By Anna Schecter
Rock Center
Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise's settlement is now final and neither of them has publicly addressed reports that the Church of Scientology-and the future role of Scientology in their daughter Suri’s life-was a cause of the split.
One former Church of Scientology official is speaking out about what he said he witnessed at the time of Cruise’s 2001 divorce from actress Nicole Kidman.
Marty Rathbun, who worked at the church for 27 years before leaving in 2004, said that he believes church officials used Scientology doctrine to turn Kidman’s children against her.
“It was more than implied….[Kidman] was somebody that they shouldn't open up with, they shouldn't communicate with, and they shouldn't spend much time with,” said Rathbun in an interview airing Thursday, July 17 at 10pm/9c on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams.
Rathbun said he spent countless hours working with Cruise at the church’s celebrity center in California starting in late 2001. He said he was conducting counseling sessions with Cruise that the church calls "auditing.”
“[Cruise] and I were intensively at it, you know, auditing several hours a day over several months,” he said.
When Cruise’s children were with their father at the church, they were often in the hands of the Church of Scientology staff, according to Rathbun.
“And they were being indoctrinated, and they were reporting to Tom on how that was going in my presence,” Rathbun said.
Rathbun claims church officials suggested to Cruise and Kidman’s children, then six and nine years old, that their mother was a “suppressive person,” which the church’s website, Scientology.org, defines as “a person who seeks to suppress other people in their vicinity.”
“A Suppressive Person will goof up or vilify any effort to help anybody and particularly knife with violence anything calculated to make human beings more powerful or more intelligent. The "suppressive person" is also known as the "anti-social personality." Within this category one finds Napoleon, Hitler, the unrepentant killer and the drug lord,” according to the official Church of Scientology's website, Scientology.org.
Rathbun said the Church of Scientology closely monitors the communication of high profile members and orders members to sever ties with suppressive people, particularly those who are critical of the church.
“That person could be your son, it could be your daughter, it could be your father, it could be your mother. It doesn't matter,” Rathbun said.
Rathbun said these policies came into play with regards to Kidman’s children, Conner and Isabella. “They were being steered toward and indoctrinated toward coming to the conclusion that Nicole was a suppressive person,” he said.
The Church of Scientology has denied that any such conversations with Kidman’s children took place. It has said that it has no policy that requires members to sever ties with relatives who do not believe in the religion. On the church's website, Scientology.org, it says that, "A Scientologist can have trouble making spiritual progress in his auditing or training if he is connected to someone who is suppressive...[and] as a last resort, when all attempts to handle have failed, one 'disconnects' from or stops communicating with the person."
The church declined to comment on the divorce of Cruise and Holmes, saying it would be “inappropriate.”
Kidman’s publicist did not respond to requests for comment on this story. A representative for Cruise told Rock Center that Rathbun is not a reliable source.
"He is a bitter ex-Scientologist who spends most of his time attacking Scientology and using Tom Cruise's name to get attention for his bigoted diatribe. If he "audited" Mr. Cruise, he is violating the privilege of that position by discussing it," said Bert Fields, Cruise's representative.
Of the Church of Scientology's role in influencing Kidman and Cruise's children, Fields said, "It is absolutely false that Mr. Cruise, or anyone else to his knowledge, did or said anything to lessen Connor and Bella's communication or relationship with their mother. On the contrary, Mr. Cruise did all he could to encourage that relationship."
In a letter to NBC News, Gary Soter, an attorney for the Church of Scientology, wrote that Rathbun is an unreliable source and a liar. Soter described Rathbun as “a defrocked ex-communicated apostate.”
Soter wrote that Rathbun is a self-promoter who is “shamelessly” exploiting a tragic personal matter to forward his own anti-Scientology agenda and to profit from it.
Scientology’s online publication FreedomMag.org contains numerous allegations against Rathbun, including charges of violent and psychotic behavior.
Rathbun admits to violent behavior against other members of the church while still a member himself, but says it was part of the culture within the church, which the church denies.
