Tony Ortega's Blog, page 357

“I was up there at Oak Knoll for about a year, Oak Knoll Naval Hospital. And I used to walk around — all I had to do — I was a line officer and all I had to do was take off one collar ornament, and I became a doctor….And a little doctor up there by the name of Yankewitz, I used to prowl around there once in a while, Yankewitz was a pretty good guy. And he came, he headed this project, and it had to do with endocrine system. They were trying to do something for people released from Japanese prison camps. These people couldn’t eat. And if they did eat it went immediately into fat. They couldn’t absorb any protein. And I had discovered that there was an immediate index between protein and healing tissue. I used to talk to Yankewitz about it, and he’d listen tolerantly, because he didn’t think I was doing anything, see….And it was out of that year’s study that I concluded rather conclusively, on a very large series of tests, that the body cannot be monitored by what we call structure. And by monitored, I meant healed. It can be changed by structure, but only deteriorated. It’s a one-way route….I’m sorry that I don’t have the records. I’m sure they’re still at Oak Knoll, because I know nobody in the government ever read any records, they just make them.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 15, 1953

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“We have 2 or 3 fellows who are trying to run away from it all to escape to some fancied bliss. Now and then I try to tell someone, ‘don’t go diving off that cliff’ and now and then they say cheerily ‘But I’ve GOT to, you see…’; and away they go. I just don’t like that dwindling scream followed by the thud.” — The Commodore, December 15, 1969

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“Max Sandor, real name Joachim Steingrubner, dropped his body around 2 AM local time Dec 4, 2020 in São Paulo, Brasil. Anyone who knew Max from his involvement in various self development groups (Psycho Energy Auro Technology, Ifa, Scientology) should understand he has not entered the between-lives/Bardo, and will reincarnate without being wiped. Max was a charming fellow, and powerful magician/OT, and will be missed by all who knew him. I wish him the best in his next set of adventures.”

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1996: PA News reported that a member of the British House of Lords has announced he is a Scientologist. “A Liberal Democrat peer today disclosed he is a member of the Church of Scientology, as a Home Office minister warned of the ‘potential dangers’ of becoming involved in such organisations. In Lords question time exchanges on the operations of the organisation, Lord McNair, 49, declared: ‘I have to tell the House that I have an interest — and that interest is that I am a member of the Church of Scientology.’ Tory Baroness Sharples earlier told the House: ‘Those who have left the cult, a number of them, have been both threatened and harassed and a considerable number of them have been made bankrupt by the church.’ Home Office Minister of State Baroness Blatch said: ‘People should be warned of the potential dangers of becoming involved in organisations of this kind.'”

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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

“The irony is that a supposed spiritual technology that is claimed to be based in science and logic to some degree is actually the most fundamentalist ‘religion’ ever created. The Westboro Baptist Church and the Taliban have nothing on Scientology when it comes to fundamentalist dogma.”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

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

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

——————–

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

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.

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.

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

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

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology trying to use its UN connections to fight its favorite bogeyman, psychiatry
[TWO years ago] Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman: Spied on by Scientology until it ripped them apart
[THREE years ago] Louis Theroux’s showdown with Scientology over a public road: The nutty new chapter
[FOUR years ago] CLAIM: ‘Frail’ looking Shelly Miscavige spotted near Scientology compound in California
Today in L.A.: Can Scientology kill a forced-abortion lawsuit in the name of religion?
[SIX years ago] More about the goons Scientology sent to intimidate Marty Rathbun and Louis Theroux
[SEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology celebrates the holidays!
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology Leader David Miscavige: Getting Desperate?
[NINE years ago] Martin Bashir Compares Newt Gingrich to Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,151 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,655 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,175 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,195 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,086 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,393 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,261 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,035 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,839 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,155 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,721 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,640 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,808 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,389 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,650 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,688 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,401 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,926 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 281 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,456 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,007 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,156 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,476 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,331 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,450 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,806 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,109 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,215 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,617 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,489 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,072 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,567 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,821 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,930 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 15, 2020 at 07:00

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

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

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

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

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

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

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

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Published on December 15, 2020 04:00

The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 7: The litigators

[David Miscavige knows he can count on attorneys like Bert Deixler]

We still consider it one of the most revolting things an attorney has done in the service of the Church of Scientology.

Laura DeCrescenzo was suing the Church of Scientology over what she claimed was years of abuse not only as a “Sea Org” worker, but as a child indentured to Scientology. She had started out in the Sea Org at only 12 and was put on the child’s schedule: 90 hours a week, for pennies an hour, when she was paid at all. At 13, she was moved up to the adult’s schedule, 112 hours a week.

Like other Sea Org employees, she worked 365 days a year, and had almost no chance to see her family. At 17, she alleged, she was forced to have an abortion so she could keep up her round-the-clock work schedule.

It was a lawsuit with a lot of shocking allegations, and Laura knew that her best chance to corroborate her claims would be to get her hands on the files that Scientology had kept on her during her employment. Scientology is obsessive about keeping records, and Laura knew that all of the horrible things she had been put through would be coldly recorded in her voluminous folders.

Scientology didn’t want her to have her own files, and fought tooth and nail to keep them from her. When the trial court judge sided with Laura, however, and ordered Scientology to turn over the documents, the church turned to one of its most trusted litigators, high-priced Los Angeles attorney Bert Deixler.

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Deixler tried to convince the California State Supreme Court, and then the US Supreme Court, that what was contained in Laura’s files was so “religious” in nature that turning them over to her for her use in a lawsuit would be a shocking betrayal of Scientology’s religious rights.

This is a specialty of Scientology, turning things on their head so the church appears to be the victim, but neither court was swayed, and eventually Scientology had no choice but to turn over tens of thousands of Laura’s own records to her.

We then did a story about what was in those folders, and it was horrific. There were documents, for example, showing that Laura had been disciplined because, at 12 years old, she had admitted to missing her mother.

There were also records confirming that Laura was having difficulty dealing with her abortion, which Scientology knew full well had been forced on her.

Laura eventually won a huge settlement when, on the eve of trial, Scientology leader David Miscavige finally caved and wrote a huge check to end the matter. He knew that that church could never actually go through a trial and have these matters come out in evidence with the press watching.

But we were still stunned that Bert Deixler paid no price for his role in what Scientology had tried to do. Here were documents the church knew were horrific records of the abuse of a young girl in employment of the church, and it had tried to hide that material by having Deixler claim to the highest courts in the land that it was material that was too “religious” to be released.

Seriously, where are other religious organizations on this? Scientology tried to hide records of coerced abortion by claiming it was too religious to turn them over?

We’re still shaking our heads at that. But that’s typical for attorneys who do the real dirty work for Scientology in court, the mainstay litigators who, day in and day out, snow US courts with aggressively deceptive arguments and briefs, and for hundreds of dollars an hour.

We’re currently marveling at the antics of two more litigators, William Forman for the Church of Scientology International and Matthew Hinks for the Religious Technology Center, as they handle the biggest lawsuit against the church in years, the one filed by Danny Masterson’s rape accusers.

[Forman, left, and Hinks]

Most recently, Forman and Hinks stunned us in their recent filing in the case, when they told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven Kleifield that the “commerce” of Scientology is, indeed, the kind of stalking that the church is accused of in that lawsuit.

The filing was brash and pugnacious, because it reflects the man paying the bills, Scientology leader David Miscavige. Dave’s money has for many years bought him the kind of litigators who will say and do what he wants them to in court, even outlandish things that make little legal sense.

Dave knows that his money ensures that he’ll always have these expensive enablers to do his bidding in court.

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The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology

7: The litigators
8: The ghost private eyes
9: The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office
10: Political shills
11: Gary Soter
12: The city of Clearwater, Florida
13: Google and other tech titans
14: The Los Angeles Times
15: Jeffrey Riffer
16: James Packer
17: Louis Farrakhan
18: Mark “Marty” Rathbun

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19: Wally Pope
20: Gensler
21: Parents who subscribe to ABCMouse
22: Graham Norton and other celebrity strokers
23: The apologist academics
24: Rebecca Dobkin and other low-level PI grunts
25: DirecTV and filmmakers buffing Dave’s channel

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

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

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

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1999: Dateline NBC aired a follow-up segment on Bob Minton this week. “The Church of Scientology has described Vaughn and Stacy Young and others Minton is funding as liars who commit crimes against the church. And church lawyers hired a team of investigators to span the globe looking for Bob Minton’s dirty laundry. Minton’s family and friends say private eyes told them they feared he was violent, even telling one friend that Minton might go into a church one day and start shooting at Scientologists. When we first broadcast our story, Bob Minton didn’t seem to have a lot of dirty laundry, and it seemed unlikely that he would become violent. But that was then.”

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SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

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

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——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

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

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

——————–

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

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.

