Cruise comes to aid of persecuted

Berlin Tom Cruise, a well-known Scientologist, has asked the U.S. Ambassador to Germany Dan Coats to seek support for the organization’s fight with the German government.

Germany views Scientology as a potential threat to democracy and placed it under scrutiny in 1997. The church, which claims 8 million members worldwide, has denounced German treatment of its 30,000 adherents, such as banning them from public jobs.

The U.S. government, which has extended Scientology tax-free status as a religion since 1993, has criticized Germany’s treatment of the Scientologists. The most recent State Department report on human rights highlights state-published anti-Scientology pamphlets, including one from Hamburg that “claims that Scientology tries to infiltrate governments, offices, and companies, and that the church spies on its opponents, defames them, and “destroys” them.

Cruise was in Berlin last week to promote “Vanilla Sky.”

Harding quits home after eviction

Camas, Wash. Former figure skating champion Tonya Harding has moved out of her riverfront home following an eviction ruling last week from a Clark County judge.

Harding, 31, lived in the home overlooking the Columbia River between Camas and Vancouver with her manager, Linda Lewis.

They had rented the three-bedroom 1,300-square-foot ranch house since August 2000, according to court documents. They owed $4,530 in unpaid rent.

The judge last week ordered Harding to pay the back rent and move out by midnight Wednesday. The house was empty Thursday.

It was not immediately clear where Harding went. On the day of the eviction ruling, she said she planned to stay in the Portland area.

Seven years ago, Harding’s skating career took a dive because of an attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan before the 1994 U.S. National Championships. Harding denied advanced knowledge of the attack on Kerrigan but admitted to helping cover it up. As a result, the U.S. Figure Skating Assn. banned Harding for life.

3rd time may be charm for Crowe

Los Angeles Russell Crowe, likely to earn a third straight Oscar nomination as best actor, also will make his third appearance as a presenter at this year’s Academy Awards.

Last year, Crowe won the best-actor Oscar for “Gladiator.” The year before, the 37-year-old actor was nominated for “The Insider.”

He probably will be nominated again for “A Beautiful Mind,” in which he stars as Nobel Prize-winning mathematician John Nash, who struggled with schizophrenia. The role earned Crowe a Golden Globe.

One thing is certain about Crowe’s role in the 74th Academy Awards on March 24. He will be one of the presenters, the show’s producer, Laura Ziskin, announced Wednesday.