SP Times - Part 1 of 3: Rinder, Rathbun speak out - Why We Protest

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06-20-2009

post #1 (link to here)

whoever

Still in bed

Location: New York

SP Times - Part 1 of 3: Rinder, Rathbun speak out

Scientology: The Truth Rundown, Part 1 of 3 in a special report on the Church of Scientology - St. Petersburg Times

EDIT: Main page with links to complete coverage is now here.

Quote:

By Joe Childs and Thomas C. Tobin, Times Staff Writers
Posted: Jun 21, 2009 01:06 AM
Part ONE of THREE

The leader of the Church of Scientology strode into the room with a boom box and an announcement: Time for a game of musical chairs.

David Miscavige had kept more than 30 members of his church's executive staff cooped up for weeks in a small office building outside Los Angeles, not letting them leave except to grab a shower. They slept on the floor, their food carted in.

Their assignment was to develop strategic plans for the church. But the leader trashed their every idea and berated them as incompetents and enemies, of him and the church.

Prove your devotion, Miscavige told them, by winning at musical chairs. Everyone else — losers, all of you — will be banished to Scientology outposts around the world. If families are split up, too bad.

To the music of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody they played through the night, parading around a conference room in their Navy-style uniforms, grown men and women wrestling over chairs.

The next evening, early in 2004, Miscavige gathered the group and out of nowhere slapped a manager named Tom De Vocht, threw him to the ground and delivered more blows. De Vocht took the beating and the humiliation in silence — the way other executives always took the leader's attacks.

This account comes from executives who for decades were key figures in Scientology's powerful inner circle. Marty Rathbun and Mike Rinder, the highest-ranking executives to leave the church, are speaking out for the first time.

Two other former executives who defected also agreed to interviews with the St. Petersburg Times: De Vocht, who for years oversaw the church's spiritual headquarters in Clearwater, and Amy Scobee, who helped create Scientology's celebrity network, which caters to the likes of John Travolta and Tom Cruise.

One by one, the four defectors walked away from the only life they knew. That Rathbun and Rinder are speaking out is a stunning reversal because they were among Miscavige's closest associates, Haldeman and Ehrlichman to his Nixon.

Now they provide an unprecedented look inside the upper reaches of the tightly controlled organization. They reveal:

• Physical violence permeated Scientology's international management team. Miscavige set the tone, routinely attacking his lieutenants. Rinder says the leader attacked him some 50 times.

Rathbun, Rinder and De Vocht admit that they, too, attacked their colleagues, to demonstrate loyalty to Miscavige and prove their mettle.

• Staffers are disciplined and controlled by a multilayered system of "ecclesiastical justice.'' It includes publicly confessing sins and crimes to a group of peers, being ordered to jump into a pool fully clothed, facing embarrassing "security checks'' or, worse, being isolated as a "suppressive person.''

At the pinnacle of the hierarchy, Miscavige commands such power that managers follow his orders, however bizarre, with lemming-like obedience.

• Church staffers covered up how they botched the care of Lisa McPherson, a Scientologist who died after they held her 17 days in isolation at Clearwater's Fort Harrison Hotel.

Rathbun, who Miscavige put in charge of dealing with the fallout from the case, admits that he ordered the destruction of incriminating evidence. He and others also reveal that Miscavige made an embarrassing miscalculation on McPherson's Scientology counseling.

• With Miscavige calling the shots and Rathbun among those at his side, the church muscled the IRS into granting Scientology tax-exempt status. Offering fresh perspective on one of the church's crowning moments, Rathbun details an extraordinary campaign of public pressure backed by thousands of lawsuits.

• To prop up revenues, Miscavige has turned to long-time parishioners, urging them to buy material that the church markets as must-have, improved sacred scripture.

Church officials deny the accusations. Miscavige never hit a single church staffer, not once, they said.

Last edited by whoever; 06-20-2009 at 11:03 PM.. Reason: proper fucking attribution left off by accident, fapping too fast

06-20-2009

post #2 (link to here)

Anonymous We Are Legion	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out This needs to go everywhere. EVERYWHERE.

