Sinéad O’Connor’s death at the age of 56 has produced an outpouring of tributes to her as a transformative artist and political figure, as well as moving portraits of her struggles with mental illness, something she was more open about than most. (See, for example, this superb [...]]]>

Sinéad O’Connor’s death at the age of 56 has produced an outpouring of tributes to her as a transformative artist and political figure, as well as moving portraits of her struggles with mental illness, something she was more open about than most. (See, for example, this superb piece by Margaret Spillane.)

Last week we began to hear about an encounter that she had with Scientologists in Ireland about a decade ago. And it turned out that O’Connor herself provided some evidence that what we were hearing actually did take place. But in order to tell this story, we are not revealing the identity of our source, whom we will call Emily.

—

Emily had only recently broken up with the man who was the father of her son when she first met Jack (not his real name).

“I was just out from being with my son’s dad,” she says, explaining that one result of being on her own was that she had obtained a computer and was making her first forays on the Internet.

“Jack was one of the first people I’d ever met online,” she says. “We met on MySpace.”

Emily was in her early 30s, Jack about ten years older.

And one of the first things she learned about him was that he was a Scientologist.

Emily knew almost nothing about it, but she soon learned that Jack considered himself a higher kind of being, and that he expected her to get involved in Scientology too.

“The very first time I met him he told me he was a demigod.”

He told her that she needed to do the Communication Course at the Dublin Mission, and she began a tumultuous relationship both with Jack and with the church.

She describes an unequal relationship that today she realizes was unhealthy. But after the breakup with her son’s father, she was feeling lost.

She lived some distance away from Dublin, and so she’d wait for Jack to come out on weekends, and accepted his criticisms of her “reactive mind” and other shortcomings that he described in Scientology jargon.

“If Jack said the sky was pink, I’d have believed it must have been my fault,” she says. Looking back, she cringes at the way she blamed herself for any problems in the relationship and craved Jack’s attention as a form of approval.

“I always felt like he was better than I was. More intelligent and stronger. And if I could just get rid of my Reactive Mind, then things would be better. He would tell me that anything that I struggled with here and now was because I’d probably done worse in my previous lives, and that had stuck with me from that very first phone conversation he and I had. When I met him and he explained some of Scientology to me, I believed him. We did argue, but he’d win most of the arguments every time because he was Clear and I was not.”

Then, about three years into their relationship, Jack came out to see her for the weekend, and it had gone about the same as the other times through Friday and Saturday nights.

Then, on Sunday, just a couple of hours before he was scheduled to head back to the city, he said something that stunned her.

“By the way,” he said, “I’m going to meet Sinéad O’Connor on Friday.”

Confused, she remembers asking, “What do you mean?”

He said that the singer had said publicly that she had joined a dating site in order to meet men, and he had sought her out.

In March 2012, at her website O’Connor made the announcement about how to reach her: “This is to let you all know before anyone else does that I have now officially joined the dating site known as PlentyOfFish.com (or pof) under the username of VeryCareful1 and invite anyone interested to view my profile.”

Jack said he had taken O’Connor up on it.

“He was bragging that he had gotten her to meet him,” Emily says. “I was so upset. He already had so many things over me.”

Jack said he’d arranged to meet O’Connor after she performed in Dublin Friday night.

Emily remembers that she wondered what she had done wrong to cause this, and how she could fix it.

“I asked him, ‘Tell me what to do,’” and she pauses to think about it. “It’s so sad to think I said that.”

If she was bewildered at the time, in hindsight Emily thinks she understands Jack’s motivations now.

“I think his aim was to meet someone famous. He had said he deserved to know famous people. I think his plan was to bring her in to Scientology and then he would get all the praise that he believed he deserved.”

About a week later, Emily remembers, Jack told her about his meeting with the singer, which ended up back at her hotel room.

“He said he had met her and had a good time, but that her guitar player was better looking,” she says, adding how much his comments disgust her now.

“His exact words were ‘I could destroy her.’ He was referring to her taking medication for her mental health. I took it to mean that he could destroy her mentally and emotionally,” she says.

With her own relationship in trouble, Emily also worried about what could happen to O’Connor. At that point, she says, she reached out to someone she was not supposed to communicate with, someone who had not only left Scientology but who was very vocal about it.

A man named Pete Griffiths.

With her own doubts in Scientology growing, Emily had begun reaching out to other people who had left, which had gotten her in trouble with the people at the mission.

She describes her time in Scientology as a troubled series of comings and goings, and constantly being in trouble, what Scientologists refer to as being “in ethics.” This time, she was careful to be quiet about what she was doing.

“All I could do was hope that Pete would somehow be able to tell Sinéad to stay as far away from them as possible,” she says.

“I can’t recall what I found in the end, whether it was a direct email or her record company or management but I dashed off a message pronto,” Pete says, confirming Emily’s story. “It went along the lines of, ‘You don’t know me and I hate to intrude into your privacy but I was recently alarmed to hear that you have been developing a friendship with [Jack] who is a known Scientologist who is boasting that he is going to recruit you into the cult. This would be a terrible thing to happen to anyone and I am simply warning you that you are being targeted by this person. Once again I apologize for the invasion and I hope you will respect my concerns for your safety. Yours etc.’.”

Pete and Emily aren’t aware if O’Connor ever got the message, but Emily said that Jack eventually told her that he had changed his mind about bringing O’Connor into Scientology.

“I got it from him and from my auditor that she wasn’t welcome in Scientology because of her psychiatric medication.”

About a month after Jack first announced that he was going to meet O’Connor, on April 14, 2012, Sinéad herself published a new blog post in the form of a long letter to Bob Dylan. In it, she makes a reference to a man that is clearly Jack.

“I met another really nice man.. But he says he is going back with his wonderful girl friend.. Who he has probably actually been with all the time, now that I think of it. Also says I could never ‘be the woman’ for him as he doesn’t believe in mental illness or psychiatric drugs and I have the milder form of bi polar disorder and take meds.. But get this.. He’d like to keep coming round to make love with me.. I almost admire him for his honesty. Anyway.. The plight of a million women…”

What did Emily think of Jack coming back to her after his tryst?

“I was relieved. It’s sad now, but that’s how I thought then. I was glad he was coming back. I’m glad that he didn’t get Sinéad into Scientology. They would have hurt her. I think.”

She screenshotted O’Connor’s blog post with the reference to Jack and has kept it ever since.

“I remember reading that and checking the news and listening to all her songs that year like a total stalker just to see how I could be more like her and if he was still meeting her.”

Her relationship with Jack was soon over, however, and eventually, so was her affiliation with Scientology, but not after she was told that she was making a grave mistake.

“Jack said, you’ll be dead within six months of leaving Scientology.” And another Scientologist, referring to her growing friendships with Griffiths and other ex-church members, told her that if she continued to talk to them, “You might as well kill yourself.”

Emily shared with us several emails from her Scientology handlers, who did their best to convince her that she was making a big mistake by leaving and associating with people like Griffiths.

“Scientology is perfect and it works. Scientologists are not perfect but we will persist until we are all Clear and flawless. I assure you, the planet has no other chance…I advise you to stop talking with anybody who is entheta and is against Scientology because they have their own ax to grind. Hubbard researched this and proved it,” her auditor emailed her.

But she put Scientology behind her, and has remained out of it.

Just recently, she and Jack communicated again for the first time in years.

Jack told her that although he is no longer practicing Scientology, he still respects the ideas of L. Ron Hubbard.

“I have no Lord and no Saviour. We are all fractals of Source, the All that is. We are all infinite Creating beings. Our individual Beingness/consciousness/I Am Presence/thetan is not created. It always was. We are part of all creation, before time, before matter. We enter into this physical realm, and we adopt and grow a collection of bodies or fields which are possessions. The Physical. The Mental body. The Emotional body. The etheric body. We continue our journey of experience challenge, learning and expanding. As we do Source expands. At some point the body will expire, but we continue as we always have, and we can re-enter this earth realm or others to continue the adventure and game,” he wrote her.

Emily said she is reassured to see that Jack is still a demigod.

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“Injured children respond best to touch assists and to locational ‘Where did you fall?’ ‘Where are you now?’ etc repetitive until child is well. For an unwilling child use short sessions (as short as two minutes) but always begin and end the session complete with goals and PT Problem query. For a bad-off child use CCH 1 and 2; these are heroic but effective. They require a very skilled auditor and no interference. Give the child the dignity of real sessions. And when a child flips to trying to audit you as a turnabout, let him. Remember that if you spoil Scientology for a child with bad auditing you may close the door on the only way out he’ll have in this life.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1959

 
——————–

THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.

 
——————–

THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

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

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

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

— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond

[18] Trial special with Chris Shelton [19] Trial week one [20] Marc Headley on the spy in the hallway [21] Trial week two [22] Trial week three [23] Trial week four [24] Leah Remini on LAPD Corruption [25] Mike Rinder 2022 Thanksgiving Special [26] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part One [27] Jane Doe 4 (Tricia Vessey), Part Two [28] Claire Headley on the trial [29] Tory Christman [30] Bruce Hines on spying [31] Karen de la Carriere [32] Ron Miscavige on Shelly Miscavige [33] Karen de la Carriere on the L’s [34] Mark Bunker on Miscavige hiding [35] Mark Plummer [36] Mark Ebner [37] Karen Pressley [38] Steve Cannane [39] Fredrick Brennan [40] Clarissa Adams [41] Louise Shekter [42] John Sweeney [43] Tory Christman [44] Kate Bornstein [45] Christian Stolte [46] Mark Bunker [47] Jon Atack [48] Luke Y. Thompson [49] Mark Ebner

 
——————–

Source Code

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

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

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

——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“I’m ready to argue that anything as attacked and vilified as Scientology must be a pretty damned effective spiritual technology. As a comparison, look at the ineffective crap that the media and general public ARE willing to rally around – psychiatric medications, for example. I just got out of session, and it was a good and productive session. Somebody totally ARC-broken with Scientology should have their ruds flown, by themselves if they are solo trained, by someone else if they are not. Sitting in a huge ARC break for years and years, or for decades – what kind of nonsense is that?”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1995: Ted Mayett, former Scientologist, has been attempting to get a refund from the Las Vegas org, and has taken the unusual step of attempting to picket their location.
“The picket reads: They Lie About Money. When I arrived at the building there were five cars parked there. I park across the street and through the glass storefront I look at them and they look at me as I approach. And now I’m right in front of the glass, on the property, as I proceed to unsling and untie the picket. Before I get off the property. You may find this hard to believe. The door opens and one of them comes flying out. And it’s the DSA Las Vegas. She happened to be there. Well, the picket never happened. We stood in the heat for an hour, this woman and I. I do not mention her name because I am not sure of the legality of it. Ted, what is the problem? You are being fed lies, this entire church is built on lies. She wants to know what lies. These people are truly brain dead. I tell her the people in this building alone have lied to me five times regarding this money. One of the boys comes out with a check for $500.00. I had already declined another partial payment, told them it was no big deal. That when they had the full amount I would be right out here and they could give it to me. Now I have two of them asking me to take the five hundred and not picket. I said yes and that I would be back Tue. for the balance. The said they would not have the balance by then. I said no problem, five hundred a day would keep me from picketing. But not less.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

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

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody. Sentencing on Sep 7.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Trial scheduled for August 15.
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs allowed interlocutory appeal to Eleventh Circuit.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place at least through sentencing of Masterson on Sep 7.
— Jane Doe 1 v. Scientology, David Miscavige, and Gavin Potter: Case unsealed and second amended complaint filed. Next hearing August 1.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Ordered to mediation.

