Mark Rathbun

{{Infobox person

| image = Mark Rathbun.jpg

| imagesize = 250px

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1957}}

| birth_place = United States

| death_date =

| death_place =

| known_for = Former Inspector General, Religious Technology Center (RTC)

| spouse = Geray Jory (divorced){{cite web |last1=Ortega |first1=Tony |title=Scientology's Concentration Camp for Its Executives: The Prisoners, Past and Present |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/08/02/scientologys-concentration-camp-for-its-executives-the-prisoners-past-and-present/ |website=The Village Voice |date=August 2, 2012 |access-date=27 July 2023}}

Anne Joasem (divorced){{cite news|url=http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-31/us/scientology.violence_1_marty-rathbun-scientology-david-miscavige?_s=PM:US |work=CNN |title=Ex-members spar with Scientology over beating allegations |date=2010-03-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209151228/http://articles.cnn.com/2010-03-31/us/scientology.violence_1_marty-rathbun-scientology-david-miscavige?_s=PM%3AUS |archive-date=2012-02-09 }}
Monique "Mosey" Rathbun (present){{cite web|url=http://markrathbun.wordpress.com/2010/07/05/first-independent-scientologist-wedding/|title=First Independent Scientologist Wedding|work=Moving On Up a Little Higher|date=July 5, 2010 |access-date=21 October 2014}}

| children =

| website = {{URL|markrathbun.blog}}

| footnotes =

}}

Mark C. "Marty" Rathbun (born 1957) is an American former Scientologist who served as a senior executive of the Church of Scientology. He last held the post of Inspector General of the Religious Technology Center (RTC), the organization that is responsible for the protection and enforcement of all Dianetics and Scientology copyrights and trademarks.{{cite web | url = http://www.rtc.org/en_US/mark-rathbun.html | title = Mark Rathbun Inspector General Religious Technology Center | access-date = 2007-02-26 | publisher = Religious Technology Center | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050904200333/http://www.rtc.org/en_US/mark-rathbun.html | archive-date = 2005-09-04}} As the inspector general, Rathbun led the RTC's international Inspector General Network, collectively responsible for internal maintenance and consistency of Scientology's practices and procedures in its organizations, and for ensuring perfect adherence to all Church policies as attributed to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.{{Cite book |last=Lewis |first=James R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_dfzDQAAQBAJ&dq=scientology%3Ainspector%3AGeneral+network&pg=PA209 |title=Handbook of Scientology |date=2017-01-05 |publisher=Brill |isbn=978-90-04-33054-2 |language=en}} Rathbun left the Church of Scientology in 2004 and became an independent Scientologist, later stating that he considers himself non-religious.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yktu0btmEmA |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/yktu0btmEmA |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Scientology Whistleblower Tells All, Admits to Secretly Recording Tom Cruise|date=November 12, 2014 |publisher=David Pakman Show |access-date=12 November 2014}}{{cbignore}} Since 2016, Rathbun began criticizing former church members on his blog. He has also spoken out against prominent critics of Scientology, prompting speculation that he may have returned to the Church.

Scientology career

According to his official biography, Rathbun became a Church of Scientology staff member in 1978, and joined the RTC board in 1987. The biography also credits him with having played a major role in various Church victories, including the negotiation of the Church's tax exemption agreement with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 1993. In 1998, Florida newspaper the Tampa Bay Times described Rathbun as "top lieutenant" to Scientology leader David Miscavige.{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/10/25/the-man-behind-scientology/ |title=The Man Behind Scientology |first=Thomas C |last=Tobin |date=October 25, 1998 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991112103750/http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/102598/scientologypart1.html |archive-date=November 12, 1999 |publisher=St Petersburg Times }} [https://web.archive.org/web/20000708004553/http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/102598/scientologypart2.html Archive page 2], [https://web.archive.org/web/20000307050557/http://www.sptimes.com:80/TampaBay/102598/scientologypart3.html page 3], [https://web.archive.org/web/19991112150417/http://www.sptimes.com:80/TampaBay/102598/scientologypart4.html page 4]

