Former Scientology executive Jefferson Hawkins penned one of the best first-person accounts of the Scientology experience in his book ‘Counterfeit Dreams.’ But we don’t want people to forget that he also provided a major service by writing a book aimed directly at other Scientologists who might have doubts about the organization. Today, we have an [...]]]>

 
Former Scientology executive Jefferson Hawkins penned one of the best first-person accounts of the Scientology experience in his book ‘Counterfeit Dreams.’ But we don’t want people to forget that he also provided a major service by writing a book aimed directly at other Scientologists who might have doubts about the organization. Today, we have an excerpt from that roadmap out of the madness, ‘Leaving Scientology.’

 
Seven Things We Are Not Supposed to Remember

GEORGE Orwell, in his novel 1984, commented on the tendency of authoritarian regimes to revise history.

“Who controls the past,” ran the Party slogan, “controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.” And yet the past, though of its nature alterable, never had been altered. Whatever was true now was true from everlasting to everlasting. It was quite simple. All that was needed was an unending series of victories over your own memory.

As a member of the Church of Scientology, it is helpful to have selective memory loss. There are certain things we are not supposed to remember. And in case you’ve forgotten the things you are supposed to forget, here are some of the key ones:

1. The 1986 LRH Memorial Event
We are not supposed to remember this event, or, as I mentioned in a previous chapter, the fact that it was announced that LRH had passed the torch to a couple named Pat and Annie Broeker. There was an issue about this time, supposedly signed by LRH, granting Pat and Annie the rank of Loyal Officers. No mention was made of David Miscavige.

Yet within about a year, Pat Broker had mysteriously disappeared, and David Miscavige was in charge. What happened to Pat and Annie Broeker? We are supposed to forget that they ever existed (Pat is apparently still alive, and still under Church surveillance, even after 25 years. Annie was kept as a virtual prisoner at the Int Base up until her death in 2011).

And the supposed LRH issues? All forgeries, we were told.

And the video is no longer available from the Church. You don’t believe it? Go in and ask for a copy. It is, however, available on the internet.

2. OT XV
That’s right, OT Fifteen. At that same event, it was announced that LRH had completed the OT Levels, which extended up to OT XV. They were fully written up and codified, we were told, awaiting only their release by Scientology Management. That was 26 years ago. Twenty-six years! And only one of these levels has been released, OT VIII, and that was over 20 years ago.

In fact, several different versions of OT VIII have been released. One might legitimately ask how “several versions” could exist of a level that had been “fully researched and codified.”

We keep hearing that the release of OT IX and X are imminent (and for the inside story of the delayed release of OT IX and X, see the next chapter, “Bridge to Nowhere”). It was supposed to happen, we were told, “when all Orgs reach the size of Old Saint Hill.” Which brings us to our next item.

3. Saint Hill Size Orgs
You don’t hear them mentioned any more. When was the last time you heard about an Org “going Saint Hill Size”? All we hear about nowadays are “Ideal Orgs,” which are measured, one assumes, by square footage.

A Saint Hill Size Org was supposed to meet certain quotas — number of staff, number of students on course, number of auditing hours and so forth. It requires actual work. It requires real, honest expansion. An “Ideal Org” doesn’t require anything but a big, empty building — purchased with your money. It doesn’t even require staff — we are told that in an “Ideal Org,” you don’t need anyone in Div 6 — all you need are flat screen TVs. One wonders, are there any orgs in the world that are really, actually, the size of Old Saint Hill by measurable statistics?

4. Super Power
The Super Power Rundown was originally announced in 1978. It was described at the time by LRH as
A super fantastic, but confidential series of rundowns that can be done on anybody whether [Dianetics] Clear or not that puts the person into fantastic shape unleashing the Super Power of a thetan. This means that puts Scientologists into a new realm of ability enabling them to create a new world. It puts world Clearing within reach of the future.

Given the importance LRH gave this rundown in achieving Planetary Clearing, one would have thought some steam would have been put behind its timely release. Well, here we are, nearly a third of a century later, and it is still not released. The only mention of Super Power these days is in the context of donations towards a building in Clearwater. Construction of the “Super Power Building” began in 1998, and now, 14 years later, it is still unfinished.

Super Power was originally developed for staff. Yet the only part ever delivered to staff was the Cause Resurgence Rundown (the “Running Program,” where one runs around a central pole), and that was only delivered at the Int Base. Yet the latest photos of the Int Base show that the running track used for this is overgrown with weeds — no longer used.

 
5. The Hubbard Family
Whatever happened to LRH’s family? We used to hear a lot about them, and their pictures appeared often in The Auditor. Mary Sue assisted Ron for many years. Diana used to speak at events in the old days. We haven’t heard anything about them for years.

Mary Sue passed away in 2002, and there was not a single mention of it from the Church. Quentin died tragically in 1976, an apparent suicide. His name is no longer mentioned. Suzette and Arthur have disappeared from the world of Scientology and are no longer mentioned. Diana is still at the Int Base, but hasn’t been seen in over 20 years. Where are they? What are they doing? Their names have been erased from Scientology’s history. One might wonder why.

6. Non-Persons
There are a lot of people who have disappeared from Scientology’s official history. One that particularly bothers me is Yvonne Jentzsch. She founded Celebrity Centre and was the driving force behind its expansion and success. Yvonne was well loved, and many who knew her considered that she embodied all of the good things in Scientiology. For several years following her untimely death, her office was maintained at Celebrity Centre, with many photos of her with various celebrities. Nowadays, you will not be able to find a single picture of her at CC, or a single mention of her in Scientology literature. Even the article on CC in the book What is Scientology? carefully omits any mention of her. Here is a woman who devoted her life to Scientology, was never declared, yet has been completely erased from the Brave New World of modern Scientology.

And what about Heber Jentzsch? At one time President of the Church of Scientology and its official spokesperson, a frequent speaker at events and well-loved by Scientologists. Where is he? What happened to him?

How many others have been erased? Who else can you think of that disappeared from the world of official Scientology without a trace?

7. The 1991 Book Re-release
With the release of “The Basics,” we are hearing all about how the books are now “fully verified as completely on-Source.” We are hearing how all errors have been verified meticulously against LRH’s original manuscripts to ensure that the books are exactly as LRH intended them to be. However, those of us who can actually remember the past recall that the exact same things were said in 1991 when all of the books were repackaged and re-released.

Here are the words you are supposed to forget were ever issued, from RTC ED 450, 6 September, 1991, “The Scope of Scientology, Auditors Day 1991,” written by David Miscavige:

For this reason, in April of 1987 we embarked upon a strategy of making all the material of the Scientology Grade Chart standard and available to all. The plan was to:

1. Review all materials against original LRH manuscripts and handle any omissions or alter-is that had crept in through the years either by mistake or at the hand of some SP.”

He goes on to say,

In this period, from 1987 to present time, the following has been accomplished…

1. All Dianetics and Scientology books were reviewed, gotten fully on-source and issued. These books were put into a form that could easily be studied and understood by anyone, with definitions of hard-to-find terms right in the book, thus preventing individuals from going by misunderstoods. This has been done with all of the over two dozen books on the subject.

So was he lying then, or is he lying now? And ten years from now, will Scientologists be told to buy all the books again as “now they are completely on-Source”?

There are probably more things we are not supposed to remember, but I’m sure I’ve forgotten them. I’m sure you can recall your own examples.

So if you want to be a good Scientologist, don’t forget to forget the things you are not supposed to remember.