 
——————–

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH

An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.

SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

 
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Former Scientology flak Tommy Davis potential witness in foreign-agent trial of Trump pal
[TWO years ago] Evidence from Danny Masterson’s preliminary hearing aired on KABC Ch 7 in Los Angeles
[THREE years ago] Clearwater Police release reports from closed Scientology child sex abuse investigation
[FOUR years ago] Scientologists behaving badly: What’s prison time to a trillion-year-old thetan?
[FIVE years ago] Proof that the US government has all it needs to act on Scientology — and it has for 50 years
[SIX years ago] ‘Scientology and the Aftermath’: Mike Rinder answers a few of our questions after TCA win
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s sneaky anti-psychiatry front has found a new way to target kids in Florida
[EIGHT years ago] How Scientology sets up its members to find themselves helpless in court
[NINE years ago] Camilla Andersson on Tom Cruise, and a gift for the Scientologist who has everything!
[TEN years ago] Prepare to Be Audited: Claire Headley Takes Us Through Scientology’s “ARC Straightwire”
[ELEVEN years ago] Scientology’s Recruitment Film: The Version They Don’t Want You to See
[TWELVE years ago] Scientology Goons Exposed: “Make Marty’s Life a Living Hell”

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 7, 2023 at 07:00

E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

 On a recent post of Scientology’s success stories from Advance! magazine, Pete Griffiths spotted a name he recognized…

I see that Siobhan Ryan has reached the OTV rung on the ladder to total oblivion.

Poor girl.

I never really knew her other than that her name was on the official government paperwork making her responsible for the Scientology [...]]]>

 
On a recent post of Scientology’s success stories from Advance! magazine, Pete Griffiths spotted a name he recognized…

I see that Siobhan Ryan has reached the OTV rung on the ladder to total oblivion.

Poor girl.

I never really knew her other than that her name was on the official government paperwork making her responsible for the Scientology accounts, always at least a year late and also highly inaccurate. I knew of an amount that had been paid into the mission in a certain year and it never showed up in the accounts. Way to go you ethical beings of great integrity.

I was more acquainted with her husband Alan who I met at Saint Hill in 1987 while I was training to be an executive. He was pretty new to the subject as was I. We used to hang out at break times and drink coffee or smoke or whatever, and a few of us would stand around in a group discussing whatever we felt like but usually how wonder the tech was.

One particular day I was extolling the virtues of study tech and marveling at its simplicity. I mean really, if you don’t know the meaning of a word, look it up. During one such conversation Alan asked quite enthusiastically if I had ever tried speed reading. I had no idea what that was so asked him and it turns out it was exactly what it sounds like. You just skim over your material., he said. I asked, what about looking up words? He said you don’t do that.

I stated somewhat hesitantly that I wasn’t sure that was ethical or on-policy and he just shrugged it off. Fast forward to a few years ago on the streets of Dublin. I bumped into Alan and was trying to reach him and get him to wognite. I said, we always got along pretty well, why won’t you listen to what I have to say? I can save you time and money.

He replied with a sneer, “You tried to get me speed reading!”

I said, …but that was you!

He insisted that I had tried to get him speed reading and therefore I was always an SP. To this day the memory of this leaves me shaking my head in disbelief. He had somehow in true Scientologist fashion assumed control over matter, energy, space and time, by making it all up, twisting facts and believing in his version of events.

Poor guy.

— Pete Griffiths

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“In December of 1957 the first Clear was made by another than myself. This was the gain. This was the fruit of the years. Now we can have many clears. We can have thousands of clears. And if we can have that, we can have a civilization.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1958

 
——————–

THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links as Danny faces a potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison. NOW WITH TRIAL INDEX.

 
——————–

THE PODCAST: How many have you heard?

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

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

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

— The first Danny Masterson trial and beyond

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

 
——————–

Source Code

“The Romans were very kind; the early Christian was very, very cruel. So now we find out the Romans were very cruel and the early Christians were very kind. But the records don’t bear this out. Now, as far as survival is concerned, if you want to survive, I guess, be cruel. I suppose that’s the most short-term method of survival. But it’s not any long-term method of survival. But being kind and being ineffective, of course, is a fast way to the electric chair; it is a fast way to insolvency; it’s a fast way to bankruptcy of all kinds and descriptions; it’s a fast way to the death chamber and the cemetery. And more important to us, it is a fast way to oblivion on the whole track, being very kind.” — L. Ron Hubbard, June 15, 1961

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“We have an overnight trip to our next port and arrive at 0700 hrs. Wake ups to be done at 0615 hrs so that ALL Condition I are on post by 0700, not just my Org Officer and I. A rapid turnout is expected. As it usually takes us more than an hour to enter, dock, neat up lines and secure to breakfast, Dept III must arrange to have coffee and rolls ready, at 0615 for Cond I to give ’em some vittles so they can lift hawsers and fenders. Have a good day.” — Lt. N.F. Starkey, Captain Apollo, June 15, 1971

——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“There is one other State of Being above OT – it is a True Static. So stay the course as things are about to change and all the hopes and dreams of what we once believed – in and with Scientology – are not only about to be realized but be surpassed.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1998: NBC’s news program Dateline aired a story this week on Bob Minton, a critic of Scientology who is funding a variety of cases and opponents of the cult. From a transcript of the show: “BOB MINTON: The more I got involved, the more frightening the organization as a whole became to me. JOHN HOCKENBERRY: Are you nuts? BOB MINTON: A lot of people would question my insanity on that score. HOCKENBERRY: Do you have any evidence that they’re really evil and destructive? BOB MINTON: Yes. Shattered lives, broken families, mental fragility. VOICEOVER: Minton has funded lawsuits, rescued an anti-cult organization, given weary defendants and broken-down activists the means to fight on. To date, he’s handed out more than 1.7 million of his own dollars to some of Scientology’s harshest critics. HOCKENBERRY: That’s a lot of money. BOB MINTON: It is. But keep in mind that in this, in this battle with Scientology, I’m the little guy. Scientology are the big guys.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“My dad grew up dirt poor during the Depression and he would eat a jar of pig’s knuckles in one sitting as well as all kinds of other ungodly shit.”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Found guilty on two counts on May 31, remanded to custody.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Grand jury indictments include charges from an assault while in custody. Trial scheduled for August 15.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for June 26 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud.

Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Forced to arbitration. Plaintiffs asking permission for interlocutory appeal.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’
— 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 June 28.
— 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?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Ukrainian refugees might think twice about Scientology offering ‘help’
[TWO years ago] What lessons from the Nxivm prosecution should Scientology watchers take?
[THREE years ago] DONE SIR: Scientology leader David Miscavige caught flattering himself for virus PR ploy
[FOUR years ago] Spend hundreds of thousands on Scientology, and the rain will part for you!
[FIVE years ago] First person: In Scientology, children are punished for being kids
[SIX years ago] Marty Rathbun, Victoria Britton has a question for you about Scientology and judges
[SEVEN years ago] Wacky scenes from Scientology’s ‘Battlefield Earth’ launch on Hollywood Boulevard
[EIGHT years ago] The Scientology spy who came in from the cold: Len Zinberg, who apologized to Paulette Cooper
[NINE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Valley rocks as the fundraising rolls ever onward
[TEN years ago] OT Powers: Jon Atack on Scientology’s Promise to Make You Superhuman
[ELEVEN years ago] VIDEO: Watch Sacto Mayor and Former NBA Star Kevin Johnson Suck Up to Scientology
[TWELVE years ago] Inside Scientology Promises a Lot, and Delivers

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 15, 2023 at 07:00

E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.

Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2022 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2022), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…

Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.

Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele

 

Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

 

Tony Ortega at Rolling Stone

 I’m not totally certain when I began to get OT wins, but I knew when I first came across them that I had to get me some of that wondrous stuff.

It began innocuously enough with my desiring something rather minor — but quite unattainable — and then I somehow attained it. Gaining more time was [...]]]>

 
I’m not totally certain when I began to get OT wins, but I knew when I first came across them that I had to get me some of that wondrous stuff.

It began innocuously enough with my desiring something rather minor — but quite unattainable — and then I somehow attained it. Gaining more time was a common one, when I was late for a very important date. Finding milk in the org fridge when there was never, ever any was another minor miracle. Or teabags. Or coffee. Or sugar. Or toilet paper. Everyone was broke, and yet the next person through that door bought a book. Obviously, I had OT powers.

When body routing outside the org, I must have postulated a thousand times that the next passerby would respond to my, “Come and do a free personality test!” I would estimate that one in a hundred, or less, did so. Them postulates don’t always stick.

My reactive mind was like a huge sleeping dinosaur, probably a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and I had been poking it with a stick and now it was slowly waking up and was pretty angry about being disturbed but I was ready for it. Look out, Reactive Mind, you are going down. I was buzzing on something like a drug in those early days.

Once I had completed my Dianetics auditor training and they let me loose on my own pre-clears, I began to imagine that I could picture everything they told me, only it was a mirror image of what they were looking at. I put this to the test by asking questions like, is that to your right? And if they said yes, I would gloat as I was obviously seeing what they were seeing in reverse. If they said no, I would vainly consider that they were getting it wrong as I could see their mental image pictures better than they could. I was able to envisage the outcome of incidents before the pre-clear even mentioned them. I was getting good at this.

Going to Saint Hill, Scientology’s UK headquarters, really opened up this area of OT wins as I met people who regularly communicated with all the disembodied spirits that were hovering around the place. These thetans clearly knew by instinct that this was the place where they might find the freedom that they were supposedly seeking.

I tried and tried to postulate a few quid so I could buy some food but that never happened. When I complained to my Executive Director about my lack of pay he suggested that I go to the Stables and eat with the Sea Orgers. He assured me that they wouldn’t mind in the least. I opened the door and it was like one of those scenes in a movie when the whole place goes silent and everybody looks at you. It had been pretty noisy with spoons and forks scraping at the rice on the plates and then deadly quiet as they all froze in mid-mouthful and just looked at me. No way. I’m not putting up with this, I’d rather starve. I left and as I walked away I heard the scraping spoons and forks start up again.

