Scientology hits back over Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes split

The Church of Scientology has launched a counter-attack against damaging publicity triggered by the breakdown of Tom Cruise’s marriage to Katie Holmes.

A senior Church official sent followers a panicked email giving advice on how to counter the negative press storm.

Tom Cruise is the focus of the world’s media amid claims that his six-year marriage collapsed after he insisted that six-year-old daughter Suri be sent to a Scientology “boot camp”.

Today, Daniel Lattanzi from the Church’s Office of Special Affairs emailed followers: “While this is a personal matter, when people start to bring our religion into the middle and a bunch of uninformed people start to spread false datum, rumours and defame our religion it became a matter that does affect my Dynamics and I believe that affects yours as well.”

He instructs followers to scan the internet for negative comments and then notify website monitors that they violate online codes of conduct.

The leaked email emerged as one of the most senior defectors from the “religion” claimed the divorce could be the “biggest nightmare in the Church of Scientology’s history”.

Holmes could reveal embarrassing details of Cruise’s relationship with Scientology in court if he does not agree to a favourable divorce settlement.

Marty Rathbun, who left the ultra-secretive church after reaching a senior position, wrote on his blog: “If Tom’s smart, he won’t fight her on anything, even custody.” He added:

“She could press this sole-custody issue and litigate it, and that would be the biggest nightmare in the Church of Scientology’s history.”

Holmes reportedly filed for divorce after the star of Top Gun demanded that Suri attend the infamous Sea Org camp inCalifornia.

Former members claim they were forced to work 20-hour days for room, board and a weekly allowance of £15.

Physical relationships, marriage and childbirth are said to be discouraged and recruits sign billion-year contracts because — as Scientologists believe in reincarnation — they are expected to return to Sea Org in future lives.

Church leaders are allegedly encouraged to instil aggressive, even violent discipline on the compound.

The Church of Scientology has denied the existence of Sea Org.