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John Carmichael (born 1947) is a Scientology ecclesiastic minister and president of the Church of Scientology organization in New York. He is the representative for 12 Scientology organizations in New Jersey and New York, and the regional spokesman for Scientology.

Career

Early work in Scientology

Carmichael was born a Presbyterian, and grew up in Florida and Illinois. He began to learn about Scientology after reading Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health while attending college at Cornell University, and became an ordained minister with the Church of Scientology in 1973. In 1985, he was President of the Scientology mission in Portland, Oregon, and also head of the Church of Scientology's operations in the State of Oregon.

President of the Church of Scientology of New York

Carmichael has served as the President of the Church of Scientology of New York since 1987, and has performed work for the Church of Scientology in San Francisco, California, Paris, France, and Munich, Germany. He also serves as the Church of Scientology's New York public affairs director. In 1993 Carmichael was New York Contributing Editor to the Church of Scientology's publication: Freedom Magazine.

Carmichael oversaw efforts of the Church of Scientology's Volunteer Ministers group at Ground Zero after 9/11. "The overall purpose of Scientology is to create a better world. By getting volunteers out in the community, helping individuals one-on-one, that's one way we can do it," said Carmichael in an interview with The Journal News about the Church of Scientology's activities at Ground Zero. In 2002, Carmichael was recognized for his efforts by being named as a recipient of the Church of Scientology's "IAS Freedom Valor medal". In 2006, Carmichael heard about a musical which was in production in New York City which parodied Scientology called: A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant. He showed up unannounced to a rehearsal of the play to complain, and also sent a letter to the playwright Kyle Jarrow. In November 2007, Carmichael attended a private screening of Tom Cruise's film Lions for Lambs, along with other Scientologists and actors Robert Redford and Meryl Streep.

On May 27, 2008, John Carmichael was videotaped by a group of people from the group Anonymous demonstrating against the Church of Scientology outside their building in New York City on 42nd Street and Broadway. During the confrontation, John Carmichael was recorded on video engaging in a verbal altercation with protesters, and approached one young man in particular who was filming him with a camera and used an obscenity. At a subsequent event across from the Church of Scientology of New York building attended by members of Anonymous as well as actor and former Scientologist Jason Beghe, protesters substituted the obscenity used by Carmichael for the word "cult", in a peaceful protest against Scientology. Beghe later used the obscenity previously used by Carmichael, to refer to security guards who would not allow him into the Church of Scientology building.

References

1. ^ Waldman, Amy (September 20, 2001). "CHANGED LIVES; Religious Leader Takes His Calling to Ground Zero". The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Text "The New York Times" ignored (help)
2. Chasan, Alice (April 18, 2006). "Rev. John Carmichael, Church of Scientology, Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes, silent birth, L. Ron Hubbard". Beliefnet. Beliefnet, Inc. Retrieved 2008-06-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
3. Brozan, Nadine (November 12, 2006). "For Mrs. Cruise, Perhaps a Cat". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
4. O'Reilly, David (December 28, 1997). "Church Of Scientology Hits Critics Where They Live". The Seattle Times. The Seattle Times Company. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
5. Applegate, Howard (United Press International) (May 20, 1985). "Scientology Rally Begins In Portland". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. A02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
6. United Press International (May 20, 1985). "Scientologists protest verdict $39 million fraud award prompts rally". Columbia Missourian. University of Missouri. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
7. Pesarchick, Mike (May 20, 1985). "Angry Church". The Orlando Sentinel. Sentinel Communications Co. p. A6. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
8. Associated Press (May 20, 1985). "Scientologists Protest Fraud Ruling". San Francisco Chronicle. p. 5. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
9. Barron, James (October 6, 1987). "Defendant in Park Murder Tried to Join Scientologists". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
10. Koch, John (February 4, 1997). "Steve Hassan's War on Cults The Ex-Moonie Says the Groups Have Become More Menacing As They Have Gone Mainstream". The Boston Globe. p. E1. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
11. Carmichael, John (Letter to the Editor) (May 25, 1993). "Reviewer took a leap of illogic over `Wild Palms'". The Washington Times. News World Communications. p. F2. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
12. ^ Stern, Gary (March 5, 2002). "Scientology outreach criticized". The Journal News. p. 1A. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
13. Staff writer (December 2, 2002). "IAS Recipients 2002". Impact Magazine. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
14. ^ Beggy, Carol (November 20, 2006). "A different kind of Scientology pageant". The Boston Globe. p. 5C. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
15. Friedman, Roger (November 6, 2007). "Tom Cruise Rewards Scientology Honchos". FOX News. FOX News Network, LLC. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
16. ^ Giove, Candice M. (May 28, 2008). "NY Scientology Chief: "I Smell Pussy"". Runnin' Scared. The Village Voice. Retrieved 2008-06-06. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
17. ^ Ortega, Tony (May 27, 2008). "Jason Beghe Turned Away at NY Scientology Building". The Village Voice. Village Voice Media. Retrieved 2008-06-08. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)

External Links

• Scientology NYC Organization Homepage
• Leo J Ryan Conference - John Carmichael attends Part 1
• Leo J Ryan Conference - John Carmichael attends Part 2

• American Scientologists
• Leaders of Scientology
• Living people
• People from New York
• Irish-Americans
• Scottish-Americans