Robert Vaughn Young
Encyclopedia
Robert Vaughn Young commonly known by his initials RVY, was a whistleblower
against the Church of Scientology
after working high inside their organization for over twenty years.
He was a national spokesman for the church.
RVY edited L. Ron Hubbard
's ten-volume Mission Earth
series. Young said that Hubbard had written the main text of the series, but that he had ghostwritten
the introduction of each volume, as well as other writings in Hubbard's name.
, BPI
v. FACTNet
, the Lisa McPherson
civil trial, cited by the press, and as an Internet-based critic
of the organization. His ex-wife, Stacy Brooks
, was a member of the Lisa McPherson Trust
. This frequently resulted in tension with his former organization.
Young was diagnosed with prostate cancer
on November 23, 1999 and turned his energies to Phoenix5, a non-profit organization that runs a website on the disease. He died on June 15, 2003.
Whistleblower
A whistleblower is a person who tells the public or someone in authority about alleged dishonest or illegal activities occurring in a government department, a public or private organization, or a company...
against the Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
after working high inside their organization for over twenty years.
In Scientology
Of his years with the Church, RVY said:I have held nearly every type of position at every echelon. I have worked at the local, the regional, the national and the international levels. I have been a Scientology representative and spokesman before governmental bodies, the media and the courts. I have trained others on how to handle the media and governmental agencies. I have been the most senior public relations executive for Scientology world wide. I worked for years at the echelon that handles critics, "enemies," the media, judges, the courts and the government. I have been privy to documents and tactics of the most secret nature, including illegalities committed by Scientology executives and the means of cover-up.
He was a national spokesman for the church.
RVY edited L. Ron Hubbard
L. 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...
's ten-volume Mission Earth
Mission Earth (novel)
Mission Earth is a ten-volume science fiction novel series by L. Ron Hubbard, founder of the Church of Scientology. Hubbard died three months after the publication of volume 1, the rest of the book being published posthumously....
series. Young said that Hubbard had written the main text of the series, but that he had ghostwritten
Ghostwriter
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited to another person. Celebrities, executives, and political leaders often hire ghostwriters to draft or edit autobiographies, magazine articles, or other written...
the introduction of each volume, as well as other writings in Hubbard's name.
After leaving
After leaving the Church of Scientology in 1989, Young became prominent as an expert in court cases regarding Scientology such as CSI v. Fishman and GeertzFishman Affidavit
The Fishman Affidavit is a set of court documents submitted by ex-Scientologist Steven Fishman in 1993 in the federal case, Church of Scientology International v. Fishman and Geertz The Fishman Affidavit is a set of court documents submitted by ex-Scientologist Steven Fishman in 1993 in the federal...
, BPI
Bridge Publications
Bridge Publications may refer to:*Bridge Publications , the Church of Scientology's North American publishing arm*Bridge Publications , a United Kingdom publisher of guides to vacation and holiday activities in the UK and Ireland...
v. FACTNet
Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network
Fight Against Coercive Tactics Network, also known as FACTNet, co-founded by Robert Penny and Lawrence Wollersheim, is a Colorado-based organization committed to educating and facilitating communication about destructive mind control...
, the Lisa McPherson
Lisa McPherson
Lisa McPherson was a member of the Church of Scientology who died of a pulmonary embolism while under the care of the Flag Service Organization , a branch of the Church of Scientology...
civil trial, cited by the press, and as an Internet-based critic
Alt.religion.scientology
The newsgroup alt.religion.scientology is a Usenet newsgroup started in 1991 to discuss the controversial beliefs of Scientology, as well as the Church of Scientology, which claims exclusive intellectual property rights thereto and is viewed by many as a dangerous cult...
of the organization. His ex-wife, Stacy Brooks
Stacy Brooks
Stacy Brooks is a critic of the Church of Scientology. Like her late ex-husband Robert Vaughn Young, a Scientology whistleblower employed by Scientology for over 20 years, Brooks was also a member of the Church, working in its upper level management in Los Angeles for almost fifteen years.After...
, was a member of the Lisa McPherson Trust
Lisa McPherson Trust
The Lisa McPherson Trust was an organisation created in 1999 by Bob Minton. The trust was named after Lisa McPherson, a Scientology member who died in 1995 after being in the Church of Scientology’s care for 17 days...
. This frequently resulted in tension with his former organization.
Young was diagnosed with prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
on November 23, 1999 and turned his energies to Phoenix5, a non-profit organization that runs a website on the disease. He died on June 15, 2003.