Tony Ortega's Blog, page 371

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

——————–

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

——————–

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

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay’s sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— Hanan and Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Next pretrial conference set for Jan 12 in Los Angeles
— Dennis Nobbe, Medicare fraud, PPP loan fraud: Charged July 29

Civil litigation:
— Luis and Rocio Garcia v. Scientology: Oral arguments set for August 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Jenna Elfman, Giovanni Ribisi, and Greta Van Susteren]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

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

——————–

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 2,014 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,518 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,038 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,058 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 949 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,256 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,124 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,898 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,702 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,018 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,584 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,503 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,671 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,252 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,513 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,551 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,264 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,789 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,319 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,879 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,019 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,339 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,194 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,313 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,669 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,972 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,078 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,480 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,352 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,935 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,430 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,684 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,793 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on July 30, 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, 14 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 July 30, 2020 04:00

Miami chiropractor and Scientology donor Dennis Nobbe charged with COVID relief fraud

Wow! Another Scientologist chiropractor has been charged by the feds with defrauding Medicare, but also defrauding the PPP loan program intended to bail out small businesses during the COVID crisis. And this time, we know him well. It’s Miami Scientology promoter Dennis Nobbe!

Seven years ago, we described how he had run into trouble with the federal government for forcing his employees to become Scientologists to such an extreme he had created his own Scientology academy for his workers to go through.

And now he’s facing some serious trouble, as described this afternoon by the Department of Justice:

Dennis Nobbe, 63, of Miami, Florida, was charged by criminal complaint, unsealed today upon his arrest, in the Southern District of Florida with wire fraud; health care fraud; conspiracy to commit health care fraud and wire fraud; making false statements to a financial institution; money laundering; and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is expected to make his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge John O’Sullivan at 1 p.m. EST today.

Nobbe is accused not only of defrauding Medicare, which is why New York Scientologist chiropractor Jay Spina is facing prison time, but he also had the audacity to use PPP money for personal use!

The complaint alleges that Nobbe, a chiropractor, orchestrated a scheme to exploit his patients for financial gain through a credit card program intended to help patients pay for out-of-pocket medical expenses. To conceal his role in the scheme, Nobbe paid bribes to other physicians to open credit card merchant accounts in their names. Nobbe then encouraged patients at his chiropractic business, Dynamic Medical Services Inc., many of whom were low-income and did not speak English, to apply for the credit cards.

According to the complaint, Nobbe charged thousands of dollars to these credit cards for services that he never, or only partially, rendered, leaving patients saddled with debt. In addition, Nobbe bribed a physician to submit claims to Medicare on Nobbe’s behalf because Nobbe, as a chiropractor, was ineligible to submit the claims himself, and would not have been able to receive reimbursement for the claimed services. Nobbe and other physicians also allegedly conspired to launder the proceeds from these schemes.

As stated in the complaint, Nobbe instructed the physicians to conceal Nobbe’s involvement in the scheme, and sought to conceal the purpose of large wire transfers he received, through the use of shell companies and sham contracts.

The complaint further alleges that Nobbe obtained over $200,000 in PPP and EIDL loans intended to provide COVID relief, and that Nobbe transferred portions of the proceeds to shell companies under his control and to pay personal expenses.

It’s really something to see these wealthy Scientologist donors finally getting charged for what so many of them get away with.

When we wrote about him in 2013, we were astounded to learn that he was not only forcing Scientology on his employees, but that he’d even set up a physical Scientology academy, sort of a mini-church, across the street…

We’re learning that Nobbe was a particularly fanatical WISE guy.

“He had his own academy,” says Frank Oliver, a former Scientologist who worked as a spy for the Office of Special Affairs in the late 1980s and early 1990s, and who, like Nobbe, was involved in the Miami “org.”

…Oliver introduced us to two South Florida women who also have an extensive background with Nobbe and told us about his long history running his own Scientology academy for employees.

“The academy was across the street from his office on Bird Road in Miami,” says one of the women, who asked not to be identified. Employees would go across the street for Scientology courses when they weren’t working in the chiropractic office, she says. “He required all of his chiropractic doctors to go to the org for courses. Some did auditing, some did training to become auditors.”

The woman, who worked at the academy, says Nobbe had a reputation for being a major player in the local org. “Almost the whole time I knew him, I was in the bubble, and his reputation in the organization was so large because he’d donated so much money. He was getting all kinds of pats on the back. For buying books, and helping with renovations. And then the money he was making, some of it was coming from dentists and chiropractors and other professionals he was bringing in,” she says.

…“The academy was easily as big and decked out as some of the missions,” says the other woman, Patti Thompson, who at one time was a mission holder herself — a sort of franchisee running a facility that would provide entry-level church courses. She says she understood what kind of pressure Nobbe was under to get new employees to go with the program. “As a Scientologist you have to do that kind of shit. You have to force people in, whether they want to or not. You have to get them to take courses to improve your own stats.”