In 1997, The New York Times reported that according to an internal Scientology publication, Rathbun and Miscavige jump-started stalled negotiations over Scientology's tax status when they made an unscheduled visit to IRS Commissioner Fred T. Goldberg Jr. at the Internal Revenue Service headquarters in Washington in October 1991.{{cite news |first=Douglas |last=Frantz |title=Scientology's Puzzling Journey From Tax Rebel to Tax Exempt |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/09/us/scientology-s-puzzling-journey-from-tax-rebel-to-tax-exempt.html |work=The New York Times |date=March 9, 1997 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110012741/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/09/us/scientology-s-puzzling-journey-from-tax-rebel-to-tax-exempt.html |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |url-access=subscription | access-date = 2007-12-21 }} The Church of Scientology and Rathbun later denied that there had been an unscheduled meeting between Goldberg, Rathbun, and Miscavige that day.{{cite news | first = Douglas | last = Frantz | title = Scientology Denies an Account Of an Impromptu I.R.S. Meeting | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A04EED81038F93AA25750C0A961958260 | work = The New York Times | date = 1997-03-19 | access-date = 2007-12-21 }} The Church said that "While an internal publication of three years ago does recount Mr. Miscavige approaching the [IRS], it never states he was granted an unscheduled meeting on demand." Rathbun, in a separate letter to the New York Times, explained that the first meeting he and Miscavige had with Goldberg and other IRS officials was approximately one month after their impromptu visit to the IRS building.

As a Scientology spokesman, Rathbun commented to the same newspaper on the involvement of celebrities in Scientology, saying that "Scientology works for these people, and they just want to give to others what works for them. We don't give them a badge and send them out. They do it on their own."{{cite news | first = Douglas | last = Frantz | title = Scientology's Star Roster Enhances Image | url = https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9902E4DF103CF930A25751C0A96E958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all | work = The New York Times | date = 1998-02-13 | access-date = 2007-12-21 }} When discussing reluctance among some established churches to collaborate with Scientology under the umbrella of an interfaith organization, he was also quoted as saying that "Bigotry is born out of ignorance."

=Tom Cruise confessionals=

In May 2010, Rathbun asserted that during his tenure as Inspector General of the Religious Technology Center, Scientology leader David Miscavige issued him orders that the auditing sessions of celebrity Scientology member Tom Cruise be secretly videotaped. Rathbun had himself been the individual responsible for performing auditing counseling with Cruise.{{cite news | title =Tom Cruise's confessions mocked at Scientology parties | work =MSN NZ| publisher =MSN New Zealand Ltd | date = May 9, 2010 | url = http://entertainment.msn.co.nz/blog.aspx?blogentryid=644319&showcomments=true | access-date = 2010-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526192347/http://entertainment.msn.co.nz/blog.aspx?blogentryid=644319&showcomments=true |archive-date=May 26, 2010}}{{cite news | title = Tom Cruise afgeluisterd binnen Scientology Kerk | work = De Telegraaf | language =nl | publisher = Telegraaf Media Groep | date = May 9, 2010 | url = http://www.telegraaf.nl/prive/6689048/___Tom_Cruise_afgeluisterd_binnen_Scientology_Kerk___.html?p=13,2 | access-date = 2010-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607235723/http://www.telegraaf.nl/prive/6689048/___Tom_Cruise_afgeluisterd_binnen_Scientology_Kerk___.html?p=13,2 |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |trans-title=Tom Cruise overheard inside Church of Scientology}} Rathbun wrote on his blog that he had been charged with auditing Cruise during the period in 2001 directly after he had separated from Nicole Kidman.{{cite news|title=Tom Cruise heimlich bei Scientology-Beichte gefilmt? |work=Klatsch-Tratsch.De |date=May 9, 2010 |url=http://klatsch-tratsch.de/2010/05/09/tom-cruise-heimlich-bei-scientology-beichte-gefilmt/51672/comment-page-1 |access-date=2010-05-10 |language=de |trans-title=Tom Cruise secretly filmed at Scientology confession? |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719053501/http://www.klatsch-tratsch.de/2010/05/09/tom-cruise-heimlich-bei-scientology-beichte-gefilmt/51672/comment-page-1 |archive-date=July 19, 2011 }} Rathbun wrote, "I audited a number of intensives of confessionals on Tom Cruise from July through November 2001. ... By order of Miscavige many of those sessions were secretly recorded by a well-concealed video camera and voice recorder system built into the VIP auditing room at Celebrity Center International." Rathbun subsequently learned that transcripts of the videotapes of Cruise were brought to meetings where they would be discussed by top management of Scientology.{{cite news | last =ninemsn staff | title =Tom Cruise 'ridiculed at Scientology parties' | work =ninemsn | publisher =PBL Media & Microsoft | url =http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/1050399/tom-cruise-ridiculed-at-scientology-parties | access-date =2010-05-10 | url-status =dead | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20100513012246/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/1050399/tom-cruise-ridiculed-at-scientology-parties | archive-date =2010-05-13 }} Rathbun wrote that Miscavige would read out information from the reports about Cruise's auditing sessions: "While sipping scotch whisky at the end of the night, Miscavige would read Tom's overts and withholds ... joking and laughing about the content of Tom's confessions."

