Heber Jentzsch
Encyclopedia
Heber Carl Jentzsch has served as president of the Church of Scientology International
since 1982.
family, and identified himself as a "believing Mormon". He is the son of polygamist Carl Jentzsch (who was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and Carl's third wife Pauline; Heber has 42 siblings. While Heber Jentzsch was never baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his first name was inspired by the Latter-day Saint apostle Heber C. Kimball
.
Jentzsch was educated at Weber College in Ogden
, Utah
and the University of Utah
, where he graduated in 1959 with a degree in communications. He also studied Eastern religions.
Before his involvement with Scientology, which he joined in 1967, Jentzsch was a journalist with the Los Angeles Free Press
and an actor, having a bit part in the movie Paint Your Wagon
. The Internet Movie Database
lists Jentzsch with one credited acting appearance, a small part playing a Nazi in one episode of the 1960s television series Combat!, and with an uncredited role in the movie 1776
.
According to Jentzsch, two events of his life were pivotal: the arrest of his father in 1955, and himself being cured in the Scientology Purification Rundown
from radiation burns he had suffered from since he was 15.
. He has often appeared in newspaper interviews, aggressively defending the church on several occasions.
Despite his media prominence, Jentzsch has often been referred to as a titular
president. Described as "the leading spokesperson for the Church of Scientology International" in Church publications, Jentzsch is thought to have little actual power. Jentzch's rank in the Scientology's elite Sea Org
anization is only that of Lieutenant, whereas RTC
chairman David Miscavige
holds the rank of Captain. Miscavige is widely regarded as the leader of Scientology, and is officially referred to as the "ultimate ecclesiastical authority" on Scientology.
along with 69 other members of the organization. Jentzsch was incarcerated in a Spanish jail for about three weeks. He was released and fled to the United States after Scientology paid a bail bond of approximately $1 million. Sixteen people, including Jentzsch, were charged with "illegal association" and various other crimes including tax fraud and endangering public health. The trial of the indictees began in February 2001, but Jentzsch himself did not turn up; the prosecution called for him to be given a 56-year prison sentence. However, the Madrid Provincial Court threw out all but the conspiracy charge and eventually ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove this charge as well. In April 2002, the charge was formally dropped. The court also ordered that the bail bond deposited for his release in 1988 be returned to the Church along with interest, which nearly doubled the original amount.
Church of Scientology International
The Church of Scientology International, Inc. is a Californian 501 non-profit corporation. Within the worldwide network of Scientology corporations and entities, CSI is officially referred to as the "mother church" of the Church of Scientology....
since 1982.
Biography
Heber Jentzsch grew up in a MormonMormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
family, and identified himself as a "believing Mormon". He is the son of polygamist Carl Jentzsch (who was excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) and Carl's third wife Pauline; Heber has 42 siblings. While Heber Jentzsch was never baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, his first name was inspired by the Latter-day Saint apostle Heber C. Kimball
Heber C. Kimball
Heber Chase Kimball was a leader in the early Latter Day Saint movement. He served as one of the original twelve apostles in the early Latter Day Saint church, and as first counselor to Brigham Young in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his...
.
Jentzsch was educated at Weber College in Ogden
Ogden
-Surname:* Aaron Ogden, governor of New Jersey* Bud Ogden, American professional basketball player* Carlos C. Ogden, American Medal of Honor recipient* Charles Ogden * Charles Kay Ogden, Cambridge University linguist, inventor of Basic English...
, Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
and the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, where he graduated in 1959 with a degree in communications. He also studied Eastern religions.
Before his involvement with Scientology, which he joined in 1967, Jentzsch was a journalist with the Los Angeles Free Press
Los Angeles Free Press
The Los Angeles Free Press , also called “the Freep”, was among the most widely distributed underground newspapers of the 1960s. It is often cited as the first such newspaper...
and an actor, having a bit part in the movie Paint Your Wagon
Paint Your Wagon (film)
Paint Your Wagon is a 1969 American musical film starring Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood. The movie was adapted by Paddy Chayefsky from the 1951 stage musical by Lerner and Loewe, set in a mining camp in Gold Rush-era California.-Plot:...
. The Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database
Internet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
lists Jentzsch with one credited acting appearance, a small part playing a Nazi in one episode of the 1960s television series Combat!, and with an uncredited role in the movie 1776
1776 (musical)
1776 is a musical with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. The story is based on the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence...
.
According to Jentzsch, two events of his life were pivotal: the arrest of his father in 1955, and himself being cured in the Scientology Purification Rundown
Purification Rundown
The Purification Rundown, also known as the Purif or the Hubbard Method, is a controversial detoxification program developed by Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard and used by the Church of Scientology as an introductory service. Scientologists consider it the only effective way to deal with the...
from radiation burns he had suffered from since he was 15.
Role
During the 1970s, Jentzsch became the public relations director of the Church's later-notorious Guardian's Office, serving as the Church's chief press spokesman. He has continued in this role since his promotion to the post of President of the Church of Scientology International; in January 1986 it fell to him to inform the press of the death of L. Ron HubbardL. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
. He has often appeared in newspaper interviews, aggressively defending the church on several occasions.
Despite his media prominence, Jentzsch has often been referred to as a titular
Titular head
A titular ruler, or titular head, is a person in an official position of leadership who possesses few, if any, actual powers. Sometimes a person may inhabit a position of titular leadership and yet exercise more power than would normally be expected, as a result of their personality or experience...
president. Described as "the leading spokesperson for the Church of Scientology International" in Church publications, Jentzsch is thought to have little actual power. Jentzch's rank in the Scientology's elite Sea Org
Sea Org
The Sea Organization or Sea Org is an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer and founder of Scientology. Its members are found in the central management organizations of the Church of Scientology as well as in individual churches...
anization is only that of Lieutenant, whereas RTC
Religious Technology Center
The Religious Technology Center is a Californian non-profit corporation. RTC was founded in 1982 by the Church of Scientology in order to control and oversee the use of all of the trademarks, symbols and texts of Scientology and Dianetics, including the copyrighted works of Scientology founder and...
chairman David Miscavige
David Miscavige
David Miscavige is the leader of the Church of Scientology and affiliated organizations. His title is Chairman of the Board of Religious Technology Center , a corporation that controls the trademarked names and symbols of Dianetics and Scientology. Miscavige was an assistant to Hubbard while a...
holds the rank of Captain. Miscavige is widely regarded as the leader of Scientology, and is officially referred to as the "ultimate ecclesiastical authority" on Scientology.
Arrest and trial in Spain
In 1988 Heber Jentzsch was arrested in SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
along with 69 other members of the organization. Jentzsch was incarcerated in a Spanish jail for about three weeks. He was released and fled to the United States after Scientology paid a bail bond of approximately $1 million. Sixteen people, including Jentzsch, were charged with "illegal association" and various other crimes including tax fraud and endangering public health. The trial of the indictees began in February 2001, but Jentzsch himself did not turn up; the prosecution called for him to be given a 56-year prison sentence. However, the Madrid Provincial Court threw out all but the conspiracy charge and eventually ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove this charge as well. In April 2002, the charge was formally dropped. The court also ordered that the bail bond deposited for his release in 1988 be returned to the Church along with interest, which nearly doubled the original amount.
Articles
- Jentzsch, Heber (2000-04-21). "Liberty, Equality, Intolerance", Los Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
. - Jentzsch, Heber (1998-02-25). "German Scientologists" (letter to the Editor), New York Times.