scientology, the world is going to blow up. she was terrified to go to school. her son joins the sea organization. she starts speaking out against the church. in these texts from 2011 j she asks her son if she can visit him for mother's day saying i want to see you and i miss you so very much. he texts back and says what you're doing is not okay with me. if she wants to speak with him, she must get back in good standing with the church. >> i said i can't. just let me be your mom. i want to be in your life. >> reporter: as of now, both of her children refuse to speak to her. >> it's not right. what they're doing to families. it's not just my family. there's many families all around the world that are broken up to this disconnection. >> reporter: the church provided abc news with video statements from both of her children. >> she keeps going to the media and putting our personal information and our life for the world to see with false information. >> i don't believe that she really wants a relationship with me. i think it is more

the powerful leader of the church of scientology. david miscavige. >> and now the subject of a new book titled "ruthless." the publishers told us, officials from the church asked them not to release it. what's in it? dan harris is about to find out. >> reporter: you have written a whole book about your son, and you've called the book "ruthless." >> yeah. >> reporter: that's a pretty damning charge to level against your own child. >> right. he wasn't always that way. when he was a kid, i am telling you, he was a lovable kid. >> reporter: ron miscavige says long before his son became the almighty leader of one of the most controversial new religions on the planet -- >> how much must one do to call himself a scientologist? >> reporter: before all of those speeches to cheering crowds of believers, and before all that elbow-rubbing with celebrity scientologists like tom cruise, john travolta and kirstie alley, david was just a regular kid growing up in this middle class neighborhood in wilingboro, new jersey. >> they had four kids over th

the church of scientology has dealt with many high profile defectors.ut the father of the undisputed leader of the church quitting, leaving the church and having a war within scientology's ruling family. >> i have never met a more competent and more intelligent and more tolerant, more compassionate being. >> that is how tom cruise describes david miscavige, the unquestioned leader of scientology, one of the most controversial new religions on the planet. >> it's a story that affects every scientologist. >> reporter: within the church, he's exalted. >> thank you. it's my pleasure. >> reporter: he rubs shoulders with celebrities such as cruise, john travolta and others. among some former members he's wildly controversial. >> he uses that power to hurt people. >> we were hoping to talk to david miscavige if he's here today. >> i don't think that's possible. today he's busy. >> reporter: miscavige is famously press shy. >> it's not cool to be set up here this afternoon. >> reporter: his live television interview nearly 25 years ago here on "nightline." >> i

. >> reporter: they say they're out of the church of scientology after four decades but their children are still in last year and we weren't centei a phone call from michael, he didn't want to have anything to do with never want to talk to you again. >> reporter: the couple says they tried to track him down at the center. >> the security people come up and say you're not welcome here. >> reporter: they claim the church disconnected them. disconnection is say scientology determine for ending communication with those who are antagonistic to the church which says that the choice to disconnect is entirely voluntary. >> your daughter's 38 and your son is 42. >> right. >> they're adults and have free will and could reach out to their parents if they chose. >> you would think that. that's not necessarily the case in scientology. >> reporter: in a statement, the church says it is despicable that these individuals would use a private family matter to promote anti-religious ha bigotry. >> reporter: they say you're promoting anti- bout reconnectsing >> and sending the disconnection which is an of

a rare look inside the secretive church of scientology. its most famous celebrity member, tom cruise. now, new claims tonight about its powerful leader, david miscavige. they come in a new book, written by david miscavige's own father, after he broke away from scientology and from his own son. abc's dan harris, with the father and the family now ripped in two. >> reporter: ron miscavige, now breaking ranks and publicly criticizing his own son, the powerful leader of the church of scientology, david miscavige. >> if you are a scientologist, you are one of the relative few that hold the answers in your possession that all humankind depend upon. >> reporter: ron was in the church for decades, but has now left and written a book, which he discusses in an exclusive interview with abc news. you have written a whole book about your son, and you've called the book "ruthless." >> yeah. >> reporter: that's a pretty damning charge to level against your own child. >> he wasn't always that way. when he was a kid, i am telling you, he was a lovable kid.

. >> but first, inside the secretive world of scientology. former scientologist and the father to the leader of the religion is speaking out about his son. and the controversy surrounding the church. that's an abc news exclusive you don't want to miss. >>> also ahead on the run with we're checking in with the stars of that hit film and find out how the epic ending might have been different. >> remember to find us on facebook wnnfans.com and twitter @abcwnn. you're watching "world news now." approaching medicare eligibility? you may think you can put off checking out your medicare options until you're sixty-five, but now is a good time to get the ball rolling. keep in mind, medicare only covers about eighty percent of part b medical costs. the rest is up to you. that's where aarp medicare supplement insurance plans insured by unitedhealthcare insurance company come in. like all standardized medicare supplement insurance plans, they could help pay some of what medicare doesn't, saving you in out-of-pocket medical costs. you've learned that taki

new details coming to light about the feud between scientology leader and his father.st ahead, how the church is now hitting back. >>> i'm "7 on your side's" michael finney. michael finney. from drones to cable tv, vo: across america, people are taking charge of their type 2 diabetes with non-insulin victoza®. for a while, i took a pill to lower my blood sugar. but it didn't get me to my goal. so i asked my doctor about victoza®. he said victoza® works differently than pills. and comes in a pen. victoza® is proven to lower blood sugar and a1c. it's taken once a day, any time. victoza® is not for weight loss, but it may help you lose some weight. victoza® works with your body to lower blood sugar in 3 ways: in the stomach, the liver, and the pancreas. vo: victoza® is an injectable prescription medicine that may improve blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes when used with diet and exercise. it is not recommended as the first medication to treat diabetes and should not be used in people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis. victoza® has not been studied with

