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===Media coverage and criticism===
===Media coverage and criticism===


Since assuming his leadership role, Miscavige has been faced with press accounts regarding reported illegal and unethical practices of the Church of Scientology. A [[The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power|1991 ''Time'' magazine cover story]] on the Church described Miscavige as "ringleader" of a "hugely profitable global [[Racket (crime)|racket]] that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner."<ref name="Behar" />
Since assuming his leadership role, Miscavige has been faced with press accounts regarding alleged illegal and unethical practices of the Church of Scientology or by Miscavige himself. A [[The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power|1991 ''Time'' magazine cover story]] on the Church described Miscavige as "ringleader" of a "hugely profitable global [[Racket (crime)|racket]] that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner."<ref name="Behar" />


The ''[[St Petersburg Times]],'' in a series of articles (collectively titled "Inside Scientology: The Truth Rundown")—first published in June, 2009—reported that several former Scientologists, including some of the organization's highest-ranking executives, were coming forward publicly to allege that Miscavige routinely humiliates and physically beats his staff.<ref name="TruthRunDown"/> These accounts included testimony from [[Mike Rinder]], former director of the organization's [[Office of Special Affairs]] who for years had been the official spokesperson for Scientology, and [[Mark Rathbun]], who worked closely with Miscavige for many years, serving as Inspector General of the [[Religious Technology Center]] before leaving the organization in 2004. According to Rathbun, "It's becoming chaos because ... there's no form of organization. Nobody's respected because he's constantly denigrating and beating on people."<ref name="TruthRunDown" />
More recently, the ''[[St Petersburg Times]]'' reported, in a series of articles (collectively titled "Inside Scientology: The Truth Rundown," published beginning in June, 2009), that former high-ranking executives of Scientology were alleging that Miscavige routinely humiliates and physically beats his staff.<ref name="TruthRunDown"/> This included testimony from [[Mike Rinder]], former director of the organization's [[Office of Special Affairs]] who for years had been the official spokesperson for Scientology, and [[Mark Rathbun]], who worked closely with Miscavige for many years, serving as Inspector General of the [[Religious Technology Center]] before leaving the organization in 2004. According to Rathbun, Miscavige is "constantly denigrating and beating on people."<ref name="TruthRunDown" />


In the ''[[St Petersburg Times]]'' series were included statements from several other people who claimed to have witnessed Miscavige's abuses, and similar charges were reported years earlier.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Selling Scientology: A Former Scientologist Marketing Guru Turns Against the Church|first=Matt|last=Davis|date=August 7, 2008|url=http://www.portlandmercury.com/news/selling_scientology/Content?oid=862344|accessdate=August 10, 2008}}</ref> [[Stacy Brooks Young|Stacy Young]], Miscavige's former secretary and the ex-wife of Hubbard's former [[public relations]] spokesman [[Robert Vaughn Young]] had previously asserted that Miscavige emotionally tormented staff members on a regular basis. "His viciousness and his cruelty to staff was unlike anything that I had ever experienced in my life ... He just loved to degrade the staff," Young said in a 1995 [[ITV]] interview. "He got a kick out of it. He thought it was funny. Anybody who didn't think it was funny, like I didn't, was very suspect."<ref>{{Cite news| title = Inside the Cult | work = The Big Story | publisher =[[ITV]] | year =1995 }}</ref>
Similar charges were reported years earlier.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Selling Scientology: A Former Scientologist Marketing Guru Turns Against the Church|first=Matt|last=Davis|date=August 7, 2008|url=http://www.portlandmercury.com/news/selling_scientology/Content?oid=862344|accessdate=August 10, 2008}}</ref> [[Stacy Brooks Young|Stacy Young]], Miscavige's former secretary and the ex-wife of Hubbard's former [[public relations]] spokesman [[Robert Vaughn Young]] had previously asserted that Miscavige emotionally tormented staff members on a regular basis. "His viciousness and his cruelty to staff was unlike anything that I had ever experienced in my life ... He just loved to degrade the staff," Young said in a 1995 [[ITV]] interview. <ref>{{Cite news| title = Inside the Cult | work = The Big Story | publisher =[[ITV]] | year =1995 }}</ref>


