FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 4th, 2009.
Scientology admits violence in management, blames "Kingpin" as more speak out
The Florida-based St. Petersburg Times has released a follow-up to their most recent expose on the abusive nature of
Scientology management, specifically focusing on Tom Cruise's close friend and current leader of the Church of
Scientology, David Miscavige. [1] The Times printed testimonials from many prominent former Scientologists, including
Marty Rathbun, who was auditor (Scientology counselor) to Tom Cruise and now outspoken ex-Scientologist celebrity Jason
Beghe. [2][3] Rathbun and others alleged that Miscavige is violent and abusive, slapping and punching even his top
staffers and forcing them to publicly confess their "crimes."
The first report by the St. Petersburg Times triggered a huge backlash from Scientology. In an attempt to destroy the
credibility of those who spoke out, the Church provided the St. Petersburg Times with the defectors' financial and
medical information and damaging allegations from their ex-wives. In some cases, the Church even admitted to releasing
the defectors' "auditing files," which the Church officially regards as confidential, even going as far as to claim that
they hold the same weight as confessionals done with a Catholic priest. [4]
The most recent issue of the Church's magazine "Freedom" contained transparent attempts at character assassination (a
tactic known to the church as "dead agenting"), labeling the first four of the Times' interviewees with such names as
"Conman" and "Adulteress." The article did not call them by their real names. [5]
Despite these character attacks and violations of privacy, the expose prompted many other ex-Scientologists to break
their silence. The most recent article from the St. Petersburg Times features 11 more ex-Scientologists verifying
previous accounts and telling more stories of abuse from within. Among them is Bruce Hines, former auditor to Nicole
Kidman and Kirstie Alley. Hines says that he was physically beaten by Miscavige on multiple occasions. He also says he
faced the harsh punishment of the euphemistically named Rehabilitation Project Force for not standing when Miscavige
entered a room.
While the defectors identify Miscavige as the perpetrator of these acts of violence, the Church points fingers at
Rathbun and other former Scientologists. Both sides, however, seem to agree that a culture of violence was fostered and
accepted in upper Scientology management for years.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please feel free to contact us at
anonymous@whyweprotest.net or visit http://forums.whyweprotest.net
Regards,
[1] http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/article1023717.ece
[2] http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/index.shtml
[3] http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2008/04/jason_beghe_on.php
[4] http://www.scientology.org/religion/auditing/pg004.html
[5] http://www.xenutv.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/freedom_magazine.pdf
ENDS