 
— Jefferson Hawkins

 
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Cathy Schenkelberg has a lot going on in 2019

Cathy sent us this message about her coming year…

I am wrapping up 2019 with the following shows. Many of you may or may not know that I write, perform, book, produce and travel to do this show on my own. It’s bittersweet to be able to tell this story. It represents an “Everyman” story of losing one’s purpose and getting lost in a rabbit hole in whatever form that may be. A job you hate, an abusive relationship…
I would love to document “Squeeze My Cans” to allow access to those of you who I wasn’t able to reach. I am only one person and in doing that it may take time. I am steadfast in sharing this story but I have other projects creatively that span beyond Scientology and the years it took from so many of us. It has been a blessing for my soul. The travels, people and adventures I’ve experienced have filled me with a purpose, joy, and outpouring of kindness that was never afforded me during my 18 years in Scientology. I will still fight the good fight even after the show wraps up. I am grateful to perform in this setting and find solace in its success. Asking for money or financial backing to do this project is not something I’m comfortable with. With that said, in order to document the show properly, it may be the route I will have to take. Until then, I will move on with my credit cards and odd jobs to ensure that the message gets out there on the stage.
Thank you all who have supported this show. Those of you who have tweeted, shared, liked etc…in the power of social media you are my press agent!

So, my friends, this is what I have for 2019. I have written a Cabaret version of the show as well which I hope has some legs. If someone reaches out to book SMC I will do it! But for now, the time it takes to juggle the many parts of making this happen is coming to a close.
Each and every time I share this story is the first time for you the audience. That in itself is a gift that has pushed me forward. This show pays homage to my dad. I know he is proud…and that’s what has driven me. My heart is full.

 
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Start making your plans!

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

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] Tory ‘Magoo’ Christman, and how Anonymous went from online war to in-real-life pickets
[TWO years ago] We have your invitation to Scientology’s holiest celebration of the year!
[THREE years ago] Scientology’s thug life, documented: Aaron Smith-Levin shares a record of Sea Org violence
[FOUR years ago] Mark Ebner finds Scientology’s rubbish again as Narconon International vanishes!
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s continuing plans for its Super Bowl ad, and more Sunday Funnies
[SIX years ago] Scientology Mythbusting with Jon Atack: Original Spin
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology, deep in the heart of Texas: The Voice at the Debbie Cook hearing

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 9, 2019 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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

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

We’ve told you that Scientology’s “grass roots” effort it calls the “STAND League” is a fake. But even we were stunned when we learned that Scientology’s astroturf attack on Leah Remini’s A&E series has allegedly engaged in an outright fraud that has [...]]]>

We’ve told you that Scientology’s “grass roots” effort it calls the “STAND League” is a fake. But even we were stunned when we learned that Scientology’s astroturf attack on Leah Remini’s A&E series has allegedly engaged in an outright fraud that has a major American university launching an investigation.

In December, the Stand League claimed that the Rev. Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray, the well-known former leader of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles who joined the University of Southern California as a University Fellow in 2005, had written a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger complaining about the “one-sided” nature of Remini’s television show about Scientology.

Murray has been very friendly with Scientology in the past, and in 2011 spoke at the dedication of a new Scientology “Ideal Org” in Inglewood, California…

 
So we weren’t too surprised that in December Murray had seemed to help out Scientology with a letter complaining to Iger at Disney, which owns half of the A&E network that airs Remini’s series…

 
Here’s the full text of the letter…

Mr. Bob Iger
Chairman and CEO
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, CA 91521

Dear Sir,

I have recently become aware of a program being aired on the A&E Networks, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, which is hateful towards several religions. This is Leah Remini Aftermath reality series. This is apparently its third season. A&E’s recent programming persecutes American religions — Scientology, Jehovah’s Witnesses and many other denominations. They say they are “looking” into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Their programming is one-sided and does not attempt to show the other side.

By condoning the airing of this series, Disney makes itself a party to the violence resulting. I understand that the Church of Scientology has had hundreds of threats of death, violence or vandalism incited by the show. Including their Church in Twin Cities being set on fire, another church having a car driven purposefully through their front windows, etc. Since the Jehovah’s Witnesses episode was announced there have been five of their Kingdom Halls burned down. I am sure you are aware of the recent shootings in the synagogue in Pittsburgh and other such incidents against churches around the US. That Disney would sponsor programs that incite hatred against religions from my perspective is unconscionable.

I have worked beside the Church of Scientology for over 25 years when they helped greatly to bring calm during the Rodney King riots, with their tutoring of underserved children, work to get the anti-drug messages out as well as teaching human rights.

Combating religious intolerance, stigmatization, discrimination, incitement to violence and violence against persons based on religion or belief is a matter of the highest importance as United Nations global policy.

Do you have to wait until something worse happens to stop this hate-mongering?

Ephesians 4:32, says “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

It is time sir, to act with courage and compassion — as would the great Walt Disney and many of his contemporaries — and not merely turn a blind eye to the discrimination and persecution by the few with a mouthpiece, against the many who diligently seek to follow their religious convictions.

I respectfully request that you look into this from a dispassionate perspective and a broader vision of the world, not just ratings. We need to allow other views than yet another hateful assault on peaceful religions. During my 30 years of being in contact with executives of Walt Disney, I know that you are dedicated to community outreach and applaud the diversity that our country stands for. You are respected beyond your campus, but in any outreach service that models the American dream of diversity without adversity. Will you please consider full cooperation with the above churches and because chemistry is at risk, will you please respond positively to my request.

I look forward to hearing from you and will pass on your response to the hundreds of pastors who have completed our 13 weeks of training at our Cecil Murray Center for Religion and Community Engagement at the University of Southern California; each has received a certificate of completion upon graduation, and goes out to the community to implement what they have learned in civic initiatives. They will applaud hearing from us on this issue.

Sincerely Yours,

Rev Dr. Cecil (Chip) Murray
Cecil Murray Center for Religion and Community Engagement

 
But an enterprising brand marketer in Arizona, Robin Athlyn Thompson, was concerned that USC’s Center for Religion and Civic Culture would allow its brand to be used in this manner, and she inquired about it with her public relations counterparts at the university.

She informed Leah Remini that she received this stunning reply from USC:

Dear Ms. Thompson,

I want to personally acknowledge your letter to President Austin, which she has read and shared with me. She has asked me to respond on her behalf.

We strive for accuracy and appropriateness in all of our university communications. Reverend Murray has stated that he was not the author of the letter that was addressed to Mr. Iger on a discontinued letterhead. We are currently looking into the misuse of the university’s trademarks.

Thank you for sharing your concern with us.

Sincerely,

Brenda Maceo
Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing
University of Southern California

The Center for Religion and Civic Culture put out its own statement, saying that the Center and Dr. Murray take no position on Disney’s programming…

 
We spoke last night with Thompson, who lives in Phoenix. She explained that she was an avid fan of Scientology and the Aftermath who was devouring whatever she could about the show. A tweet led her to the Stand League website, where she saw Murray’s supposed letter to Iger.

She says that the letter caught her attention because it wasn’t the kind of thing that an institution like USC would allow.

“I researched USC’s website and examined their permissions on using their brand. I know the implications of writing on company letterhead. I wrote to the brand protection office telling them that I’m a fellow marketer, a brand steward. I explained that their website prohibits the use of their brand without permission. And it was unbelievable to me that USC would take this kind of opinion,” she says.