The nature of what was discussed in the confessional sessions by Cruise was not revealed.{{cite news | title = Tom Cruise's confessionals 'mocked by Scientologists' | work = The West Australian|publisher = West Australian Newspapers Limited | date = May 10, 2010 | url = http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/mp/7201701/tom-cruises-confessionals-mocked-by-scientologists/ | access-date = 2010-05-10 }}{{cite news| title =Heidi Klum et Seal sont toujours aussi gnangnan... Les candidates de Miss USA en tenue légère... | work = 20 minutes | language = fr |quote=(translated) An embarrassing video of Tom Cruise. No, we're not talking about a sex tape, but a recording that was made of the star as he gave himself up body and soul during a Scientology confession session. According to Mark Rathbun, who made the recording, the cult's guru, David Miscavige himself would laugh out loud reading the transcripts of the session at parties. However, nothing has filtered through on what poor Tom might have said to be so hilarious.| publisher = Schibsted and Ouest France Group | date = May 10, 2010 | url = http://www.20minutes.fr/article/403543/People-Heidi-Klum-et-Seal-sont-toujours-aussi-gnangnan-Les-candidates-de-Miss-USA-en-tenue-legere.php | access-date = 2010-05-10}}{{cite news | title = ¿Traicionado por la cienciología? | work = minutouno.com | language = es |trans-title=Tom Cruise : Betrayed by Scientology? | publisher = www.minutouno.com.ar | date = May 21, 2010 | url = http://www.minutouno.com.ar/minutouno/nota/128971-Traicionado-por-la-cienciologia/ | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100513180738/http://www.minutouno.com.ar/minutouno/nota/128971-Traicionado-por-la-cienciologia | url-status = dead | archive-date = May 13, 2010 | access-date = 2010-05-10 }} Rathbun ceased the filming of Cruise in 2002, because he felt it was unethical. Rathbun left the organization in 2004, and since then has given counseling to former members of Scientology. In a post on his blog, Rathbun wrote a statement addressed to Cruise: "Wake up, Tom. It is not too late. Though, time is getting very, very short." {{As of|2010|5|9|df=US}}, representatives for Cruise had not yet responded to the statements made by Rathbun.

Lynn Hayes of Beliefnet discussed the revelations by Rathbun, writing, "Religion in any form provides a solid structure that can offer comfort and security, and departure from that security can be frightening and painful. As humans we always have a choice, and it will be interesting to see how Tom Cruise and the Church of Scientology manage this revelation."{{cite news| last = Hayes | first = Lynn | title =Tom Cruise betrayed by Scientology leader | work = Beliefnet | publisher = beliefnet.com | date = May 10, 2010 | url = http://blog.beliefnet.com/astrologicalmusings/2010/05/tom-cruise-betrayed-by-sciento.html | access-date = 2010-05-10}} El Tiempo commented, "Although Tom Cruise is a staunch supporter and defender of Scientology, apparently other members of this doctrine do not profess the same devotion to the actor."{{cite news|title=Tom Cruise, burlado por la Cienciología |work=El Tiempo |language=es |publisher=www.tiempo.hn |date=May 10, 2010 |url=http://www.tiempo.hn/sociedad/index.php/escenarios/4618--tom-cruise-burlado-por-la-cienciologia |access-date=2010-05-10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110309053230/http://www.tiempo.hn/sociedad/index.php/escenarios/4618--tom-cruise-burlado-por-la-cienciologia |archive-date=March 9, 2011 }}

=Departure from the Church of Scientology=

Rathbun left the Church of Scientology in 2004 and offered counseling and auditing services for other Scientologists who have cut their ties with the Church.{{cite news|date=26 September 2010|title=Mr Shouty and Cruise: The Rematch|work=The Sunday Times|url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A238019293/STND?u=wikipedia&sid=bookmark-STND&xid=e1e2c2c7|access-date=21 December 2022 |first=John |last=Sweeney |author-link=John Sweeney (journalist)|quote=Marty Rathbun, who like Rinder is now an independent scientologist}}{{cite web|url=https://markrathbun.blog/2009/10/01/independent-scientologists/ |website=markrathbun.blog |date=October 1, 2009 |title=Independent Scientologists}}{{cite web |url=http://markrathbun.wordpress.com/about/ |title=About page |website=Mark Rathbun blog |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326001847/http://markrathbun.wordpress.com/about/ |archive-date=March 26, 2010}} Initially, he considered himself an independent Scientologist, but now considers himself non-religious.

