Yesterday we showed you the first half of a secret Scientology briefing held at the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater, Florida in May 1991. In today’s second half, we pick up with Captain Ray Mithoff as he continues to reveal the nifty new “OT” releases and then we get some very special testimonials from Scientologists excited about the new material.
First up to talk about how excited she is by the new releases is our old friend, Tory Christman.
We first told Tory’s story back in 2001, after she had made a spectacular defection from Scientology in very public fashion. And you probably know her from her many great videos about Scientology at her YouTube channel.
Yesterday we asked her about that May 1991 briefing and her memories of it.
“I remember it 100 percent. It was a huge turning point in my life,” she said. She reminded us that Scientology had tried to get her to stop taking medication for her epilepsy when she first joined in 1972. But after a series of seizures, she disregarded that advice and went back on her meds. Now, years later she was struggling through OT 7, the second highest auditing level and the most difficult.
“I spent years on it. I’d been on it for a couple of years. It was not working at all for me. At all,” she said. “Then all of a sudden Ray Mithoff flies in, there’s a mandatory briefing, and everyone has to come. I wanted to hear this. I’m sitting in the front row. It was so exciting for me, it sounded like it was written for me.”
She hoped the new materials might make a positive change for her. And as for the room being full, “It really was a jumping time. For years Scientology really was a jumping thing.” And she points out that this was pre-Internet, so if you wanted to know what was happening, you had to show up.
She said that the segment of the video with her testimonial she’s seen before, at a conference about Scientology in Ireland in 2012, and that it was hard to watch then.
“It’s totally weird to me now. But I understand how I felt then. I really trusted Ray. I was so into OT 7.”
And she wasn’t just playing to the camera at the time?
“They’ve been auditing everyone, so they know who’s going to be effusive,” she explained. They knew how to choose people who were going to gush. “I wasn’t doing it for the camera. I really believed it.”
Please let us know if you recognize any of the other people giving their testimonials. It would be interesting to know if they’re still in or not, 30 years later.
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“That’s a trick I learned from Commander Thompson, by the way. He used to train cats. It’s almost impossible to train a house cat — I mean really train a house cat into doing all sorts of dog tricks and so forth. He used to be able to do that, and he taught me how to train cats when I was a kid. He would wait for the cat to do something and then he’d reward it. And if you don’t think that requires patience! You’re going to wait for this cat to do something that’s going to be totally accidental, and then you’re going to approve of it. Wow! Oh, you can just burn up hours and hours and hours trying to train a cat.” — L. Ron Hubbard, February 11, 1957
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“TIME MACHINE ORDERS: I issue a lot of TM orders and queries. Very many of them are routed straight back to me. Those who don’t know what dreadful things happen to their Ethics Files if the TM doesn’t know they have answered the order or query should find out very fast as some Ethics Files must be getting very fat indeed. Those who think they know should check up on it. The PL to refer to is in Vol 0 of the OEC Book.” — LRH Pers Comm, February 11, 1971
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“Total Knowingness, initially experienced solo as a subjective recognition point is quite different to objective exteriorisation from the entire theta/mest construct experienced with an auditor in session and the recognition of total mutual knowingness in PT outside all. Likewise practical total knowingness, subjective, objective and practical tested, verified and demonstrated with regard to truth per definition in session with an Auditor — the precise consideration, the precise time, place, form and event, in PT — is a further gradient of recognition which then opens up the route to OT per definition.”
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1998: A number of court filings regarding Keith Henson were posted this week, including this filing to show that the posting of NOTS 34 material was not “willful” under copyright law. “Defendant (if permitted) will produce witnesses to the nature of the NOTs 34, ‘The Sequence for Handling a Physical Condition.’ Defendant maintains that NOTs 34 is an instruction manual for criminal activity. NOTs 34 specifically claims ‘healing’ with the E-meter, a claim which (besides being illegal) was specifically denied to all Scientology organizations by Judge Gasell in an order, a copy of which has been provided to this court. Just this morning news has come from Germany of a person who is reported to have died from the effects of scientology’s ‘medical’ treatment.”
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“I think Tony is taking the day off and that’s just fine by me. Watch some football or somethin’ everybody.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson arraigned Jan 20. Next conf to set prelim, March 24.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed to March 2.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for May 20 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Charged in Brooklyn federal court on Feb 4. Arraigned on Feb 9.
Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court denied Dec 11.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 30, Judge Kleifield granted Scientology’s motions to compel arbitration. March 8: Status conference.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Dec 17: Feshbachs sign court judgment obliging them to pay entire $3.674 million tax debt, plus interest from Nov 19.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.
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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks
The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.
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’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] Another drone’s eye view of the compound where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige
[TWO years ago] Untouchable? Scientology’s 60-year plan to protect itself from the law
[THREE years ago] Scientology targets the Red Cross in its latest sneaky front group scheme
[FOUR years ago] What happens when Scientology helps you reach ‘your full potential’
[FIVE years ago] The disgraced sheriff, the Holocaust survivor, and Scientology’s most unhinged front group
[SIX years ago] These are the superpowers Scientologists are paying big bucks to attain
[SEVEN years ago] It’s time to wake up our space cooties on Scientology’s New Operating Thetan Level Five!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s “Pope” Isn’t Resigning, But Some in the Church Want to Give Him a Push
[NINE years ago] Scientology Dramaturgy: Commenters of the Week!
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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 2,209 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,713 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,233 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,253 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,144 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,451 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,319 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,093 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,897 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,213 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,779 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,698 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,866 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,447 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,708 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,746 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,459 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,984 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 339 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,514 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,065 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,214 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,534 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,389 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,508 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,864 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,167 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,273 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,675 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,547 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,130 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,625 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,879 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,988 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 11, 2021 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, 1995-2020 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2020), 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
