Scientology leadership rife with physical violence, report says

Source: Associated Press

Scientology leadership rife with physical violence, report says

http://www.latimes.com.nyud.net:8090/media/photo/2009-06/47629852.jpg

AFP/Getty Images
One former church executive said he saw David Miscavige, above, strike staffers at least 100 times.

Former high-ranking executives tell a newspaper that church leader David Miscavige hit staff members and encouraged others to do the same.
Associated Press
June 22, 200

Clearwater, Fla. -- The leader of the Church of Scientology struck subordinates numerous times and set an example for physical violence among the tightly controlled religion's management team, four former high-ranking executives told a newspaper for a story published Sunday.

The executives, who have since left the organization, told the St. Petersburg Times that they witnessed David Miscavige, chairman of the board that oversees the church, hit staff members dozens of times.

"It was random and whimsical. It could be the look on your face. Or not answering a question quickly. But it always was a punishment," said Mike Rinder, who oversaw the church's legal and media relations operations. Rinder said that he was struck many times by Miscavige and that he also hit others before leaving in 2007.

In a response to the paper, the church denied the allegations, saying that the four former executives' statements were "absolute and total lies." It called the claims an effort to tarnish Miscavige, who has led the church for more than two decades. A spokesman said Sunday that the church had provided documentation that the claims were false.

Marty Rathbun, who served on the church's board and was a top lieutenant of Miscavige's, said Miscavige often ordered him to attack others.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-scientology22-2009jun22,0,3670242.story

From its tone, you'd guess that they're totally reasonable and un-crazy.


Sounded more like a car commercial than anything else, though.

Priceless, for those who know about Scientology.

Tom Cruise jumping up and down on the couch going "NONONONONONONONO!" :-)

I am sure he will be defended by "Freedom of Religion" and the best lawyers celebrity money can buy. Disgusting.

See "Buddhism."

Although I'm sure that Scientologists would consider the LA Times a biased source!1

It's a scam.

Or some such bullshit.

In the bible, people tend to smite themselves, then rend their garments presumably Schwarzennager-style.

Last time I did that at the office they sent me home to change.

Damn these new mixed fibres - they won't rend properly. It's time to have a mixed-fibre protest outside of Walmart.

and other enemies of Israel. In other words they were smitten. Of course, before they were smitten the god of Israel had to smite them.

I don't think I'd take abuse from a midget.

Good one.
:eyes:

Here's a link to the anonymus/chanology site Why We Protest, in case anyone wants to follow this discusion in depth.

WARNING: anonoymus and chanologists use bad language and say amazingly offensive things to each other from time to time. But their research is generally pretty good.

http://forums.whyweprotest.net/312-st-petersburg-times-expose/sp-times-scientology-article-wildfire-spreading-47864/

Another thread dicussing the implications of scientology's retaliating with threats to open 'classified' files on exes and current sci's. Blackmail. All the bloody 'church' has is blackmail. What are your crimes?

http://forums.whyweprotest.net/123-leaks-legal/osa-publicly-threatens-all-ex-scilons-de-classifying-their-pc-folders-47874/


PS, on edit: Thru various google bomb-type activities, they have kept stories about the physical abuse of members up in the top few google hits for the subject of scientology. This strategy might just be starting to pay off, as the media begins to pay attention and 'lurks moar'.

You know, the one Chavez says we're "staining" with criticism.

with their God Rod to beat the wife & kids.....

surface every few years? I seem to recall reading this before.