In the many years that Nicole Kidman has been estranged from her adoptive kids, Connor and Bella Cruise, the actress hasn’t spoken about them too often. But when she has, it’s been clear that she still loves them fiercely.
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“It’s not about anything else other than, ‘I’m here to love and support you’,” she told The Sun regarding her oldest children. “They have made choices to be Scientologists. It’s our job as a parent to always offer unconditional love.”
But this may not be enough to convince the pair to let their mother back into their lives, with their dad Tom Cruise – who also shares daughter Suri, 13, with actress Katie Holmes – reportedly doing all he can to keep them in the church.
According to our sources, during the October 12-13 weekend Tom made a rare appearance with his two eldest children at the International Association of Scientologists gala – the biggest night in the church’s calendar – at the European HQ in Saint Hill Manor, West Sussex, England, and former friend and ex Scientologist Sam Domingo says this is proof that Connor and Isabella are further away from their mother than ever before.
“The IAS event is for devout cult members to hand over lots of money to [church leader] David Miscavige so he can build more cult buildings,” says Sam. “Bella was brainwashed by [former high-level Scientology enforcer] Marty Rathbun personally when she was just a small kid and she lost her mother then.”
Tom rarely goes to events like this, and former members claim this latest move – during which Tom, Connor, and Bella were photographed with influential church members – proves the grip the religion has on all of them.
The gala followed the release of new images of Tom and Connor hanging out together in London in the days leading up to the event – no doubt heartbreaking for Nicole to see.
Tom and Nicole adopted Isabella, 26, in 1992 and Connor, 24, in 1995. The couple separated in 2001 and the children stayed with Tom. Sam says the children were led to believe that Nicole was a ‘Suppressive Person’.
“I know what techniques they used … I know what the second-in-command at the time, Marty Rathbun, did,” alleged Sam, the daughter-in-law of opera singer Plácido Domingo when speaking to the Daily Mail. “He was so tough on them; the Cruise kids had no choice.
“After the divorce, they were indoctrinated into Scientology (by Marty) and very much isolated.”
The church has denied Sam’s claims, however, she insists, “they were in it 100
per cent”.
“You can’t be anti-Scientology if you’re part of Tom’s family, you will be disconnected – look at his daughter Suri,” she says.
But, according to insiders, Tom has a plan for her, too.
“Tom’s looking to open up a Scientology camp in the British countryside,” claims a second source.
“He’s scoping out sites where he can build a UK-based compound which he can completely control, and Connor and his wife can run on his behalf. “Tom wants to set-up a special children’s and teenage centre, which he’s hoping will tempt Suri into visiting – insisting that once she turns 16 and starts visiting Bella and her husband [Max Parker] she’ll be able to make her own decisions about joining the church.”
This insider claims that both the older Cruise siblings have been writing to Suri, hoping to spark her interest in Scientology.
“Tom’s managed to get two of his children to follow his religion and he’d like his third to choose to join, too.”
For more, see this week’s New Idea – out now!
