SCIENTOLOGY OFFICIAL MIKE RINDER TALKS TO NBC NEWS' HODA KOTB ABOUT TOM CRUISE AND THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY

Interview to Air Tonight on "Dateline NBC" at 7 p.m.

NEW YORK -- May 7, 2006 -� Mike Rinder, Executive Director of the Office of Special Affairs of the Church of Scientology International talks in a rare interview to NBC News' Hoda Kotb about Tom Cruise and the Church of Scientology. In the interview, which airs tonight on "Dateline NBC" at 7 p.m., Rinder discusses, among other things, Tom Cruise's outspokenness regarding the Church, whether the Church actively recruits celebrities, and the "auditing" process in the Church.

Below are excerpts from the interview. For a full transcript, please contact megan.kopf@nbcuni.com.

David Corvo is the executive producer of "Dateline NBC."

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MIKE RINDER:

I've known Tom for uh, 15 years. I consider him a friend.

HODA KOTB

Do you think he's a good spokesperson for Scientology?

MIKE RINDER

I think he's a very good representation of what a Scientologist is. I think he's obviously successful. He's obviously very happy. He does a lot to help other people. He lives an ethical life.

HODA KOTB

Does the church ever call Tom Cruise and say, "You know what? Pull back the reins a little.

MIKE RINDER

No, I don't think anybody in the world calls Tom Cruise and tells him to (LAUGHS) pull back the reins.

HODA KOTB:

Do-- does the church actively recruit celebrities?

MIKE RINDER:

No, no. The church is open to anybody.

HODA KOTB:

Okay. So no one specifically-- no one's specifically told, "We'd like to get more celebrities because celebrities sort of up the profile of Scientology. We have a list of celebrities�

MIKE RINDER

Hoda, absolutely not. Absolutely not.

TRACK: MAYBE NOT. BUT HOW MANY RELIGIONS HAVE A DESIGNATED CELEBRITY CENTER? AND HE CONFIRMS THAT THE CHURCH KEEPS CONFIDENTIAL FILES ON CELEBRITY AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH WHO UNDERGO AUDITING.

HODA KOTB

So what happens-- my question is what happens to those notes? Those files?

MIKE RINDER

The-- they're locked in a-- in file cabinets in locked rooms.

HODA KOTB

Never to be opened.

MIKE RINDER

Never. Only the auditor�They are for the auditor not anybody else.

TRACK: THE CHURCH SAYS FORMER AUDITOR BRUCE HINES NEVER MET WITH NICOLE KIDMAN AND SHOULD NOT DISCUSS HIS WORK FOR THE CHURCH. THE CHURCH GOES ON TO DISPUTE BOTH HIS AND KAREN PRESSLEY'S STATEMENTS AND QUESTIONS THEIR MOTIVES.

MIKE RINDER

Just because someone says something, particularly a former someone who is a-- you know, seeking to get-- have their minute of fame by making statement that sounds sensational. That doesn't make it true.

HODA KOTB

Do you consider Tom Cruise, the church's biggest asset or liability?

MIKE RINDER

Oh, come on. Is that a joke question?

HODA KOTB

It's a question.

MIKE RINDER

Asset or liability? Tom Cruise is the biggest movie star in the world, and Tom Cruise is a Scientologist.