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The relationship between U.S. actor Tom Cruise and Scientology leader David Miscavige is so close the lines between them are blurred, an ex-Scientologist said. Former Scientologist Steve Hall, who headed the church's marketing division for 20 years, said Cruise could have been seen as a victim of charismatic leader Miscavige when he became a Scientologist, but not anymore. "There's a point of no return, and I think Tom has crossed it," Hall told The Hollywood Reporter. "The time for him to leave was a long time ago. The lines between him and Miscavige are so blurred now." Former Scientologist Karen...

In the wake of publicity over the movie “The Master” and Tom Cruise’s divorce, the Church of Scientology opened its national office last week in Washington, D.C., drawing support from Houston Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and other officials. “I want to thank L. Ron Hubbard for recognizing that courage is not rewarded but it is valued. And to be able to have the wonderment of people coming together and ensuring that people come together for peace. That’s what I see in the Church, that you have come together for peace. I welcome and support that,” Jackson Lee is quoted during...

Three U.S. congressmen and a top-level government official attended the opening of the Church of Scientology’s National Office in Washington, D.C., Thursday. Their attendance marked a significant endorsement from members of a government that was once partially at war with the organization. Lawmakers in attendance were Texas Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Indiana Republican Rep. Dan Burton and Illinois Democratic Rep. Danny Davis. Liz Gibson, Senior Program Manager at the Federal Emergency Management Agency was also in attendance. Jackson Lee applauded the organization. “I want to thank L. Ron Hubbard for recognizing that courage is not rewarded but it is...

According to a forthcoming article from Vanity Fair, before Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes fell head over heels in love with each other, the Church of Scientology went through an internal audition process to find Cruise a new girlfriend. The big audition process is the crux of a forth-coming article in the October issue on the church's role in the Cruise-Holmes partnership from Vanity Fair's special correspondant Maureen Orth. Orth reports the church vetted members of the church in a top secret auditing process to try and find him a mate that was already in the church: Scientology embarked on...

The controversial Church of Scientology is coming under criticism from multiple women who all say they were forced to have abortions. The Church has been a source of debate since its founding by American science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard.Adding to the debate, the Church of Scientology is now facing accusations from scores of women who say they are been pressured or coerced into having abortions against their will – and Laura DeCrescenzo, a New Mexico resident, is leading the way with a lawsuit against the “Church.”The Village Voice newspaper has a lengthy article on her struggle: All told, over...

When Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise, not only did she cause one of the biggest breakups in recent Hollywood history, she also created a panic among Scientologists. But Holmes isn't the first big-name celebrity to cause a stir in the church. The long list includes actresses, producers, and singers—some of whom have lashed out at the religion after their fallout. We've compiled the stars who once practiced the religion, those who have spoken out against the church, and those who considered following Scientology. Plus, see who considered joining the religion including Ricky Martin and the King of...

A letter from Cruise attorney Bert Fields obtained by THR claims the actor could lose hundreds of millions of dollars over a 'disgraceful and lurid' story. Tom Cruise's lawyer is threatening to sue the National Enquirer over a cover story that claims the actor is a "monster" who "abused" wife Katie Holmes and subjected daughter Suri to a five-month stay in a "tiny, windowless room." In a blistering letter sent July 11 by longtime Cruise attorney Bert Fields to Enquirer publisher American Media, a copy of which was obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, Fields claims the tabloid's most recent cover...

The centre, located near the church's West Coast headquarters in Hollywood, would occupy the nearly five-acre studio property the church bought last year from Los Angeles public TV station KCET for $42 million (£27 million). The station would elevate the public profile of a religion that has mostly relied on pamphlets and books by its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, to proselytise for new members. "The church plans to establish a central media hub for our growing world network of churches and to move into the production of religious television and radio broadcasting," said Karin Pouw, a spokeswoman for Church of...

The Church Of Scientology allegedly believes it's most famous celebrity convert Tom Cruise has telekinetic and telepathic powers, it has been reported. Tom, 50, is the most famous follower of the religion and an investigation by Rolling Stone back in 2006 revealed that he had reached an advanced level of Scientology and was known as an ‘Operating Thetan’ or an ‘OT’. The author of the investigation, Janet Reitman, explained that OTs ‘have total control over themselves and their environment.

*Snip* It is another point of subtle confusion that both Churchs are – to their advantage, but perhaps even more to their peril – bound to a famous son. And they each, to a considerable degree, take on the character of their most famous adherent. Curiously, they also risk taking on aspects of the other’s big name. Weird and frightening Tom and robotic Mitt seem like generic cult characters. If cult-like religions speak to each other, it may be, in an ultimate conspiracy, that the Mormon leaders, now more than ever fearful of cult backlash, called up their Scientology counterparts...