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.

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

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

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Glam for Xenu: When Scientology celebrities ruled the world
[TWO years ago] Finally, L. Ron Hubbard’s first ‘Clear’ — Sonya Bianchi — found again after 68 years
[THREE years ago] He was Scientology’s most famous spy, then he turned witness and vanished. Now, here he is.
[FOUR years ago] Nora Crest’s powerful new video: Why you can’t be gay in Scientology
Who are those WISE guys? A tipster helps us get some names of Scientology operatives
[SIX years ago] Another Scientology ambush, this time of Marty Rathbun with Louis Theroux present
[SEVEN years ago] Jon Atack: What we have here — in Scientology — is a failure to communicate
[EIGHT years ago] DOX: Florida Officials Fight Attempt to Hide Drug Rehab’s Scientology Connections
[NINE years ago] Scientology Story of the Year: Cast Your Vote Now!

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,150 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,654 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,174 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,194 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,085 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,392 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,260 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,034 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,838 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,154 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,720 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,639 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,807 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,388 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,649 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,687 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,400 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,925 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 280 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,455 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,006 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,155 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,475 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,330 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,449 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,805 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,108 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,214 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,616 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,488 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,071 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,566 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,820 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,929 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 14, 2020 at 07:00

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

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

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

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

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

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

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

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Published on December 14, 2020 04:00

More Scientology orgs boarded up, our readers report: What’s going on?

Last week we pointed out what some of our readers had noticed, that some Scientology orgs and missions are boarded up, and we’re not sure why.

A reader sent us a photo of the Silicon Valley org boarded up, for example, and it really seemed puzzling. On social media, Scientologists are celebrating their efforts against the coronavirus, and are making announcements that orgs are re-opening. And the Silicon Valley org is one of those more recent Ideal Orgs that is in a business park and not in a central downtown area. It has no foot traffic and isn’t in an area prone to street protests.

So what gives? We also published photos of DC and Dallas orgs battened down, and also the windows boarded up in Detroit. And since then, we’ve received more dispatches from readers.

A reader in San Francisco let us know that the Ideal Org there is boarded up…

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Chicago’s Ideal Org hasn’t had its grand opening yet, and in the meantime its current location is boarded up…

Denver is sealed up tight…

On the other hand, Columbus is not only unboarded, it seems to be doing a brisk business…

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The Harlem Ideal Org was board-free when our reader went by this week…

…but on closer inspection they noticed a lot of plywood stacked up just inside, so perhaps it’s about to be boarded up as well:

Last week, we reported that Kestrel had found the Dallas org boarded up, but another of our readers received this invitation for an event there…

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We never received a reply to our message to Scientology spokeswoman Karin Pouw about the closed orgs. And we haven’t seen references to it on the Scientologist social media feeds.

What’s happening? There’s no indication on Scientology social media accounts that the church is going out of business. And street protests from earlier this year don’t really explain why orgs are boarded up at this point.

If you have a chance, please go by your local org so we can get some more reports. We’ll just continue to search for some clue to what’s actually going on.

——————–

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

——————–

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

——————–

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

——————–

1996: Stefan Mars posted that his newly created NOTS page has come under attack by Scientology. “CoS has more or less FAX-bombed the University of Linkoping, but so far my page is still up. For those that email me requests the NOTs I am still shipping them, and intend to keep on doing so until the end. Helena Kobrin emailed me at that address btw, I thanked her for her interest in the documents and sent a copy of them to her. She then faxed to the university claiming it was proved that I did send NOTs to people, like I was going to deny it

Bixler v. Scientology: Misc… by Tony Ortega

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Published on December 13, 2020 04:00

Wild scene in court papers: Scientology leader David Miscavige finally, really served?

[The elusive quarry]

While we wait for the major showdown over “religious arbitration” on Dec 18, there’s another update in the lawsuit against Danny Masterson and Scientology which we know you’re going to want to hear about.

On Thursday, attorneys for Chrissie Carnell Bixler and the other women suing Masterson submitted an affidavit by a private investigator who describes the most recent attempt to serve Scientology leader David Miscavige to make him an official defendant in this lawsuit, which was first filed more than a year ago.

The scene the private investigator described is pretty entertaining.

Carlos Fernandez identifies himself as a private investigator working for Intellectual Property Enforcement Co., and he says he was hired on November 17 by the attorneys representing Carnell Bixler and the others.

Four days later, on Nov 21, he went to a familiar Scientology landmark, the Hollywood Guaranty Building on the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Ivar Avenue.

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Scientology watchers know that on the first floor of that building, facing the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is the L. Ron Hubbard Life Exhibition, where you can go to hear all about what an internationally famous humanitarian the founder of Scientology was.

Fernandez notes that the building’s main entrance, at 6331 Hollywood Boulevard, is where records indicate that David Miscavige lives.

We’ve noted previously that former church executives tell us that there is a bedroom up on the 11th floor of this building, which also houses offices where the church’s top management hold sensitive meetings about running the worldwide organization.

But is it Dave’s “home?” We know that for many years Dave’s main residence was at Gold Base, near Hemet, California, but our sources tell us he stopped going there about five years ago. Where Dave is these days is a bit of a mystery.

Leah Remini told us that when she was still a member of the church and she wanted to send a letter or gift to Dave and his wife Shelly Miscavige, she was told to use the 6331 Hollywood Boulevard Avenue address.

So, as far as we know, it is an official address for Dave, even if he might not use it all that often.

Fernandez noted that Dave’s workplace is the Religious Technology Center. This is the subsidiary which nominally runs Scientology, where Dave is “Chairman of the Board,” hence the reason he is known as “C.O.B.” to Scientologists.

The address of the RTC is 1710 Ivar Avenue, which Fernandez astutely notes is in the same building as 6331 Hollywood Boulevard.

Hey! That is correct!

This guy already had one up on his predecessors who have had such a hard time serving Miscavige.

Anyway, here’s what Fernandez said happened when he went to the building on Nov 21:

I arrived at the Church of Scientology International address at approximately 9:50 AM. The main entrance for 6331 Hollywood Boulevard is located to the right of the building and the address of “6331” is depicted at the right bottom of the building. There is a pin pad next to the door and there is also a yellow sign that says, “Attention, please do not enter if you are ill or have been around others who are ill. Get the Receptionist’s attention so that you may be screened with a no-contact thermometer before entering the premises.” The doors themselves are glass but have a white curtain that covers them so no one can see inside.

As I knocked on the door, a Caucasian male opened the door. The Caucasian male is best described as being in his mid 40’s approximately 6’1 or taller and had graying hair. I asked him if David Miscavige was in. The Caucasian male stated that he was not in. I stated that I need to deliver a package to him, asked how I could do this and if I could at this location. The male stated that I could not and ended the conversation closing the door.

I then walked around the corner to the Religious Technology Center International address of 1710 Ivar Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028 in attempt to serve David Miscavige at his place of employment. I arrived at the location at approximately 9:54 AM. The address of “1710” is depicted above the brown entrance door. Next to the entrance door, there is a telephone box. There is a driveway with a black security gate to the left of the building.
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There was a Caucasian male security guard posted up in front of the door. The security guard was wearing a black uniform with gold lettering on the uniform. The security guard is best described as being 6’1” with light brown hair and a heavy foreign accent. I asked him for David Miscavige. He said he was not here. I asked if he was inside and told him that I had a package for David Miscavige. He said he was not in and that I needed to leave. I thanked him for his time and departed from the location.

Four days later, Fernandez made another attempt, with similar results.

But then on December 2, he went again to the building, but this time with a female colleague named Yvette Moreno. Would a woman have better luck getting her foot in the door? Here’s what happened…

Investigator Moreno knocked on the 6331 Hollywood Boulevard address and a Caucasian male answered the door. The male is best described as being in his late 40’s approximately 5’9”, 160 lbs., light brown hair and blue eyes.

At this time, Investigator Moreno asked the male if David Miscavige was in. The Caucasian male stated that he was not in and asked how he could help her. Investigator Moreno proceeded to give the service packet to the Caucasian male, who then threw up his hands in the air and stated that he could not accept service. Investigator Moreno told him that it was okay and she proceeded to put the papers on the floor on the inside of the building in front of the Caucasian male.

At this time the Caucasian male started to kick at the paperwork. Investigator Moreno advised him that it was probably not a good idea for him to kick out the paperwork into the street and public. The service packet was still inside the building when Investigator Moreno departed the location.

(Killer shade highlighted by us.)

