On Friday, as the hosts of The View were shooting an episode from each of their homes, Whoopi Goldberg tried helpfully to remind the audience that some people getting through the pandemic will also be struggling with addictions to alcohol and drugs.
Twice, she suggested that viewers who were struggling with an urge to fall off the wagon should reach out to “AA” — Alcoholics Anonymous. But then, when Whoopi also mentioned people who would be struggling with their drug addictions, she recommend that they call “Narconon.” Here’s the clip…
I’m going to remind everybody that there are a lot of people who are struggling with alcohol and struggling with drugs right now, and so I’m going to ask all those folks who are having a hard time in their struggling, please reach out to AA and to any place that can help you get over this hump, because it is not easy and it is something that, while people talk about the humor of all of this, we all know that not everybody can participate. So if you are having any problems, if you think you’re going to take a drink, call AA. If you think you’re going to try some drugs or do something, call Narconon. You have all this for it to do, you’re not alone. There are people who can help you.
Uh, Whoopi, what the hell? Narconon is the name of Scientology’s quack drug rehab network that, instead of delivering drug counseling, subjects addicts to a cold turkey regimen of sauna, vitamins, and Scientology indoctrination.
It’s a dangerous combination that has resulted in numerous deaths and dozens of lawsuits. And in those lawsuits, which we’ve covered for years, Narconon has been exposed time and again as a deceptive operation that lies about almost everything it does.
It promises individualized drug counseling, but instead delivers the same Scientology indoctrination that beginning church members go through. (Scientology lies and says the difference is that the Narconon processes are “secular.” There is actually no difference between the processes that are delivered at the drug rehab and a Scientology “church.”)
Narconon promises that medical staff are on hand in safe environments. Actually, the staff is made up of low-paid recent “graduates” of the program, and there are no medical personnel on the premises. (A physician in the area is contracted strictly for brief intake interviews of incoming patients, but is not on hand for care at the facility.)
Numerous lawsuits filed against Narconon facilities claim that drug abuse is rife in the clinics, including among the staff, and that sex for drugs is not uncommon.
We suspect that Whoopi was extemporizing, and searching for the name of a drug rehab came up with “Narconon” rather than, say, Narcotics Anonymous.
We hope this upcoming week she has an opportunity to make a correction.
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The Daily Beast gets Riffered and Glassmanned!
Pouw is the reclusive spokespiece for David Miscavige, Riffer is Miscavige’s personal attorney, and we’ve also told you about Glassman, who has followed us around for years.
What a hoot.
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Jon Atack, origins of Dianetics part two!
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Bonus items from our tipsters
The Orlando org gets in on the Decon Seven fun, and plays Ghostbusters at the Colombian embassy. (Why does Colombia have an embassy in Orlando, Florida?)
Who you gonna call? Another video from the South Africa Decon Seven team!
Says our tipster: “Scientologist Sean Dennison says if you flow admiration towards something it will go ‘poof,’ so he has written ‘The Coronavirus Song.’ It’s horrible.”
And here’s evidence that Los Angeles has also gotten into the act of handing out “hygiene kits”…
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“Sacredity. I think it’s very amusing, if you like to laugh at funerals. I do myself. I do. The last funeral I saw in Kansas, a dead wagon went by, you know, and it was one of these hearses, you know, with the great big plate glass side windows, you know. You could see the coffin in there. Flowers all over it. And here came limousines after it, you know, one after the other. And there were people crying and people sobbing in these limousines. I pulled off to the side of the road, naturally, and I took off my hat. And all this was just automatic, you know, took off my hat. I sat there and watched this thing go by. And car by car my risibility started getting the better of me, you know. I thought here’s this bird, he kicked off, you know, and they shoved this body full of embalming juice, and this bird is sailing around here someplace or another. He probably already picked up somebody in a maternity ward or something of the sort, and he’s long gone, you know, and here’s these birds left with this piece of MEST, you know. And they’re crying and sobbing, you know, and they’re filling it full of flowers and embalming fluid, and going to take it out to the graveyard and erect some stone over the top of it, you know. The unreality of these people and their attitude and what they believed, and what I myself knew for a fact, you see, were so far apart that I’m afraid that by the time the last funeral car had passed, I was just doubled up with laughter. I just can’t take funerals very seriously. I’m sorry. It’s too silly.” — L. Ron Hubbard, April 5, 1962
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“Several of my high school aged clients have remarked on how auditing has been a game changer in regards to their chosen career paths. The focus is not on the financial gains of MEST, but more towards ‘dealing with the futility postulates’ that many on this planet carry. They have noticed the automaticity of the adults around them leading towards the game of death rather than creating, of a paycheck rather than a purpose, and souls lost in amnesia.”
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“It’s ‘nix’ on ESP and telepathy, but ‘ja’ on Telekinesis and Astral Projection? No reason or rhyme to the mind of Mother Hubbard.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Jay Spina: Sentencing set for April 3 in White Plains
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for April 14 in Los Angeles
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Waiting for an appellate decision from the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for June 17
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology: April 22 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice), June (demurrers by Masterson and Scientology), June (motions to compel arbitration)
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe’s attorneys have asked for discovery, depositions (Warren McShane, Lynn Farny), April 20 hearing set (motion to compel arbitration)
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed.
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
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 our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Scientology gets away with abuses because it has friends like author Orson Scott Card
[TWO years ago] What do super powers smell like? For around 30 grand, Scientology can help you with that.
[THREE years ago] Bryan Seymour: Scientology’s sniffer-dog problem is bad timing for Narconon in Australia
[FOUR years ago] After their daughter died at Scientology training, a friend makes off with the funeral money
[FIVE years ago] Saturday Night Live’s genius spoof of Scientology: Lyrics and images
[SIX years ago] Jon Atack’s final weekly column for us on Scientology, and it’s a doozy
[SEVEN years ago] NBC ROCK CENTER LIVE BLOGGING: NARCONON ON THE HOT SEAT
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,898 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,402 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,922 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 942 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 833 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,140 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,008 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,782 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,556 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,902 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,468 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,387 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,555 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,136 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,397 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,435 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,148 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,673 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,203 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,763 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,903 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,223 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,078 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,198 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,553 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,856 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,962 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,364 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,236 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,819 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,314 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,568 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,677 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on April 5, 2020 at 07:00
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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, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), 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, 14 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
