Scientology Loses a Billionaire
Filed under: Australiastic > Tom Cruise
One of Tom Cruise's Scientology buddies, Australian billionaire James Packer, is reportedly over the 'religion'. Packer was recently listed as Scientology's richest member.
Cruise introduced Packer to Scientology in 2002.
Packer's closest friends have revealed that he's quietly distanced himself from Scientology, was no longer undertaking Scientology courses and has told them he no longer "needs it".
The religion entered Packer's life at one of the lowest points. He was overweight and depressed, his marriage to his first wife, Jodhi Meares, had ended and he was reeling from the humiliating and very public collapse of business, One.Tel, in which he lost about $350 million.
Packer spilled about his association with Scientology only once, telling The Australian Financial Review Magazine in 2006 that he spent an hour or so "every couple of days" practicing the religion. "I think it has been very good for me," he said. "It has been helpful. I have some friends in Scientology that have been very supportive. But I think it's just helped me have a better outlook on life."
However, looks like Packer's distancing from the church could be money-motivated. The report points to observers who've suggested that Packer's expanding casino empire has presented issues difficult to reconcile with Scientologist beliefs.
Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, denounced gambling. "An obsessive gambler is a psychotic just like a drug addict or an alcoholic," Hubbard wrote in 1977.
Packer's office did not respond to calls for comments.
This is a big glow for the "church." Packer - as all Scientologists do - give a big portion of their annual income to the house of Xenu.
That's a lot of money Scientology's no longer getting!
[Image via WENN.]
first
I just wanna be first…….doesnt everyone?
Hm
thank godd ttom is crazyyy
firstt!
Fyrst!
Ever since the Oprah interview i actually like tom.
I big "glow" for the church? buaaahahaha!!!
Tom is a douche!
First
So dont we love sex?
lol Have a good day peeps…
xxxxx
HAHA I THOUGHT YOU WERE GONNA SAY TOM
Boycott all $cientologists, their projects and their supporters. Your hard-earned money will only end up supporting this very dangerous cult.
I THINK CO$ IS GONNA SECRETLY MURDER HIM NOW
No gambling, drinking or drugging allowed?? Damn, it's like no fault religion. Who wants that???
Now let's pray Tom and Katie out of this cult! Good for Packer!!!!!!!!!!
booohoo scientology takes a blow… maybe the aliens will come down and confront packer.
Do you mean " a big blow" for the church not "big glow"
Looks like Tom is on his own. How does this cult get these dum dums to give them money? Are people really that lost that they need a cult?
hahahahahah
Who the fuck joins a religion that you have to pay for????
If I ever ventured into a Scientology center, I'd leave at the first mention of money.
what soes first mean? why does everyone keep saying it?
Hez such a liar….
if he would tell the truth
and leave the church
we might like him
coz we do luv gayzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
he NEEDZ 2 CUM THE EFF OUT ….NOW….AZZHOLE..OPRAHZ ALL
……………………………HE HAZ..AND THE CHURCH…..KATIE
WILL LEAVE WHEN HER TEN YRZ. R UP..U JUZT WAIT…AND C.{☼☼
Most level headed people would leave this silly ass cult.
creo qe ezta bn…
zi el ya no ztaba aguto kon la reliigion
fo0e lo mejor k pudo hazer…
ni modo qe ze qedara zolo por tom….
Tom should leave too.
what does first mean????? why does everyoen keep saying it
Maybe Oprah will join.
Re: quiara – ROFLMAO!!!
Only a CULT would ask for $$$!!!
I hope Suri breaks free from that mental institution.
I don't know the last thing about Scientology or their robotic belives, but one thing I agree with Ron Hubbard is the psychotic mind of a gambler. It is no different than somebody mugging a 80 year old for a crack fix or a bottle of wiskey. I have lived and work in the gaming industry, and can testify to that.
I have seen people living their infants at a park across the street, so they can get their gambling on.
Ha, ha, ha they lose money, they lose power! May tom cry a million tears of sarrow, and may his ego deflate just a little bit more.