“I waited and waited. Then I finally called. I got a young woman and told her about my letter. And she said yes, they were looking into this because he never wrote that letter.”

Thompson says she was stunned. She told the young woman to please tell her boss that the university needed to put out a statement as soon as possible distancing themselves from the Stand League.

“I then got that letter from them,” she says.

We told her she had done a brilliant job.

Last week, Scientology doubled down on its deception by holding what it called an “emergency press conference” of the “Los Angeles Faith Coalition,” a group whose website the church owns. The hastily arranged event, featuring only a couple of dozen attendees, was held across the street from the Disney Studios in Burbank so that Murray’s (faked) letter could be presented to Disney in person.

Jeffrey Augustine reported on the scene for us, and since then has dug into the clergy members who made up the “coalition.”

— Rabbi Steven Jacobs, who married California State Controller Betty Yee in 2015, and was the subject of a 1993 book about how an affair he had with one of his congregation resulted in the woman being killed by her husband, who hired a hit-man to do the job, and is today serving life in prison.

— Reverend N.J. “Skip” L’heureux Jr. His appearance, Augustine tells us, was not a surprise as he has long been a Scientology apologist. At the event, it was L’heureux who asked, “What would Mickey [Mouse] do?”

— Bishop Craig Worsham of Agape Church of Los Angeles, a longtime student of Murray’s.

— Worsham’s protege, Shane Harris.

— Mahomed Akbar Khan of American Muslim Strategies

Augustine has been reaching out to these attendees, asking them why they would want to get involved with Scientology attacking a television show which has been exposing the church’s controversies and abuses.

And now, with the revelation that USC is investigating the letter sent out in Murray’s name, they may realize that they have even bigger credibility problems.

 
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Meanwhile, on Australian television this weekend…

 
And now that the cat is out of the bag, we can finally post this photo. What fun it was finally to meet Ron for the first time, and right outside the org.

 
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Start making your plans!

 
——————–

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

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] David Palter, 1952-2018: Remembering a Scientologist who became a steady critic
[TWO years ago] Ron Miscavige on life at Scientology’s secretive Gold Base (and getting thrown in its lake)
[FOUR years ago] Ryan Hamilton’s plan to consolidate his lawsuits against Scientology rehabs is denied
[FIVE years ago] Jon Atack on Scientology’s methods of ‘thought stopping’
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s Atlanta drug rehab buys its way out of courtroom nightmare
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s gag reflex: The Church’s history of enforcing a vow of silence

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 8, 2019 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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

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

 Scientology is pumping out more propaganda than ever, not only with its DirecTV channel, but also with a steady stream of social media that must be costing the church a fortune to operate.

The church may still rely on Sea Org slaves to write letters by the hundreds, but you can be sure it’s contracting out [...]]]>

 
Scientology is pumping out more propaganda than ever, not only with its DirecTV channel, but also with a steady stream of social media that must be costing the church a fortune to operate.

The church may still rely on Sea Org slaves to write letters by the hundreds, but you can be sure it’s contracting out its social media work to professionals. We’re seeing a lot of slick answers being put out by Scientology’s various accounts which are intended to counter the things the press has uncovered about Scientology’s controversies.

One of those controversies is Scientology’s long history of deep-seated homophobia. L. Ron Hubbard categorized homosexuality as a perversion in his 1950 book Dianetics, and any former church executive will tell you that Hubbard’s view — that homosexuals are “covertly hostile” — permeates the organization. Gay people who somehow end up in Scientology will find themselves subjected to Hubbard’s brand of gay conversion therapy, auditing the gay away.

However, the church today knows that having a reputation for homophobia is not a good thing, so it lies. And it has its social media accounts lie as well. Here’s an example…

 
Notice how that answer is really a dodge. There might be a creed which says that theoretically all people are equal, but the Twitter account avoided answering the question about whether gay people are accepted in the church.

We know from the testimonies of people like Derek Bloch and Keith Relkin that this isn’t the case.

And, to help make this point, we have another short video for you to consider. Once again, it features Nation of Islam minister Tony Muhammad, the key figure in the Nation of Islam/Scientology mashup, and a recipient of Scientology’s highest award, the Freedom Medal.

In this clip, Muhammad is speaking at a NOI mosque in Los Angeles and brings up a Biblical passage that refers to incest and pedophilia.

Muhammad makes sure his listeners understand the depravity of what the Bible has described — grown men sleeping with their daughters — and he asks, “Who do you think controls pornogaphy in Hollywood?” And his audience loudly answers with a refrain of “The Jews!”

But in the Nation of Islam, he says, pedophilia isn’t a problem. First, because if the Nation finds out that someone is sleeping with their daughter, “we’re going to kill you, straight up.”

On the other hand, if someone is a victim of molestation, the Nation is there to help.

“Now, if you fall victim to that, we’ll help you with that.”

Muhammad then conflates being the victim of pedophilia with being gay, which is a common notion among bigots.

In order to explain what he means, Muhammad puts on a swishy walk to the laughter of his audience, and then says that the Nation will march it out of a person. Here, see it for yourself…

 
So, Scientology’s slick social media operation may be spreading a lot of sanitized public relations, but time and again Scientology itself shows its true colors.

While the church denounces anyone who speaks out about its controversies as a “bigot,” David Miscavige has handed the church’s highest award to an outspoken bigot from a hateful organization, the Nation of Islam, that Scientology has hitched itself to.

Funny how you don’t hear about that kind of thing from Scientology social media kingpin Ed Parkin.

 
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Start making your plans!

 
——————–

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

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?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] Scientology officials from around the globe called to Florida for news of ‘Scientology TV’
[TWO years ago] Moments in Scientology journalism: When Alex Mitchell blew the lid off ‘Babalon Working’
[THREE years ago] Yes, that was a Scientology ad you saw during the Super Bowl. Here’s what’s in it.
[FOUR years ago] An L. Ron Hubbard island fantasy: The Scientology daydream you haven’t heard
[FIVE years ago] REPORT: Man was hired to keep Shelly Miscavige from escaping Scientology base near L.A.
[SIX years ago] Jenna Miscavige Hill continues her media blitz; more Scientology news in Thursday roundup
[SEVEN years ago] 5 biggest lies in Scientology’s 2-minute TV ad

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 7, 2019 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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

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

 Our friend Clay Irwin is on the spot and alerted us to the joyous news that today is move-in day for Scientology icon Tom Cruise!

We broke the news a couple of years ago that Tom, after selling off most of his other properties around the world, was paying for a double-penthouse to be built [...]]]>

 
Our friend Clay Irwin is on the spot and alerted us to the joyous news that today is move-in day for Scientology icon Tom Cruise!

We broke the news a couple of years ago that Tom, after selling off most of his other properties around the world, was paying for a double-penthouse to be built on top of the Skyview project in downtown Clearwater, Florida.

The Skyview is a development project by wealthy Mexico City Scientologist Moises Agami, who has transformed what was an unsightly bank building into a luxe condo tower, with Tom having the top two floors, as well as a 9-car private garage with car elevator next door — and a private air bridge connecting the two.

But perhaps most remarkably, the building is smack dab in the middle of Scientology’s spiritual mecca, the Flag Land Base that makes up much of downtown Clearwater. From his spacious balcony, Tom can look south to Scientology’s holiest sites — the Fort Harrison Hotel and the Flag Building — or look north to the Sandcastle and other places where the vaunted “Operating Thetan” auditing is delivered. Tom is surrounded by woo!