With his colleague having served the packet of papers on the hysterical Sea Org employee at 6331 Hollywood Boulevard, Fernandez himself then pulled a similar maneuver around the corner at the 1710 Ivar Ave entrance…

When I arrived at 1710 Ivar Avenue, I rang the doorbell. I observed the entrance door slightly open. I entered the location. Once inside, I observed a mailroom with packages throughout. Inside towards the rear right, there were two Caucasians males working. I note that when they did speak to me later, they spoke in a very heavy foreign accent. One of the males is best described as being in his early to mid 40’s, approximately 5’9”, 185 lbs., black hair, brown eyes with corrective eyewear. The second male is best described as being in his mid to late 30’s, approximately 5’9”, 175 lbs., black hair and brown eyes.

As I called out to them, they turned to me and I asked if David Miscavige was in. They both turned to me, and I am not sure which one spoke, but between the both of them, they told me that I could not be there and that I needed to go outside and ring the doorbell. I told him that I did ring the doorbell and that I had a package for David Miscavige. At this point, they started to walk towards me telling me to get out. I told them that I was serving them with paperwork: and proceeded to place the service packet on a shelf near them as they came towards me. Where I placed the service paperwork there was a label depicting, “Mail Packs”. I then walked out and departed the location leaving the set of papers inside the 1710 Ivar Avenue location.

And with that visit to the worker bees at the Hollywood Guaranty Building, David Miscavige was (perhaps) finally served at his place of residence and his place of employment.

We will, of course, look forward to Scientology’s response, which will no doubt go heavy on the smelling salts.

Here’s the document itself…

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——————–

“If you went into this technical society and you could just make better screwdrivers than anybody else, why, if you had any acumen at all, you eventually would make some kind of a minor success of the situation. But we’re not talking now about screwdrivers. We’re talking about the stuff of which life is made: life itself. And any time you get a technology of that character going forward, and you have a grasp of that technology, you cannot help but win. You don’t even have to try to win. People will come ahead and present you with large sections of Earth. That is all. I mean, it can’t help it. For instance, right now I’ve told them occasionally, from time to time, they’d never get into space without us. I’ve told them that from time to time. Well, what do you know? Cape Canaveral just sent for a Scientologist. They won’t get into space without us.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 12, 1961

——————–

“NO ONE is to send telexes, telegrams, telephone messages or mail ashore without security clearance of CS-1. This includes the Ships Rep and Operations on international and mission lines but does not affect daily purchasing, PRO and port/agent cycles. This DOES include personal favors asked of persons leaving the ship on mission or on leave — they may NOT be given things to send specially for crewmembers or money to be transferred off normal org lines that are set up to handle just that.” — Ellen Klayman, F/Communicator, approved by Lt. Brian Livingston CS-1, December 12, 1969

——————–

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“While Facebook is a tool to connect, and it could have been a great tool for dissemination, it has now become a cesspit for counter-intentions, ARC breaks, and suppression of the subject. This is something I want no part of. Scientology is meant to be the exact opposite of that. Therefore, I have made a decision to disconnect from groups that are not AOGP owned. This is me ‘delivering a successful blow’ if you will. Now probably nobody gives a shit, I certainly have seen the apathy amongst Indies so I’m not expecting a farewell or anything. But in some small way I am hoping to inspire others to get active and make their own stand against some of these cultish individuals as well.”

——————–

Past is Prologue
1998: ABC News program 20/20 aired a show on Scientology this week. From the ABC web site: “Frank Oliver, former Scientologist internal security official: ‘They can send private investigators out to your home or to your place of work, talk to your neighbors — they will illicitly try and obtain copies of your phone bills or credit rating, they will try and create problems for you at your place of employment. They will try and sue you. They’ll do everything they can try and do to stop you or to silence you.'”

——————–

SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

“I remember one time I was talking to vaLLarrr and she let slip that the universe was 76 trillion years old. The next day she tried to make out she had been talking about the multiverse theory, but when I pressed her on it she admitted that wasn’t what she originally meant — she was honest in a weird way. That was a big win for me to get her to engage in verbal tech because normally she was super slick about avoiding that.”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

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

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

——————–

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

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.

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.

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

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

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] The LAPD has evidence a Scientology official it’s seeking has been sent to the Freewinds
[TWO years ago] Tiponi Grey, 1968-2018, a woman who told off Scientology for its lack of compassion
[THREE years ago] For the first time: The FBI file of Gabe Cazares, the Clearwater mayor targeted by Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Scientology and ‘aliens’: What did L. Ron Hubbard actually say about space invaders?
[FIVE years ago] More leaked video: Watch Scientology welcome 2007, a year David Miscavige would regret
[SIX years ago] Jon Atack packs a lot into a new short book — ‘Scientology: The Cult of Greed’
[SEVEN years ago] Judge Whittemore grants Luis Garcia discovery of Scientology’s murky trusts in fraud lawsuit
[EIGHT years ago] Only 2,418 Scientologists in England and Wales, Vastly Outnumbered by Jedi Knights
[NINE years ago] Scientology Leader David Miscavige Digs Israel; BONUS: Black People are Cool!

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,148 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,652 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,172 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,192 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,083 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,390 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,258 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,032 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,836 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,152 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,718 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,637 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,805 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,386 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,647 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,685 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,398 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,923 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 278 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,453 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,004 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,153 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,473 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,328 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,447 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,803 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,106 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,212 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,614 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,486 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,069 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,564 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,818 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,927 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 12, 2020 at 07:00

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

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

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

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

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

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

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

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Published on December 12, 2020 04:00

VALERIE HANEY DENIED AGAIN: State supreme court won’t hear case

[Valerie Haney, right, and her attorney Marci Hamilton]

The California state supreme court has turned down Valerie Haney’s request to review a lower court’s ruling, and so she’s once again back where she started: She faces going through Scientology “religious arbitration” before she can appeal the order that denied her the right to a trial in her lawsuit against the church and its leader, David Miscavige.

We’ve previously described to you how our litigation expert has been pretty critical of how Valerie’s lawsuit has been handled, which just lost another legal longshot. Our expert told us the odds that the state supreme court would take up the case were exceedingly slim.

Scientology predictably trashed Valerie’s petition to the supreme court, agreeing with an appellate court that Valerie’s team simply waited too long before seeking a writ of mandate.

(Valerie will have the right to appeal the decision that is forcing her into Scientology’s own internal arbitration, but she’s been petitioning for the right to have that decision appealed now, before having to subject to herself to that arbitration experience.)

After Scientology’s sneering opposition, Valerie had the right to respond. We only just obtained that document, which was written by her legal team’s constitutional expert, Marci Hamilton.

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Again, for the new folks coming to the Bunker from watching Leah Remini’s series at Netflix, we’ll quickly review how Valerie got here after being the star of the premiere episode of Leah’s third season. As that episode showed, Valerie made a gutsy escape from Scientology’s Gold Base in the trunk of a car. She had served as Scientology leader David Miscavige’s personal steward and believed she would never be allowed to leave because of what she knew about his personal life. She filed suit against Miscavige and Scientology in June 2019, alleging kidnapping for the years she was kept on the base, and stalking and slander for how she was treated after she left.

In January, Scientology successfully convinced Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Richard Burdge that by signing an agreement after her escape, Valerie was obliged to take any grievances to Scientology’s own internal brand of religious arbitration. Judge Burdge’s ruling became official on February 18, and on March 3 Valerie’s attorneys filed a motion for reconsideration, asking the judge to overturn his own decision. He upheld his decision in an August ruling. In September, Valerie’s team then filed a petition for a writ of mandate to the California 2nd Appellate Division, asking for the right to appeal Judge Burdge’s decision without first having to go through the arbitration.

The appeals court curtly denied the petition, saying that it was untimely, and with little explanation. But our California litigator tells us it was simply a case of Valerie’s attorneys waiting too long to file. Valerie’s side asked the state supreme court to review the case, and in our last story we reported that Scientology was trashing her petition and Valerie in general.

In her response, Hamilton briefly argued that the deadlines were not blown, and that the petition was actually timely. Then she turned to what makes this case extraordinary: That a person who has left a church is being forced into what is essentially a religious ritual of her former faith, a clear violation of her religious First Amendment rights.

The Petition is based on evidence that was before the trial courts. Each fact is substantiated based on declarations and exhibits. The Respondent religious organization seeks to force Petitioner into a religious ritual it calls “arbitration” but which in fact is both cruel and unconstitutional, because Petitioner left Scientology.

Hamilton then went on to argue something that is also at issue in the Danny Masterson lawsuit: Is Scientology stretching the boundaries of these arbitration agreements beyond what any reasonable person would presume?

Although courts have allowed arbitrations involving mutually-assenting parties and neutral arbitrations by religious individuals, they do not require individuals to be forced into a one-sided review led by decision-makers whose religious tenets require that they “obliterate” a non-adherent who has spoken out against the religious institution. Hubbard Commc’ns Office Policy Letter from L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology Founder, regarding Battle Tactics (Feb. 16, 1969).

