We like to brag on Sunny Pereira, one of our favorite correspondents at the Underground Bunker, who has given us many good pieces over the years describing what it is like to grow up as a second-generation Scientologist, what it was like to work at the Hollywood Celebrity Centre, and what it is like to [...]]]>

 
We like to brag on Sunny Pereira, one of our favorite correspondents at the Underground Bunker, who has given us many good pieces over the years describing what it is like to grow up as a second-generation Scientologist, what it was like to work at the Hollywood Celebrity Centre, and what it is like to have your family ripped apart by Scientology ‘disconnection.’

Most recently, she came to us with something really startling: An inside source at the Church of Scientology who was sharing with her real-time information about what Scientologists were saying in the aftermath of Kirstie Alley’s shocking death to cancer at only 71.

Since then the public has heard a lot about Scientology and the “OT” levels (Kirstie was OT 8), about Scientology and the medical profession and about cancer in particular, and about Scientology’s dwindling celebrity ranks.

And many news outlets jumped on something we posted the day after Kirstie’s death was announced that we got from Sunny and her source: That Scientologists themselves were being told that only a small, private memorial for Alley would take place at Scientology’s Flag Land Base in Clearwater, Florida, and nothing at all at the Hollywood Celebrity Centre, where Kirstie had been such a big presence earlier in her life.

Sunny herself wrote a poignant piece about that yesterday, and it generated a lot of interesting reactions online.

But we also wanted to follow up on the other thing we had heard, about a small service at Flag.

One of our eagle-eyed readers spotted what looks like confirmation that it occurred, just as Sunny’s source told us.

The photo was posted by Clearwater Scientologist Terri Novitsky, and it was an image of her and a minor Scientology celebrity, actress Denice Duff. (See above.)

Novitsky erased her original caption and, apparently thinking it wiser to be more circumspect, posted this description: “Clarification: Special weekend with Denice Duff and other friends honoring another friend.”

Our reader who spotted the photo told us there was no question at all where the two of these prominent local Clearwater Scientologists were standing: The ballroom at the Fort Harrison Hotel, centerpiece of the Flag Land Base. The photo was posted on Sunday.

“Looks like Kirstie’s service happened this past weekend with everyone sworn to secrecy,” our reader said. “That’s definitely the Flag Ballroom. I still have bad dreams about that place. There wouldn’t be any other ‘service’ happening there.”

And here were some reactions from other local Scientologists who apparently also attended:

 
Considering how rare such an event would be at the Flag Land Base, and the timing, and the people who attended, we can be pretty certain that they are referring to the small private service held for Kirstie Alley at the hotel ballroom.

And once again, we are grateful to Sunny Pereira for all that she brings to the Bunker. As ever, her information about Scientology is spot-on.

Technology Cocktail

“Although any computation can be run, the following computations will prove effective: Cause, Effect, enjoy things, hate things, look, don’t look, motion, no motion, sound, sight, feeling, work, pain, no-sound, no-sight, no-feeling, no-work, no pain, babies, no-babies, spirits, no-spirits, Christ, no-Christ, God, no-God.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1953

 
——————–

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?

— The Underground Bunker Podcast

[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

— SPECIAL: Your Proprietor’s updates on the Danny Masterson trial

[1] Sep 21 [2] Sep 28 [3] Oct 4 [4] Oct 10 [5] Oct 11: Day One [6] Oct 12: Day Two [7] Oct 13: Day Three [8] Oct 17: Day Four [9] Oct 18: Day Five [10] Oct 19: Day Six [11] Special interview with Chris Shelton, Oct 19 [12] Oct 20: Day Seven [13] Oct 21: Day Eight [14] First week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [15] Oct 24: Day Nine [16] Oct 25: Day Ten [17] Oct 27: Day Eleven [18] Oct 28: Day Twelve [19] Second week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [20] Halloween special [21] Nov 2: Day Thirteen [22] Nov 3: Day Fourteen [23] Nov 4: Day Fifteen [24] Third week in review [25] Nov 5, Saturday special [26] Nov 6, Sunday special [27] Nov 7, Day Sixteen [28] Lisa Marie Presley breaking news [29] Nov 8, Day Seventeen [30] Nov 9, Day Eighteen [31] Nov 10, Day Nineteen

 
——————–

Source Code

“A god of this universe, an anthropomorphic god — and I hope that you understand me very clearly when I use this word ‘god’ loosely and even blasphemously, for the good reason that this thing g-o-d is something which man has set up in his image. And it is merely an ambition on the part of a thetan, it’s an effort, a co-effort on the part of thetans to have a playing field and so on. And there is, actually, beings above the beingness of this universe. There are beings, but they are not this anthropomorphic thing who is the jealous god, who has hate and vengeance and so forth, that happens to be above that level. And the jealous god, the most jealous god there would be, would be a god who would insist at all times that he must not be duplicated, even to the point of not using his name in vain. He mustn’t be duplicated. No graven images. His space, it’s all his space and so forth. And we go on this way. Interesting, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 14, 1953

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“SMERSH: Good news. Adelaide trouble had a reprieve when they did not pass a ban bill at once but delayed it until Feb due to the filibuster tactics of our opposition and the ferocity of the defense. The ‘Parliament’ there was considering a bill to ban Scn, backed of course by the Health Minister who is a SMERSH appointee.” — The Commodore, December 14, 1968

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“There’s been several research lines on the case for homosexuality. Why none of them has to do with the beings that control the re-incarnation cycle on Earth. (Marcabians). Because some homosexuals are born that way. These ETs manipulate the entities. Can create cloned bodies and can put spirits into containers, mix them and put them back into bodies. Creating composite beings of any kind or sexual preference is implicit.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1996: Jason Scott, victor in his case against the Cult Awareness Network, has changed attorneys. Scientologist Kendrick Moxon, who has attempted to liquidate CAN, was dismissed. In his place, Graham Berry. “Mr. Moxon’s replacement, as attorney for Jason Scott, is Graham E. Berry of the Los Angeles law firm of Musick, Peeler & Garrett. Mr. Berry has successfully represented a number of defendants against the Church of Scientology and its related entities. Recently, he replaced Faegre & Benson of Minneapolis as FACTNet, Inc.’s lead lawyer in Scientology’s internet related litigation against FACTNet, Lawrence Wollersheim, and Robert Penny, now pending in Federal District court, Denver, Colorado. In replacing Kendrick Moxon, Jason Scott said that he had not seen a penny of his judgment against the Cult Awareness Network and that he was now retaining Graham Berry to try and negotiate a settlement that would both put a reasonable sum of money in his pocket and perhaps enable the Cult Awareness Network to emerge from the bankruptcy it filed as a result of his judgment against it. In addition, Mr. Scott said that he was tired of being a Scientology poster-boy, and that he felt Kendrick Moxon had discarded him after he had obtained the judgment against the Cult Awareness Network. Now, said Mr. Scott, he merely wants to settle his claims against CAN, obtain some money, reunite with his wife and family and put this whole saga behind him.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Most animals have more of an affinity for their offspring than the average Scientologist.”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Status conference scheduled January 10, retrial scheduled March 27.

Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2. Hearing November 17 to argue the arbitration motions, awaiting ruling.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through February 7.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Case settled ahead of scheduled Dec 6 trial.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.

 
——————–

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] Clearwater’s new city manager: ‘We must develop a partnership with the Church of Scientology’
[TWO years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 7: The litigators
[THREE years ago] Glam for Xenu: When Scientology celebrities ruled the world
[FOUR years ago] Finally, L. Ron Hubbard’s first ‘Clear’ — Sonya Bianchi — found again after 68 years
[FIVE years ago] He was Scientology’s most famous spy, then he turned witness and vanished. Now, here he is.
[SIX years ago] Nora Crest’s powerful new video: Why you can’t be gay in Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] Who are those WISE guys? A tipster helps us get some names of Scientology operatives
[EIGHT years ago] Another Scientology ambush, this time of Marty Rathbun with Louis Theroux present
[NINE years ago] Jon Atack: What we have here — in Scientology — is a failure to communicate
[TEN years ago] DOX: Florida Officials Fight Attempt to Hide Drug Rehab’s Scientology Connections
[ELEVEN years ago]

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 14, 2022 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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

 I’m glad I won’t be dying at the hands of Scientology.

I don’t even know (or care) if my death will ever be remembered, but hey, a couple of “goodbyes” would be nice, when the time comes.

I was saddened to learn, according to a source inside the church, that Kirstie Alley will not have a memorial [...]]]>

 
I’m glad I won’t be dying at the hands of Scientology.

I don’t even know (or care) if my death will ever be remembered, but hey, a couple of “goodbyes” would be nice, when the time comes.

I was saddened to learn, according to a source inside the church, that Kirstie Alley will not have a memorial service at Celebrity Centre. According to that source (which Tony told us about first last week), it appears that the only Scientology memorial service for Kirstie will be held as a private event at the Flag Land Base in Florida. Heck, it might even have already happened.

In the ten years that I worked at Hollywood Celebrity Centre, Kirstie was always a figure of personality and influence in the org. She was often around or available when she was needed for promotion of events and such. I can’t remember a single year that she missed the Christmas Stories fundraiser event. From the very first time Christmas Stories was done, she was always playing several characters in the various plays.

And when we had the launch of the Golden Age of Tech in 1996, she was the celebrity there waiting at CC to greet and welcome back our newest and freshest trained staff from Flag. And we are talking about people who were arriving home from their flights very late at night, or early morning. And she was there ready to welcome them.

And what happens when she dies? Because of the way staff is isolated, nobody at Celebrity Centre would have known that she had passed away.

According to that source, and our own checking around with our contacts, we have seen no evidence of a memorial being held at the Hollywood Celebrity Centre.

From my own personal experience, a chance to grieve and remember a person helps, and is part of, the healing process. In Scientology, if you are upset about something, you get a session about it (after you pay for it, of course) and that is supposed to be the end of the grieving. They truly believe their technology is that effective.

My own personal experience has been that I still grieve some people that have passed from decades ago. It’s part of being human, I think.

And so it saddens me to find out that this lady, who did so much for Celebrity Centre, not only won’t be remembered, but might as well be forgotten.

I’m deeply sadden and angered that someone had dedicated so much of themselves to their religion, and their religion does not take the time to allow its parishioners, all of them, to remember and grieve one of their own. What does that say about this religion called Scientology?

Well Kirstie, I wish you well and I thank you for the contributions you have made to this world. I send you virtual flowers to whatever skies you have gone to.

— Sunny Pereira

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“In sanitariums the briefest observation demonstrates that the 8th dynamic is most prominently the aberrative dynamic, for here we have the idea that God inhabits all space, thus making it impossible for the preclear to have any space of his own. The preclear must either have no space or must be himself God. To solve the God problem, one simply rigs up large spaces in abundance ‘full of God’ and more large spaces ‘full of preclear’ until the preclear can have large spaces of both.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1953

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?

— The Underground Bunker Podcast

[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

— SPECIAL: Your Proprietor’s updates on the Danny Masterson trial

[1] Sep 21 [2] Sep 28 [3] Oct 4 [4] Oct 10 [5] Oct 11: Day One [6] Oct 12: Day Two [7] Oct 13: Day Three [8] Oct 17: Day Four [9] Oct 18: Day Five [10] Oct 19: Day Six [11] Special interview with Chris Shelton, Oct 19 [12] Oct 20: Day Seven [13] Oct 21: Day Eight [14] First week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [15] Oct 24: Day Nine [16] Oct 25: Day Ten [17] Oct 27: Day Eleven [18] Oct 28: Day Twelve [19] Second week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [20] Halloween special [21] Nov 2: Day Thirteen [22] Nov 3: Day Fourteen [23] Nov 4: Day Fifteen [24] Third week in review [25] Nov 5, Saturday special [26] Nov 6, Sunday special [27] Nov 7, Day Sixteen [28] Lisa Marie Presley breaking news [29] Nov 8, Day Seventeen [30] Nov 9, Day Eighteen [31] Nov 10, Day Nineteen

Source Code

“As long as religion brings solace to man in any way, shape or form, as long as churches stand in any way for the spiritual freedom of man, psychiatry will not really be able to progress, whatever its end goals are. Therefore, our rebuttal to any such attack is that psychiatry should not be permitted to wipe out a small church and then go on to a bigger church and then go on to a bigger church, and so take it all over. And also that the Minister of Health, as we have just told the press, has no right whatsoever to comment upon religious beliefs or practices. And in addition to that, that they are telling us that we must not do something we are not doing. Now, this is the yickle-yackle that appears in the world. The public at large is in actual fact getting ready to turn. Much of it has already turned. They see something very rotten in this idea of attacking Scientology. They are sick of this, see, because it’s gone on too long. And we hear cross comments of this particular character here and there. And they’ve gone too far and they’ve said too much! And they are now talking to a hostile public on the subject. It’s up to us to make sure that this is the downfall of all suppressive practices in that line.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 13, 1966

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“Lots of fan mail and FN VGIs from people on the FSO on Valuable Final Products. I hope we can get in any corrections and additions. Send them to LRH Comm Ship. Funny but it’s like gold. Before one sees real gold dust in a miners pan, he can be fooled by anything. He thinks mica, bright rocks, fool’s gold, anything is gold. Then you show him real gold and never afterwards does he fail to recognize it. Can’t be fooled at all. It’s that way about a list of actual valuable final products. Once you see what sort of they are for a department, div or org you can’t ever be fooled.” — The Commodore, December 13, 1970