One of the posts on FreedomMag.org asserts that church officials ultimately fired Rathbun from the church for bad behavior and had to “clean up his mess.”
When asked about the allegations against him, Rathbun replied, “Then why was I assigned by the Chairman of the Board to audit Tom Cruise during the last four years of my involvement at the Church of Scientology?”
Karen Russo contributed to this report.
Editor's Note: Kate Snow's full report airs Thursday, July 12 at 10pm/9c on NBC's Rock Center with Brian Williams.
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Scientology should've never been recognized as a "religion" or given tax-exemption status in the United States, but it is only because there are Congresspeople that are affiliated or Scientologists themselves. When you're charging people up the wahoo for a few hours' worth of courses, that's just disgusting. When you're required to write checks to the organization just to move up in position within the church then that's wrong. When you are deliberately making your members fork over money to the point that they have no money left then you are not a religion. You are just a for-profit company that's selling people overpriced services that they believe will help them and answer whatever problems they may have and a position within the organization.
And that's the difference between a cult and a religion. At least in a religion, you'll be praying for free and be getting advice from the leader of the church for free. Yes, people tithe, but you're not forced to and the amount is nowhere near as much as the fees associated with Scientology.
The "supernatural" pales when compared with the truely awesome reality that is scientifically observable and its tenets testable. It appears L. Ron Hubbard harnessed pseudo science to con the pseudo educated. Orthodoxy, because it insists on elevating the supernatural rubbish over the ethical gems in traditional apparently does it to mine those same veins of silver and gold. The only thing I can think of that is worse is the real religion that is sweeping the entire world, i.e. the worship of wealth.
Cruise is a good actor, but he is CREEPY when not acting...his post pardom depression comments were revealing...
As far as Scientology goes, don't get me started...
Given the circumstances, I wouldn't let him have the kids for visits UNSUPeRVISED without a court appointed 24/7 monitor, he will NEVER change, and will try and influence his kids at any given opportunity...
Just sayin'
Damn cult!! Just like Kaballah and any of these other "religions" out there. Guess I'll go to the church of Arthur Fonzerelli in Family Guy...Makes about as much sense.
"Fonzi be praised"
Ayyyyyyy!
I have just tracked and compiled the IP addresses from every one of you who has made a negative comment about the Holy Church. These will soon be forwarded via email to David Miscavige himself and Church Security. You better have your lawyers ready, since you will be charged for libel and harassed 24/7. Do you think we do not monitor these posts and forums?
Expect a certified letter and either a summons or subpena to be delivered to your door step.
Benson Stein, ESQ.
Theta Clear Level lV
Church of Scientology, Sea Organization
Scientology is a dangerous cult that needs to be investigated by the IRS and FBI for crime, fraud and abuse. Over 6,000 people signed a White House petition to have them investigated but due to hush money, the investigation was refused:
Cult leader David Miscavige who is Tom Cruise's best friend is currently being questioned because his wife Shelly went missing in 2007 after she disobeyed him.
Take a look:
Maybe Cruise or his lawyer Bert Fields know where Shelly Miscavige is?
Yo, Benson! Wazzup wit dem space cooties? You still got some, I bet.
Bring it, Benson Stein. Harrass me 24/7. See what happens.
What kind of lawyer can't spell "subpoena" correctly? A braindead brainwashed Scientologist one!
I've been to a Scientology center. Left there laughing. Its all smoke and mirrors and fantisy land for those who don't have a strong independent self and are not secure in their own being. The church runs on fear and control. Much like the NAZI"S did before WWII.
Its all Based on stories by a quite dilutional man who beieved his own fictional tales. and tales by back wood villages who have no real education and believe the stories passed down from their ancestors. They have no clue as to whats real and whats not.
If the truth ever got out about what they really do Im sure that the top leaders would be heading for prison. Thats why the work so hard keeping the media out.
Beings from another planet arriving here eons ago and detonating thermonuclear devices, thereby allowing their spirits to leave their bodies so their spirits could enter into human bodies...ancient Israelites boating to the new world a few thousand years ago with their horses and metal swords, erecting magnificent cities of stone, and a tribe of them burned red for some transgression or other...is there a good archaeologist or paleoanthropologist out there willing to take this hokum on? Please?
