Katie Might be Able to Leave Tom—But Divorcing Scientology Won’t be Easy

HARD TO SHAKE

Ex-Scientologists say the church uses blackmail and threats to keep people in the fold.

Published Jul. 4 2012 4:45AM EDT

articles/2012/07/04/katie-might-be-able-to-leave-tom-but-divorcing-scientology-won-t-be-easy/science-of-cult-deprogramming-shapiro_n9knbu — ISO / Landov

Leaving a highly secretive and close-knit group like Scientology might not be as easy as checking the “irreconcilable differences” box.

Since news broke that Katie Holmes filed for divorce from Tom Cruise, her husband of nearly six years, speculation has been rampant that she wants out of Scientology—and

Eliza Shapiro

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Katie Might be Able to Leave Tom—But Divorcing Scientology Won’t be Easy

Ex-Scientologists say the church uses blackmail and threats to keep people in the fold.

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Eliza Shapiro