Guest Columnist J. Swift

In stunning news today from Texas, Judge Waldrip ordered Scientology leader David Miscavige to submit himself to depostion by Monique Rathbun's legal team.

This is a major setback for the Scientology Dictator as it leaves him with only two options: Bad or Worse.

The Bad Option is for David Miscavige to settle on Monique Rathbun's terms and thereby submit to a staggering tacit admission that he ordered, managed, and financed the 199 days of harrassent of Marty and Monique Rathbun. A settlement may also require Miscavige to agree to a Permanent Injunction against any future harassment of Monique Rathbun which, as she is married to Marty, bars any Miscavige harrassment of Marty Rathbun as well.

The Worse Option is for David Miscavige to actually go in deposition under oath, under penalty of perjury, with a video camera trained on him, and have Ray Jeffrey ask him very specific and pointed questions. This option could lead to Scientotology Inc.'s corporate veils being pierced -- after which it's game over for the Church of Scientology in its present form.

I think that David Miscavige must settle with Monique Rathbun sooner than later. There is no good way out of this one for the Scientology Dictator who, by the way, is looking emaciated these days.

Excerpts of stories from around the internet:

From Tony Ortega's Blog:

TEXAS JUDGE ORDERS DEPOSITION OF SCIENTOLOGY LEADER DAVID MISCAVIGE

"We talked to Ray Jeffrey, attorney for Monique Rathbun, who confirmed that Judge Dib Waldrip has granted Monique's motion for a continuance in her harassment lawsuit against the Church of Scientology so she can have the time to depose its leader, David Miscavige.

"And although Scientology attorneys asked that it be a written deposition, Jeffrey tells us the judge did not agree to that.

"'He has ordered the deposition of Miscavige with no restrictions. It will be a regular deposition like any other,'" Jeffrey said...

"'...Scientology then tried to talk Judge Waldrip out of his decision,' Jeffrey said.

"'The Scientology attorneys began complaining that the decision was a violation of Miscavige's religious freedom. Jeffrey then pointed out that during the recent scandals with the Catholic Church, bishops and archbishops had given depositions without it violating their religious freedom.'"

"'But not the Pope!'" exclaimed Ricardo Cedillo, attorney for Scientology.

"'We all laughed at that, and so did the judge, Jeffrey said....

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Radar Online:

"Rathbun’s attorney, Ray Jeffrey, first confirmed that the deposition will happen to the Scientology watchdog site The Underground Bunker and said the church’s ttorneys requested the deposition be written instead of verbal, but Judge Dib Waldrip did not grant that motion...."

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TAMPA BAY TIMES

Judge: Scientology leader can be deposed

"Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige must submit to a deposition in a lawsuit filed against him and two church entities by Monique Rathbun, wife of high-profile church critic Marty Rathbun, a Texas judge ordered Friday.

"The ruling was a blow to Scientology's legal team, which had tried to keep Miscavige distanced from the contentious action. Miscavige has testified in only a handful of cases during his 27 years as the church's leader...."