Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise adopted their children, Isabella and Connor, during the early years of their marriage after having various pregnancy troubles.
Tom is a practicing Scientologist while Nicole was raised as a devout Catholic. In 1990, after marrying Cruise, Kidman reportedly took part in Scientology courses, which she dedicated herself to for the next two years.
However, she left it behind in 1992, while Tom continued to practice. Fast forward nine years, the couple divorced, leaving the children with separated parents.
Connor and Isabella were raised as Scientologistsb and decided to stick with it, which formed a stronger bond with their father because of their shared dedication to the religion.
Growing up after the divorce, the children grew closer to their father, but farther from their mother, since she is considered a “suppressive person” by the church of Scientology. Because of this, she was not in attendance, nor did she receive an invitation to either Bella or Connor’s wedding.
Despite the negative relationship she has with her children, Nicole has maintained a strong stance on the “unconditional love” she has for them.
In 2018 – three years after Bella’s wedding and a year before Connor’s – Kidman spoke with Who Magazine about her relationship with her kids.
“I’m very private about all that,” she said, regarding the publicity of her children’s lives. “I have to protect all those relationships. I know 150 percent that I would give up my life for my children because it’s what my purpose is.”
“[Connor and Bella] are adults,” she added. “They are able to make their own decisions. They have made choices to be Scientologists and as a mother, it’s my job to love them.”
Many scenarios that estrange children from their parents can be difficult to mend. When religion becomes the main factor in a broken relationship, it becomes that much harder to fix. But Nicole is adamant about separating her children’s beliefs from the fact that she is their mother and must be a mother to them.
“And I am an example of that tolerance and that’s what I believe,” she stated, “that no matter what your child does, the child has love and the child has to know there is available love and I’m open here.”
“I think that’s so important because if that is taken away from a child, to sever that in any child, in any relationship, in any family – I believe it’s wrong,” she continued. “So that’s our job as a parent, to always offer unconditional love.”
Bella and Connor have not themselves been open to the media about their differing relationships with their parents. However, they are on social media and openly support their Scientology beliefs and have even posted about their father.
Bella posted a trailer for Top Gun: Maverick before the highly-anticipated film hit theaters last year.
As for Connor, he’s been seen multiple times attending Lakers NBA games with Tom.
Nicole, although has a troubling relationship with her two eldest children, is able to celebrate her younger ones, Sunday and Faith, whom she shares with her husband Keith Urban. The two have been happily married since 2006 and were able to naturally conceive their two daughters and live peacefully in Australia, New York, and Nashville, depending on what time of year you ask them.
Sources:
https://www.who.com.au/nicole-kidman-truth-connor-cruise-bella-cruise-adopted-kids