Yay! Scientology sucks big hairy balls.
Perez, I feel like you are blogging just for me.
XO
this guy is whacked!!
lol@ tom crying! funny shitz!
ha ha………..CULT! Not a Religion!
Re: grusuniverse – Did you just put a spell on him???
Well, we still have a fudgePACKER in Tommy Girl!
Re: TOM CRUISES FOR COCKS – ummmmmmmmm……wow at that L. Ron quote!
I'd like to see that list.
smoinge.com/media/1698/Barack_OBollywood/
Kirsti Ally is on Orka's show today.
Re: hfs – Actually, just go to a scientology site. Their teachings are terrifying!
this remind's me of the time my neighbor's pet sasquatch attacked my pet annaconda. they were fighting for about a minute when one of them asked the other one if he would like a spot of tea. as usual I broke out with the chitterlin's and what not and now they are both suffering from the gout but what's a sasquatch to do these day's when your diet primarily consist's of porcupine. I'm on my way down to the local cadillac dealer to oick up my new black on black dts with navigation so I wont get lost while on my way to visit the watts towers and the infamous intersection of florence and normandie where my fellow brother's put a whipping on reginal denny after they dragged him out of his semi. just goes to show that your not safe anywhere,especially locked in a dark closet with tom cruise and r kelly. there's going to be alot of sword fight's going on in the dark.
WELL…IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT THIS GUY WISED UP…LET'S HOPE HE TOLD THAT HOMOPHOBIC BUT ACTUALLY SUBMISSIVE CLOSETED HOMOSEXUAL FRIEND OF HIS, TOMMY-LOOSE-BUNGHOLE-CRUISE, TO EAT SHIT AND TAKE A HIKE TOO.
Re: TOM CRUISES FOR COCKS – MANY OF MY ADMIRERERS HAVE ASKED IF I AM ALSO "TOM CRUISE FOR COCKS", AND I WANTED YOU TO KNOW HOW FLATTERING I FIND IT. YOU ARE A DYNAMIC PRESENCE ON PEREZ AND I ABSOLUTELY ADORE YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Learn to fucking proofread your site Perez, it's becoming embarrassing! A "big glow" for the church - you damned idiot!
How great will it be if/when Tom Cruise also deprograms, releases Will Smith and the Maplethorpe extended family from Scientology mind control, and spills his guts. I smell a pity Oscar!
And don't you love how that practical money-loving cockney, Posh, kept the Beckhams out of Scientology's clutches. Bless her for attempting to save Katie Holmes before Posh got too orange and bored of trying.
I don't understand why they would HAVE to give so much of their money. Doesn't that just seem a bit QUESTIONABLE? Where does it all go? I mean, with any religion, if you're being forced to give money, it's just not right. It should be of your own free will.
Good for him!
I guess Cruise couldn't separate fact from fiction. Tom, CUT!!!
I've been wondering when you'd start posting about the crazy world of Scientology. With all that's going on, I knew I'd see something soon. Keep it up!
Religion both facinates and repulses me. That being said, it's interesting that everyone seems to "find" religion when they are desperate and depressed with their lives. I don't think I've ever heard one story of someone being brainwashed with religion when they were both sane and satisfied.
Maybe Tom can dangle Katie out like bait, to reel him back in.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Hunter of tears, relative pain
Half of this world is dark with the stain
The stain of unknowing the dead flower buds
On smiling lips is innocent blood
The corpse of your God can only rot and grow cold
Now promise me you'll kill me before I get old
I heard you on the telephone moaning my doom
A cold woman will kill me in a darkened room
The chain-saw of the mortician shines
I still got all my fingers but somewhere I lost my mind
I can smell abortion on you I can see thru
I take the gun out of my moth and point it at you
P.S. did you check out the make-up on tom? There is no way he has natural coloring like that.
Creepy Tomasina and all the rest of the "money people" will never be ALLOWED to leave Scientology. In their introduction and first 'steps' ALL your innermost secrets and thoughts and desires are revealed to them so that you may be cleansed of harmful thetans (and lots of money). Can you imagine a more potent weapon to use against you if you tried to leave and they really wanted to keep you in? Very dangerous group.
