Cruise 'not welcome' in Paris

The Australian/July 12, 2005
From correspondents in Paris

The Paris city hall has pledged not to make US actor Tom Cruise an honorary citizen - because of his membership of the Church of Scientology.

In a debate late yesterday, the Socialist-controlled municipal assembly approved a resolution "never to welcome the actor Tom Cruise, spokesman for Scientology and self-declared militant for this organisation".

Last month on a promotional tour for his film War of the Worlds, the 43-year-old star chose the Eiffel Tower to propose to girlfriend Katie Holmes. He was also made an honorary citizen of the southern French city of Marseille.

Like many other European governments, the French authorities view Scientology - founded in the United States in 1954 by science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard - as a dangerous cult.

Cruise was described as a "sect-symbol" by a Socialist deputy.