That’s an interesting citation. Here’s the relevant paragraph from the 1969 policy written by Hubbard:

But there are also wars of attrition. We are engaged in one where total destruction of us has been the enemy’s aim for, at this writing, 19 years. This is barbarian warfare, thus the enemy must have had very positive fears and terrors about us. Since he fought for total attrition. In this case it is not safe to hope for any half-way win. We must ourselves fight on the basis of total attrition of the enemy. So never get reasonable about him. Just go all the way in and obliterate him.

Besides that very strong citation, Hamilton went on to include several more strong arguments, including that Judge Burdge should not have simply disregarded evidence that Valerie was made to sign her agreement under duress, and with an armed guard present.

But the state supreme court was not moved. As our expert predicted, this was a long shot even with the strong arguments made by Marci Hamilton.

Valerie can appeal Judge Burdge’s ruling, but only after she goes through with Scientology’s kangaroo court it calls religious arbitration. She has told us that she doesn’t want to do that, saying it would be like crawling back to her abuser.

We’ll see if we can find out from her what she plans to do next.

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——————–

“You should have things which are motion sources in there. The level of truth of that universe ought to be good. You would BE faith in that universe; or your mock-ups, as far as faith is concerned, you would probably rely on a mock-up a heck of a lot quicker than you’d ever rely on a piece of MEST. I mean that seriously. You’d just rely on the mock-up. That’s not bad; if you can create a Cadillac which can outrun Cadillacs, I think you’d depend upon your Cadillac. Get the idea? But if you were really up at the top of the mock-up curve, you’ve made a Cadillac, you would drive your Cadillac much in preference to a Cadillac. You get the idea? It sounds strange, it sounds peculiar, but if you were doing that, and you really set out to make a Cadillac, yours would be a better Cadillac, for you.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 11, 1952

——————–

“I’ve decided to release OT VII when SMERSH is vanquished and things are safe for Scientology over the world.” — The Commodore, December 11, 1968

——————–

“‘There are reports of euphoria in the financial markets and elsewhere over the arrival of the vaccines.’ LOL! I was going to say that ‘things are as bad’ that now it seems plausible that the ‘fake’ LRH issue about OT 8 seems to be true. Namely that wogs and Scienos (below OT 8) are genetically manipulated so that they now are being controlled by telepathy from the Marcabians. But apparently things are far worse than that! LOL! LRH was Right! ‘Democracy’ for these R6 humanoids is worse than democracy on a cage of monkeys! The cage of monkeys won’t kill themselves with ‘democracy,’ but R6ers with ‘democracy’ will make sure nobody is left alive! Hurry up and do your Bridge!”

——————–

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2002: The News-Press reported that a group of Scientologist joggers ran in Glendale, California to promote human rights. “An entourage of 13 joggers ran down Brand Boulevard with Glendale Police escorts Thursday to promote human rights during the Glendale leg of the L.A. Multathon. The event, Uniting Greater Los Angeles for Human Rights, was a celebration of the 54th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations, Church of Scientology spokeswoman Angie De Rouchie said. Sponsors of the event are the Human Rights Department of the Church of Scientology International and the International Foundation for Human Rights and Tolerance, in cooperation with United Nations Assn. USA. The event will culminate with a parade and festival Saturday on L. Ron Hubbard Way in Los Angeles. Joggers came from France, Spain, Korea and the Czech Republic to participate.”

——————–

SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

“Thing is he knows that if Lou called up a restaurant or a movie theater and said ‘Mr. Miscavige would like to visit your establishment, could you please close for the evening to accommodate this,’ they would respond ‘Who?’ His frail ego couldn’t handle this. That’s why the only time he goes out is when he’s with Cruise.”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

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

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

——————–

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

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.

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.

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

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

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] LEAH REMINI: ‘Jackie Lacey, you have forgotten what side you are on’
[TWO years ago] Tonight, Leah Remini examines her own role in the bizarre Scientology – Nation of Islam dance
[THREE years ago] DOX: An inside look at how Scientology gets what it wants at ‘Ideal Org’ events
[FOUR years ago] Scientology: Not very effective in Washington politics, but it tries, tries again
[FIVE years ago] Jon Atack: Scientology’s notion of ‘case gain,’ and how it reinforces the prison of belief
[SIX years ago] The questioner: Scientology brings in its legal ringer for a Florida showdown
[SEVEN years ago] TEXAS SKIRMISH: Mike Bennitt is on the scene as Monique Rathbun’s lawsuit is back in court
[EIGHT years ago] Tiziano Lugli Releases Non-Nazanin Boniadi Version of “Blown for Good” Rap
[NINE years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Learn PR from the Sea Org!

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,147 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,651 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,171 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,191 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,082 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,389 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,257 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,031 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,835 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,151 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,717 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,636 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,804 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,385 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,646 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,684 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,397 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,922 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 277 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,452 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,003 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,152 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,472 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,327 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,446 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,802 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,105 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,211 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,613 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,485 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,068 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,563 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,817 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,926 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 11, 2020 at 07:00

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

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

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

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

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

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

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

Bixler v Scientology: Suppl… by Tony Ortega

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Published on December 11, 2020 04:00

Danny Masterson accusers: Scientology’s illegal behavior shouldn’t count as ‘commerce’

[Plaintiff Chrissie Carnell Bixler and defendant Danny Masterson]

As we near the December 18 showdown over Scientology “religious arbitration” in Los Angeles Superior Court, Danny Masterson’s accusers have now responded to the extraordinary briefing going on, and their argument is a powerful one: Scientology should not get to count its illegal harassment and stalking of former members as legitimate “commerce” in order to deny them the right to trial.

We know that the lawsuit involving Danny Masterson and Scientology is a complex one, and it isn’t easy to keep straight who’s suing whom and over what. Even the celebrity-obsessed media that was all over it when this case was first filed in August 2019 have dropped away from these preliminary matters. But we’re nearing an extraordinary legal moment in Scientology litigation, and we want to make sure you have a chance to understand what is going on.

Chrissie Carnell Bixler, her husband rocker Cedric Bixler-Zavala, Bobette Riales, and two women going by the names Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2 filed this lawsuit in August 2019 alleging a campaign of harassment by Masterson, Scientology, and its leader David Miscavige. They say that the harassment was in retaliation for the women going to the LAPD in 2016 (and 2017 in the case of Riales) with allegations that Masterson had raped them in incidents between 2001 and 2004. When the lawsuit was filed, the LAPD investigation had been going on for nearly three years, and in that time, the plaintiffs claimed they had been subjected to an ongoing series of incidents involving surveillance, computer hacking, intimidation, and even their pets being harmed. It’s that harassment which is the subject of the lawsuit, not the rape allegations.

Since the lawsuit was filed, however, the LA District Attorney’s office did, on June 16, charge Masterson with raping three of the women (Carnell Bixler and the two Jane Does) and after several delays the That ’70s Show actor is scheduled to be arraigned on January 6 facing 45 years to life in prison.

Masterson denies that he raped the women, and Scientology and Masterson have denied in court papers and public statements that they harassed them as a result of the LAPD investigation. But Scientology is also trying to derail the lawsuit with the same tactic that was successful in lawsuits brought in two other cases: force the plaintiffs into religious arbitration.

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Carnell Bixler, Bixler-Zavala, and the two Jane Does were Scientologists at the time of the incidents, and so Scientology argues that the agreements they signed in order to receive Scientology services obliged them not to sue the church in the future, even after they left the organization. The church says that the agreements require them to take any grievances to Scientology’s internal arbitration, which must be carried out by a panel of three arbitrators who are members of the church in good standing.

Scientology was successful with this gambit in two previous lawsuits and they appeared to be well on their way to winning the same victory here. But then, after a November 6 hearing, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Steven Kleifield took the extraordinary step of vacating the hearing, disregarding the arguments of both sides, and putting Scientology on the spot. He pointed out that Scientology’s arbitration argument was based on the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA), which dates back to 1926, but that the act governs matters of “commerce.” Kleifield gave Scientology a little more than two weeks to come up with a document of only five pages or less explaining how “commerce” worked in this case.

How was it possible that stalking and libeling members years after they left Scientology could be considered interstate commerce under the FAA?

Scientology didn’t disappoint, coming back with a mindblowing statement of the organization’s essential venality last week. Scientology’s attorneys cited the allegations being made here, of harassment of rape victims, of excommunicating women for daring to go to the police, and argued that it was all covered in the agreements they signed.

Scientology, in other words, owned its bad behavior: Wrecking lives was the church’s “commerce.”

While that blew us away, we’re also pretty impressed by the document filed yesterday by attorneys for Chrissie Carnell Bixler and the other plaintiffs. They also had only five pages to make an argument, and so they settled on a strong one: That what Scientology had been doing for years was simply illegal, and so it couldn’t by definition be considered legitimate “commerce.”

