Mark Rathbun
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Born: | United States |
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| Occupation: | former Inspector General, Religious Technology Center (RTC) |
| Salary: |  US$ Unknown |
| Net worth: | US$ Unknown |
| Spouse: | (divorced) |
This article forms part of a series on Scientology |
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Concepts
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Mark "Marty" C. Rathbun was Inspector General of the Religious Technology Center (RTC), the organization that controls the copyrighted materials of Dianetics and Scientology.[1] His role was to head the Inspector General Network, described by the Church of Scientology as "an independent investigatory and policing body whose function is to keep Scientology working by ensuring the pure and ethical use of Dianetics and Scientology technology." The post is one of the most senior management functions in the Church and its related organizations.[2]
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[edit] Biography
[edit] Scientology
According to his official biography, he became a Church staff member in 1978. The Fishman Affidavit claims that by 1986, Rathbun was Deputy Director of Intelligence for the Church's Office of Special Affairs. His biography states that he joined the RTC board in 1987 and played a major role in negotiating the Church's controversial tax exemption agreement with the Internal Revenue Service in 1993.[1] In 1998, Florida newspaper the St. Petersburg Times described Rathbun as "top lieutenant" to Scientology leader David Miscavige.[3]
According to coverage in The New York Times, Rathbun and Miscavige jump-started stalled negotiations over Scientology's tax status when they made an unscheduled visit to Internal Revenue Service headquarters in Washington in October 1991.[4] Commenting to the same newspaper on the involvement of celebrities in Scientology, Rathbun denied pressure on celebrity members to evangelize, saying, "Scientology works for these people, and they just want to give to others what works for them."[5]
[edit] Personal
Rathbun was married to Anne Rathbun, who filed for divorce on 17 December 2004. The divorce became final by default on 26 October 2005. They have no children.[6]
[edit] Current
After September 2005 all references to Rathbun (and fellow top executive Warren McShane) were removed from all official Scientology websites and documents, including historical articles that mentioned Rathbun or McShane. To date, neither the RTC nor any other Scientology official or organization has made any announcement about Rathbun's status, and he has faded from public view. It is unclear who now holds the position of Inspector General of the RTC.[7][8]
[edit] Legal
A former Church of Scientology member, Barbara Schwarz, sued the Church of Scientology in 1994 in an attempt to compel it to disclose the location of Rathbun, who she asserts is her husband. The judge granted the Church's request to dismiss the case and ruled that "Ms. Schwarz had presented no legally cognizable claim against the Church that entitled her to relief in federal court".[9] This case was eventually appealed to the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit where the court ruled that "the district court correctly dismissed the motions."[10]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Mark Rathbun Inspector General Religious Technology Center. Religious Technology Center. Archived from the original on 2005-09-04. Retrieved on February 26, 2007.
- ^ "Matters of RTC concern", Religious Technology Center, 2006. Retrieved 2007-02-18
- ^ Tobin, Thomas C., "The Man Behind Scientology", The St. Petersburg Times, October 25, 1998. Retrieved February 24, 2007
- ^ Frantz, Douglas, "Scientology's Puzzling Journey From Tax Rebel to Tax Exempt", The New York Times, March 9, 1997. Retrieved February 24, 2007
- ^ Frantz, Douglas, "Scientology's Star Roster Enhances Image", The New York Times, February 13, 1998. Retrieved February 24, 2007
- ^ Riverside Family Law, Case No. HED009194
- ^ David Miscavige Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center. Religious Technology Center. Archived from the original on 2005-09-04. Retrieved on February 26, 2007.
- ^ David Miscavige Chairman of the Board Religious Technology Center. Religious Technology Center. Archived from the original on 2005-10-29. Retrieved on February 26, 2007.
- ^ Schwarz v. Church of Scientology Int'l, 9 F.3d 117 (Table), Nos. 93-4082, 93-4092, 1993 WL 444553 (10th Cir. Nov. 2, 1993), cert. denied, 114 S. Ct. 1082 (1994)
- ^ Schwarz v. Church of Scientology Int'l, No. 94-4072, UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE TENTH CIRCUIT, February 28, 1995
[edit] External links
- Who is "Marty" Mark Rathbun?
- Marty and Warren's Excellent Adventure — a page devoted to the erasure of Rathbun and McShane from the historical record, part of the critical archive on Scientology, "Operation Clambake"
- The life and times of Mark "Marty" Rathbun