We asked them if they had an opinion about why Nobbe — pronounced KNOW-bee — had been unable to work something out with the government short of being sued and facing the possibility of a large judgment.
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“It’s because he’s a Scientologist,” says Thompson. “He isn’t going to act the way most employers would. He wouldn’t consult an attorney or other business people. He would go straight to the org. Scientologists don’t think with the same toolkit.”

Well, he’s certainly in trouble for doing things his own way now.

And here’s the criminal complaint. Help us pull out the best parts!

US v. Dennis Nobbe: Complaint by Tony Ortega on Scribd

——————–

“Do you realize the value of auditing is not measurable in dollars and cents to a person who is being audited properly? It is just not measurable. A hundred thousand dollars an hour would be something he would talk about. Got the idea? He would talk about. He might not be able to pay it but he could consider it. Now, that’s quite interesting. He could consider it, without gaping and jumping out the window and so forth.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 29, 1958

——————–

“LRH describes in the Philadelphia Doctorate Course taped lectures, that one can ‘scan’ the time track of a room or a house. LRH scanned the past track and the future track of the room he was doing the lecture at.”

——————–

“I want a cheap E-meter so I can sec-check my cats and I can get to the bottom of mysteries like, why do you chew on plastic bags? Why do you eat your own hair? Why do you refuse to help me do the dishes?”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay Spina, Medicare fraud: Sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— 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 set for August 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Elisabeth Moss, Michael Peña, and Laura Prepon]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Driving people away (and begging them back) was built into Scientology from the start
[TWO years ago] Nancy Cartwright goes home as Scientology ‘Ideal’-izes the world
[THREE years ago] Jon Atack: The biggest thing L. Ron Hubbard got wrong about Buddhism
[FOUR years ago] Arlene Cordova, 1933-2016: In her 80s, she took on Scientology and reunited with her daughter
[FIVE years ago] How Scientology schools prepare young minds for the rigors of the Sea Org
[SIX years ago] VIDEO: Scientology gets a grilling at Chautauqua
[SEVEN years ago] Jim Lynch, Scientology’s Shill, Dies at 59
[EIGHT years ago] “Tom Cruise Worships David Miscavige Like a God”: The John Brousseau Story, Part Two
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Hollywood Landmarks: More from THR Reporter Daniel Miller

——————–

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 2,013 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,517 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,037 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,057 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 948 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,255 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,123 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,897 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,701 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,017 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,583 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,502 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,670 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,251 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,512 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,550 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,263 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,788 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,318 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,878 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,018 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,338 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,193 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,312 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,668 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,971 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,077 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,479 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,351 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,934 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,429 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,683 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,792 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on July 29, 2020 at 13:55

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, 14 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 July 29, 2020 10:55

Scientology donor Jim Mathers has your L. Ron Hubbard mantra for sending kids back to school

As kids begin to head back to school in various parts of the country, parents are naturally apprehensive about how their local district is going to negotiate our ongoing national health nightmare.

After four months cooped up at home, kids are bouncing off the walls, parents are at their wits’ end, and schools are trying to come up with plans that won’t endanger teachers and staff, and won’t infect students with the coronavirus to take home to mom, dad, and grandma.

Surely, no one would blame schools for caring about everyone’s safety at a time like this, right?

Well, you might be surprised.

We heard previously from colorful Scientology million-dollar donor Jim Mathers, who said about COVID-19 that “healthy people don’t get sick” and other magical thinking.

And now, perfectly timed for those back-to-school sales, Mathers offered up portions of an L. Ron Hubbard lecture at his Facebook account that had his Scientology friends cheering. We thought you’d also like to see it…

The finest way in the world to make an accident-prone would be to talk somebody into being careful. The finest way in the world to make a bunch of complete nuts and nitwits in a society would be to teach them safety in schools. That would be a certain method of creating a psychoneurotic society — an absolutely certain method. Now, that it is being done does not make it right.

By the time you have taught a child thoroughly to be utterly and completely careful, you have made somebody who will avoid all impacts. Care of the body, care of the body, care of the body. If you can just get a child to care for his body sufficiently, it will be in good shape. Or will it be? Or will he become so frightened of impacts himself, that whenever the body itself has an impact, he will withdraw from communication with the body and so will not heal his body? The latter is the case.

If you make a child frightened of impacts and make him terribly careful, he will no longer go into communication with painful areas and so will become unable to withstand the bumps and rattles of existence and will get into a condition which is, to say the least, awfully normal.

A child could be guaranteed an utter failure of his endocrine system, if he were trained thoroughly to avoid all impacts. If he were trained thoroughly to avoid germs, to avoid illness, to avoid conditions which are described as highly detrimental to him, he will then be made to close terminals with those conditions. Why? Because he is cutting communication, cutting communication, cutting communication, cutting communication. You see that? He’s saying, ‘I mustn’t communicate with, I mustn’t communicate with,’ which is to say, ‘I have no control over, I have no control over, I have no control over.’

Now, just as soon as he learns thoroughly that he mustn’t go into contact or communication with impact, with germs, with this, with that, he just gets, as a thetan, smaller and smaller, withdraws more and more, is less and less alert, is less and less in communication with things and finally will be unable to heal any part of his body.

