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 Our video elves have been busy again, and we have another treat for you.
A source has made available for us video from Scientology’s historic IAS gala, which took place in November in a giant tent in Clearwater, Florida. The International Association of Scientologists was founded in 1984 as a legal defense fund for the church. Members are constantly hit up for donations to the IAS, and are told to “up their status” by giving thousands and thousands more. Usually, the IAS gala is held in October in England, and is a time for celebrating Scientology’s successes during the year. This time, however, Scientology leader David Miscavige had the giant tent shipped from England and held the event in Florida, part of what seems to be an increasing consolidation of the movement in Clearwater. Continue reading VIDEO LEAK: Scientology’s November IAS Gala, featuring a slimmed-down David Miscavige
 What a few days we’ve had here at the Bunker. We posted Tommy Davis’s deposition on Thursday, and yesterday we wrote about Monique Rathbun’s motion for sanctions, which included an amazing set of 2007 text messages sent between Scientology leader David Miscvaige, Mike Rinder, and Tommy Davis.
And we have even more surprises coming soon. But for today, we wanted to relax with some Sunday Funnies! Each week, we reveal the new Scientology mailers and fliers that our tipsters have sent us. It helps us keep an eye on how the church is keeping its members coming back for more. So let’s dive in! Continue reading Sunday Funnies: Scientology charges into the new year!
 Scientology leader and Sea Org captain David Miscavige We have yet another surprising turn in Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige. Yesterday, Monique filed for sanctions against Scientology for a “pattern of intentional abuse” during the discovery process of the lawsuit. Scientology has stonewalled the process, Monique charges, because it’s trying to perpetuate a falsehood — that Miscavige is a refined character who doesn’t concern himself with such things as retaliating against critics and has had no connection to the harassment going on in Texas, where the Rathbuns live. In order to prove that Miscavige actually micromanages Scientology’s legendary retaliation campaigns, Monique yesterday filed stunning information — text messages sent in 2007 between Miscavige and two of his top former spokesmen, Tommy Davis and Mike Rinder. In those texts, Miscavige not only comes across as obsessed with tracking a BBC journalist, John Sweeney, but berates his underlings with foul language in a way that doesn’t fit his self-professed image as a detached, ecclesiastical leader. Continue reading MONIQUE RATHBUN FILES FOR SANCTIONS, SUBMITS SCIENTOLOGY LEADER’S FOUL-MOUTHED TEXTS
 A couple of weeks ago we started a new series here featuring Scientology videos that a source is making available to us which demonstrate some of the nuttiness of L. Ron Hubbard and his “technology.”
This week’s offering should also get you scratching your head. It’s titled “The Command of Theta,” and it involves some of the strangest (and hard to follow) analogies and metaphors that we’ve heard from Hubbard, who loved figurative language. Give it a look-see, and then we’d love to hear your impressions in the comments. Continue reading Another Scientology video you aren’t supposed to see: ‘The Command of Theta’
 Things are heating up again in Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology and its leader, David Miscavige.
Previously, Comal County Judge Dib Waldrip had granted Monique’s request for a continuance so she could have the time to depose Miscavige, who wants out of the lawsuit on jurisdictional grounds. On Tuesday, Scientology filed a motion for reconsideration, trying once again to keep Miscavige from being questioned. This time, they’ve asked Judge Waldrip to go ahead and rule on Miscavige’s “special appearance” request to be dropped from the suit now, based on several depositions which have already taken place. Continue reading THE TOMMY DAVIS DEPOSITION: Scientology asks judge to reconsider forcing Miscavige deposition
 Jefferson Hawkins was once the top marketing executive for the Church of Scientology and helped it reach its greatest extent with the famous “volcano” TV ads in the 1980s. He’s told his tale of getting into and out of the church with his excellent books Counterfeit Dreams and Leaving Scientology, and he’s helping us understand the upside-down world of Scientology “ethics.”
One of the things we’ve tried to do, in our radio and television interviews, is make people understand what a paranoid culture of snitching that Scientology promotes among its members. It’s really something that the rest of the media rarely ever explains, but we think it’s one of the most characteristic results of L. Ron Hubbard’s “ethics” rules. This week, in our ongoing series, Jeff helps us see where that idea of turning in your friends, family, and neighbors comes from. Continue reading Scientology’s snitching culture: Jefferson Hawkins explains the ‘Knowledge Report’
 We’re finishing up our look back at 2013 as we prepare for tonight’s festivities.
November began with a fun reveal: We unmasked the master satirist behind OTVIIIisGrrr8! The next day, we broke the news on the dates for Scientology’s big events: The Golden Age of Tech II and Super Power Building opening would be the weekend of Nov 15-17, the IAS gala would go off Thanksgiving weekend, and New Year’s Eve would happen on December 27. Continue reading Scientology’s 2013 in review: The Super Power-ful finish to an eventful year
 We’re continuing our year in review here at the Underground Bunker and we’ve reached September and October, when legal matters really came to the fore — and sent your proprietor around the country for some eyewitness dramatics!
September started out with yet another surprise: Scientology leader David Miscavige filed a personal declaration in an attempt to get himself removed as a defendant in Monique Rathbun’s harassment lawsuit. It had been about 20 years since the last time Miscavige made a similar filing, and it gave us an indication of just how seriously Monique’s lawsuit was being taken by the church. A few days later Monique fired back with a declaration by her husband Marty Rathbun, making it clear that they believed Miscavige had lied in his sworn statement. Continue reading Scientology’s 2013 in review: Courtroom antics reported live and on the spot!
 As 2014 approaches, we’re continuing our look back at the wild year that was. And now, we dive into the crazy month of August.
The month debuted with one of our most popular stories of the year — while everyone seemed to be asking if actress Leah Remini would suffer retaliation for defecting from Scientology, we reported that instead, other church critics were suddenly experiencing a huge increase in harassment. Claire Headley, while out with her children, was photographed by private eyes. Karen de la Carriere found her neighbors being questioned by PIs. And Mike Rinder was being swarmed by church investigators. Scientology seemed to be taking out its exasperation about Remini with a new round of retaliation on its other perceived enemies. Continue reading Scientology’s 2013 in review: A summer of delicious scoops!
We’re continuing our year-in-review, and we’ve come to the explosive month of July. But before we get into the drama created by the biggest Scientology celebrity defection ever, a few other important things happened as the summer deepened. Continue reading Scientology’s 2013 in review: July fireworks, courtesy of an actress from Brooklyn
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Our video elves have been busy again, and we have another treat for you.
