TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Radar is the latest citing unnamed sources that say John Travolta is ditching Scientology. And we get it that tabloids stir the pot. But shouldn’t they at least acknowledge there’s hard, irrefutable proof that [...]]]>

TODAY AT SUBSTACK: If you’ve signed up for free emails at Substack, you will receive today’s feature story at your inbox: Radar is the latest citing unnamed sources that say John Travolta is ditching Scientology. And we get it that tabloids stir the pot. But shouldn’t they at least acknowledge there’s hard, irrefutable proof that Travolta is as dedicated, and obedient to David Miscavige as ever? [What is this Substack thing, anyway?]

 
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Technology Cocktail

“’Hidden Data Line’ is a pretense that certain data exists outside of HCO Bs, books and tapes. It can include ‘data in HCO Bs is conflicting’ and ‘nowhere does it say how to ______.’ This is deadly and a C/S should work hard to stamp it out. THE CAUSES OF A HIDDEN DATA LINE OR IMAGINED
CONFLICTS IS A FAILURE TO USE WORD CLEARING METHODS TWO AND THREE ON COURSES AND A FAILURE TO USE AND ONLY USE METHOD TWO IN CRAMMING. A C/S can go straight up the wall trying to grapple with these omissions and eventually begin to believe that it takes 500 Cramming chits to make an auditor who still isn’t made and that flubless auditing can’t be done from HCO Bs, books and tapes.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1971

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

 
——————–

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 [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman [55] Mark Bunker [56] Trish and Liz Conley [57] Trish Conley [58] Alex Barnes-Ross [59] Alex Barnes-Ross [60] Alex Barnes-Ross [61] Alex Barnes-Ross [62] Alex Barnes-Ross [63] Alex Barnes-Ross [64] Tory Christman [65] Tammy Synovec [66] Dennis Erlich [67] Alex Barnes-Ross [68] Valerie Ross [69] Kat in Austin [70] Mark Bunker [71] Phil Jones

 
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Source Code

“You’d be surprised how often you find a wrong date. And you’re running the Helatrobus implants, so you think, and you go right into the next goal for which you’ve listed. And then you try to get ‘absolutably’ and you can’t get a rocket read, and you say, what’s happened? TA’s up and stuck. I’ve got this next goal ‘to be a goof.’ It’s obviously the next goal in line, only it isn’t here. Shucks, man, you’re probably running a Bear implant. It’s probably shot back on the track Lord knows where, because the one thing a GPM won’t do is properly time. You can duration a GPM and you can time a GPM and you can get the date of a GPM almost endlessly. Why? Because its primary basis is lousing up time. Those two opposing items fire against each other — sound like time to the PC — produces a no-change situation. So the GPM floats on the track and so it’s very difficult to time a GPM. So it’s just nothing to get the next GPM in line to run, and find out that it isn’t at forty-three trillion but at fifteen trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion trillion. Embarrassing. Eventually you go back and start looking for wrong dates on the case, and you finally locate that ‘to be a goof’ is not the next Helatrobus GPM but a GPM which exists in the early limbos of nowhere.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 7, 1963

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“COMM EVS: Officers who fail to take full responsibility for their areas, divisions and sections without further orders will hereafter be comm eved for offenses after this date and will be reduced to swamper. Ethics is obviously out on this vessel and some of its officers are obviously more interested in being good fellows than putting a well run ship here.” — The Commodore, August 7, 1969

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“I consider this Justin Craig guy to be a plant under DM’s control and on a mission to further mess up the FZ Field. His ‘tech’ is squirrel and specifically designed to mess up OT cases with a bunch of fancy sounding nonsense, very well disguised, sprinkled here and there with bits of truths which would potentially resonate to the OT’s reality, in order to pull them more into MEST, and of course onto his lines. It offers a mystery sandwich to those who, by having done their levels partly or fully on the church’s bridge, may of course still have unanswered questions and issues. I found myself that before doing Excalibur (100 percent LRH TECH despite the lies about it) a Thetan is still not an OT per LRH’s definition. The church does not allow their public this Tech as they of course do NOT want real OT’s but zombies who obey without arguing and keep forever coughing up the cash. I in no way intend to invalidate nor evaluate anyone’s case level, knowledge or accomplishments; I just found the above to be a fact.”

Past is Prologue

1997: Martin Hunt posted a transcript of a second radio show on Vancouver radio, this time with guest Gerry Armstrong. Some excerpts: “HOWIE SIEGEL: Gerry Armstrong was born in Chilliwack, and he is one of the Scientologist’s greatest enemies, at least that is how he is perceived by Scientology as a great enemy, he is an ex-Scientologist. Gerry, thank you for coming over from the Mainland. GERRY ARMSTRONG: The initial course, which I took, was what’s called a Communication Course, and I was a young guy at the time and having trouble with communication, and that’s what they sell: you can have the ability to communicate with people; you can get a better job, have a great life. It’s a sales pitch in communication, and so that initially was a mere $40, and you sit and look at someone else, and then you learn how to deliver a communication to someone else, and you learn how to acknowledge that communication, and then you have learned in the course of doing this over a period of time the basic what’s called the auditor’s comm cycle, the communication cycle of Scientology which is basic to all Scientology psychotherapy; auditing is really psychotherapy. You’re primed, in this initial course, for then going on to the processing or auditing – psychological processing of Scientology which all Scientologists go through. I was recruited into what’s called the Sea Organization, which still exists to day, and the recruits are required to sign, of all things, a billion-year contract. So that by the time that I left Vancouver at the beginning of 1971, I had essentially bought the whole package, and I had sold my soul to Scientology and L. Ron Hubbard. SIEGEL: But Gerry, you became involved in Scientology and were so enamored with Scientology because it promised you this vast human potential; and yet, once you joined Hubbard’s Sea Organization and came aboard the ship, seemingly you stopped taking the Scientology courses that would enable you to reach that potential. Was there a contradiction there? ARMSTRONG: Which were essentially the saving of mankind from destruction. We called it various things, ‘clearing the planet’, ‘getting in ethics on the planet’, but it was essentially a totalitarian goal of complete domination in order to save mankind. From the threats of nuclear holocaust. From the threats of the ‘Merchants of Chaos’; the enemies of Scientology, those who would bring about the destruction of Mankind. Hubbard viewed that there was some two and a half percent of the population that he called ‘Suppressive Persons’ who were truly dangerous, and who were the source of all the difficulties of mankind. Those were the enemies that the Sea Org was there to control and ‘put ethics in on.’ SIEGEL: What happened in 1976 with the Rehabilitation Project Force, and please define that term. ARMSTRONG: The Rehabilitation Project Force is commonly known by its initials, RPF, is really the Scientology or Sea Org prison system. It is a system of punishment and lock up and cheap labour source for the Sea Organization. Prior to my being assigned, and I was assigned by L. Ron Hubbard himself, I was making $17.20 per week. I was assigned as I say on Hubbard’s order, he said for ‘insubordination’; essentially I had told Mary Sue Hubbard’s, Mary Sue his wife was in charge of the Guardian’s Office, which is another story in Scientology, but I had gotten in a bit of a scrap with Mary Sue Hubbard’s secretary and had told her where to get off, and for that I was assigned to the RPF, and spend the next 17 months inside. You, in the RPF you must run everywhere, you are required to wear a black boiler suit, you may not speak to any crew member in the organization unless spoken to, as I said you get one quarter wages.”

 
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Random Howdy

“My IP was blocked from the Washington Times comments because I kept bringing up the Rev. Moon connection so I started using Tor, then they started using an app that could tell you were using a proxy. Cults SUCK.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7.
— ‘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 May 31, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Leah seeking to amend her complaint.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: motion to file new complaint, hearing on May 29.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, on hold until appeal over new judge heard.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.

 
——————–

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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Sinéad O’Connor and Scientology: How she dodged a Thetan-tipped bullet
[TWO years ago] Former Scientology flak Tommy Davis potential witness in foreign-agent trial of Trump pal
[THREE years ago] Evidence from Danny Masterson’s preliminary hearing aired on KABC Ch 7 in Los Angeles
[FOUR years ago] Clearwater Police release reports from closed Scientology child sex abuse investigation
[FIVE years ago] Scientologists behaving badly: What’s prison time to a trillion-year-old thetan?
[SIX years ago] Proof that the US government has all it needs to act on Scientology — and it has for 50 years
[SEVEN years ago] ‘Scientology and the Aftermath’: Mike Rinder answers a few of our questions after TCA win
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s sneaky anti-psychiatry front has found a new way to target kids in Florida
[NINE years ago] How Scientology sets up its members to find themselves helpless in court
[TEN years ago] Camilla Andersson on Tom Cruise, and a gift for the Scientologist who has everything!
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s US Supreme Court Petition Gets Boost from National Council of Churches

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 7, 2024 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, 1995-2023 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2023), 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

We finally got around to looking at Scientology’s rah-rah press release about its 2024 L. Ron Hubbard birthday event, which took place on March 16 in Clearwater, Florida.

