Jon Atack is the author of A Piece of Blue Sky, one of the very best books on L. Ron Hubbard and Scientology. He now has a new edition of the book out, and on Saturdays he’s helping us sift through the legends, myths, and contested facts about Scientology that tend to get hashed and rehashed in books, articles, and especially on the Internet.
Jon has a special treat for us today. He thought readers might want to see the document that he prepared back in 1984, declaring Scientology leader David Miscavige a “suppressive person” — the church’s version of excommunication.
Says Jon: “We sent it to every Org and Mission and it was actually read out to rejoicing at staff muster in several. It is amazing to me that subsequent to this, he was able to remove Hubbard’s assigned heirs — the Broekers — and take control, simply because all around were terrified of him.”
OT COMMITTEE UK
8 June 1984
AdvertisementEthics Order 1 IntAll Scientologists
SUPPRESSIVE PERSON DECLARE
DAVID MISCAVIGE
DAVID MISCAVIGE, of Los Angeles, is hereby declared a Suppressive Person.
This is in accordance with the Findings & Recommendations of the Comm Ev on Miscavige conducted at the request of the OT Committee World-Wide. The Findings & Recommendations are available for public view at the OT Committees, and at certain Delivery Centres.
The interested Party failed to appear, nor did the Committee receive any evidence in defence of Miscavige. In the interest of Justice the Committee nevertheless proceeded, despite the recommendation in HCO PL 7, Sep 63: “Refusal or failure of an Interested Party to appear results in a recommendation of the full penalty possible in the case for the Interested Party”.
In June 1981 Miscavige as Chairman of the All Clear Unit forged a despatch purporting to come from LRH. This despatch removed Diane Voegerding, the then CO CMO Int and Miscavige’s senior, from post. This was an act of Mutiny.
David Miscavige was a signatory of the splinter group RTC on January 1st 1982. There is no evidence that this group was authorized by LRH. The “legal” documents transferring Scn Trademarks from LRH to RTC bear a forged signature, and in fact Miscavige notarised these documents although he was a party to one side of the agreement. Further, as the documents bear a forged LRH signature — according to two independent experts: John Swanson and Irmgard Wassard — Miscavige was a party to this forgery.
No HCO PL exists authorizing RTC. RTC has engaged in the perversion of Scn practices. Miscavige was personally involved in the Gang Sec-Checking of Jay Hurwitz, the then CO LA Day, at Gilman Hot Springs in October 1982. This violates HCOB 30 Nov 78, “Confesssional Procedure”, which states: “If the pc is not in session you won’t get the withholds … A wrong or challenging auditor attitude can throw the scene off as there is a destroyed comm cycle”.
During October of 1982 Miscavige assaulted John Aczel and Roger Barnes at Gilman Hot Springs, according to testimony from Jay Hurwitz.
On October 17th 1982 Miscavige verbally declared top Mission Holder Martin Samuels. There is a photograph of him doing so in the Church publication “Sea Org Expansion News”. Kingsley Wimbush and Dean Stokes were also verbally declared at this meeting. This violates HCO PL 16 May 80, “Ethics, Suppressive Acts, Suppression of Scientology and Scientologists”, which states: “all investigations (must) include confronting the accused with the accusation and where feasible the accuser, BEFORE any action is decided upon or taken.” It is worthy of note that Samuels and Wimbush were, at the time of their Declares, the two most successful Mission Holders in the world, by actual stats. HCOPL 15 Aug 67 states “One of the ways an SP works to stop an activity or halt an affluence is to pick out key personnel and spread wild, false and alarming stories about them.”
The “Running Program”, where senior executives were punished by being forced to run around a tree in desert heat for up to 12 hours a day is another example of perverted Tech authorized by Miscavige. This happened from December 1982 to the Summer of 1983. Amongst those on the “Progarm” were David and Merrill Mayo. David suffered an unhealthy loss of weight, physical debilitation and the loss of teeth whilst on the program.
At the San Francisco Mission Holders’ Conference on October 17th 1982 David Miscavige made scornful comments concerning Scientologists in good standing. For example “These bribe days are over. These squirrel days are over.” (See SOED 2104, 7 Nov 82.) Miscavige also threatened Mission Holders with criminal prosecution. This violates HCO PL 18 Apr 70, “Ethics and franchise”, which states: “It is not our policy to harshly handle Franchises … almost without exception Franchise holders are fine, willing people and we trust them to do right”.