So for those of you who don’t know me I posted at Free Republic as Dengar01 from September 15th 2001 till I opused and 2 months later after questioning the finances of Free Republic my account was zotted. When I first came up with the idea of this thread I emailed TBL, NOTA and a close friend here for their opinions. I then expanded to email some ex-FReepers who were run off the site by some of the most vile creatures on the planet. Some who made up handle’s at TBL to continue their cult like obsession. I was stalked...

Sinister strangers in SUVs following you around 24/7. Men in dark glasses recording your every move. Your mind probed, your sanity questioned, your loved ones spied on. Katie Holmes, welcome to my world. I would not want my children to be brought up in the Church of Scientology — I have actually had nightmares about that — so I think I can understand a little of what Katie is going through; why she feared what might happen to her daughter Suri if she had stayed in the church that likes to wear dark glasses. Poor Suri — a six-year-old girl...

Heber Jentzsch, when he was still allowed to breathe free air UPDATE: HOLMES-CRUISE DIVORCE SETTLED. So far, looking like how we predicted it in our previous story. This morning, more than 10,000 Scientologists found an e-mail from Karen de la Carriere in their inboxes, written in jargon that they will understand, and informing them of the controversy surrounding the death of her son Alexander Jentzsch. As we reported first on Thursday night, de la Carriere learned about the death of her 27-year-old son more than two days after he was found, unresponsive, at the home of his in-laws in...

Tom Cruise’s fellow Scientology members would like to master “The Master.” A source familiar with Paul Thomas Anderson ’s film about the founder of a Scientology-like religious movement tells us officials of the controversial church group “hit the roof” when they learned — presumably through Cruise — that the movie contains a scene which suggests the belief system was little more than a product of the leader’s fertile imagination. In May, Anderson, who is friends with Cruise and directed him in “Magnolia,” the 1999 film that earned Cruise a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination — reportedly screened his film for...

Scientology leader David Miscavige is often cited as Tom Cruise's best friend. He was best man at Cruise's ill-fated marriage to Katie Holmes and once threw the star a huge birthday party. But the numerous references to Miscavige left out one really sketchy detail: his wife, Shelly, hasn't been seen since 2006........ The New Yorker's Lawrence Wright reported that last year Shelley has been missing since 2006 and "her status is unknown." Just before she went missing, she had supposedly filled several job vacancies without her husband's permission. Misbehaving Scientologists have been known to allegedly be locked up in "The...

Awash with money, beautiful people and lawyers, the film industry makes it easy for stars to break their wedding vows. But not everyone does. It was clear from the start that things wouldn’t work out between Hollywood and marriage. In 1919, Rudolph Valentino, the first real star of the silent era, wed actress Jean Acker. It lasted six hours. A standard was set that the movie business has been trying to live up to ever since. “Get married in the morning,” the old studio hands used to say. “Then, if it all goes wrong, you haven’t wasted the whole day.”...

The Church of Scientology is trying to contend with the greatest scandal its ever seen--the impending divorce of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Media sites are reporting that Holmes is leaving Cruise because he planned to indoctrinate their young daughter, Suri, and send her to a camp for young Scientologists. The church sent out an email instructing members on how to "stand up for their religion" and instruct sites like Microsoft and Google to take down anti-Scientology content. Marty Rathbun, a former Scientologist who now blogs against the religion, posted the email. It's from the Office of Special Affairs, which...

He is the reclusive and enigmatic leader of the world's most famous cult who played best man at TomKat's wedding. But perhaps the biggest mystery shrouding Scientology chairman David Miscavige concerns his wife, Shelly, who has not been seen since 2007. Once a leading Scientologist herself, Shelly Miscavige is even credited as the cupid to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' doomed alliance. Always by her husband's side, it was her to whom Mr Miscavige turned when a lovelorn Cruise begged for help in finding love following the break down of his second marriage to Nicole Kidman. Believing the role of...

Tweeting first, “Scientology back in news. Very weird cult, but big, big money involved with Tom Cruise either No. 2 or 3 in hierarchy,” and then, “Watch Katie Holmes and Scientology story develop. Something creepy, maybe even evil, about these people,” the News Corp. CEO waded into the morass and basically declared himself Scientology Enemy No. 1. Many were shocked—why the hell would Rupert Murdoch, of all people, get involved in this? But a close Murdoch ally noted, “He has a long memory and no love for Scientology.” ...... Lachlan soon terminated his friendship with Cruise and made it clear...

The eldest son of Rupert Murdoch has denied he ever considered joining Scientology after reports emerged claiming Tom Cruise tried to convert him. Lachlan Murdoch was assiduously courted by the Hollywood star in 1999 while they were both living in Australia, according to the Daily Beast. Cruise, who had moved to live near his then-wife Nicole Kidman's family, was said to be determined to bring the younger Murdoch into the Scientology fold, believing that he would soon take over his father's media empire. Cruise reportedly traveled with Murdoch and his friend James Packer on private jets, all the while evangelizing...