Old Ron, Scientology’s founder, would have been 113 this year if he hadn’t voluntarily left his body in 1986 to pursue his researches into the human mind in [...]]]>

We finally got around to looking at Scientology’s rah-rah press release about its 2024 L. Ron Hubbard birthday event, which took place on March 16 in Clearwater, Florida.

Old Ron, Scientology’s founder, would have been 113 this year if he hadn’t voluntarily left his body in 1986 to pursue his researches into the human mind in another part of the galaxy (or died of a stroke at 74, for you non-Scientologists).

Born on March 13, 1911, Ron is celebrated around that date every year, and the party returned this year after the pandemic to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. It was also broadcast live to Scientology centers around the world as current church leader David Miscavige outdid himself during the three and a half hour performance.

“As is befitting on this night of nights, we will present what LRH most wished for on his birthday: not only a Birthday Game that signifies EXPANSION, but also, the expansionist destiny as fueled by his Technology and all as manifested in Ideal Orgs,” Miscavige said. “But, why understate it? Truth is, you can mark tonight as a watershed milestone from which we will never look back. Moreover, it’s a milestone with exponential ramifications.”

Anyway, that’s what the church’s press release says, and we’re sure it was a gas of a time. But more importantly, for our purposes, Scientology’s news website posts photos of the crowd, and when we zoomed in on them we found something interesting.

There in the front row, in the center, were none other than John Travolta and a very pregnant Elisabeth Moss, standing side by side.

 
The last time the Birthday Event was held at Ruth Eckerd Hall, in 2019, Travolta was also in the front row, but as a Florida resident it’s not a long trip for him.

As for Moss, this is the first time we have ever spotted her at any of the major Scientology events (New Year’s, LRH Birthday, Maiden Voyage in June, IAS in October). Make of that what you will.

The woman in the red dress, by the way, is Trish Duggan, the world’s wealthiest Scientologist who has been in the news lately for coming to the financial aid of former president Donald Trump.

Is that Linda Moss, Elisabeth’s mother, between her and Trish? We’re not sure. But there’s no doubt that Travolta, Moss, and Duggan make up three of the most important Scientologists in the world.

So where’s Tom Cruise?

We didn’t see Top Gun in the crowd shots, but before the Daily Mail whips up a story about how that means Tom must be leaving Scientology, let’s remember that only last November Cruise not only showed up to press the flesh at the IAS gala in East Grinstead, England, but he flew to the event very visibly in his helicopter.

Anyway, we hope this tamps down some of the constant tabloid speculation about how all of these high-level Scientologists are all defecting or something. There was a lot of that about Travolta after the death of his wife Kelly Preston. But no, John is still front and center for David Miscavige on the big night to celebrate JT’s hero, L. Ron Hubbard.

We did see other interesting figures in the crowd, and we hope you can help us identify still more. We’ve marked a few other front row folks here.

 
And here’s the rest of the front row from the other side, with major donor Tom Cummins in the purple shirt at the end. Who else do you recognize?

 
We’re sure everyone had a wonderful time listening to David Miscavige for more than three hours.

And so we’ll give him the last word, from his speech that night:

“You are now experiencing what you could call a Golden Age of being a Scientologist and of winning Universal Freedom. Regardless of how you choose to wield your freedom,” he continued, “do take your own next step … so you will win, and we will all win.”

Hip, hip, hooray!

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“A woman has a child. The engram of delivery should be run out soon after. The result of doing so is very spectacular. There is no “postpartum psychosis” or dislike of the child and no permanent injury to the mother. It is in fact best to audit the mother both before and after the delivery, which gives one fast relatively painless childbirth and quick recovery.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1969

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.

 
——————–

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 [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman

 
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Source Code

“We need, then, a peaceful planet. So I worked this out originally as…what became the name of the project: International City Project. Well, I…finally came to the conclusion that if all the capitals of the world were located inside one city that they were not likely to bomb each other out, that they, in effect, would be very careful of declaring war. They would be close cheek by jowl enough to discuss most of their problems…Now, you take every capital of the world and treat it accordingly and then treat it in such a way that transport within the capital is very fast and so that each and every section and center of the capital has some of its own atmosphere rather easily planned up, by the way. It isn’t just a sprawling mess…So Wendell Willkie came out with something he called One World, and practically everybody shot him down in his tracks. He was a pioneer in this particular field. But nevertheless this idea has become more and more popular and it’s actually sweeping in that direction. The first step would have to be you’d have to persuade all governments to turn over all atomic weapons, stocks, control of atomic manufacturers to the United Nations at once, you see. Second step is persuade the United Nations and all governments to select a site for and construct an International City, preferably in North Africa on the Mediterranean coast where land reclamation can expand its area and where its communication lines can be easily centered for Earth. Third step: Persuade all governments to remove their capitals to International City complete with heads of government, congresses and parliaments. Prohibit a secondary capital or even a communication relay center within the country itself.” — L. Ron Hubbard, March 24, 1964

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“TELEXES are meant to be answered the same day; when answered, they go to the ‘Telexes In’ basket in the Comm Bu. Deadline 2300 hrs. Even if they cannot be answered immediately, they should be returned to this basket, as these telexes go up to LRH for his viewing after 2300. These unanswered telexes will then be returned for answering.” — Org Off Bu IV, March 24, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“The point is not to evaluate who is a squirrel or what groups are squirrel. The point is that they tell the truth about their training and the source of their programs. As long as the PC/Client is aware of what is the true training and the source of their processes, some of the auditors invent their own rundowns. If the person is fully aware and still wants to go ahead and accepts that, it’s up to them. I have seen PCs who don’t care if the person is doing their own invented processes, or Internet auditing, etc. The point it’s not to control what is going on, but to detect who is perpetrating fraud and report them. That way PCs, students and clients know the risks. In other words what is their ethics status.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2002: Scientologist John Mappin has lost a case in the U.K. for defrauding a gossip columnist, claiming that he would produce a film based on the writer’s life. From The Guardian: “Benjamin Pell, better known as ‘Benji the Binman,’ has won back the 77,500 pounds he was hoodwinked into paying to finance a bogus Hollywood blockbuster about his life, following a high court ruling this afternoon. Mr. Pell brought an action for fraudulent misrepresentation against John Mappin, an heir to the Mappin and Webb jewelry empire, claiming he had been ‘duped.’ He made four separate payments totaling 77,500 pounds so as not to miss this ‘unique opportunity to work with one of the biggest names in Hollywood.’ His counsel, Marion Smith, said: ‘He believed there were going to be Hollywood writers on the case, for it to be picked up by a Hollywood studio, cast with big-name actors and a Hollywood film resulting.’ In fact, the ‘well-connected Hollywood film-maker’ was a friend of Mr. Mappin called Iain Jones, who turned out to be a hairdresser. Mr. Jones, she claimed, had never directed or produced any film at all, but had been credited with hair design on three Quentin Tarantino films – Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and White Man’s Burden. Describing a videotape which showed Mr. Pell boasting about his ability to deceive judges and court officials, the judge said: ‘He appears proud of his ability to pass himself off as ‘an absolute nutter’ so as to hoodwink his psychiatrist.’ But, the judge ruled, Mr. Pell’s conduct in the witness box ‘paled into insignificance’ when compared to Mr. Mappin’s ‘mendacity’ in the case. He said his deception began when he ‘lied to the police’ over the money Mr. Pell had paid to him, and he ‘compounded’ his lies by ‘putting before the court a witness statement which gives a wholly mendacious account of his dealings with Mr. Pell.’ Mr. Mappin, who was also ordered to pay costs estimated at 250,000 pounds, said the high court failed to understand the way Hollywood worked. ‘We are actually on track to deliver exactly what was promised to Mr. Pell,’ he said. ‘There are no guarantees where film making is concerned, but the Pell film project is certainly on track.'”

