Global InformationDavid Miscavige information
David Miscavige | |
|---|---|
 Miscavige in 2019 | |
| Born | April 30, 1960 Bristol Township, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center |
| Years active | 1971–present (Scientology member) 1986–present (Leader of the Church of Scientology) |
| Organization | Church of Scientology |
| Spouse |
Shelly Barnett (m. 1982) |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Jenna Miscavige Hill (niece) |
| Website | Official website |
| Part of a series on |
| Scientology |
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David Miscavige (/mɪˈskævɪdʒ/; born April 30, 1960)[1] is the second and current leader of the Church of Scientology. His official title within the organization is Chairman of the Board of the Religious Technology Center (RTC), a corporation that controls the trademarks and copyrights of Dianetics and Scientology. He is also referred to within the Scientology organization as "DM," "COB" and "Captain of the Sea Org."[2]: 57 [3]: 128 [3]: 139
Miscavige was a deputy to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard as a teenager. He joined the Sea Org, a management group for the Scientology organization, then later joined the Commodore's Messenger Organization, a group within the Sea Org that carried Hubbard's orders to subordinates.[4] He rose to a leadership role by the early 1980s and was named "Chairman of the Board" of RTC in 1987, the year after Hubbard's death.[5] Official Church of Scientology biographies describe Miscavige as "the ecclesiastical leader of the Scientology religion."[4][6]
Since he assumed his leadership position, there have been a number of allegations made against Miscavige. These include claims of human trafficking, child abuse, slavery, forced separation of family members, coercive fundraising practices, harassment of journalists and Scientology critics, and emotional and physical abuse of subordinates by Miscavige. Miscavige and spokespersons for the Scientology organization deny the majority of such statements, often making derogatory comments about and attacking the character of those who make them.[7][8][9][10][11]
Miscavige has been investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation due to allegations of criminal activities within the Scientology organization.[12][13] He is named as a defendant in numerous lawsuits involving his role in the organization.[22] One such recent lawsuit, filed in April 2022, refers to repeated sexual assault of children by senior Scientology executives in the Sea Org during Miscavige's leadership. The case also involves allegations of human trafficking, forced labor, and other forms of child abuse.[19][20][21]
- ^ Ortega, Tony (April 30, 2018). "David Miscavige turns 58 today, and we're celebrating with tales of birthdays past". The Underground Bunker. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
scobeewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
reitmanwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b Christensen, Dorthe Refund (2004). "Inventing L. Ron Hubbard". In James R. Lewis (scholar) (ed.). Controversial New Religions. Oxford University Press. p. 247. ISBN 0195156838.
- ^ Young, Robert Vaughn (November–December 1993). "Scientology from inside out". Quill Magazine. 81 (9). Society of Professional Journalists.
RTC's chairman of the board is David Miscavige, who is now the admitted head of the Church of Scientology.
- ^ Behar, Richard (May 6, 1991). "The Thriving Cult of Greed and Power". Time. Archived from the original on February 20, 2007. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
- ^ "Ex-members spar with Scientology over beating allegations". CNN. March 30, 2010. Archived from the original on February 9, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
- ^ Joe Childs, Thomas C. Tobin (June 23, 2009). "A letter from David Miscavige". St Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on June 23, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2009.
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TruthRunDownwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Joe Childs, Thomas C. Tobin (June 23, 2009). "Inside Scientology: A Times Investigation". St Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on January 14, 2012. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
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