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Thomas Cruise Mapother IV
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According to statements in May 2010 from former high-ranking member the Church Scientology, Mark Rathbun, who served as Inspector General the Religious Technology Center from 1978 to 2004, Scientology leader David Miscavige ordered that Cruise's Auditing sessions be secretly videotaped. Rathbun had himself been the individual responsible for performing auditing counseling with Cruise. Rathbun wrote on his blog that he had been tasked with auditing Cruise during the period in 2001 directly after he had separated from Nicole Kidman. Rathbun wrote, "I audited a number intensives confessionals on Tom Cruise from July through November 2001. ... By order Miscavige many those sessions were secretly recorded by a well-concealed video camera and voice recorder system built into the VIP auditing room at Celebrity Center International." Rathbun subsequently learned that transcripts the videotapes Cruise were brought to meetings where they would be discussed by top management Scientology. Rathbun wrote that Miscavige would read out information from the reports about Cruise's auditing sessions, "While sipping scotch whiskey at the end the night, Miscavige would read Tom’s overts and withholds ... joking and laughing about the content Tom’s confessions."
The nature what was discussed in the confessional sessions by Cruise was not revealed. Rathbun ceased the filming Cruise in 2002, because he felt it was unethical. Rathbun left the organization in 2004, and since then has given counselling to former members Scientology. In a post on his blog, Rathbun wrote a statement addressed to Cruise, "Wake up, Tom. It is not too late. Though, time is getting very, very short." As May 9, 2010, representatives for Cruise had not yet responded to the statements made by Rathbun.
The Editor-in-Chief The Village Voice described the statements by Rathbun about the use Cruise's confessional files as "some the most damning statements against his former employer." Lynn Hayes Beliefnet discussed the revelations by Rathbun, writing, "Religion in any form provides a solid structure that can fer comfort and security, and departure from that security can be frightening and painful. As humans we always have a choice, and it will be interesting to see how Tom Cruise and the Church Scientology manage this revelation." El Tiempo commented, "Although Tom Cruise is a staunch supporter and defender Scientology, apparently other members this doctrine do not press the same devotion to the actor."
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