 
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Random Howdy

“I went to the Scientology rebuttal site for ‘Going Clear’ and it’s almost as long as the book! They start fairly low-keyed and then next thing I knew they were inferring that Dave Touretzky was trying to get people to bomb Scientology orgs. They can’t control the crazy for too long.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7.
— ‘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 March 26, 2024.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Some defamation claims were removed by Judge Hammock. Leah seeking to amend her complaint.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: motion to file new complaint, hearing on May 29.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration, hearing on April 16.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.

 
——————–

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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Private eye firm that spied for Scientology throws up the white flag in sordid lawsuit
[TWO years ago] Scientology leader says he has 2.5 million square feet of new churches coming soon
[THREE years ago] Danny Masterson holds on to his passport as judge decides he’s no flight risk
[FOUR years ago] Scientology leader David Miscavige calls the pandemic ‘planetary bullbait’ in epic briefing
[FIVE years ago] TOM CRUISE THANKED BY DAUGHTER ISABELLA IN BIZARRE SCIENTOLOGY PROMO
[SIX years ago] Leah Remini talks ‘Aftermath,’ developing a new show, and more with Chris Shelton
[SEVEN years ago] DREAM LAWSUIT: ‘God of Pop’ Kuba Ka vs the Church of Scientology. THANK XENU, IT’S ON!
[EIGHT years ago] Chris Shelton: How Scientologists can use critical thinking to break free
[NINE years ago] ‘Going Clear’: Paul Haggis pens a description of the Scientology experience you won’t forget
[TEN years ago] Jillian Schlesinger says Scientology now ‘sneakier’ about forcing abortions
[ELEVEN years ago] It’s Ron’s Birthday, And Your Present is More Scientology Stuff to Spend Money On!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 24, 2024 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

Earlier this year, the Daily Mail proposed that because flight data showed that Tom Cruise had not flown his helicopter into East Grinstead in the last three years, it suggested that Cruise was no longer visiting Scientology’s UK headquarters there at Saint Hill Manor, and so he appeared to be leaving Scientology itself.

This assumption was [...]]]>

Earlier this year, the Daily Mail proposed that because flight data showed that Tom Cruise had not flown his helicopter into East Grinstead in the last three years, it suggested that Cruise was no longer visiting Scientology’s UK headquarters there at Saint Hill Manor, and so he appeared to be leaving Scientology itself.

This assumption was made without checking with any former high level Scientologists, who might have explained to the Daily Mail that since the beginning of the pandemic, Scientology leader David Miscavige himself had not been visiting Saint Hill, and Tom Cruise’s number one loyalty is to Miscavige, so his not flying there probably meant very little.

Instead, other publications jumped on the the Daily Mail’s observation and announced that it was a settled matter: Tom Cruise had left Scientology. On August 27 we pointed out how ludicrous this was, and then on November 3 we got a little vindication: Tom Cruise was spotted flying his helicopter to Saint Hill for the resumption of the IAS Gala and the return of David Miscavige.

The next night, at the Patrons Ball, Cruise made a more public showing of himself with his fellow Scientologists than we’ve seen probably since 2004, when he picked up his Freedom Medal of Valor. Photos of him mugging with other attendees of the Patrons Ball proliferated on social media, to the point that we suspected it was actually encouraged by the church itself. (No photos of Miscavige, for example, were leaked from either night.)

We only saw a little recognition by those websites that had announced Tom’s departure now admitting that he was as dedicated as ever, which is what we’ve been saying all along.

And, you know, they might have learned a little lesson this time.

Oh no they didn’t.

Last week, the National Enquirer and Radar, and even Yahoo jumped in with a new theory: Tom might have been at the event, but John Travolta wasn’t, so that suggests that Travolta is leaving Scientology.

Come on, people.

Once again, these stories relied on unnamed anonymous sources, when there are plenty of former high-ranking Scientologists who would be happy to be consulted on such a story.

We can tell you from our own experience that we’ve been watching the annual IAS galas very closely for many years, and we don’t remember John Travolta ever showing up at one. So the fact that he didn’t attend this one really doesn’t mean anything at all. [UPDATE: Axiom 142 remembers seeing Travolta attend one IAS gala around 2004, so about one attendance in the last 20 years.]

And now, we have evidence to the opposite, that Travolta is still firmly in the fold.

With Alex Barnes-Ross, yesterday we made public the entire three-hour speech by David Miscavige from the first night of the IAS weekend. And about two thirds of the way into it, as Miscavige was boasting about the accomplishments by Scientology “Volunteer Ministers” at the sites of international disasters, he uttered this paragraph…

“Florida hurricane Ian slams the southwest coast making landfall at Category Four. But IAS Freedom Medal winner John Travolta airlifts urgent provisions for utterly decimated communities, whereupon Florida’s megaforce of VMs takes over distribution, relieving stranded families everywhere, all to help 5,000 get back on solid ground.”

This was surprising, not only because Miscavige normally doesn’t mention the church’s celebrities during these speeches (again, we’ve listened to a lot of them), but also because we know that Travolta is not one of David Miscavige’s favorite people, and he does not have the same kind of relationship with him that he does with Cruise.

“Miscavige is always ready throw shade on JT to make sure Tom knows he is the number one favorite horse in the stable,” Mike Rinder tells us. And if he would not normally give Travolta a shout-out during one of these speeches, Dave probably included him this time because, “In the world of Scientology these days, ‘good news’ is hard to come by.”

Mike says that he wouldn’t be surprised if Miscavige and Cruise, while they were palling around at Saint Hill that weekend, “there were snide comments about JT between them.” But the point remains, that Miscavige did include Travolta in his speech, and that’s not something he would have done if Travolta had left the church.

Travolta’s loyalty has always been to L. Ron Hubbard, not Miscavige. And we have seen no evidence that he is pushing away, as the tabloids so desperately want to believe.

No doubt in the coming weeks, months, and years, we’ll hear again and again from the tabloids that Cruise or Travolta have “left” Scientology.

Not only is it lucrative clickbait for them, but we think they simply cannot or don’t want to understand how deeply these two celebrities feel connected to Scientology.

Travolta, we have been told by people who knew him well, ascribes all of his success to L. Ron Hubbard. Cruise, we were told by Jean Brousseau who worked very closely with him, worships David Miscavige like a god.

We’re going to need to see some much more convincing evidence than helicopter manifests or missed attendance at a gala before we’ll consider that either of these figures are walking away.

 
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Technology Cocktail

“Due to certain pressures in the world at the end of 1962, I deemed it advisable to speed up research as a means of handling developing situations. This activity proved fruitful beyond any expectations for the period devoted to it. To increase an already burdened personal time schedule was not without repercussion. It was in the first place impossible to crowd more action into the crowded hours but somehow I did so. I cut out all social engagements, almost all appointments and even reduced time spent talking to students. I canceled all lecture appearances abroad. I let my cars and motorcycles rust and my cameras gather dust. I kept Mary Sue up all night auditing or being audited. And somehow, through the devotion of staff, everywhere, kept the show on the road and handled the legal front also. The stepped up schedule period has not ended but the golden knowledge has been gathered in and all targets hoped for have been exceeded.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1963

 
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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 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 [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner [50] Bruce Hines [51] Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley [51] Geoff and Robbie Levin [52] Sands Hall [53] Jonny Jacobsen [54] Sandy Holeman

 
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Source Code

“Clearing, actually, is not nice. And if you’re looking for some nice, sweet procedure, why, you know, be an art critic and don’t get audited. Spend all your time in the galleries where it’s quiet and serene and nothing ever happens.” — L. Ron Hubbard, November 30, 1961

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“Good News: ASHO, AOSH DK and AOLA all have higher stats. Clarice Jackson is reported to be doing absolutely fantastically and one of the most respected people in the whole area known widely in the US for her first actions. She issued ‘writs of expulsion from the church’ on Berez, Taunton, Deitsch and Bernie Green and things are cooling off. Big factors in the upsurge are said to be sending Fred Hare, the new stable datum materials and new OT III results. Guardian lines show us fighting on enemy terrain for the first time, not our own. She had loads of good news and is overjoyed with her Gdn offices.” — The Commodore, November 30, 1969

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“The majority of stuff above OT 2 is mostly false and limiting data. AKA: bullshit. It causes psychosis. No exception. I know many people who are psychotic after doing the bridge past OT 2. I was warned 22 yrs ago, not to go past OT 2.”