Plaintiffs have a right to exit a religious affiliation…All claims alleged by Plaintiffs occurred after Plaintiffs left Scientology and therefore do not arise from the agreements which covered Plaintiffs’ religious services when they were members. Moreover, courts may not enforce contracts if any part of a contract is illegal. Here, it is illegal for Defendants to create an agreement to cover the criminal behavior at issue here…FAA has broad reach, but it may not be used to shield criminal actors…

That seems to us to be a pretty solid argument, and it seems like a smart way to give Judge Kleifield even more reason to deny these motions.

Here’s the document itself. We look forward to your observations…

SOME OF OUR PAST REPORTING ON THE MASTERSON CASE

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March 3, 2017: LAPD probing Scientology and Danny Masterson for multiple rapes, cover-up
March 8, 2017: Danny Masterson: Victim C gets support from a veteran actress
March 11, 2017: Scientology made Danny Masterson’s Victim B search past lives to explain being raped
May 9, 2017: Masterson hires Michael Jackson criminal defense attorney Tom Mesereau in rape probe
Nov 2, 2017: Read the threatening letter Danny Masterson’s attorney Marty Singer sent a victim’s husband
Nov 26, 2017: EXCLUSIVE: Scientology interrogated Danny Masterson and accuser, didn’t notify LAPD
Feb 14, 2018: PROSECUTORS PREPARE CHARGES CARRYING LIFE SENTENCE FOR DANNY MASTERSON
Apr 27, 2018: Strange days for a woman accusing Danny Masterson of rape — and for her rocker husband
July 8, 2018: Masterson witness fears for safety as investigation drags on and on
Nov 30, 2018: LEAH REMINI: Los Angeles DA Jackie Lacey, do your job already
Aug 14, 2019: RAPE ACCUSERS SUE DANNY MASTERSON, CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY, AND ITS LEADER
Jan 22, 2020: Cedric Bixler-Zavala blames Scientology for poisoned dog he had to put down yesterday
Feb 3, 2020: Here’s Scientology actor Danny Masterson’s legal response to his rape accusers
Feb 10, 2020: Another dog poisoned: Bobette Riales says harassment worse since suing Scientology

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Feb 26, 2020: SEVENTH victim comes forward to LAPD accusing Scientology actor Danny Masterson
Feb 29, 2020: Amended complaint filed against Danny Masterson with new stalking allegations
March 14, 2020: Danny Masterson’s victims speak out in sworn documents in lawsuit against Scientology
Masterson: Drop me from Scientology lawsuit if the ‘Jane Does’ won’t name themselves
June 17, 2020: SCIENTOLOGY CELEB DANNY MASTERSON CHARGED ON MULTIPLE RAPE ALLEGATIONS
June 19, 2020: Records show that Danny Masterson is a woeful Scientologist — would he turn on the church?
June 23: 2020: The key thing about Danny Masterson’s ‘DJ Donkey Punch’ nick is why he stopped using it
Sept 30, 2020: Could Danny Masterson’s odd legal fight over his Hollywood house endanger his freedom?
Oct 11, 2020: Danny Masterson asks to halt civil lawsuit while criminal case is ongoing, as expected
Oct 12, 2020: Bijou Phillips on her husband Danny Masterson: A macho ‘Strong Island’ guy
Oct 16, 2020: Danny Masterson ‘accidentally’ outs Jane Doe accuser after judge told him not to
Nov 16, 2020: Judge in Danny Masterson lawsuit doubts Scientology ‘arbitration,’ sets hearing
Nov 19, 2020: Danny Masterson takes another expensive and futile swipe at his criminal charges
Dec 1, 2020: If the feds are sniffing around, they might look at Danny Masterson’s besties
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Dec 4, 2020: WHOA! Scientology to Judge Kleifield: Wrecking human lives IS our ‘commerce’

——————–

“Recently I contacted some very interesting facsimiles of Captain Frank de Wolfe of the United States Army, who was wounded at Fort Donelson in 1862. You may think I am talking about a past death; I am not. I am talking about a sympathy facsimile picked up when I was about a year and a half old, evidently, on the death of my great-grandfather. I almost killed myself. I started running out a lot of emotional curves and life began to look more and more interesting, and then when I went to get up out of the chair I couldn’t get up. I wondered what this was all about so I began to run some more emotional curves, and then I suddenly recalled that my great-grandfather had a black cane with a solid gold dog’s head. It was a great little gimmick, this solid gold dog’s head. The facsimile which I had just finished running out was the facsimile of the death of my dog when I was 14, which tied in to the cane with the dog’s head, which was the death of my great-grandfather that occurred while I was still sick with pneumonia when about a year and a half old. Evidently my legs from the waist down had been out of valence most of my life.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 10, 1951

——————–

“So evidently there’s a grade of ‘animal’ according to the very best professors. Looking it over, modern ‘education’ and all, we then have the job of moving people up on this course action with which there would be wide agreement due to teachings in universities. Animal + Technique Zed = Human Being + Dianetics to Grade IV = Homo Novis + Power, R6EW and CC = Clear + OT grades to OT VII = Operating Thetan + what research I’m now doing equals ( ). There are a lot of in betweens and a lot of tech but those are the major points.” — The Commodore, December 10, 1970

——————–

“Every person he owed money to, including me and except Mary who took hers to Court (hers was different, not an advance payment but a specific loan) we worked out a handle so the person wasn’t harmed. He then received L10 and L12 from me. So how then is he in a condition of Enemy? The treason/enemy conditions were always wrong indications, the condition was danger that never never were fully handled and so repeated.”

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——————–

1997: In a USA Today interview, Scientology celebrity Kirstie Alley discussed Scientology and psychiatrists. “‘I’m a Scientologist all the way!’ Alley says. ‘I don’t like it when a journalist writes something like ‘the controversial Church of Scientology’ in an article about me. I didn’t say that, they said that. So they’ve tainted it. If I’d known they were going to say that, I wouldn’t have even talked to them. It’s like me saying, “the controversial Jew who interviewed me today.” What Jewish controversy was there?’ Alley had a more emotional motive for appearing as Woody Allen’s jilted psychiatrist wife in Deconstructing Harry. ‘I don’t like psychiatry,’ Alley says. ‘And I don’t believe it works. And I believe psychiatrists are neurotic or psychotic, for the most part. I wanted to play her that way, and Woody just totally let me do it. I said, “I want to be taking Prozac or drugs during the session with her patient.” I wanted to show that this woman is so twerked out that she has to take drugs, too. She takes her own medicine. So he said, Yeah! That’s a good idea.'”

——————–

SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

“Miscavige is a crime boss. If you’re a crime boss or a loan shark you can’t let somebody disrespect you or not pay back a loan, you have to make an example out of them to keep the rest of the underlings in line. This is more important than public perception.”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

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

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

——————–

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

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.

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.

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

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

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] George Gascón goes there: Elect him Los Angeles D.A., and Danny Masterson gets a fresh look
[TWO years ago] Scientology school sinks to new low, but the federal dollars keep pouring in
[THREE years ago] A close up look at how human rights abuser Scientology is touting human rights as a front
[FOUR years ago] The way to break free from Scientology’s mind trap: Admit to yourself that you’re gullible
[FIVE years ago] DOX: Woman sues Pasadena company for forcing Scientology on her
[SIX years ago] Marc Headley responds to sliming Scientology gave him at the ‘International Business Times’
[SEVEN years ago] The big reveal: What you actually learn on Scientology’s Operating Thetan Level Three
[EIGHT years ago] Nazanin Boniadi Speaks! Or Rather, Raps, About Scientology’s “Blind Alley”
[NINE years ago] Scientology Subluxation: Commenters of the Week!

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,146 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,650 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,170 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,190 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,081 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,388 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,256 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,030 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,834 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,150 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,716 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,635 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,803 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,384 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,645 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,683 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,396 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,921 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 276 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,451 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,002 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,151 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,471 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,326 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,445 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,801 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,104 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,210 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,612 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,484 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,067 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,562 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,816 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,925 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 10, 2020 at 07:00

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

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

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

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

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

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

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

Like • 0 comments • flag

Published on December 10, 2020 04:00

Date night at the Scientology Sunday service: How one teenager was lured into Hubbardism

[Illustration of Ron by R.G. Taylor]

Longtime reader Ron Kasman, a Canadian comic book artist, sent in this account of how he first fell into Scientology, a half century ago. We thought you’d like to see it, and we’d also like to hear some accounts of others and how they were first attracted to L. Ron Hubbard’s “applied philosophy.”

My teen years were troubled.

I had low self esteem while simultaneously thinking I was someone really special. On the plus side I was very good at math, physics, and chemistry. I was better in sports than most. My family loved me and I had many friends. On the down side I was a late bloomer, was far too opinionated, and came from a family without enough money for basic necessities.