Miscavige allowed publication of the SOED of August 1983, “Story of a Squirrel”. This was an attempt to destroy the authority and reputation of one of the highest officers of Scn — the man chosen by LRH as his Technical successor.
Under Miscavige’s direction civil suits have been brought against Scientologists Eddie Mace, Marian van der Linde, Bernard Wimbush, Don Hills, Lawrence West, Robin Scott, Ron Lawley and Morag Bellmaine.
According to HCOB 23 Dec 71R, “The No-Interference Area”: “IT IS VITALLY, VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT ONE GETS ANY PERSON WHO HAS GONE CLEAR THROUGH HIS NEXT REQUIRED STEPS, ONTO OT1 AND THROUGH OT3 RAPIDLY”. HCO PL 23 Sep 64, “Policies: Dissemination and Programmes” states: “one week’s process (25 hours) should cost an average month’s pay”. By violating this Policy the Bridge has become unobtainable, and Scientologists have been placed at risk.
Under Miscavige’s direction almost 2000 SP declares have been issued, most of these without Comm Ev. Many senior executives and top auditors have been Declared or removed (for example: Diane Voegerding, Gale Irwin and John Nelson — all ex-COs CMO; Bill Franks and Kerry Gleeson — both ex-EDs Int; Emile Gilbert — ex-CO Canada; Ron Hopkins — ex-CO UK; Murray Chopping, Leon Steinberg, Merrill Mayo, David Mayo, Alex Gerber, Brian Livingstone, Mike Maurer, Ron Shafran and Alex Sibersky — all Class XIIs).
David Miscavige has been found guilty of the following charges:
HIGH CRIMES
1. Mutiny
2. Organizing a splinter group (RTC) which takes and perverts Scn materials or practices, in whole or in part and still calling it Scientology.
3. Public Statements against Scientology or Scientologists but not to Commitees of Evidence duly convened.
4. Reporting Scientologists to civil authorities in an effort to suppress Scientologists from practicing standard Scientology.
5. Engaging in malicious rumour-mongering to destroy the authority and repute of higher officers and the leading names of Scientology.
6. Spreading false tales to invalidate Clears (and OTs).
7. Spreading libellous statements about the alleged behaviour of Clears (and OTs)
8. Splintering off an area of Scientology and denying it properly constituted authority to “save the organization from the higher officers of Scientology”.
9. Willful misapplication.
10. Bringing civil suit against Scientologists without first calling the matter to the attention of the Ethics Officer.
11. Organizing a splinter group (RTC) to confuse people about the true beliefs and practices of Scientology and to deceive them into considering that they will be able to study part or all of Scientology and receive standard pastoral counselling from the splinter group.
Insufficient evidence was found on the following charges:
Receiving money, favours or encouragement to suppress Scientology or Scientologsists;
Pronouncing Scientologists guilty of the practice of standard Scientology, or of the practice of the religion of Scientology.
Miscavige was found guilty of the following crimes.
1. Placing Scientology and Scientologists at risk.
2. Following illegal policies knowing them to be contrary to those issued by the International Board (or LRH).
3. Not reporting flagrant departures from International Board (and LRH) Policy.
4. Permitting the Organization to collapse.
5. Condoning circumstances and offenses capable of bringing the Organization to collapse.
6. Neglect of responsibility resulting in catastrophe.
7. Being a Potential Trouble Source without reporting it or taking action.
8. Using Scientology harmfully.
9. Using a local Scientology title to set aside Policies from the International Board (and LRH).
10. Instigating a local power push against a senior.
11. Spreading destructive rumours about senior Scientologists.
12. Falsifying a communication from a senior.
13. Causing severe disturbances which have resulted in disrepute.
14. Holding Scientology materials or Policies up to ridicule, contempt and scorn.
15. Condoning the Suppression of the word Scientology in its use and practice.
The Committee also found Miscavige guilty of the following additional charges:
