By Louise Boyle
|
The divorce of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes will not be recognized by Scientology, according to the church's doctrines.
The religion offers little advice to those for whom divorce has become the only option, preferring to focus on providing couple's therapy to fix relationships.
Katie, 33, filed divorce papers from 49-year-old Cruise on Thursday after it was reported that she had been unhappy in the marriage for years. The former Dawson's Creek actress was seeking sole custody of the couple's six-year-old daughter Suri, in what is expected to become a bitter legal battle.
Dream wedding: The pair married in an Italian castle in 2006 and filed their marriage certificate in California
There is a belief in the church of Scientology that marital problems come from 'withholds' or 'overts' - undiscussed issues or problems.
According to the official website, marriage is considered essential to family life along with the belief that the religion will strengthen bonds between partners.
Scientologists also claim that people who follow the religion are more likely to stay married.
If a couple runs into a problem, they can take courses on how to improve their marriage or speak to counselors.
However Stephen Kent, a religion professor at the University of Alberta, told ABC: 'There's no real annulment in the church. Many members have been divorced, even founder L. Ron Hubbard was married three times.'
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were married in November 2006 in a fairy-tale, A-list wedding at a 15th century Italian castle before a church of Scientology minister.
When the romance began – Katie had met Tom to discuss the possibility of appearing in Mission Impossible III – she was immediately sent on an intensive and lengthy study course about Scientology, the religion founded by sci-fi author L Ron Hubbard in 1954, which holds that humans are descended from an exiled race of aliens called Thetans.
Support act: The church offers courses and advice to couple's with marital problems
Although Holmes was raised a Catholic, she embraced the religion of her new husband at the start of their relationship. However she is alleged to have come to dislike and distrust the movement.
The church of Scientology bans members from having contact with doubters of the faith or unbelievers called PTS - potential trouble source.
A difference of religious viewpoints can lead some Scientology members to divorce.
Holmes, 33, is believed to have blind-sided her Mission Impossible star husband by initiating divorce proceedings.
The divorce of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes looks set to become a bitter custody battle for their six-year-old child Suri.
With a financial pre-nuptial already in place, it is thought that Holmes purposefully filed for divorce in New York state and not California because New York dislikes giving warring parents joint custody.
With sole custody of Suri, Holmes would be able to remove her daughter from the Church of Scientology despite her husband's enthusiasm for it.
The estranged couple have been raising Suri in accordance with the doctrine of the Church of Scientology - treating her as an adult, free to make her own decisions.
Church-goers: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes on their way to the Scientology Celebrity Center in Los Angeles when they were first married
Pawn: The couple's six-year-old daughter has been caught in the middle of what is likely to become a bitter divorce battle as Holmes fights for sole custody
Hollywood superstar Cruise said he was ‘deeply saddened’ that his younger wife had filed for a separation and was concentrating on his three children. Cruise has two adopted children Conor and Isabella with ex-wife Nicole Kidman.
Cruise revealed that Katie had initiated the split, bringing a dramatic end to one of Hollywood's most high-profile - if bizarre - romances.
'This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family,' Holmes's lawyer Jonathan Wolfe said in a statement to People magazine.
'Katie's primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter's best interest.'
Cruise, who is the main breadwinner of the couple's $275 million fortune, has been married twice before.
He was married to actress turned professional poker player Mimi Rogers - who is believed to have introduced him to Scientology - followed by Nicole Kidman.
Skeptic: Katie Holmes is said to dislike and distrust Scientology - of which her estranged husband is a vocal advocate - and no longer wants their daughter to be raised in accordance with its doctrines
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk
Mississippi Abortion Clinic Law Set To Take Effect - Huffington Post
JACKSON, Miss. — Mississippi could soon become the only state without an abortion clinic because of a new law taking effect this weekend. Critics say the law would force women to drive hours across the state line to obtain a constitutionally protected procedure, or could even force some to carry unwanted pregnancies to term.
