The Church of Scientology is dismissing claims an actress and former church member is making against the religion and star acolyte Tom Cruise in an upcoming ABC 20/20 episode.

In a teaser trailer, actress Leah Remini talks about her falling out with Scientology, adding that criticism of Cruise is tantamount to criticizing the church.

“Being critical of Tom Cruise is being critical of Scientology itself. You are evil,” Remini explains.

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The actress is asked “If you knew that Tom Cruise was watching this, what would you say to him?” before the clip cuts off.

Remini made a high profile exit from the church saying she feared it’s effect upon her daughter and how isolating being a Scientologist can be.

“As time goes on, you start to lose touch with the real world. The mindset becomes ‘Us against them,’” Remini said. “The decision to leave is you are giving up everything you have ever known and everything you have worked for your whole life.”

Asked to comment on the Remini interview, the church released a statement reading: “It comes as no surprise that someone as self-absorbed as Leah Remini continues to rewrite history and exploit her former religion in a pathetic attempt to get ratings.”

Pressed on how she feels about the statement, Remini said it initially made her sad.

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“It makes me sad to hear that from a group I was in most of my life and that I supported, so my first instinct is to be hurt,” she explained. “But then I understand why they have to say these things. I can only be me, I have to tell my story.”

“Just to add, I think it’s an interesting place to come from, coming from an organization that says we don’t talk about our former parishioners and yet, here we are,” she continued.

Remini’s book “Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology” is set to be released next week and comes on the heels of the HBO special “Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief” based upon a book by the same name that was highly critical of the secretive religion.

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Watch clips of Remini below via ABC:



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