TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: In March, Scientology leader David Miscavige announced a new initiative aimed at children to a standing ovation by Tom Cruise and John Travolta. And today in Clearwater, Florida — the town that once again bowed down to Miscavige’s desires — kids will be on the menu! [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]
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Technology Cocktail
“A parent may believe that a child learns to use a napkin, knife and fork merely because he is told that if he doesn’t use them properly he will be spanked. By test, this inhibits the natural learning, putting an artificial command under the natural ability to mimic. The common result of this is to cause the child to revolt. If the child is permitted to observe, without coaching or coaxing, adults eating with knives and forks and using napkins, the child, unless badly aberrated, will, by test, struggle and fumble to mimic. And it will come up at last with manners. Better manners than those forced upon it, providing the parents themselves know how to use table silver and napkins properly. When the child, like those trained in the pre-dianetic school of only-being-a-child-is-important-don’t-inhibit-the-little-thing-for-the-whole-family-revolves-aroundit-you-little-fool, has lost any urge to be a grown-up, he avoids mimicry of grown-ups and mimics children. But he mimics.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1950
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“I feel I should apologize for coming a little bit late to this lecture: three, four, five minutes. But you should realize that this particular planet has a great many lures. There are all kinds of things. There’s drink, you know, there’s beautiful women. There are all of these various things and they lure you away and distract your attention from what you should be doing. And recently, I’d had a Lincoln for ages — since about ’54 — and I sold it and got a fantastic price for it. And then I traded an old Humber we had out here for it, you see, and I got me a Jaguar and — a 60, 61 Jag — and came out all straight on this. And I regret to have to report to you that the Jaguar is leading me astray. I went out to take a fifteen-minute run to get some fresh air and came back three hours later. So you see, sometimes it’s drink, sometimes it’s women. In this particular case it’s a Jaguar. You’ll pardon me weaknesses. Blame it on the planet.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 12, 1962
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“If you want to start a project or two 1. Grab your hat 2. Speed up the ships comm 3. Resign from the Bid-a-Wee Social Club and join the SO! I can and do single-hand this 3200 ton ship. It’s time some made up their minds to decide its theirs too and help me out.” — The Commodore, July 12, 1969
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“I believe that DM cannot be alone doing this. We have already some indications that at least the US government is endorsing Scientology through the IRS agreement and more. There are no major attacks on Scientology, Miscavige, no matter what the whistle blowers have said. It is evident that the Global Enslavers are set to make their version of Scientology the next-religion-to-be. And indeed, we see Christianity going down and Muslims of course who are way backwards and all other old religions failing. But Scientology is on the news almost daily and it is a modern, a new religion. So, they want it. But they want it their way. Not with the policy and tech LRH left behind. But as a money making and mind washing machine.”
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2001: Spiegel magazine published an article on the decline of Scientology in Germany and the efforts of Ms. Ursula Caberta. “It is difficult for a business to differentiate between harmless providers and Scientology members. For this reason the Hamburg Anti-Scientology Crew works closely together with the Chamber of Commerce. Their goal is to help businesses protect themselves from Scientology’s attempts at infiltration. An important means of doing this is the
so-called ‘Technology Statement’ developed by Caberta and her team. In the Statement, companies, staff and seminar directors must declare that they reject the technologies of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. ‘That’s a genuine mortal sin for Scientologists,’ explained Caberta. Denying Hubbard, together with the technology he propagated, would be viewed as a ‘high crime,’ so that signing the statement would not be possible for members. Ursula Caberta has first-hand experience in finding out that the fight against Scientology is not without adverse effects. For years she has been spied and informed upon by the organization’s intelligence agency. Telephone calls to her friends and acquaintances or specific questions to her neighbors have been the daily routine for years, reported the Scientology opponent with near disinterest. In the Administrative Court in Saarland one of the Scientology organizations members denied responsibility for carrying out ‘operative measures’ against the Task Force director. In its decision of March 29, 2001 in which it dismissed the charges, the court nevertheless did determine that Scientology had authorized the procedural methods being used against the Task Force director. The State Office for the Protection of the Constitution said somewhat more clearly how these methods were to be understood, namely the ’employment of intelligence agency methods.’ It is exactly with these methods that the organization is currently trying to silence their highest-profile opponent in Germany. The accusations against Caberta go up to soliciting for favors and to bribery, for which the psycho-concern has filed charges. Scientology asserts that the director of the Hamburg Task Force accepted money from American businessman and renowned Scientology opponent Bob Minton on a trip to the USA. Caberta views the charges as part of Scientology’s overall strategy to torpedo the critics it does not like. That strategy would also include a petition from Scientology to the Hamburg Burgerschaft, the goal of which is to have her removed from her position. In order to be able to counter the organization’s measures she is promoting legislation for Germany – similar to the so-called anti-cult law passed in France in June. ‘We should recognize that psychic bodily harm is criminal, too,’ Caberta demands. And ‘The organizations responsible for their subordinate members’ deeds should finally be held accountable.'”
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“The first time I heard about the ‘overt motivator sequence’ was when the Carmen Rainer outrage occurred and vaLLarrr was defending Jan Eastgate for telling a 10-year-old girl it was her fault that her stepfather molested her. I asked vaLLarrr, ‘So it was her karma?’ and vaLLarrr said it was something different than karma. The resident ex-Scientologist explained the overt motivator sequence to me and my head exploded.”
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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 smear job: Claire Headley is the latest to get Blossered
[TWO years ago] Shelley Duvall’s fears about Scientology, and why she called us about it
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s lobbyist: He was sent to DC with a secret mission, and we have it
[FOUR years ago] Singing for David Miscavige: What it was like in Scientology’s indentured servitude
[FIVE years ago] How Scientology wrecks the lives of people who never even go near it
[SIX years ago] Scientology turned ‘Dianetics’ into a 4-hour video, and the result is UTTER MADNESS
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology front group claims it fed an anti-psychiatry story to the L.A. Times
[EIGHT years ago] Derek Bloch reflects on what having Scientology parents can mean for kids in the church
[NINE years ago] David Miscavige’s dark vision for Scientology: ‘What did you think you were joining?’
[TEN years ago] Here’s how you can help make a difference in lives touched by Scientology
[ELEVEN years ago] Jon Atack: Scientology’s snitch culture, and how ex-members must relearn the notion of privacy
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology accused of financial sleight of hand to avoid paying in human slavery lawsuit
[THIRTEEN years ago] Hey, Tom Cruise, Why Weren’t You the One to Raise a Stink When This Woman Went Missing?
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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 3,687 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 4,191 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 4,697 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 4,247 days.
Klaus Büchele has not seen his daughter Jasmin in 5,623 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 3,118 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 6,424 days.
Marc Headley has not seen his mother Trudy in 5,073 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 4,291 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 5,845 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 5,186 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 13,757 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 9,673 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 5,840 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 5,426 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 5,685 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 4,433 days.
Marie Poulin has not seen her mother June in 4,002 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 2,313 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 3,488 days.
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 5,170 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 5,507 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 10,360 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 5,476 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 3,838 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 4,637 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 4,521 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 4,094 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 4,597 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 4,857 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 15,961 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 12, 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