One lovely Sea Org girl told me how her husband had solved a 300-year-old murder and freed a thetan just by walking through the woods. He apparently told her that when walking through the woods that he became aware of some enturbulated theta and a voice telling him to stay away. Being a brave Sea Org member he didn’t stay away but went to investigate further. The warning became more insistent and the SO guy tried to “get in comm” (communicate) with this enturbulated being. The story was that 300 hundred years previously this guy had murdered a girl and buried her in the woods and had been guarding the location ever since to prevent anyone from finding the body. Of course it would have been easy enough to confirm this by digging up a body but this never happened. OT wins are never put to the test like that.

Another young fellow told me quite sincerely that his mother had made a bottle of coke appear out of thin air as they sat in a café with no money to their names. We just believed him. I mean, why would he make that up?

One night upon leaving the org fairly late, after midnight certainly, I became aware of a commotion on the street in the direction I wanted to walk. It was like a full-scale riot with dozens of drunken revelers engaged in a pitched battle with each other. As I neared the fracas I considered taking evading action by walking down a side street but then quite consciously made the decision to just walk right through the mass melee and remain untouched. Bodies were flying in all directions, punches and kicks were thrown and booted and I could feel the brush of air as some flew by closely and I just walked right through totally unscathed. The area of battle was confined to the footpath and was approximately 12 yards in size. I just carried on walking home without looking back, congratulating myself on my OT powers.

If I sold a load of books it was down to my OT powers. Like the morning I went out on the street with six books and sold the lot in about twenty minutes. Needless to say, I didn’t do that every day.

I claimed to have been in a road traffic accident, flying through the air at a 45 degree angle from the road and about six feet off the ground seconds away from landing in a lower field when I postulated, “No, this isn’t going to happen,” and the car miraculously turned in mid air and next thing I was speeding along the grassy verge at about 70 mph bringing the vehicle to a gradual stop. Yay me!

Better than that, after I blew the org, starving and broke, I started a new job in a shop in a tourist resort where parking was almost impossible, especially as my shift was in the evening. I decided that whenever I pulled up to the shop there would be a space just for me. Guess what? There was! It lasted about two weeks, with me getting ever more incredulous until eventually somebody parked in my place. How dare they?

I used to go around postulating that things would go my way constantly so it should have been no surprise when things did work out the way I wanted them to. Everything was postulated, every little thing, from waking up and drinking coffee to going to bed at the end of a fruitful day. Except that isn’t how it panned out. Some days we had no coffee. Some nights I went to bed exhausted and hungry. Some days I sold no books, and got nobody in through the door when body routing. Sometimes you could not postulate your stats up no matter how lightly you tried. Ron wrote somewhere that postulates were very light and not done forcefully and so if my postulates failed, I considered that I had been using too much effort, in fact things being described as “efforty” was a big no-no in Scientology.

The daily grind for three intense years at the org was trying to find the balance between this wishful thinking, or postulating, and effort, and ultimately MAKING IT ALL GO RIGHT no matter what counter-intention or counter-effort you encountered. And of course when it all goes wrong it’s your fault.

I can now postulate with no effort at all, “I am so glad I am out of the cult!”

— Pete Griffiths

Technology Cocktail

“As psychiatry circulates rumours about auditors and attempts to discourage the use of Dianetics and Scientology, it is only fair for the auditor to know exactly the status of psychiatry and psychology as used today. It goes without saying that the savagery and fraud of psychiatry must cease and that auditors must encourage in state and public and through all their connections displacing psychiatric abuses with sane auditing.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1970

 
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Now available: Bonus for our supporters

Episode 13 of the Underground Bunker podcast has been sent out to paid subscribers: We’ve kept in touch with Jesse Prince since his 2018 memoir came out, and we knew he’d have some surprising things to say about Scientology. Meanwhile, we’ve made episodes 1 through 12 available to everyone, with such guests as Paulette Cooper, Michelle ‘Emma’ Ryan, Jefferson Hawkins, Patty Moher, Geoff Levin, Pete Griffiths, Sunny Pereira, Bruce Hines, Jeffrey Augustine, and Claire Headley. Go here to get the episodes!

 
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Now with no restrictions: Our podcast series on the Scientology docuseries that never aired

In five episodes, we recently looked at something we’ve been curious about for several years: The potentially explosive television show, produced by Sirens Media, that would have featured L. Ron Hubbard great-grandson Jamie DeWolf as its presenter, and that would have taken an active look at the families ripped apart by Scientology’s “disconnection” policy. Unfortunately, even though the series was ready to air on the A&E network in 2016, it never has. Our podcast series turned out even better than we were hoping, and we’ve made all five episodes available to everyone.

 
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Source Code

“I remember one space academy, I think the curriculum was two thousand years. I was a student there.” — L. Ron Hubbard, September 19, 1961

 
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Avast, Ye Mateys

“The ‘letters to Ron’ line was backlogged in being answered in some orgs and the backlogs have been called to Flag for answering. LRH Comm has just given me a verbal report on these letters from various parts of the world. The line is very very theta, very friendly, very open. It has improved even over what it was a year ago. There are no critical comments. There is only great appreciation. This means that my own public image is high and has not been injured by last summer’s events. The orgs only injured themselves somewhat with crush sell and checks. It also means our tech is better. It does NOT mean our org image and friendliness must not be improved. It MUST be. It is very nice to hear from all these good people. I love them too. That’s why I work as hard as I do. It becomes more and more evident in this declining world that Man, above all things, knows he needs a friend.” — The Commodore, September 19, 1971

 
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Overheard in the FreeZone

“When checking out a used car, one can sort of ‘shroud’ it and get a feel for its chronic emotion, look beyond its scuffs into its heart, hear its noises in your mind and home in on the car’s voice, unscramble the frequencies, maybe even spot a postulate or two. You can get a sense of previous owners, scan to where they lived, where they took the car, what the car saw on its travels, if there were children and pets. Was the car happy? Explore its time track back to the factory; are there any hidden moments? It doesn’t take long to do if you can get the seller to shut up for a minute. Service histories can be falsified too, it’s not unheard of. Does the car even want another owner? Dependency on MEST documentation is only one route to knowing something.”

 
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Past is Prologue

2001: Yahoo Internet Life published an article on Keith Henson. “When Keith Henson posted a joke about blowing up Church of Scientology members with a ‘Tom Cruise Missile’ in the alt.religion.scientology newsgroup, he didn’t think it would get him arrested. Henson’s posts were admitted as evidence in April when he was brought up on charges of terrorism, attempted terrorism, and interfering with religion to enjoy a constitutional right. Henson was convicted of the interfering charge (a hate crime) in California court and sentenced to up to a year in prison, in addition to a fine of $3,000. Before sentencing, Henson jumped bail and sought political asylum in Canada where, at press time, he remains. So how did Henson end up on the run in a foreign country? Setting aside Scientology’s widely reported suppression and intimidation tactics, the issue becomes one of cultural ignorance. Jokes are inherently unsanitary. They take the stuffing out of our leaders as well as our loved ones, often making the comfortable uncomfortable. And for better or worse, the online ‘death threat’ has become one of the Net’s standard jokes. If Keith Henson had limited his protests to shouting at the top of his lungs about Tom Cruise Missiles out-side Scientology headquarters, he probably would have been dismissed as a harmless kook. But once his words went on the Net, they were enough to help convince a jury that a penniless 58-year-old man was planning to deploy a piece of military hardware costing $600,000 and accessible only to top levels of the U.S. armed forces.”

Random Howdy

“I always wanted to start my own cult even more than I ever wanted to be a rock star. I’m going to go watch some gun videos and start winding down. Goodnight Sherb, get some sleep.”

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial scheduled for October 11.
— ‘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.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff scheduled to be sentenced on Oct 28.
— Rizza Islam, Medi-Cal fraud: Trial scheduled for October 24 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for September 19.
— 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.
— 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, next status hearing October 25. Scientology petitioning US Supreme Court over appellate ruling.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.

 
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH

An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.

SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

 
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology wants you to take advantage of the CARES Act and donate to Dave while you can!
[TWO years ago] Read Danny Masterson’s ‘demurrer’ he’s hoping will get his criminal charges dismissed
[THREE years ago] Here’s the Kent team’s 3rd lawsuit against Scientology and David Miscavige — dive in!
[FOUR years ago] Scientology’s minion lawyer stretches his ‘theta arm’ to touch the future!
[FIVE years ago] Tonight, Paul Haggis calls out Scientology’s celebs: ‘Damn them for being purposely blind’
[SIX years ago] Talking highlights of ‘Fair Game’ with its author, Aussie journalist Steve Cannane
[SEVEN years ago] THE GETTING CLEAR CONFERENCE: How to see the videos that lay Scientology bare
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology’s tent party in England: The 9-minute trailer!
[NINE years ago] Scenes from Scientology’s Armageddon
[ELEVEN years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 6: Anonymous

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on September 19, 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 bus journey from County Mayo to Dublin takes about three and a half hours and I am on the back seat pondering my insane decision. What am I doing? What am I thinking? These people are dangerous. Scientology comes after its critics to lie about [...]]]>

The bus journey from County Mayo to Dublin takes about three and a half hours and I am on the back seat pondering my insane decision. What am I doing? What am I thinking? These people are dangerous. Scientology comes after its critics to lie about them, harass them and ultimately to try to destroy them, to stop them bad mouthing it. Except it isn’t bad mouthing. The critics speak the truth. It is May 2009.

Over a year prior to this journey, I became aware that a group online calling themselves Anonymous were going to protest the Scientology mission in Dublin. What the heck for? Scientology is the good guys. It has the answers to drug addiction, education, criminal rehabilitation, study, communication, relationship problems, personal demons, insanity, war. The person I was chatting with laughed at me, called me an idiot and told me to look online.

“Yes but L. Ron Hubbard discovered all these amazing things…”

“He was away on a ship surrounded by underage girls in miniskirts. Just look online,” I got told again.

What harm could it do? It was 14 years since I had been involved with Scientology and maybe all these unknown people had a point. There sure seems to be a lot of them. That underage girl thing is a bit pervy all right. But that is the enemy line. That’s what they say to discredit the man and deny him his rightful accolades in the world of wogdom, or society as we know it (“wog” is the Scientologese word for a human being who hasn’t yet discovered Scientology, just an ordinary, normal, human). And he is the greatest friend Mankind has ever had because he researched and found out the truth about life and the universe and so on and so forth.

And I always planned to rejoin when I had enough money as I knew that enough money would grease the wheels or pour oil on any troubles that I may have had in the past. Then I could do my Bridge and go OT and have some superpowers…

What harm? If everything is as true as they say then surely a tiny amount entheta couldn’t rock the boat that much? Could it? All these Anonymous people don’t seem to have taken any harm.

I began to look online and discover to my increasing shock and horror that there is more to the story than I first envisaged. I read more and more and became fascinated by the subject, once I had overcome my initial fear. It seems that someone wasn’t telling the full story. I found out about ARS and the Old Guard. Crazy Scientology court actions against people like Gerry Armstrong. The Hamburg Conference. Ursula Caberta. Marty and Mike were out.

