During his deposition, the 51-year-old actor first exploded with anger when asked if Holmes left him "in part to protect Suri from Scientology."

Cruise first responded that he found the question "offensive," saying, "there is no need to protect my daughter from my religion."

But when lawyers pushed the question again, asking if his ex-wife ever indicated that she left because of the religion or because she wanted to protect their daughter from Scientology, Cruise responded:

"Did she say that? That was one of the assertions, yes."

What's more, Cruise also admitted that his 7-year-old daughter is no longer a practicing member of the religion. Continue reading

After his parents' divorce, the 14-year-old Cruise — then Thomas Cruise Mapother IV — gravitated toward a friendly priest who was recruiting students to attend the St Francis Seminary School in Cincinnati.

"I think he wanted a good education," the priest, Father Ric Schneider, told the New York Daily News.

"With his parents going through a divorce, it was tough on him, that's maybe one of the reasons why he came here. He was a typical teenager, trying to find his way in life."

According to Shane Dempler, his closest friend in the seminary, Cruise was sincere about becoming a priest.

"He had a very strong Catholic faith," Dempler said. "We went to Mass, spent time in the chapel and enjoyed hearing stories from the priests. We thought the priests had a great lifestyle and we were really interested in priesthood."

The seminary — where students had to learn Latin, Greek and German — had a drama club that Cruise joined for the two years he was there.

Priests at the seminary have said Cruise chose to leave the school when his family relocated, but Dempler remembers it differently.

One night, he said, he and Cruise stole some liquor from the Franciscan priests, who were planning a celebration.

Dempler sneaked into the room where the liquor was stored and threw bottle after bottle out the window to Cruise, waiting below. Most bottles broke, but they managed to get some intact and hide them in the nearby woods.

"The priests didn't even realise until some of the other boys found out about our plan and snuck into the woods and got drunk," Dempler said. "They were caught staggering down the road to the seminary and forced to confess.

"The school wrote a letter to our parents saying they liked us both, but would prefer if we didn't return. So we weren't kicked out, just preferred not to go," said Dempler.

Source:

New York Daily News

Image: Urban Christian News

Holmes and the twice-divorced Cruise were married in 2006 at a 15th-century castle in Italy, in a Scientology ceremony.

They already had a seven-month-old daughter, Suri, and concern for her daughter's welfare is reportedly a factor in the decision by Holmes to seek a divorce.

The New York Post reported that sources close to the actress said she feared that Cruise would abduct Suri.

Holmes sought sole custody of her daughter but, after a settlement was reached, publicists for the couple said they would share her parenting.

"We are committed to working together as parents to accomplishing what is in our daughter Suri's best interests," the statement said. "We want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our respect for each other's commitment to each of our respective beliefs and support each other's roles as parents."

Under the terms of the agreement, Suri will not be exposed to Scientology and will not be expected to attend a Scientology school — unlike Cruise's other two children, now teenagers.

Meanwhile, Holmes is reported to have registered as a parishioner at the Church of St Francis Xavier in New York City, a Catholic church known for its "inclusive witness", including the welcoming of gay and lesbian couples, the alienated and the marginalized.

"Everyone is thrilled to have Katie join us," a member of the church's choir told the Huffington Post. "She has not yet attended a service, but when she does she will be welcomed with open arms."

But the parish priest, Father Joe Costantino, said he was caught off-guard when reporters started calling about Holmes' alleged membership.

"I didn't even know who she was," he told the Daily Beast website.

Sources:

Huffington Post

Wikipedia

Image: The Telegraph