Top officials, including the governor, say limiting the number of abortions is exactly what they have in mind.
Republican Gov. Phil Bryant frequently says he wants Mississippi to be "abortion-free."
"If it closes that clinic, then so be it," Bryant said as in April as he signed the law, which takes effect Sunday.
Abortion rights supporters have sued, asking a judge to temporarily block the law from taking effect. So far, that hasn't happened.
The law requires anyone performing abortions at the state's only clinic to be an OB-GYN with privileges to admit patients to a local hospital. Such privileges can be difficult to obtain, and the clinic contends the mandate is designed to put it out of business. A clinic spokeswoman, Betty Thompson, has said the two physicians who do abortions there are OB-GYNs who travel from other states.
Michelle Movahed of the New York-based Center for Reproductive Rights is one of the attorneys representing the Mississippi clinic in its federal lawsuit. She said in an interview Friday that several states – including Mississippi, Kansas and Oklahoma – have tried in the past two or three years to chip away at access to abortion.
"One of the things that has really been surprising about Mississippi is how open the legislators and elected officials have been about their intentions," Movahed said. "They're not even pretending it's about public safety. They're openly saying they're using this law to try to shut down the last abortion provider in the state."
The lawsuit by the clinic, Jackson Women's Health Organization, notes that Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves says on his website that the new abortion law "not only protects the health of the mother but should close the only abortion clinic in Mississippi."
Religious-affiliated hospitals might not grant admitting privileges to those who perform elective abortions, while other hospitals might not grant them to out-of-state physicians who travel to Jackson to work at the clinic. As of Friday, the final business day before the new law kicks in Sunday, physicians working at the clinic had applied for the admitting privileges but hadn't received them.
The clinic says in the lawsuit that the admitting privileges are not medically necessary. It says complications from abortion are rare, and it notes that under previous state law, it already had an agreement with a Jackson physician who didn't do abortions but has admitting privileges and would help any clinic patient, if needed. Bryant and legislators who pushed the new law said they believe it will be safer for a woman who develops complications if the same doctor who does an abortion at a clinic can accompany her to a hospital rather than handing her case over to another physician.
State attorneys defending the law said in court documents that "the immediate concern that the clinic may be closed on July 1 is ill-founded." They cited administrative procedures the state Health Department uses in activating new laws.
Health Department inspectors intend to examine the clinic Monday to see if it is complying with the new law, a department spokeswoman said. If the clinic is not in compliance – which the clinic itself acknowledges will likely be the case – it would have 10 days to file a plan to correct its shortcomings. Then, an administrative hearing would be held at least 30 days later, and there could be an unspecified time allowed for an appeal.
The Jackson clinic sits a few miles north of the state Capitol, in a trendy neighborhood with upscale restaurants and vintage clothing stores. The nondescript building, with fading mauve paint, sits on a small hill on one of Jackson's busiest streets. A black vinyl tarp is attached to the fence leading from a parking lot to the patients' entrance, blocking most of the view from a public sidewalk where people gather several times a week to pray and protest.
Outside the clinic one day last week, at least a dozen people from a local Nazarene church sang hymns, read aloud from the Bible and prayed for an end to abortion. Among them was 51-year-old Patricia Frazier, who lives in the Jackson suburb of Clinton. Looking through an opening in the black tarp, Frazier spoke to a man who was standing by the clinic entrance. He had brought a woman to there for the counseling that state law requires at least 24 hours before an abortion can be done.
"You need me to help you with your friend?" Frazier asked over the fence.
The man, 30-year-old Girard Shirley of Jackson, smiled and slowly shook his head.
"Nah," Shirley said. "To be honest with you, I don't even know if the baby's mine, anyway."
Frazier showed Shirley a brown rubber model of a fetus at about 12 weeks' development – about the length of a grown woman's index finger. Shirley said he'd never given much thought to how that might look.