Church representatives have consistently denied all such accusations, insisting that the allegations come from apostates motivated by bitterness or attempting to extract money from the church.<ref name="TruthRunDown"/> Miscavige labels the sources quoted in the ''St. Petersburg Times'' as "lying" after the persons in question had been removed from the organization for "fundamental crimes against the Scientology religion."<ref name="DMLetter">{{Cite web| first = Thomas C. Tobin| last = Joe Childs | title =A letter from David Miscavige | url =http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012140.ece | work = | publisher = [[St Petersburg Times]] | date = June 23, 2009 | accessdate = June 23, 2009 }}</ref> Church spokespeople have pointed to the fact that Rinder and Rathbun, while still employed by the church, publicly denied the very charges they were now affirming.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/102598/scientologypart3.html. | title = The man behind Scientology | accessdate = 2011-04-09}}</ref><ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012139.ece | title = Scientology: Origins, celebrities and holdings | accessdate = 2011-04-09}}</ref>
Church representatives have consistently denied such accusations, insisting that the allegations come from apostates motivated by bitterness or attempting to extract money from the church.<ref name="TruthRunDown"/> <ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/102598/scientologypart3.html. | title = The man behind Scientology | accessdate = 2011-04-09}}</ref><ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012139.ece | title = Scientology: Origins, celebrities and holdings | accessdate = 2011-04-09}}</ref> An issue of the church's "Freedom" magazine was dedicated to praising Miscavige and attacking the "Truth Rundown" series, featuring articles titled "Merchants of Chaos: Journalistic Double-dealing at the ''St. Petersburg Times.''" and "The Bigotry Behind the ''Times’'' Facade of Responsible Journalism."<ref name=freedommag>{{Cite news| title=Special Report: Inside the S.P. Times|last=no author credited|work=[[Freedom Magazine]]|date = no date, 2009}}</ref> Miscavige sent an open letter to the newspaper challenging the integrity of the reporters and labeling their sources as "lying" after the persons in question had been removed from the organization for "fundamental crimes against the Scientology religion."<ref name="DMLetter">{{Cite web| first = Thomas C. Tobin| last = Joe Childs | title =A letter from David Miscavige | url =http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012140.ece | work = | publisher = [[St Petersburg Times]] | date = June 23, 2009 | accessdate = June 23, 2009 }}</ref> The church also commissioned an independent review of the ''St. Petersburg Times'''s reporting, but have not, to date, released those findings.<ref name=wusf>{{Cite news|title=Scientology Hires Reporters to Investigate St. Petersburg Times|first=Scott|last=Finn|publisher=[[WUSF (FM)|WUSF Public Media]]|date = February 25, 2010 |url=http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/2010/02/25/scientology_hires_reporters_to_investigate_st._petersburg_times |accessdate =2010-10-18}}</ref><ref name=reldis /><ref name=wusf /> <ref name=reldis>{{Cite news| title=The Rundown Truth: Scientology Changes Strategy in War with Media|first=Hugh B.|last=Urban|work=[[Religion Dispatches]]|date = March 17, 2010|url= http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/atheologies/2358/the_rundown_truth:_scientology_changes_strategy_in_war_with_media_ |accessdate =2010-10-18}}</ref><ref name=wusf>{{Cite news|title=Scientology Hires Reporters to Investigate St. Petersburg Times|first=Scott|last=Finn|publisher=[[WUSF (FM)|WUSF Public Media]]|date = February 25, 2010 |url=http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/2010/02/25/scientology_hires_reporters_to_investigate_st._petersburg_times |accessdate =2010-10-18}}</ref>


⚫
"Inside Scientology: The Truth Rundown" was recognized with journalistic honors, including the 2010 Gold Medal for Public Service award from the Florida Society of News Editors.<ref>{{Cite news| last = Sentinel Staff Report | title = Orlando Sentinel wins 17 awards from Florida Society of News Editors | work = Orlando Sentinel| location = Florida | publisher = www.orlandosentinel.com | date = June 18, 2010| url = http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-orlando-sentinel-fsne-awards-20100618,0,3887288.story | accessdate = 2010-06-18 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| last = Florida Society of News Editors | title =FSNE Gold Medal for Public Service | work = FSNE 2010 Journalism Awards | location = Florida | publisher = fsne.org | date =June 18, 2010 | url = http://fsne.org/2010awards/| accessdate =2010-06-18 |quote=Inside Scientology - The ''St. Petersburg Times'' reporting on the Church of Scientology is in the finest traditions of American journalism. The reporting by Joseph Childs and Thomas Tobin stands out for the ways in which it held accountable the powerful. }}</ref> <ref>{{Cite news| title =Winners of 76th Annual National Headliner Awards | work = [[The New York Times]] | publisher = [[The New York Times Company]] | date = March 24, 2010 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/24/us/AP-US-Headliner-Awards-List.html?ref=news | accessdate =2010-03-25 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| title = Print Division - Daily Newspapers and News Syndicates - Writing & Reporting | work = National Headliner Awards | language = | publisher = www.nationalheadlinerawards.com | page = | date = | url =http://www.nationalheadlinerawards.com/Winners2010Print.html | accessdate =2010-03-25 }}</ref> The series was cited as a basis for subsequent journalistic investigations, including a weeklong series hosted on the CNN network by [[Anderson Cooper]].
Miscavige also questioned the professionalism and ethics of the journalists behind the ''St. Petersburg Times'' series. He sent an open letter to the newspaper a day before the first story ran, saying: "I have been advised that you have decided to move forward with your story without my interview. This, despite the fact confirmed more than three weeks ago that I would make myself available on a date certain (6 July), after you spoke to other relevant Church personnel and toured Church facilities, and that I would provide information annihilating the credibility of your sources including the fundamental crimes against the Scientology religion that were the reasons for their removal from post. I am at a loss to comprehend how the ''St. Petersburg Times'' can publish a story about me and the religion I lead without accepting the offer to speak with me, on the pretense that you cannot wait until after I have fulfilled my religious commitments."<ref name="DMLetter"/> The editors replied: "The Times first requested an interview with Mr. Miscavige on May 13, and offered to meet with him in person, or interview him by telephone at any time since."<ref name="DMLetter"/>