06-20-2009

post #3 (link to here)

Hubbard-Telescope Sylvia's BFF Location: Capital City, Most Important Country	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out Holy. Crap. Helpful Lists: Current/Recent Lawsuits List and Address of every org/mission in the world Convicted Scientology Criminals Let me know if there's other resource lists people would like to have put together.

06-20-2009

post #4 (link to here)

Anonymous

We Are Legion

Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out

A letter from David Miscavige

Posted: Jun 20, 2009 04:30 AM

Quote:

At 5:50 p.m. Saturday, David Miscavige e-mailed this letter to the Times:

Dear Mr. Childs and Mr. Tobin,

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. You were advised that information would include addressing the extraordinary "admissions" of one of your sources regarding a long-settled legal matter.

I was advised Thursday that you would only interview me on Friday, although you well knew it would be impossible for me to meet with you this week because of a long standing commitment to be aboard the SMV Freewinds for a week of religious events at the Church's annual OT Summit. 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.

While you have already received unequivocal statements from more than a score of witnesses, along with documentary evidence, providing uncontrovertible proof that your sources are lying, I remain ready to sit down for the requested interview on the date previously confirmed. If you decide not to avail yourself of this opportunity, I insist you do not misrepresent the fact that the decision was yours, not mine.

Kind regards.

Sincerely,

David Miscavige

Editor's note: 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.

[Last modified: Jun 21, 2009 01:39 AM]

Woo! Video and previews of next parts..

Scientology: The truth rundown | Tampabay.com St. Petersburg Times

06-20-2009

post #5 (link to here)

mirele

KoX, Phx Chptr

Location: Mesa, Arida Zona

Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out

Monday's going to be epic too, look at the end of this article!

==========

Late in the summer of 1995, a woman exited an auditing room at the Fort Harrison Hotel, raised her arms above her head and shouted with delight — a breach of the all-quiet protocol on the auditing floor.

"Who's that?'' Rathbun asked a supervisor.

"That's Lisa McPherson.''

==========

Maybe we'll finally find out what really happened to Lisa. I sure hope so.

*doing a happy dance for this hard work by the SP Times!!!*

06-20-2009

post #6 (link to here)

ChronicEnturbulator BANNED Location: The city of sin	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out Toasting to an epic bread!

06-20-2009

post #7 (link to here)

NotSoAnon

BANNED

Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out

Scientology: The Truth Rundown, Part 1 of 3 in a special report on the Church of Scientology

By Joe Childs and Thomas C. Tobin, Times Staff Writers
Posted: Jun 21, 2009 01:06 AM

Scientology: The Truth Rundown, Part 1 of 3 in a special report on the Church of Scientology - St. Petersburg Times

It is vitally important to give credit when copypasta articles that one did not write. Just a hint on acceptable style in posting information to the internets. If YOU don't post about the authors, who the hell do you think WILL post about the authors? Many internet readers don't much care about the authors. It is YOUR JOB to give credit to those who researched and wrote the article.

Now, don't go all blue and yellow about this. Everyone needs to know that reposting an article on the internets simply needs to acknowledge those who did the work, and those who originally took their chances on publishing the work.

06-20-2009

post #8 (link to here)

leroyjenkins Member	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out THIS IS WHAT WE BEEN WAITING FOR

06-20-2009

post #9 (link to here)

FrancesJWorthingtonIII Member Location: La Fiesta Tech	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out HOLY SHIT. Edit: HOLYSHITHOLYSHITHOLYSHIT. In Australia there are no limits on what you can believe. But there are limits on how you can behave. It is called the law, and no-one is above it. - Senator Xenophon Miscavis is my OTP. Tommy <3's Davey

06-20-2009

post #10 (link to here)

Anonymous We Are Legion	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out SHIT, MEET FAN

06-20-2009

post #11 (link to here)

Anonymous We Are Legion	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out lol

06-20-2009

post #12 (link to here)

LilDebbie BANNED	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out brix were shat

06-20-2009

post #13 (link to here)

Anonymous We Are Legion	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out and it flushed out a response from David Miscavige holy fuck shit

06-20-2009

post #14 (link to here)

ryangiggs Member	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out Hoo boy. There ain't going to be enough popcorn for this show.