LOVESSSSSSSSSSSS IT!!! NOW IF ALL THE OTHER FUCKTARDS WOULD JUST CALL OUT WHAT A SHAM THIS CULT REALLY IS!!!!!!
I'm sure he'll be dead within a year
Re: Jenny – Oh dear, there is help out there. Look for a good counselor and get help soon. butterfly kisses.
Good! That's not a religion, it's a business! When was the last time you had to pay to go to church. The whole thing is a scam, L.Ron Hubbard made a bet with someone that he could start a religion, and he did. They are brainwashed fools.
What an incredibly needy person, rich or poor, one must be to follow a "religion" founded, basically as a joke, by a hack, egoistic, greedy, mean-spirited, cruel, money-grubbing science fiction writer. Hell, he wasn't ever a very good writer. There has to be a terrible vacuum in the spirit or soul or ego of someone who falls into such a cesspool and refuses to get out of it. Very tragic and very sad.
good.
For crying out loud, it's a CULT not a RELIGION!!! He woke up to reality. Good for him for bailing. Now maybe TC will do the same thing, wake up and smell the lies!
It's true that gambling turn into an addiction, the same as abusing alcohol. However, addictions are not "psychotic." Psychotic Disorders are a very specific class of mental illness and being an addict does not qualify you as a psychotic.
Now we know why alien boy has such a hardon to get that next MI movie in the works. David what's his asses butt boy needs to start tossing some more bank to the crazies. I smell another celebrity "everything must go" yard sale ala tori smelling and pam manderson.
This cult has it's claws in plenty of actors and actresses. Kirsti Ally, Jenna Elfman, Tomkat, Charles Manson, the Travoltas, Juliette Lewis, etc. They are all weak minded individuals despite what they might be thinking. This cult sounds like more of a fatal addiction than gambling!!!!!!!
big glow? what the fuck?
#53 - it's a dangerous and death-dealing cult…..
Thanks for the link!!!
Wow…..I just checked that site out!!! That's some effed up shit!!!
Re: RADICAL QUEEN – Of course I know better but Tommy almost looks straight in this photo! Maybe it's because he finally has his mouth closed, I'm not sure.
Re: hfs – I agree. Thanks for the link. What a bunch of creepy turds.
It makes me laugh when some people act like their the high-priests of witch-hunts.
.
Who cares what anyone's religion is. Are scientologist's doing suicide bombings? Are they knocking at my door asking me to read from the bible? The worst I see them doing is asking for money for books and services, but what church doesn't? Someone has to pay the light bills.
.
I'm Catholic and my family easily gave 20% of their money to our church. We get a lot of of it and it helped us. Some people don't understand this and think we are being conned. Thanks for the worry, but I can take care of myself folks.
.
Leave the witch hunts for the Crusaders.
.
It's just so 1300's.
you have to wonder what's in these sientology books that's got some people so up in a tizzzzzzyyy? why are some people so threatened by Tom Cruises religion? some people say it helps them and others say it kills. THat's a big difference of opinion.
"Scientology's founder, L. Ron Hubbard, denounced gambling. "An obsessive gambler is a psychotic just like a drug addict or an alcoholic," Hubbard wrote in 1977."
Wait a minute, don't they teach that there is no such thing as psychology?? What does this mean then? Damn, they're all even weirder than I thought. Congratulations Xenu! They're all yours!
L Ron Hubbard also said, "Smoking doesn't cause cancer; not smoking enough causes cancer."
And you know that barley water crap that TomKat and Leah Remini *still* feed their daughters in bottles? L Ron Hubbard claimed he learned that formula when he lived in Roman times. Never mind that one of those ingredients didn't actually *exist* in that area in that time frame.
He got clear enough to leave, plus the man knows which side his bread is buttered on.