 
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Past is Prologue

1998: Pickets were held in Clearwater, Florida this week to mark the 3rd anniversary of Lisa McPherson’s death at the Fort Harrison Hotel. Pickets were to be accompanied by bus ads. From the St. Petersburg Times: “Pinellas County’s transit chief pulled 10 buses off the road Sunday after the Church of Scientology complained that the vehicles’ side panels contained anti-Scientology advertising. The ads were purchased by church critics and were to be on buses Saturday through Monday as part of a weekend-long protest against Scientology. Each of the 11 ads carried a different message. Among them: ‘Think for Yourself. Quit Scientology,’ ‘Find out why so many people oppose Dianetics and Scientology’ and ‘Why does Scientology lie to its members?’ Scientology representatives began phoning the homes of transit and Clearwater city officials after the buses began rolling Saturday morning. The church argued that the ads violated a state law regarding published material that ‘tends to expose any individual or any religious group to hatred, contempt, ridicule or (abusive language).’ Rathbun said ads were part of ‘an unprecedented level of taunting’ against Scientologists. ‘I think they went out of bounds in terms of inciting hatred toward Scientologists and inciting Scientologists to react
in some fashion,’ he said. Had the church engaged in the same activity, it would have been skewered by the media, Rathbun said. ‘You might as well have no rights as far as we’re concerned.’ They were purchased by a group called Former Scientologists Speaking Out, which had its three-day advertising contract cut short, said Frank Oliver, a former Scientologist and a Scientology critic who heads the Miami graphics company that designed the ads. ‘None of those statements are inflammatory in any way,’ he said. ‘They don’t have a leg to stand on.’ Oliver said the group that placed the ads had not decided how to proceed. ‘Obviously the contract was violated, but I think our point was made,’ he said.”

 
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Random Howdy

“Professors Kent and Touretzky are the go-to guys in the academic study of Scientology and cults in general.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentenced to 30 years to life on Sep 7.
— ‘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 October 30.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
— Leah Remini v. Scientology, alleging ‘Fair Game’ harassment and defamation: Complaint filed August 2, Scientology submitting anti-SLAPP response Oct 26.
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Discovery phase.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Scientology moves for religious arbitration.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.

 
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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] As jury looks at Jane Doe 3, let’s keep in mind Cohen’s statement about unconscious rape
[TWO years ago] Scientology ‘honors’ veterans by lying about founder L. Ron Hubbard’s war record
[THREE years ago] Kirstie Alley is wrong on Leah Remini & Shelly Miscavige. We know because we broke the story.
[FOUR years ago] Guy White opens his big mouth: The former Hubbard family member spills on Scientology!
[FIVE years ago] The Valerie Haney interview: Scientology smear tactics, and where Shelly Miscavige is
[SIX years ago] The new list of Scientology donors is out early this year — and the biggest whale is missing!
[SEVEN years ago] Amy Scobee: ‘Even on her deathbed, my mom was fighting Scientology and disconnection’
[EIGHT years ago] Where it all began for us: Rick Ross, David Koresh, and the Church of Scientology
[NINE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: An oily and super powered edition of our weekly feature!
[TEN years ago] Scientology Celebrates its Legal Defense Slush Fund, and What a Party!
[ELEVEN years ago] Miscavige Gets His Wish: Marty Rathbun Pulling Up Stakes?

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on November 30, 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

 We really can’t blame the media folks and the Scientology kremlinologists who are greeting news of a sort-of John Travolta house in Clearwater being sold for $4 million in light of his standing with the church. It’s a natural question: Is Travolta ditching the organization along with his lavish waterfront home in Scientology’s spiritual mecca?

There’s [...]]]>

 
We really can’t blame the media folks and the Scientology kremlinologists who are greeting news of a sort-of John Travolta house in Clearwater being sold for $4 million in light of his standing with the church. It’s a natural question: Is Travolta ditching the organization along with his lavish waterfront home in Scientology’s spiritual mecca?

There’s been a lot more speculation than usual about Travolta since the death of his wife Kelly Preston last year, and it’s understandable. But let’s try to be as factual as we can here.

First, we have to acknowledge that there has always been speculation that Travolta might bolt from Scientology, and it’s based on some pretty solid ground. As Spanky Taylor and Lawrence Wright explained in the Alex Gibney HBO movie Going Clear, Travolta wavered about his involvement way back as early as the 1970s, and Spanky told us herself that she had encouraged him to rethink his dedication to the cabal.

On the other hand, we keep in mind that Scientology managed to hold on to Travolta not only through that tough time, but also after a later tragedy in his life, namely the death of his son Jett in 2009.

Travolta himself revealed in an interview that after Jett’s death Scientology for two years moved some auditors into their house to make sure that John and Kelly had the help with their grief that they needed. Our experts said that Travolta had made a huge disclosure there, because they said the real reason those auditors would have been around the Travoltas at that time would have been to make sure that they did not ditch the church in their time of grief.

Now, a decade later, Travolta has been hit with another personal tragedy, and we would have to assume that Scientology has deployed its troops in the same way.

However, we did point out that at the same time that John had lost Kelly, his old friend Lisa Marie Presley at almost the some moment was going through her own nightmare, the suicide of her son Ben Keough, 27.

Based on what we knew about Lisa Marie’s past attempts to get John to wake up about Scientology, we theorized that if these two old friends sought solace in each other, it might mean that Travolta’s involvement in Scientology might be in jeopardy.

However, a year later we have no evidence that such a meeting has occurred.

Also, we think it was a big mistake for one of the more breathless tabloids to claim that because Travolta in his social media post announcing Kelly’s death had thanked the cancer treatment center MD Anderson and had not mentioned Scientology, that this was somehow a slam on the church and a sure sign that Travolta was leaving the organization.

We have big doubts about that. First, there’s no doubt that some Scientologists resist legitimate medical treatment based on L. Ron Hubbard’s aversion to doctors, but the church doesn’t stand in the way of Scientologists getting legitimate cancer care, and especially in the case of a celebrity. Also, Travolta knew exactly what he was doing with that announcement, because he knew there would be speculation about whether Kelly’s involvement in Scientology (and she was much more hardcore than Travolta) would have prevented her from seeking real care, and he ended that speculation with a single announcement. It was smart, and we think it would have been strange for Travolta to say anything about Scientology at that moment. That he didn’t mention Scientology said nothing about his involvement in the church.

OK, so with all of that as background, what about the house? Let’s keep in mind that it was Tracey McManus who broke the news that a trust headed by Travolta’s sister Ellen Bannon bought the deluxe waterfront mansion, and only four years ago, in 2017.

Did we think at the time that it could be, along with Tom Cruise and Kirstie Alley also investing in Clearwater properties, evidence of an increased celebrity focus on Scientology’s mecca? Sure, we did.

But we also have to keep in mind that Travolta’s main base is in Ocala, about 120 miles north, where he has a house that includes a driveway for his personal jet, and where he personally financed a local Scientology mission.

So sure, we understand why some are including the Clearwater house sale as evidence that John might be pulling away, but we think it’s just as likely that it’s simply a real estate transaction involving a house a family trust bought just a few years ago that John personally may never have stepped foot in.

OK, kremlinologists, your turn. Tell us what you’re thinking.

 
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Erin Hodges Plumb still making waves

How nice it was to hear again from Erin Hodges Plumb, who provided us with some very entertaining encounters with Scientology when she lived near its secretive headquarters compound in Southern California.

Two years ago she moved to Central California for her work, and she tells us that she figured her encounters with the church were over. But not so! Here, we’ll let her tell the story:

Tonight was the seventh annual community Night Out sponsored by the police department and held at the fire department, and so I decided to come and meet some people in the neighborhood. There were lots of different kinds of booths here: Farmers Insurance, High School cheer, the hospital, the local children’s groups, and lots aimed at kids. Imagine my surprise to see a Scientology booth for Drug-Free World. Of course it doesn’t say Scientology. I enquired, and they admitted that this was a separate program. I then walked around the entire rest of the booths again and told everyone there, especially the ones that had to do with children, that there was a Scientology group selling lies about their drug knowledge. I took pictures of their booth and when the woman saw me taking pictures she tried to slyly pull her camera out and take my picture. I walked up to her and said, “Here I am, take my picture and let me give you my name.” She said she wasn’t taking a picture of me, that she was taking a picture of the display table. I told her yeah, right, I know that you’re taking a picture of me. I let the police department and the fire department who are sponsoring and throwing this thing know that Scientology was here and they might want to look further into who they allow at their events. While I’m dictating this I just saw some guys with cameras and paper. I asked if they were local news. Yes, so I stopped to tell them all about that Scientology booth.

