TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: We’ve heard from people who are frustrated as local politicians have again caved to Scientology’s unreasonable demands. Was it fear? Intimidation? Patty Moher personally witnessed operations that targeted such people, and she tells us what she saw with her own eyes. [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“Let us take an insane person whose insanity consists of the fact that he says everything which is said to him like an echo and who does every physical action
he sees the person he is watching do. His engrams tell him that he has to do this. They do not make it possible for him to do it. They only command. The engrams are impinging against that ability of an analytical mind to mimic. A bulk of the learning done in a lifetime is through mimicry. A three-months-old baby will lie in its crib and do an excellent job of mimicking the mouth actions of the mother. The mother may be trying to make the baby say a word. The baby moves its facial muscles, coos between tries, gurgles, crows, tries to get control of those vocal cords. But it mimics the facial action of the mother. That baby is learning.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“Very few engrams start out with words, usually they start out with something like ‘splat’ or ‘clink’ or ‘tinkle’ or ‘thump.’ There’s something ahead of what you are running. People who have non-sonic don’t pick up this material too well, but it will still come through.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 11, 1950
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“Our Richard Gorman has done the most effectively gruesome anti-psychiatry poster I’ve ever seen. I photographed it in colour and it’s off to the pubs for colour photolitho and the world. US news has barely mentioned Rockefellers many later visits! Only European carried it hard. Couldn’t be US Press is censored? Or maybe owned? We were told to sail by pilot due to storm. We’ll be going when it abates. We’re all cleared out of port. Hence no liberty possible, sorry.” — The Commodore, July 11, 1969
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“Back in the mid seventies I lived in an old Scientologist-owned rooming house on Hoover Street in Los Angeles. It was chock full of disembodied thetans from top to bottom. There were some really scary beings running around that place — and some not so scary. Two not-so-scary thetans inhabited the upper corner of my room just above my door. I perceived them to be two old ladies who were perpetually terrified and clinging to each other. I was young, and just let them be for many months. One day after having gone exterior with full perception, I decided that it was high time the old ladies moved on and got back into the game. I guess I just wanted them to have a chance to get some of what I’d recently experienced in Scientology. Anyway, I fixed my attention on them and told them it was time to go. What was really interesting is that they balked about being told to leave, and actually got angry. What ensued was something of a tussle between thetans as they pushed all sorts of ridges and blackness at me. I suppose you could say that we got into a heated argument, but in the end they did finally take off. That wasn’t the first or last time I had to do that with a ‘ghost’, and I do hope they wound up in a better place.”
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2000: One of the letters manufactured to support the asylum petition of Scientologist Antje Victore in 1996 was posted to a.r.s this week. “Recently the government of Munich has ordered that no Scientologist can get a job in all companies and institutions under public law. There is now a standing order. The rule is, that all people looking for a job have to fill out a form with questions like are you a member of any Scientology organisation or group or church. The answer has to be NO, this is a requirement for appointment. Under this order I cannot employ you, I would risk a loss of business and a lot of discrimination. Sorry for this negative message. In Germany, we have a lot of Scientologist without work, and for practicing Scientologist it would be very hard to live here in Germany in your normal way of live. The defense of the constitution will keep under surveillance all Scientologist in Germany. Yours sincerely, Wilhelmina Katzschmann” An affidavit by Jens Billerbeck describing his part in the deception was also posted this week. “In Fall 1996, Antje E. Victore, who I, as a Scientologist, knew very well at the time, asked me to compose a letter from my own company. In it the impression was supposed to be given that she had put in an application with my company and that I was refusing her based on her membership in Scientology. In fact Antje E. Victore had never applied with my company. Antje E. Victore stated to me that she needed such a letter so that her asylum application at an immigration court in Florida, USA, which had initially been refused would then be granted. She was very proud that this operation was being worked out personally with her by an OSA (Scientology intelligence service) attorney and Kurt Weiland, OSA chief at the time. So as a favor to a fellow Scientologist, I authored a letter and sent it to her in Florida, USA. When her asylum application was granted in February 1997, Antje E. Victore sent me a commendation letter typical for Scientologists in which she thanked me for my support.”
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“In Hubbard’s own words the Church of Scientology is an anti-democratic organization whose stated goal is world domination. The German government has deemed Scientology a totalitarian orientated group and has decided that Scientologists are ineligible to hold certain government jobs. I believe this is a very wise decision on their part.”
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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 to Clearwater: $1.3 million? We’re taking your street and you get bupkis
[TWO years ago] Scientology to Valeska Paris: That Supreme Court ruling isn’t what you say it is
[THREE years ago] Former top Scientology executive who vanished in 2004 subject of new international search
[FOUR years ago] How it went down: Transcript of Judge Olmedo denying Danny Masterson’s motion to dismiss
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s full report on its ‘All-Ideal USA’ blowout! It’s a fundraising juggernaut!
[SIX years ago] ‘Scientology’s Hogwarts’ and other schools got PPP loans
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology and the FDA: The conspiracy that never was
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology hip-hop continues to amaze us, and we hope it transports you as well
[NINE years ago] How Humira, the world’s best selling drug, is helping to finance Scientology into the future
[TEN years ago] Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s caretaker and friend, Steve ‘Sarge’ Pfauth, 1945-2016
[TWELVE years ago] Ken Dandar could use a cool million in his fight against Scientology
[THIRTEEN years ago] Mike Rinder: Is the Leah Remini Anonymous Smear Website Coming Soon?
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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 3,686 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,190 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,696 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,246 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,622 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,117 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,423 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,072 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,290 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,844 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,185 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,756 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,672 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,839 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,425 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,684 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,432 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,001 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,312 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,487 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,169 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,506 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,359 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,475 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,837 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,636 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,520 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,093 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,596 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,856 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,960 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 11, 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
