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'{{Infobox person | name = Heber Carl Jentzsch | image = | imagesize = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1935|7|11}} | birth_place = [[United States]] | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = President, [[Church of Scientology International]] | salary = [[USD|USD$]]Unknown | networth = [[USD|USD$]]Unknown | spouse = ''Yvonne Gillham''<br />''Karen Barter'' | children = 1 | website = [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.scientology.org/scnnews/jentzsch.htm Scientology Bio] }} '''Heber Carl Jentzsch''' (born 1935) has served as president of the [[Church of Scientology International]] since 1982. ==Biography== Heber Jentzsch grew up in a [[Mormon]] family, and identified himself as a "believing Mormon".<ref>{{cite episode | title = Inside the Church of Scientology | series = Larry King Live | serieslink = Larry King Live | airdate = 1993-12-20}}</ref> He is the son of polygamist Carl Jentzsch (who was excommunicated from [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]])<ref name="slctrib921209"/> and Carl's third wife Pauline; Heber has 42 siblings.<ref>"Scientologists march on courthouse", UPI 20.5.1985</ref> 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]].<ref name="slctrib921209"/> Jentzsch was educated at [[Weber College]] in [[Ogden]], [[Utah]] and the [[University of Utah]], where he graduated in 1959 with a degree in communications <ref name="slctrib921209">"Utah-Born Scientology President Says the Religion Saved His Life", ''The Salt Lake Tribune'', 9.12.1992</ref>. He also studied Eastern religions.<ref name="naisbitt">Jentzsch biography in John Naisbitt, ''High Tech High Touch: Technology and Our Accelerated Search for Meaning'', p. 253. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2004.</ref> 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 (film)|Paint Your Wagon]]''.<ref>{{cite journal | journal=LA Weekly| first=Ron|last=Curran|date=April 4, 1986 |volume=9 |issue=19|title=Scientology: The other side of the looking glass}}</ref><ref>{{cite episode |title=Scientology - The Road to Total Freedom? |series=Panorama |serieslink=Panorama_(TV_series) |network=[[BBC]] |station=BBC1 |airdate=27 April 1987 }}</ref> 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 (musical)|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.<ref name="slctrib921209"/> ==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.<ref>Omar V. Garrison, ''Playing Dirty'', p. 142. Ralston-Pilot, 1980. ISBN 0-931116-04-X</ref> 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 Hubbard]].<ref>Jon Atack, ''A Piece of Blue Sky'', p. 354. Lyle Stuart, 1990. ISBN 0-8184-0499-X</ref> He has often appeared in newspaper interviews, aggressively defending the church on several occasions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xenutv.com/us/geraldo-heber.htm|title=Jentzsch appears on talk show Geraldo in 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scientomogy.info/sound/heber.mp3 |title=Jentzsch appears on KFI radio Los Angeles}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whyaretheydead.net/Sten/www.users.wineasy.se/www.users.wineasy.se/noname/multimed/60min85.ram |title=Jentzsch appears on 60 minutes}}</ref> Despite his media prominence, Jentzsch has often been referred to as a [[titular head|titular]] president.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,951938-6,00.html Mystery of the Vanished Ruler], TIME, January 31, 1983</ref> Described as "the leading spokesperson for the Church of Scientology International" in Church publications,<ref>[http://www.scientology.org/scnnews/jentzsch.htm Heber C. Jentzsch], official biography.</ref> 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 [[Religious Technology Center|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.<ref>[http://www.sptimes.com/TampaBay/102598/scientologypart1.html The man behind Scientology], St. Petersburg Times, 25. October 1998</ref><ref>[http://www.rtc.org/david-miscavige.htm Mr. David Miscavige], official biography.</ref> ==Arrest and trial in Spain== In 1988 Heber Jentzsch was arrested in [[Spain]] along with 69 other members of the organization.<ref>{{Cite news | last = UPI | title = 51 Scientology leaders charged | newspaper = The Ottawa Citizen | pages = A13 | date = 1988-11-22 | postscript = <!--None-->}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first = Stephen | last = Koff | title = Judge orders Scientology leader jailed | url = http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/sptimes/access/51428680.html?FMT=FT&dids=51428680:51428680&FMTS=ABS:FT | work = | publisher = [[St. Petersburg Times]] | date = 1988-11-24 | accessdate = 2007-12-24 }}</ref> Jentzsch was incarcerated in a Spanish jail for about three weeks.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1989/01/16/71535/index.htm FOLLOW-UPS: SHAMED IN SPAIN], Fortune, January 16, 1989</ref> He was released and returned 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.<ref>"15 Scientologists on Trial", ''The New York Times'', February 8, 2001.</ref> 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.<ref>"Spanish Court Acquits Scientologists", Associated Press, December 3, 2001</ref> 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.<ref>"Spanish court drops charges against Scientology chief after 14 years", Agence France Presse, April 11, 2002</ref> ==Articles== * Jentzsch, Heber (2000-04-21). [http://articles.latimes.com/2000/apr/21/local/me-22017 "Liberty, Equality, Intolerance"], ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. * Jentzsch, Heber (1998-02-25). [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DEFDB153EF936A15751C0A96E958260 "German Scientologists" (letter to the Editor)], ''[[New York Times]]''. ==Sources== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== {{Portal|Scientology}} *[http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.scientology.org/en_US/news-media/biographies/jentzsch.html Scientology Biography] * {{imdb name|id=0421803|name=Heber Jentzsch}} {{Scientology}} {{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. --> | NAME = Jentzsch, Heber | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = July 11, 1935 | PLACE OF BIRTH = [[United States]] | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Jentzsch, Heber}} [[Category:American Scientologists]] [[Category:1935 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Weber State University alumni]] [[Category:University of Utah alumni]] [[Category:Scientology officials]] [[Category:Former Latter Day Saints]] [[sv:Heber Jentzsch]]'