Why Jennifer Lopez Avoided Scientology According To Leah Remini

Any Tom Cruise fan probably heard of Scientology by now. Indeed, the religion has a very impressive list of celebrity members, which include John Travolta, Juliette Lewis, “Dharma And Greg” actress Jenna Elfman, “Veronica’s Closet” star Kirstie Alley, to name a few.

Despite her numerous links to the religions, Lopez decided that Scientology was not right for her. But according to her BFF Leah Remini, who was a former Scientologist and now a critic of the religion, it was not she who discouraged JLo from joining the religion.

Lopez’s father, David Lopez, has been a Scientology member for more than 30 years already, and it would have made sense if the singer were a member as well. In fact, the church’s higher-ups wanted JLo to specifically join the church and tried to get her father and Remini to convince her.

“She’s Catholic — always has been — and her father is a very indoctrinated Scientologist, and has been for quite a long time,” Remini spoke of Lopez’s and her father’s religions. “He’s achieved the confidential levels of Scientology. But Jennifer makes her own decisions.”

Church officials even instructed Remini to invite Lopez to Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes’ wedding in Lake Bracciano, Italy, so she could catch up with her and convince her friend to join the religion. However, she revealed that they were separated at the wedding reception.

But Lopez disagreed with the Church of Scientology’s “disconnection” practice where members are instructed to cut ties with even family and friends for speaking against the religion. “She disagreed with the disconnection policy, so she wasn’t going to submit to any pressures from anybody regardless,” Remini revealed. “She was a really good friend to me through all that.”

Meanwhile, Remini’s main reason for leaving Scientology was her daughter. She felt that she was spending way too much time at church, time that she could have spent bonding with her then 9-year-old child, Sofia. She tried to initiate a change, but her friends within the group were unresponsive.

“In my house, it’s family first — but I was spending most of my time at the church,” she explained. “So, I was saying ‘family first,’ but I wasn’t showing that. I didn’t like the message that sent my daughter.”

She revealed that she lost friends over her decision to quit the religion. But the upside is that she is now learning to “celebrate life,” which, at times, might simply mean enjoying a glass of wine or two.