Well, that’s some classic Erin right there. Thank you for the update!

 
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Source Code

“The admiral’s office thinks very poorly of a person who gives any understanding to a crew about what they’re about, and who thinks very poorly of a ship that has fairly good morale. To have good morale is a condemnation. Got this? Now, that expediency goes up to a final peak where, man’s walking down the street, he’s picked up, he’s taken down to a spaceship, he’s laid in a bunk, he’s strapped down, given an injection. A speaker-phone starts going yap-yap-yap at him, indoctrinates him as a member of the crew, wipes out all former memory, works him over in general and he’s now part of the navy. Get the idea? It goes down to total no-determinism. Now, you just think I’m showing you a few of my engrams. They’re not my engrams; they’re the engrams of this race, and of all races in all times.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 5, 1958

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“LONG VOYAGES: WE will sail on the 12th on a 450 mile voyage. The radio direction finder must be checked for operation and accuracy. Freight etc must be all in hand in this country. Various ports need notifying of new schedule. MEA will have to be alerted. Should remaining TRCs be brought aboard? The awnings come down. Lot of work to do on all this. The Capt FSO should schedule such cycles and get them done on a realistic basis so its not a last minue flat out. A nice long sea voyage followed by others will get your sea legs working. It’s a calm part of the year.” — The Commodore August 5, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“Here is my success story. I found myself in the restimulated being of the ‘intergalactic mercenary.’ I realized that it was because of this restimulation that I have no feeling of Home — a road and a constant movement are my home, no ties to any cozy place. The coolest one is my house on Alpha Centauri: I once woke up in the morning at the age of 18 with a clear confidence in this, I had only these words in my head: ‘my house is on Alpha Centauri.’ I had no idea what it was. Only when the Internet and the possibilities of Google reached me, I found complete information about this star and constellation. I also discharged a lot of electronic incidents and incidents connected with shells and those times when the human body was not yet created on Earth. The sensations are the most amazing after the releases!”

 
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Past is Prologue

1997: Lawrence Wollersheim and Joe Harrington posted updates on the Factnet copyright violation case in Colorado. “A Factnet status conference took place before Judge Abram. Scientology said they were filing a Summary Judgment within the next few hours. I believe that Scientology’s new filing is mostly designed to make Factnet spend more money as Judge Kane has already made it VERY clear to Scientology that he does not believe this is a case that will be resolved through Summary Judgment motions. Factnet anticipated this action and will shortly be filing several interesting tiny surprises for Scientology’s litigation team. Our focus remains to get Miscavige on the stand and show that Scientology is not the owner of the copyrights as it has claimed. Bridge Publications’ summary judgment motion was rejected as being improperly served. And I doubt if any knowledgeable attorney would authorize the public release of documents and motions they consider invalid and without standing in court. Judge Kane clearly stated he does not believe this case will be solved by summary judgment yet Scientology jams another Summary judgment motion in his face. He also has warned about burying the court and the case in reams of paper. Then Judge Abram warned against any motion over ten pages will not be welcome. What does Scientology do? They file a 36-page summary judgment motion with about 10 bankers boxes full of exhibits. That’s about 120,000- 140,000 pages. Then to top it off they don’t even serve it correctly on all the attorneys of record. In a premeditated action of extreme bad faith, Scientology now expects us to bear the cost of copying almost 500,000 pages plus shipping cost to two out of state attorneys.”

 
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Random Howdy

“One man’s moonbat is another man’s freedom fighter. Winning is the only thing that truly matters.”

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, 2020 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.

 
——————–

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.

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?

 
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] As Los Angeles schools prepare to reopen, Scientology keeps trying to worm its way in
[TWO years ago] Scientology is the coolest religion on earth, video proves
[THREE years ago] California is on fire, and Scientology naturally sees a golden recruiting opportunity
[FOUR years ago] An unusual Scientology advertisement leads to new intel on secretive ‘Int Base’
[FIVE years ago] Florida man sues medical sleep testing company after its dapper CEO forced Scientology on him
[SIX years ago] What really happens at a Scientology rehab? Nick Lister dishes on the Narconon experience
[SEVEN years ago] Mareka Brousseau compares growing up in Scientology to The Hunger Games
[EIGHT years ago] Will Shelly Miscavige Be Trotted Out at the Celebrity Centre Gala As a PR Stunt?
[NINE years ago] Movie Night at Scientology’s New York “Org”: The Village Voice Gets Proselytized!
[TEN years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 5, 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

 Yesterday, The Daily Beast published a story written by us that looked at Kelly Preston’s involvement in Scientology. We had talked to numerous former Scientologists with firsthand knowledge about what a “hardcore” and “strict” member of the church Preston was.

An OT 8, Preston would have been “cause over matter, energy, space, and time,” an “operating [...]]]>

 
Yesterday, The Daily Beast published a story written by us that looked at Kelly Preston’s involvement in Scientology. We had talked to numerous former Scientologists with firsthand knowledge about what a “hardcore” and “strict” member of the church Preston was.

An OT 8, Preston would have been “cause over matter, energy, space, and time,” an “operating thetan” with godlike powers.

Sadly, she died of breast cancer on July 12 at the age of 57, and the world learned about it from an Instagram post written by her husband, actor John Travolta.

In the story, we talked to Bruce Hines and Mike Rinder about how common it is for Scientologists to turn to auditing to battle serious ailments while they trust in the “technology” of L. Ron Hubbard.

In his Instagram post, however, Travolta thanked the staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center, suggesting that Preston had sought out legitimate medical treatments for her illness.

Perhaps the most surprising thing in the article, however, was the church’s response: “There is nothing in Scientology that says an individual at any level is impervious to disease, and there is nothing in the religion that says anything about ‘curing cancer.’”

It’s almost like they think we can’t simply look these things up in L. Ron Hubbard’s lectures or something.

Anyway, we not only talked to a lot of people while preparing that piece, we actually gathered more material than we could fit in a story that was focused on Kelly Preston and her Scientology involvement.

There was another angle we worked on that didn’t fit for the The Daily Beast article, and so we thought we’d put it together for a piece here at the Bunker.

At the end of our story, both Spanky Taylor and Karen Pressley pointed to how much tragedy John Travolta has been through, with the loss of his son Jett and his wife Kelly, and they wondered when it would be enough to make him think twice about his involvement in Scientology.

And several of the people we talked to all suggested that actually, there is someone with a close connection to Travolta who might have the influence on him to make him finally break away from the church.

That person is Lisa Marie Presley.

Several former Scientologists who were close to Presley say that she and Travolta share a special bond. They enjoyed getting together for all-night, wine-soaked fat-chewing sessions which Preston, we’re told, didn’t necessarily approve of. Some of these meetings continued to occur even after Presley left Scientology in October 2014.

“Lisa would get drunk with John and tell him about Miscavige,” one of our sources tells us, which we also heard from a completely different friend close to Presley.

We first reported Presley’s 2014 break with church leader David Miscavige at The Underground Bunker in 2016, and Ron Miscavige, David’s father who made a 2012 escape from the Sea Org, also described Presley’s defection in his 2016 book Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me.

Since then, Lisa Marie’s life has gone through the chaos of a messy divorce with fourth husband music producer Michael Lockwood and a custody fight over their 11-year-old twins, Finley and Harper. And most recently, the death of her 27-year-old son Benjamin Keough, who ended his life with a gunshot on July 12 at his mother’s Calabasas estate.

Presley is reportedly inconsolable over the death of her son.

“I think Lisa Marie Presley needs John Travolta right now as much as John Travolta needs Lisa Marie Presley,” Ron Miscavige tells us.

“I had heard that Lisa Marie and John have a connection,” Spanky Taylor tells us. “I was told that she was going to encourage John to see ‘Going Clear.’ I know that she saw it.”

Multiple former Scientologists with close ties to Presley say that in 2015, after her split with the church, she encouraged Travolta to use her house in Hawaii so he could be alone and “be who you are,” Presley told her friends. (She put that house on the market later that year.)

Presley was encouraging Travolta not only to reconsider his position in a church that is notorious for its homophobia, but also to come out publicly.

“Lisa said she told him, ‘Why do you let them control you? You can come out. It’s a different time’,” our source says.

Tom DeVocht is a former top Sea Org official who appeared in the movie “Going Clear,” where he described what it was like to be one of Scientology leader David Miscavige’s closest confidants. We asked him what Miscavige had told him about Travolta.

