“Founding Church of Scientology”
1424 16th Street NW
Washington DC 20036
202-797-9826
Went Ideal: October 31, 2009
Miscavige quote: “A Declaration of Independence, wherein it is written that all men are endowed with certain inalienable rights—including the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. To which we of this Church would add: That all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights. That the souls of men have the rights of men. And that no agency less than God has the power to suspend or set aside those rights. For that is what our Founder declared in the Creed of our Church. So yes, you are looking at a living embodiment of the freedom and equality that originally inspired this nation. Because, yes, this Church stands for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And, yes, it stands here today because of the freedom on which this nation was built—the freedom of religion. For it was here, in this nation’s capital, that we fought for and won our recognition. And all which has made it possible for us to reach out the world over with our programs to bring the American dream of freedom to every being of every nation. And with the opening of this new Church, our unqualified help will now extend even farther.”
[Since 2003, Scientology leader David Miscavige has been on an ambitious quest to upgrade every one of Scientology’s “orgs” — its name for churches. One after another, orgs are being replaced by “Ideal Orgs” in what Miscavige claims represents an expansion of the church’s reach. Local members are under intense pressure to raise funds for the multimillion-dollar projects, but there’s no evidence that fancier facilities are bringing in new members. We’re maintaining pages for each Ideal Org, and we’re hoping you’ll help us keep up to date about these places by sending us information about them.]
Scientology’s shills: Brad Sherman, Congressman of California; Diana Rothe-Smith, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster; Addie Richburg, National Alliance of Faith and Justice; Mike Silverstein, Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission
——————–
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. Background on this website and its proprietor can be found at our About 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. Our collaboration with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’, is also available at Amazon in paperback and Kindle versions.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2017 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2017), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Learn about Scientology with our numerous series with experts…
BLOGGING DIANETICS: We read Scientology’s founding text cover to cover with the help of L.A. attorney and former church member Vance Woodward
UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists
GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice
SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts
Other links: Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