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Is the Galactic Federation behind Trump (covering his back), Communists being the Marcab side, what do you think? This news is interesting because it’s mainstream, and the timing of it. ‘This is going to be BIBLICAL’ was Powell’s words about the massive voter fraud now being unwinded. We will also have the ‘Star of Bethlehem’ in the sky for the first time in 800 years. Can this get more interesting than it already is?”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1995: Tilman Hausherr reported a phone call from Thomas Riche this week, a Scientology private investigator. “He asked me two questions. 1. If I had sent $$ to Atack. I refused to answer this and explained that he’d need a court order to find that out. Since when do PIs call people for financial information? I asked how he had the name, he said ‘from the internet’. Thinking back, it seems that I followed-up to Bob Penny’s appeal for help. He didn’t want to tell more or could not. He later told me that he is not on the internet, but that there is a Cyber cafe nearby. 2. If Atack and Lawley had sent me documents. I said no. I explained that I am just an unimportant guy following this from the net, etc., and that I don’t even know what’s Lawley doing these days. I told him that the church had failed to return some documents to Lawley. He said that Lawley had lived in Wetzlar, Germany for some time.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Future membership growth for the Church of Scientology has been effectively terminated by the Internet and Anonymous and the old guard critics. Its name is MUD. It’s definitely headed for Shakerdom and that was the original goal. As far as bringing DM to justice and the government doing anything about that, I wouldn’t hold my breath.”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Mistrial declared November 30. Status conference scheduled January 10, retrial scheduled March 27.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Plea deadline scheduled for December 16.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff scheduled to time served with three years supervised release, restitution of $9.7 million.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for March 1 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial hearing December 9.
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.

Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2. Hearing November 17 to argue the arbitration motions, awaiting ruling.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through February 7.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Case settled ahead of scheduled Dec 6 trial.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.

 
——————–

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] Why does Scientology lie about founder L. Ron Hubbard’s supposed war wounds?
[TWO years ago] More Scientology orgs boarded up, our readers report: What’s going on?
[THREE years ago] Scientology will try to force Danny Masterson accusers into its internal ‘arbitration’
[FOUR years ago] Scientology reveals it has a secret donor with an NFL connection giving millions
[FIVE years ago] Defeated in court, L. Ron Hubbard’s son boasted about spreading lies in new FBI document
[SIX years ago] LEAH REMINI TO LAPD: COUGH UP PROOF THAT YOU CHECKED ON SHELLY MISCAVIGE
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s latest filing in the Trout Run zoning fight: We bleed for all religions
[EIGHT years ago] Jonny Jacobsen: New Scientology legal setbacks in Belgium, France, and Holland
[NINE years ago] Monique Rathbun back in court today: DAVID MISCAVIGE WILL BE DEPOSED, JUDGE DECIDES
[TEN years ago] HOMELAND SECURITY INVESTIGATING SCIENTOLOGY FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 13, 2022 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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

 The readers of the Underground Bunker know that when Scientologists die, even fairly well known ones, they sometimes get more of a memorial here than they do from Scientology itself.

Chick Corea was an exception. The church actually put out a statement after his death of cancer last year. And now, one of our sources in [...]]]>

 
The readers of the Underground Bunker know that when Scientologists die, even fairly well known ones, they sometimes get more of a memorial here than they do from Scientology itself.

Chick Corea was an exception. The church actually put out a statement after his death of cancer last year. And now, one of our sources in the church tells us, Scientology will hold a memorial at its spiritual mecca, the Flag Land Base in Clearwater, for Kirstie Alley.

The Cheers actress died in nearby Tampa after a short battle with cancer, according to her children True and Lillie Stevenson. They made the announcement on social media last night, and the press coverage of Kirstie’s death has been heavy.

Meanwhile, our source said that the news also caused quite a stir in the church itself, where Alley was one of its most iconic celebrity members.

In 2018 we reported that one of Scientology’s own publications revealed that Alley had reached the ultimate auditing level on the “Bridge to Total Freedom,” which is known as Operating Thetan Level Eight, or “OT 8.” The magazine included this quote from the actress about attaining a level that gave her “cause over matter, energy, space, and time.”

Now here I stand a New OT VIII shiny, fresh and calm… well, as calm as a thetan like me can be. I am more confident than ever before. And here’s the big news. I now fully have the confront that puts me right up that damn confront scale with other Scientology Freedom Fighters!

Naturally, we’re getting a lot of questions about whether Alley, as an OT 8, would have trusted in Scientology auditing rather than getting proper medical care. Scientologists often adopt founder L. Ron Hubbard’s deep distrust of the medical profession, and seek alternative treatments.

However, Scientologists are not prohibited from getting proper care. (Scientology only discourages its members from taking psychiatric drugs.) We have talked to former church members who said the organization did not stand in their way when they wanted proper medical care for cancer or other ailments.

But both Mike Rinder and Leah Remini have pointed out that Scientologists may first trust Scientology answers before seeking medical help, leading to disastrous consequences.

Leah spoke to this more fully in a piece we wrote for Rolling Stone this morning.

Mike, meanwhile, said this at his blog this morning:

Though Hubbard claimed to have the cure for cancer — especially on NOTs (New Era Dianetics for OTs) — two of the more prominent Scientologists to have died (Kirstie and Kelly Preston) both succumbed to the disease, yet both had done all there was to do on NOTs. (See blog post L. Ron Hubbard on Cancer) Like the other cures promised by Hubbard in Dianetics and thereafter, the real tragedy is that people believe that Scientology auditing and/or PTS handling will resolve their physical conditions. Often, seeking solutions through auditing, chiropractors or the latest fad cures only available in Mexico, they delay resorting to medical treatment until it is too late. I fear this may have been the case with Kirstie given the wording of the announcement that her cancer was “only recently discovered.” These days it is not common for cancer to be rapidly terminal if it is diagnosed early.

It’s perhaps the saddest aspect of the whole Scientology bag of worms — that people die sooner than they should because of their faith in the promises of Hubbard. He certainly didn’t live up to his own claims — he was a physical and mental mess when he died.

Another question we often get about Scientology’s celebrities is whether they are aware of the abuses in its ranks, and particularly in the Sea Organization, which is the hardcore elite that sign billion-year contracts.

Regarding that, in 2013 we got to know Claudio and Renata Lugli, who for years were tailors to Scientology leader David Miscavige before they left the church. They have two sons: Tiziano Lugli, who is a well-known defector in his own right, and Flavio Lugli, who is in the Sea Org.

Claudio and Renata shared photos with us that showed at one time, Kirstie had come to stay with them in Italy and had become particularly close with Flavio.

Flavio joined the Sea Org in 1997 and disconnected from the rest of the family when, in 2009 and 2010, the Luglis, like so many other Scientology families, began having doubts about David Miscavige and the direction the church was taking. Renata wrote at length in 2010 about how devastated she was that Flavio had turned them in for looking up “entheta” on the Internet (negative publicity about the church) and they’ve heard nothing from him since then.

This morning, we reached Renata in Brescia, and asked her if she thought Kirstie Alley was aware of how Scientology had torn the Lugli family apart.