Irwin, who used to own a bar just down the street, noticed that workers were lifting crates directly into Tom’s penthouse and snapped some photos for us.

 
We’ll add more photos and a video as they arrive.

 
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Scientology’s Super Bowl ad — the 1-minute version

Scientology has now posted the long version of its “Curiosity” ad that was played during the Super Bowl on Sunday…

It’s a force more powerful than armies
Than walls
Or chains
Than fear
Or bigotry
Or hate
It has conquered land and sea
Vanquished ignorance and intolerance
And expanded our horizons
It has driven the greatest minds in history
To solve the mysteries of science
And culture
And religion
It’s a fire burning within each of us
With unlimited potential
To take us further
Push us higher
And bring us closer
To understanding the simple truths
That bind us all

 
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Start making your plans!

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

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 spies coming forward to spill their guts, then and now: Key example from the past
[TWO years ago] L. Ron Hubbard’s daughter — the one he wanted to disappear — surfaces online
[THREE years ago] ‘Are you 100 percent American?’ — ‘Ross & Carrie’ investigate joining Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Scientology vs. the mayor: The full Gabe Cazares interview from 1997’s Secret Lives
[FIVE years ago] The BBC’s John Sweeney gives us another glimpse of creepy Scientology intimidation
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s secret vaults: A rare interview with a former member of hush-hush “CST”

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 6, 2019 at 12:45

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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

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

With Leah Remini’s third season of “regular” Scientology and the Aftermath episodes coming to an end last night (we think there’s still more in the way of “special” episodes to come), we thought it was time to pay some attention to that other great television experiment going on.

We’re talking, of course, of Scientology TV.

Now, we [...]]]>

With Leah Remini’s third season of “regular” Scientology and the Aftermath episodes coming to an end last night (we think there’s still more in the way of “special” episodes to come), we thought it was time to pay some attention to that other great television experiment going on.

We’re talking, of course, of Scientology TV.

Now, we know we’ve been a bit hard on David Miscavige’s new obsession. A steady 24-hour diet of church propaganda (interrupted by some legit films on Friday nights) might be tough for us to sit through, but that doesn’t mean that someone out there might not actually enjoy Dave’s taste in programming.

And now, here’s proof. The latest copy of International Scientology News includes this happy announcement of the 24 — count ’em, 24! — awards the young channel has already pulled in…

This year marked the launch of the Scientology Network, and it was a splash of epic proportions. From the day it premiered in March, the Network — which airs 24/7 with original programming produced in-house — has been a powerhouse of dissemination. Shows invite viewers inside our Orgs, tell the story of humanitarian campaigns and introduce the world to Scientologists from every walk of life. The programming is beamed to 24 time zones across the globe, and that just happens to be the number of awards the Scientology Network has received, recognizing excellence in categories ranging from technical expertise to powerful storytelling. We’ve garnered five prestigious Telly Awards that honor the best in TV and video production on multiple platforms. Nods included a Silver Award for Art Direction and another Silver Award in the Not-for-Profit Series category. There were also 11 Silver Davey Awards, which recognize the very best in not-for-profit television. Our Network struck gold and platinum too, with eight MarCom Awards, one of the world’s most respected competitions acknowledging excellence in marketing and communications. Beyond the multitude of statuettes, we are also winning hearts and minds, as the fastest-growing television network in broadcast history gives rise to the largest surge in services in Scientology history. Opening access to the Bridge for millions the world over, well, that is the biggest prize of all.

 
Telly Awards? Now where have we heard that before. Oh, that’s right. In 2011 Scientology boasted about one of its DVDs winning a Telly, and that’s when we learned that of the 11,000 entrants in the contest that year, more than 2,750 ended up taking home awards. That’s a pretty generous proportion!

We’re sure that the Daveys and MarComs are just as prestigious, and wouldn’t we all be proud to have those statuettes on our mantles!

As for the assertion that Scientology TV is the “fastest-growing television network in broadcast history,” we sure would like to see some, you know, documentation?

 
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We told you a Scientologist double-murderer was on trial

Trial resumes today in a double-murder case in Prescott, Arizona tomorrow after opening statements were made last week.

The Arizona Republic captured some key portions of the defense statement which, as we predicted, included the information that Kenneth Thompson had grown up a Scientologist, had been indoctrinated to hate psychiatry, and was enraged that his wife’s former ward, a child of 9, had been put on “psych drugs” and had been confined to the Phoenix Children Hospital’s child psychiatry unit. Thompson took it out on the boy’s mother, Penny Edwards, and her fiance, Troy Dunn, killing them with a hatchet — something you will see the defense is not denying. (And we hear from our sources that the jury enjoyed the cute little aside about Tom Cruise.)

With their argument that Scientology was part of what motivated Thompson, his defense team is trying to get him a life sentence rather than the death penalty…

 
Oh, hey, also…

 
——————–

Start making your plans!

 
——————–

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

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 spies coming forward to spill their guts, then and now: A key example from the past
[TWO years ago] L. Ron Hubbard’s daughter — the one he wanted to disappear — surfaces online
[THREE years ago] ‘Are you 100 percent American?’ — ‘Ross & Carrie’ investigate joining Scientology
[FOUR years ago] Scientology vs. the mayor: The full Gabe Cazares interview from 1997’s Secret Lives
[FIVE years ago] The BBC’s John Sweeney gives us another glimpse of creepy Scientology intimidation
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology’s secret vaults: A rare interview with a former member of hush-hush “CST”

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 6, 2019 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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

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

Throughout Leah Remini’s third season, she’s worked hard to bring every show back to the concept that the Church of Scientology is abusing people, especially its own members, because it has the protection of the federal government.

As a tax-exempt religious organization, granted by the IRS in 1993, Scientology not only avoids paying certain [...]]]>

Throughout Leah Remini’s third season, she’s worked hard to bring every show back to the concept that the Church of Scientology is abusing people, especially its own members, because it has the protection of the federal government.

As a tax-exempt religious organization, granted by the IRS in 1993, Scientology not only avoids paying certain taxes, but it also has vast legal protections that tend to frighten off law enforcement and the courts from digging into allegations of abuse.

But how did we get here? Alex Gibney’s 2015 documentary Going Clear has a good segment on it explaining how Scientology literally went to war with the IRS.

Alex Gibney: A decade into Miscavige’s leadership, a simmering crisis finally came to boil. For years Hubbard had insisted that Scientology was a religion and should be tax-exempt. So he had refused to pay any taxes.

Marty Rathbun: We were facing a tax bill of over a billion dollars, and the total assets, liquid and material, and property of the church was about a quarter of that at the time, in the 80s. And so just from a real simple accounting basis, it was life or death. If we don’t get exemption, we die. If we get it, we survive.

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Gibney: Faced with this crisis, David Miscavige formulated a strategy.

Lawrence Wright: Think of the nerve that it takes to decide to take on a war with the IRS.

Rathbun: Being Miscavige’s right-hand man, I was in charge of all those efforts. We were not only suing them in every possible jurisdiction there was, we were investigating the IRS for crimes generally, or things that would offend the public.

Wright: A negotiation began to take place between the IRS and the Church of Scientology… Once the IRS has decided that you are a religion, then you are protected by the vast protections of the First Amendment.

And so, in October 1993, David Miscavige announced to a crowd at the Los Angeles Sports Arena that the war with the IRS was over. Scientology had won.

