Tom Cruise's custody battle for 'estranged' daughter Suri and Scientology rules
Hollywood superstar Tom Cruise shockingly split from actress Katie Holmes after five years of marriage leading to a bitter custody battle for their daughter Suri in 2012.
At the time of the high profile breakup, their daughter was just five years old and Tom is said to have been estranged from her since 2013.
Now aged 16, Suri is thought to have already been applying to colleges without the help of her dad due to their lack of relationship.
It is understood Dawson's Creek actress Katie, 44, is heavily involved in the application process as she helps her daughter to take the next step in her life.
Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise's daughter Suri is thought to be applying for collages (AbacaPress / SplashNews.com)
Katie Holmes got 'full custody' of her daughter Suri (FameFlynet)Katie was given 'sole custody' of Suri and according to the couple's divorce documents, Tom agreed to pay Katie $400,000 a month until Suri turned 18 years old, reports the Daily Mail.
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Now, Tom, 60, hasn't seen his youngest daughter in a decade after Katie refused to join The Church of Scientology.
Tom also reportedly agreed to pay all of Suri's expenses, including "medical, dental, insurance, education, college and other extracurricular costs".
Suri is the daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise (Getty Images)A source told the Daily Mail : "Suri does not know her father anymore and she has not spent time with him in a decade. She does not go to see his movies and he has no part in her life."
The teenager is said to be eyeing up studying fashion at Fordham University in The Bronx, New York.
Katie filed the divorce documents citing 'irreconcilable differences', something Cruise is reported to not have seen coming.
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes divorced in 2012 (Getty)At the time it was understood Katie filed for divorce in New York because it could have given her a better chance at gaining sole custody of Suri.
New York family law judges tend to not like giving fighting parents joint custody because they believe that causes endless conflicts for the children.
The actress seeked full custody so she could remove her daughter from the Church of Scientology, who was reportedly attending a Scientology-influenced school in California at the time.
They married in 2006 (Getty)
Tom and Suri are thought to not have spoken since 2013 (WireImage)Katie is alleged to dislike and distrust the church, despite Tom's enthusiasm.
On July 9 2012, Katie's lawyer confirmed the divorce had been settled, with Katie having been granted 'sole custody' of Suri.
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The former couple reached an agreement out of court.
Suri was 5 when her parents divorced (Getty)A statement from the pair said: "We are committed to working together as parents to accomplish what is in our daughter Suri's best interests.
"We want to keep matters affecting our family private and express our respect for each other's commitment to each of our respective beliefs and support each other's roles as parents."
According to TMZ, the agreement included details on what the parents were allowed to tell Suri regarding religion, including Scientology.
Katie did not agree with Tom's Scientology views (FilmMagic)
Actor Tom has three children (Rob Latour/REX/Shutterstock)The restrictions were reportedly set to be eased as Suri got older.
Following the settlement, Suri was not expected to attend a Scientology school.
In 2019, author Samantha Domingo told Us Weekly that Tom was not allowed to have a relationship with Suri because she is not a Scientologist and due to the Church's belief in reincarnation, they would not view Suri as Tom's daughter.
Tom Cruise has two other children from his marriage with actress Nicole Kidman, who filed for divorce after 11 years in 2001 due to his Scientology ties.
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman had a bitter divorce after 11 years of marriage (Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)
Nicole and Tom's adopted children have kept a low profile in recent years (Getty Images)The couple adopted Isabella and Connor, who stuck with Scientology after the split.
Bella lives in London with her IT consultant husband Max Parker, who married in a ceremony which incorporated Scientology and Christianity.
Connor, 28, opts to remain out of the spotlight having attempted to carve out an acting career. It is not clear whether he remained a Scientologist after growing up.
Tom has disagreed his Scientology belief has caused him to be estranged from Suri.
The Mirror has contacted Tom's representative for comment.
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