“Travolta was ‘the faggot.’ In his terms, that’s how he said it,” DeVocht says. “This was when [the 2000 movie] ‘Battlefield Earth’ was being made, and Dave said that Travolta was in a relationship with a producer of the movie. I don’t know if that’s true, but that’s what Miscavige said.”

DeVocht, like the others, points out that Preston was actually the more strict, committed Scientologist of the two, and shielded Travolta from negative information about the church.

Without that influence, will he finally have a real chance to break away?

That’s what we heard from Karen Pressley and many of the others.

“John has lost a son and a wife in relatively close proximity. He’s hurting badly. If Lisa Marie could spend time with John now, she could probably influence him out of Scientology,” she says.

 
——————–

Bonus items from our tipsters

Mark Bunker might like to ask Clearwater Downtown Development Board member Shahab Emrani about kicking in money to finance a new Ideal Org in Hawaii, but the DDB won’t allow it. It’s against the rules!

 
Meanwhile, in swinging London…

 
——————–

Source Code

“I got in a silly cycle. I don’t know, a trillion, trillennia, trillennia, trillennia ago. And every time they had a war, why, I went out. I would either be a pilot in, or commander of, or somebody connected with an interceptor squadron on the outside of the capital. Societies used to last longer than they do now. And it wasn’t anything for a society to go a billion years without much change. But, every time the society would get into trouble, usually with the same adversaries, why, that was the drop of the hat. That was the signal. The whistle had gone and you would go down and snappily report to the Seventeenth Interceptor Squadron, which had in charge of it the protection of the capital, don’t you see? And the enemy would come over and you would take off in an interceptor and you would go up to the center of the airport and you would either shoot down the attacking plane or be shot down and always at the center of the same airport — for a billion years. ” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 20, 1961

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“We have auditors who see the Tech as a business, as money making machine and disagree on who is who and what is what. Which Ls are the original, which are the OT levels, etc. We have auditors who invent processes, who acknowledge usurpers, auditors who practice the Code of Silence and cover for each other, who lie. And we also see PCs sometimes who are not qualified or are illegal and are nevertheless audited for the sake of money and later we see the results. Or PCs who just wanted a status but not work hard on the level. Is that the way the independent field is supposed to operate? If so, then those who think so, deserve what they get.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Seeing as how Louanne and vaLLarrr are dead in the head, that makes you the last Internet canary clam in the coal mine, Marco. How’s the 2-pack-a-day anti-cancer therapy working out?”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay Spina, Medicare fraud: Sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments set for August 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— 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, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

 
——————–

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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology failed to destroy Sylvia DeWall, but its latest letter to her is simply bizarre
[THREE years ago] Tommy Davis’s Hollywood experiment is apparently over as he moves to Splitsville
[FOUR years ago] BILLBOARD UP IN FLORIDA: Scientology ‘disconnection’ on view near Clearwater ‘mecca’
[FIVE years ago] Stacy Murphy is still dead, but Oklahoma gives the Scientology rehab that killed her new life
[SIX years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology has only its ‘humanitarians’ to help it refurbish eyesores
[SEVEN years ago] Leah Remini’s Friend, TV’s Michelle Visage, Says Scientologists Are “Scattering Like Roaches”
[EIGHT years ago] Stacy Dawn Murphy, 20: Another Death at Scientology’s Flagship Narconon Drug Treatment Center in Oklahoma
[NINE years ago] Scientology Loves Making Fun of Itself, Apparently

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on July 20, 2020 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, 1995-2019 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

 We had just finished writing a story late last night about the shocking suicide death of Lisa Marie Presley’s 27-year-old son Benjamin Keough when we were blindsided by the news that Kelly Preston, 57, has died of breast cancer. We didn’t even know she was sick.

Immediately after the news of Keough’s death began to spread [...]]]>

 
We had just finished writing a story late last night about the shocking suicide death of Lisa Marie Presley’s 27-year-old son Benjamin Keough when we were blindsided by the news that Kelly Preston, 57, has died of breast cancer. We didn’t even know she was sick.

Immediately after the news of Keough’s death began to spread yesterday, we were hearing from readers who wanted to know what his involvement in Scientology was, and we have some background on that and a report from a close family friend who tells us that just two months ago they heard Benjamin complaining about how much kids who grew up in Scientology were “fucked up” by it.

Preston’s death, meanwhile, catches us by surprise in part because of the timing. Her husband John Travolta reported in an Instagram post last night that she had been fighting breast cancer for two years, and he thanked the medical team at MD Anderson, a cancer hospital based in Houston but which also has facilities in Arizona, New Jersey, and Jacksonville.

We are not sure what to make of it, but our old friend Clay Irwin snapped a photo of Travolta Thursday night in downtown Clearwater, and we’d been looking for the opportunity do something with it but other stories had come up. Here’s Clay’s photo…

[CORRECTION: Clay now tells us this photo was taken on Friday night July 3, not Thursday July 9]

 
Travolta is a pilot and owns planes that enable him to cross the country at pretty much any time, so he could easily have been with his wife this weekend after being in Clearwater Thursday the week before, so we’ll wait to hear about what transpired the last few days in their lives.

[CORRECTION: Clay tells us this photo was taken a week earlier. This still has us wondering about Travolta being in Clearwater at this time, but it wasn’t so close to Kelly’s death as we originally thought. We regret the error.]

After the death of their son Jett in 2009, Travolta was extremely grief stricken, and we learned later that Scientology put auditors in his home for the next two years to help him get through it — but it was also suspected that they were there to make sure that he didn’t ditch the church after such a traumatic episode.

We can’t help wondering if that helps explain why he might be spending time in Scientology’s spiritual mecca as his wife lay dying. Travolta is a major ornament for Scientology, even if leader David Miscavige doesn’t think of him the way he does his best pal, Tom Cruise. A notorious homophobe, Miscavige nevertheless can’t afford to lose Travolta and have him come out publicly against Scientology, so the church will expend enormous effort to keep him in after this latest blow.

And then there’s the suicide death of a young man who grew up in Scientology.

To put Benjamin Keough’s death in context, allow us to remind you what’s been going on with his mother Lisa Marie Presley and Scientology.

For a 2016 story about Lisa Marie, we developed a source very close to her who told us the incredible tale of how she finally left Scientology for good after attempting to have an October 2014 showdown with church leader David Miscavige at Scientology’s “Spiritual Mecca,” the Flag Land Base in Clearwater, Florida.

Miscavige chickened out and sent his two sisters, Denise and Lori, to face Lisa Marie in his stead. What ensued was a wild scene, our source told us, as Miscavige’s sisters ranted about their own father and brother (Ron Sr. and Ronnie Jr.) in a bizarre screaming session that was somehow intended to convince Lisa Marie that David Miscavige was justified in “disconnecting” from his own dad.

Instead, it had the opposite effect and convinced Lisa Marie to finally and utterly cut ties with David Miscavige and Scientology, which she had been brought up in by her mother Priscilla. When she got back to her hotel that day, she told her family members with her, “I’m no longer a Scientologist.”

It was Lisa Marie, we reported, who then vowed to expose Miscavige, and she did so by having an attorney deliver a police report to the Los Angeles Times. The police report detailed how Miscavige had paid a father-son team of well-armed spies to follow his father Ron in his Wisconsin town. The police report included the detail that when it appeared that Ron began having a heart attack while the spies were tailing him and they asked Miscavige what to do, he told them to do nothing: “If he dies, he dies,” Miscavige reportedly said. The story in the LA Times went off like a nuclear bomb, and until our 2016 piece few knew that it was Lisa Marie who had so deftly made sure it landed with as much impact as possible.

Lisa Marie was going after Miscavige and had pulled her entire family out of Scientology, our source told us. She was loaded for a big fight.

But since then, Lisa Marie’s life turned upside down. She and her fourth husband, music producer Michael Lockwood, have been locked in a bitter divorce and custody fight over their 11-year-old twins, Finley and Harper. Lisa Marie once again went into rehab with a recurring drug addiction, and has now reportedly got clean again. And it was becoming clear, we reported, that actress Riley Keough, Lisa Marie’s daughter, was back in Scientology. (Priscilla, meanwhile, has claimed through representatives that she never left the church, but our source was adamant that Lisa Marie had pulled her mother out with the rest of her family in 2014.)