Can the IRS ever be convinced to revisit the (still formally secret) agreement that it made with Scientology?

There was recently a tantalizing suggestion that the White House might be interested in doing something.

At the Huffington Post, writer Yashar Ali in 2017 revealed that Leah Remini had heard privately from Lynne Patton, a longtime Trump family aide, who complimented Leah on her show. She also said she had mentioned Leah’s work to the Trumps, and when she suggested it was about time Scientology lost its tax exemption, the president agreed.

Patton didn’t respond to Yashar when he asked her to confirm the story, and there’s been no confirmation from the White House that the president has any thoughts one way or another about it.

However, we pointed out that if Trump wanted to have the IRS revisit Scientology’s agreement, his Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is by statute one of the very few number of people who could call for an investigation. And it’s not improper for the president to suggest such a thing to his own cabinet member.

Since then, we’ve heard nothing from the Trump camp about reviewing Scientology’s status.

The IRS, meanwhile, has been decimated in cost-cutting and bruised in scandals, and it doesn’t seem to be in the kind of shape it would need to be in for a battle with Scientology.

But is there still a chance that it could happen? We’re very interested to see what Leah finds out tonight in a new episode of Scientology and the Aftermath from Boston University School of Law professor Jay Wexler. Does he think there’s a way to get the IRS to revisit that 1993 decision?

Also, a programming note. We know that, just as in past years, A&E is calling this the “season finale” because it is the last of season three’s “regular” episodes, even though there will be more episodes to come.

We believe there may be a “special” episode airing next week (although we’ve also heard the network will air a re-run) on February 12, and then six days later, on Monday, February 18, A&E intends to air its resurrected episode featuring Danny Masterson’s accusers.

This third season has already experienced some schedule changes and confusing episode-numbering. We’ll try to stay on top of the latest twists and turns.

 
——————–

Start making your plans!

 
——————–

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

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] Best reactions to last night’s Scientology Super Bowl ad, which asked, ‘Curious?’
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s 2017 Super Bowl ad, ‘Your Full Potential,’ is another mystery sandwich
[THREE years ago] Scientology is the bomb diggety, and here’s proof, starring Leah Remini’s husband!
[FOUR years ago] SCIENTOLOGY DENIED: Australia’s only Narconon rehab center loses zoning fight
[FIVE years ago] The secret of everything? It’s time for Scientology’s Original Operating Thetan Level Five!
[SIX years ago] Jenna Miscavige Hill on her uncle, Scientology’s leader: A bully too afraid to show his face
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology Sunday Funnies: The Denver Miracle!

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 5, 2019 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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

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

On Saturday, Clearwater Police Chief Daniel Slaughter posted a video responding to the criticism his department has received in the wake of two episodes of Leah Remini’s A&E series Scientology and the Aftermath.

In the video, Chief Slaughter said he didn’t appreciate his officers being criticized, and that his department is [...]]]>

On Saturday, Clearwater Police Chief Daniel Slaughter posted a video responding to the criticism his department has received in the wake of two episodes of Leah Remini’s A&E series Scientology and the Aftermath.

In the video, Chief Slaughter said he didn’t appreciate his officers being criticized, and that his department is caught in the middle of a dispute between a controversial church and its critics.

We responded yesterday, pointing out that people who have had to deal with Scientology in Clearwater tell us they don’t perceive the local police as a neutral party, and that it often seems to operate as Scientology’s private army.

In fact, Clearwater police officers get extra pay by working for Scientology on their off-duty hours, but Chief Slaughter anticipated that criticism and said that only 3.4 percent of extra-duty pay comes from working for the church.

We tried to reach the chief’s public information officer yesterday, hoping to see a full breakdown of those extra-duty assignments. Did that 3.4 percent only include the Church of Scientology, or did it also account for work paid for by the Flag Service Organization, the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, the Religious Technology Center, and all of the other entities that Scientology controls but that don’t actually have the name “Scientology” in them?

The PIO, department spokesman Rob Shaw, hasn’t returned our call yet. But we hope he does because we have another question we’d like to ask, and it involves an 18-year-old video that was shot by Mark Bunker.

In the summer of 2000, Bunker put together a really excellent short documentary for the Lisa McPherson Trust, which he was working for at the time. It contained interviews with retired Clearwater Police Lieutenant Ray Emmons and former Clearwater Mayor Gabe Cazares, as well as footage of Clearwater police officers clearly favoring Scientology and bullying people who had come to town to protest the church.

But what caught our eye was something at the very end of the video. Bunker had obtained a list from the department showing how much Clearwater police officers had made that year up to the end of August in extra-duty pay working for the church.

 
This was a list of officers who had been paid to work during their off-duty hours for the Church of Scientology, and it was above and beyond what they took home from the city working for the department.

As the names continued to scroll, we were a little surprised to see one name in particular.

 
We called Mark Bunker and asked him. Is the “Slaughter” in that list referring to Daniel Slaughter, who today is the chief of police? (Slaughter himself, in his video Saturday, said that he has been working on the force since 1992.)

Bunker said that it was indeed the same Daniel Slaughter. And besides the fact that he was one of the top earners of Scientology money in the first eight months of 2000, there was another pretty interesting detail.

“He was the officer in charge of that detail,” Mark told us. “He was the guy overseeing the officers who worked for the church.”

You. Don’t. Say.

Here again is the chief, speaking in his video on Saturday: “The mere suggestion that our officers exist to serve any religious organization, specifically Scientology, is patently false and an affront to our officers and the great community we serve.”

We’d like to believe that is true, chief. We really would.

We’re going to leave you with this short video we put together, drawing some contrast between Clearwater leaders, past and present.

 
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Meanwhile, last night on Twitter

9:22 pm Eastern:

 
10:32 pm:

 
10:44 pm:

 
11:31 pm:

 
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Start making your plans!

 
——————–

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

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] Are you Sci-Curious? Here’s Scientology’s 2018 Super Bowl ad
[TWO years ago] Scientology’s Super Bowl ad: Here’s your sneak peek at what it’s going to be like
[THREE years ago] When David Miscavige was riding high with ‘The Basics’ — The 2008 New Year’s event!
[FOUR years ago] LEAH REMINI IN TALKS TO SUE SCIENTOLOGY: MIKE RINDER TESTIMONY
[FIVE years ago] It’s a make-or-break day for Monique Rathbun vs Scientology in a Texas courtroom
[SIX years ago] Best Twitter Reactions to Scientology’s Super Bowl Ad
[SEVEN years ago] Scientology wants it both ways: The Church’s opposite legal strategies in Florida and Texas

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 4, 2019 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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

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

 Here it is, tonight’s Super Bowl ad from the Church of Scientology, “Curiosity,” which will be airing in certain local markets around the country tonight.

This year’s ad reverts to form after last year’s ad, “Curious?”, was something of a departure.

This year’s spot is the usual slick mix of images and narration having nothing to [...]]]>

 
Here it is, tonight’s Super Bowl ad from the Church of Scientology, “Curiosity,” which will be airing in certain local markets around the country tonight.

This year’s ad reverts to form after last year’s ad, “Curious?”, was something of a departure.

This year’s spot is the usual slick mix of images and narration having nothing to do with Scientology — L. Ron Hubbard himself said that the way to sell Scientology was to offer the public a “mystery sandwich,” something to get them curious enough to buy a book or take a class.

Increasingly, it’s been harder for Scientology to convince people to do that, but Scientology leader David Miscavige still spends big money for annual promotions, culminating in tonight’s big game.

