David Miscavige

David Miscavige (born April 30, 1960) is Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center, a corporation that owns the trademarked names and symbols of Dianetics and Scientology.

As RTC Chairman, Miscavige is the highest ecclesiastical official of the Scientology religion, a position he assumed over a year after Hubbard died in 1986. Although Religious Technology Center is a separate corporation from the Church of Scientology, Miscavige is the effective leader of the religion. In Scientology, he is often referred by the acronyms "DM" (his initials) and "COB" (Chairman Of the Board).

Biography

David Miscavige was born in Philadelphia to Loretta and Ron Miscavige Sr. The family was of Polish/Italian extraction and he was their youngest son. The family was Roman Catholic, but not observant.

David suffered from childhood ailments, including allergies, which kept him from accomplishing athletic and academic goals. During this time his father, a trumpet player, became interested in Scientology. Ron Miscavige Sr.'s interest in Scientology led him to have the boy sent to a Scientologist. According to him and his son, the 45 minute Dianetic session cured his ailments. The family was impressed enough by Scientology to convert and move to the world headquarters in Saint Hill Manor, England.

Miscavige dropped out of high school in 1976 and joined the Church of Scientology's Sea Org and Commodore's Messenger Organization, where, while still a teenager, he became one of L. Ron Hubbard's assistants, first as Video in-charge, then as Cameraman, in the production of Scientology training films. After this, he became Action Chief Commodore's Messenger Organization Int. He was later appointed Special Projects Operations of the CMO Int, which disbanded the Guardian's Office and reworked the corporate structure of the Scientology network. In the early 1980s, he became Chairman of the Board of Author Services, Incorporated (ASI).

Scientology career

His importance to the organization is said to have came at a relatively young age. In 1981 Mary Sue Hubbard, at that time second only to L. Ron Hubbard himself in Scientology's hierarchy, was appealing her prison sentence and began to face criticism in the organization. The Saint Petersburg Times in "the Man Behind Scientology" states: "During two heated encounters, Miscavige persuaded Mary Sue Hubbard to resign. Together they composed a letter to Scientologists confirming her decision -- all without ever talking to L. Ron Hubbard." According to Miscavige, he and Mary Sue Hubbard remained friends thereafter.

In 1993 after lengthy negotiations an agreement with the IRS was reached on this issue. Miscavige went to IRS headquarters to meet with the Commissioner, which led to a two year review process and ultimately full tax exemption.

Outside of this he has played an active role in expanding the religion's clout. He encouraged the rise of their Celebrity Centre International and other churches. He also increased the profile of the group by working with professionals in public relations, as well as increasing visibility of Scientology's many branches such as Narconon and Downtown Medical.

Miscavige was interviewed at length by Ted Koppel of ABC television in 1992. In the interview he attempted to dispel what he claimed were misconceptions about the faith. He states that extraterrestrial beliefs (see Space opera in Scientology doctrine) are not as important as people believe or not important at all.

Aside from that interview, he has rarely spoken to the press. Miscavige is, however, often a speaker at major Scientology openings , award ceremonies and related events.

Personal life

Miscavige's hobbies are: Riding his motorcycles, snorkeling, underwater photography and target shooting.

Miscavige has been married to Shelly (Michelle) Miscavige, née Barnett, since 1981, who also serves as his official assistant. They have no children. He has a brother, Ronnie Jr., a twin sister, Denise and a younger sister, Lori. Ronnie Miscavige, his brother, has left the main Scientology organization to sell real estate in Virginia.

Criticism and controversies relating to Miscavige

During his rise in importance he faced several criticisms both within and outside the group.

• In 1982 Hubbard's estranged son, Ronald DeWolf, accused Miscavige of embezzling from and manipulating his father. In the following year Hubbard sided with Miscavige, ending the issue.

• He indicated that the 1985 suicide of his mother-in law Mary Florence Barnett caused criticism of him. California authorities ruled it a suicide and one of Ms. Barnett’s daughters told an investigator she had been depressed following surgery.

• The Internal Revenue Service launched an investigation of Miscavige in 1984 as part of an overall investigation regarding the Church’s exempt status, although this fizzled in 1985.

In the Nightline interview he also made claims which are not widely accepted outside of the faith and therefore may cause criticism. For example he spoke of the mental health field as feeling threatened by Scientology and picking a fight with them (with Scientology). He also stated that in 1955 there was a plan to create a "Siberia" in Alaska specifically for mental patients. He said he gave Koppel evidence of this, but Koppel disputed that. Lastly Miscavige claimed that Richard Behar advocated kidnapping and deprogramming members of his faith.

Template:Movedetail An event that incites controversy among Scientologists is the issue of patter drills. These are verbal drills where a student recites passages of course material to a wall for the purpose of learning it. Further there are reports of retaliative actions being taken against Scientologists who have objected and reported this deviation from standard Scientology. The installation of the drills began in mid-1995 when Miscavige announced the findings of an evaluation he made of education in the Church of Scientology: He stated that "the blind are leading the blind." After that announcement, patter drills were put on most courses.