This would be a sure method of making the American Medical Association (a small club in Chicago) rich. It’s a small club in Chicago dedicated to no experimentation and terrific amounts of practice.

The main thing I’m trying to point up here is that a society gets headed in the direction of avoidance. It gets headed in the direction of fear and so becomes controllable. It is an overt mechanism on the part of anything or anyone seeking to control a society, to cut the communications of that society.

The way to guarantee a slave society–guarantee it–would be to teach safety across the boards. That’s just one method. But that method, all by itself, would make successive generations of children more and more difficult in their own sphere of operation. They would be afraid to go into communication with. And when you say, ‘Be careful, don’t do this, don’t do that, stop here, stop there,’ you’re saying, ‘Don’t go into communication with, don’t go into communication with, don’t go into communication with. You mustn’t communicate with.’ And this is dramatized, ‘Don’t communicate with little Johnny, he stutters and therefore, you’ll stutter. Don’t go into communication with Bobby. He’s got bacteriosis and that will be the end of you. Don’t go into communication with that nasty old man down the street who carries that dirty candy around in his pockets, because it’s dirty and this will make you very ill.’

Until it is considered to be so, it is not true that an impact is very damaging. Until it is considered to be so that an illness can take place, no illness can take place. This is the mechanism of the society. — L. Ron Hubbard, 7th ACC, Lecture 9, 28 June 1954, EXTERIORIZATION

If anyone has any clue what Hubbard is blathering on about here, please let us know.

In the meantime, keep your kids safe, and let’s get through this together.

——————–

Bonus items from our tipsters

While Scientologists like Mathers keep up the “COVID is a hoax” line, one Scientologist finally brought up a rather obvious point…

Meanwhile, in Hawaii…

——————–

“Do you realize the value of auditing is not measurable in dollars and cents to a person who is being audited properly? It is just not measurable. A hundred thousand dollars an hour would be something he would talk about. Got the idea? He would talk about. He might not be able to pay it but he could consider it. Now, that’s quite interesting. He could consider it, without gaping and jumping out the window and so forth.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 29, 1958

——————–

“LRH describes in the Philadelphia Doctorate Course taped lectures, that one can ‘scan’ the time track of a room or a house. LRH scanned the past track and the future track of the room he was doing the lecture at.”

——————–

“I want a cheap E-meter so I can sec-check my cats and I can get to the bottom of mysteries like, why do you chew on plastic bags? Why do you eat your own hair? Why do you refuse to help me do the dishes?”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay Spina, Medicare fraud: Sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— 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 set for August 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Elisabeth Moss, Michael Peña, and Laura Prepon]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Driving people away (and begging them back) was built into Scientology from the start
[TWO years ago] Nancy Cartwright goes home as Scientology ‘Ideal’-izes the world
[THREE years ago] Jon Atack: The biggest thing L. Ron Hubbard got wrong about Buddhism
[FOUR years ago] Arlene Cordova, 1933-2016: In her 80s, she took on Scientology and reunited with her daughter
[FIVE years ago] How Scientology schools prepare young minds for the rigors of the Sea Org
[SIX years ago] VIDEO: Scientology gets a grilling at Chautauqua
[SEVEN years ago] Jim Lynch, Scientology’s Shill, Dies at 59
[EIGHT years ago] “Tom Cruise Worships David Miscavige Like a God”: The John Brousseau Story, Part Two
[NINE years ago] Scientology’s Hollywood Landmarks: More from THR Reporter Daniel Miller

——————–

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 2,013 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,517 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,037 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,057 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 948 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,255 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,123 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,897 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,701 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,017 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,583 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,502 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,670 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,251 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,512 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,550 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,263 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,788 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,318 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,878 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,018 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,338 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,193 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,312 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,668 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,971 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,077 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,479 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,351 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,934 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,429 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,683 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,792 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on July 29, 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, 14 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 July 29, 2020 03:00

Leah Remini: In Scientology, all sickness comes from enemies of the church

The second episode of Leah Remini and Mike Rinder’s podcast “Scientology: Fair Game” went live this morning, and we have it embedded here for you to listen to.

Not surprisingly, in the wake of such tragic news as the cancer death of Kelly Preston and suicide of Benjamin Keough, Mike and Leah say they’ve been getting a lot of questions about Scientology and sickness, depression, and death.

And the most powerful statement Leah makes in the hour-long episode is that for Scientologists all ailments, including cancer, only happen because they have been exposed to something that opposes their church. You are sick because you have become a “potential trouble source” (PTS) and you are connected to “suppression” — something or someone against Scientology.

Mike explains that if you go through Scientology auditing to root out what’s making you PTS and you still aren’t getting well — like if your cancer doesn’t magically go away — then you have to go even deeper into auditing and looking for some other cause, perhaps in a past life. “It’s always the belief that if you find the right thing, it will resolve.”

The onus is always on the person to discover what’s making him or her PTS, not on the ailment itself.