The Church of Scientology responded to the "Truth Rundown" series with a campaign to discredit the journalists and those critical of Miscavige. An issue of the church's "Freedom" magazine was dedicated to attacking the series, featuring articles titled "Merchants of Chaos: Journalistic Double-dealing at the ''St. Petersburg Times.''" and "The Bigotry Behind the ''Times’'' Facade of Responsible Journalism."<ref name=freedommag>{{Cite news| title=Special Report: Inside the S.P. Times|last=no author credited|work=[[Freedom Magazine]]|date = no date, 2009}}</ref>
The church also commissioned an independent review of the ''St. Petersburg Times'''s reporting.<ref name=wusf>{{Cite news|title=Scientology Hires Reporters to Investigate St. Petersburg Times|first=Scott|last=Finn|publisher=[[WUSF (FM)|WUSF Public Media]]|date = February 25, 2010 |url=http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/2010/02/25/scientology_hires_reporters_to_investigate_st._petersburg_times |accessdate =2010-10-18}}</ref><ref name=reldis /><ref name=wusf /> The team hired by the Church comprised [[Pulitzer Prize]]-winning journalist [[Russell Carollo]], television producer [[Christopher Szechenyi]], and [[Steve Weinberg (professor)|Steve Weinberg]], professor of journalism at the [[University of Missouri]] and one-time executive director of [[Investigative Reporters and Editors]], who edited the study.<ref name=reldis>{{Cite news| title=The Rundown Truth: Scientology Changes Strategy in War with Media|first=Hugh B.|last=Urban|work=[[Religion Dispatches]]|date = March 17, 2010|url= http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/atheologies/2358/the_rundown_truth:_scientology_changes_strategy_in_war_with_media_ |accessdate =2010-10-18}}</ref><ref name=wusf>{{Cite news|title=Scientology Hires Reporters to Investigate St. Petersburg Times|first=Scott|last=Finn|publisher=[[WUSF (FM)|WUSF Public Media]]|date = February 25, 2010 |url=http://www.wusf.usf.edu/news/2010/02/25/scientology_hires_reporters_to_investigate_st._petersburg_times |accessdate =2010-10-18}}</ref> The authors of the independent review are contractually prohibited from discussing its content, and the Church has, to date, not released their findings, despite being urged to do so by the study's authors.<ref name=reldis /><ref name=wusf />

⚫
"Inside Scientology: The Truth Rundown" was recognized with journalistic honors, including the 2010 Gold Medal for Public Service award from the Florida Society of News Editors,<ref>{{Cite news| last = Sentinel Staff Report | title = Orlando Sentinel wins 17 awards from Florida Society of News Editors | work = Orlando Sentinel| location = Florida | publisher = www.orlandosentinel.com | date = June 18, 2010| url = http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-orlando-sentinel-fsne-awards-20100618,0,3887288.story | accessdate = 2010-06-18 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| last = Florida Society of News Editors | title =FSNE Gold Medal for Public Service | work = FSNE 2010 Journalism Awards | location = Florida | publisher = fsne.org | date =June 18, 2010 | url = http://fsne.org/2010awards/| accessdate =2010-06-18 |quote=Inside Scientology - The ''St. Petersburg Times'' reporting on the Church of Scientology is in the finest traditions of American journalism. The reporting by Joseph Childs and Thomas Tobin stands out for the ways in which it held accountable the powerful. }}</ref> and was a finalist for the 2010 [[National Headliner Awards]] in the category of [[investigative journalism|investigative reporting]].<ref>{{Cite news| title =Winners of 76th Annual National Headliner Awards | work = [[The New York Times]] | publisher = [[The New York Times Company]] | date = March 24, 2010 | url = http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/03/24/us/AP-US-Headliner-Awards-List.html?ref=news | accessdate =2010-03-25 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=RjwilmsiBot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| title = Print Division - Daily Newspapers and News Syndicates - Writing & Reporting | work = National Headliner Awards | language = | publisher = www.nationalheadlinerawards.com | page = | date = | url =http://www.nationalheadlinerawards.com/Winners2010Print.html | accessdate =2010-03-25 }}</ref> The series was cited as a basis for subsequent journalistic investigations, including a weeklong series hosted on the CNN network by [[Anderson Cooper]].