Since 2013, the church has bought local ad spots during the Super Bowl to show its slick ads, and this year will be no different. As in past years, we expect people in certain markets will see the ad during the long pre-game show. During the game itself, it usually shows up right after halftime and as the third quarter is about to begin, but it could show up in other spots as well…

It’s a force more powerful than armies
It has vanquished ignorance and intolerance
And expanded our horizons
It has driven the greatest minds in history
To take us further
To understanding the simple truths that bind us all
[Curious?]

 
It’s always fun to see the reactions when people unfamiliar with the idea of David Miscavige’s PR aspirations suddenly realize they’ve seen a Scientology ad on their television, and they take to Twitter to have the mother of all freakouts.

It never fails. Each year, we see viewers go completely nuts over the idea that Scientology has paid to run a short pitch on their TV screens.

You’d think they’d be used to it by now. Six years ago, for 2013’s Super Bowl, Scientology advertised during the game for the first time. Why then? Well, we agreed with Mike Rinder that it was probably a direct result of Debbie Cook asking, in court testimony in 2012, about the money that Scientologists were supposedly paying for publicity campaigns.

Cook was a top former church official and the questions she raised in a famous New Year’s 2012 email led directly to a large exodus of people leaving the church — and no doubt made Miscavige sit up and take notice. She seemed to have a good point: Scientologists are under intense pressure to fork over huge amounts of money that they are told will be used to “disseminate” Scientology to the larger public. But what did they have to show for it? Where were the TV ads or other means of getting the word out? Only a few months after Cook made that complaint, Scientology aired its first ever Super Bowl ad.

And fortunately for us, the result has been five years of hilariously earnest TV ads that result in endless mocking on social media each year.

Again, for the press who makes this mistake every year, this is not a national ad spot that, this year, costs advertisers more than $5 million for a 30-second commercial. Scientology instead buys local advertising spots in select markets during the game. One expert told us they figure it costs the church about $1 million to do it that way, and Miscavige tends to target only markets where he has an “Ideal Org” opened. As usual, we’ll be watching Twitter to see where the ad shows.

And once again, in case you’ve missed them, here are the ads for the previous Super Bowls…

2013’s ad, “Knowledge”…

 
2014’s ad, “Scientology Spiritual Technology”…

 
2015’s ad, “Age of Answers”…

 
2016’s ad, “Who Am I”…

 
2017’s ad, “Your Full Potential”…

 
2018’s ad, “Curious?”…

 
——————–

Start making your plans!

 
——————–

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

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] What L. Ron Hubbard said about religion — before Scientology became a ‘church’
[TWO years ago] Leah Remini books the Bill Maher show, gets swung at by Giovanni Ribisi
[THREE years ago] Ray Jeffrey fends off Scientology’s attempt to get him in hot water with the California Bar
[FOUR years ago] When Richard Nixon ordered the Secret Service to investigate Scientology
[FIVE years ago] Monique Rathbun tries to slap down Scientology’s ‘anti-SLAPP’ motion in court today
[SIX years ago] Super Sunday Funnies: Live-Blogging Scientology’s Super Bowl Ad!
[SEVEN years ago] Debbie Cook denied: Scientology’s restraining order remains in place until Thursday hearing

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on February 3, 2019 at 09:00

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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

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

 We’re going to guess that the Clearwater Police Department was inundated with angry calls and messages from the public after the last two episodes of Leah Remini’s A&E series, Scientology and the Aftermath. How else to explain the extraordinary step that Clearwater Police Chief Daniel Slaughter took yesterday, posting a video to the department’s Facebook [...]]]>

 
We’re going to guess that the Clearwater Police Department was inundated with angry calls and messages from the public after the last two episodes of Leah Remini’s A&E series, Scientology and the Aftermath. How else to explain the extraordinary step that Clearwater Police Chief Daniel Slaughter took yesterday, posting a video to the department’s Facebook page to explain how his force was being unfairly criticized.

Slaughter became chief in 2014 and has been with the department since 1992, so he knows quite well the history of Scientology’s takeover of downtown Clearwater. But he apparently didn’t appreciate the blowback he’s been getting after Tuesday night’s episode, which showed Remini, her costar Mike Rinder, and guest Mark Bunker having a seat on a park bench on land owned by the church.

 
Six Clearwater police officers showed up, brandishing a 1999 court order that they said prevented Bunker from being on church property. But Rinder explained to them that the 1999 injunction actually governed another area, and that they weren’t in violation of it. They agreed to move to the public sidewalk, but representatives of the church never showed up after making the call.

As Rinder had predicted, it was the kind of overkill that the Clearwater police are known for when Scientology calls. But Chief Slaughter didn’t like that interpretation, and decided to educate the public about how his officers are merely caught in the middle of a long dispute. Here’s the video and a full transcript…

Hello, I’m Clearwater Police Chief Daniel Slaughter. I began my career with the department in 1992. I’ve been a street cop, a detective, and served in various leadership roles before I was promoted to police chief in 2014. As a Clearwater resident and the police chief of this city, I wanted to talk to you about a long standing matter affecting our department and community. For years, the Clearwater Police Department has been thrust into the middle of a debate between a controversial religion and its critics — without a voice in the matter. Scientology’s hub of activity is in a portion of downtown Clearwater occupying approximately half a square mile in our 36 square-mile city. Not one of our on-duty officers is assigned to or stationed at any Scientology property. The Clearwater Police Department received more than 78,000 calls for service in 2018 with approximately 109 originating from Scientology staff or security. This equates to approximately one tenth of one percent of all calls for service. We are obligated to respond to all calls for service, regardless of religious affiliation of the caller and to protect free for all citizens regardless of content. Consistent with other law enforcement organizations, the Clearwater Police Department has an extra-duty program for a wide variety of businesses and religious entities to hire off-duty officers. The primary purpose of extra-duty officers is to provide additional services to the community with security, crowd control, and traffic-related details. These programs are not funded by the taxpayers, and most importantly, do not draw from the on-duty resources paid for by the taxpayers. Only 3.4 percent of the extra-duty assignments involve Scientology. All officers serving on an extra-duty shift are bound by oath to remain impartial and operate under the policies and procedures of the Clearwater Police Department. Being a recognized religious entity by the federal government, Scientology is entitled to contract for the same services as any other religious organization or business. The Police Department does not have the ability to stop providing extra-duty services to one religious organization without denying the same service to all federally recognized religious entities. Law enforcement officers throughout the country swear an oath to uphold the Constitution. This includes the First Amendment which covers freedom of religion and freedom of speech. Clearwater police officers swear to uphold the same. Our hope is that everyone watching this video will recognize that we don’t get to pick and choose whom we protect and serve, and nor should we. We are bound by the Constitution to answer all calls for service and deliver those services in a fair and impartial manner. The Clearwater Police Department has always investigated all crimes, in a fair and impartial manner. The Clearwater Police Department has always investigated all crimes, without passion or prejudice, regardless of who the victim or suspect is. And, we will continue to do so. We will not be used as instruments to promote anyone or any organization’s agenda. Our officers are human beings who work a hazardous job that exposes them to human tragedy on a regular basis. The mere suggestion that our officers exist to serve any religious organization, specifically Scientology is patently false and an affront to our officers and the great community we serve. To see them criticized and vilified for upholding the U.S. Constitution, all while doing their best to interpret complex legal orders, confusing complaints, and to mediate disputes between constitutionally protected activities of religion, speech, and assembly is not only unfair but done in the absence of perspective. Hopefully, we provided you perspective today. Whether you wish us well or ill, the Clearwater Police Department will continue to protect every citizen and investigate every crime, and serve our community with the powers granted to us by the Constitution and criminal justice system. Thank you.