After a Scientologist reaches OT 3, Leah explains, they will then be ridding themselves of body thetans, which it turns out are clinging to us. On OT 7, she said she was supposed to go into solo auditing with herself five times a day, talking with these unseen entities. And when you’re sick you’re trying to find the body thetan that thinks it’s cancer and is causing the disease in you.

“What are you?” you’re supposed to ask the body thetan, according to Hubbard’s instructions.

Eventually the body thetan is supposed to realize it’s not cancer and then go away and find another body, Leah says.

Hey, isn’t this a twisted way of practicing medicine without a license, she asks?

Timed to go with the podcast is a terrific lengthy essay that Leah and Mike posted at Mike’s blog yesterday, going into depth about Scientology attitudes about medicine, mental health, death and dying. It’s the kind of post that Mike puts up on occasion that you should bookmark for future reference. It’s a goldmine.

——————–

Bonus items from our tipsters

Clayton has a cognition…

Fun with graphs!

Another success story…

——————–

“I know it’s fashionable for the newspapers to say I never went to college and there are several colleges at this particular time that are wishing that I hadn’t gone there. But I can also assure you that you give them another decade or so, those colleges I haven’t even done more than go to a prom at will have some plates on ’em. You know? Man is silly, you see?” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 28, 1966

——————–

“At one point, about 2 weeks into the Rundown, I found that as I ran around that tree, there were literally blue sparks and loud crackings of electrical energy, between myself and that anchor point. I felt like I was recharging, as a being, and as I ran, like a turbine, my energy levels increased and I spotted the cause of this energy – me. I could swing my body around that tree with next to no effort – and while running more than a marathon daily, I was full of energy, life force and zest. The rundown has nothing to do with the physical body — and is all about you, as a spiritual being. So simple, but so powerful.”

——————–

“Someone please find the e-mail they sent out telling the clams how to go to the dentist and get their gold fillings extracted for cash to donate. That is the ultimate example of what Scientology really is for me.”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay Spina, Medicare fraud: Sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— 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 set for August 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[The Big Three: Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Kirstie Alley]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology uses actor Jason Dohring as bait in what ends up as a false imprisonment case
[TWO years ago] Scientology in Europe: ‘A scapegoat always had to be found when something went wrong’
[THREE years ago] Bryan Seymour takes a Scientology field trip, and we’re the better for it
[FOUR years ago] As Stacy Murphy lawsuit heads to crucial hearing, two Scientology entities settle
[FIVE years ago] From Cradle to Slave: Nora Crest starts her video series with frank talk about Scientology and sex
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s fight with Ryan Hamilton delivers dox: The Eric Tenorio affidavit and more
[SEVEN years ago] With Leah Remini Under Attack on Twitter, TV Actor Christian Stolte Was a First Responder
[EIGHT years ago] “Tom Cruise Worships David Miscavige Like a God”: A Scientology Insider Gives First Full-Length Interview to the Voice
[NINE years ago] VIDEO: Scientology Spy Comes Clean to Riverside County Board of Supes

——————–

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 2,012 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,516 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,036 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,056 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 947 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,254 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,122 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,896 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,700 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,016 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,582 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,501 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,669 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,250 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,511 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,549 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,262 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,787 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,317 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,877 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,017 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,337 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,192 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,311 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,667 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,970 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,076 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,478 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,350 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,933 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,428 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,682 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,791 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on July 28, 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, 14 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 July 28, 2020 04:00

Leah Remini blames Tom Cruise for the spiking of Aussie Scientology investigation

On July 2, Australia’s 7News teased an upcoming ten-part news investigation about the Church of Scientology that would feature specific allegations about actor Tom Cruise and his personal connections to the church’s well-known penchant for bullying, spying, and intimidation.

The series, titled “Scientology: Black Ops,” was scheduled to be released on July 9, and then was delayed until July 14. And then at the last minute the series was canceled and the teaser trailer was pulled down from the network’s website, something we first reported here at the Underground Bunker.

Asked for comment, a 7News representative responded with the cryptic statement, “7NEWS adjusted the scheduling of the series of its own volition and due to legal concerns.”

Now, one of the participants in that series, Leah Remini, is telling us what was in the program and why, she believes, it was killed.

At the center of it, she says, is Tom Cruise and a side of him the public almost never sees.

“This show had been legally vetted since January by Channel 7. Up to ten hours before it was going to air, it was still scheduled to go. The last-minute decision to kill it has Tom Cruise, Tom Davis, and James Packer written all over it,” Leah tells the Underground Bunker.

Cruise has been a Scientologist since 1986 and is its most visible figure. In 2001, he helped Australian billionaire James Packer through a difficult period in his life, which included helping him get enrolled at Scientology’s flagship Narconon drug rehab in Oklahoma. Packer was then involved in Scientology for about five years, and you can see him in the front row at the October 2004 event when Cruise was awarded the “Freedom Medal of Valor” for being such a gung-ho church member.