Finally, I read Russell Miller’s Bare-faced Messiah and my entire world changes before I even finish the book. Yes, I hesitated before I read the OT3 stuff but then thought, you know what, fuck it, nobody else has got pneumonia and died, here we go, wheeeeee!

Hubbard was just a con man. The whole thing is nothing but a money-making lie.

All the stuff that I have believed for these past years is just bullshit. Clear the planet? Clear the bank accounts of members, more like. What a disgusting, diabolical, deception and perpetrated with malice aforethought and nothing but evil intent.

“The only way to control somebody is to lie to him. You can write that in your book in big black letters, the only way to control somebody is to lie to him.” — L. Ron Hubbard

What a total bastard. I don’t have much Scientology material left, but I gather the things I have — books, posters, manuals — and build a huge bonfire in the yard. I am raging. I have never felt so betrayed. I devoted and dedicated years to that charlatan. All for nothing. Well, not nothing, he died with $680 million dollars in cash in boxes around him.

I found Tory “Magoo” Christman and she saved me. Who couldn’t believe this obviously sincere and brave lady speaking out about the abuse she saw and suffered? If she can do it…

…because that was my next thought. I have to do something, put a stop to this. Prevent new members from joining, get existing victims to realize they are being duped, deceived, and help them to leave. I can’t just stand by and do nothing. And so I’m on the bus heading up to Dublin to check out these Anonymous protests and I am feeling brave enough but at the same time, scared. I know how bad things could be. I can face the possibilities. They would probably stop short of murder, I mean they would hardly kill my family, would they? What’s the worst thing they could do to me? Call me a pedophile, I guess. People would say, no smoke without fire, and my life would be ruined. Would they do that? They did. But hey, we’re jumping the gun.

The bus arrives in Dublin and I get off and stroll round to Abbey Street. Will anyone be there?

I see a smallish crowd standing opposite the Scientology mission. I knew exactly where it was as I’d gone to look for it some years before.

There were posters, music playing, an overall air of a party or celebration of sorts going on. People in good spirits. Some people wearing Guy Fawkes masks, some wearing bandanas. I knew that the protestors tried to conceal their identities to prevent the Scientology “dirty tricks” department from getting up to mischief.

I walk up and introduce myself and get received very well. I meet the Madhair, Raptor, Cheshire Cat, Cuoin, Kick the Spike, Mike Garde, and many others. Most people had a nickname from being on the Internet but not Mike, I found out that he had been very vocal in exposing the cult for the past 25 years. What a legend. Kick was there because back when the bus stops had been operating outside the mission she waited for a bus each and every work night and every night this Scientology guy, we’ll call him Vinny, asked her to do the personality test. Every night she told him, no. The next night he’d ask her again and eventually she lost it. “Look at my face! Don’t ask me ever again!” she raged. I knew what that was all about. Scientologists believe that people who don’t know Scientology don’t know themselves at all and could say no like that for months on end and then one day just flip and say OK and follow them into the building for a testing session. When I was at the org and a person came in ranting about being taken off the mailing list we were told to say OK, but of course, never take them off because they don’t know their own minds, how could they, they are not Scientologists. It really is that crazy when you are in.

Everyone had a lot to say and I was their first real live ex-Scientologist. The talk flowed, the music played, and I learned a few rules like, stay on the opposite side of the street as the Scientologists call the police if anyone stands on the footpath right outside their door. It’s better anyway as the people in the mission can see us in all our glory. If the police do tell you to do something, do it. Drink plenty of water. Wear sensible shoes.

One Scientologist comes out with a camera and takes pictures of the many signs hanging on the window sills or just leaning against the wall of the empty old newspaper building. I don’t think he took photos of the protesting people when he was on the street but he certainly did when back inside. Hiding behind curtains with lens poking out. People tried to talk to him but he used “ignore” tech and looked quite smug and confident. Sad. I try telling him that I want to help him see the folly of his ways but get royally ignored.

The protestors, I find out, meet once a month, same place, roughly the same time, all organized online on a site that everyone goes on. I just have to join in. I really had some fun that first day. The protests go from morning until the evening and everyone leaves together for safety reasons as the Scientologists had been known to follow lone protestors.

That was the first of what became for me a total of one hundred monthly protests and four international conferences.

When I suggested to the gang that we host a conference like the Hamburg one I was initially laughed at because the Irish Scientology presence in Dublin was just a fun-sized concern of 43 active members. However we went ahead and did the Dublin Offlines 2012 conference with 14 guest speakers which is all available to watch on YouTube. And a great day was had by all.

And then a few years later, the Scientologists were able to dishonestly acquire a High Court Injunction which brought the protesting to an unfortunate end. There was just handful of people left at that stage anyway so we were not too fussed. I was able to go to the High Court and get the same judge who gave the injunction to lift the injunction which he did with the words that if he had known the full story at the time he would never have granted the inunction in the first place.

Shortly after that, the Scientologists in Dublin moved from their tiny office above a hairdressing shop on a city street to a 12 million euro “church”in a mainly residential area known as Firhouse, which also would have made any protesting somewhat superfluous. They had also recently purchased a Georgian building in Merrion Square to operate an “Office of National Affairs” at a cost of more millions. The membership according the national census was in the high 80s.

Clearly someone was pumping a lot of money into the two-bit Irish operation. But who and why? We can only speculate at this stage.

— Pete Griffiths

 
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Technology Cocktail

“For some years then, I watched for no-gain cases and carefully followed up those that I could. They had major or minor criminal backgrounds. This gave the 1959 breakthrough on the meter checks (Sec Checking). Following it further since 1959 I have finally amassed enough histories to state: THE PERSON WHO IS NOT GETTING CASE GAINS IS COMMITTING CONTINUING OVERTS. While this sounds like a very good ‘out’ for us, we assume that the auditor at least tried something sensible….The no-gain case, frankly, is one I am not panting to solve. If a fellow wants to sell his next hundred trillion for the sake of the broken toy he stole, I’m afraid I can’t be bothered. I have no contract with any Big Thetan to save the world complete….They are suppressive persons, every one. I know. I’ve seen them all the way down to the little clinker they call their soul. And I don’t like what I saw. The people who come to you with wild discreditable rumours, who seek to tear people’s attention off Scientology, who chew up orgs, are suppressive persons. Well, give them a good rock and let them suppress it!” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1965

Now available: Bonus for our supporters

Episode 9 of the Underground Bunker podcast has been sent out to paid subscribers, and Marc Headley returns to explain why he took the trouble to submit a lengthy response to a Scientologist’s nutty YouTube video. Meanwhile, we’ve made episodes 1 through 8 available to everyone, with Patty Moher on her career as a Scientology spy, Geoff Levin on Scientology’s celebrities, Pete Griffiths on running a mission, Sunny Pereira dishing secrets of Scientology’s Hollywood Celebrity Centre, Bruce Hines on the crazy life in the Sea Org, Jeffrey Augustine on recent Scientology court cases, Claire Headley exposing Tom Cruise, and Marc Headley on what it must be like for David Miscavige living in Clearwater, Florida.. Go here to get the episodes!

 
——————–

Source Code

“You all dead today — I mean, all alive today? Twenty-third, huh? 23 August, AD 11. Well, I’m glad you made it. I didn’t think you’d ever get to August the 23rd. Back there in the Roman Empire I was damn sure you wouldn’t get here! And I remember one space-opera society when I didn’t think it was very probable that you’d make it. I remember standing there at the edge of the spaceport as the battle planes took off, and I said, ‘Well, they won’t make it.’ I knew, you see, I knew the high command hadn’t given you any ammunition.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 23, 1961

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“Tech is the theta thrust into the society. All new civilizations progressed on new technology. In the main we face what is called a ‘cultural lag.’ The mental health field is stuck about 1450 AD. Dungeons, torture, illegal seizure, the ‘best’ people. We are rolling at about 2050 AD. This time gap makes it nearly impossible for the society’s witch doctors (untrained in logic or mathematics) to grasp what is going on. They lack even a purpose to make anyone well. Not even up to that. So we are impeded by a ‘cultural lag.’ By tying a bridge to medicine and healing we can overcome this to some degree. Therefore the Standard Dianetics Programme was an enormous advance for us, not just in tech but in social advance. So we are doing very well really.” — The Commodore, August 23, 1969

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Scientology is a very exact thing. It has no room for different interpretations, it was researched based solely in its workability by a man with an incredible background in science, mathematics, history, philosophy, etc. A research route was followed that resulted in a workable technology that works 100 percent, all times. It has been tested time after time. Many Scientologists are looking for answers who have been overwhelmed by false data from ‘Authorities’ from the Church. By applying to them 100 percent on Source supervisor tech, their confusions will be handled. Long dissertations and ‘explanations’ on top of false data and M/Us just won’t do.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1995: Scientology raided the homes of Larry Wollersheim and Bob Bingham, founders of FACTNet, this week. A poster summarized a report from The Rocky Mountain News: “‘Denver U.S. District Judge Lewis T. Babcock signed an order authorizing the raids’. According to Wollersheim, ‘They took us off line’. A picture accompanying the article shows Warren McShane, ‘president of the Religious Technology Center in Los Angeles, carr[ying] documents from the apartment of … Wollersheim. At left is U.S. marshal Steve Bush.’ According to the RMN, he ‘charges that the church practices secret rituals in which officials claim they are aliens from outer space whose purpose is to take over the Earth.’ The raid started at 9a.m Tuesday morning and lasted for 8 hours, Scientology officials were present at the raid and took away material. A 7 hour raid was made in Niwot. Karin Pouw of the Co$ ‘questioned why Wollersheim’s bulletin board should have non-profit, tax-exempt status.’ Wollersheim hopes that he will be represented by the ACLU.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Scientology is like doing acid minus the fun.”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial scheduled for October 11.

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.
— 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, next status hearing October 25. Scientology petitioning US Supreme Court over appellate ruling.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— 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.

 
——————–

THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH

An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.

SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

 
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] What is it going to take for the LA Times to take the threat of Rizza Islam seriously?
[TWO years ago] Half-million dollar man: Scientology donor gives pep talk in leaked video
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s obsession with kids and sex? Nick Lister has the receipts.
[FOUR years ago] Why Colombia’s military was fertile territory for Scientology — and one general’s stunning role
[FIVE years ago] Scientology shows no sign of slowing down its use of religious visas for foreign labor
[SIX years ago] Maybe the worst thing about Scientology: It turns you into L. Ron Hubbard
[SEVEN years ago] Chill EB joins the Sea Org — well, long enough to wish a happy birthday!
[EIGHT years ago] Jon Atack: How Scientology’s methods of manipulation stay with you after you leave
[NINE years ago] PR Director of Scientology’s Las Vegas Celebrity Center Arrested in Plot to Assassinate a Cop
[TEN years ago] (2012’s) Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, Nos. 17-20
[ELEVEN years ago] Janet Reitman’s Inside Scientology: ‘The Print Reviews Have Been Really Positive’

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 23, 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

 It is September 1987 and I have just spent the past few months at Saint Hill Manor near East Grinstead in West Sussex, former home of noted conman L. Ron Hubbard, studying his Organization Executive Course.

