Scientology was a factor in Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ divorce. The A-list actor and the church’s most famous member has confessed in a deposition that part of the reason why his wife left him was because Holmes didn’t want their daughter Suri to grow up as a Scientologist.

Cruise is suing Bauer Publishing Co for USD50 million for publishing two tabloid stories in 2012 that claimed that he has abandoned Suri after his divorce from Holmes.

And in the court deposition on September 9, Tom has admitted that Holmes wanted to protect Suri, now seven years old, from the infamous religion.

When a lawyer from Bauer asked Cruise about the claims that the former “Dawson’s Creek” star divorced him “in part to protect Suri from Scientology,” Cruise hit back, saying that “I find that question offensive.”

“I find it, those statements offensive. Like with any relationship, there are many levels to it. You know, I find it very offensive. There is no need to protect my daughter from my religion,” Cruise said in the deposition, the transcript of which is obtained by RadarOnline.com.

But the other camp was adamant in getting an answer, saying, “And Ms Holmes has never indicated in any way that was one of the reasons she left you? ...To protect Suri from Scientology?

“Did she say that? That was one of the assertions, yes,” Cruise gave in.

Basing on that statement alone, it appeared that the “Oblivion” star was none too pleased that Holmes, if true, had confided that to them. But whether there is truth to that or not, Cruise has basically admitted that it was one of Holmes’ concerns when she filed for divorce.

Cruise and Holmes married in 2006 until 2012 when Holmes filed for divorce. Both have remained mum on the reason for their split, though rumours persisted that it was because Holmes didn’t want Suri to grow up in Scientology.

The church, which some believe to be a cult of the rich and famous, considers any person who publicly renounces their faith as a Suppressive Person, whom the members of the church should cut all contact with.

When the lawyer asked Cruise if he and the church consider Holmes to be a suppressive person when she left, he refused to give a straight answer, saying “that is a distortion and a simplification of the matter.”

He admitted, though, that the description of an SP on the church’s Web site was an apt description.

Moreover, he also revealed that Holmes has no contact with his children with ex-wife Nicole Kidman anymore. Holmes used to be close to Isabella and Connor Cruise during their marriage.

RELATED STORIES