"Let her know we're here to help her – her and her baby," Frazier said.
Shirley listened and said, "Yeah, I'll talk to her."
"This is all about money. They want your money," Frazier said, nodding toward the clinic. "This help is free."
In an interview moments later, away from the people who were praying, Shirley said he had driven his friend to the clinic because she needed help and he needed gasoline money. Would he be willing to drive her out of state for an abortion if there were no clinic in Mississippi?
"I probably would take her," he said. He paused, then added: "No, I wouldn't. I got bad tires and stuff."
Two days later, Shirley said the woman he had driven to the clinic had stuck with her decision to have an abortion.
The state Health Department website shows 2,297 abortions, listed as "induced terminations," were performed in Mississippi in 2010, the most recent year for which statistics were available. The vast majority of those – 2,251 – were performed on Mississippi residents. The site does not specify how many were done at the clinic and how many in other offices or hospitals.
Mississippi physicians who perform fewer than 10 abortions a month can avoid having their offices regulated as an abortion clinic, and thus avoid restrictions in the new law. The Health Department said it doesn't have a record of how many physicians perform fewer than 10 abortions a month. Clinic operators say almost all the abortions in the state are done in their building.
The clinic says if it closes, most women would have to go out of state to terminate a pregnancy – something that could create financial problems for people in one of the poorest states in the nation. From Jackson, it's about a 200-mile drive to clinics in New Orleans; Mobile, Ala.; or Memphis, Tenn.
Related on HuffPost:
Source: www.huffingtonpost.com
Katy Perry: 'Watching Russell Brand divorce in doc was uncomfortable' - Digital Spy
Source: www.digitalspy.co.uk
New by-law bans swimming in River Thames - BBC News
A new by-law has banned people from swimming in the River Thames without prior permission from the Port of London Authority (PLA).
The PLA has grown concerned by an upsurge in so-called wild swimming, made popular by comedian David Walliams' 140-mile Sport Relief swim.
The authority said the ban was needed because it had a responsibility for the safety of all river users.
The measure is due to come into effect on Sunday.
From Sunday, a person will need prior written permission to swim anywhere in the Thames between Crossness in east London and Putney Bridge in south-west London.
The PLA said it had seen an increased interest in river swimming since David Walliams swam the length of the Thames from Lechdale, Gloucestershire to Westminster Bridge in central London last year.
But the river is potentially dangerous, with tides, strong currents, and whirlpools.
'Evasive action'The PLA's chief executive Richard Everett, said there were good reasons for stopping people wading in.
He said: "We have a responsibility not only to the individuals, but also to other river users.
"There's always a risk that if a boat comes across a swimmer, it has to take evasive action and that puts the people on the boat at risk, as well as other boats."
The law does not apply to people "undertaking diving activity" or "engaged in the emergency repair or inspection of vessels or structures".
Journalist Matthew Parris criticised the move.
In 2010 he admitted diving in to the Thames in the middle of the night, making his way across, aided by a friend on the opposite bank who held a torchlight.
He was criticised at the time, especially as he misjudged the tidal currents and was swept upstream.
He said: "Swimming in the Thames is dangerous, swimming in the sea is dangerous, swimming in any river is dangerous.
"There are all kinds of dangers and they're dangers that we take into account before we try it."
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Sussex Downs students get into the Olympic spirit - eastbourneherald.co.uk
YEAR one BTEC Business students from the Eastbourne campus of Sussex Downs College recently held an Olympic event to celebrate London 2012.
The sponsored event was attended by the mayor and mayoress of Eastbourne with all the proceeds going to the team’s nominated charity, Great Ormond Street.
The games involved students from BTEC Sport and Sport Science who represented seven countries from Team GB to Team China. They competed in a wide range of events from fun activities such as tug of war, egg and spoon and relay race.
Organisers say the event was a triumph with all teams entering into the Olympic spirit. The medals were awarded by James Kirby, a student at Sussex Downs College, and Keith Leech a Science Lecturer at Park College, both of whom are Olympic Torch Bearers.
