14 DAY TRIAL // Another scandal involving the secretive and controversial Church of Scientology hits the media. This time, it would seem that famous actor and avid Scientology enthusiast Tom Cruise has been getting some perks out of being a high ranking member of the church.
In documents filed in court by former Scientologists, it has been revealed that Tom Cruise has been profiting for years from a system imposed by his church, according to which members were forced to complete tasks for the Hollywood A-lister.
These would range from home renovations to auto repair, but also personal assistant tasks, depending on the needs of the actor.
One of the affidavits obtained by Radar Online claims that some of the tasks were performed by members of the church who were attending Sea Org's Rehabilitation Project Force (RPF), that is described as “a forced labor camp where intense attitude adjustment is applied to disaffected members.”
The documents are part of the Monique Ratbun lawsuit against the Church of Scientology, and specifically against its leader, David Miscavige, which is cited in the documents as the one who supervised all tasks for the rehabilitation force.
It would seem that, according to the description given by former member John Brousseau, Cruise benefited from this form of labor for several years, being able to get work done on his Beverly Hills home, his Telluride vacation home and even on side projects, such as building a new motorhome or customizing a limousine for him.
Brousseau claims that he was paid approximately $1/hour (€0,7/hour), claims which are also corroborated by another former Scientologist, Marty Rathbun.
These documents were filed in order to outline Miscavige's huge influence on the church members, his overseeing of everything that the church does, and its treatment of Tom Cruise as a member with apparently limitless benefits.
This is not the first time Cruise's name appears in connection with such allegations. Another former member, Amy Scobee, has claimed similar work status for the actor, though in different ways, as she was forced to “locate Scientologists for Tom Cruise's household to cover the positions of nanny, cook, and maid.”
All the former members say in their affidavits that Miscavige ran his operation with an iron fist, and that anyone who wouldn't obey his orders would be subject to severe reprimand in his labor camps.
Both the Church of Scientology and Tom Cruise have denied these allegations.