Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise Divorce Settlement: Details Point to Scientology Being Major Factor
Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise have reached a settlement in their divorce battle, it has been announced Monday, bringing a speedy conclusion to their highly publicized split. However, new details emerging Monday seemingly indicate that a clash of beliefs, and in particular Cruise's devout following of Scientology was in fact a major factor in the divorce.
Holmes' attorney broke the news and described the settlement as a "speedy resolution" to the high profile celebrity divorce case. Lawyer for Holmes, Jonathan Wolfe of New Jersey-based firm Skoloff & Wolfe, has said, "The case has been settled and the agreement has been signed. We are thrilled for Katie and her family and are excited to watch as she embarks on the next chapter of her life," according to Reuters.
A lawyer for Tom Cruise has also confirmed that a settlement has been reached.
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Holmes' lawyers continued to explain that the legal representatives and the ex-couple had worked hard all of last week to come to a speedy conclusion and reach an amicable agreement. Wolfe complimented Cruise's attorneys for their "professionalism and diligence that helped bring about this speedy resolution."
The media has strongly speculated since Holmes filed for divorce in New York City on June 28 that the split was due to Cruise's beliefs in Scientology, and Holmes, raised a Catholic, was not happy for daughter Suri to be subjected to its strict teachings and methods. In a joint statement released by the couple, it seemingly indicates that this was in fact a central matter in their divorce. The statement subtly refers to respecting "each other's commitment to each of our respective beliefs."
The joint statement said, "We are committed to working together as parents to accomplishing what is in our daughter Suri's best interests. We want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our respect for each other's commitment to each of our respective beliefs and support each other's roles as parents."
It has also been reported that ex-Scientologist Marty Rathbun, who left Scientology nearly a decade ago following 22 years in the cult, had advised Cruise to simply give Holmes what she wanted in the settlement, according to The Daily Mail. This, he said, would stop her dragging in depth details about Scientology out into the public eye if the divorce battle became more intense and messy.
READ: WHAT DO SCIENTOLOGISTS BELIEVE?
Rathbun said: 'Katie could blow Scientology wide open. If Tom's smart, he won't fight her on anything, even custody. He should just try to settle his way out of it. She could press this sole-custody issue and litigate it, and that would be the biggest nightmare in the Church of Scientology's history. It would be a circus they couldn't survive," according to The Daily Mail.
Holmes filed for divorce from Cruise on June 28 when Cruise was abroad filming his latest movie in Iceland.
