David Miscavige
Leader of the Church of Scientology (born 1960) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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
David Miscavige | |
|---|---|
 Miscavige in 2019 | |
| Born | (1960-04-30) April 30, 1960 (age 64) 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 | |
| Parents |
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| Relatives | Jenna Miscavige Hill (niece) |
| Website | Official website |
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]