The former 'King of Queens' star is allegedly against the church's policies that forbid parishioners to question David Miscavige's management and that demand them to cut all ties with family members who have been denounced by the church.
- Jul 12, 2013
AceShowbiz - Leah Remini, one of the Scientology's famous members, has reportedly distanced herself from the church. New York Post reports that the former "King of Queens" star allegedly has had enough after being subjected to years of "interrogations" and "thought modification."
"It all began when Leah questioned the validity of excommunication of people," a source opened up to the news outlet. "She is stepping back from a regime she thinks is corrupt. She thinks no religion should tear apart a family or abuse someone under the umbrella of 'religion.' "
The report of Remini leaving Scientology was first broken out by Tony Ortega, who's writing a book about the controversial church and writes a blog about it. The actress allegedly alarmed the church's top execs after asking the whereabouts of church leader David Miscavige's wife.
Remini reportedly asked why Shelly, who has, according to Ortega, never been seen publicly since 2006 except for one in August 2007 when she was allowed to attend her father's funeral, was absent from Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' November 2006 wedding in Italy.
According toanother Scientology critic Mike Rinder, a former high-ranking member of the church, Remini was scolded by Tommy Davis, a then-head of the Scientology Celebrity Centre, for daring to ask such question. "You don't have the f***ing rank to ask about Shelly," Davis allegedly told her.
Remini, 43, has become a Scientologist for around three decades. Her mother joined the church, which followers include Cruise and John Travolta, in the 1970s. Remini is married to restaurateur Angelo Pagan, who is also a Scientologist. The couple has a nine-year-old daughter, Sofia.
She once was a fierce defender of the church. "If somebody is going to get turned off about something because of what they read or heard, then that person's not smart enough to even enter a church. If you're really against something, then know what you're against," she said in a 2001 interview.
Remini "remains convinced of the value of L. Ron Hubbard's work, but will no longer tolerate the squirreling and human rights abuses perpetrated in the church. Nor will she allow anyone to tell her who she can and cannot talk to or associate with," Rinder said.
In response to the report, a Scientology rep said as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter, "The Church respects the privacy of parishioners and has no comment about any individual Church member." They also stated, "The Church of Scientology has denounced Rinder as unreliable and has repeatedly cautioned reporters about relying on him as a source."
Remini joins a series of public figures who have left the controversial church, including Cruise's ex-wives Nicole Kidman and Holmes, as well as writer-director Paul Haggis. He exited after being a member for many years. Earlier this year, Haggis said, "I was ashamed of my own stupidity, of how I could have been so blind for so many years."
