Scientology’s huge investment in Ireland pays off with 50 percent growth!

The new Irish census is in, and Scientology leader David Miscavige must be doing cartwheels.

After years of huge investment in the country, Scientology has shown massive growth, going from 87 members in the 2016 census, to now a whopping 132 members in the 2022 census, which was just released yesterday.

That’s more than a 50 percent increase in Irish people who identify as Scientologists! Hip, hip, hooray!

We have often been asked why Scientology has been spending so much money in Ireland, with a new “Ideal Org,” a community center, a national affairs office, and a Narconon drug rehab totaling many millions of dollars, as well as evidence that it has brought over many workers from other countries to staff these facilities.

Surely now the answer is clear: With 132 people identifying as Scientologists in a country of 5,149,139 souls, this island nation will be cleared in no time!

That might sound like a small percentage to some of you doubters, but Dave must be thrilled that the boatloads of cash he’s spending in Ireland is paying off so handsomely, and Scientology is now nipping at the heels of Satanism, which has 188 adherents in the country.

We can now add these new numbers to other recent census reports in the small number of countries that actually tally their Scientologists…

2022 Ireland: 132
2021 England and Wales: 1,854
2021 Canada: 1,380
2018 New Zealand: 321
2016 Australia: 1,684

Despite this groundswell in Ireland, we’re still looking at around 20,000 active Scientologists around the world, and nothing like the “millions” that the church always claims. (Such fibbers!)

Also, remember that we found some evidence that with such anemic numbers in its traditional strongholds, Scientology these days is largely becoming a Mexican and Taiwanese movement.

 
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Technology Cocktail

“‘Make it a little more solid’ is the first exercise in making MEST and facsimiles a little more solid and must be done before the preclear can progress to Then and Now Solids. His abilities to keep things from going away, hold them still and make them a little more solid must be thoroughly checked and rechecked, and the auditor must be sure in his own mind that the preclear has acquired these abilities.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1958

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 as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.

 
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THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

[1] Marc Headley [2] Claire Headley [3] Jeffrey Augustine [4] Bruce Hines [5] Sunny Pereira [6] Pete Griffiths [7] Geoff Levin [8] Patty Moher [9] Marc Headley [10] Jefferson Hawkins [11] Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan [12] Paulette Cooper [13] Jesse Prince [14] Mark Bunker [15] Jon Atack [16] Mirriam Francis [17] Bruce Hines on MSH

— SPECIAL: The best TV show on Scientology you never got to see

[1] Phil Jones [2] Derek Bloch [3] Carol Nyburg [4] Katrina Reyes [5] Jamie DeWolf

— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond

[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney

 
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Source Code

“Tech — on both the 1st and 3rd dynamics — is proceeding at lightning speed. And early tech and books are coming into their own also. If everyone on Flag and on station ships know and wear their own hats well and insist on the fellow next to him wearing his, we have a potentially brilliant future. First and Third Dynamic Tech was never better, or orgs are doing well. We can greatly improve our actions and lines. If we can continue to best the enemy and get things running right we will really E-X-P-A-N-D. It took 100 years to abolish slavery. We are 20 years up on abolishing barbarism in psychiatry in a much faster moving age. If we keep at it and get better on our own jobs and get the breaks, I give us three years to have full command of the situation.” — L. Ron Hubbard, May 31, 1970

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“SHIP REVENGE: I made a derogatory comment about the current abilities of Flag. Promptly the ship itself started getting even with me! A hot water line burst and flooded a corner of my cabin. My bridge cabin got varnished without being properly scraped down and wasn’t available. I got no real sleep and had a bath one finger deep and dressed in a torn up repair area. I hastily and humbly apologize to the ship, admit my overt and will mend my ways! Three bows and the sign of triangle to Apollo! I hereby warn all snipes, sailors, stewards, officers, mates and midship mites that it doesn’t pay to abuse, revile, mock or insult the ship or she will take her revenge!” — The Commodore May 31, 1970

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Overheard in the FreeZone

“The body is an electro-mechanical gizmo that is permeated by an electro-spiritual entity, the thetan. A thetan can generate a voltage or electromotive force, that’s how it kicks neurons in the brain to make the brain do things. It would be interesting to note where in the neurons the extra resistance to current flow comes from. The meter is one of the few things that actually objectifies Scientology theory and approach, it grounds things in hardball physics that anyone can measure and notice the results of auditing, before and after. And I dare any one of these meatballs to explain the results away with their stupid sweat, or hand squeezes or whatever bullshit they want to delude themselves with. 20,000 hours solo on a meter across 30 years and one finally gets the idea that something is going on here that hasn’t been said. Certainly not by the skeptics or the prove-it cases.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1997: Jeff Jacobsen found pictures of some of the counter-picketers from the recent Clearwater picket and vigil in Scientology magazines. “Page 33 of International Scientology News issue 4 has a small photo of a bunch of church staff in black uniforms. The guy 2nd from the left in the front row looks exactly like one of the 3 people in Clearwater carrying a ‘Jeff Jacobsen Porno King’ sign. Source issue 107 page 10 has a photo of a bunch of people applauding inside the Ft. Harrison. The blond woman in the blue pants on the balcony is the vicious Co$’er at the candlelight vigil in Clearwater who appears on the 2nd Inside Edition article. She is yelling at someone about ‘there must be many critics of Scientology ’cause 10 of them showed up here!’ She spent the day bugging many of us picketers, including me. A very vile person. Someone suggested that the Scientology counter picketers in Clearwater were actually staff instead of public members. At least 2 of them apparently are staff.”

Random Howdy

“No way is D.M. going to intentionally beach a whale. The obvious solution would be to send someone to their mansion to audit them. I’ve read they do this. First of all, it makes the whale feel special, and secondly, it prevents the whales from going to the Orgs and seeing how empty they are.”

 
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Retrial scheduled, jury selection begins March 29. Next pretrial hearing: Feb 16.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Next pretrial hearing Feb 13.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next status conference Feb 13.

Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2. Hearing November 17 to argue the arbitration motions, awaiting ruling.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: March 15, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through February 7.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.

 
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SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

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] Danny Masterson: Attorney Tom Mesereau is out, trial delayed to October 11
[TWO years ago] For Memorial Day: Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard’s bogus war injuries
[THREE years ago] VIDEO: Scientology shill admits infiltrating NAACP to forward crusade against psychiatry
[FOUR years ago] DOX: Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard wanted kids to form his personal military
[FIVE years ago] Bad boys, part two: Scientology’s involvement with drug smugglers had a long legacy
[SIX years ago] As Scientology coverage blows up, get ready for major network attention on Clearwater
[SEVEN years ago] Hold your horses! We can tell you who were the big celebs at Scientology’s grand opening
[EIGHT years ago] What happened when an actual scientist of the mind checked out L. Ron Hubbard in 1950
[NINE years ago] Apparent suicide of witness to a mysterious Scientology drug rehab death
[TEN years ago] Is After Earth Will Smith’s Scientology Coming Out Party?

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 31, 2023 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, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), 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

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone