Dear David and Victoria, Happy Cultmas, Love Your Pal Tom

Cruise sends Beckhams Scientology message

Mirror/December 23, 2004
By Fiona Cummins

Tom Cruise has sent a Christmas card to David and Victoria Beckham which promotes a controversial religious cult.

The Hollywood star is a follower of the Church of Scientology - and the card to the England captain and his wife included its "Code of Honour."

He also told the couple he had made a donation to the church - founded by the late science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard - on their behalf.

It fuelled speculation that Cruise, 42, is trying to "win them over" to Scientology.

He is increasingly vocal in his support for the cult - which is based on the belief that human beings descended from alien spirits.

Cruise has recently become close to the Beckhams and joined the couple at a Real Madrid game last month. He was also invited to the christening of their sons - Brooklyn and Romeo - in Hertfordshire today.

Together with his festive greetings, Cruise's card read: "A donation has been made on your behalf to the International Association of Scientologists. The IAS is committed to achieving the aims of Scientology."

It added: "Please accept the enclosed Code of Honour as my gift to you and may you experience comfort and encouragement from it in your own life." The Code includes advice such as "Never need praise, approval or sympathy" and "Never regret yesterday. Life is in you today, and you can make your tomorrow."

Cruise has credited Scientology for curing his dyslexia and frequently talks about the church in interviews.

He has already donated £10million to the cause and three months ago he opened a new Church of Scientology in Madrid. His split from Spanish actress Penelope Cruz was blamed in part on tensions over his single-minded dedication to the movement.

Earlier this year he parted company with his long-time publicist Pat Kingsley in favour of his sister and fellow believer Lee Anne DeVette.

John Travolta, Priscilla Presley and Kirstie Alley are among other stars to follow Scientology - which does not regard material wealth as sinful. The movement is estimated to make £160million a year, and claims to have around eight million followers in 159 countries.

But in France it is on an official list of sects considered a "danger" to society.

Cruise's office confirmed the star had sent out Scientology cards.

But a spokeswoman for David and Victoria Beckham said: "I have no idea if he has sent them a Christmas card."