Tom's religious needs

2005-12-18 08:25

Los Angeles - Tom Cruise's faith in Scientology was nurtured at a secretive Southern California desert compound that catered to his needs around the clock, it was reported on Saturday.

Long before Cruise sprang onto Oprah's couch or blasted Brooke Shields for taking antidepressants, the Hollywood superstar undertook intensive study and counselling at the compound in the late 1980s and early 1990s, current and former Scientologists told the Los Angeles Times.

Cruise also trained at the church's better-known facilities, including those in Hollywood, California, and Clearwater, Florida. But much of his time was spent at the compound 145km east of Los Angeles, the Times reported on its website.

Behind the guarded gates of the 200ha compound near Hemet, Cruise had a personal supervisor to oversee his studies in a private course room, ex-members said.

"I was there for eight years and nobody stayed long at all, except for Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman during that period," said Bruce Hines, who left Scientology in 2001 after three decades in the church.

Cruise stayed at the resort for weeks at a time, arriving by car or helicopter, the Time said, citing ex-Scientologists who claimed they saw him there.

A romp between the flowers?

Ex-church members contend that while staying in a bungalow near a golf course, Cruise had a special staff to prepare his meals, do his laundry and handle other tasks around the clock.

Fifteen years ago, two dozen members worked through dawn to plant a meadow of wildflowers in which Cruise and Kidman could romp, alleged Maureen Bolstad, a former Scientologist who said she was at the base for 17 years.

Mike Rinder, head of Scientology International's Office of Special Affairs, said such accounts were fabricated by "apostates".

The wildflower planting might be a confused version of repairs done after a 1990 mudslide, he said.

Cruise has made no extended visits to the complex since the early 1990s and has performed virtually all of his religious training elsewhere, Rinder said.

Big spenders

Public records show that since 1998, Scientology has poured at least $45m into expanding the facility, which is on the site of a dilapidated Gilman Hot Springs resort that the church purchased nearly 30 years ago.

It has quietly grown to include video and recording studios, elaborate offices and an empty, multimillion-dollar mansion that former members contend was built for the eventual return of Scientology founder L Ron Hubbard, who died in 1986.

Founded in 1954, Scientology teaches that "spiritual release and freedom" from life's problems can be achieved through one-on-one counselling called auditing, during which members' responses are monitored on an "e-meter", similar to a polygraph.

International Scientology News, a church magazine, reported last year that the actor had embarked on one of the church's highest levels of training, "OT VII" for Operating Thetan VII.

- AP