I clammed up when I tried to talk to girls. We called that being shy. Today it is called social anxiety disorder.

There was a girl at school who was part of “the front line,” five girls who came to class early and sat in the front seats studying until the bell rang. I saw that as a major character flaw. But she was pretty. In my final year of high school she was in my chemistry class. She was a full blooded geek, no doubt about it. We were a perfect match.

As we approached the Christmas break I got up the nerve to ask her out and she accepted. We would go to the Sunday service at the Scientology Org on Avenue Road. Why not take her to a movie, you may wonder?

Well, I was not experienced in these matters. It was my very first date. But even given that I grant you that it showed very poor judgement.

I come from a long line of eccentrics and irritating people. And that includes all the members of my nuclear family. But I had a cousin, just one, not pulled from the same mold.

Michael was skinny while we were fat, funny and charming while we were obnoxious and open minded while we were dogmatic. He drove a flashy sports car. We drove nothing. And on top of that he did these card tricks that could enthrall a room for hours. The audience didn’t watch the tricks to see if Michael could find the card. They watched them to hear Michael’s patter. He really was that appealing.

Anyway, those good qualities were no defense against his getting sucked into Scientology. He had joined staff and had been asking me to come on down for the Sunday Service. It was the Sunday following Christmas in my last year of high school, fifty years ago.

[Ron, during his Dianetics days]

It snowed hard that day. Once down at the org, the young lady and I sat with about forty others on metal folding chairs. The show began. It led off with a guy in a ministerial collar who recited a prayer to the author of the universe. Had L. Ron been a sports fan the prayer would have been to the coach and general manager of the universe. Next, a baby had been born to Scientologists so the minister introduced him to his parents and to all in attendance. I found it amusing but looking back, it must have been ludicrous to anyone with a broader view of the world. That baby’s fifty now. I’d love to know how he made out. Then, a young woman, perhaps six years my senior, spoke about Christmas, calling it a winter orgy and mentioning its origins in pagan cultures. She was genuinely interesting. Next up was a recent Clear. She stuttered. I had read Dianetics and knew that clears weren’t supposed to stutter. At last Michael spoke about how he had left many aspects of his materialistic life behind. He said that he had a problem that was a millstone around his neck but because of Scientology it was gone. Michael, almost ten years my senior, was everything I wanted to be.

My potential girlfriend was impressed, partly by Michael and partly, I think, because we could have fun together doing something that was so off beat. She led a very sheltered life. We dated until early summer when we both realized that we really had little in common, certainly not enough to extend the relationship. In fact, our lives were so restricted by school and our families that we didn’t have much in common with anybody. We both had some growing up to do.

She phoned me years ago and we met for lunch. She had dyed her hair blonde, married a professor of science, had five kids and moved to Israel (not necessarily in that order). It was nice seeing her again.

It would be several months before I took the Comm. Course and a couple of years before I took the HQS course. Then on August 30, 1973 I walked out, never to return. If we’re all still here in a couple of years I’ll let you know what went on there.

— Ron Kasman

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——————–

“These things called ‘universes’ are games. And really the most valuable thing that a thetan possesses is his spirit of play. His spirit of play is sensation of play, and is not just energy. It’s a tremendous sensation. A guy has practically lost it if he’s here on Earth at all. Spirit of Play. It’s tremendous: he’s depending on all sorts of the soggiest, low tone scale emotions imaginable in order to get any sensation. In substitute for what? Spirit of Play. For instance, sex is, boy, that’s about eighth-rate as an emotion. It is just dull, incalculably dull compared to the rapidity, randomity and actual sensation of the Spirit of Play. It’s way up there. And you couldn’t possibly think that anybody could be serious and win through this universe. The more serious they get — 1.5 is real serious — why, of course, the more serious they get the more they have to do things by flows, and the acre they have to agree and the more they have to follow the rules, and the more broken the piece becomes.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 9, 1952

——————–

“In answer to Income Clerk’s query, the following points apply with No exceptions: 1. Persons leaving SEA ORG get billed for all their courses they may have incurred at full price. 2. A Course whether finished or just started is always charged for at full price. 3. Reviews are paid for by the hour and at full price — includes the leaving Review. 4. If the person has worked at an Advanced Org prior to coming to Sea Org any courses they may have incurred whilst there are also billed for at full price. We are not in the business of free services and arrangements must be made prior to the person leaving regarding meeting weekly payments for the debt he has incurred with the Sea Org.” — Lt. Robin Roos, CS-3, December 9, 1968

——————–

“Jonathan Burke is hereby assigned a CONDITION OF ENEMY in regards Scientology and Scientology in the Independent Field. Per LRH ‘Condition of Liability’ he is not to be trusted. Jonathan Burke is encouraged to seek out a standard Ethics Specialist and work out of his lower conditions and to make restitution and amends as necessary and move up the conditions and back into Normal Operation. Once this has been accomplished and validated, an Ethics Order will be issued to the same distribution advising them of Mr. Burke’s achievement.”

——————–

2001: The Los Angeles Times published an update on Scientologist Reed Slatkin and his infamous Ponzi scheme. “The investment empire run by EarthLink Inc. co-founder Reed Slatkin was a scam virtually from its inception in the mid-1980s, according to a report filed Friday by a U.S. Bankruptcy Court trustee and Slatkin’s creditors. The report, which is the first detailed look at the inner workings of one of the largest alleged Ponzi schemes in history, said Slatkin reported about $700 million in bogus profits to investors from 1986 to 2001. The report, co-written by trustee R. Todd Neilson and the bankruptcy case’s creditors committee, alleges that Slatkin took in $593 million from more than 800 investors over 15 years. Although he distributed hundreds of millions in purported stock market profits to investors, the report alleges, he made only about $65 million in actual gains. Most of the payments were actually money taken in from other investors — a classic Ponzi scheme.”

——————–

SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

“Miscavige has billions at his disposal and he has thousands of lackeys and soldiers to order around. He’s the Teflon Pope.”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

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

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

——————–

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

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.

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.

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

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

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Jingle Bell Crock: LAPD cozies up to Scientology at its faux-Christmas shindig
[TWO years ago] David Miscavige will be in Africa on New Year’s Day to mark an actual Scientology expansion
[THREE years ago] DID BOB BLOW? Evidence that Scientology may have lost its biggest donor of all time
[FOUR years ago] Disconnection, neglect, and suicide: Scientology, it’s even worse than you think
[FIVE years ago] Document leak: When the FBI investigated Scientology’s bizarre New Mexico vault
[SIX years ago] Scientology ambush! Another crazy encounter, this time with Marc Headley at Int Base
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology asks for psychiatric examination of Laura DeCrescenzo in forced-abortion lawsuit
[EIGHT years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology Needs Your Cash!
[NINE years ago] SMERSH, Scientology Breakthroughs, and a Funeral: Sailing on the Apollo, Dec 4 – 10

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,145 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,649 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,169 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,189 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,080 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,387 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,255 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,029 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,833 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,149 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,715 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,634 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,802 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,383 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,644 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,682 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,395 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,920 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 275 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,450 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,001 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,150 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,470 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,325 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,444 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,800 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,103 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,209 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,611 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,483 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,066 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,561 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,815 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,924 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 9, 2020 at 07:00

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

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

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

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

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

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

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

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Published on December 09, 2020 04:00

Scientology social media: Gearing up for R6, or what you humans call ‘Christmas’

[Marcabian invaders disguised as jolly old elves]

Our thanks again to the source who gives us a glimpse into what Scientologists are sharing with each other on social media. This week, the usual miracles continue to salvage this planet, and Scientologists, like everyone else, are gearing up for the holiday season.

Of course, Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard preached that the Jesus story and everything else about modern religion was just a lot of hot air known as the “R6 implant” that had been fed to our souls (known as thetans) some 75 million years ago, long before human beings had even evolved on this planet.

But as long as silly human beings are going to stay attached to their ephemeral traditions, Scientologists will gladly hijack them for recruiting purposes!

Now, here are this week’s wins and gains as Scientology saves this prison planet from itself!

Sanity and joy in Kansas City…

We don’t hear so much about Criminon these days, but here’s an indication that it is still very active…

I RAN AROUND A POLE FOR SO LONG IN MY EXHAUSTION I HAD A HALLUCINATION AND NOW MY ALL-CAPS KEY IS STUCK!

An OT VIII bypasses between-life implanting and is jumping into a newborn somewhere…

More staff members with certs. This planet will be cleared in no time.

Five years on staff and no end in sight.

Passing the Source worship to the next generation…

What did you do during the plague year? ‘I dumped 200 grand into Scientology!’