06-20-2009

post #15 (link to here)

Anonymous We Are Legion	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out It is... beginning.

06-20-2009

post #16 (link to here)

Anonymous

We Are Legion

Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out

Quote:

Hubbard biographer Danny Sherman told a story of Miscavige spotting an injured sparrow, talking to it and checking back later to see if it lived. "It was immensely tender.''

06-20-2009

post #17 (link to here)

LilDebbie BANNED	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out can you say corroborating evidence?

06-20-2009

post #18 (link to here)

whoever

Still in bed

Location: New York

Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotSoAnon

It is vitally important to give credit when copypasta articles that one did not write. Just a hint on acceptable style in posting information to the internets. If YOU don't post about the authors, who the hell do you think WILL post about the authors? Many internet readers don't much care about the authors. It is YOUR JOB to give credit to those who researched and wrote the article.

Now, don't go all blue and yellow about this. Everyone needs to know that reposting an article on the internets simply needs to acknowledge those who did the work, and those who originally took their chances on publishing the work.

Not being blue and yellow here, but STFU with your righteousness. I know better, and did not intentionally leave out the info. I just posted it a hurry. I will fix OP.

(BTW I didn't post the whole article, just a taste...people are supposed to go to the LINK.)

Last edited by whoever; 06-20-2009 at 10:14 PM..

06-20-2009

post #19 (link to here)

Ramona Member	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out DIGG: Scientology: The Truth Rundown (St. Petersburg Times) RETIRED due to fair game.

06-20-2009

post #20 (link to here)

muldrake Buttersquash Location: Newark, NJ	Re: St. Petersburg Times: Rinder, Rathbun speak out

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		Why We Protest \| Activism Forum » News and Current Events » Situation Rooms » St Petersburg Times expose
SP Times - Part 1 of 3: Rinder, Rathbun speak out

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://forums.whyweprotest.net/312-st-petersburg-times-expose/sp-times-part-1-3-rinder-rathbun-speak-out-47809/
Posted By	For	Type	Date
Stich ins Herz: Ehemalige Top-Scientologen berichten über Interna - SwissAnons	This thread	Refback	08-03-2009 06:59 AM
July 2009 Global Info - Block Party on LRH Way - 07/11/09	This thread	Refback	07-28-2009 09:19 AM
David Miscavige is busy at sea. I wonder when he'll be back... - alt.religion.scientology \| Google Groups	This thread	Refback	07-12-2009 04:31 PM
DieKarteGefunden.com • Thema anzeigen - Rathbun, Rinder et al. packen Interna aus	This thread	Refback	06-24-2009 09:00 PM
YouTube - channel 7 news at 11 about Scientology Beatings	This thread	Refback	06-23-2009 01:31 PM
Violence Common Among Scientology Managers - FRDB	This thread	Refback	06-22-2009 01:00 PM
The Scientology thread - Page 5 - Gossip Rocks Forum	This thread	Pingback	06-21-2009 07:22 PM
YouTube - David Miscavige Leader of Scientology: Exposed (MIRROR)	This thread	Refback	06-21-2009 07:57 AM
Birmingham Anonymous -> Fan, meet shit. Shit, meet fan.	This thread	Refback	06-21-2009 07:49 AM
DieKarteGefunden.com • Thema anzeigen - Rathbun, Rinder et al. packen Interna aus	This thread	Refback	06-21-2009 05:06 AM
Stich ins Herz: Ehemailge Top-Scientologen berichten über Interna - SwissAnons	This thread	Refback	06-21-2009 05:02 AM
David Miscavige is busy at sea. I wonder when he'll be back... - alt.religion.scientology \| Google Groups	This thread	Refback	06-21-2009 03:12 AM
DEVASTATING NEWS REPORT ABOUT THE CULT!	This thread	Refback	06-21-2009 01:29 AM
ASYD.ORG // ANONYMOUS SYDNEY / Mike Rinder speaking out	This thread	Refback	06-20-2009 11:07 PM

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