Rathbun emerged as a critical source in a 2009 St. Petersburg Times exposé on the organization, stating that physical violence is a common occurrence within Scientology management, and that Miscavige regularly beats his staff or orders staff to administer beatings to designated individuals – accusations which the Church of Scientology categorically denies. This reporting series by the St. Petersburg Times titled "Inside Scientology: The Truth Rundown" was recognized with honors including the 2010 Gold Medal for Public Service award from the Florida Society of News Editors,{{cite news| last = Sentinel Staff Report | title = Orlando Sentinel wins 17 awards from Florida Society of News Editors | website = Orlando Sentinel | date = June 18, 2010| url = http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-orlando-sentinel-fsne-awards-20100618,0,3887288.story | access-date = 2010-06-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160214112009/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-06-18/news/os-orlando-sentinel-fsne-awards-20100618_1_8226-the-staff-downtown-shooting-el-sentinel |archive-date=February 14, 2016}}{{Cite web |date=2010-06-24 |title=2010 FSNE Awards list |url=http://fsne.org/2010awards/ |access-date=2022-08-21 |archive-date=2010-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100624185654/http://fsne.org/2010awards/ |url-status=dead }} and was a finalist for the 2010 National Headliner Awards in the category of investigative reporting.{{cite news | title =Winners of 76th Annual National Headliner Awards | work = The New York Times | date = March 24, 2010 | url = http://archive.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2010/03/24/winners_of_76th_annual_national_headliner_awards/?page=2 | access-date =2010-03-25}}{{cite news |year=2010 |title=Print Division - Daily Newspapers and News Syndicates - Writing & Reporting |work=National Headliner Awards |publisher=Press Club of Atlantic City |url=http://www.nationalheadlinerawards.com/Winners2010Print.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2010-03-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100325023131/http://www.nationalheadlinerawards.com/Winners2010Print.html |archive-date=2010-03-25}}

In December 2018, Jezebel reported that Rathbun had appeared in videos criticising ex-Scientologist Leah Remini and suggested he had rejoined Scientology.{{cite news|url=https://jezebel.com/scientology-attorney-demands-jezebel-remove-our-story-o-1831229261/|title=Scientology Attorney Demands Jezebel Remove Our Story on Shelly Miscavige's Alleged Disappearance|last=Merlan|first=Anna|work=Jezebel|date=December 20, 2018}}

Media appearances

=''Scientologists at War''=

A one-hour feature on Mark Rathbun titled Scientologists at War, directed by Joseph Martin and produced by Danielle Clark and Michael Simkin was broadcast on June 17, 2013, on British Channel Four.{{Cite web |date=2013-06-13 |title=Scientologists at War - Channel 4 |url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/scientologists-at-war |access-date=2022-08-21 |archive-date=2013-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130613044303/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/scientologists-at-war |url-status=dead }}

On November 10, 2013, The Passionate Eye, an investigative TV series rebroadcast the program as a premiere in Canada on CBC Television, describing it as an investigation into "the pressure tactics used to discredit and silence members who leave the church."{{Cite web |date=2016-01-13 |title=Scientologists at War - The Passionate Eye |url=http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/episodes/scientologists-at-war |access-date=2022-08-21 |archive-date=2016-01-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113063810/http://www.cbc.ca/passionateeye/episodes/scientologists-at-war |url-status=dead}}

Videographer Bert Leahy reported being paid $2,000 a week to help document the "Squirrel Busters" activities.{{Cite web |last=Collette |first=Mark |date=2011-08-06 |title=Former Scientology film crew member describes surveillance activities in Ingleside on the Bay |url=http://www.caller.com/news/former-scientology-film-crew-member-describes-in |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131742/http://www.caller.com/news/former-scientology-film-crew-member-describes-in |archive-date=2015-04-02 |access-date=2015-03-24 |website=Corpus Christi Caller Times}}