78 Clears made on an island of 23 million people. This planet will be cleared in no time.

The Freewinds is open for business…

Not only did Craig Reisdorf turn his back on his lovely family that was profiled in Leah Remini’s show, but he took his mother’s maiden name (“Jory”) to further distance himself from them. What a coward.

The Sea Org gets another recruit…

Remembering the good times at the Las Vegas org…

Attractive young women on staff going Clear. Dublin falls back on the old classics.

Delphian just got a crapload of PPP money ($947,000) and is hiring!

Join the Decon7 team in Aruba!

Legend speaker William Ahlborn!

The IAS Christmas card, always a treat…

“There was no Christ” — LRH

We’re going to let the oldtimers explain this one.

——————–

Leah Remini podcast: Christie Collbran

Christie Collbran’s family disconnection is a heartbreaking story and it was featured both in the New York Times (in 2010) and on Leah Remini’s series, “Scientology and the Aftermath.” Unfortunately, her portion of the episode mainly about her husband, Mike Rinder, was cut from what A&E broadcast, but you can still see it at A&E’s website and it might be a good idea to review it before listening to her appearance this week on Leah’s podcast.

——————–

“One of the more fiendish tests that I conducted on this was on my own kid, I wouldn’t have done it to somebody else’s kid. I pretended to scatter an enormous amount of pepper into the palm of my hand and then pretended to eat it with some relish. I didn’t scatter any pepper at all on my hand. Hand it to my little girl, she promptly threw some pepper into the palm of her hand and ate it with considerable relish. And for some days was busy enjoying pepper in great quantity.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 8, 1954

——————–

“PROGRESS: We are continuing to make progress against the enemy who has shot at us and the planet for 18 years. The code name he now has is ‘SMERSH’ (from 007 fame) and his branch of offices are ‘Black Hats.’ He is oddly enough on both sides of existing political parties except in SA where he is mainly UP. This was a hidden government. It aspired to world domination! If you can imagine a psychiatrist in such a role. Wonder what it would be like to be governed by shock cases. Red as paint, he was really having a ball. We were in his road. Because we were fully effective. We undid his implants. A real psychotherapy had come along. This was not part of his plans. He shot at Scn to discredit it. It is quite obvious that western governments are fantastically weak and very unaware. They cannot or will not protect their people or their institutions. Thus, only one course is left open. To get rid of SMERSH and their thousands of kills weekly. Oddly enough, we’re doing just that. The one BIG mistake they made was to attack Scientologists. Which they did from hiding for 18 long years. It set us back, kept our field upset, our staffs enturbulated. But it also made us get tough and grow strong. SMERSH was the hidden government. Long may it fall.” — The Commodore, December 8, 1968

——————–

“We need to put the National Guard under the command of a Scientology commander. That way the National Guard only needs to send Bernie Sanders, the squad commies, and the BLM lesbian Maoists to FEMA camps and there will be peace on the elections.”

——————–

1995: Spy Magazine this week: “The JAN/FEBRUARY 1996 issue of SPY Magazine has hit the stands in the Greater Los Angeles area, and will be platforming out across the country just in time for the holidays. Enjoy the feature, ‘DO YOU WANT TO BUY A BRIDGE.’”

——————–

SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

“On more than one occasion I have met someone and after a few minutes of casual conversation I have been forced to ask myself whether this person is the sort of fellow who is going to attempt to run off with my wife and my car or if he’s the kind of guy that’s going to try and run off with my girlfriend and my boat. Thanks to L. Ron Hubbard I have knowingness of scamingness.”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

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

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

——————–

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

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.

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.

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

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

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology’s biggest donors of late 2019: The whales giving millions to David Miscavige
[TWO years ago] Academic goes ‘Among the Scientologists’ to bring back what we already knew
[THREE years ago] A grim anniversary that should remind us Scientology has no business ‘testing’ anyone
[FOUR years ago] Leah Remini told you about Scientology’s ‘Fair Game’ — and here’s the worst example of it
[FIVE years ago] Leaked Scientology video: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes front and center for ‘psych busting’!
[SIX years ago] SUNDANCE BOUND: HBO’s film about Scientology will debut in Utah on January 25
[SEVEN years ago] Sunday Funnies: Scientology Gets Ideal in Taiwan
[EIGHT years ago] Scientology and Past Lives: Was L. Ron Hubbard Actually Serious?
[NINE years ago] Tom Cruise Denies Paying for Indian Extras to Cheer Him, And More Thursday Scientology Stats!

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,144 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,648 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,168 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,188 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,079 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,386 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,254 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,028 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,832 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,148 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,714 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,633 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,801 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,382 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,643 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,681 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,394 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,919 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 274 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,449 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,000 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,149 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,469 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,324 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,443 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,799 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,102 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,208 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,610 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,482 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,065 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,560 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,814 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,923 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 8, 2020 at 07:00

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

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

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

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

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

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

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

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Published on December 08, 2020 04:00

The 2020 Scientology holiday catalog is here! What are you getting for your favorite thetan?

The orgs might be boarded up, and the pandemic has put a stop to the international events, but Scientology soldiers on and still wants your money!

And what better way to drop a few thousand than a gleaming new E-meter for a stocking stuffer, or a new library of L. Ron Hubbard volumes for that special someone?

But this year’s Scientology holiday catalog does acknowledge what an unusual year it’s been, and we thought you’d like to see its preamble…

The Holiday Season is always a time to take stock. And as we wrap up a year of unprecedented events, we are reminded that planets and cultures are frail, that spiritual freedom is always the answer and that none of us can waste this brief breath in eternity.
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And that brings us to our Dianetics and Scientology 2020 Holiday Catalog. As you flip through the pages, you’ll find items for everyone on your gift list (and more than a few for yourself). This is the perfect time to present the power of Source to your loved ones and to fill in any gaps in your own LRH library. Because, let’s face it, if this year has taught us anything, it’s that no one can afford to put off their journey up the Bridge.

So check off the gifts that will be most meaningful to your family and friends, and know that you are helping to propel them to freedom. And for that, they will be eternally grateful.

That’s followed by this festive scene featuring the Great Thetan himself. Can one of our old timers tell us more about this photo and what Hubbard was giving away in those packages?

And the message they’ve included is pure gold. Remember, L. Ron Hubbard is heard on tape saying in 1966 that “there was no Christ,” so keep that in mind as Hubbard tells you that no one keeps Christmas like Scientologists do…

The spirit of Christmas lives with us.

We are the protectors of the real tradition of Christmas — peace on Earth and Goodwill to all.

We are the hope of Man — the only hope. Mankind’s salvation lies within our hands. With our tech and ability we can create here on Earth a real heaven where men can be free.

In our hands lies the power to restore to man his determination and all that he finds good in himself — his honesty, his integrity, and the thrill of being of real help to others. A very Merry Christmas to you all and a bright friendly new year.

L. Ron Hubbard

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Is five grand burning a hole in your pocket? Choose the color of your E-meter, and then prepare to sail back millions and billions of years to meet the real you…

Did you imagine in 2020 you’d be parting with $400 for a CD player?

How many people do you think will actually unwrap this gift this year?

Now we get to our favorite part of the catalog, the Scientology jewelry collection!

The nice thing about an OT ring is that after you figure out that being OT doesn’t deliver any of the promised superpowers, you still have a memento to remind you just how much you forked over to go “OT”.

How’s this for a stocking stuffer?

——————–

“The automobile manufacturer is going to be very surprised in a few years. His motors are going to start less and less and less, in spite of the fact that they get brighter and brassier and newer and more sure-fire. Because he’s running out of people who can start motors. Now, this sounds very, very esoteric and supernecromantic. But the living truth of the matter is, you must have some of the ability within yourself to know before the MEST universe will run for you. You’ve got to get the idea of things, you know? You look at something and here’s a strange piece of machinery. You’ve never seen it before, you haven’t any idea what it’s for and you look at it and you get an idea of what it’s for. And you look at it a little longer and you get an idea of how it runs. And why is this? What is a machine? This is a machine society. They turn men into machines, and machines into machines, and there are more and more machines and less and less men. Although the birth rate keeps increasing and the death rate keeps decreasing, that’s still true….You will see babies in a few years being born with slots in their heads so that you can drop a quarter in. And the government will collect the quarters. What are we doing? We’re going further and further and further from an idea, and more and more and more toward a fixed idea. An adding machine, in essence, is a fixed idea. An automobile is a fixed idea. It is an idea surrounded by and trapped in MEST. See that? A fixed idea. How are you going to fix an idea in the MEST? Well, that’s quite a trick and that’s why people can’t start cars. You have to sort of know it goes before it goes. That’s the truth of the matter.” — L. Ron Hubbard, December 7, 1953

