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Here's how the English-language edition of Der Spiegel views the developments (note too the little box with related stories at the foot of the page) and here, as a side story, is a bit about how the Cruise biopic is upsetting the family of the man Cruise portrays.
And, as far as Scientology as a religion goes, I suggest you connect back to this Vital Signs Blog post of a couple of years ago, What's Behind Tom Cruise's Religion? A Hard Look at Scientology.