“Absolutely,” she said. She added that Alley would have had no choice about accepting the situation.

“There is no free, personal or critical thinking in Scientology, you have to comply with the policies,” she says.

But she added that she and Claudio still have warm feelings for her after the years of their tight friendship, between 1996 and 2006, when Scientology pushed her away.

“A dear farewell to Kirstie Alley, our close friend who remained so even after her disconnection from us due to Scientology. She will remain in our hearts and at this time our sincere condolences go out to her children Lillie and True, and to Parker, father of her children.”

 
——————–

Scientology’s grimmest anniversary

Yesterday was the darkest day on the Scientology history calendar. And once again, we marked December 5 by reposting the conclusion of our series on Lisa McPherson. We then talked about it on a short video that went out to everyone. This morning we’re linking to it here again. And here’s the YouTube version….

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“A homo novis is limited in his self-determinism by all the economic and social restrictions of an aberrated society. He is not free of the need for food, clothing or shelter. He dies when you get him too cold, he perishes when the oxygen content drops too low. He is living in a tolerance band which keeps him cramped to the face of one second-rate planet in a tenth-rate system, prey to all the ill will that blows.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1953

 
——————–

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?

— The Underground Bunker Podcast

[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

— SPECIAL: Your Proprietor’s updates on the Danny Masterson trial

[1] Sep 21 [2] Sep 28 [3] Oct 4 [4] Oct 10 [5] Oct 11: Day One [6] Oct 12: Day Two [7] Oct 13: Day Three [8] Oct 17: Day Four [9] Oct 18: Day Five [10] Oct 19: Day Six [11] Special interview with Chris Shelton, Oct 19 [12] Oct 20: Day Seven [13] Oct 21: Day Eight [14] First week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [15] Oct 24: Day Nine [16] Oct 25: Day Ten [17] Oct 27: Day Eleven [18] Oct 28: Day Twelve [19] Second week in review, with Jeffrey Augustine [20] Halloween special [21] Nov 2: Day Thirteen [22] Nov 3: Day Fourteen [23] Nov 4: Day Fifteen [24] Third week in review [25] Nov 5, Saturday special [26] Nov 6, Sunday special [27] Nov 7, Day Sixteen [28] Lisa Marie Presley breaking news [29] Nov 8, Day Seventeen [30] Nov 9, Day Eighteen [31] Nov 10, Day Nineteen

 
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Source Code

“You go in one of these modern cemeteries, one of these nice modern ones. Boo! There’s more trapped thetans around that joint than you care to measure up in a long day of Sundays. And if you want to amuse yourself, put out a line on them and say, ‘Hey fella, why don’t you get on your way?’ And they sort of feel groggy, ‘Huh? Voice of God, must be the voice of God.’ So you want to play God? Well you ought to go down and do this some time just for kicks. Put a little bit of an energy beam on them and, or plant the thought, ‘You are now on top of the grave.’ Or, ‘You are now on top of the headstone.’ And if you really want to pour the juice into them — it’s kind of bad to hypnotize thetans, I usually feel sorry for them — if you want to pull the, if you want to pour the juice in on them and go just brrwhack! ‘You are now on top of the tombstone.’ There isn’t any doubt about your getting them out, truth be known. You can put out enough energy. Beam in, sort of bore a little hole in the guy’s head and then, and then put the energy concentration flow into the center of his forehead, in in in in in in in, and his skull will go spatter, brains and all. This is no joke. I mean, I’m not joking about this.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 6, 1952

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“Div 6 had better start looking to crew entertainment. Terri Gillham had to capture a British Submarine to give the crew some movies. I think that’s a bit extraordinary.” — The Commodore, December 6, 1971

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Outside of Ron’s, there is no other tech out there. The best others have is a temporary stilling of the mind, which is well-nigh impossible to achieve. Keying oneself out by various means such as physical exercise or going on holiday or re-arranging the furniture is only temporary, bringing a few minutes or hours of relief, at best. The only other recourse is alcohol or drugs, with catastrophic penalties.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1995: Acting on complaints from the cult, Northeastern University this week suspended the account of anonymous critic Rogue Agent. “I’ve just been told by the Dean of the College of Computer Science that my account has been frozen because of complaints from the church of Scientology. Until further notice I’ll be posting from an alternate account, agent@redbox.newhackcity.net. Mail to this account will still work, I’ve got a .forward set up. Note: to anyone who’s sent me confidential messages, everything is safe.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Posting any old Scientology video isn’t automatically relevant. It should relate to the subject of the day’s article.”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial began October 11 in Los Angeles.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Arraigned on August 29.

Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filed amended complaint on August 2. Hearing scheduled November 17 to argue the arbitration motions.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through December 13.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Case settled ahead of scheduled Dec 6 trial.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.

 
——————–

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] Before and after Jonestown Bob Dole looked into cults — so Scientology targeted him
[TWO years ago] Some of Scientology’s orgs around the country are boarded up. What gives, Dave?
[THREE years ago] Jackie Lacey insider: Unseat her in March if you want to see Danny Masterson charged
[FOUR years ago] When Tom Cruise go-fer and budding flak Tommy Davis was getting his Scientology hat on
[FIVE years ago] Why is it so hard for governments to crack down on the Church of Scientology?
[SIX years ago] Tonight on Leah Remini’s series, two more families get ripped apart and ‘fair gamed’
[SEVEN years ago] Postscript: How David Miscavige spun the death of Lisa McPherson
[EIGHT years ago] Jon Atack: How to get a convinced Scientologist on the road to recovery
[NINE years ago] How Does Scientology Take Over a Mind? Jefferson Hawkins Tells Us About “PTS”
[TEN years ago] Vance Woodward’s Book Addicted to Scientology Is An Amazing High
[ELEVEN years ago] Michael Fairman Sues his Chiropractor — in Part to Legitimize the Independent Scientology Movement?

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 6, 2022 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, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), 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

 Yesterday, Kirstie Alley actually responded to a Twitter reader who asked her about Leah Remini and Shelly Miscavige.

In her response, Kirstie got a lot wrong about Leah Remini’s 2013 filing of a missing-person report on Scientology leader David Miscavige’s missing wife, and perpetuated some misinformation about that story which the media always tends to get [...]]]>

 
Yesterday, Kirstie Alley actually responded to a Twitter reader who asked her about Leah Remini and Shelly Miscavige.

In her response, Kirstie got a lot wrong about Leah Remini’s 2013 filing of a missing-person report on Scientology leader David Miscavige’s missing wife, and perpetuated some misinformation about that story which the media always tends to get wrong about it.

We know because we’re the ones who broke the story.

First, here’s the tweet Kirstie was responding to and her reply…

 
We know the rest of the media is never going to get this story right, (and we know that Kirstie has no regard for the truth) but we’ll try yet again to set the record straight.