=''Going Clear''=

Rathbun was a participant in the 2015 documentary Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. In that film, Rathbun alleged the church had wiretapped celebrity Nicole Kidman.{{cite news|author=Marlow Stern |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/25/scientology-doc-going-clear-claims-the-church-split-up-tom-cruise-and-nicole-kidman.html |title=Scientology Doc 'Going Clear' Claims the Church Split Up Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman |newspaper=The Daily Beast |date=26 January 2015 |publisher=Thedailybeast.com |access-date=2020-09-03}}

=''My Scientology Movie''=

Rathbun featured in Louis Theroux's 2015 documentary film My Scientology Movie where he recreated incidents within the church he and other ex-Scientologists had witnessed. After the filming of My Scientology Movie, Rathbun criticized Theroux for what he described as "morally bankrupt tactics" in the production of the documentary, and withdrew his support from its promotion.{{cite web |last1=Carroll |first1=Rory |title=Subject of Scientology film: Louis Theroux used 'morally bankrupt tactics' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/apr/21/louis-theroux-my-scientology-movie-mark-rathbun |website=The Guardian |date=21 April 2017 |access-date=1 October 2018}} Rathbun claimed that Theroux deliberately attempted to provoke the Scientologists filmed for the film, and over-dramatized the scenes recreating alleged abuses that had taken place in the Church.{{cite web |last1=Rathbun |first1=Marty |title=Louris Theroux's Scientology Movie |url=https://markrathbun.blog/2016/09/05/louis-therouxs-scientology-movie/ |website=Marty Rathbun's Blog |date=September 5, 2016 |access-date=1 October 2018}}

Legal issues

=Harassment claims=

In 2013, Mark Rathbun's wife Monique, a non-Scientologist, filed suit against the Church of Scientology alleging four years of harassment by the church.{{cite news|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Judge-to-Scientology-Leader-must-testify-in-5166735.php|title=Judge to Scientology: Leader must testify in Texas case|first=John|last=McCormack|publisher=San Antonio Express-News|date=January 22, 2014|access-date=May 27, 2015}} The suit was withdrawn in May 2016, Monique saying, "My husband and I have effectively achieved the primary purpose that the lawsuit was originally intended to serve by our own independent efforts".{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonpress.com/news/another-scientology-lawsuit-meets-a-strange-abrupt-end-in-texas-8424797 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610042105/https://www.houstonpress.com/news/another-scientology-lawsuit-meets-a-strange-abrupt-end-in-texas-8424797 |archive-date=June 10, 2016 |title=Another Scientology Lawsuit Meets a Strange, Abrupt End in Texas

|last=Wray |first=Dianna |work=Houston Press |date=May 25, 2016}} In October 2014, Rathbun filmed an encounter which showed three members of the church's top management abusing him at Los Angeles International Airport.{{cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/top-scientology-leaders-caught-videotaped-verbal-assault-lax-1708821|title=Top Scientology Leaders Caught In Videotaped Verbal Assault At LAX|first=Zoe|last=Mintz|work=International Business Times|date=October 21, 2014|access-date=May 27, 2015}}

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{multiref

|1=The Truth Rundown, a three-part series by Thomas C. Tobin and Joe Childs, St Petersburg Times

|2=

{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/special-reports/2019/10/17/scientology-the-truth-rundown/ |title=Part 1 — Scientology: The Truth Rundown |date=June 21, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209040134/http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012148.ece |archive-date=9 February 2013}}

|3=

{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/special-reports/2019/10/17/the-truth-rundown-part-2-of-3-death-in-slow-motion/ |title=The Truth Rundown, Part 2 — Death in slow motion |date=June 22, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024004252/https://www.tampabay.com/special-reports/2019/10/17/the-truth-rundown-part-2-of-3-death-in-slow-motion/ |archive-date=October 24, 2019}}

|4=

{{cite web |url=https://www.tampabay.com/special-reports/2019/10/17/the-truth-rundown-part-3-of-3-ecclesiastical-justice/ |title=The Truth Rundown, Part 3 — Ecclesiastical justice |date=June 23, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809103436/http://www.tampabay.com/news/scientology/article1012575.ece |archive-date=August 9, 2009}}

}}

External links

{{Official website|https://markrathbun.blog/}}
{{imdb name|4105141|Marty Rathbun}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20100717211759/http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2009/reports/project/rathbun.shtml Tampa Bay Times video interview]

Category:Living people

Category:American whistleblowers

Category:Former Scientology officials

Category:American former Scientologists

Category:Critics of Scientology

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:1957 births