As a graduate of this course I can now go to the International Training Org (“Org” is Scientologese for organization), [...]]]>

 
It is September 1987 and I have just spent the past few months at Saint Hill Manor near East Grinstead in West Sussex, former home of noted conman L. Ron Hubbard, studying his Organization Executive Course.

As a graduate of this course I can now go to the International Training Org (“Org” is Scientologese for organization), in Los Angeles, as I am qualified after completing the OEC and also, as I am not on post, in that I do not really have a job or position within my local org, except for Deputy Public Executive Secretary, or Deputy Pes (pronounced Pez). I mention this, as to remove a person from their post in a Scientology org without a proper, hatted (trained), replacement is a big no-no.

My wife is due to have our first child in early November and so I insist that I be back in time to witness the birth, who would want to miss that? I get told by the Executive Director, “That should be OK.”

The org is paying for the course and the airfare, and I will stay at the Manor Hotel and eat at the Big Blue canteen while away. I don’t feel too bad about this as I have received about £30 in pay since I started on staff back in April. I had been promised £200 a week.

At least I will be getting something out of it and a trip to LA too! I don’t know if it was because Scientology involvement or not but I went through a phase of buying shoes a size too small. I have no idea why I did this. On the plane my feet were so uncomfortable in my size 8s that I had to remove them. What was I thinking?

I get to LAX and hang around the airport wondering what will happen next when a young lad aged about 14 or 15 comes up and asks if I am “Peeder.” He gives a brief smile as a greeting and indicates that I follow him. This I do, dragging my case, to a shabby old van with an older beardy guy in the driving seat and we climb aboard and head for LA. Busy roads, nodding donkeys, not much conversation, it is late at night, I think, jetlag?

My suite on the fourth floor of the Manor Hotel consists of a fairly large room with a half dozen bunk beds and a shower room. I grab what looks like an unowned bed and crash out. Even though it is nearly midnight nobody else is in the beds. Next day I get a ride to the Big Blue and I grab breakfast in the huge canteen, consisting of sausages, rashers, eggs, toast, cereal, standard stuff. Then when leaving get accosted by a Mexcican guy demanding, “Votes, Señor!” Everybody attending the meal has to vote from zero to 5. This is his statistic. He is apparently head chef. It feels like hundreds of people milling around the place all looking busy and preoccupied. Sea Org members appear to eat in shifts. Some of them seem to be cleaning the place up as well as eating. Next I check in, promise to bring my passport later in the day and get routed onto course. But first we muster in the car park for a “locational.”. This consists of one person telling the rest of us to look at or touch various objects around the place.

“Look at the cross,” indicating the cross on the roof. “Look at that red car.” Then we form a circle and rub the shoulders of the person in front as the one behind gives you a neck rub. Everybody is in a good mood after this. In the course room the usual stuff. Reading L. Ron Hubbard policy letters. Chinese School which is chanting lines over and over like, “Number of times over materials equals certainty and results!”

The supervisor asks me if if I have filled in a Life History. I have no idea what he’s talking about but soon enough I am filling it in. The section that stands out is the one demanding details of every sexual partner, ever, what was done, and when, how often, and so on and so forth.

The day goes pretty quickly. Evening meal is in an area a bit like a cloister with seats and tables, a buffet, Mexican, tortillas, fillings, yogurt. Lots of people. Back at the hotel I have no sheets for my bed and ask at reception for some. I am given an armful. No blankets however and I am too nervous to ask for any as everyone seems too busy and reluctant to get involved helping some greenhorn English guy.

That night I get eaten alive by some insects that I can’t see. The window is open and it needs to be, it is so hot. The next night I drape sheets from the bunk above so that they dangle and tuck them under my mattress, thereby creating a kind of mosquito net and the biting stops. I also bought a crappy polyester blanket from the supermarket using what little money I had. Nights are a little more bearable.

I borrowed a bicycle and went riding down Sunset looking for a place to get a haircut when a guy started chasing and yelling at me so I just pedaled madly and escaped. He was a kind of drunken, druggy lunatic. Another time I was followed back to the Manor. Am I being followed? Is he following me? I made the decision to confront the guy and turned and stopped.

“Do you want something?”

“Have you got any money?”

I had absolutely nothing and I was able to turn both my trouser pockets inside out. The guy cursed and turned away muttering, “Are they all as broke as you where you come from?”

Yes, especially when you never get paid. I was never sent any wages the entire six weeks I was in LA. Could I have enjoyed Hollywood if I had more time off and money at my disposal? I don’t think so. The place was pretty bad to be honest. Derelicts, drunks, drugs, down-and-outs, and off in the distance the white painted Hollywood sign on the hillside.

Back at the Big Blue I get introduced to False Data Stripping or FDSing. This is simply having somebody who is in some difficulty with the subject at hand and asking, “Have you been given any False Data regarding this?” The girl I am doing this with says that she has indeed been given false data. I ask her when was this?

Growing up, she says. Who gave the false data? It was her dad, says she. Finally when I ask her for the false data she says, “He told me that Jesus Christ was the first communist.” We look at each other for a second before bursting out laughing.

The days go by. Breakfast. Muster. Locational. Study. Chinese School. Lunch. More Study. Evening meal. More study. Cleaning stations. If we do not pass the inspection, a guy wearing a white glove runs his finger all over the place and if any dust or dirt shows, we have to clean the entire place again. Very often we miss the bus to the Manor. Back to bed and sleep. Wake up.

There is never anyone else in the room when I go to bed but in the morning the place is jam packed. At 7:50 one morning the Whittier Narrows earthquake strikes. I am already showered and dressed and on my way down to the lobby using the service elevator. I didn’t like using the main one since I shared it once with Jeff Pomeranz who just grinned at me, ultra cheesily with a maximum smearing of smarm.

I step out of the elevator as the building lurches from side to side. I found out later that the Manor Hotel was built on rollers to cope with such earthquakes. I just race to the stairwell and leap down the flights, clearing each of them in two bounds. The sleeping guys from my room are ahead of me, amazingly. Hiya Chris! And into the lobby as a plaster bust on a plinth crashes in slow motion, leap over it, and then into the car park. Sigh of relief as the quake stops. It lasted 8 seconds. The dust settles and normal service resumes.

I am having trouble assimilating some the dense L. Ron Hubbard policy and the supervisor asks me if I have done my Purification Rundown, the sauna-and-vitamins regimen. I say, no. I get routed off course and interviewed by a couple from the org who try to get me to pay for my Purif. No can do. I am broke. Outer Org staff in training, after all. They come up with a solution. I can do the Purif and work for them in exchange. Scientology is big on the subject of exchange. Fair exchange, partial exchange, exchange in abundance and rip-off are the four conditions of exchange. One scheme is to fly me to Kansas and do my Purif there with a Kansas doctor who has paid for his Purif but not done it yet. The idea being that I report back on a daily basis on what is going on. Sort of a remote Purif. This idea is scrapped as an unusual solution. So I find myself driving around LA going from one Scientology school to another, carrying boxes of leaflets.

As we are leaving one school, the guy I am with says, “Did you recognize that girl on reception?” I was carrying boxes and saw nothing. He tells me to go have a look. I peep round the corner and know instantly that I am looking at Lisa Marie Presley. She couldn’t be anyone else. So Elvine. Wow. She didn’t look up and I just left the premises feeling kind of starstruck.

Eventually it is decided that I have got my exchange in and I start my Purif in LA and it takes three weeks to complete.

By now it is getting very close to my wife giving birth and I need to find a way to leave. I have a return air ticket. Nobody wants me to leave. Surprise, surprise. I am supposed to do the Staff Leaving Routing Form but can’t find any help getting started. I promised my wife I would be there and nobody here seems to care. Nobody wants me to leave. What would Ron do? What would he do? At least I still have my passport. Hmmm…

I dare not tell anyone that I am planning on just going as they would be obliged to write a Knowledge Report and I would find myself a virtual prisoner, perhaps never to get away again. We had already had a student who had blown twice and each time brought back to further disciplinary actions. The airline was very helpful in allowing me to reschedule my flight. It was fine and would cost $100. I just said, yes, OK. I didn’t have $100.

Luckily enough I bumped into the lad who had met me when I first landed and he was going to the airport that very morning. “I need a ride to the airport!” He said OK and I got in the van, and hid, hoping that nobody would see me as I was blowing the org, after all.

At the airport I didn’t mention the $100 and neither did the airline. I just waited until my plane was due to leave, anxiously scanning the doors, and it was with some relief that I took my seat.

Back to the UK. A hurricane had just destroyed half the trees in southern England. One had flattened the Saint Hill canteen, an old ramshackle prefabricated shack. Somebody must have had overts on storms, or canteens, or trees. Back to the birth of my first child. Happy days.

Back to a further six years of Scientology. Not so bloody happy.

— Pete Griffiths

Technology Cocktail

“Scientology is a workable system. It white tapes the road out of the labyrinth. If there were no white tapes marking the right tunnels, Man would just go on wandering around and around the way he has for eons, darting off on wrong roads, going in circles, ending up in the sticky dark, alone. Scientology, exactly and correctly followed, takes the person up and out of the mess. So when you see somebody having a ball getting everyone to take peyote because it restimulates prenatals, know he is pulling people off the route. Realize he is squirreling. He isn’t following the route. Scientology is a new thing — it is a road out. There has not been one. Not all the salesmanship in the world can make a bad route a proper route. And an awful lot of bad routes are being sold. Their end product is further slavery, more darkness, more misery. Scientology is the only workable system Man has. It has already taken people toward higher I.Q., better lives and all that. No other system has. So realize that it has no competitor.” – L. Ron Hubbard, 1965

 
——————–

Now available: Bonus for our supporters

Episode 8 of the Underground Bunker podcast has been sent out to paid subscribers, and it’s a conversation with Patty Moher about her amazing career as a Scientology spy and then her years leaking great info about the church. Meanwhile, we’ve made episodes 1 through 7 available to everyone, with Geoff Levin on Scientology’s celebrities, Pete Griffiths on running a mission, Sunny Pereira dishing secrets of Scientology’s Hollywood Celebrity Centre, Bruce Hines on the crazy life in the Sea Org, Jeffrey Augustine on recent Scientology court cases, Claire Headley exposing Tom Cruise, and Marc Headley on what it must be like for David Miscavige living in Clearwater, Florida.. Go here to get the episodes!

