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Scientologists hit back at German newspaper over Cruise-Goebbels comparison
Last updated at 16:13pm on 23.01.08The Church of Scientology has condemned a German newspaper after they published comments comparing Tom Cruise to World War II propagandist Joseph Goebbels.
Leading Scientologist Cruise was embarrassed last week after a video of him making top secret religious speech was leaked onto the internet.
The 45-year-old actor delivered the sermon four years ago when he accepted the 'Freedom Medal of Valour' award at an International Association of Scientologists event.
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Unflattering: Scientologists have blasted a comparison of Tom Cruise to Joseph Goebbels
Following the leak, tabloid Bild published comments by World War II historian Guido Knopp likening Cruise's speech to propaganda delivered by Goebbels in Nazi Germany.
Knopp said: "It may be the case that Cruise's delivery style is not uncommon in certain religious movements in the U.S.
"But for Germans with an interest in history, that scene where he asks whether the Scientologists should clean up the world and everyone shouts 'yes' is inevitably reminiscent of Goebbels' notorious speech."
Knopp referred to Goebbels' infamous speech in Berlin on February 18 1943 when he asked the audience: "Do you want total war?"
In response, the controversial Church accused Bild of being "grossly irresponsible" for publishing Knopp's claims.
Karin Pouw, the church's public affairs director, said: "Bild am Sonntag is grossly irresponsible for publishing horrendous and disgraceful claims about Mr Cruise.
"The video of Mr Cruise is a pirated, edited video that is taken from a three-hour event which encompassed the many humanitarian programs sponsored by the Church of Scientology...
"Bild am Sonntag has disgracefully misinterpreted Mr Cruise's remarks. He was giving an acceptance speech for a humanitarian award bestowed in honour of his efforts for global literacy.
"In doing so, he was urging other people to become involved in similar humanitarian activities to the betterment of all.
"Anyone who knows Mr Cruise knows that he does not have a prejudicial bone in his body and that, unlike Bild am Sonntag and other German anti-religionists, he does not discriminate against any other religion, race or colour."
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Top secret: Cruise was furious his Scientology speech was leaked onto the internet
Pouw said the church was responsible for the largest non-governmental anti-drug campaign on earth and also funded a global literacy programme helping tens of millions of students.
Despite attempts to block the video from the web, it still remains on some internet sites.
During the astonishing nine-minute lecture, Cruise insisted criminals and even drug addicts could be rehabilitated by Scientology.
Cruise refers to the cult's leader David Miscavige, the Scientology equivalent of the Pope.
He said: "I think it's a privilege to call yourself a Scientologist, and it's something that you have to earn because a Scientologist has the ability to create new and better realities and improve conditions.
"Being a Scientologist, you look at someone and know absolutely that you can help them."
"Being a Scientologist, when you drive past an accident, it's not like anyone else when you drive past.
"You know you have to do something about it because you know you're the only one that can really help.
"But that's what drives me. I know that we have an opportunity to really effectively change people's lives and I am dedicated to that.
"I am absolutely, uncompromisingly dedicated to that."
The Church of Scientology has regularly clashed with the German media and government, which does not legally recognise the Church as a religion.
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Controversial role: Cruise as German war hero Claus von Stauffenberg in Valkyrie
Cruise's casting as German war hero Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg in his forthcoming movie Valkyrie caused controversy last year with anti-Scientology critics in Germany.
Von Stauffenberg was executed in 1944 at the Bendlerblock in Berlin for his part in a failed attempt to assassinate Adolf Hitler.
Last year, the German Protestant Church compared the star status Cruise gave to the Church of Scientology to the work of Goebbels.
Thomas Gandow of the German Protestant Church said Valkyrie is "propaganda for Scientology" and described Cruise was the "Goebbels of Scientology".
He said: "This film will have the same propaganda advantages for Scientology as the 1936 Olympics had for the Nazis."
Cruise has been a follower of L. Ron Hubbard's Scientology since the late 1980s when he was introduced to the Church by his first wife Mimi Rogers.
Cruise's current, third wife Katie Holmes converted from Catholicism to Scientology when they started dating in 2005 and they are raising their young daughter Suri as a Scientologist, as well as Cruise's two adopted children from his second marriage to Nicole Kidman.
Fellow celebrity Scientologist John Travolta spoke out over the weekend in defence of Cruise and the negative press he has received over his religious beliefs.
Speaking at the G'Day L.A. gala, Travolta said: "Tom has – we all have – the right to practice how we feel.
"It finally becomes unfair."
Family affair: Cruise and third wife Katie Holmes are raising their daughter Suri as a Scientologist