1. Forgery.
2. Fraud.
3. Assault.
David Miscavige is assigned a condition of Treason. All of his certifications and awards are suspended. He is dismissed from all posts and titles in any Scientology organization. Any Scientologist supporting Miscavige’s usurpation of power is guilty of the High Crime of Mutiny. No auditor should give him auditing until such time as he has successfully completed his Ethics conditions and made thorough amends for the damage he has caused. As the Independent Field does not practice Disconnection no restraint is made upon communication with Miscavige. However it is recommended that he be referred to a competent Ethics terminal, as he has proved to be highly enturbulative. Reference should be made to HCO PL 16 May 1980, “Ethics, Suppressive Acts, Suppression of Scientology and Scientologists” beore dealing with Miscavige.
Jon Atack
Chairman OT Committee UK.
We told Jon that the reference in the last paragraph to the Independent Field tipped us off that Jon had already left the church when he wrote this.
JON: I had resigned from the cult nine months earlier, in October, 1983.
I was appointed “Chairman of the OT Committee UK” by Captain Bill Robertson that very same month. Curiously, this means that I had authority from the very top to write this issue, where Miscavige has no authority and never has had (it is clear that Hubbard intended the Broekers to take over. He barely knew Miscavige, much as he enjoyed his survival of the fittest tactics).
Hubbard appointed himself “Commodore” and Mary Sue, “Deputy Commodore.” He also appointed Captain Bill “Second Deputy Commodore.” That appointment was never withdrawn by Hubbard, so, with Hubbard “off lines” and Mary Sue ill-disposed, Bill was actually the only Hubbard-appointed boss around. We all rejected the SP declare on Bill, because it didn’t come from Hubbard, who was the only one with authority to issue such a fatwa, because of Bill’s rank.
I knew none of this, when I accepted the grandiose title “Chairman of the OT Committee UK,” and I distanced myself from Bill’s Marcabian notions within days, but I enjoyed my rank and status, if somewhat privately. (I was not only the Chairman of the OT Committee UK, I was also its only member; from October 1983 until I resigned in August 1984. Sadly, I kept no minutes of the official meetings where I discussed profound matters with myself…) There were no other functions ever associated with my exalted status, beyond summoning the Committee of Evidence on Midshipman Miscavige and issuing the SP declare in light of that committee’s findings. It was, sadly, my only published issue as Chairman of the OT Committee UK.
I think the best bit of Lawrence Wright’s generally rather good Going Clear is the chapter about Mr Midshipman Miscavige (the “most compassionate” man Tom Cruise has ever met). Do we know anyone with enough medical knowledge to explain his early over-muscled development? Add to that his obvious testosterone production, his delayed sleep phase syndrome (rises at noon), his asthma and is there something he could take to just calm him down a bit? He’s probably one of the few people who genuinely needs a shot of Ritalin.
It has long seemed strange to me that Scientologists allow someone whose “chronic tone” is noisily and loudly blame to rule over them. At least Hubbard occasionally told a joke or patted someone on the back. The Midshipman is relentless. And when he smiles, his eyes light up. The most jaw-dropping fact — for some reason unknown to me until Wright enlightened me — is that Miscavige smokes. I immediately had an image of him, lounging with his blue mountain coffee, with a Camel in one hand and an inhaler, in the other. This is the Scientologists’ idea of the ideal scene, the perfect OT? And according to the scripture (TM), chronic disability, such as asthma, signifies PTSness. All ten million Scientologists (this number includes “body thetans,” of course) missed that section of the checksheet, somehow. I cannot make head nor tail of it.
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Evidentiary Hearing in Garcia v. Scientology Fraud Lawsuit May Get Moved Back
Thursday we reported that Judge James Whittemore has set an evidentiary hearing for July 24 in regards to Scientology’s motion to disqualify Luis and Rocio Garcia’s attorneys in their federal fraud lawsuit against the church.
Ted Babbitt, who represents the Garcias, tells us that he’ll likely ask Whittemore for a later date so that the hearing doesn’t conflict with some other matters that he’s handling.
When we asked him about Brian Culkin, whose declaration is central to the church’s motion to disqualify him, Babbitt said he thought it was likely that Culkin would be deposed before the hearing.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on June 29, 2013 at 07:00
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