Sep
19

Cruise opens Scientology centre

MADRID (AFP) – Hollywood star Tom Cruise inaugurated a new centre for the controversial Church of Scientology, of which he is a member, in the Spanish capital.

Cruise, who attended the European premiere of his new thriller “Collateral” in Venice earlier this month, spoke briefly in Spanish to the 1,000-odd people gathered at the new centre near the national parliament.

Church members have for several days been distributing leaflets inviting people to come to “a party which will be attended by Tom Cruise,” an AFP journalist said.

Founded in the United States in 1954 by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology was accorded the status of religion there in 1993, but is regarded with suspicion in many European countries, where opponents accuse it of manipulating members for financial ends.
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September 19, 2004   //   General   //   2 Comments   //  

2 Comments to “Cruise opens Scientology centre”

• September 20, 2004 at 9:10 am
  Joxe says:

  I was at the inauguration party and I met very nice people there. We enjoyed the music and Tom’s speech. Then I visited the building which was huge and decorated in traditional spanish style with hand made top quality carpets and other extraordinary details. It was crowded! I also saw Penelope Cruz’s sister and other spanish celbrities like movie director Pablo Alvort and actress Maria Luisa Merlo. I found it extremely interesting!
• September 21, 2004 at 8:00 am
  Sri says:

  Thanks for sharing the story. It’s good to know that Tom is not only promoting his movies but also promoting his good cause.