The Church ofĀ ScientologyĀ might be losing one of its Gods.Ā Tom Cruiseāhailed by leaders as one of its āchosen onesāāhasnāt been seen at its headquarters in almost three years, sparking speculation that he cut loose.
A devout member of the controversial church, that forbids parishioners from associating with non-members, theĀ Mission ImpossibleĀ star chose his beliefs over raising his daughter Suri, whom he hasnāt seen since she was six.
And now, rumors are swirling that heās renounced the church to mend his strained relationship with the now 17-year-oldĀ Suri.
Tom Cruise, 61, has been a vocal advocate for the controversial church of Scientology since he was first converted by then wife Mimi Rogers in 1986, the same year founder, sci-fi writer L. Ron Hubbard died.
Crediting his success to the church,Ā Cruise once said, āItās something that has helped me incredibly in my life; Iāve been a Scientologist for over 30 years. Itās something, you know, without it, I wouldnāt be where I am. So, itās a beautiful religion. Iām incredibly proud.ā
The controversial church, founded in the 1950s, claims that billions of extra-terrestrial beings were sent to Earth by Xenuāa galactic overlordāwho gathered the aliens and destroyed them with hydrogen bombs.
The aliensā souls attached themselves to chosen humans, known as āthetans,ā who will one day be saved from their life of spiritual harm.
The Jerry Maguire star, an ambassador for the church, is one of the most high-profile members of the church, with other celebrity followers including John Travolta, Nancy Cartwright, and Elisabeth Moss.
Cruiseās loyalties to Scientology, in fact, have been far more powerful than to his marriages.
According to the book āA Billion Years: My Escape from a Life in the Highest Ranks of Scientology,ā written by Mike Rinderāa former senior executive who defected from the churchāthe church ran interference in Cruiseās relationship with Nicole Kidman, calling her a ānegative influence.ā Kidman, who theĀ Top GunĀ star divorced 2001, never ātook to Scientology during their 10-year relationship,ā but their adopted kids, Connor, 28, and Isabella, 30, are still active members who, because of their beliefs, are estranged from their mom. The rules dictate that anyone who leaves the faith is considered a āSuppressive Personā and is cut off from all members of the church, including their immediate family.
Moving on from Kidman, theĀ Risky BusinessĀ star then had a three-year dalliance with Penelope Cruz that ended in 2004 when she refused to give up her own religion.
And no one can forget Cruiseās declaration of love for Katie Holmes on Oprah Winfreyās yellow couch. The couple married in 2005, had daughter Suri in 2006, and then Homes, now 44, blindsided theĀ Mission ImpossibleĀ star with divorce papers in 2012.
Understanding the powerful hold of the church and the consequences of leaving, Holmes carefully calculated her escape with Suri. The plan included firing Isabellaāwhom she was very closeāfrom her position at her label, Holmes and Yang, only two months before the divorce papers were filed.
āKatie ambushed Tom Cruise and in so doing outwitted some of the most controlling people on Earth,ā says Karen De La Carriere, who left the church in 2010. āBy filing for sole custody of Suri, sheās making it very clear sheās not going to let what happened with Nicole Kidman happen to her.ā
āThere was never any trouble between them,ā an unidentified source tellsĀ Hollywood Reporter. āBella called Katie āMom.ā She was fired out of the blue, and once Katie filed for divorce, it all made sense. This was a carefully planned ambush. Katie didnāt want Bella working for her anymore because she was Tomās kid.ā
TheĀ Dawsonās CreekĀ star, awarded full custody of Suri, was born a Catholic and returned to her faith, raising her daughter the same.
When asked if Holmes left āin part to protect Suri from Scientology,ā Cruise first exploded and called the question āoffensive.ā Later pressed by lawyers, Cruise admitted, āDid she say that? That was one of the assertions, yes.ā
Suri, now 17, hasnāt seen her dad since 2013 and Cruise, who does ānot have a part in [Suriās] life,ā doesnāt know his incredible talented daughter.
In 2022, Suri sang āBlue Moon,ā a song thatās featured in the rom-comĀ Alone Together, a film directed by Holmes, who also stars.
Earlier in 2023, she was applying to colleges and according toĀ Daily Mail, sheās leaning toward fashion or music in New York City, where sheāll be close to her mom.
The story reveals that though he has no contact with Suri, theĀ Top GunĀ star will cover tuition costs, āper his ultra-secret divorce agreement with his actress ex.ā
But recent reports suggest that things might be changing for the dad and daughter, and that Cruise is joining the exodus of those defecting from whatās widely called a ācult.ā
Over the past three years, Cruise has been in the UK filmingĀ Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part OneĀ andĀ Part Two, and The MirrorĀ reports that Cruise refused to visit the headquarters of the Church of Scientology in the UK.
Cruise has not denied or confirmed the rumors about his suspected departure, which started in 2021, and fans are hoping itās true.
āItās about time!!ā writes one fan, while a second, referring to Suri, says, āBout time! Hope you can get her back in your life.ā
A third netizen shares, āIāll believe it when I see it. His adopted kids are in Scientology. I hope itās true, but Iāll wait and see the proof.ā
His decision to leave Scientology will result in breaking ties with his two older children, Connor and Isabella, both who are loyal followers since their dad facilitated conversion.
His daughter, Isabella, now holds a key position in the church.
āThis IS what I had been searching for. The missing piece. Suddenly everything began to make sense,āĀ Isabella wroteĀ in a testimonial for the London branch. āThis is a gift to yourself and so many others. It doesnāt matter if you arenāt going to be an auditor or arenāt going to join staff. If you are going to make it as a being for the long run, you NEED this. Thatās the truthā¦ so stop messing around and get going.ā
Leaving Scientology wonāt be easy for Cruise. Leah Remini (King of Queens), who left the church in 2003, said heās second in command to the āsavior of the free world.ā
Remini said, āScientologists are told that Tom Cruise is saving the world single-handedly, so he is considered a deity within Scientology.ā
Itās important to note that the Church of Scientology also has a building in central London, so thereās a chance Cruise has been going to that branch instead of the headquarters at West Sussex, that he was often seen using his helicopter to visit.
Scientology sounds like it was taken from the pages of a science fiction book and the Galactic overlord is one cruel creature. Still, we wonāt condemn anyone for believing what they choose but we really hope that Tom Cruise finds his way out and back to Suri. Growing up knowing her dad, but not being with him, must have been very difficult for the girl. Sheās fortunate to have such an incredible mother in Katie Holmes!