Cruise: Show Scientology the money

MSNBC/June 19, 2003
By Ashley Pearson

The Church of Scientology's Top Gun has been lobbying the White House. Tom Cruise has been meeting with officials from the Department of Education and lawmakers at the White House, reports the Washington Post, and a source says he believes that Cruise is hoping to get government funding for the church.

"It looks to me like he is seeking federal funds for Scientology schools under President Bush"s Faith-Based Initiative."

"Tom is a big believer in the teaching tools of Scientology and has spoken in the past about how it cured his dyslexia," says alternative religion expert Rick Ross. "It looks to me like he is seeking federal funds for Scientology schools under President Bush"s Faith-Based Initiative."

Ross also says that Cruise is appealing to the Bush administration to pressure some European countries to ease up on their anti-Scientology policies - just as John Travolta lobbied the Clinton administration.

A Church of Scientology spokeswoman declined to comment on Cruise"s visit, saying that it was the "private activity of an individual person."

"Tom met at the Department of Education because he has always been passionate about education and wanted to meet the Secretary [of Education]," a spokeswoman for the actor told The Scoop. "And, in a separate meeting, he met with a few White House officials to discuss his concern about the state of human rights in the world today, especially religious intolerance in parts of Western Europe."