Cruise, Kidman ironing out kid stuff

MSNBC/November 5, 2001
By Jeanette Walls

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman are still squabbling over money, say sources close to the couple, but two well-placed insiders say Kidman is close to making compromises on a key point: the religion of their children.

Whether or not to raise the two kids as Scientologists has been a sticky issue between Cruise and Kidman, say the sources. Lately, however, Nicole has been more agreeable to letting their children learn Scientology if it will help resolve the splitting couple's other differences, such as money.

One source expressed concern that Kidman was using the children as a "bargaining chip" in the couple's split. Another, however, defended the move saying, "As long as Tom is a devout Scientologist, it's his right to be able to pass those beliefs along to their children. I'm sure Nicole will also teach them things about her religion, Catholicism."

A spokeswoman for Kidman said the actress couldn't be reached for comment.