 4,148 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,864 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 3,428 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 1,743 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,918 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 4,600 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,937 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 9,791 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,906 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,268 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 7,571 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 3,677 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,075 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,951 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,516 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,027 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,283 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,391 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on December 18, 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), 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
