TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Alex Barnes-Ross has another Scientology success story for us. In this case, the church is crowing about trafficking a young woman from South America to a lifetime commitment in England and dedicating her life to L. Ron Hubbard’s ‘tech.’ We’d like to get your thoughts on it. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Any org or mission staff declaring a Dianetic Clear ‘achieved in other practices’ is subject to expulsion from the Church. Technically, a very few thetans have never been anything but Clear. These few didn’t ‘go Clear’ on anything; they have simply always been Clear. When a natural Clear is found it should be so stated. To assign this condition to some other practice is a suppression of Dianetics and Scientology. Anyone evaluating for or feeding a preclear data to persuade him to declare Dianetic Clear is also actionable.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1981
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“I’m not down on religion. I believe in religion, except I don’t believe in limited religion. If we’re going to have two gods let’s worship two gods, that’s all. If we’ve got to have worship of gods, let’s at least worship the minimum number allowable in this universe. Now, let’s not fool around with this religion, tell people what they can’t do with religion and what they can do with religion. We’ve just got religion — if we’re going to have religion, then let’s be honest with it and look and see and find this to be the case: that everybody who starts worshiping one god and one god only, and shaping his pathway straight toward one god and only one god and good, and it’s good, and that’s all we can have anything to do with is good, winds up bad. Ever know any minister’s sons?” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 23, 1953
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“Had a good break today on Research. Cracked why one can’t be audited after exteriorization so one can. Will push OT ability up out of sight. I do get my own hats worn despite randomity!” — The Commodore, March 23, 1970
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“It was LRH’s mistake that he failed to perceive that each major triangle was actually two triangles: a white one and a black one. He should have perceived it because he knew Magick, and must have known very well that when summoning any basic universal force that the negative side of that force must be bound FIRST, in order to receive only the positive. (All primal forces in the universe are arranged in a dichotomy with part at or near the top of the tone scale and the other part at or near the bottom.) He failed to bind the black triangles (the KRC also), and they devoured him. To say it in Scientology terms, he failed to confront the lower scale ‘R’ of the ARC triangle, therefore it persisted. The more he failed to confront it, the bigger it became, and after some years the white triangle vanished under a wave of SO force: ‘What does your material state?,’ ‘Make it go right!’ and other black ARC.”
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1996: An article from the St. Petersburg Times detailed Scientology’s request for changes in Clearwater’s housing regulations. Scientology wants to pack in twice as many Sea Org members into the Hacienda Gardens, the barracks for low ranking SO and many RPF. “The change would cut in half the required living space and eventually provide homes for the 300 new Scientology staff members needed for the ‘Super Power’ facility, said Richard Haworth, a spokesman for Scientology’s Clearwater-based Flag Service Organization. Hacienda Gardens, 551 N Saturn Ave., has 200 units populated, in large part, by members of Scientology’s Sea Organization, who wear Navy-style uniforms and sign billion-year contracts to devote themselves to Scientology. Sea Org members, as they are called, spend 10 to 14 hours on the job daily. That unusual work schedule, and the fact that they eat their meals at Scientology dining halls and not at home, means that the city’s normal living standards aren’t necessary in Hacienda Gardens, Haworth said. ‘The units are used primarily for sleeping and are seldom used for cooking, entertaining, etc.,’ the Scientology request said. ‘If this variance is not granted, then, among other results, the applicant will be required to acquire additional property for housing purposes, which property will then be removed from the tax rolls.’ The Scientology request asks that in 120 apartments, the city’s minimum dwelling space requirements be cut in half. For a 700-square-foot apartment, for instance, the change would boost the number of Scientologists allowed from six to 13. In April 1992, city building officials cited the church for overcrowding in 34 of the Hacienda Gardens apartments. Scientology officials moved staff members around to alleviate the overcrowding, which they blamed on the logistics of renovating the facility.”
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“I remember growing up in the 60’s, and this idea that all of our problems were due to suppressed subconscious desires or traumatic incidents we had ‘forgotten,’ and if some psych could make us remember we would be miraculously whole and normal again like Liz Taylor, was the concept that was being pushed on everyone. Hubbard just took the bullshit and ran with it.”
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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, waiting for 2nd Appellate District court to set a hearing date. 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 (eligible for parole in two to three more years). Awaiting transfer to 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 March 9.
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. Awaiting the setting of an oral arguments hearing.
— 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 is on appeal. Appeal fully briefed. Motion to replace Jane Does’ AI-tainted brief denied by court. Oral arguments hearing on March 3.
— 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] Eyewitness reports from celebrations of Scientology’s founder, L. Ron Hubbard!
[TWO years ago] BANNED IN EAST GRINSTEAD: How we got blacklisted for asking about Scientology
[THREE years ago] Meet John Blosser, Scientology’s new shill, who is targeting Graham Berry
[FOUR years ago] An insider’s report on David Miscavige at Scientology founder’s birthday event 2022
[FIVE years ago] Danny Masterson accusers take Scientology ‘arbitration’ to California Supreme Court
[SIX years ago] The wealthy donors keeping Scientology in business, New Year’s 2020 edition
[SEVEN years ago] Carol Es on 20 years in Scientology: ‘You’re programmed to think emotions are weak’
[EIGHT years ago] Stop interacting with Scientology’s Internet trolls. Here’s proof it can backfire on you badly.
[NINE years ago] State investigators fired for blowing the whistle on Scientology’s rehabs get hearing in Denver
[TEN years ago] Scientology attorney Bert Deixler takes another swing at Karen de la Carriere
[ELEVEN years ago] ‘Going Clear’: Mike Rinder helps us understand a Scientology document that will creep you out
[TWELVE years ago] Three weeks out of Scientology: Fresh information from a ‘blown’ Sea Org member
[THIRTEEN years ago] Blood Brother Ron: Starting Out Life on the Wrong Blackfoot
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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 3,576 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,080 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,586 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,136 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 3,126 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,512 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,007 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,311 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 4,962 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,180 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,734 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,075 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,646 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,562 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,729 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,311 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,570 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,322 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 3,887 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,202 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,377 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,059 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,396 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,249 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,365 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,727 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 4,138 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,526 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,410 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 3,974 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,486 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,746 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,850 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 23, 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
