Tom Cruise admits Katie Holmes ended marriage 'in part to protect daughter Suri from Scientology'

 
David Gardner8 November 2013

Tom Cruise has confessed that Katie Holmes walked out on their marriage partly because she wanted to protect their daughter from Scientology.

The extraordinary admission by the Mission: Impossible star — a dedicated follower of the sect — came in a court deposition in which he denied claims he “abandoned” his seven-year-old daughter Suri after the break-up.

Cruise, 51, insisted he was a constant presence in his daughter’s life, adding: “I didn’t abandon her emotionally, physically or otherwise.”

The actor has launched a £30 million lawsuit in Los Angeles accusing US magazines Life & Style and In Touch of defaming him.

Papers reveal that he lashed out after being asked by lawyers whether Scientology was a reason for the collapse of his five-year marriage.

“I find that question offensive,” he exploded, says a 36-page deposition transcript. “Like with any relationship, there are many different levels to it. You know, I find it very offensive. There is no need to protect my daughter from my religion.

“I don’t know where it was all coming from but I heard that horrific thing.” But when he was pressed on the suggestion that Miss Holmes, 34, dumped him to protect Suri from Scientology, he later admitted: “Did she say that? That was one of the assertions, yes.”

A lawyer for the magazines then asked: “Is Suri currently practicing Scientology?” Cruise replied: “No.”

The actor also said Miss Holmes quit Scientology when they divorced but he insisted the line of questioning “shows a lack of understanding and respect towards my religion”. In a reference to the Scientology practice of cutting contact with former members when they break ties, he was asked: “Would you consider, would the church consider Ms Holmes to be a suppressive person upon leaving the church?”

Cruise replied: “That is a distortion and a simplification of the matter. I don’t want to just give an oversimplification of religious doctrine.”

He said his two older adopted children with ex-wife Nicole Kidman — Isabella and Connor, both Sciento-

logists — had no contact with Miss Holmes since the divorce, though they were all close during the marriage.

In the deposition Cruise conceded that he did not see his daughter for 110 days after his marriage split — and only saw her 10 times in five months.

But he was adamant that he was still close to Suri and said he would often call and tell her stories over the phone. “You have to work at it,” he said. “I’ve gotten very good at it. I tell wonderful stories.”

He admitted: “It’s not an ideal scene. It’s not an ideal situation.” But he went on: “Suri is a very happy child and confident and has a good sense of herself.” The case is expected to go to trial next year.

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