Standing next to Packer is Tommy Davis, the son of actress Anne Archer who was Cruise’s go-fer and who became Scientology’s international spokesman for a few years. During Packer’s time in the church, the three became close…

[Tommy Davis, James Packer, Katie Holmes, and Tom Cruise on Packer’s boat]

Packer left Scientology around 2006, Davis lost his job as spokesman in 2011 but remains in the church according to a 2013 deposition, and Cruise remains Scientology’s chief icon.

Although Packer was out of Scientology, in 2016 he made Davis the general manager of his US operations, including RatPac Entertainment, a small Hollywood studio he owned with director Brett Ratner. But even as Davis was playing Hollywood mogul for Packer, the Australian billionaire was going through difficult times again, including a crackdown on his gambling operations by the Chinese government, and a break up with his fiancée, singer Mariah Carey. Packer sold his part of the movie studio, and Davis then went back to work for a real estate mogul, Tom Barrack Jr.

Packer’s struggles, meanwhile, elicited the help of another powerful figure: Kerry Stokes, chairman of Seven West Media, which owns 7News.

“Seven West Media’s billionaire chairman Kerry Stokes came to the aid of James Packer in his darkest hour, briefly taking control of his personal affairs and convincing the casino mogul to leave the United States for Israel for sake of his mental health,” Financial Review reported about Packer’s disastrous 2016.

The story described how Stokes helped Packer extricate himself from the planned wedding with Carey, and then encouraged him to leave the US to find “breathing space” in Israel. Stokes said that Packer was extremely loyal to his friends. “If James thinks you are his friend he will bestow gifts and look after you like most other people wouldn’t,” the Seven West Media chairman said.

On July 14, “Scientology:Black Ops” was scheduled to air on Stokes’ network and it would harshly expose Packer’s friends, Tom Cruise and Tommy Davis, with new revelations about how they had taken part in Scientology’s legendary “Fair Game” campaigns against people the church considered enemies.

Because the series was approved by the network’s lawyers but then pulled at the last moment, Leah says she suspects that Packer went on behalf of his friends to Stokes to get the series killed, which is also what we heard from a source at 7News itself.

“I also subscribe to this theory on Channel 7. We know the series had legal clearance,” Leah Remini’s TV co-host and podcast partner Mike Rinder says.

The two of them were interviewed by 7News journalist Bryan Seymour for the 10-part series, and full disclosure, Seymour also interviewed us in December to help explain Scientology’s history of Fair Game retaliation schemes and spying.

Seymour, with Remini and Rinder’s help, was poised to reveal that Cruise and Davis had been involved in a plot to dig up dirt on a legendary Hollywood figure close to Cruise in order to silence her, and Davis had also tried to compromise a major Hollywood institution in order to find similar material on another film figure.

Remini isn’t happy that the series didn’t air, but she tells us something she’s never made public before: Much of this material was included in a draft of what became her 2015 memoir Troublemaker: Surviving Scientology and Hollywood.

Leah showed us pages she had written that detailed a side of Cruise the public hasn’t seen, and that implicated him in Scientology’s worst practices.

So why wasn’t it in her book?

“My publisher said it wasn’t a good look for a celebrity to go after another celebrity like that, so we didn’t put it in the book,” she says.

But now, with her belief that Cruise may have had a direct role in killing the 7News investigation, she’s decided it’s time for the public to see what she wrote about Cruise for her book and never published.

It’s going to appear in the Underground Bunker tomorrow morning.

——————–

Another orbit around the sun for Miss Lovely herself!

The Underground Bunker wishes a happy birthday to Paulette Cooper, our main inspiration for the work we do around here and the subject of our book The Unbreakable Miss Lovely.

Her husband Paul Noble recently posted this photo from their 1988 wedding and we thought it was adorable, so here you go.

You’ll be able to hear about Paulette’s years of fighting against Scientology Fair Game soon on Leah Remini’s new podcast.

——————–

Bonus items from our tipsters

A million dollars lying around? Sure, only in Scientology…

Advertisement

Michael Jordan and the Blues Brothers on board for the Chicago Ideal Org? Sure, why not…

——————–

“We’re trying to make somebody Clear. Clear of what? Clear of his reactive bank. Now, Freud said that man had an unconscious or a reconscious or something of the sort which was subconscious under the underconscious. He thought there was something there and it was inhabited by a beast known as the censor, who kept the fellows from pulling a social faux pas. And when the censor was asleep or nulled or something of the sort by drugs, why, the fellow would do antisocial acts, and that was the whole explanation of the human mind, except it was all caused by sex. I hope you’re following me closely. But anyhow, we are actually indebted to Papa Freud, because he did say out loud that there was some kind of a mind that was kicking back on somebody. He didn’t really discover the reactive mind; we did.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 26, 1966

——————–

“The Internet is an excellent way to collect up identities and to offer such identities books and services. But going internationally, targeting new people to Scientology is an entirely different game. The Miscavige problem would have to be under control. The Church image, or rather Scientology image internationally speaking, has to be rehabilitated first and Scientology re-positioned in the public’s mind. A lot of PR work would have to be accomplished first on the media, and the church and Miscavige positioned as something entirely different than the original tenets of LRH. In other words, as not Scientology. Then the general public, at least 80 percent of them, would support the Independent Movement as something really representing greater freedom for the individual.”