 
——————–

Source Code

“Some prenatal engrams (you find this out when you are clearing a case) will have slumbered 20 or 30 years with no reactivation, yet will be vicious engrams. For instance, in one case there must have been about 110 engrams, each one of which called for an enormously powerful migraine headache, and not one of them reactivated until the person was 22 years of age. Then, chain fashion, they all reactivated. The mysterious cause of the migraine headache was evidently an airplane crash where the person got a headache. Actually there was not even a head injury in the airplane crash, but there were about three words spoken while the person was unconscious which reactivated the chain.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 15, 1950

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“The recovery of personnel sent out is a primary duty of the Action Bureau. It is not true that the US and Europe are full of unrecalled missionaires but they sure leave their missions out long enough. Now our Brian Charlton is trying to set an all time record. A 2 day hat check out of Athena on PR became weeks. Recall at once and assign Mission Ineligible.” — The Commodore, August 15, 1970

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“Only PTS people are susceptible to catching diseases, according to LRH.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

2001: The Los Angeles Times published an interview with Scientology celebrity Chick Corea. “Q: How did you make the decision to move to Clearwater? A: The main draw was the fact that Clearwater is the largest religious retreat in Scientology. It’s called Flag Land Base, the place where L. Ron Hubbard put the highest level of training and courses and study, and it’s turned into a totally international spot for Scientologists. Q: About 10 years ago, maybe around the time of your 50th birthday, you described the extent to which Scientology had impacted you as person and as an artist. Does that still hold? A: Not only does it still hold, but it has expanded. I first got interested in Scientology for pretty personal reasons. I wanted to clean
myself up, I wanted to tweak my awareness, I wanted to learn about the nature of the spirit. I wanted to learn about things like immortality, about detaching oneself from a body, about the philosophy and the nature of life, and so on. But what the subject very naturally led me to is that life is made up of people. And the very first thing I started to look at was others – not even myself. My whole life is about my relationship with people.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Oops, sounds like Marty had what they call in A.A. a ‘slip.’ Hopefully it doesn’t turn into a full blown relapse.”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial scheduled for October 11, pretrial conference August 17.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Readiness hearing scheduled for August 22 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for September 19.
— 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 filing amended complaint on August 2.
— 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, next status hearing October 25. Scientology petitioning US Supreme Court over appellate ruling.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— 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.

 
——————–

THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH

An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.

SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

 
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Underground Bunker readers assemble, and Scientology spies freak out
[TWO years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 22: Graham Norton and other celebrity strokers
[THREE years ago] ‘Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath’ will end with a 2-hour special August 26
[FOUR years ago] A life connected to some of our biggest Scientology stories ends in a terrible way
[FIVE years ago] Leah Remini goes there: Child molestation in Scientology for tonight’s ‘Aftermath’ premiere
[SIX years ago] Former Scientology mouthpiece Tommy Davis is settling into his new role as Hollywood exec
[SEVEN years ago] Why no one should ever join Scientology’s ‘Sea Org’
[EIGHT years ago] Ryan Hamilton files 19th lawsuit against Scientology’s drug rehab network
[NINE years ago] Scientology is Obsessed with Getting Books in Libraries — Here Are the Real Stats!
[ELEVEN years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 21: Kendrick Moxon

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 15, 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

My first ever Dianetics session had a bizarre twist which at the time meant nothing to me. Years later it made me go, wow! Really? Did that really happen? Am I making this up? How accurate are memories anyway?

Here’s how it unfolded. Like an idiot I follow this girl into the org [...]]]>

My first ever Dianetics session had a bizarre twist which at the time meant nothing to me. Years later it made me go, wow! Really? Did that really happen? Am I making this up? How accurate are memories anyway?

Here’s how it unfolded. Like an idiot I follow this girl into the org to do the personality test and spend the next 45 minutes answering 200 questions as honestly as I can with a YES, NO or MAYBE. Scientology calls this test the Oxford Capacity Analysis, but it has nothing to do with Oxford University. Your answers to its 200 questions are supposed to produce some meaningful inspection of your character.

“Do you make thoughtless remarks or accusations that you later regret?” Er… maybe… OK, YES! Sometimes…

Next I am led into an office by the same girl who now has a graph in her hand. That wiggly line is my personality displayed for all to see.

Firstly, I disagreed with everything the OCA test evaluator said about me, but I did agree that I could improve. The evaluator was claiming that Dianetics would help me to do that. Would it? I had no idea but she was insistent that it would help me to remove the barriers and unleash my true potential. That I wasn’t being the real me. The real me was hampered by my reactive mind. Get rid of that and feel the power. Well, she was right when she told me I wasn’t happy, if I’m honest with myself, I’m not really happy as I know I could be a lot happier. Oh yeah. Bring it on.

So I bought into that idea. And then I bought five hours of introductory auditing, using the money set aside to pay the mortgage for that month. I was persuaded that once I realized my true potential that a single mortgage payment would be chickenfeed. I would be making money hand over fist. I would be a real powerhouse. I could live with that.

I go into the session not knowing what to expect but I had read the book — Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health — and found it interesting and I had always had a fascination with the idea of self-betterment and even past lives (although they don’t get a mention in the book) if I could only find out how to do it. I really had nothing to lose. Except £34.50p. This was in 1987. It would be about £90 today.

The auditor asks me to close my eyes and there sit I, teetering on the edge of a great adventure. He asks me what I had to eat the previous day. I had good old fish and chips, a British staple. He asks me if I can taste them again, and as I take a breath in, I get the reaction that you get when you smell vinegar and I am amazed as my mouth begins to water in anticipation. I grin. Maybe this does work. Now I know what to expect and so find myself rolling down the time track at the auditor’s command, looking for some incident that was upsetting to me. Oh there is one, right there.

He was my friend, with a verve for life and living that made him drink too much, steal cars and have far too much fun. Sadly, one night he was chased by the police in a stolen car and crashed it, killing himself instantly. That was pretty tough to take.

The auditor had me go to the moment of finding out about the tragedy and I found that easy to do. We went over it again and again and then again until I found myself sighing with the boredom of it. My feelings about his death seemed to have undergone a change in that they were no longer heavy and sodden with grief. He asked me to go back to the beginning and go over it again. “Do I have to?”

At that point he ended the session and we took a break. I did feel pretty amazing to be honest. Something that had upset me for years, no longer did. I felt lighter somehow, almost floating. This seems to be working. Bloody hell.

The next day we continued and like a pro I went gliding down the time track looking for something to audit. The only thing that I could find was a minor incident from when I was just a few weeks old and living at my granny’s house, where someone jostled the pram in which I was fast asleep and startled me awake. Is this for real? Am I making this up? From there I tried to find prenatal memories but nothing came up so I just kept on going back and back and back and finding nothing. A nothing that became empty space.

Floating in space. Real space. There was nothing in the space at all. It was neither warm nor cold, just there. And dark. No arms or legs or a body, just a being, in space, drifting somewhat aimlessly. I became aware of a light source off in one corner which began to get closer and closer until I could identify it as a huge orb of energy pulsating as it floated around without any obvious purpose.

The auditor asked me what was going on and so I told him, I have no idea but I’m looking at something, maybe it’s a god, just floating and pulsing. The auditor asked if this “god” had a name. I had recently been studying Norse mythology. The word Odin came to mind instantly. Then Wotan, Wodin, Otan, Odin, I told him. This was insane, Odin had hung on a tree for 9 days and nights, not drifted around in space disguised as a glowing orb and I told the auditor this.

“It’s like some galactic energy source or a god or something.”

He ended the session saying that he was going upstairs to get advice from the Case Supervisor. When he returned and we got back into session he insisted on my naming this thing. I had already lost interest but tried to find a name for him. All I could come up with was Odin, but I was pronouncing it as “W-dan.”

He went back to the Case Supervisor three more times, and then again we went back into session, each time trying to get a name from me, until finally we went into session one final time. I was getting frustrated with this meaningless looking for a name for a bright shiny orb which I no longer cared about. Why couldn’t it be Odin? Why is he insisting that I find some other name?

By this time the auditor had stopped making notes of the session. I was getting thoroughly bored with this. He leaned forward and in a conspiratorial whisper asked, “Is his name Xenu?”

He appeared to be slightly embarrassed asking this question and it clearly meant nothing to him. He was simply following instructions from the CS. Knowing what I now know you would think I was making this up. I had never heard of Xenu and so casually said, “No, it’s Odin or W-dan.” A part of me was thinking, “What the heck is Xenu?”

The full significance of this didn’t occur to me until many years later because I had never heard of Xenu. I mean who had? Oh yeah, OTs had. (Scientologists encounter the Xenu tale when they start on OT 3.) The Case Supervisor was only Clear and not started on his OT Levels. How could he have possibly known about Xenu? Nobody else in the org was above Clear except for the Case Supervisor’s wife, who was OT 3. Nobody except her could have known or should have known about this. I draw my own conclusions from that. There must have been some interesting bedtime chats in that household. This couple are now very prominent UK Scientologists, utterly devoted to the cause.

A person from the technical division next interviewed me and told me that the Dianetics Book One type auditing was no longer done and that there were much more modern techniques that were faster and better and that I was deemed ready for that. I was disappointed as I had found the whole process to be kind of fun.

There ended my Book One auditing. Overall I felt much better and concluded that it actually did work. From there I went onto the HQS (Hubbard Qualified Scientologist), then the Student Hat and full-time executive training. It was only years later when I was remembering these sessions that the “Xenu” question came back to me. You can imagine what that was like, now that I know all about Xenu. It should have been a “wow” moment all right.

As it was, it was all quite bizarre. It’s no wonder you are not allowed to talk about your sessions!

— Pete Griffiths

 
——————–

Technology Cocktail

“The more hysterical a pc is about getting advanced processes or a case gain, the less strenuous the process administered must be. The psychiatrist erred on this one point and it wiped him out as a social benefactor. The more desperate the case, the more desperate were his measures. He was just echoing his patients. It is very important for an auditor to realize this one datum for it is the second guiding rule of Level 0. It is a very senior datum. One must not become desperate and use desperate measures just because the pc is desperate or the family or society is desperate about the pc. The worse off the pc, the lighter the approach to that pc must be. Psychotics (real, gibbering ones) are below auditing treatment in sessions. The measure used for them should be just rest and isolation from their former environments. And the first process used should be just getting the person to realize you are safe and safe to talk to.” — L. Ron Hubbard, 1964

 
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Coming Soon: The Fair Game Podcast’s return

As seen on Mike Rinder’s blog, the podcast is coming back at the end of August, and will now post twice a week!

 
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Now available: Bonus for our supporters

Episode 7 of the Underground Bunker podcast has been sent out to paid subscribers, and it’s a conversation with Geoff Levin about Scientology’s celebrities and which ones are most likely to defect. Meanwhile, we’ve made episodes 1 through 6 available to everyone, with Pete Griffiths on running a mission, Sunny Pereira dishing secrets of Scientology’s Hollywood Celebrity Centre, Bruce Hines on the crazy life in the Sea Org, Jeffrey Augustine on recent Scientology court cases, Claire Headley exposing Tom Cruise, and Marc Headley on what it must be like for David Miscavige living in Clearwater, Florida. Go here to get the episodes!

