WHY ARE THE STARS LEAVING SCIENTOLOGY?
THE controversial Church of Scientology has loomed large over Hollywood for more than half a century. In that time it has attracted a raft of celebrity members, led by posterboy Tom Cruise and fellow actor John Travolta.
However, as Priscilla Presley is reported to have quit the religion, it seems that the star appeal of the church could be waning. Presley, 72, who became a Scientologist after the death of her husband Elvis in 1977, is said to have followed their daughter Lisa Marie, who turned her back on the religion in 2014.
“They are very close as a family and leaving the church has been a family decision,” says a source. “Lisa Marie leaving made it hard for Priscilla.”
After shunning Scientology Lisa Marie said: “I was slowly starting to self-destruct and did not know where that was coming from. I started to uncover the main person who was really close to me for years, and then it was a domino effect. I was devastated. I got bad advice. I was insulated with no grip on reality.”
Priscilla Presley would be merely the latest high-profile figure to walk away, including all three of Cruise’s ex-wives.
The first was actress Mimi Rogers, who introduced Cruise to Scientology but left the church after he fell for Nicole Kidman on the set of Days Of Thunder.
CRUISE, 55, and Kidman, now 50, were Scientology’s golden couple for years but following their divorce in 2001 she also split from the church. But, like Cruise, the couple’s adopted children Bella and Connor, now in their 20s, remain devoted Scientologists.
It is claimed the church has a policy of “disconnecting” or breaking off all contact with people who fall out of favour. Kidman has chosen to tread a careful path, declining to detail her reasons for leaving, and saying of her two children: “I utterly respect their beliefs.”
Cruise has been described as Scientology’s greatest asset. He insists that the church “saved” him and is “a beautiful religion”, but Katie Holmes also severed ties when her relationship with the Mission: Impossible star ended in 2012. She, too, has kept quiet about her motives for leaving and it is rare for anyone to speak out against Scientology. Film maker Paul Haggis who won an Oscar for his 2004 movie Crash, says: “Everyone who’s left has left quietly. Everyone is so scared, all the well-known people.”
His own decision to leave Scientology after 35 years was chronicled in the documentary Going Clear. But one star who has been highly critical is US actress Leah Remini, 47, who defected from the church four years ago amid much acrimony. She was a member for more than 30 years but later wrote a tell-all book. Remini also took part in a documentary, called Scientology And The Aftermath, in which it was alleged that the church “harassed” former members.
It hit back, branding her “bitter” and accusing Remini of trying to cash-in on her long association with the religion
Demi Moore is said to have learned about Scientology from her Ghost co-star Patrick Swayze and is reported to have been courted by the church, without becoming a fully-fledged member. It’s claimed she drifted away when her then-husband Bruce Willis became concerned about the effect on their children.
The church goes out of its way to enlist celebrities, because of the influence they wield. The policy, called Project Celebrity, is said to have been started by founder L Ron Hubbard in the mid-1950s. He is said to have drawn up a list of likely converts in the entertainment industry, including Walt Disney and FAITH NO MORE: (clockwise from left) Priscilla Presley, her daughter Lisa Marie Presley, Nicole Kidman and Leah Remini have left the modern American religion Howard Hughes although neither became a Scientologist.
Hubbard developed a programme of beliefs and lifeimprovement strategies known as Dianetics, which are supposed to lead to spiritual freedom. But the church has faced allegations of physical and emotional abuse, brainwashing and unethical fundraising, which it has always denied. People also take courses known as auditing, in the hope of ridding themselves of destructive influences. It’s been alleged this process involves invasive and personal questions, including their sexual orientation.
The church claims to have millions of followers, but it has also been asserted that the actual figure may be fewer than 50,000.
Hubbard died in 1986 and the current Scientology leader is David Miscavige, who was best man at the wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.
Despite the apparent miniexodus Scientology still boasts an array of star names. Actresses Kirstie Alley and Juliette Lewis are among them, while Elisabeth Moss, 35, who played Peggy Olson in Mad Men, demonstrates that Scientology is still capable of attracting younger celebs.
Cheers star Alley has said: “Probably all religions sound bizarre to the people who are not practitioners. To me it’s so normal and probably 90 per cent of the crazy stuff I hear isn’t true.”
The loss of Elvis’s widow is a blow for Scientology but you can be sure that the church will continue to consider Tinseltown a fertile recruiting ground.