Church of Scientology elders are defending the celebrity religion against reports one of the faith's leading figures beat subordinates and promoted violence among senior officials. A group of former executives of the church, which counts Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its high-profile members, has claimed chairman David Miscavige repeatedly struck staff members.

But church leaders are strongly denying the claims, which made up an article in the St. Petersburg Times in Florida over the weekend.

One whistle blower, Mike Rinder, claims, "It was random and whimsical. It could be the look on your face. Or not answering a question quickly. But it always was a punishment.

Rinder oversaw the church’s legal and media relations operations before he quit in 2007. He alleges he was struck by Miscavige several times.

Other former Scientology officials Marty Rathbun and Tom De Vocht claim Miscavige - who was best man at Cruise and Katie Holmes 2006 wedding - often instructed them to beat subordinates and both saw him attack church members.

But church officials in Los Angeles are calling the new claims "absolute and total lies".

Spokesman Tommy Davis told the newspaper that an internal investigation revealed that Rathbun, not Miscavige, was responsible for a spate of violence before he left the church in 2004.



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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)