LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Looks like Tom Cruise’s devotion (obsession?) to the Church of Scientology led not just to his split with Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes, but was apparently the cause of another break up. In the break up of the high profile romance of Tom Cruise and Penelope Cruz, the Chirch of Scientology allegedly played a significant part yet again.
According to an insider who told Radar Online, "Tom had absolutely planned on proposing to Penelope, and they had openly discussed marriage during the three years they were dating," before adding, "Tom was head over heels in love with Penelope and could see them spending the rest of their lives together, and she felt the same way.”
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The source further added, "However, Penelope pulled the plug on the relationship because she felt that the Church of Scientology was the third wheel in their relationship." While clarifying that the Spanish actress had no ill feelings against the Church, the source said it “wasn’t her thing”. They said, “Penelope doesn't have anything against the Church, but it just wasn't her thing. She admired Tom's dedication to it, but it wasn't her cup of tea and wasn't something she wanted to give her life up for.”
Cruz was reluctant to 'forsake her Buddhist beliefs'
Cruise and Cruz met during the shooting of their film ‘Vanilla Sky’ during 2000. At that time, Cruise was married to his former wife Nicole Kidman. However, as the former couple divorced in 2001, the couple with homophonic surnames began dating. In January 2004, however, they split after three years. At that time, an insider told People, “The relationship just ran its course and they decided not to be girlfriend and boyfriend anymore. Through most of the relationship they were both shooting movies in separate parts of the world.” In 2012, Vanity Fair, however, investigated and came to the conclusion that one of the reasons for their break up was Cruz being reluctant to “forsake her Buddhist beliefs.”
'I would feel bad with myself if I didn't say that I was grateful to Scientology'
The rumor of the involvement of the Church was, nonetheless, not new. In a 2006 interview to The Guardian, Cruz said, “I would feel bad with myself if I didn't say that I was grateful to [Scientology] because of what I've learned about it.”
She was also full of praise for her former beau, saying, “Tom is a very good man, and I am close to his whole family, his children. I love his children, and his mum, and all of his family, and he's a great man. The people who have been good to me, they are untouchable, I am very loyal to the people who have meant something to me and have been good to me, very, very loyal.”