——————–

“Jan Eastgate is the Myra Hindley of scientology. She looks just like her.”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay Spina, Medicare fraud: Sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— 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 set for August 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Catherine Bell, Chick Corea, and Nancy Cartwright]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Happy Birthday, Miss Lovely! And look what Paulette Cooper gave herself for a gift
[TWO years ago] Paulette Cooper turns 76: ‘I found my best friend from the orphanage — from 70 years ago’
[THREE years ago] Paulette Cooper at 75: Still unbreakable, and still Miss Lovely
[FOUR years ago] Hungarian tabloid’s wacky claim: Shit poured on Scientology’s leader in Budapest protest
[FIVE years ago] Happy Birthday, Miss Lovely: A tribute to the dauntless and unbreakable Paulette Cooper
[SIX years ago] Scientology surrenders — at least partially — in seven lawsuits against its rehab network
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology, Your Proprietor, and the Airwaves
[EIGHT years ago] Jamie DeWolf, L. Ron Hubbard Great-Grandson, Gaining More Notoriety for His Views on Scientology
[NINE years ago] Scientology Apocalypse! Mark Bunker and Marty Rathbun Reveal Their Ties

——————–

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 2,010 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,514 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,034 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,054 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 945 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,252 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,120 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,894 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,698 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,014 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,580 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,499 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,667 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,248 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,509 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,547 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,260 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,785 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,315 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,875 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,015 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,335 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,190 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,309 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,665 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,968 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,074 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,476 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,348 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,931 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,426 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,680 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,789 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on July 26, 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, 14 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 July 26, 2020 04:00

Lisa Marie Presley’s ex-husband accuses her of Scientology tactics: Read the court document

Lisa Marie Presley and her ex-husband, music producer Michael Lockwood, are scheduled to begin their divorce trial on August 3, and Lockwood has filed a trial brief in which he accuses Presley of using Scientology “Fair Game” tactics against him in the grueling war between the two.

The Blast today posted news of the document, but we thought you’d want to go through it yourself. Much of it is dealing with the details of how the custody-sharing guidelines have been set down; Lockwood is asking the court to award 50-50 custody after a six month increase from the 21 hours a week of time with his twin 11-year-old daughters Harper and Finley that he’s getting now.

We reported in 2016 that Lisa Marie Presley had left Scientology in 2014 after attempting to have a showdown with Scientology leader David Miscavige, something that was reported also by David’s father, Ron Miscavige, in his 2016 book Ruthless: Scientology, My Son David Miscavige, and Me.

In his trial brief Lockwood is saying that Presley, who grew up in Scientology “continues to employ a central principle” of Scientology, namely Fair Game, the practice by the church to harass and attempt to destroy its perceived enemies. That statement is ambiguous about whether Presley has actually gone back into the church since her 2014 split. So is his other allegation, that she called him an “SP” in a text to her daughter Riley. We’ve found plenty of ex-Scientologists who use that terminology.

Anyway, we’re sure the document will spark plenty of debate about whether Lisa Marie is in or out. Here’s the key paragraph…

Petitioner was raised as a Scientologist and continues to employ a central principle of Scientology: “Fair Game” or “Fair Gaming.” Scientologists employ this tactic against perceived enemies to punish and harass them by any means possible (Wikipedia defines “Fair Game” as private investigations, character assassination, and legal action against perceived enemies and states that it is “a core religious practice” of the church)”. Petitioner responded to a text message from her older daughter in May 2016 referring to Respondent as an “SP” (according to Wikipedia, a “Suppressive Person”) by saying “I’ve known this all along I just need to make absolutely sure he won’t get to take ur (sic) sisters every other week n (sic) get joint custody which courts automatically grant! That’s what I’ve been doing all this time.” (Respondent’s Exhibit 1). Various Petitioner’s text messages talk about “a plan.” Consequently, Respondent was followed by private investigators and surveiled, as well as maiigned in the previous DCFS investigation and Dependency Court proceeding without any legitimate basis, and Petitioner continues to assert these debunked allegations.

The document also refers to the July 12 suicide of Presley’s son Benjamin Keough, and suggests that Lisa Marie may be prone to a relapse of her drug addictions because of it.

Petitioner has been in rehabilitation facilities for drug or alcohol issues at least five times and attended outpatient rehabilitation until 2018, but has not participated in a twelve step program. Petitioner admitted that as recently as October 2016 she took 20 to 80 Oxycodone tablets, then used cocaine in order to stop using Oxycodone. Respondent does not know whether Petitioner is sober at this time, but photographs in the media indicate that Petitioner has smoked marijuana and drank beer since her last rehabilitation stint (see Respondent’s Exhibits 64, 56-63) and the strong possibility of relapse exists, especially in light of the most recent events.