More recently, we weren’t sure if Lisa Marie herself hadn’t been pulled back in as a result of the tumultuous couple of years she’s been through. But our sources told us they still believed that Lisa Marie had not gone back to Miscavige, and that Lisa Marie seemed to be feeling more confident going into the divorce trial with Lockwood, which is scheduled to begin soon.

But now, our source says, Lisa Marie is inconsolable. Yesterday morning Lisa Marie’s son and Riley’s younger brother Benjamin Keough, 27, ended his life with a firearm in Calabasas, California.

When news of his death started spreading yesterday afternoon, we began receiving questions from readers who wanted to know if Benjamin had been a Scientologist. He was certainly raised in it, just like his sister and his mother and his father Danny Keough, Lisa Marie’s first husband, who is still an ardent church member. And Scientology publications show that Benjamin completed the “Purification Rundown” at the end of 2013.

Another source who was close to the family and specifically Benjamin, having known him since he was four years old, tells us that he was definitely out of Scientology and badmouthed it to his friends. Just this past May, they tell us, “Ben had been talking about how fucked up kids get in Scientology.” They also told us that Ben struggled with alcohol and drugs, and had recently been in rehab (a non-Scientology program), battling his own addictions. This source also points out that Benjamin had been staying at his mother’s home in Calabasas, but we haven’t seen any of the news sources covering this indicate whether he shot himself in his mother’s own home. [UPDATE: This has been confirmed, that Benjamin died at his mother’s estate, but she was apparently not there at the time, thankfully.]

Our original source, who had been very close to Benjamin as a boy, answered the question about his Scientology involvement this way: “The important thing is that the entire family was shaped by Scientology, and it’s paying the price because of it.” They said that Scientology’s involvement in their lives had meant what it does for so many other families: a destabilizing force between parents and children, and of course no chance of proper mental health care.

Lisa Marie had brought her entire family out of Scientology in 2014 after her attempted showdown with Miscavige. We found solid evidence that Riley is associating with Scientology celebrities today, which seemed to confirm what we’d heard, that she was back in. Each of our best sources on the family tells us they have a hard time believing that Lisa Marie herself has gone back to Miscavige after the way she rejected him in 2014, even with the chaos she’s been through in recent years. And our new source tells us that Benjamin, at least, was definitely out of Scientology.

And one thing our original source says they know without any doubt, and that’s Lisa Marie’s connection to her son.

“Ben was her baby. More than Riley. More than the twins. This will be beyond inconceivable for her. I really worry that it might be too much for her,” our source says.

 
——————–

Source Code

“Faith is a very fascinating subject. Faith can be artificially installed. You can take a person as a clinical experiment, hypnotize him and install the Great God Motaw. You tell him that the Great God Motaw is now taking care of his life, safeguarding him, looking after his concerns, will see that the future is all arranged for him, will see that all goes well and that everybody loves him, and will, beyond everything else, give him absolutely correct data every time he asks for it. The Great God Motaw, installed in such a circuit, more or less takes the whole computer, moves it over, and now he has the Great God Motaw sitting there. You can even install it so that the Great God Motaw has sonic, which is strictly hallucination.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 13, 1950

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“You don’t turn someone who is seeking to rehabilitate himself to the authorities. Otherwise, there is no point in being a church, don’t you think? Involving HCO, OSA, etc, that’s perfectly OK and, in fact, expected for the protection of the group and to really get to the bottom of the situation. But the whole idea besides protecting the group first is to rehabilitate. I don’t see how the ‘authorities’ are going to rehabilitate anybody. Throwing somebody in jail and locking the door hasn’t rehabilitated anybody as far as I know. Do you know of anybody who did? There are ways to deal with any situation with the correct Ethics tools and to take full responsibility for scene (with every dynamic involved) without playing the cop. We are ministers, not police officers. We are a Church, not a police enforcement agency.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Scientologists believe that the Narconon treatment can cure you of alcoholism and once completed you can drink in safety again. In fact from what I’ve read they sometimes make you drink before you leave to prove this.”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay Spina, Medicare fraud: Sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for January 12 in Los Angeles

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments set for August 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— 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, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

 
——————–

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?

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology’s targeting of children is only getting more blatant as the church struggles
[TWO years ago] Scientology scrambles to keep Miscavige out of forced-abortion trial
[THREE years ago] Pastor’s ‘premature’ announcement of July 22 event causes A&E to cancel ‘Aftermath’ taping
[FOUR years ago] Hey, thetan: Scientology has a few questions for you
[FIVE years ago] Hey, Star magazine, why is Tom Cruise afraid of Aussie journo Bryan Seymour?
[SIX years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology lets slip the reason it still produces L. Ron Hubbard’s bad fiction
[SEVEN years ago] Leaving Scientology: Jon Atack Navigates the Labyrinth of Paranoia
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Gets a Smooch from the L.A. Times
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Spy Program: Anatomy of a Covert Operation

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on July 13, 2020 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, 1995-2019 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

We got a big reaction to yesterday’s story about LAPD officer Cory Palka’s emails showing how cozy the relationship is between LA police and the Church of Scientology.

And one of the more surprising things we found in those emails was a link to a promotional website set up in [...]]]>

We got a big reaction to yesterday’s story about LAPD officer Cory Palka’s emails showing how cozy the relationship is between LA police and the Church of Scientology.

And one of the more surprising things we found in those emails was a link to a promotional website set up in 2016 by Scientology to boast about its fundraising for the LAPD and to convince department brass to come to that year’s “Christmas Stories” event. Surprisingly, that page, containing numerous videos of past performances, was still fully functional on a subdomain of the Hollywood Celebrity Centre’s website.

We heard from numerous readers who were stunned to see the footage of Hollywood celebrities acting out goofy Christmas sketches, scripts in hand, and they asked us what it meant to see stars like Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis in them. Did that mean they were Scientologists?

We doubt that Kutcher and Kunis consider themselves Scientology members simply because they helped out their pal and fellow That ’70s Show castmate Danny Masterson by showing up at his church’s holiday event. But there is no doubt that they, along with other figures we don’t usually associate with Scientology like Wilmer Valderrama and Seth Green, took part in these things held at the Celebrity Centre, as the short video segments show.

Here’s how the website describes the program, which has been going on since the mid-90s:

Christmas Stories is presented as a 1930s style radio show and features performances of both traditional and original stories and songs.

All proceeds benefit the Hollywood Police Department youth programs for underprivileged children, at-risk youth and LAPD cadets looking to their future as members of the Los Angeles police force.

We’ll let you browse through these short videos and soak up the corn-pone humor. Which of the people here are you most surprised to see at a Celebrity Centre event? Kutcher? Kunis? Seth Green? Connor Cruise? Let us know.

 
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John Travolta and Anton LaVey, just hanging out

Our good friend, Academy Award nominated screenwriter Josh Olson, spotted something really great on a new Blu-Ray release of the 1975 horror movie Devil’s Rain.

If you recall from Lawrence Wright’s narration in the documentary Going Clear, it was while shooting Devil’s Rain, his first feature film, that John Travolta received a copy of Dianetics from fellow cast member Joan Prather, and it began his long career in Scientology.

But the movie was also Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey’s shot at Hollywood stardom, using him in a minor role and as the film’s technical adviser. Some photos of LaVey on the set were included in the new release, including this gem of LaVey and Travolta.

Olson grabbed the image and shared it with his friend (and ours), journalist Mark Ebner, who then posted it at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook group.

We are indebted to both of these fine gentlemen for finding this fun artifact…

 
Now, we could go on a long jag about the influences of occultist Aleister Crowley on Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, and the satanic tint of Hubbard’s early writings and experiences, and how interesting it is to see America’s most famous Satanist, LaVey, with one of Scientology’s most famous faces, Travolta. And sure, we find the body language here kind of suggestive. But on the other hand, these were two newbies enjoying their first Hollywood film experience, and how could they not pose for a snapshot together, right?

Yeah, it’s quite an image.

 
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Source Code

“God help you someday when you get somebody who has an engram fifteen-trillion-trillion years long. Try to find the beginning of that! Before you’ve gone halfway through, of course, your date is so wrong that it’s jamming the track anyway. And just time after time, you find the earlier part of it and you find the earlier part of it and you find an earlier part of it — and finally, you finally get it all worked out and you find out that this thing which first registered as one and one-half hours long was actually 15 trillion-trillion years in length. Somebody stuck in a mountain that long; couldn’t get out. That’s rough. That’s hard to do. It’s hard to do when everything else is correct. So you’ve got to have everything else correct and then it can be done. But it is not easy to do when all signs and portents are favorable. Got that?” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 10, 1963

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“I should have known you aren’t even LRH-trained because you won’t display your education. You have set the tone in the field for this to be acceptable. No training, take money, no certs provided, take money, no ethics, take money and then laugh at people and make them wrong so you don’t have to deal with what you did. You can trace back those who are connected to you very easily, it’s a noticeable nastiness that you perpetuate. Always being right and others wrong. I have gotten much feedback about this observation. Give me my money and leave me alone. I have better things to do than play in your cesspool of degradation.”

