Scientologists to fight Cruise claims

Lawyers for the Church of Scientology are believed to be drawing up a lawsuit against the British journalist Andrew Morton who has written an unauthorised biography of Tom Cruise claiming the actor is de facto second-in-command of the controversial sect. The book also promotes a rumour that Suri, the daughter of Tom Cruise and his new wife Katie Holmes, was born after Holmes had been impregnated with the frozen sperm of L Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology who died in 1986.

Morton's book, which is to be published in the US next week but has no British publisher at present, claims that the 45-year-old actor's life has been taken over by Scientology. Morton says that David Miscavige, who took over as leader of the Church from Hubbard, is consulted on every aspect of the star's life, including the hiring of suitable staff for the Cruise mansion.

Cruise's lawyer, Bert Fields, claims his client has been told about the book but has not read it. Fields dismisses the allegations as a pack of lies and describes as "sick and bizarre" the frozen sperm story, of which Morton writes: "In her more reflective moments, Katie Holmes might have felt as if she were in the middle of a real-life version of the horror movie Rosemary's Baby, in which as unsuspecting young woman is impregnated with the devil's child." (Continued below)

Morton, who made his name with his 1992 biography of Diana, Princess of Wales, also claims Cruise is out to recruit David and Victoria Beckham to Scientology. Fields says Morton has written the book without talking to anyone who knows the couple well.