Though he and the Scientology organization have been the subject of much press attention, Miscavige has rarely spoken directly to the press. Exceptions include a televised 1992 interview by [[Ted Koppel]] of [[ABC News]],<ref name="Nightline">{{cite news| last =Koppel | first = Ted|authorlink=Ted Koppel | coauthors = | title = David Miscavige interview | work = [[Nightline (US news program)|Nightline]] | publisher = [[ABC News]] | date = February 14, 1992 | url = http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2664713&page=1 | accessdate = 2010-10-12}}</ref> a 1998 newspaper interview with the ''[[St. Petersburg Times]],''<ref name="manbehind">{{Cite web| first = Thomas C. | last = Tobin | title = The Man Behind Scientology | url = http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/102598/scientologypart1.html | work = | publisher = [[St. Petersburg Times]] | date = October 25, 1998 | accessdate = January 22, 2008 }}</ref> and a 1998 appearance in an [[A&E Network|A&E]] ''Investigative Reports'' installment called "Inside Scientology." <ref>{{cite news | title = Inside Scientology | work = Investigative Reports | publisher =A & E | page = | date =December 14, 1998}}</ref>
Though he and the Scientology organization have been the subject of much press attention, Miscavige has rarely spoken directly to the press. Exceptions include a televised 1992 interview by [[Ted Koppel]] of [[ABC News]],<ref name="Nightline">{{cite news| last =Koppel | first = Ted|authorlink=Ted Koppel | coauthors = | title = David Miscavige interview | work = [[Nightline (US news program)|Nightline]] | publisher = [[ABC News]] | date = February 14, 1992 | url = http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2664713&page=1 | accessdate = 2010-10-12}}</ref> a 1998 newspaper interview with the ''[[St. Petersburg Times]],''<ref name="manbehind">{{Cite web| first = Thomas C. | last = Tobin | title = The Man Behind Scientology | url = http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/102598/scientologypart1.html | work = | publisher = [[St. Petersburg Times]] | date = October 25, 1998 | accessdate = January 22, 2008 }}</ref> and a 1998 appearance in an [[A&E Network|A&E]] ''Investigative Reports'' installment called "Inside Scientology." <ref>{{cite news | title = Inside Scientology | work = Investigative Reports | publisher =A & E | page = | date =December 14, 1998}}</ref>

Revision as of 01:50, 13 July 2011

David Miscavige
Born (1960-04-30) April 30, 1960 (age 64)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
NationalityAmerican
TitleChairman of the Board
SpouseMichelle "Shelly" Miscavige
Websitehttp://davidmiscavige.rtc.org

David Miscavige (born April 30, 1960) is the leader of the Church of Scientology and affiliated organizations. His title is Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center (RTC), a corporation that controls the trademarked names and symbols of Dianetics and Scientology. Miscavige was an assistant to Hubbard (a "Commodore's messenger") while a teenager.[2] He rose to a leadership position within the organization by the early 1980s and was named Chairman of the Board of RTC.[3] Miscavige's mandate is to protect the works of L. Ron Hubbard from distortion or misuse,[2] and to serve as ecclesiastical head of Scientology.[4][5] He lives and works at Scientology's Gold Base, which is the main RTC headquarters, in Riverside County, California, near Hemet.[6][7][8]

Since assuming his leadership position, Miscavige has been faced with press accounts alleging illegal and unethical practices, abuse of authority, and abuse of church members.[9] Miscavige and other church spokespeople have repeatedly denied these charges. [10][11]

Early life

David Miscavige was born with a twin sister in 1960[12] in Philadelphia to Ronald "Ron" Miscavige, Sr. and his wife Loretta,[13] the youngest of their four children. The Polish-Italian family was Roman Catholic.[13] Miscavige was raised in New Jersey.[5] As a child, Miscavige suffered from asthma and severe allergies which prevented him from participating in many sports. During this time his father, a trumpet player, became interested in Scientology, and he had his son sent to a Scientologist. According to him and his son, a 45-minute Dianetics session cured his ailments. The family was impressed enough by Scientology to move to the world headquarters in Saint Hill Manor, England.[13]

