Tom Cruise is a well known member of the highly controversial Church of Scientology. However, before he evolved into the mega superstar, Cruise was devout Catholic.
According to a friend of his at the time, Tom Cruise was so devout that he was studying at a seminary to become a Catholic priest. The friend however, went on to say that Cruise was kicked out of the religious school because he got caught stealing liquor from the monks.
Father Ric Schneider told the New York Daily News that he persuaded Cruise to apply to St. Francis Seminary School. Schneider said, “Tom was instantly hooked.”
“I think he wanted a good education. With his parents going through a divorce, it was tough on him, that’s maybe one of the reasons why he came here.”
In order to get into the seminary, a candidate must score at least a 110 on an IQ Test. In 1976, Tom Cruise scored 110 on an IQ test and just barely made it into the seminary.
One friend of Cruise’s from the seminary was Shane Dempler. He stated that they both were “deeply interest in Catholicism as well as joining the priesthood.
“He had a very strong Catholic faith”, Dempler said. “We went to Mass, spent time in the chapel and enjoyed hearing stories from the priests.”
Dempler also revealed that the two of them would consistently break the seminary rules. They would sneak out of the school and drink and smoke.
They went too far in 1977 when the priests were hosting a party. Dempler alleges that he sneaked into the room with the liquor and threw it out the window to Cruise.
The two young men had to apologize and confess to stealing the liquor when the priests were getting close to discovering them on their own. The priests then wrote letters to their parents saying they had to remove the boys from the seminary.
“The school wrote a letter to our parents saying they liked us both, but would prefer if we didn’t return.” Dempler says they weren’t necessarily kicked out, just asked not to return.
Tom Cruise has never commented on his Catholic religion or his time in the seminary.
Be sure to check out Kelly’s other columns:
National Family and Parenting Examiner
National Sports Celebrity Examiner
Sex and Relationships Examiner
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