How do you top your Grade 2 success story when you finish Grade 3?
Well, our Scientologist oversharer sure does her best to try, and we’re here for it.
Last time she expressed euphoria after going through some pretty brutal interrogations about her “transgressions.”
This time, she’s finished another level on her way to Clear, Grade 3, which Claire Headley helped us understand when we did our series on the Bridge back in 2013.
Based on Scientology’s published price lists, we reported that Grade 3 is going to cost you about $15,000. And what kind of questions are you asked? Here’s a sample:
“What does another want unchanged about you?”
“Walk over to this spot. Now decide you have to appear there.”
“Find something about this universe you can accept.”
“Can you recall a time when others failed to change some energy in this Universe?”
“Can you recall a time when you failed to change another’s body?”
“What change of yourself have you avoided?”
“What have you not changed about yourself?”
“What could another make unknown to you about that (room object)?”
That sure seems like a lot of “what’s the sound of one hand clapping” for 15 grand, but what do we know. Let’s hear what our helpful Scientologist has to say about her experience…
Pan pays a visit in Montreal
In 2007, the Church of Scientology purchased the historic La Patrie building at 182 Ste. Catherine Street E. This intended Ideal Org has remained a pipe-dream, shuttered and, at one stage in 2016, in danger of being seized for non-payment of taxes. Now it is home to posters and grafitti.
For the last decade and more, they have been forced to continue to work from their several decades-long location on Papineau. It is shabby and in a state of disrepair.
Work occasionally brings me to Montreal and on a recent Saturday evening, I decided to swing by. It was Ideal all right — closed for business on what should be their busiest evening.
Fifty yards away, Mount Royal Avenue was thronged with foot traffic, people on terraces eating, drinking, browsing, people watching.
Any notions of major renovations and refurbishing of the huge building downtown are belied by the continuing decrepitude at their actual place of business. The obligatory yellow van remains unmoving and gathering pigeon offerings. The entrance needs more than a lick of paint. Since Narconon Trois Rivières was ordered closed through the herculanean efforts of David Love, only the Ideal Org in Québec City and this dump on Papineau remain in the entire province.
There were 1,745 Scientologists listed in the most recent Canadian census of 2011. It will be interesting to see what the 2021 Census says.
— Panopea Abrupta
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“I know it’s fashionable for the newspapers to say I never went to college and there are several colleges at this particular time that are wishing that I hadn’t gone there. But I can also assure you that you give them another decade or so, those colleges I haven’t even done more than go to a prom at will have some plates on ’em. You know? Man is silly, you see?” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 28, 1966
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“SAILING: We sail at 1600 today regardless of barometer (which is falling) waves (which are rising) and restraint of Rulers and Princes (there are no restraints) Perils of the Sea (which are only too real) and Acts of God (means things you can’t figure out how you goofed). Standby to take on Dramamine (called so because it keeps one from ‘drama’-tizing). Secure everything and tie down everything except the watch. In short let’s get the blue blazes out of here!” — The Commodore, July 28, 1971
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“The leader of the Church of Scientology basically came out and said Covid is a hoax. He called it ‘planetary bullbait,’ which Scientologists will know what that means. Among other things he said it’s ‘hysteria.’ I am so proud of him. I’m no longer in the church because it’s kinda dodgy, but it’s so good that he actually told Scientologists the truth about Covid. We get so many presidents and politicians lying to us all the time that it’s just so nice to hear someone in a leadership role come out and tell it how it is. This is why the mainstream media attacks Scientology all the time. In fact it’s great to see lots of religions resisting the Covid propaganda: Christian TV, the Muslims, etc. This is why the leftists have been trying to destroy religion for the past 100 years, because they want the people only following them. Scientology doesn’t go along with the world socialist government and its programs, like this whole Covid hoax, and the world socialists freaking hate that. It also teaches people how to read excellently, a thing the leftists hate. They want dumb masses that are easy to manipulate.”
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1996: The Associated Press released an article entitled “Cyber War.” A few excerpts: “When the church made ample use of the U.S. legal system to stop the illegal posting of its copyright materials, Internet users countered with hit-and-run online networks to spread information faster than the church could file suits. Things boiled over in January 1995, when Scientology lawyer Helena Kobrin attempted to delete an Internet discussion group devoted to Scientology because she believed it violated the church’s intellectual property rights to the word ‘Scientology’ itself and that it had been initiated with a forged e-mail address — one that misspelled the name of a church leader. ‘It was intended as an attempt to protect intellectual property rights. Nothing more,’ Kobrin said from her Los Angeles office. Numerous anti-Scientology Web sites also have gone up, meticulously detailing each court case, summons and outcome, with whole libraries of newspaper and magazine articles appended. The most recent engagement was last month’s massive ‘vertical spam’ of alt.religion.scientology, a tactic that overwhelmed almost all discussion. No one knows who was sending the messages, which sometimes came at a rate of 100 per hour. Scientology spokeswoman Debbie Blair said the church had no part in the attack.”
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“Someone please find the e-mail they sent out telling the clams how to go to the dentist and get their gold fillings extracted for cash to donate. That is the ultimate example of what Scientology really is for me.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Next hearing set for August 9. Trial tentatively scheduled for early November.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Pretrial conference August 21 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Sept 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 to US Supreme Court submitted on May 26. Scientology responded on June 25.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: California Supreme Court granted review on May 26 and asked the Second Appellate Division to direct Judge Steven Kleifield to show cause why he granted Scientology’s motion for arbitration. Oral arguments scheduled for Oct 5.
— 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: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs. Case appealed on Dec 23. Appeal hearing scheduled for Aug 23-27.
Concluded litigation:
— 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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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
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 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] Leah Remini: In Scientology, all sickness comes from enemies of the church
[TWO years ago] Scientology uses actor Jason Dohring as bait in what ends up as a false imprisonment case
[THREE years ago] Scientology in Europe: ‘A scapegoat always had to be found when something went wrong’
[FOUR years ago] Bryan Seymour takes a Scientology field trip, and we’re the better for it
[FIVE years ago] As Stacy Murphy lawsuit heads to crucial hearing, two Scientology entities settle
[SIX years ago] From Cradle to Slave: Nora Crest starts her video series with frank talk about Scientology and sex
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s fight with Ryan Hamilton delivers dox: The Eric Tenorio affidavit and more
[EIGHT years ago] With Leah Remini Under Attack on Twitter, TV Actor Christian Stolte Was a First Responder
[NINE years ago] ‘Tom Cruise Worships David Miscavige Like a God’: A Scientology Insider Gives First Full-Length Interview to the Voice
[TEN years ago] VIDEO: Scientology Spy Comes Clean to Riverside County Board of Supes
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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 2,375 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,880 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,400 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,420 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,311 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,618 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,486 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,260 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,590 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,064 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,380 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,946 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,865 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,033 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,614 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,875 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,913 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,626 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,151 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 506 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,681 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,232 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,381 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,701 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,556 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,675 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,031 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,334 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,440 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,842 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,714 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,297 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,792 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,046 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,155 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 28, 2021 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
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