Scientology

Early activities

Miscavige joined Scientology in 1971. By the time he was 12 years old, he was assisting others to experience Scientology by conducting auditing sessions.[5] When he was 15, his family returned to Philadelphia, where he went to a local high school.[13] Miscavige has said that he was appalled by his classmates' drug use, and in 1976, on his sixteenth birthday, he left high school with his father's permission to move to Clearwater, Florida, and join the Sea Organization, an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by Hubbard.[8][13] Some of his earliest jobs included delivering telexes, grounds-keeping, serving food and taking photographs for Scientology brochures.[13] He rose in the organization to a point where, still a teenager, he was training and supervising staff many years older than he was,[13] and eventually came to work alongside Hubbard as his closest assistant.[14] In 1977, he worked directly under Hubbard as a cameraman for Scientology training films, in La Quinta, California.[8] Hubbard appointed him to the Commodore's Messenger Organization (CMO), responsible for enforcing Hubbard's policies within the individual Scientology organizations; he became head of the CMO in 1979.[8]

Rise to leadership

By 1980, L. Ron Hubbard was not appearing at public functions related to Scientology, and Miscavige took effective control of the organization.[15] In 1981, he was placed in charge of the Watchdog Committee and the All Clear Unit, with the task of handling the various legal claims against Hubbard. After the Guardian's Office's criminal involvement in Operation Snow White, he persuaded Mary Sue Hubbard to resign from the Guardian's Office (GO), and deposed several top GO officials through ethics proceedings.[16] The St. Petersburg Times, in a 1998 article "The Man Behind Scientology," says: "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."[13] According to Miscavige, he and Mary Sue Hubbard remained friends thereafter.[17]

In 1982, Miscavige set up a new organizational structure to release Hubbard from personal liability and to handle the Scientology founder's personal wealth through a corporate entity outside of the Scientology organization.[8] He established the Religious Technology Center, in charge of licensing Scientology's intellectual property, and Author Services Inc. to manage the proceeds.[16] Miscavige has held the title of Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center since the organization's founding.[2] The Church of Spiritual Technology was created at the same time with an option to repurchase all of RTC's intellectual property rights.[16] In a 1982 probate case, Ronald DeWolf, Hubbard's estranged son, accused Miscavige of embezzling from and manipulating his father. Hubbard denied this in a written statement, saying that his business affairs were being well managed by Author Services Inc., of which Miscavige was the Chairman of the Board. In the same document L. Ron Hubbard called David Miscavige a "trusted associate" and "good friend" who had kept Hubbard's affairs in good order. A judge ruled the statement was authentic. [18] The case was dismissed on June 27, 1983.[17]

In October 1982, Miscavige required Scientology Missions to enter new trademark usage contracts which established stricter policies on the use of Scientology materials.[19][20] Over the two years following the formation of the RTC, Miscavige and his RTC team replaced most of Scientology's upper and middle management.[21] A number of those ousted attempted to establish breakaway organizations, such as the Advanced Ability Center led by David Mayo, a former RTC board member who had also been Hubbard's personal auditor.[21][22]

When L. Ron Hubbard died in 1986, Miscavige announced the death to Sea Org members at the Hollywood Palladium.[23] Shortly before Hubbard's death, an apparent order from him circulated in the Sea Org that promoted Scientologist Pat Broeker and his wife to the new rank of Loyal Officer, making them the highest-ranking members; Miscavige asserted this order had been forged.[24] After Hubbard's death, Miscavige assumed the position of head of the Scientology organization.[25]

Negotiations with IRS

In 1990, David Miscavige founded the organization Citizens for an Alternative Tax System.[26] In 1991 Miscavige, together with Mark Rathbun, visited IRS headquarters to arrange a meeting with Commissioner Fred T. Goldberg, Jr., which led to a two-year review process (in which IRS tax analysts were ordered to ignore the substantive issues because the issues had been resolved prior to review), and ultimately, recognition as a religion in the U.S. and tax exemption for the Church of Scientology International and its organizations.[5][27]

A 1994 report in a Scientology publication gave the impression that Miscavige and Rathbun had simply walked into the IRS office and been granted an impromptu meeting with Goldberg; later, in 1997, the church issued a statement saying that Rathbun and Miscavige had entered the building, "been put in touch with the appropriate officials and had met with Mr. Goldberg and other I.R.S. officials approximately one month later".[28] The IRS and Goldberg declined to comment on whether an unscheduled meeting had taken place.[28]

To announce the settlement with the IRS, Miscavige gathered members of Scientology in the Los Angeles Sports Arena, where he delivered a two-and-a-half-hour address and stated to attendants at the event, "The war is over!"[5] 10,000 members of Scientology attended the event; they gave Miscavige a 10-minute-long standing ovation.[1] After attaining tax-exempt-status for Scientology in the United States, Miscavige was able to direct funds from the organization to other matters, including attempting to solicit new recruits, renovating properties owned by the organization, preserving and disseminating written works by Hubbard, and encouraging members of the organization to sign up for increased levels of Scientology coursework.[1] In 1995, Miscavige initiated the development of the "Golden Age of Tech" program, a new training concept for Scientology auditors.[2] In 1997 the group Citizens for an Alternative Tax System was engaged in challenging the US tax system.[26]

