Moderators John317 Posted October 26, 2009 Moderators Share Posted October 26, 2009 Ex-Members Say Leader David Miscavige Hit Subordinates; Church Denies Accusations By MARTIN BASHIR, ETHAN NELSON and MAGGIE BURBANK Oct. 23, 2009 Some call it a manipulative cult. Others say it's a well-established religion that helps people reach their potential. Part 1: Nightline investigates controversial allegations on leader's conduct. Since its inception in the 1950s, the Church of Scientology has rarely been far from controversy. And now the Church is under attack again. Former senior insiders claim the Church's current leader, David Miscavige, has created and encouraged a climate of violence within senior staff and was frequently violent himself. Marty Rathbun was an "Inspector General," a top lieutenant to David Miscavige, and oversaw the Church's legal affairs. "[Miscavige] viciously beat him, knocked him to the ground," said Rathbun, describing one attack. Amy Scobee was a Church executive who helped expand Scientology's outreach to celebrities. "And then [Miscavige] knocked him down in his chair. Um ... to the ground, and he fell down on his back and he was laying on the ground," she said. Bruce Hines says he was a high level auditor, a kind of therapeutic counselor. "[Miscavige] just walked up and he hit me on the side of the head..." Hines said. And supporting their allegations is Mike Rinder, who for many years was Scientology's main spokesman. He is now speaking out against the Church, the same Church he defended to ABC News in 1998. "I think that there isn't a person on this earth that couldn't benefit from the teachings of Scientology," he said at the time. The Church's current spokesman is Tommy Davis. "Nightline" met with Davis at Scientology's New York Church, where he granted us a rare interview. "Is Mr. Miscavige violent towards Scientologists and has he been physically violent in the past?" we asked. "Absolutely not," said Davis. "Absolutely not. He is not. He is not and ... it's not in his character, it's not in his nature, and it is not the kind of person he is." Source and the rest of the story: http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/scientol...yahoo_pitchlist Quote John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. [17] For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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