LONDON - ACTOR John Travolta is apparently considering leaving
the controversial Church of Scientology six months after the sudden
death of his son, said media reports on Monday.
A report in Britian's Mail on Sunday newspaper claims that
Travolta is now barely able to function and is a virtual recluse
since his son, Jett, 16, died in the Bahamas during a New Year
family holiday.
Travolta, according to the report, is also disillusioned with
the secretive Church of Scientology and bitterly regrets adhering
to its teachings when treating his son's condition, which is
believed to have been autism.
However, despite claims that the star wants to quit the church,
the report said that he fears it could retaliate by revealing
embarrassing details about his private life.
Travolta has reportedly cancelled all work commitments since
Jett's death.
His bitterness towards Scientology reportedly comes from the
church's attitude towards treating autism; the church does not
recognise autism as genuine, but instead believes it to be merely
psychosomatic.
The UK report also claims that the church has inflicted
"intensive sessions" with so-called ethics officers, whose job is
to question Travolta and other family members to determine if their
"negative influences" caused the tragedy.
Rick Ross, an author who has watched the church for 30 years,
was quoted as saying that can be a dangerous move for any
high-profile practitioner.
"Scientology keeps files on its celebrity members containing
embarrassing personal information about them," he said.
"And Scientology has proven in the past that it has a penchant
for releasing that information to embarrass people who have left
and who have said things it doesn't like."