Media coverage and criticism

Since assuming his leadership role, Miscavige has been faced with press accounts regarding alleged illegal and unethical practices of the Church of Scientology or by Miscavige himself. A 1991 Time magazine cover story on the Church described Miscavige as "ringleader" of a "hugely profitable global racket that survives by intimidating members and critics in a Mafia-like manner."[4]

More recently, the St Petersburg Times reported, in a series of articles (collectively titled "Inside Scientology: The Truth Rundown," published beginning in June, 2009), that former high-ranking executives of Scientology were alleging that Miscavige routinely humiliates and physically beats his staff.[9] This included testimony from Mike Rinder, former director of the organization's Office of Special Affairs who for years had been the official spokesperson for Scientology, and Mark Rathbun, who worked closely with Miscavige for many years, serving as Inspector General of the Religious Technology Center before leaving the organization in 2004. According to Rathbun, Miscavige is "constantly denigrating and beating on people."[9]

Similar charges were reported years earlier.[29] Stacy Young, Miscavige's former secretary and the ex-wife of Hubbard's former public relations spokesman Robert Vaughn Young had previously asserted that Miscavige emotionally tormented staff members on a regular basis. "His viciousness and his cruelty to staff was unlike anything that I had ever experienced in my life ... He just loved to degrade the staff," Young said in a 1995 ITV interview. [30]

Church representatives have consistently denied such accusations, insisting that the allegations come from apostates motivated by bitterness or attempting to extract money from the church.[9] [31][32] An issue of the church's "Freedom" magazine was dedicated to praising Miscavige and attacking the "Truth Rundown" series, featuring articles titled "Merchants of Chaos: Journalistic Double-dealing at the St. Petersburg Times." and "The Bigotry Behind the Times’ Facade of Responsible Journalism."[33] Miscavige sent an open letter to the newspaper challenging the integrity of the reporters and labeling their sources as "lying" after the persons in question had been removed from the organization for "fundamental crimes against the Scientology religion."[10] The church also commissioned an independent review of the St. Petersburg Times's reporting, but have not, to date, released those findings.[34][35][34] [35][34]

"Inside Scientology: The Truth Rundown" was recognized with journalistic honors, including the 2010 Gold Medal for Public Service award from the Florida Society of News Editors.[36][37] [38][39] The series was cited as a basis for subsequent journalistic investigations, including a weeklong series hosted on the CNN network by Anderson Cooper.

Though he and the Scientology organization have been the subject of much press attention, Miscavige has rarely spoken directly to the press. Exceptions include a televised 1992 interview by Ted Koppel of ABC News,[40] a 1998 newspaper interview with the St. Petersburg Times,[41] and a 1998 appearance in an A&E Investigative Reports installment called "Inside Scientology." [42]

Miscavige's current role in Scientology

As Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center, David Miscavige works primarily from Scientology's Gold Base near Hemet, California.[8] Scientologists often refer to him as "DM", or "C.O.B.", for Chairman of the Board.[19][43] In their 2007 book, Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Lifestyles, W. W. Zellner and Richard T. Schaefer noted that "David Miscavige has been the driving force behind the Church of Scientology for the past two decades" and that "Miscavige's biography and speeches are second only to Hubbard in dominating the official Scientology Web site. [...] He is acknowledged as the ultimate ecclesiastical authority regarding the standard and pure application of L. Ron Hubbard's religious theories."[5]

Miscavige's is portrayed within Scientology as "a servant of Hubbard's message, not an agent in his own right."[44] Miscavige uses church publications as well as professionally produced videos of gala events, at which he acts as master of ceremonies, to communicate with Scientologists worldwide.[1]

David Miscavige initiated a strategy in 2003 to build new Churches of Scientology in every major city in the world. Since then, twenty-four new Churches have been opened, a number of them in the world's cultural capitals, including Madrid, New York, London, and Berlin.[45][46] Another 60 Churches are in design, planning or construction phases, including over a quarter of a million square feet under construction in Tel Aviv, Twin Cities and Tampa.[47] Within Scientology, Miscavige has spearheaded and devoted himself to a large-scale, 25-year project of issuing unreleased, expanded and corrected editions of Hubbard's books and lectures, including translating many works into other languages. Miscavige's work has been described by Scientologists as bringing about a renaissance of Scientology materials.[48]

Family and personal life

Miscavige is married to fellow Sea Org member Shelly Miscavige, who, according to Lawrence Wright in The New Yorker, "disappeared" in 2006, and "her current status is unknown." Wright's sources allege that her disappearance occurred after she "filled several job vacancies without her husband’s permission." [49] His older brother Ronald Miscavige, Jr. was an executive in the Sea Organization for a time,[24] but left the Church of Scientology in 2000.[50] His sister, Denise Licciardi, was hired by major Scientology donor Bryan Zwan as a top executive for the Clearwater, Florida-based company Digital Lightwave, where she was linked to an accounting scandal.[51] [52] Ronald's daughter Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of David Miscavige, remained in the Sea Org until 2005, and since has become an outspoken critic of the Scientology organization.