There are so many other ways in which to find fellowship, which is a big part of what keeps many of these poor souls indentured, plus an inside prevailing attitude of exclusivity on clarity, which is, of course, sheer nonsense. Tom soared to fame because of a riveting dance in his socks and underwear, not due to the influence of Scientology. Has he somehow associated his success with that group?
He would have been just as famous on his own, and should give himself credit.
Re: Modern day witch hunts – …….Spoken like a true 'head-in-the-sand' vacuous cretin. If Scientologists simply sat in their "Church" and sang hymns, passed the plate and catered to their deadhead flock, hardly anyone would care: They would be much like all other 'organized religions.' They, however, don't do this and must be opposed.
……..They are a sinister destructive cult. They are trying myriad ways to garner influence over the lives of many. They are charlatans and proven frauds who prey on the most vulnerable. This, more than anything else, needs to be kept exceptionally clear. The activities of the 'Church of Scientology' from its inception to the present day have been calculated to sap money and energy from those who put their faith in it.
……..Your silly little attempt to be clever and empty paltry rant of 'live and let live' is idiotic on face. This cult you defend has no time for it or you either. So give your 20%, sing a hymn and feel good: Don't try to think; it is obviously not a strong suit for you. Let the adults deal with adult matters.
…….This is not a matter of freedom of religion. It is a matter of freedom.
I took a table spoon of Xenu and my head cold was gone the next morning.
The fact that Scientology is actually considered a religion is crazy. Nicole Kidman was lucky that she was DUMPED by this Loon… maybe she was tired of wearing that ALUMINUM FOIL on her head.
Re: Modern day witch hunts – You are seriously underinformed, and ignorance is no excuse for giving cults a pass in your kumbaya note.
Yey! Another one who made the right decision.
Perez, do actually acknowledge your sources? You've totally ripped this story, word for word, from The Sydney Morning Herald. Have you ever heard of 'paraphrasing'? Or does 'plagiarism' resonate a little better with you?
How many of you would accept Jim Jones and his followers if he were still alive today?
Re: Modern day witch hunts – ……….OH YES…….LET'S SEE, SINCE ALL THE CATHOLIC CHURCH'S CON GAMES AND ABUSES WENT ON IN THE 1300'S THEY ARE NOW ONLY HERE TO DO GOOD AND MAKE YOU HAPPY. MY GOD, YOU ARE AS FUCKING DUMB AS DIRT. JUST AMAZINGLY STUPID IN YOUR FEEBLE ATTEMPT TO BE 'CLEVER' AND CUTE.
……..DID YOU 'FEEL GOOD' WHEN YOU LEARNED THAT PRIESTS WERE MOLESTING LITTLE BOYS AND GIRLS. HMMMM? NO…THAT WASN'T IN THE 1300'S THAT WAS QUITE RECENT WASN'T IT? IT WASN'T JUST A 'BAD APPLE' NOW AND THEN, AS YOU HAVE PROBABLY TOLD YOURSELF, BUT A FUCKING STINKING BARREL OF MOLESTERS AND THEIR ENABLERS……AND NOT ONLY THAT BUT, TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, THE HIGHERARCHY COVERED IT UP FOR YEARS AND PASSED THESE MONSTERS ON TO MOLEST COUNTLESS MORE…..I SUPPOSE SO DIMWITTED PSALM SINGERS LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BE UPSET AND MIGHT LOWER THAT 20% OFFERING!!! TSK TSK
…………
JUST AN OBVIOUS EXAMPLE OF WHY EVEN YOUR 'IT-MAKES-US-FEEL GOOD' RELIGION NEED TO BE SCRUTINIZED NOW AND THEN. PULL YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS AND BREATHE THE FRESH AIR OF THINKING FOR YOURSELF. OH…..I'M SURE THAT ISN'T POSSIBLE FOR YOU; DENIAL AND A LUNATIC DEVOTION TO THAT 2000-YEAR-OLD SPOON FED PABLUM IS A HARD HABIT (*PUN INTENDED) TO BREAK.
I'm not threatened by Tom's religion. I'm repulsed.
Scientology is a nasty cult, the mafia is kind compared to what goes on behind the curtains there. Scary stuff.
