Free Republic

The public face of the Church of Scientology is benevolent. For decades the church has enjoyed the razzle-dazzle of its celebrity members and high-profile spokespeople, including Tom Cruise and John Travolta. But beneath the glamour and celebrity is a veil of secrecy, with disturbing cult-like practices and serious allegations of violence, abuse and even claims of holding people prisoner. 60 Minutes travelled to Scientology’s California HQ – the ‘Gold Base’ just outside of LA – where reporter Tara Brown went looking for answers on Shelly Miscavige’s disappearance – but instead, 60 Minutes cameras were met with hostility and an angry...

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...

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...