 
While we appreciate the police chief’s position, we were fairly stunned that he characterized the situation as a dispute between the church and its critics.

Anyone who has followed our coverage, and the coverage by the Tampa Bay Times, the work by Lawrence Wright, and so many others, would know that the ongoing crisis we’ve been covering is a dispute between Scientology and its own members.

We’ll give Chief Slaughter a recent example.

When Katrina Reyes came to Clearwater with her mother from Siberia, she signed a billion-year contract, promising to work for Scientology day and night for the rest of her natural life. Her passport was taken away, and she was put on a schedule of 365-days-a-year work.

She was 11 years old.

That’s what is happening in your city, Chief Slaughter.

Seven years after she had arrived in Clearwater, Katrina was allowed to go home to visit family. While she was in Siberia, the night before she returned to Florida, she suspected that she had been drugged and raped by two men. However, when she asked her supervisors at the Flag Land Base permission to get medical attention and to find out if she’d been impregnated, instead she was punished. Because in Scientology, a rape victim is always at fault.

That’s what is happening in your city, Chief Slaughter.

When Katrina objected to the way she was treated, she left the Sea Org. She was then told that she could no longer live and work in Clearwater, and she was eventually “declared” a “suppressive person” so she could never see her mother again, who still works in Clearwater at the Flag Land Base and has never seen Katrina’s son, her grandson.

That’s what is happening in your city, Chief Slaughter.

A few years ago, Katrina and her husband tried to see her mother at the Flag Land Base, and when they approached the building where she worked, Scientologists called the police. Chief Slaughter’s men were quickly on the scene and interrogated Katrina and her husband.

At one point, Katrina realized the Clearwater officers had taken her drivers license and had given it to the Scientology security officers, who can be seen in this image taking down her personal information.

 
Katrina tells us she was stunned. The officers hadn’t told her they were going to turn over her ID card to the Scientologist guards. They simply did it, and Katrina says it was clear that she was facing a force that worked hand in glove with the church.

This was not a “critic” of the church. This was not a “protest.” This was a woman trying to see her mother, who is being kept from her by the Church of Scientology while working in the conditions of indentured servitude, her passport kept from her, working 365 days a year, 112 hours a week, for pennies an hour.

That is what is happening in your city, Chief Slaughter.

You might want to look into it.

 
——————–

It’s Super Sunday, and Scientology is snapping photos with athletes famed and not so famed

Now, back to our regularly scheduled Sunday feature, with Rod Keller keeping an eye on Scientology’s sneaky front groups…

As reported on this site on Friday, NFL Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk promoted the Scientology front group Foundation for a Drug Free World on the TV show Fox & Friends. No mention of Scientology was made. But Faulk is not the only sports figure to be approached by Scientology this week, as volunteers have been seeking celebrity endorsements in the events leading up to today’s Super Bowl in Atlanta.

The events surrounding the game are a magnet for sports celebrities. This week Scientology set up shop at some of them and Scientologist Michael DeLeon took a photo at the Truth About Drugs booth with Eric Dickerson. He is one of the top ten running backs of all time having led the league in rushing four times, voted to the Pro Bowl six times, and holds the single season rushing title of 2,105 yards in 1984.

DeLeon also grabbed a photo with retired basketball player Dikembe Mutombo, a member of the Basketball Hall of Fame. Mutombo’s charity work is extensive. He built a hospital in his native country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he is working the Georgetown University to provide care for visually impaired children in Washington, DC, he is a spokesman for the international relief agency CARE, and is a director of the Special Olympics.

Also caught by Scientology’s cameras with Scientologist Tim Sabatino were less well known athletes Kyle Turley, Noah Burroughs, and Nick Ferguson. An offensive tackle for the Rams, Turley retired from the NFL in 2007. Burroughs is an aspiring actor and attended the training camps of the New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars, but never made an NFL roster. Ferguson played with the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans, retiring in 2010.

The Super Bowl campaign is being led by Atlanta-area dentist Joshua Benk, and his office in downtown is being used as the headquarters for literature distribution. Last week’s call for “hundreds” of volunteers to distribute literature is falling short so far. This week there have been less than 10 each day, but Scientology is taking official photos for PR purposes on Saturday. We think they will boost the crowd size for that. The goal of 500,000 pieces distributed appears out of reach.

Scientology has been fascinated by celebrity for many years. In 1955 L. Ron Hubbard authorized Project Celebrity to recruit the Hollywood elite. Today just a brush with celebrity is good enough, allowing them to claim support and endorsement. In reality these photos are not endorsements, just casual encounters at an event where fans can meet the stars of the past. These athletes would be welcomed as members of Scientology, but the the main purpose is to recruit “allies” who can be used to deflect criticism in the face of prosecution or public inquiry. Other than Faulk, we don’t expect to see any of these athletes work with Scientology’s Foundation for a Drug Free World in the future.

 
Also part of the campaign is the traditional Super Bowl ad for Scientology. We haven’t seen it yet, but the Inglewood ideal org is hosting a party where the ad will be shown to publics. Best guess is that they will promote the Scientology Network.

 
— Rod Keller

 
——————–

Start making your plans!

 
——————–

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

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] What L. Ron Hubbard said about religion — before Scientology became a ‘church’
[TWO years ago] Leah Remini books the Bill Maher show, gets swung at by Giovanni Ribisi
[THREE years ago] Ray Jeffrey fends off Scientology’s attempt to get him in hot water with the California Bar
[FOUR years ago] When Richard Nixon ordered the Secret Service to investigate Scientology
[FIVE years ago] Monique Rathbun tries to slap down Scientology’s ‘anti-SLAPP’ motion in court today
[SIX years ago] Super Sunday Funnies: Live-Blogging Scientology’s Super Bowl Ad!
[SEVEN years ago] Debbie Cook denied: Scientology’s restraining order remains in place until Thursday hearing

 
——————–

——————–

Posted by Tony Ortega on February 3, 2019 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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

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

We had a fun surprise last night when we realized that Hawaiian media has been buzzing about a story that had a slight connection to, well, us.

You might have heard that among the hordes of people who have announced their bids or are thinking about [...]]]>

We had a fun surprise last night when we realized that Hawaiian media has been buzzing about a story that had a slight connection to, well, us.

You might have heard that among the hordes of people who have announced their bids or are thinking about running for president on the Democratic ticket in 2020 is a US representative from Hawaii and the first Hindu member of Congress, Tulsi Gabbard, 37.

Gabbard announced her candidacy on January 11, but already she’s run into some strong headwinds from the media. There was a piece in the Intercept, for example, that dug into her connections with Hindu nationalists in India, and her tendency to have friendly associations with authoritarian regimes in Syria and Egypt, even though she’s positioned herself as a progressive candidate.

And the press has also been very interested in her family’s background with a Hare Krishna sect that calls itself Science of Identity Foundation, under the guidance of a man named Chris Butler, 70, also known as Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa.

Gabbard tends to play down her association with Butler’s sect, but her parents clearly were very involved in the small movement, which somehow combines vegetarianism, environmentalism, and a rabid hatred of gay people.

And you thought Scientology was weird.