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——————–

“TECH BREAKTHROUGH: I have just made a fantastic tech breakthrough. For some days I have been spending hours each day on a Personality Change Research Project. I find it is not Personality but anti-social behavior that neither the person nor anyone else likes that is the change point. And I did it. I’ve got it. All cases benefit as it speeds exteriorization. It makes OT far more OT faster. Also it resolves the slow case gain case, the no case gain case, also the psychopathic personality and the criminal. The violent and depressed, the well and the sane are all covered now by one process series where the person will sit still. The Dianetic folder of a pc is used and what’s already in it is reworked…The substance of it is to attain at 10 the Really You, one’s Basic Personality and full OT Power. But as a single breakthrough it is very important as it opens the door not only to fast gains but also rids the universe of oppression. There was a common denominator to all cases good and bad. SO SAVE THOSE DIANETIC RECORDS AND WORKSHEETS. They are reused in this action and zoom!…You wanted to Clear the planet and end off SPs on the track. Well, boy, we’ve really got it! It’s been a valuable several days. Thank you for keeping things cool and going so I could work.” — The Commodore, December 7, 1969

——————–

“I would call this planet more of a homeless shelter planet than a prison planet. People here are not necessarily guilty of a crime they were just of a lower class and unwanted on their home planet. Originally humans were put on earth as a warrior race but when it was seen what lousy warriors we made they declared earth a prostitute planet. This explains the sexual nature of many abductions. The reason I reject the Xenu story is that in the grand scheme of things a volcanic eruption isn’t that traumatic. I am sure anyone can think of a worse fate than being blown up in a volcano. If it is just force and flows you are talking about then a supernova has outward flow that dwarfs that of even the largest super volcano.”

——————–

2001: SF Weekly reported that Scientology celebrity Jenna Elfman presented a seminar on film and TV at the new Mission Street org. “Jenna Elfman, star of the S.F.-set (but L.A.-shot) TV show Dharma & Greg, returns to town Saturday, Nov. 24, to lead a seminar called ‘Getting Started in Film and TV.’ It’ll be held at the Church of Scientology building at 966 Mission (near Sixth Street) that Elfman sponsored, and which had its grand opening two months ago. ‘She goes into how she got into acting and how she owes a lot of her success to Dianetics and Scientology,’ reports church spokesman Jeff Quiros. ‘It’s just her story; it’s not that Scientology is a one-way ticket to stardom. But if someone wants to take the classes she took, no one’s going to turn them away.’ Elfman sponsored the mission here because she felt, according to Quiros, that there are enough missions in the San Fernando Valley, where she grew up. As for Elfman’s event, Quiros candidly admits, ‘It’s obviously meant to interest people in Dianetics and Scientology.'”

——————–

SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

“Hubbard was navy-obsessed. You have to climb up to get to the ‘bridge’ on a ship.”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

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

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

——————–

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

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.

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.

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

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

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] The rich donors keeping Scientology afloat at the end of 2019: Part 1, the lesser whales
[TWO years ago] Scientology is quick to cry ‘bigotry,’ but these photos prove David Miscavige’s hypocrisy
[THREE years ago] KID CORPS: When Scientology’s Sea Org parents were told to stop wasting time on their kids
[FOUR years ago] What to get the Scientologist who has everything: It’s the Scientology Xmas Catalog!
[FIVE years ago] Jeffrey Augustine: Part two of his conversation with Jesse Prince
[SIX years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: Special Pearl Harbor Day edition!
[SEVEN years ago] Lori Hodgson and her son Jeremy: What you didn’t hear on Inside Edition
[EIGHT years ago] Ken Dandar in Federal Court Today — And Loses Again
[NINE years ago] Valeska Paris Receives Threat from Scientology Attorneys; And More on her Time on the Freewinds

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,143 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,647 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,167 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,187 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,078 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,385 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,253 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,027 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,831 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,147 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,713 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,632 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,800 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,381 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,642 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,680 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,393 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,918 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 273 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,448 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,999 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,148 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,468 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,323 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,442 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,798 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,101 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,207 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,609 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,481 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,064 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,559 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,813 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,922 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 7, 2020 at 07:00

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

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

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

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

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

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

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

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Published on December 07, 2020 04:00

Some of Scientology’s orgs around the country are boarded up. What gives, Dave?

Hey, Dave, what gives?

We heard this week from a reader who sent us a photo when he realized that the Scientology “Ideal Org” in Mountain View, California — called the “Silicon Valley” church by Scientology — was all boarded up, as you can see in the photo above.

Here’s another view of it…

We first saw Scientology orgs boarded up in Los Angeles in May, but that appeared to be a reaction to the street unrest following the death of George Floyd. Those protests died down and Scientology also claimed that it was winning against the pandemic and was in the process of re-opening orgs where it could.

But recently, we’ve heard reports that Scientology orgs in Los Angeles and New York were boarded up, and it seemed to have no connection to anything in the news at all.

We asked some of our readers to fan out and see what was going on elsewhere.

The reader who photographed the Silicon Valley org went to the nearby mission in Los Gatos and found that it too was tight as a drum…

On the other hand, he found the mission in San Jose to be free of plywood and was open for business.

Another reader went by the Washington DC Ideal Org, and found that it too was boarded up…

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As well as the entrance to the nearby DC National Affairs office…

Kestrel found that the Dallas Ideal Org was boarded up, but cars were in the parking lot…

Shorpy in Detroit found a mixed bag at the Ideal Org there. The entrance seemed to be unaffected, but the windows on the side of the building were boarded up…

Our correspondents in England and Denmark say the orgs there aren’t boarded up, and neither is the Ideal Org in Cambridge, Ontario, Phil Jones tells us. It only seems to be affecting some of the orgs here in the US.

What’s the situation in your town? If you have an Ideal Org near you, please do us a favor and go by to see if it’s boarded up or not. In the meantime, we sent a message to Scientology spokeswoman Karin Pouw asking her if they were preparing for riots or going out of business or what.

We can’t help wondering about one tantalizing possibility. Just the other day we cited a court document that suggested the feds were taking a close look at Scientology, and wouldn’t it be fascinating if Dave was preparing for a raid?

Come to think of it, that would be way too appropriate and befitting. And that never seems to happen when it comes to Scientology.

——————–

Jon Atack on the craziest Scientologist he ever knew

——————–

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

——————–

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

——————–

“All this talk about Scientology being some major sinkhole of money really makes little sense, especially in the FreeZone community. Even Church of Scientology costs are not that crazy, and they’re much higher than FreeZone. I’m not going to say Scientology is the only way people will become happier and better in their lives, but there is something valuable here. For $2,500 you could talk to a psych for about eight hours and then get a prescription for a bunch of meds which would just fuck you up more and make you feel less in control of your life. For $2,500 in the FreeZone you could most likely get to a point where your self confidence is restored and you start feeling in more control of your life. Honestly if after spending $2,500 you do not feel any more in control or confident in your life, LEAVE AND LOOK ELSEWHERE. Most of the people who complain about Scientology are those that got sucked into the culty parts and never really got far in it. It doesn’t take a lot of independent research to realize people like Chris Shelton don’t know a lot and he even admits it in his videos. He talks about classified materials, but his understanding is just what he got from watching South Park and skimming websites.”

——————–

2000: Graham Berry reported that Scientology has won an effort to find sanctions against him as non-dischargable in bankruptcy court: “The cult has spent at least three times the value of their aggregate claim amount (est. $300,000.00) to obtain a ruling that the Pattinson case Rule 11 sanctions order is non-dischargable in bankruptcy. This was the Moxon v. Berry adversary proceeding within the Berry bankruptcy proceeding. It is a hollow victory for the clams because they have fair gamed me out of employment. The judge denied our cross Rule 11 motions and my request that he refer the entire record in this and the underlying and related cases to the FBI and US Attorney. However, the judge did state that the FBI had an office in the bankruptcy courts ‘and I encourage you to take the matter over there.’ The judge also stated that he did not want the Moxon v. Berry case in his court room any longer. An observer thought the judge looked as though he was scared of them. As our litigation starts drawing to a close, with all of the proof of Scientology’s 1991 litigation misrepresentations to the IRS exposed, I can now move on to my volunteer work in the information dissemination and criminal investigation area.”

——————–

SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks

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

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Masterson’s demurrer denied Oct 19, arraignment delayed to Jan 6.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing delayed for ‘Fatico’ hearing on Jan 19.
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles

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

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

——————–

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

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.

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.

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

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

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

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

——————–

Scientology disconnection, a reminder

Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,142 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,646 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,166 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,186 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,077 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,384 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,252 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,026 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,830 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,146 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,712 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,631 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,799 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,380 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,641 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,679 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,392 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,917 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 272 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,447 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,998 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,147 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,467 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,322 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,441 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,797 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,100 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,206 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,608 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,480 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,063 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,558 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,812 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,921 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on December 6, 2020 at 07:00

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

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

The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2019 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2019), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)

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

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

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

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