We broke the news here at the Underground Bunker in July 2013 that Leah had left Scientology. A few weeks later, on Monday, August 5, 2013 Leah filed a missing-person report on her friend Shelly Miscavige with the Los Angeles Police Department.

Why the LAPD? Because while she was still in Scientology, whenever Leah wanted to send a card or gift to David or Shelly Miscavige, she was told to use their official church address, which was 6331 Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Guaranty Building, a Scientology landmark.

That’s a Los Angeles address, and that’s why Leah went to the LAPD. (By then, however, we had already been reporting for more than a year that multiple lines of evidence pointed to a San Bernardino County address for Shelly’s whereabouts, but we’ll get to that in a minute.)

On Wednesday afternoon, two days after Leah made her report, we got wind of it.

The next morning, on Thursday, August 8, 2013, we broke the news that Leah had filed a missing-person report with the LAPD. Naturally, reporters began calling the police department that day asking questions about it. And that afternoon, we began hearing that the LAPD was telling reporters that Leah’s report was “unfounded,” and that Shelly was fine.

Now, because we had just reported the story that morning and the LAPD was calling Leah’s request “unfounded” that same afternoon, an impression grew in the press that her missing-person report had been submitted and rejected on the same day.

That was never the case.

Leah filed her report on Monday, August 5. Our story came out on the morning of August 8. And that afternoon, the LAPD told reporters that Shelly wasn’t missing.

So how did they know that? We later followed up with Lt. Andre Dawson of the LAPD, who told us that two of his detectives, after receiving Leah’s report, had visited with Shelly, and that Shelly had told them that she didn’t want to make a public statement.

When we asked Lt. Dawson if this conversation had taken place in the presence of other church officials, he quickly blurted out, “That’s classified.” That’s all we got out of him.

So, we will point out again, after Leah filed her report, over the course of a couple of days, the LAPD went to visit Shelly and determined that she didn’t want rescuing.

Shelly herself made no public statement, and still hasn’t been seen in the seven years since. She vanished from Gold Base near Hemet, California in late summer 2005, she was seen at the funeral of her father in the summer of 2007, and the only other indications of her existence we have are from the LAPD in 2013 and from church attorneys in a couple of more recent statements to the press.

There is not a single piece of evidence which disputes what we’ve been saying about Shelly since 2012: That her husband banished her to a small mountain compound, the headquarters of the Church of Spiritual Technology, a Scientology subsidiary, near Lake Arrowhead, California, where she works on an L. Ron Hubbard archiving project, and can never leave.

Not only is Kirstie Alley wrong that it took only “two hours” to refute Leah’s report, but it also had nothing to do with Leah’s book, which came out in 2015, or her television series Scientology and the Aftermath, which premiered in 2016.

And as far as Leah “acknowledging” what the police concluded, here’s the cold, hard truth: Although the LAPD was telling reporters the result of its investigation that afternoon in 2013, the police department never had the courtesy or courage to tell Leah directly the result of her missing-person report. She later had to threaten legal action just to get a response from the department.

It may be hard for Kirstie Alley to understand, but Leah Remini did in fact file a missing-person report on her friend Shelly out of concern for her.

If Kirstie has any concern for Shelly, why hasn’t she done something herself about Shelly’s disappearance?

 
——————–

A quarter century already? The hell you say.

 
“Cult Buster” was the headline on the front page. “Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlatans” was the clever headline on the story inside, which had been dreamed up by Jeremy Voas, the paper’s managing editor and our mentor on the piece.

Scientology considered Rick Ross an enemy and so it was a prominent player in the story.

A quarter century has now passed since our first published story about Scientology. And here’s the hell of the thing: If you asked us what our favorite story on Scientology is in all that time, we’d still tell you, “the next one.”

 
——————–

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

 
——————–

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

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Forgettingness is part of aging. It has to do with shedding responsibility for the stuff of this lifetime. I’m not saying it’s inevitable; I’m just saying that it’s common out in the world. One thing that can happen: thetan goes along, and lifetime after lifetime, he lives to about the same age. He gets used to that. Now along comes a lifetime where he’s surpassing that age. But he starts to experience the symptoms of aging at the time he would normally be dying, even though he’s nowhere near dying this lifetime. Habit. Interesting comment about the body remembering what the thetan isn’t paying attention to. I often wondered about that. I rather suspect the GE has its own bank going on. I think maybe the GE records everything, but I’m (thetan) more selective. I tend to draw a blank during times of injury, and it’s not from being engrammically anaten; rather, I tend to exteriorize when the body is about to get hurt (when I don’t prevent the injury in the first place), because I don’t like or want to experience the pain. The GE probably gets it full force, but I don’t.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

2000: Mark Bunker posted an update this week to his case for allegedly trespassing in the Scientology org in Chicago. “We had a hearing on a motion to dismiss the case because the cops stole the videotaped evidence. The judge denied that motion and set a court date for next February 5. We’ll have a jury trial at that time. Elliot Abelson came up to me after the hearing and said. ‘Doesn’t look good. Not a good sign.'”

 
——————–

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: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— 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 were heard on July 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Petition for writ of mandate denied Oct 22 by Cal 2nd Appellate District. Petition for review by state supreme court filed Oct 30.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Dec 18, re-hearing on motions to compel arbitration; Jan 29, Masterson’s request to stay discovery pending the criminal case
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach tax debt: Eleventh Circuit ruled on Sept 9 that Feshbachs can’t discharge IRS debt in bankruptcy. Nov 18: Feshbachs indicated they will enter into consent judgment to pay the debt.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Second amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021.

Concluded litigation:
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: Trial concluded, Cannane victorious, awarded court costs.
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29. Bond revoked Sep 14. Nobbe dead, Sep 14.
— Jane Doe v. Scientology (in Miami): Jane Doe dismissed the lawsuit on May 15 after the Clearwater Police dropped their criminal investigation of her allegations.

 
——————–

SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

The Australian Seven News network cancelled a 10-part investigation of Scientology and its history of dirty tricks. Read the transcripts of the episodes and judge for yourself why Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis might not have wanted viewers to see this hard-hitting series by journalist Bryan Seymour.

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’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] Guy White opens his big mouth: The former Hubbard family member spills on Scientology!
[TWO years ago] The Valerie Haney interview: Scientology smear tactics, and where Shelly Miscavige is
[THREE years ago] The new list of Scientology donors is out early this year — and the biggest whale is missing!
[FOUR years ago] Amy Scobee: ‘Even on her deathbed, my mom was fighting Scientology and disconnection’
[FIVE years ago] Where it all began for us: Rick Ross, David Koresh, and the Church of Scientology
[SIX years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: An oily and super powered edition of our weekly feature!
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Celebrates its Legal Defense Slush Fund, and What a Party!
[EIGHT years ago] Miscavige Gets His Wish: Marty Rathbun Pulling Up Stakes?
[NINE years ago] Hey, Scientology Celebrity, Here’s Your Media Training Checksheet!
[TEN years ago] Scientology “Dark Ops” Program Exposed, Says Former Top Official
[TWENTY FIVE years ago] Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlatans (the Rick Ross story)

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on November 30, 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, 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

 Kirstie Alley is an oversharer on Twitter, and we try to not to get too caught up in her online drama. She’s crass and comical, and on occasion we see our readers giving her some pretty clever comebacks. But for the most part she merits little more than an eyeroll.