 
——————–

Source Code

“Illiterate cultures do not survive and they are not very high. The natives of the tribe of the Bugga-Bugga Booga-Boogas down in Lower Bugga-Wugga Booga-Woog are mostly no longer with us or they are around waving red flags today and revolting against their central government. They’re having a bad time. Well, the British Tommy that went down there with his Snider or his Lee-Enfield and brought them higher education in the first place was only occasionally followed by anybody who taught them anything. And they didn’t learn fast. Their literacy was not up to absorbing culture rapidly. So, of course, they can be victimized by anybody who comes along. Once the line is open, if literacy doesn’t follow and if secondhand observation is not available to a people, they stultify, they die, they go to pieces, they degrade. They are struck by this tremendous volume of exterior culture. They’ve been very happily down amongst the bong-bong trees, you know, dancing up and down amongst the bong-bong trees and the highest level of their interest, and so forth, was their own back yard. They could tell you all about bong-bong trees and they could tell you all about you mustn’t step in bug-bug bushes, because you step on a thump-thump snake and this was their direct observation.” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 11, 1964

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“BREAKTHROUGH: In the last few days I’ve made about three upper level breakthroughs, two very important. One of these is comparable to the CC breakthrough. The other deals with On perception, why it’s off and how to turn it on. So my own hats have a high stat this week. About a century’s worth.” — The Commodore, August 11, 1970

Overheard in the FreeZone

“In the last 100 or so years, science has done very little real advancing and a whole lot of chasing its own tail. Don’t imagine that most of what you see as advances in technology are triumphs of science; they aren’t. There’s a little incremental science in there and a whole lot of engineering, which is not the same thing at all. And unfortunately, most of what the God of Physics, Albert Einstein, had to say is based on false assumption and is thus false. Yet physics has been limited by his writings for a least a century. Interestingly enough, Einstein’s writings, if accepted would be the exact thing you’d promote if you wanted to keep a planetary population bound to their planet. Four years to get to the nearest star, if you could go as fast as light, which Einstein says you can’t.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1997: Tilman Hausherr posted news that a German court has upheld the conviction of a Scientologist police officer. “The Berlin state court has confirmed the conviction (for violation of the data protection law) of the Scientologist cop who had forced job applicants to take a ‘personality test’ and had forwarded the data to the cult. The fine was lowered to DM 9000 (instead of DM 12,000 of the first court, instead of DM 16,000 as out-of-court fine). The cop says he wants to appeal.”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“Back in my punk days I would donate plasma twice a week for $20 a pop. It helped keep me in pizza.”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial scheduled for October 11, pretrial conference August 17.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Readiness hearing scheduled for August 22 in Los Angeles
— David Gentile, GPB Capital, fraud: Next pretrial conference set for September 19.
— 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 filing amended complaint on August 2.
— 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, next status hearing October 25. Scientology petitioning US Supreme Court over appellate ruling.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— 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.

 
——————–

THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH

An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.

SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

 
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 12: Resisting illnesses with his mind alone
[TWO years ago] Leah Remini’s podcast: Forbes and Time writer Richard Behar on being a target of Fair Game
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s efforts to suck up to power is appearing to pay off
[FOUR years ago] Church of Fear: When John Sweeney sat down with Anne Archer and Leah Remini
[FIVE years ago] Leah Remini calls for federal action: Here’s the frustrating reason the IRS may not answer
[SIX years ago] Never-before-seen photo of Diana Hubbard, daughter of Scientology’s founder
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s front group that targets kids gets cover from a Swiss politician: News report
[EIGHT years ago] Mike Rinder on Scientology’s pathetic PR, and the Freewinds welcomes a famous clown
[NINE years ago] Stop Picking on Scientology! Double-Fisted Wisdom from 1977
[TEN years ago] Scientology Drug Program Narconon’s Licensing ‘Extremely Vulnerable’ After Oklahoma Deaths
[ELEVEN years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 23: Ken Dandar

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on August 11, 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

 We’ve known Pete Griffiths for years and we’ve written numerous stories about him, but the piece he wrote for us recently really seemed to hit a chord with the Bunker community.

Pete spun a great narrative about how, after being “declared suppressive” by Scientology, he had somehow still managed to find himself running a successful [...]]]>

 
We’ve known Pete Griffiths for years and we’ve written numerous stories about him, but the piece he wrote for us recently really seemed to hit a chord with the Bunker community.

Pete spun a great narrative about how, after being “declared suppressive” by Scientology, he had somehow still managed to find himself running a successful mission for several years. The story was a hit with our readers, so we asked Pete to give us even more details in this week’s podcast episode.

Today, we’re releasing the sixth episode of our podcast to our paid subscribers at Substack. You should receive it presently at your email inbox if you’re on the list.

We hope you enjoy the hour we spent with Pete, who also reviewed the bizarre situation of Scientology in Ireland with us.

Not a paid subscriber? Well, we have something for you, too. Last week’s episode was with Sunny Pereira spilling secrets of the Scientology Hollywood Celebrity Centre. In the weeks before, Bruce Hines discussed Sea Org insanity, Jeffrey Augustine helped us review Scientology’s latest moves in litigation, Claire Headley exposed Tom Cruise in some new ways that really blew us away, and Claire’s husband Marc told us some great stories about Scientology leader David Miscavige that we had never heard before.

Those first five episodes are now free to all of our subscribers, paid and unpaid. All of our podcast episodes can be found here.

 
——————–

Source Code

“You’re going up against a problem here, if you deal with the medico, of a person who monkeys. He doesn’t have any very precise answers. When he immediately gets out of the field of the broken leg, when he gets out of the field of putting on a tourniquet or some other type of action and he gets into a field where he himself does not have very good answers and so he monkeys. And they will do some very interesting and wild things. They will get some kind of a suspicion that there might be a growth in somebody’s chest and start removing tissue. And they’ll do exploratories and they will do all kinds of wild things. They will go into a tumor and take a small slice of it and so forth, thus activating it and aggravating it so that now the person practically is dying whereas before they weren’t bad off. In other words there’s a lot of monkey business. And I say that very advisedly. I could think of much more high school words than monkey business, but I think it rather fits, so forth. Man descended from monkeys and those that didn’t descend much became doctors. Bitter, huh?” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 30, 1964

 
——————–

Avast, Ye Mateys

“LOCAL ARC: On arrival we were met with much local ARC here. Officials and people were offended we were only staying a week so we have extended to two. Townspeople do know of ‘the incident’ in last port and are sympathetic to us. No reason to discuss it further. Just ack and thank them. Don’t try to deny it. Recent political events have left this area untouched.” — The Commodore, July 30, 1971

 
——————–

Overheard in the FreeZone

“We’re not here to have a fun time as if that’s all that mattered. Many of us have a long track record of disappointment and worse on this road, and so our friends are utterly priceless beyond measure; we want to do our best for them because we don’t want to lose them again. It’s hard to imagine any other group anywhere with a higher ARC than the Scientologists. For those folk who fear ethics and justice there are LRH’s beautiful repairs and remedies. And perhaps they might be gently reminded that without ethics they would have no bread on their table, or even a table. Presently, the Church bears the name Scientology, but only by fraudulent means, and its members are charlatans. They have the same tools as us (or did once) but don’t apply them, instead, they’re into off-beat practices like MEST-worship. Maybe they’ll evolve into a flea, or something. We on the other hand, have nothing to fear, but everything to look forward to.”

 
——————–

Past is Prologue

1999: The Los Angeles Business Journal published a profile on Heber Jentzsch, President of the Church of Scientology International. “In 1967, Heber Jentzsch was singing in front of an unusually rowdy crowd in Las Vegas. In the middle of his set, a man stood up and began demanding that Jentzsch get off the stage and that the showgirls be brought in to replace him. It was at that very moment the then-32-year-old Jentzsch realized his life was heading in the wrong direction. He got in his car and headed west to Los Angeles. He went downtown to the Church of Scientology – an institution he had read about while in the Army – and turned over his life. Jentzsch, now 63, has become the president of the Church of Scientology International, which reportedly has 8 million members. As an ordained minister of the religion, he performs weddings and funerals and keeps up his study of Scientology’s tenets several hours each week. Jentzsch also helps to direct the church’s volunteer ministries and community outreach programs, a task that placed him on the front lines of the L.A. riots and Northridge earthquake. Jentzsch blames ongoing animosity toward the church on a fear of changing the status quo. He argues that nay new religion is going to be met with disapproval. ‘I guess I would have to say to the naysayers that if you have a better program and you can save people, then do it,’ he said. Spurred by the involvement of famous celebrities including John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, the church now claims 250,000 members in Southern California – more than any other region of the world. ‘Celebrities are more spiritual in nature,’ Jentzsch said. ‘L. Ron Hubbard said, ‘A culture is as great as its dreams, and dreams are dreamed by artists.'”

 
——————–

Random Howdy

“The trigger for the OT 8 cognition is the line ‘the Pilot says: I’m mocking this up.’ The desired End Phenomena is ‘Now that I know what I am not, I am ready to find out what I am’.”

 
——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial scheduled for October 11, pretrial conference August 17.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.

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 filing amended complaint on August 2.
— 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, next status hearing October 25. Scientology petitioning US Supreme Court over appellate ruling.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— 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.

 
——————–

THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON

We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.

SCIENTOLOGY: FAIR GAME

After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.

LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH

An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.

SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z

Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

 
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?

 
——————–
THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] What kind of technical perfection can you expect at Scientology’s mecca, space pilgrim?
[TWO years ago] The Church of Scientology wants feedback about starting a podcast. Oh, pretty please?
[THREE years ago] Miscavige changes course: All remaining Scientology orgs to go ‘Ideal’ at the same time
[FOUR years ago] Here it is, your passport to Scientology godhood: Next stop, infinity!
[FIVE years ago] Scientology ‘dead agents’ our own Rod Keller as it pursues more illegal activity in Mexico City
[SIX years ago] L. Ron Hubbard as sad, oversexed schlub: The very personal writings his admirers never discuss
[SEVEN years ago] The Church of Scientology’s forgotten president: Karen de la Carriere on Heber Jentzsch
[EIGHT years ago] Arlene Cordova needs your help: Where is Scientology keeping her daughter Barbara?
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Needle Exchange: When David Miscavige Got Technical
[TEN years ago] Mimi Faust on Scientology: ‘They Wanted Me To Sign a Contract To Work For Them And I Refused’

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on July 30, 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.

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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

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Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast

On May 1, 2013, ex-Scientologist Pete Griffiths gave a talk about Scientology to some Dublin secondary school students (what we call high school in the U.S.). Griffiths was the guest of a teacher who had his own run-in with the church.

“He knew me from protests. I was friendly with him,” Griffiths says.

Speaking to students [...]]]>

On May 1, 2013, ex-Scientologist Pete Griffiths gave a talk about Scientology to some Dublin secondary school students (what we call high school in the U.S.). Griffiths was the guest of a teacher who had his own run-in with the church.

“He knew me from protests. I was friendly with him,” Griffiths says.

Speaking to students was something Griffiths had done before, at Trinity College and in other settings, and he was scheduled to give two addresses, the first on May 1, a Wednesday, and then another two days later.