James will be running with the Olympic Torch in Lewes on July 17 and Keith will also be completing his run on July 17 in Hastings. Both were nominated for their outstanding work within the community.
The overall day was won by Team Australia, which in the end had a landslide victory. Second and third place however where contested between Team USA and Team GB, with Team USA taking second place after a nail biting relay final.
The teams were sponsored for each event and raised more than £500 which included money from Molly Woods, who raised £150 by herself.
Email to a friend
Print this pageSource: www.eastbourneherald.co.uk
TomKat to Split: Katie Holmes Files for Divorce from Scientologist Hubby Tom Cruise - ibtimes.co.uk
Like us on Facebook
"This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family. Katie's primary concern remains, as it always has been, her daughter's best interest," Holmes's attorney Jonathan Wolfe said to People in a statement.
Cruise, 49, got the blow from his 33 year old wife just a few days before his 50th birthday on 3 July.
Blindsided Cruise
Sources say that Tom Cruise was totally uninformed about Holmes' decision to end their marriage until he learned about the divorce suit. The actor is in Iceland, filming his new sci-fi film Oblivion.
Is Scientology to Blame?
Scientology is supposedly the major factor behind the divorce. Cruise has been following Scientology since the 1990s and his first wife, actress Mimi Rogers, was believed to have introduced him to the controversial religion that rose in the 20th century. Cruise, an advocate for the Church of Scientology, has been known for being outspoken and giving controversial statements on psychiatry.
The "irreconcilable differences" of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, who married in November 2006, are also said to be related to their six year old daughter Suri Cruise's religion choices. While Cruise has been arguing that Scientology should be an important part of Suri's life at her age, Holmes did not want him to control religion-related matters, according to insiders, TMZ reports.
Follow us on LinkedIn 
LinkedIn
Source: www.ibtimes.co.uk
Hailsham takes the lead helping vulnerable people - Lewes Today
A PIONEERING new scheme has been signed up by 22 shops, businesses and various other organisations in Hailsham – to help people with learning difficulties who might be in distress.
The cutting edge initiative has been organised by East Sussex County Council and backed by other authorities including Hailsham Town Council.
Hailsham is the first town in the county to sign up to the scheme which aims to help people with learning difficulties feel safer when out-and-about.
A County Spokesman explained: “If a person with learning disabilities who has a ‘I need help’ card enters a ‘Safe Place’ because they are distressed, the staff in the safe place can assist them - by either offering them somewhere to sit until they feel better/happier, or talking to them and making them feel welcome, and contacting the emergency contact found on the individuals ‘I need help’ card.
“Or if necessary the ‘Safe Place’ may support the individual in contacting the emergency services or contact them on their behalf if they are unable to do so.”
The county council is promoting the scheme following last week’s ‘Learning Disability Week which ran from June 18 to 24.
Other shops, businesses and organisations have been urged to join the scheme.
County Cllr Carl Maynard said: “I’m delighted that so many businesses, which include shops, leisure centres and restaurants, and organisations such the town council have already signed up and I look forward to others getting involved soon.”
His colleague, County Cllr Bill Bentley, who is also a town councillor,added: “Safe Places is a national initiative and I’m really pleased that Hailsham is the first town in East Sussex to join. We’ve got involved in this scheme in response to the views and experiences expressed by people with learning disabilities in East Sussex.”
Hailsham businesses and organisations joining the Safe Places scheme will be given an information pack and logo and stickers to display at their premises. The scheme was officially launched in Hailsham High Street yesterday, June 28.
To find out more about the scheme phone: 01323 464481 or email hollie.farley@eastsussex.gov.uk for more information.
Source: www.sussexexpress.co.uk
I wish i had their problems!
- steve from 1 of the original colonies, Providence, Rhode Island, USA, 30/6/2012 23:14
Report abuse