However, during the current national [...]]]>

 
Kirstie Alley is an oversharer on Twitter, and we try to not to get too caught up in her online drama. She’s crass and comical, and on occasion we see our readers giving her some pretty clever comebacks. But for the most part she merits little more than an eyeroll.

However, during the current national unrest, we’ve seen her comporting herself with some real compassion for protesters and those affected by the uprisings.

And then, on Monday, she let her Scientology hang out.

She posted this tweet, along with a 1969 L. Ron Hubbard essay titled “Riots.” And, well, we’ll let you see it in its entirety here…

RIOTS
19 March 1969

Riots are not always caused by economic deprivation.

The bulk of American riots are caused by injustice.

Only the wealthy can afford justice. It may say there must be justice in the Constitution but it can only be obtained in upper courts.

The little fellow doesn’t have a hundred thousand dollars to fight the unjust actions of those in power.

Until there is justice for the little people, not just for the rich, there will be riots. And these riots can easily swell into complete raw red revolution.

A Negro can be innocently standing on a street corner, can be grabbed, beaten, thrown in jail, and worked at hard labor all on some imaginary charge. It may say it can’t be done in the law books, but where’s his $100,000 to take it high enough for action.

I have seen a Filipino university professor hauled in for a nothing, his jaw broken, held without bail, all because he was a Filipino in a white US community (Port Orchard, Washington).

I have seen jails full of men who could not even say what the actual charge against them was — but they worked like dogs every day as convict labor.

As a minister, going amongst the people, I have witnessed enough injustice to overturn a state only waiting for a spark to ignite the suppressed wrath into revolution.

Until justice applies to all, until a person is really assumed innocent until proven guilty, until it no longer costs a tenth of a million to get an upper court, the government is at risk.

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They may be very big, their sweat may have no odor, their arrogance may put them above all others, but the leaders of a nation who for one instant tolerate injustice to their poorest citizens today should have their heads ready for the basket. Another 1789 is boiling up, only waiting for one big spark to flash across the Western world.

Injustice is not something in which any man with power should ever trade. It is not just a sin. It is suicide.

L. Ron Hubbard

 
Reactions to Kirstie’s tweet were precious. Here’s a sample…

 
At least one of her readers defended Alley by saying that she was only partially in Scientology and not really dedicated to it. But that’s certainly not the case.

Kirstie is an OT 8 and fully committed to the Scientology cause. We have a feeling that she’d be quoting Hubbard a lot more frequently if she could get away with it.

As for Hubbard’s relatively generous attitude toward the oppressed classes in this essay, we’ll remind you about some of the statements he made a few years earlier in a 1960 lecture on the political situation in South Africa. (Hubbard was a staunch supporter of the apartheid regime and described Scientology as a “rightist” organization to the country’s prime minister.)

“I’m not against the black man. As a matter of fact, I’m probably more friendly towards the black man than any person in this audience.”

“Right now you tell me, well, the government of South Africa does not permit the black man a vote. He doesn’t even know what a vote is!”

“Blacks kill off the Blacks. And all you’ve got to do is pull a stable government off the top of them and they promptly start killing each other off.”

“The present administration does not permit an Indian or a white tradesman in a Bantu area. Does that sound like oppression?”

“You can’t understand anything about the Bantu by understanding anything about the American black man. The American black man in the first place has been mixed with Indian and white blood over a period of a couple of centuries or less, but has actually been in close proximity to the white man and white land civilization for a century or two, you see.”

“As far from being a police state — they’re not even half as tough as the American cops.”

“I’d say they’ve got about 50 years to go before they get the South African Bantu up to the same status and level of civilization of the American Black.”

“The Bantu doesn’t register the same on an E-meter as a White, and I have had to start a whole program of research in addition to everything else I’ve been doing, trying to find out how to read a Bantu on an E-meter. Because he doesn’t operate like an American Negro or like a European.”

“I’m not actually trying to sell you the South African government. I could easily do so because I consider these men very able from what I have seen. They’re nice guys. I know them personally.”

“The press has ceased to be factual, has ceased to be a reporting medium and has become a propaganda media throughout the world.”

And keep in mind, as an OT 8 Scientologist, Kirstie considers these utterances by Hubbard to be scripture.

What a world.

 
——————–

A simple observation

On May 20, the Los Angeles City Council formally accepted a $20,000 donation from the Church of Scientology that had been solicited by the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood Division.

On June 2, with rioting threatening to harm local businesses, the Hollywood Division forms a protective ring around Scientology’s management headquarters in the Hollywood Guaranty Building.

 
Draw your own conclusions.

 
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Source Code

“One of the things which I am very pleased to announce immediately is that we have seldom failed in recent months to raise the intelligence quotient of any individual undergoing 25 hours of processing, at least 10 points. And for those who have undergone as much as 75 hours of processing, we have raised it as much as 35 points and consider it routine 25 points. This is something that has never happened before, and therefore it is an important thing that we take a look at this. According to psychology, this is an impossibility — completely impossible.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 3, 1955

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“We have made it clear from the onset that we are Scientologists who are all about Ron’s brand. If people want to hear lies about the Founder, or natter about other Scientologists or staff — then this is not the place to frequent. If they do want to hear about standard delivery in the field, the training of auditors, the unsnarling of out-tech, and the resolution and debunking of technical and administrative arbitraries, then yes, we can provide information.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“There’s no shortage of angry disaffected white people in this country. It’s scary.”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Jay Spina: Sentencing was set for April 3 in White Plains
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members: Trial set for October 7 in Los Angeles

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Waiting for an appellate decision from 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: July 8 (plaintiff attorneys pro hac vice), August 31-Sept 1 (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.

 
——————–

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] Reader, can you help this father who wants to keep his son out of Scientology?
[TWO years ago] The US government continues to fret over how other countries treat Scientology
[THREE years ago] Scientology to federal court: A judge calling our members directly? Are you nuts?
[FOUR years ago] ‘Ross & Carrie’ conclude their Scientology investigation by calling it ‘ridiculously creepy’
[FIVE years ago] Scientology routed: What the national press hasn’t figured out about the Trout Run defeat
[SIX years ago] Federal judge again declines to intervene for Ken Dandar, but leaves a door open
[SEVEN years ago] L. Ron Hubbard Intends to Rid You Of a 43-Trillion-Year-Old Implant. What Was That Like?
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Wins a Major Award Again! Galaxy Press Vindicated!
[NINE years ago] Jan Eastgate, Scientology Official, Arrested in Australia for Covering Up Sexual Abuse Claims

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on June 3, 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

 Rod Keller keeps his eye on Scientology front group operations, and he landed a doozie this week…

There are two main fires in California, the Camp Fire that destroyed most of the town of Paradise in Northern California and the Woolsey Fire in the south that destroyed over 1,500 structures in Ventura and Los Angeles before [...]]]>

 
Rod Keller keeps his eye on Scientology front group operations, and he landed a doozie this week…

There are two main fires in California, the Camp Fire that destroyed most of the town of Paradise in Northern California and the Woolsey Fire in the south that destroyed over 1,500 structures in Ventura and Los Angeles before it was contained. As usual Scientology is offering their services through the Volunteer Ministers and this week they tried to boost their numbers with the power of celebrity.

