Church of Scientology's response

In response to the allegations of the four defectors, spokesmen for the Church of Scientology vehemently deny that church leader David Miscavige ever hit anybody, not even a single time. They say the defectors are liars whose allegations should not be given a shred of credibility. They produced "confessions" the defectors wrote while in the church in which they admitted transgressions and praised Miscavige. The church says the defectors were all demoted, washouts who left the church and now are bent on revenge. Also, the church says it has enjoyed a "renaissance'' of growth since the defectors left, in improvements to the religious texts and in the opening new churches, thanks to the hands-on leadership of Miscavige.