Without the promise of an afterlife and the threat of eternal punishment, not enough people will behave well enough for civilization to exist. Perhaps in the future, we will evolve beyond the need for religion, but we are not there yet. Not even close!
Then kill the ones that don't behave well. Simple. Effective. Lasting.
And as for Benson Stein and his threats. If its true that you got IP addresses then you canexpect a visit from the FBI and charged with hacking. That will give you 20+ years to think about it.
As far as being harassed send them down. Just make sure their life insurance's are all paid up. DIP
The reason pop culture freaks like cruise, travolta, and kirsty alley have a soapbox is because the general public empowers them with huge money by buying thier products (movies) if you would boycott the movies of freaks like this, they would never amass sufficient wealth to remain in public exposure, without wealth they'd live an obscure little life like the rest of us, and die an obscure little death!
ALL religion, supernatural belief, mysticism and magic is an invention of humankind - to quote an unknown scourse (unknown to me at this moment at least):
"Religion is the salve humanity applies to it's existential angst".
Of course the church is capable of indoctrination, and I don't doubt that they do that. What I don't understand is all of the people in the comments here saying that because the source is an ex-Scientologist that means he's probably lying. I could see it if he were kicked out, but he left of his own accord. If someone leaves an organization be cause it was a negative place, then tells why they left, that means they can't be trusted? That's nonsense.
I figure the ex-factor makes him more believable.
In any context - imagine you have a JP Morgan executive and a former JP Morgan executive talking about that bank's practices. Which are you more likely to believe?
Granted, if the former executive is trying to profit from the selling of his expose, that has to be factored into your thinking.
Scientology is a dangerous cult that needs to be investigated by the IRS and FBI for crime, fraud and abuse. Over 6,000 people signed a White House petition to have them investigated but due to hush money, the investigation was refused:
Cult leader David Miscavige who is Tom Cruise's best friend is currently being questioned because his wife Shelly went missing in 2007 after she disobeyed him.
Take a look:
Maybe Cruise or his lawyer Bert Fields know where Shelly Miscavige is?
how is the indoctrination of cruise's kids into scientology any different than the indoctrination of kids into any mainstream religion?
There is no difference.
A lot of comments about how Scientology and Mormonism are the same. Not buying it.
There's one big difference between them. Scientology was at least created by a professional science fiction author. Joe Smith couldn't hold a candle next to L. Ron. But in Smith's defense, he did go first. Actually there's some comparable things between their science fictions - the ancient space travel and alien interaction stuff.
Unfortunately for Scientologists, we're likely to see someone inaugurated with his hand on the Book of Mormon before we see someone inaugurated with his hand on a copy of Dianetics.
The biggest difference is Joseph Smith was a con-man, L. Ron Hubbard started Scientology as a joke. At least people who buy into Mormonism were duped by a professional con man.
Pretty sick organization. But any brainwashing cult/religion is.
Anyone with any brains who reads this report will notice that what the ex-member is saying is most likely true. I have dealt with lawyers, etc.... for a very looong time. They are just doing what they were purchased to do. When they have no valid argument against the witness, any valid proof the winess is fibbing, or any moral or (at least "lawyer lie" believable argument), they go right to personnal attack: "liar - disgruntled employee - crazy", etc.... The more they keep shouting this, the more it's clear as day that this person is scaring the crap out of them. What this witness is saying is probably 100% true. Even without this Tom Cruise B.S. attached, the whole world knows that Scientology is a seriously wacko, and possibly dangerous, repressive cult.
Scientology is a dangerous cult that needs to be investigated by the IRS and FBI for crime, fraud and abuse. Over 6,000 people signed a White House petition to have them investigated but due to hush money, the investigation was refused:
Cult leader David Miscavige who is Tom Cruise's best friend is currently being questioned because his wife Shelly went missing in 2007 after she disobeyed him.