This question about Tulsi Gabbard’s connection to Butler and the Science of Identity Foundation is not new. In 2015, the Huffington Post dug into the story, pointing out that when Tulsi’s father, Mike Gabbard, was running for the same congressional seat in 2004 and was hoping to upset an incumbent named Ed Case, a Honolulu magazine sent an email asking the elder Gabbard about his ties to Butler. His daughter Tulsi responded, saying “I smell a skunk. It’s clear to me that you’re acting as a conduit for … homosexual extremist supporters of Ed Case.”

In 2012 Tulsi broke with her father’s views on homosexuality and embraced marriage equality, but reporters are still asking questions about her ties to the controversial Butler.

“The Gabbard family’s ties to Butler still hound her — in the hallways of the Hawaii State Capitol, on blogs of political observers, on pages of online discussion forums, and in commentary sections of various news sites,” the Huffington Post said, and that was in 2015, well before the intense glare of a presidential run. In the fall, the New Yorker provided a lengthy examination of the controversy, and even got Butler to give a rare interview.

Then, on January 27, Hawaii’s largest daily newspaper, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, looked closely at those ties, pointing out that in a 2015 video, Tulsi Gabbard referred to Butler as her “guru dev,” which the paper said translated roughly as “spiritual master.”

Butler himself turned down an interview request from the newspaper. And the Star-Advertiser turned to cult expert Rick Ross…

Rick Ross, executive director of the Cult Education Institute, a New Jersey-based nonprofit that researches and advocates against destructive cults and movements, estimated he had been in contact with more than 100 people over the years who were involved in the group. He described Butler as a “dictatorial leader” who has exploited followers of his brand of religion.

“He is a hateful person. He is homophobic. He has said horrible things about the LGBT community,” said Ross. “And he is, to say the least, not exactly an icon of either idealistic or ethical living.”

The Science of Identity Foundation responded by having its attorney, Anthony Michael Glassman, threaten to sue the newspaper. Glassman complained that the newspaper was talking to sources who “paint our clients as charlatans and hypocrites.”

An alert local website realized that Glassman was not your run-of-the-mill libel attorney. He was, in fact, one of Scientology’s busiest lawyers.

“Gabbard Cult Hires Scientology Lawyer to Intimidate Hawaii Media,” the website titled its scoop, which came to our attention last night.

Glassman!

Oh, if our counterparts in Hawaii only knew.

 
——-

 
In Scientology parlance, it’s known as the “Dead Agent Pack.” We first ran into it as a concept more than 20 years ago when we were writing our own story about Rick Ross.

Scientology didn’t like Ross very much. When we went to a talk Ross gave at a local university, we found that someone had stacked a pile of papers at the back of the room. They were packs of information about Ross, with documents about him going way, way back — including an arrest for theft when he was a teenager.

Ross explained to us that the pile of papers was his “DA Pack,” and wherever he went, Scientology would show up and make sure everyone had plenty of copies of them.

The practice comes right out of the policies written by Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard, of course. In 1966 Hubbard wrote, “This is correct procedure: (1) Spot who is attacking us. (2) Start Investigating them promptly for FELONIES or worse using our own professionals, not outside agencies. (3) Double curve our reply by saying we welcome an investigation of them. (4) Start feeding lurid, blood, sex, crime actual evidence on the attackers to the press.” And in 1974, Hubbard added: “If there will be a long-term threat, you are to immediately evaluate and originate a black PR campaign to destroy the person’s repute and to discredit them so thoroughly that they will be ostracized.”

Hubbard called it “Dead Agenting,” and it became a core principle for the way Scientology deals with people it considers enemies.

Around the year 2010, your proprietor became aware that Scientology had started to put together a DA Pack about us. It consisted of a letter that questioned our credentials as a journalist because many years earlier we had referred to the Church of Scientology as a criminal enterprise. The writer of the letter, a Beverly Hills attorney by the name of Anthony Michael Glassman, asked our editors at the time how they could employ a reporter who would say such a thing.

It was precious.

Anyway, in the years since then, whenever Scientology realized that a television program or magazine was talking to us for a story or a program, the church would send out a letter describing all of the reasons why it made Scientology unhappy that anyone would use us as a resource. And usually, those letters would be written by Glassman.

It was sort of funny and odd that this former assistant US Attorney had obviously been assigned to us, and wherever we went, he was sure to follow, even though he had never actually said a word to us directly. (Several other Scientology operatives have been assigned to our “case” over the years, including fake journalist Jim Lynch, private investigator Eric Saldarriaga, and several others, but Glassman has remained consistent over the years as the attorney assigned to handle us.)

Glassman handles other accounts, of course. In his epic book Going Clear, Lawrence Wright talked about Glassman coming to the offices of the New Yorker with Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis in 2010…

Leading the Scientology legal delegation was Anthony Michael Glassman, a former assistant US attorney who now has a boutique law firm in Beverly Hills, specializing in representing movie stars. On his website, he boasts of a $10 million judgment against the New York Times.

Two years later, Scientology used Glassman to threaten to sue Vanity Fair over the story about Tom Cruise and Nazanin Boniadi it was about to publish.

And Glassman was also running point when Scientology was in a panic about Lawrence Wright’s collaboration with director Alex Gibney and their film, also titled Going Clear, which was premiering at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2015.

In December, Glassman told the Daily Beast that all of the concern about Shelly Miscavige not appearing in public in more than a decade was misplaced. Glassman claimed that his partner Rebecca Kaufman had actually met with Shelly. (So why doesn’t Scientology simply put her in front of a camera or something? Glassman didn’t say.)

In other words, Anthony Glassman has been very busy for the Church of Scientology.

And hiring a guy like that might have seemed to Chris Butler’s Science of Identity Foundation like a smart move, but adding “Scientology lawyer” to the already disturbing mix of surreptitious political campaigns and gay-hating rhetoric dogging Tulsi Gabbard really isn’t doing her any favors.

We’re happy to talk to any of our Hawaiian counterparts who want to learn more about Mr. Glassman and his role as a Scientology attorney.

Just be aware, if Scientology finds out you’re talking to us, you’ll most likely be hearing from our Beverly Hills namesake.

 
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Chris Shelton talks to Katrina Reyes

Says Chris: “This week I am joined by Katrina Reyes, former Sea Org member and now declared “suppressive person.” Katrina discusses her history entering the Sea Org at only 11 years old and how Scientology’s Sea Organization engaged in human trafficking and continues to do so to this day. We all have got to make our voices be heard to government officials about this if we ever expect to see any change.”

 
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Start making your plans!

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

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?

 
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THE WHOLE TRACK

[ONE year ago] David Mayo, 1940-2017: Scientology’s top technical wizard and target of ‘Fair Game’
[TWO years ago] Fed up with Scientology disconnection? Be there to dedicate the ‘Call Me’ billboard Feb. 18
[THREE years ago] The particularly bad timing of Monique Rathbun’s decision to fire her attorneys
[FOUR years ago] The shocking case of Scientology mistreatment of the mentally ill you haven’t heard
[FIVE years ago] Scientology’s drug rehab facility in Nevada sued over the usual litany of deceptions
[SIX years ago] Scientology Mythbusting with Jon Atack: The Tomato Photo!
[SEVEN years ago] Debbie Cook files to dissolve Scientology’s TRO: We talk to her attorney, Ray Jeffrey

 
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Posted by Tony Ortega on February 2, 2019 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, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), 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, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ

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

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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