The Blast also reported that Lockwood plans to call Leah Remini as a witness to explain Scientology Fair Game to the jury. Um, wow.

Here’s the rest of the document. Let us know what stands out to you…

Presley v. Lockwood: Respondent's Trial Brief by Tony Ortega on Scribd

——————–

“The Rock has such terrific significances connected with it: violations, survival, not to survive, thisa, thata, the other thing, identifications, cross-references, see file B, see file A 1,002,642, cross-reference Navy Department, you get the idea. Bulletin of War, Space Command, planet Exnoo, figure-figure-figure-figure, think-think-think-think-think-think, figure-figure-figure-figure, thought-thought-thought-thought, thought, significance-significance-significance-significance… And when he looks at this particular piece of matter, energy, space and time which is all it’s conceived of, he doesn’t conceive of matter, energy, space and time. He thinks, Cross-reference: Space Command, 8,000,000,682, general order to all torpedo-men. Following: pursuant to the orders of the admiral… See? Now, this unfortunately cross-references with Order of the Day, Monastery Platitude, Mount Xenu. There shall be peace. Which conflicts with, Dear, I know you are dedicated to holy orders, but I need a new pair of shoes. Which in itself is very vastly in conflict with Order of the Mount: Honor thy father and thy mother. Wait a minute, how’d that get in there? And that’s why the preclear’s so baffled.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 25, 1958

Advertisement

——————–

“An Ethics Court was held on Andy Nolch, conductor of The Indie Scientology Podcast, in absentia, because he is in prison in Australia. Andy’s crime is point 15 of the General Crimes as listed in the first edition of the Introduction to Scientology Ethics book: ’15. Causing severe and disreputable disturbances resulting in disrepute.’ Andy’s previous arrest and the latest incarceration for violation of court orders and on drug possession charges caused severe disturbance and disrepute to the field and to field Scientologists that he interviewed in his podcast. The recommendations are that Andy Nolch should not to be trained or processed on anything other than PTS technology and drug rehabilitation tech. Is assigned the condition of Treason.”

——————–

“I prefer to think of D.M. as Theon Greyjoy.”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay Spina, Medicare fraud: Sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— 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 set for August 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Erika Christensen, Ethan Suplee, and Juliette Lewis]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] For once, a target of Scientology gladhanding did his homework and said no thanks
[TWO years ago] 50 years ago today, Scientology was banned in the UK — Here’s why it was a bad move
[THREE years ago] The Rathbuns hire a lawyer, and Ray Jeffrey answers questions about his legal salvo
[FOUR years ago] Why does Scientology have no sense of humor? Because seriousness is a sacrament
[FIVE years ago] A video response to Scientology’s crass celebrities, Jenna and Bodhi Elfman
[SIX years ago] Garcia federal fraud lawsuit survives another challenge by Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] Scientologists Warned about Facebook “Entheta” After Leah Remini’s Departure
[EIGHT years ago] Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise’s Split Becomes an Advertisement

——————–

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 2,009 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,513 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,033 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,053 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 944 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,251 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,119 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,893 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,697 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,013 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,579 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,498 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,666 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,247 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,508 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,546 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,259 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,784 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,314 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,874 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,014 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,334 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,189 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,308 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,664 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,967 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,073 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,475 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,347 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,930 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,425 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,679 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,788 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on July 25, 2020 at 21:00

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, 14 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 July 25, 2020 17:55

Scientology to the rescue: After losing son and wife, Johnny Lewis’s dad is happier than ever

On September 26, 2012, Sons of Anarchy actor Johnny Lewis went on a rampage, killing his 81-year-old landlord Cathy Davis and her cat, then attacking a gardener and a neighbor before either falling or jumping to his death at the Los Feliz home where he’d been living for a few days. It was the sad culmination to a series of violent incidents since he’d left the FX show after the 2009 season.

Lewis was the son of two OT 8 Scientologists, Michael and Divona Lewis, and over the years Michael’s advertisements as a Scientology field disseminator have appeared here at the Bunker on occasion.

[Divona Lewis and her famous son Johnny]

Michael Lewis told Los Angeles magazine that Scientology’s famous hatred for psychiatry had not been at fault in his son’s death. “[Michael] discounts that assumption, claiming that he pursued and encouraged psychiatric treatment for his son. It was Johnny who refused to comply.”

Now, we have another update on Michael Lewis, and once again, it involves news about an OT 8 Scientologist in Florida succumbing to cancer, just a few days after we learned about Kelly Preston’s demise.

In this case, it was Michael’s wife Divona. According to an obituary, Divona Tyrrell Lewis died on October 25 in Clearwater after a lengthy battle with melanoma. She was 72.

Michael has coped with this loss by throwing himself into expensive Scientology auditing levels. He was already OT 8 and had reached the top of the “Bridge to Total Freedom,” so he turned to experiences that are adjacent to the Bridge…

We’ve written often about Scientology’s Super Power package (about $30,000), and the “L’s” (about $50,000 to $70,000 each). As we’ve noted many times, the “Cause Resurgence Rundown” (about $2,500) is literally just running for hours and hours around a lighted pole under a large dome for days until the subject has some kind of epiphany.