Take a look:
Maybe Cruise or his lawyer Bert Fields know where Shelly Miscavige is?
People, why all the vitriol towards Tom Cruise? He jumped on a couch and slammed Matt Lauer, big deal. Has he abused his wives or children? Has he not supported them in grand style? If you read the latest interview in Elle magazine, it seems as though Katie is jealous of Tom's very lucrative acting career. Both Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes had very little going for them until their hookups with Tom Cruise. In fact several of his co-stars have benefited greatly with supporting actor academy awards. Everyone who works with him, loves the guy. Says he is unfailingly polite and always concerned for their well-being. He made the most money of anyone in Hollywood last year, $75 mil and worked his butt off doing it. If you want to talk about manipulative and controlling, what about Katie and her dad who by the way, has been a divorce attorney for 40 yrs. using throwaway cell phones to talk to attorneys and totally blind side her own husband days before his 50th birthday. What a great wife! By the way, Nicole Kidman had her own problems and there is a manuscript of a phone conversation where she was using the f......word every other word and Tom was trying to reason with her. This is before they were divorced. It was Mimi Rogers, Tom's 1st wife who introduced him to Scientology. Both of his successive wives were totally aware of his passion for Scientology. They appear to have used him every bit as much as people are saying he used them. By the way, I have a godmother who shunned me after I was married in the Methodist church, rather than the Anglican. I have been a lifelong agnostic ever since. Live and let live, people. It's okay to be an individual.
All religions are a bunch of nonsense. They only exist because before we had scientific understanding of nature being nature, we made up things to make us feel better. There is no need for religion now other than they want their money.
I am from the International HQ's of Scientology in Clearwater Fl...I know full well their tactics, they tried to recruit my late father at the time in 1985, he was a teacher for 30 years, they tried to 'recruit' him with so called 'new teaching methods" which was pure Scientology crap, if you walk down the main streets of Clearwater, you can tell who they are, they are literally 'zombies' in their 'uniforms' of white shirts and black slacks with idiot little badges of 'merit' or whatever....its a CULT NOT A RELIGION' and Tom Cruise is so at the top of these morons, right under David Masicavage...Tom is beyond close to the very highest levels of these dangerous fools and Katie did the the right thing!! Right on Katie for saving yourself and little Suri from PURE EVIL !!
Without the promise of an afterlife and the threat of eternal punishment, not enough people will behave well enough for civilization to exist. We may eventually evolve beyond the need for religion, but we are not there yet. Not even close!
What a pathetic thought. Let's hope we're better than that.
Religion is responsible for more loss of life in this world than any other phenomenon known to mankind. Every major war in history has a causation or aggravation rooted in religion. Religions were bourne out of the need to explain how we arrived on this planet and have evolved from the most primitive deductions to contemporary philosophies like mormonism and scientology. Whether these are religions or cults is a matter of personal belief. I go with science (which has little to do with scientology}.
I find it funny to hear all these Christians ridiculing their "creepy" cult.
Pot, this is the Kettle. "You're black!"
Proof that Tom Cruise is gay?
I would like to see the headquarters of Scientology established in the city of Jerusalem. There all the worlds major religions Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Scientology could show everyone how to get along. Perhaps the Mormons and Buddhists could also have their offices in this holy city. Just imagine all the peace and brotherhood that would follow.
Or more likely the mushroom cloud.
True Scientology story. One day I got a letter from the Church of Scientology. It looked like junk mail but I decided to open it anyway. So I am reading this letter about moving my life into a different plane of existence and becoming the person that deep inside that I could become once I was free from stuff holding me down. There was a class description and some private sessions included and I thought hmmmm sounds sort of interesting I wonder how much ... so I look at the details and it was $15000. Yes, and I am not messing up on the zeros. I was like OMG how much balls does it take to send someone junk mail for a $15000 class. So then I looked at it a bit more closely and while the last name and first initial were correct it was mail for someone else. I am assuming someone already sucked into the situation. So I put the letter back in the envelope, taped it up, marked wrong person on it, and stuck it back in the mail.