 
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Random Howdy

“Hubbard said that all science fiction was based on whole track incidents that the authors were subconsciously remembering.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay Spina, Medicare fraud: Sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial set for October 7 in Los Angeles

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments set for August 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— 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, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

 
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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] When Scientology has you dividing up funerals because family never really matters
[TWO years ago] Former Scientologists, academics, and Falun Gong get together for a Philly blowout
[THREE years ago] Hip-hip-hooray! We have the newest Scientology propaganda about creating an ‘Ideal World’
[FOUR years ago] Scientology continues to push for ‘Battlefield Earth’ sales, and you can get this T-shirt!
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s day care from hell: The scandal the church managed to keep hidden — until now
[SIX years ago] Scientology begins hitting back at Ryan Hamilton and his lawsuits
[SEVEN years ago] Indie Scientologists Try to Spoil “Super Power” Release as it (Supposedly) Nears Debut
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Reacts to TomKat Divorce from Nixon-Era Playbook

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 10, 2020 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, 1995-2019 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

 Yesterday, Jeffrey Augustine wondered why the Church of Scientology, which has mobilized its Volunteer Ministers to help out with Hurricane Dorian destruction in the Bahamas, can’t use its cruise ship the Freewinds to bring supplies to the islands rather than the single small pleasure yacht it had rented for the occasion.

But hey, what’s the next [...]]]>

 
Yesterday, Jeffrey Augustine wondered why the Church of Scientology, which has mobilized its Volunteer Ministers to help out with Hurricane Dorian destruction in the Bahamas, can’t use its cruise ship the Freewinds to bring supplies to the islands rather than the single small pleasure yacht it had rented for the occasion.

But hey, what’s the next best thing than Scientology icon and jet pilot John Travolta rounding up some VMs to fly water and food over to Freeport?

Travolta posted this video to his Facebook page last night…

In Florida: “Here in the backyard of my house we’re packing up the plane with food and water to take to Freeport to help out on the island. I’ve brought a bunch of Volunteer Ministers from my church, and we’ll see you when I arrive.”

In Freeport: “So we’re here, we’ve just arrived. We’re unloading the food and the water and supplies. The Freeport community center is open for receiving goods for everyone in need here. We can’t get enough volunteers, so please, I inspire you to come down and help. Thanks.”

 
Look, Travolta is a kind-hearted soul: We’ve heard that from every person we have talked to who knows the man. And so, as Travolta does some actual humanitarian work that David Miscavige has been unable to organize otherwise, we think back to what Mike Rinder has said about the making of Battlefield Earth, the century’s worst film, and how Miscavige heaped scorn on Travolta for the drubbing the film got, and how in general Miscavige has held Travolta at arm’s length while buddying up with his favorite film star, Tom Cruise.

Now, how does Miscavige reward Travolta for this act of largesse, after days of embarrassing reports about how Scientology was crassly cashing in once again on a natural disaster?

 
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Bonus items from our tipsters

Meanwhile, in Canada…

 
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Source Code

“The fellow wants to get out of the woods and there are two trails. And one trail lies much deeper into the woods and the other trail goes out on to the plain. And all you have to do is put up a sign at the crossroads and point to that trail which goes deeper into the woods and say, ‘This way lies freedom,’ you see, and you’ve promptly trapped a lot of people.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 18, 1963

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“If you do the bridge your not going to be told about secret weather control programs, about vaccines brain damaging people, about the secret space program, about secret depopulation programs (programs run to kill us), about underground bases being built by the new world order in case of a cataclysm (they have literally built underground towns with all this advanced tech) and they fly around in UFOs which they keep secret from us, i mean there is just so much going on that we are not told about in scientology or in mainstream life, but at least scientology makes us smarter so that then we can investigate and find out about all these things.”

 
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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] Giving Scientology TV a run for its money — it’s the premiere of the Bunker network!
[TWO years ago] Moss wins Emmy for portraying totalitarian cult victim and doesn’t care what you think about it
[THREE years ago] In the wake of raids, Scientology’s sneaky consulting front shrinks markedly in Russia
[FOUR years ago] Scientology about to throw its Harlem party — and we need your eyes and ears!
[FIVE years ago] RATHBUN SUIT: Scientology’s last swipe in its anti-SLAPP appeal before hearing next week
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s “Bridge:” Claire Headley Gets Us to CLEAR!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 18, 2019 at 14:45

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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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

In March we told you how surprised we were to see that Tom Cruise’s daughter Isabella had allowed herself to be featured in a Church of Scientology mailer put out by the London org. It was yet another sign of how dedicated Tom and his older [...]]]>

In March we told you how surprised we were to see that Tom Cruise’s daughter Isabella had allowed herself to be featured in a Church of Scientology mailer put out by the London org. It was yet another sign of how dedicated Tom and his older two children are to David Miscavige’s church.

And now, we are equally stunned to see John Travolta’s daughter Ella Bleu making a very visible splash of her own by showing up at an awards ceremony held at Scientology’s most holy site, the Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater, Florida on one of Scientology’s holiest days on the calendar, May 9, which is Dianetics Day.

It was May 9, 1950 when L. Ron Hubbard published the book that changed everything for him, Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health, and it’s celebrated every year by the church. In the photo you see above, Ella is posing with the man who posted the photo, Antonio Rosales, a Scientologist who was awarded for being “Top Producer Book One Auditor” for 2019.

In other words, he gets to pose next to a Scientology celebrity for bringing in a lot of money.

Ella is wearing a “Dianetics” pin at a ceremony where only Scientologists would be invited.

 
Ella is 19 years old, and she’s been showing up at more events with her famous father recently. And she’s in his next movie, The Poison Rose, which is in theaters and streaming on May 25. “This film is special to me because I had the pleasure of working with my daughter Ella!” Travolta said as he posted the trailer to Facebook.

 
It’s not unusual for Hollywood stars to give their kids breaks in the business. But did he have to bring her into the Hubbard fold as well?

 
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Toronto is fully stoked

We haven’t seen a fundraising trailer like this in a while. Canada is on fire!

 
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HowdyCon 2019 in Los Angeles

THURSDAY NIGHT OPPORTUNITY: This year’s HowdyCon is in Los Angeles. People tend to come in starting on Thursday, and that evening we will have a casual get-together at a watering hole. But we also want to point out that Cathy Schenkelberg’s “Squeeze My Cans” will be running at the Hollywood Fringe, and we encourage HowdyCon attendees to see her show on Thursday night, June 20. Tickets and more dates available here.

Friday night June 21 we will be having an event in a theater (like we did on Saturday night last year in Chicago). There will not be a charge to attend this event, but if you want to attend, you need to RSVP with your proprietor at tonyo94 AT gmail.

On Saturday, we are joining forces with Janis Gillham Grady, who is having a reunion in honor of the late Bill Franks. Originally, we thought this event might take place in Riverside, but instead it’s in the Los Angeles area. If you wish to attend the reunion, you will need to RSVP with Janis (janisgrady AT gmail), and there will be a small contribution she’s asking for in order to help cover her costs.

HOTEL: Janis tells us she’s worked out a deal with Hampton Inn and Suites, at 7501 North Glenoaks Blvd, Burbank, (818) 768-1106. We have a $159 nightly rate for June 19 to 22. Note: You need to ask for the “family reunion” special rate.

 
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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 files notice of appeal in time-wasting federal court attack on forced-abortion case
[TWO years ago] DRONE FLYOVER: An even closer look at where Scientology is keeping Shelly Miscavige
[THREE years ago] Scientology takes on the evil psychs at the APA, and more in our weekly social media review!
[FOUR years ago] Las Vegas attorney Ryan Hamilton makes it 29 lawsuits against Scientology’s drug rehab
[FIVE years ago] TIZIANO LUGLI: A new short film about Scientology and ‘slavery’
[SIX years ago] Chiropractor in Viral Video Is Posing In Front of His Scientology Certificates

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on May 15, 2019 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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, ten 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