Davey Miscarrige must be howling like a banshee while Tom jumps on his couch in a petulant frenzy!
Re: Modern day witch hunts – u belong to the catholic church. it didn't help all those little children who were molested by the priests of your church did it? i think a little more witch hunting in your church would have been most advisable. it may have saved the innocence of a lot of little children whose lives are now warped and ruined.
You are a fool.
The typical (christian) religions are Bible based, with the Ten Commandments as a guiding template. I have never been able to fault those (commandments) as an (idealized) template for living, although plenty of fault can be found within any religious organization due to man's inherent weakness. However, scientology is based on the ramblings of a man whose back and legal history reads like an LSD induced, carnival hawking con artist whose primary concern was building up his bank account, along with a following, and in that order. Compare the legitimacy of the initial foundations that organized religion is based on compared to the fact that Scientology is based on what Hubbard said. L. Ron Hubbard's biography is all over the net, but I started with Wikipedia and became equally incredulous, sceptical and then cynical and horrified at the fact that vulnerable people actually pay to follow the teachings of this self-serving, raving lunatic; but, hey - that's just me.
You just lifted the artical from the Sydney Morning Herald you fuck nuckle.
Scientology is a big crock of shit for weak minded people. I don't need some douche like L.Ron Hubbard to tell me that gambling, drugs and alcohol, adultary, etc, is bad. I can fucking figure that out for myself. And I'm not going to go sit in some building where people dressed in bizarre costumes look at me all wide eyed and tell me about UFO's and how we're supposed to save humanity. This cooky shit makes people like Tom Cruise and John Travolta look so incredibly foolish.
Tommy boy- Nice sweater.
Butt- Did you know purple is a fag color?
Also- is Cruise really your last name? Did you know that "Cruising" is what fags do when they need to hunt for dick?
Are you sure you're not a fag, Tom Cruise?
Re: Alex – I've already pointed that out, Alex.
so many grammar errors- always in a hurry! "do" should be does. when one skips college…
Even if you feel that Jesus is fictional, the stories about him and how he lived his life by example are still very moving, and leave you feeling that this was an honest, wise and gentle man of substance, real or not, and it would not hurt anyone to strive to emulate his teachings. If you read about Hubbard, well, you'll see the difference. It's like comparing Mother Theresa and her life of good works with Jim Jones, the kool-aid man, considering Hubbard's published and sketchy bio, but add compulsory money to belong and rise to 'complete' yourself, and secrecy. Secrecy is a big bone of contention, because if you have nothing to hide, you hide nothing. The organization claims it has done some good works, but then what are they?
Some very attractive and happening high profile but perhaps misguided people seem unfortunately involved, but it's built on a house of cards and is thus destined to suffer the continual and increasingly prevalent bad P.R. due to it's glaring lack of (publicly visible) substance. Transparency is not publicly offered, because then you wouldn't pay to play. They have a huge p.r. problem, as knowledge that would help mankind (if they actually WANTED to) should be free and available to all. If they have something to offer, they should publish it. If it holds water, the money would pour in out of thanks and public charity. The Catholic church is not the richest church in the world by accident. People admire the ideals, and believe in them. They offer donations to somehow keep evil, sin and chaos at bay by keeping the teachings alive.
Re: Purple is the Color of Fags – Did u know that extreme irrational and really stupid homophobia, uh…..like yours, is a sure sign of often repressed homosexual tendencies. TOO BAD FOR U: YOU'RE A FAG.
He who is imperfect shouldn't dare be in Scientology That Oprah shit was so funny, the foot ware? The Katie greating? WHATEVER! I believe they are a family and are in love. I think the fact that it's in our faces is slime. I choose not to see the details. I do come here but GAWD! P give this a rest! They are COMMON! They want you to see they are COMMON! There is nothing special about this family or any other Hollowood family! PlEEEAAAZZEEEEE give it a rest! I haven't been here all that much this year. Ugh. You only have to come here once a quarter. Trust me, that's all you need.
Re: carl – amen to that!