Here’s what Lewis had to say about his splurge at the Flag Land Base…

I routed into Flag early this year having just lost my wife and having just been scraped up off the floor by the Freewinds. Shortly before my wife passed away she said, “It’s your turn now. You’ve been taking care of me — now you need to take care of yourself.” I routed in and did Super Power, then L11, then L12, then Cause Resurgence — all the while feeling myself come back and then some. I had thought I would never be happy, really happy again. Now it’s difficult to imagine being happier than I am right now. Thanks to FSO, I’m now living a new life, a rewarding one that helps both myself and many many others. I feel younger and more hopeful, and looking over my days and my activities there is absolutely nothing I am doing right now that I don’t love. I appreciate the care, love, persistence and insistence of the FSO staff. They have helped me through the worst time of my life and helped make it the best time of my life instead. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. Michael Lewis

Hip, hip, hooray?

——————–

Jon Atack on Scientology’s COVID response

——————–

Bonus items from our tipsters

How you know there are no new customers: Staff is getting certs…

The youngest and most beautiful executive council on planet Earth…

Advertisement

——————–

“The Rock has such terrific significances connected with it: violations, survival, not to survive, thisa, thata, the other thing, identifications, cross-references, see file B, see file A 1,002,642, cross-reference Navy Department, you get the idea. Bulletin of War, Space Command, planet Exnoo, figure-figure-figure-figure, think-think-think-think-think-think, figure-figure-figure-figure, thought-thought-thought-thought, thought, significance-significance-significance-significance… And when he looks at this particular piece of matter, energy, space and time which is all it’s conceived of, he doesn’t conceive of matter, energy, space and time. He thinks, Cross-reference: Space Command, 8,000,000,682, general order to all torpedo-men. Following: pursuant to the orders of the admiral… See? Now, this unfortunately cross-references with Order of the Day, Monastery Platitude, Mount Xenu. There shall be peace. Which conflicts with, Dear, I know you are dedicated to holy orders, but I need a new pair of shoes. Which in itself is very vastly in conflict with Order of the Mount: Honor thy father and thy mother. Wait a minute, how’d that get in there? And that’s why the preclear’s so baffled.” — L. Ron Hubbard, July 25, 1958

——————–

“An Ethics Court was held on Andy Nolch, conductor of The Indie Scientology Podcast, in absentia, because he is in prison in Australia. Andy’s crime is point 15 of the General Crimes as listed in the first edition of the Introduction to Scientology Ethics book: ’15. Causing severe and disreputable disturbances resulting in disrepute.’ Andy’s previous arrest and the latest incarceration for violation of court orders and on drug possession charges caused severe disturbance and disrepute to the field and to field Scientologists that he interviewed in his podcast. The recommendations are that Andy Nolch should not to be trained or processed on anything other than PTS technology and drug rehabilitation tech. Is assigned the condition of Treason.”

——————–

“I prefer to think of D.M. as Theon Greyjoy.”

——————–

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

Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Arraignment scheduled for September 18.
— Jay Spina, Medicare fraud: Sentencing is set for August 27 in White Plains, NY
— 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 set for August 30 at the Eleventh Circuit
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Hearing on motion for reconsideration set for August 11
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Sept 4 (CSI/RTC demurrer against Riales, Masterson demurrer), Oct 7-19 (motions to compel arbitration)
— 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.
— Matt and Kathy Feschbach bankruptcy appeal: Oral arguments were heard on March 11 in Jacksonville
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Amended complaint filed, trial set for Nov 9, 2021

——————–

Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!

[Erika Christensen, Ethan Suplee, and Juliette Lewis]

We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.

Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!

Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!

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 our weekly series. How many have you read?

——————–

THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] For once, a target of Scientology gladhanding did his homework and said no thanks
[TWO years ago] 50 years ago today, Scientology was banned in the UK — Here’s why it was a bad move
[THREE years ago] The Rathbuns hire a lawyer, and Ray Jeffrey answers questions about his legal salvo
[FOUR years ago] Why does Scientology have no sense of humor? Because seriousness is a sacrament
[FIVE years ago] A video response to Scientology’s crass celebrities, Jenna and Bodhi Elfman
[SIX years ago] Garcia federal fraud lawsuit survives another challenge by Scientology
[SEVEN years ago] Scientologists Warned about Facebook “Entheta” After Leah Remini’s Departure
[EIGHT years ago] Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise’s Split Becomes an Advertisement

——————–

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 2,009 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,513 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,033 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,053 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 944 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,251 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,119 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,893 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,697 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,013 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,579 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,498 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,666 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,247 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,508 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,546 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 2,259 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,784 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 1,314 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,874 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,014 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,334 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,189 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 3,308 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,664 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,967 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,073 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,475 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,347 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,930 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,425 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,679 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,788 days.

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on July 25, 2020 at 06:15

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, 14 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