Bill Franks, 1946-2018, appointed by Hubbard to ‘reform’ Scientology after Snow White scandal

[Bill Franks, left, with former mission holder Bent Corydon last year]

We spoke with Bill Franks a few weeks ago on the phone after we heard he had entered hospice care. We wanted him to know how much we appreciated the help we got from him on our book about Paulette Cooper. He was characteristically humble about it, saying that he hadn’t done much.

Continue reading Bill Franks, 1946-2018, appointed by Hubbard to ‘reform’ Scientology after Snow White scandal

Remembering that Scientology comes from a mix of science fiction and ghost stories

[Coming back from Target Two?]

An unexpectedly mirthful moment during Tuesday night’s Scientology and the Aftermath episode about Shelly Miscavige was Tom DeVocht’s explanation that remaining wretches like Norman Starkey put up with imprisonment and abuse from Scientology leader David Miscavige because they are waiting for L. Ron Hubbard to return and put things right.

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Scientology threatened to sue over last night’s episode, settled for sliming Leah & Mike instead

Last night, we kept checking Scientology’s main anti-Aftermath website obsessively. We couldn’t wait to see what kind of attack the church would make on the episode in Leah Remini’s series when she was finally taking on the “Where is Shelly?” question head-on.

Would they post something from Shelly herself, David Miscavige’s wife who vanished in 2005 and hasn’t been seen in public since 2007? Maybe even a video, proving that Shelly was well and wanted to be left alone?

Continue reading Scientology threatened to sue over last night’s episode, settled for sliming Leah & Mike instead

Leah Remini asks ‘Where is Shelly’ as the Church of Scientology turns 65!

[From tonight’s episode]

We have quite a two-fer today, campers. December 18 is an anniversary of some import, which we describe in our second item (and happy birthday, Church of Scientology!). But it’s also the day that Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath is finally taking the story of Shelly Miscavige head-on.

Continue reading Leah Remini asks ‘Where is Shelly’ as the Church of Scientology turns 65!

Finally, Scientology spells out its crazy ideas in a video you weren’t supposed to see

On Thursday, we told you that an Underground Bunker reader in Greece revealed to us that an entire Michael Chan lecture had been uploaded by Scientology to YouTube. This was something we were very excited to get a look at, we explained, because Michael Chan is just about the only thing Scientology has in the way of a circuit “preacher,” and his appearances are top secret.

Continue reading Finally, Scientology spells out its crazy ideas in a video you weren’t supposed to see

Where in the U.S. the next set of Scientology ‘Ideal Orgs’ will be popping up next

Rod Keller keeps his eagle-eye on David Miscavige’s building efforts around the country…

Continue reading Where in the U.S. the next set of Scientology ‘Ideal Orgs’ will be popping up next

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman: Spied on by Scientology until it ripped them apart

We have a real treat for you this week in our ‘Scientology Lit’ series, an excerpt from the excellent book Fair Game: The Incredible Untold Story of Scientology in Australia by Steve Cannane. One of the best researched and written books about Scientology in any era, Steve covered a vast amount of territory. We’ve chosen portions of a later chapter, ‘Cruise and Kidman,’ with Steve’s blessing. Published in 2016, this book contains the last extensive interviews Marty Rathbun gave before he went pear-shaped.

Continue reading Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman: Spied on by Scientology until it ripped them apart

Finally, L. Ron Hubbard’s first ‘Clear’ — Sonya Bianchi — found again after 68 years

We’re sad to report that on December 5, Frank T. Hulswit died before we had a chance to talk with him. He was 94.

Continue reading Finally, L. Ron Hubbard’s first ‘Clear’ — Sonya Bianchi — found again after 68 years

Scientology reveals it has a secret donor with an NFL connection giving millions

[Scientology barnstormer Michael Chan]

We want to thank our reader in Greece who alerted us to a pretty amazing situation. An entire 2-hour Michael Chan talk given to Scientologists in Athens had been posted to YouTube, and if we hurried we could get a look at it before Chan pulled it down (which Chan said would happen soon).

Continue reading Scientology reveals it has a secret donor with an NFL connection giving millions

Tiponi Grey, 1968-2018, a woman who told off Scientology for its lack of compassion

[Tiponi in July, with (L to R) Ishmael Bey, Mike Rinder, Leah Remini, and Hector Falu-Muhammad]

On Tuesday night, viewers of Leah Remini’s Scientology and the Aftermath were stunned when the episode finished with the words, “In Memoriam, Tiponi Grey.”

Continue reading Tiponi Grey, 1968-2018, a woman who told off Scientology for its lack of compassion

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