Leah Remini is hoping her brave break from the Church of Scientology will help others who “have waited for fear of retaliation” find the courage to question the practices of its leader, David Miscavige, sources say.
“She believes the people who have waited for fear of retaliation will find comfort as she has,” said a source close to the star. “There is love and support just waiting for them to come forward.”
After we reported Remini was breaking from Scientology, the feisty actress told People: “I believe that people should be able to question things . . . I’m not about to shut up.”
Remini’s departure reportedly angered longtime church members she had thought were friends.
A source close to Remini said: “Leah’s ‘friends’ . . . have not given her the decency as to even question alleged practices of abusing staff and unfairly excommunicating executives and long-time parishioners who have achieved high levels [within the church] and donated millions.”
Sources have said Remini was subjected to “interrogations” for questioning such practices as forcing members to “disconnect” from “suppressive persons,” and for asking about the whereabouts and safety of Miscavige’s wife, Shelly.
Remini is being supported by former member Paul Haggis, who wrote in an open letter, “When I was ‘declared’ a ‘Suppressive Person’ and shunned, she came to my defense.”
Said a friend of Leah: “The fact that it is ‘SPs’ like Paul who have come to her aid says a lot about who the good guys are. That parishioners continue to accept the information that is fed to them rather than looking for themselves is heartbreaking.”
Remini is writing a book. “Leah believes public pressure will open further investigation to [what has] stayed covered for so long,” our source said.
A Scientology rep declined to comment on Remini, adding, “Nor do we debate the latest gossip from anonymous sources.”