Miscavige is close to actor Tom Cruise,[53] and served as best man at Cruise's wedding to Katie Holmes.[54]

Miscavige is a firearms enthusiast who enjoys skeet shooting.[53] In the 1998 St. Petersburg Times interview he named playing the piano, underwater photography and trail biking among his other hobbies.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Tobin, Thomas C. (October 25, 1998). "The man behind Scientology". part 4. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d Christensen, Dorthe Reflsund (2004). "Inventing L. Ron Hubbard". In James R. Lewis (scholar) (ed.). Controversial New Religions. Oxford University Press. p. 247. ISBN 0195156838.
  3. ^ Young, Robert Vaughn (November/December 1993). "Scientology from inside out". Quill magazine. 81 (9). {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b Behar, Richard (May 6, 1991). "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power". Time Magazine. Time, Inc. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Zellner, William W. (2007). "David Miscavige". In William W. Zellner (ed.). Extraordinary Groups: An Examination of Unconventional Lifestyles. Worth Publishers, 8th Edition. pp. 285–286. ISBN 0716770342. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Reitman, Janet (March 9, 2006). "Inside Scientology". Rolling Stone (995). www.rollingstone.com: 57. Retrieved 2010-10-12. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Streeter, Michael (2008). Behind Closed Doors. New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd. p. 230. ISBN 1845379373.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Times Staff Writer (June 20, 2009). "David Miscavige bio, and bios of Scientology officials who defected". St. Petersburg Times. www.tampabay.com. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  9. ^ a b c d Joe Childs, Thomas C. Tobin (June 23, 2009). "The Truth Run Down". St Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  10. ^ a b Joe Childs, Thomas C. Tobin (June 23, 2009). "A letter from David Miscavige". St Petersburg Times. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
  11. ^ Hoffman, Claire (December 18, 2005). "Tom Cruise and Scientology". Los Angeles Times. www.latimes.com. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  12. ^ Neusner, Jacob (2009). World Religions in America: An Introduction. Westminster John Knox Press. pp. 293, 298. ISBN 0664233201.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h Tobin, Thomas C. (October 25, 1998). "The man behind Scientology". part 2. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved August 27, 2007.
  14. ^ Goldwag, Arthur (2009). Cults, Conspiracies, and Secret Societies. Vintage. p. 102. ISBN 0307390675.
  15. ^ Chryssides, George D. (2006). The A to Z of New Religious Movements. The Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 163. ISBN 0810855887.
  16. ^ a b c Lamont, Stewart (1986). Religion Inc.: The Church of Scientology. London: Harrap. p. 95. ISBN 0245543341.
  17. ^ a b Miller, Russell (1987). Bare-faced Messiah, The True Story of L. Ron Hubbard (First American ed.). New York: Henry Holt & Co. pp. 305–306, 369. ISBN 0-8050-0654-0.
  18. ^ "The man behind Scientology". Retrieved 2011-05-13.
  19. ^ a b Sappell, Joel (June 24, 1990). "The Man In Control". Los Angeles Times. p. A41:4. Retrieved 2006-06-06. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Mystery of the Vanished Ruler". TIME. January 31, 1983. Retrieved August 10, 2007.
  21. ^ a b Nordhausen, Frank; von Billerbeck, Liane (2008), Scientology. Wie der Sektenkonzern die Welt erobern will, Berlin: Ch. Links Verlag, pp. 278, 288, 302, ISBN 978-3-86153-470-9 Template:De icon
  22. ^ Abgrall, Jean-Marie (1999). Soul Snatchers: The Mechanics of Cults. Algora Publishing. p. 294. ISBN 978-1892941046.
  23. ^ American Society of Magazine Editors (2007). The Best American Magazine Writing 2007. Columbia University Press. pp. 311, 323. ISBN 0231143915. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  24. ^ a b Atack, Jon (1990). "Chapter Four—The Young Rulers". A Piece of Blue Sky. Lyle Stuart. pp. 362, 448. ISBN 0-8184-0499-X.
  25. ^ Gallagher, Eugene V. (2006). Introduction to New and Alternative Religions in America. Greenwood. pp. 98, 120, 173. ISBN 0275987175. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ a b The Wall Street Journal, October 23, 1997
  27. ^ Frantz, Douglas (March 9, 1997). "Scientology's Puzzling Journey From Tax Rebel to Tax Exempt". The New York Times. New York Times Company. Retrieved January 22, 2008.
  28. ^ a b Frantz, Douglas (March 19, 1997). "Scientology Denies an Account Of an Impromptu I.R.S. Meeting". New York Times. Retrieved January 22, 2008.