 
Scientologist Kirstie Alley recorded a “call to action” to encourage Scientologists to volunteer to help victims of the Camp Fire. It’s unusual in that she asks people to call either the VMs or the Salvation Army. Scientology established itself in a Walmart parking lot tent city and have been coordinating with the Salvation Army center at another location in the city of Chico.

 
Scientologists are being asked to volunteer in large numbers because there are reports that relief organizations want “assists,” faith-healing routines created by L. Ron Hubbard to address a wide variety of conditions. The call is going out for volunteers in the hundreds, but the response is in the dozens. We take the stories that everybody wants Scientology assists with a grain of salt.

 
Chico and Riverpark Mission Holder Tree Nebeker has been asking Scientologists for help…

We have completed our tasks at the first beachhead – Walmart Tent/Evac City where we did so much good work. Properly the officials are now able to get most evacuees into a shelter and out of the element thus the need for that set up is done and we have moved on. OUR TENT is now at the Fire Base Camp and the firefighters want us!!! And need us. So we need you up there for that. We also have venues for those who want to work directly with evacuees by helping the Salvation Army at its operation.

So much more to come and so much more to do. We easily can keep 100 VM’s busy. No BS. But 20 at Fire camp is true. And another 50 right now at the Distrib Center is true. So do not be shy. Contact us to get on the grid.

We will need massive amounts of high confront, and will train up what is needed, pairs of VMs who will be working in the streets and in centers and up at the disaster site with the survivors giving emotional spiritual support – a Chaplain-like action – (has to be in pairs) – to assist them in getting re-introduced to their “town” and “homes” etc… so stand by .. something fricking exciting is in the works on that … need more organized, but you can get ready and be ready to fire if you would be into this hat. Imagine yourself in this situation and how much you would need someone to talk to.

The comm below just came out from Int Mgt and is exactly the case on the ground.

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Firemen have requested assists at the fire bases for their firemen. Firemen at the Camp Fire in the Chico area have requested at least 20 more VMs to deliver assists to the firemen fighting these deadly fires. We must help these first responders so they can prevent the fire from spreading even further. The Salvation Army has requested another 50 VMs right now to help handle evacuees.

In addition to performing assists and distributing the usual packs of toiletries, VMs have been helping residents “ash out,” which means sifting through the remains of a burned house to find a few possessions that can be salvaged. It’s grim work, but it doesn’t cost Scientology anything.

 
Scientologists are being urged to donate to the IAS by celebrity Jeff Pomerantz. Members might think more of his career than outside observers, but Pomerantz has been a working TV actor since the 1950s in soap operas and police dramas. As reported by Jeffrey Augustine last week Kerri Kasem has been a volunteer in Chico, but neither Pomerantz nor Kirstie Alley have been spotted on the scene as volunteers.

The celebrity that did make the news this week for helping in Chico was not a Scientologist. Celebrity TV chef Guy Fieri spent Thanksgiving cooking 7,000 pounds of turkey for firefighters. Fieri held a similar meal two weeks ago at nearby Butte College, and also fed over 5,000 people per day during the Carr Fire in July. He grew up in the area and had his start in the restaurant business nearby.

 
Ever drawn to celebrity, Scientology offered to distribute the leftovers of Fieri’s meal for firefighters to nearby evacuees. If they wanted to, Scientology could feed 5,000 people per day by themselves. They ask for leftovers from Guy Fieri because the VM program is designed to maximize visibility while minimizing cost. Ashing out, touch assists, dollar store hygiene kits and distributing leftovers – these things cost very little.

 
Guy Fieri outshines the entire VM program with his humanitarian efforts. While he cooks literally tons of turkey for firefighters, Scientologists are urged to bring a pie or cake to the Chico Mission. Charity by the spoonful is better than no charity at all, but Scientology wants to be known as a great humanitarian force without devoting the resources that would make a difference.

 
— Rod Keller

 
——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

We’re building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs.’ We’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them, in order to build a record and maintain a watch as Scientology continues its inexorable decline — and yes, we finally have comments working on these new pages! 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!

Today’s Scientology front: Freedom magazine!

 
——————–

Now on sale: Twice the Miss Lovely!

 
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. What a pleasure it is for us to work with her on this after we wrote about her ordeal as a victim of Scientology’s “Fair Game” campaigns in our 2015 book, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, which is also on sale in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions.

 
——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] After a landmark court case, Scientology watchers should be celebrating, not sniping
[TWO years ago] That time when Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard didn’t invent surfing in California
[THREE years ago] Lisa McPherson and the doctors: Hamstrung by the ‘spiritual’ needs of a thetan
[FOUR years ago] Scientology Armageddon: Now Sears — yes, Sears — is piling on the embattled church
[FIVE years ago] SCIENTOLOGY DECLARES ACTRESS LEAH REMINI A “SUPPRESSIVE PERSON”
[SIX years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology Braces for the Holidays!

 
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——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on November 25, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes 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 book, 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, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
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

Other links: 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

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

Kirstie Alley has finally gone OT 8!

Wow, this is big news. We learned about it from a tipster who sent us pages from the newest issue of Scientology’s “Freewinds” magazine, about its private cruise ship of the same name.

In the magazine, there’s an article about Kirstie making her first-ever [...]]]>

Kirstie Alley has finally gone OT 8!

Wow, this is big news. We learned about it from a tipster who sent us pages from the newest issue of Scientology’s “Freewinds” magazine, about its private cruise ship of the same name.

In the magazine, there’s an article about Kirstie making her first-ever trip on the vessel, which the church has been operating since 1988. The Freewinds sails the Caribbean, and it’s the only place where wealthy Scientologists can reach the ultimate step on the “Bridge to Total Freedom,” an auditing level known as Operating Thetan Level Eight or OT 8.

In recent years, in a sign that not enough people are signing up for the OT 8 cruise, we’ve seen the church advertise a lot of other “seminars” and course packages that church members can purchase for a week or two on the ship. But what it’s really known for is that OT 8 experience, which culminates with a special “graduation” featuring the new Operating Thetans giving a speech.

We’ve seen what those speeches are like — not long ago we showed you one from 1989 which was recently dug up — and we sure wish we could see what Kirstie had to say at her event. But the article gives us a hint of it.