After his first talk, Griffiths posted an audio recording of it to his YouTube channel, which is watched closely by the church. On Friday, after his second speech was finished and he was preparing to leave the school, three people — his teacher friend, a deputy principal, and another teacher — approached him and told Griffiths that they had received an email about him.

“They said, ‘You wouldn’t believe the stuff they’re saying about you. Is any of this true?’ I asked them what it said. They described it, saying that I was a criminal under watch by the police, and that I was a gay pornographer, and that I shouldn’t be talking to young kids. I just thought, that’s terrible.”

Griffiths posted something online about their description of the email, but it took another month before they released it to him.

“It was a lot worse than what the teachers told me,” he says.

The email included a photograph of Griffiths, naked except for a Guy Fawkes mask held over his privates with his left hand, and saluting with his right.

The email had been sent by Zabrina Collins, who is now (as Zabrina Shortt) a director of Scientology’s new “Ideal Org” recently opened in a Dublin suburb.

Collins claimed that she was writing as “a concerned parent,” and made the accusations about Griffiths being under police surveillance and that he was a gay porn distributor.

“The truth about the movies were that they were art house movies with gay content. It was clearly not pornography. I had no role in them at all, I just copied them and posted them on Vimeo. One was singer Seal singing a song, and another was Keane, with clips from movies.”

That Friday evening, after the teachers alerted him, Griffiths went to a police station to see if it were true that he was under investigation. But they told him that wasn’t the case.

As for the photo of his naked salute, at the time it was taken there was a wave of similar photos showing up on the Internet as soldiers and others showed their support for Prince Harry, who had been photographed in the nude in a 2012 Las Vegas incident.

Griffiths took the Collins email to a lawyer, who told him that he’d been defamed. So he filed suit against Collins as an individual.

At a court hearing in October 2014, other former Scientologists showed up, and caused a scene, Griffiths says.

“I didn’t invite people to come, but a bunch of people came to court,” he says. “It was giving the judge a bad impression of me.”

Then, two months later, on December 20, 2014, Griffiths heard that church members were going to be handing out Truth About Drugs leaflets on Dublin streets.

He and another former Scientologist, John McGhee, went to warn shopkeepers about the leafleting.

“Earlier on the same day, Zabrina came out and glared at me, daring me to say or do something. She was clearly trying to provoke an incident,” he adds.

“We followed them for about 30 minutes. I was quoting ‘OT 3’ and filming. It was just to warn shopkeepers, but John took it a stage further and got aggressive, snatching leaflets from them.”

Ten days later, Griffiths learned that Collins and another Scientologist, Michael O’Donnell, had obtained a court injunction against Griffiths and McGhee, and filed a lawsuit against them for harassment and assault.

The court injunction put a stop to Dublin’s monthly Chanology protests after 7 years, as local police broke up the next protest under threat of arrest.

“A Scientologist thug who had previously assaulted me, smashing my phone, came to my home and threw papers at me. They later described this as having served me professionally,” he says.

The two separate lawsuits — Griffiths against Collins for defamation, and Collins and O’Donnell against Griffiths and McGhee for harassment — were then combined in one case to be heard together.

“We allowed that to happen, which was a big mistake,” Griffiths says now.

“The defamation case came first. The Scientologists were showing videos of McGhee shouting. It had no relevance to me or the case. Then they showed the gay videos, which had the court laughing,” he says. “Crazy stuff was said in court, trying to get me rattled, and it just didn’t work.”

After three days of testimony, the harassment case was put on, and the Scientologists put on more videos, showing Griffiths and McGhee following and interfering with the leafleters.

“The judge was sick of watching videos. They kept showing videos that had no relevance except that they showed John yelling at them.”

Collins testified that she had been physically assaulted by McGhee, and Griffiths says that was really the crux of the case. But when McGhee cross-examined her, he didn’t ask her if that was true.

“Instead, he used his time to go on a big rant on how awful Scientology is,” Griffiths says.

Griffiths didn’t speak during the second half of the trial, but he still felt that the legal team had done an adequate job.

Several weeks later, in April 2016, the court rendered its verdict: Griffiths had been defamed by Collins, but the court also believed that Collins and O’Donnell had been harassed.

Griffiths was awarded 5,000 euros for defamation, of the 50,000 he was asking for.

“The judge said I would have gotten more if I hadn’t revealed the contents of the email myself,” he says. But Griffiths believes the judge got that wrong — he had never published the email, only the initial description of it he heard from the teachers on May 3, 2013.

For the harassment case, Griffiths was ordered to pay 2,000 euros and McGhee 3,500.

So Griffiths, after subtracting what he was ordered to pay, was just 3,000 euros ahead.

“But I don’t know if the Scientologists will ever pay me what I’m owed. I’ve certainly spent more than that just on my legal fees,” he says.

Griffiths decided not to appeal the ruling, but he did go back into court to fight the injunction, which the court had decided to make permanent.

The injunction was so draconian, he says, it would have prevented him from protesting against Scientology in the future at all without risk of being taken to jail. (The same injunction pertained to McGhee, but he kept protesting anyway, telling friends that he didn’t care if he was locked up.)

Griffiths then testified in a hearing about the injunction. McGhee didn’t appear.

“I had no interest in getting the injunction lifted because it doesn’t stop me in any way, shape, or form from protesting,” McGhee tells us.

Under questioning, Griffiths said he regretted the way the protest on Dec. 20, 2014 had turned out, and that he personally had nothing against Scientology and Scientologists — and then he was cut off before he could explain what he meant by that.

As a result of the hearing, the court lifted the injunction against Griffiths.

McGhee is bitter about it, even though he didn’t show up for the hearing himself. “In order to save his own skin he also had to grovel and sold himself out by saying that he didn’t have a problem with Scientology or Scientologists,” McGhee says. “When I was on the stand two years ago I was completely honest and I called the Scientologists a scumbag cult and said what I thought, without boundaries.”

On Wednesday, the Scientologists had one last opportunity to raise an objection, but the court dismissed it.

Finally, Griffiths was free to speak about the case, and he sent us a statement that we wanted you to see…

After almost 3 years, I’ve succeeded in getting the Scientologists’ High Court injunction against me dissolved. The last hearing was this week, and the Scientologists aren’t going to appeal, so I’m now free to speak about the case. The Scientologists (Zabrina Collins and Michael O’Donnell) won their initial assault and battery case against John McGhee and myself in April 2016. I won my appeal and the Judge dissolved the Scientologists’ perpetual injunction against me two weeks ago. Judge Noonan ruled that “there is nothing from the evidence that indicates that there was any physical contact at any time between Mr. Griffiths and either of the plaintiffs.”

As part of the case, I said in the High Court that I don’t have an issue with Scientologists or Scientology, that it was not my intention to harass or intimidate anyone, and that the two Scientologist plaintiffs were due an apology for what went on that day in December 2014.

I’m aware that saying this in court has cost me a few friends, as some (former) friends now call me a turncoat, a narcissist, a traitorous piece of garbage, not good enough to kiss John McGhee’s shoes, and so on. I’m also aware from reading John’s Facebook comments that he will “definitely never apologise for what he did.” I can appreciate that John doesn’t see anything wrong with his behaviour, but personally speaking, I do regret how the encounter played out and that I didn’t do more to keep the peace.

I could only answer the questions put to me in court. The judge said that his only interest was in adjudicating whether or not I would pose a threat to the Scientologists if he removed their perpetual injunction, and he warned that his court was “not to be treated as a platform for the expression of views that were not relevant to the case.”

The Scientologists’ barrister’s last question to me before the judge put a stop to the cross-examination was: “The truth is, the purpose of your conduct is because you’re not trying to protest at all, you have an issue with Scientology, isn’t that your position?” I responded “In answer to that, I do not have an issue with Scientology, or Scientologists.” The judge cut me off before I could elaborate, and I definitely could have worded my answer better, but this is broadly in line with what I’ve said over the years. I’m opposed to the Scientology organisation’s fraud and abuses but I see Scientologists as victims deserving of sympathy and understanding.

As I said in court, my intention has never been to harass or intimidate anyone. I don’t want to hate or harm Scientologists (or anyone else), I only want to help them. My goal is to inform the general public, and if possible, to reach the existing membership in the hopes that they too will eventually come to see that they have been duped.

As Judge Noonan ruled in court, “I am satisfied having heard his evidence that Mr. Griffiths is a truthful witness and by and large a law abiding citizen. He candidly accepted that what occurred on 20th December, 2014, involving the plaintiffs was wrong, unlawful, should not have happened and he has, in his evidence, apologised for it. I must also have regard to the fact that Mr. McGhee was clearly the main protagonist in the event complained of.”

We have not written about this case until now because Griffiths couldn’t speak on the record. While it was going on, however, we were appalled at the way some former Scientologists cast aspersions on him and questioned his motives.

The truth is that Pete Griffiths has come through this experience while on very modest means.

“I cashed in my pension early to help pay my lawyers. I used what was left over to buy a 13-year-old car so I could leave town to move to a much cheaper social housing set-up in a remote area with no public transport,” he says.

But one former Scientologist spread rumors that Griffiths had bought an expensive car. It was a knowing lie.

When news about the most recent hearing was published in the Irish press, Griffiths was viciously attacked online by a former Scientologist, as well as by a more recent Scientology critic with no background in the church.

But let’s take an assessment of what happened. Griffiths sued, and won, against a Scientologist for defamation. He and McGhee were ordered to pay for harassment, but Griffiths managed to get the injunction against him lifted so that he can continue his Scientology activism. McGhee, meanwhile, has admitted that he doesn’t care about the injunction and will continue to protest in spite of it.

Pete Griffiths made a statement in court he admits could have been worded differently, but that he says generally reflects his approach – it’s Scientology’s abuses he takes issue with, and not the people in it.

As Scientology continues to crumble, we believe that’s going to increasingly become the correct view to have about the people coming out of it.

We are glad these court cases are finally, completely over. And we hope the people who attacked Pete Griffiths take a long look at what they’ve done.

 
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Chris Shelton on the “tech”

Says Chris: “This week, I take a look at Scientology as a subject/philosophy compared to the Church of Scientology. Some people, especially Independent Scientologists and academics, have asserted that the “tech” can be assessed separate from the organization and even from L. Ron Hubbard. In this video, I show why I disagree with this assessment and why this matters.”

 
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Danny Masterson victim makes a public statement

While we wait for the Los Angeles District Attorney to make a decision on whether to charge Danny Masterson on the rape allegations of four different women, one of those victims decided to give a statement to the Daily Beast about Netflix ordering a new season of Masterson’s series, The Ranch.

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on November 16, 2017 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, 1995-2016 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Undergound Bunker (2012-2016), 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 | Scientology’s Private Dancer | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | Scientology boasts about assistance from Google | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

Our Guide to Alex Gibney’s film ‘Going Clear,’ and our pages about its principal figures…
Jason Beghe | Tom DeVocht | Sara Goldberg | Paul Haggis | Mark “Marty” Rathbun | Mike Rinder | Spanky Taylor | Hana Whitfield