A senior Scientologist has condemned the controversial religion's leader for turning the organisation into an autocratic, heavy-handed fundraising machine. Debbie Cook, one of the most respected members within the Church, sent a shock email denouncing chairman David Miscavige to 12,000 Scientologists just minutes after midnight on New Year's Day. She accuses him of turning the Church, which numbers celebrity followers including Tom Cruise and John Travolta, into a tyrannical regime in direct conflict with the doctrine laid down by founder L Ron Hubbard in the 1950s. Actor and Scientologist Tom Cruise (left) hugs Church leader David Miscavige, who has been labelled an autocrat in an email sent to 12,000 worshippers . Standing firm: Debbie Cook took to her Facebook page to confirm she sent the email criticising Mr Miscavige . Writing under a banner of 'Keep . Scientology Working', Mrs Cook called out Mr Miscavige for 'hoarding' more than $1billion acquired through fundraising and then spending . millions on building unnecessary, lavish facilities that lie empty. The . 50-year-old wrote: 'Only a tiny fraction has ever been spent... Only . the interest earned from the holdings has been used very sparingly to . fund projects through grants. She also accuses Mr Miscavige of chipping away at laws designed to prevent the Church being turned into a one-man dictatorship. Mrs . Cook confirmed her continued commitment to the Church Of Scientology . and called on her fellow worshippers to usher in an era of change. She wrote: 'We are a strong and powerful . group and we can effect a change. We have weathered many storms. I am . sorry that I am the one telling you, but a new storm is upon us.' Loggerheads: Mr Miscavige (left) is 'hoarding' more than $1billion acquired through fundraising, according to Mrs Cook (right) Grand design: Mr Miscavige was also criticised for spending millions on lavish facilities such as the Scientology Super Power Building in Clearwater, Florida . Extravagant: Many newly-built Scientology buildings lie empty, it is claimed . It is thought that the reason Mrs Cook . emailed thousands of worshippers was to get around the 'long and harsh' disciplinary action endured by those who question Mr Miscavige's . methods. She claimed it was her conscience that caused her to speak out. 'I . dedicated my entire adult life to supporting L Ron Hubbard and the . application of LRH technology,' she wrote. 'And if I ever had to look . LRH in the eye I wouldn’t be able to say I did everything I could to . Keep Scientology Working if I didn’t do something about it now. 'We . all have a stake in this. It is simply not possible to read the LRH . references and not see the alterations and violations that are currently . occurring.' Mrs Cook . was once a leading member of Scientology's Sea Organisation before . becoming a captain at its Flag Service Organization spiritual . headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. She left that position a few years . ago but remains a highly-respected member of the Church. A spokesman for the Church dismissed Mrs Cook's email as reflecting 'a small, ignorant and unenlightened view of the world . today'. Graeme Wilson said: 'Her opinions are not shared by the thousands of Scientologists who . are overjoyed by our 27 new Churches and what they mean to the communities . they serve.'
Debbie Cook sends shock email denouncing chairman David .
Miscavige to 12,000 worshippers .
A senior Scientologist has condemned the controversial religion's leader for turning the organisation into an autocratic, heavy-handed fundraising machine. Debbie Cook, one of the most respected members within the Church, sent a shock email denouncing chairman David Miscavige to 12,000 Scientologists just minutes after midnight on New Year's Day. She accuses him of turning the Church, which numbers celebrity followers including Tom Cruise and John Travolta, into a tyrannical regime in direct conflict with the doctrine laid down by founder L Ron Hubbard in the 1950s. Actor and Scientologist Tom Cruise (left) hugs Church leader David Miscavige, who has been labelled an autocrat in an email sent to 12,000 worshippers . Standing firm: Debbie Cook took to her Facebook page to confirm she sent the email criticising Mr Miscavige . Writing under a banner of 'Keep . Scientology Working', Mrs Cook called out Mr Miscavige for 'hoarding' more than $1billion acquired through fundraising and then spending . millions on building unnecessary, lavish facilities that lie empty. The . 50-year-old wrote: 'Only a tiny fraction has ever been spent... Only . the interest earned from the holdings has been used very sparingly to . fund projects through grants. She also accuses Mr Miscavige of chipping away at laws designed to prevent the Church being turned into a one-man dictatorship. Mrs . Cook confirmed her continued commitment to the Church Of Scientology . and called on her fellow worshippers to usher in an era of change. She wrote: 'We are a strong and powerful . group and we can effect a change. We have weathered many storms. I am . sorry that I am the one telling you, but a new storm is upon us.' Loggerheads: Mr Miscavige (left) is 'hoarding' more than $1billion acquired through fundraising, according to Mrs Cook (right) Grand design: Mr Miscavige was also criticised for spending millions on lavish facilities such as the Scientology Super Power Building in Clearwater, Florida . Extravagant: Many newly-built Scientology buildings lie empty, it is claimed . It is thought that the reason Mrs Cook . emailed thousands of worshippers was to get around the 'long and harsh' disciplinary action endured by those who question Mr Miscavige's . methods. She claimed it was her conscience that caused her to speak out. 'I . dedicated my entire adult life to supporting L Ron Hubbard and the . application of LRH technology,' she wrote. 'And if I ever had to look . LRH in the eye I wouldn’t be able to say I did everything I could to . Keep Scientology Working if I didn’t do something about it now. 'We . all have a stake in this. It is simply not possible to read the LRH . references and not see the alterations and violations that are currently . occurring.' Mrs Cook . was once a leading member of Scientology's Sea Organisation before . becoming a captain at its Flag Service Organization spiritual . headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. She left that position a few years . ago but remains a highly-respected member of the Church. A spokesman for the Church dismissed Mrs Cook's email as reflecting 'a small, ignorant and unenlightened view of the world . today'. Graeme Wilson said: 'Her opinions are not shared by the thousands of Scientologists who . are overjoyed by our 27 new Churches and what they mean to the communities . they serve.'
email denouncing chairman David Miscavige to 12,000 worshippers . Standing firm: Debbie Cook