Calling herself a “Scientology Freedom Fighter,” she celebrated her “confront” with her fellow OT 8 graduates.

“Confront basically means having a person look at what is in front of them, not shy away or blank out or pretend they are seeing something else. To face it,” says Sunny Pereira, one of our tech experts.

Former Sea Org official Marc Headley has estimated that it costs a typical Scientologist between $500,000 and $2 million to get all the way up the Bridge and through OT 8 — which accounts not only for course fees and auditing prices, but also for accommodations at Scientology facilities and for the constant pressure of fundraising.

But what a result! Scientologists yearn to get all the way to OT 8 because that’s when the superhuman powers are really supposed to kick in. Kirstie Alley should now be able to leave her body at will and travel anywhere she wants as an invisible thetan while experiencing “full perception.” She should also have the power to affect matter only by thinking about it, as well as the benefits of total recall, perfect vision, and raised IQ, just to name some of her hard-won abilities.

Does this mean her acting career might get back on track? Shouldn’t that be within the power of an OT 8?

Hey, so what’s actually in OT 8? Well, when it first came out back in May 1988, it was truly bizarre, but that version only lasted a few months. What Kirstie just went through is known as “New OT 8,” and it’s less strange in some ways, but on the other hand, it’s quite a slap in the face for the Scientologists who experience it, as Leah Remini helped expose on her A&E show’s last season.

Well, we sure hope Kirstie gets asked about becoming a superhuman Scientologist by the next reporter she talks to. Or to Howard Stern. Whatever. We can hardly wait to see what she can tell us about the life of an Operating Thetan!

“I think the most exciting thing about her completing the level is she is now a perfect example of the product of Scientology. She represents everything that can be accomplished in Scientology. It’s worth celebrating!” Sunny says.

And wow, that’s a great point. Kirstie Alley, at OT 8, is now the pinnacle of Scientology perfection. Let’s see what she does with it, shall we?

Here’s the article…

The Freewinds is the only place in the universe where you can reach the top of the Bridge — New OT VIII. But regardless of your case level, when you set sail you are setting your course for the top of the Bridge. Traveling on a ship filled with like-minded souls, far from the cares of the outside world, immersed in an OT atmosphere, not only offers inspiration but also instruction on how to progress in every area of your life. And nowhere is that more on display than at our weekly graduations.

Recently, acclaimed actress Kirstie Alley embarked on her first voyage on the Freewinds. “This was a magical journey from the moment I stepped on the Ship,” she said.

In the weeks leading up to the culmination of her journey — when she attested to New OT VIII — she took to heart the words of those who reached the pinnacle of the Bridge. As she recalled from the stage after receiving her certificate: “I’ve seen many New OT VIIIs attest at graduation. How new and shiny they felt and how their desire to help others had taken huge strides. I wanted to be like them! I wanted to feel shiny and new too!”

Her trademark humor was on display as she told her fellow passengers and crew, “I feel so eternally sorry for each of you having to handle a drama queen such as myself, I owe you all big time!”

Rising to the top of the Bridge was a challenge, she said, one that required her to raise her confront to a whole new level. No surprise to us, she was more than up for the challenge. “Now here I stand a New OT VIII shiny, fresh and calm… well, as calm as a thetan like me can be. I am more confident than ever before. And here’s the big news. I now fully have the confront that puts me right up that damn confront scale with other Scientology Freedom Fighters!”

Congratulations, Kirstie!

 
UPDATE: Hey, what about Tom? We’re already getting questions about whether this puts Kirstie ahead of Tom Cruise on the Bridge. That’s a good question.

In 2004, when Cruise was celebrated with a 35-minute video and then a “Freedom Medal of Valor” by his buddy, Scientology leader David Miscavige, during that video the narrator refers to Cruise as “OT 7.”

We have found no evidence in Scientology publications that Cruise has gone on to complete OT 8. However, Aaron Smith-Levin once insisted to us that if Cruise finished OT 7 (which is actually the toughest level to complete) then he would have been required to immediately begin the process of starting OT 8.

Sunny Pereira, on the other hand, says that isn’t necessarily true: “It is recommended (for the pocket-book aspect) to go straight onto OT 8 from OT 7, but it is not required.”

We had evidence that Kirstie completed OT 7 in 2015, and it’s taken her that long to get around to finishing the relatively easier OT 8. With Cruise, we just don’t know for sure that he also has taken the cruise on the Freewinds, as it were.

 
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Helping Ginger Sugerman

In case you missed it yesterday, a GoFundMe website is raising money for former Scientologist Ginger Sugerman, who is recovering from being shot in the face. Last night, the amount raised largely by readers here at the Underground Bunker surpassed $3,000.

She had a message for the Bunker: “Anything is helpful at this point, and I just feel very grateful that you guys have helped me out. You are angels.”

 
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SMERSH Madness 2018

Today we’re continuing with the second round of our big dance featuring the people we think are working hardest to defend Scientology against its enemies. These are not only Scientologists, but also the people who enable the church as it works against its foes. Which of them do you think deserves the most recognition for Keeping Scientology Working, spreading disconnection, and litigating former Scientologists into the ground?

Well, it seems a little unfair, but it just so happens that today’s match features our #4 seed, actress Kirstie Alley! And now that she’s gone OT 8, Kirstie not only can talk smack on Twitter all day, but she can actually go exterior, travel through the Intertubes, emerge invisibly from your smartphone, and kick your ass if you disagree with her! Kirstie has emerged over the last couple of years as one of the most outspoken celebrities, and we think it has definitely been a result of her being taken aback at the defection of her former friend, actress Leah Remini. Kirstie’s been badmouthing Leah ever since, but she often ends up putting her Twitter foot in her mouth. Now that she’s reached the top of the Bridge, will she become even more of a “Scientology Freedom Fighter”? We can hardly wait to find out.

Kirstie’s taking on our #20 seed, Scientology attorney Kendrick Moxon, who defeated private investigator Dave Lubow in the first round. Moxon’s credentials as a Scientology henchman go way back — he was even an unindicted co-conspirator in the Snow White prosecutions of the late 1970s that sent 11 top church officials to prison for taking part in the country’s largest domestic espionage scheme. Years later, Moxon really didn’t appreciate it when we discovered that he was still doing questionable things with documents on behalf of the church in our story about his battle with lawyer Graham Berry. And of course, Moxon was intimately involved in Scientology’s sneaky operation that resulted in the church taking over one of its most bitter enemies, the Cult Awareness Network. This guy sure gets around.

Who deserves to move on as champions of Scientology? Who has done more to perpetuate the church’s reputation in this time of crisis? Cast your votes!

 
Yesterday’s winner: Monique Yingling crushed Bodhi Elfman!

 
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Make your plans now!

Head over to our HowdyCon 2018 website to start making your travel plans!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on March 21, 2018 at 07:00

E-mail tips and story ideas to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We post behind-the-scenes 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 book, 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, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…

BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
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

Other links: 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

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