|
|
 It’s not every day that we get to hear directly from David Miscavige, the leader of the Church of Scientology.
When we see or hear his words, it tends to be in speeches that he gives to other Scientologists at church events. We also suspect that he often writes some of the public pronouncements that Scientology puts out under the name of its international spokeswoman, Karin Pouw. But words for public consumption under Miscavige’s own signature are very rare, and tend only to occur in court declarations. As far as we can tell, the last one he made was in 1999. And that’s why we think it’s a pretty big deal that this week, Miscavige submitted a declaration in the lawsuit filed August 16 by Monique Rathbun, a lawsuit which alleges that Miscavige and Scientology have orchestrated a four-year harassment campaign against her simply because she is married to Mark “Marty” Rathbun, who was once Miscavige’s top lieutenant before he became an outspoken critic of the church. Continue reading Scientology Leader David Miscavige Files Declaration in Texas Lawsuit
 Trementina Base’s “Vault House,” a prop that covers up the vault entrance itself. A Piece of Blue Sky , one of the very best books on L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology. He has a new edition of the book for sale, and on Saturdays he’s helping us sift through the legends, myths, and contested facts about Scientology that tend to get hashed and rehashed in books, articles, and especially on the Internet.THE BUNKER: Jon, new photography of the Trementina Base in New Mexico has people talking about Scientology’s vaults again. The underground vaults are built and operated by a church entity known as the Church of Spiritual Technology, or CST. Shelly Miscavige’s mysterious existence — probably at CST’s HQ in the mountains above LA — also has the press talking about CST. Continue reading The History of Scientology’s Weird Vaults — The Bizarre Battlefield Earth Connection!
 A year ago, we told you about a surprising discovery made by Paulette Cooper when she was looking through Patty Moher’s collection of Scientology materials during a gathering at Patty’s house in Connecticut — Paulette stumbled on a pamphlet put out by the church in 1969 that featured an interview with a 7-year-old Neil Gaiman.
The interview was a transcript of a 1968 BBC radio show which featured the young Gaiman, who had been kicked out of a school because of his family’s affiliation with Scientology. A year later, the church included the transcript in a political pamphlet because Scientology was under attack in Parliament, and the young Neil made such a fine example of a budding member of the organization. At the time, we hoped someone at the BBC could track down the original audio of Neil’s interview, and we asked again in June, when Neil’s new book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, was published. And now, someone at the BBC has found the audio! Continue reading BBC Tracks Down Audio of 7-Year-Old Scientologist Neil Gaiman
We were amused to see the word “EXCLUSIVE” slapped onto the title of yesterday’s story in the Daily News about Scientology building a community center in Harlem.
Back in 2007, the Village Voice, where we worked, was one of several publications to write stories about Scientology spending millions to buy some properties on 125th Street, saying that it would open a new community center in “a couple of years.” Yesterday, the “Exclusive” news in the Daily News was that a chapel and cafe are still a year away from opening (or so church spokespeople claim), and the community center is even farther from completion. That’s news? Continue reading What the Daily News Left Out of its Story on Scientology in Harlem Advertisement
 As our readers can probably imagine, we’re pretty excited here in the Underground Bunker after getting yesterday’s news about Monique Rathbun’s hearing date for a temporary injunction on September 12. Scientology legal matters are definitely heating up, and so we thought it was time for a general roundup of the major cases being litigated around the country.
We’re starting in Michigan, where we revealed recently that Per Wickstrom, who runs a number of Scientology-style drug rehab centers, has filed suit against the Pennfield Township (near Battle Creek) because it has repeatedly turned down his requests to expand one of his facilities, called “A Forever Recovery.” The Township removed the case to federal court and filed a motion to dismiss it. And now, Wickstrom is battling back: by whining. Continue reading Scientology Legal Roundup: Per Wickstrom’s Fine Whine, And More!
 The temporary restraining order that prevents Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige from surveilling Monique Rathbun has been extended to September 12, when a two-day hearing has been scheduled which could see dramatic testimony about electronic snooping, sexual taunting, and other alleged harassment by the church.
Monique is married to Mark “Marty” Rathbun, who was once the second-highest ranking executive in the church until his defection in 2004. Since 2009, he’s operated a blog critical of Scientology leader David Miscavige, and as a result, the Rathbuns have been the subject of years of surveillance and intimidation by the church, much of it documented at this website. Continue reading Monique Rathbun vs. Scientology: Temporary Injunction Hearing Set for Sept 12
 Claire Headley is taking us on our journey to train as Scientologists. She and her husband Marc were Sea Org workers who escaped from Scientology’s International Base in 2005. She spent years working with Scientology’s “tech,” and was trusted to oversee the auditing of Tom Cruise. Go here to see the first part in this series.
Claire, you’ve been helping us see how much of Scientology is all about indoctrination and control as church members move up the “Bridge to Total Freedom.” We’ve now reached something called “Expanded Grade 2,” and there’s more repetition — once again we’ll be drilled on “overts and withholds” (moral transgressions, and making them worse by trying to keep them hidden). But for many folks, this is also when they first encounter the dreaded “security check” or “sec check.” In other words, Scientology’s interrogation culture now kicks into high gear. CLAIRE: That’s right, and it includes (but isn’t limited to) what is known as the “toughest” sec check in Scientology, the “Joburg.” It was developed in Johannesburg for the most hardened of criminals. Continue reading The Dreaded “Joburg Sec Check”: Scientology Interrogations, Explained!
 Once again, The Underground Bunker has teamed up with Woman’s Day, Australia’s largest selling magazine, to bring you an exclusive story.
Anette Iren Johansen recently left the Church of Scientology and has been blogging about her experiences, citing “terrible abuses committed within the church.” But she saved until now her biggest secret: She was one of numerous women the church auditioned in 2004 and 2005 when Tom Cruise was looking for a new wife. She’s the first, however, to go public about her experience. Anette spoke to Henry Meller, US reporter for Woman’s Day, and yesterday his story hit store shelves in Australia. Continue reading ANETTE IREN JOHANSEN: “I Auditioned To Be Tom Cruise’s Wife”
 Jon Atack is the author of A Piece of Blue Sky, one of the very best books on L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology. He has a new edition of the book for sale, and on Saturdays he’s helping us sift through the legends, myths, and contested facts about Scientology that tend to get hashed and rehashed in books, articles, and especially on the Internet.
Jon, last week you took on the shared reality that props up Scientology’s cosmology. But what about L. Ron Hubbard himself? Did he share in that reality? This time, you said you wanted to tackle Hubbard’s original motivations for creating a worldwide movement. What have you found out? JON: In the 1952 book Scientology: 8.80, Hubbard described his goal in these words: “My purpose is to bring a barbarism out of the mud it thinks conceived it and to form, here on Earth, a civilization based on human understanding, not violence. That’s a big purpose. A broad field. A star-high goal.” Continue reading What Motivated L. Ron Hubbard? Historian Jon Atack Follows the Clues
 Who said the Sunday Matinee was dead? We’re doing our best to bring it back today with an all-video edition of Sunday Funnies, when we show you the best that our Scientology tipsters have forwarded to us during the week.
And as with any great Sunday feature down at the Bijou, we have a main feature we’ll save for last. It stars that ruggedly handsome man from the northern wilds, David Love (right), who, as you can see, really stretches his acting chops with the addition of a ten-gallon hat. We think you’ll really enjoy the thrills and chills of that main event. But first, we have a killer lineup of preliminary items to get you into the mood. Continue reading Scientology Sunday Funnies: The All-Video Version!
|
It’s not every day that we get to hear directly from David Miscavige, the leader of the Church of Scientology. 