  29. ^ Davis, Matt (August 7, 2008). "Selling Scientology: A Former Scientologist Marketing Guru Turns Against the Church". Retrieved August 10, 2008.
  30. ^ "Inside the Cult". The Big Story. ITV. 1995.
  31. ^ "The man behind Scientology". Retrieved 2011-04-09.
  32. ^ "Scientology: Origins, celebrities and holdings". Retrieved 2011-04-09.
  33. ^ no author credited (no date, 2009). "Special Report: Inside the S.P. Times". Freedom Magazine. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  34. ^ a b c Finn, Scott (February 25, 2010). "Scientology Hires Reporters to Investigate St. Petersburg Times". WUSF Public Media. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  35. ^ a b Urban, Hugh B. (March 17, 2010). "The Rundown Truth: Scientology Changes Strategy in War with Media". Religion Dispatches. Retrieved 2010-10-18.
  36. ^ Sentinel Staff Report (June 18, 2010). "Orlando Sentinel wins 17 awards from Florida Society of News Editors". Orlando Sentinel. Florida: www.orlandosentinel.com. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  37. ^ Florida Society of News Editors (June 18, 2010). "FSNE Gold Medal for Public Service". FSNE 2010 Journalism Awards. Florida: fsne.org. Retrieved 2010-06-18. Inside Scientology - The St. Petersburg Times reporting on the Church of Scientology is in the finest traditions of American journalism. The reporting by Joseph Childs and Thomas Tobin stands out for the ways in which it held accountable the powerful. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  38. ^ "Winners of 76th Annual National Headliner Awards". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. March 24, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-25. [dead link]
  39. ^ "Print Division - Daily Newspapers and News Syndicates - Writing & Reporting". National Headliner Awards. www.nationalheadlinerawards.com. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  40. ^ Koppel, Ted (February 14, 1992). "David Miscavige interview". Nightline. ABC News. Retrieved 2010-10-12. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  41. ^ Tobin, Thomas C. (October 25, 1998). "The Man Behind Scientology". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved January 22, 2008.
  42. ^ "Inside Scientology". Investigative Reports. A & E. December 14, 1998.
  43. ^ Frenschkowski, Marco (2010-01-01). "Researching Scientology: Some Observations on Recent Literature, English and German". Alternative Spirituality and Religion Review. 1 (1). Academic Publishing: 36–37. ISSN 1946-0538. Retrieved 2011-01-13. {{cite journal}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  44. ^ Lewis, James R. (2007). The Invention of Sacred Tradition. Cambridge University Press. p. 36. ISBN 0521864798. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  45. ^ [www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article1975105.ece "'Church' that yearns for respectability"]. Retrieved 2011-04-27. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  46. ^ "Scientology Opens New National Organization for Mexico in The City Of Palaces". Retrieved 2011-04-27.
  47. ^ "Scientologists show off restored cigar factory". Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  48. ^ "New Recordings of L. Ron Hubbard Released". CBS News. January 8, 2010. Retrieved 2011-06-06.
  49. ^ Lawrence Wright. The Apostate: Paul Haggis Vs. the Church of Scientology The New Yorker. February 14, 2011. Quote "According to Rinder and Brousseau, in June, 2006, while Miscavige was away from the Gold Base, his wife, Shelly, filled several job vacancies without her husband’s permission. Soon afterward, she disappeared. Her current status is unknown. Tommy Davis told me, 'I definitely know where she is,' but he won’t disclose where that is."
  50. ^ Jacobsen, Jonny (January 28, 2008). "Niece of Scientology's leader backs Cruise biography". Agence France-Presse. Google News. Retrieved March 11, 2008.
  51. ^ O'Neil, Deborah (June 2, 2002). "The CEO and his church: Months of interviews and thousands of pages of court papers show the effect that influential church members had on a Clearwater company that was a darling of the dot-com boom". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2010-10-12. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  52. ^ Harrington, Jeff (May 10, 2003). "Digital Whistleblower Finally Wins". St. Petersburg Times. St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2011-06-11.
  53. ^ a b Hoffman, Claire (December 18, 2005). "Tom Cruise and Scientology". Los Angeles Times. www.latimes.com. Retrieved 2010-10-12.
  54. ^ "John Sweeney revisits the Church of Scientology". BBC News. BBC. September 26, 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-15.

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