. >>> all-out war inside scientology's ruling family. the father of the church's leader speaks out calling his son ruthless. >> that taste of power, i think, is what changed david. >> with a volatile temper. >> cursing, yelling, screaming at me. >> this morning he opens up about why he left scientology and faces a bitter backlash from the church. the exclusive interview you'll see only on "gma." >>> no laughing matter. will ferrell under fire for his plans to play ronald reagan suffering from alzheimer's in a new film. the former president's family in an uproar. what they are saying this morning. >>> and good morning, america. happy friday. what a morning it is here in times square. we are kicking off the finale of our huge wedding event. >> it's huge. final touches under way as you can see. the countdown is on for the big finish to our 24-hour marathon 100 weddings in one day and it has been an incredible event. look at elvis there. >> yes, absolutely and we're calling it our "wide world of weddings." taking place all over the globe. ri

those parents that they used to be members of the church of scientology. >> but not anymore. their children are still in the church and haven't been in touch in several years. abc's matt gutman with the story. >> reporter: it's a desperate three stories high jinks and 50 feet across. >> why the billboard? >> well, we tried everything. we tried phoning. we didn't know what else to do. we figured we'd better make some statement. >> reporter: but phil and willy jones say they don't expect their two adult children emily and michael to actually call. >> it has been hard. i can't tell you how many times we've cried about it. >> reporter: they say they're out of the church of scientology after four decades but their children are still in it. >> our daughters got married last year and we weren't told. >> reporter: they say both of their children work within the church. their son at scientology's celebrity center which has hosted some of hollywood's biggest stars. >> whether he i did finally get a phone call from michael, he didn't want to have anything to do with us. he said i never

a rare look inside the secretive church of scientology and its powerful leader, david miscavige. his father speaking out about the church and his own son. and what he calls his son's ferocious temper, and about scientology's most famous member, tom cruise. here's dan harris. >> reporter: when tom cruise celebrated his 42nd birthday, the man next to him was the undisputed leader of scientology, david miscavige. but look in the background. the older gentleman playing the horn? that's ron miscavige, david's dad. who's now going public. what's the relationship? >> tom cruise thinks that david is the top spiritual being on the planet. they're, like, the best of buddies. >> reporter: he's speaking out about why he decided to leave the church, and write a book about his own son called "ruthless." >> power tends to corrupt. and absolute power corrupts absolutely. that taste of power, i think, is what changed david. >> reporter: he said he experienced his son's temper one night. david gave him an extended tongue lashing with other scientologists looking on. >> he's backstage, tearing me a

. >> reporter: the jones say they are out of the church scientology after four decades, but say their children are still in it. >> our daughter got married last year and we weren't told. we don't know when, exactly she got married. >> reporter: the jones say both children work within the church, their son at scientology's celebrity center, which has hosted some of hollywood's biggest stars. >> when i did finally get a phone call from michael he said i never want to talk to you again. >> reporter: the couple tried to track him down at the center. >> they won't allow us on the property. the security people come up and say you are not welcome here. >> reporter: phil and willie it is a scientology term for ending communication with those who are antagonistic to the church which says the choice to disconnect is entirely volunteer. >> reporter: your daughter is 38 ask your son is 42? >> yes. >> reporter: they are adults and could reach out if they so chose? >> you would think that. but that is not necessarily the case in scientology. >> reporter: in a statement the church says it is despica

sites in hollywood but say contracts with two different advertisers were cancelled. >> i'm scientology reporter: they found this site with another company. other parents came out for the unveiling. >> i hope that eventually this toxic practice of disconnecting families ends cht. >> reporter: the family hoping the children see these words and hear their plea. >> we love you guys so much and miss you so much. >> and we won't stop fighting for you ever, ever. >> we love you. >> reporter: on this church of scientology website the church says there is no policy that requires church members to disconnect. the jones have said up their own website for other families to share their stories of being disconnected. >> thank you very much. >>> in los angeles the police department just opened a criminal investigation against allegations. >> reporter: this morning police in los angeles confirm charlie sheen is under criminal investigation. his exfiance claiming he threatened her life. reports of an explosive secret audio recording. the national enquirer published what they say are quotes from the rec

this is a huge story in scientology circles.ts atop one of the most controversial churches on earth and now his own dad has quit scientology and written a book about his time in the church. scientology is hitting back hard and now leah remini is enterin the fray. this morning, leah remini -- >> you are unbelievable. >> reporter: the former star of "the king of queens" going to bat for a fellow ex-scientologist. >> he has a right to tell his story. >> reporter: ron miscavige, the father of the powerful leader of the church, david miscavige. >> if you were a scientologist you are one of the relative few that hold the answers in your possession that all humankind depend upon. >> reporter: david miscavige bears the title of chairman of the board or cob and he was the best man at the wedding of tom cruise and katie holmes. >> so i say to you, c.o.b., we are lucky to have you and thank you very much. >> reporter: when word hit that david miscavige's own father, the now 82-year-old ron miscavige had left the church after decades of ser

in the church of scientologies teachings describe the family as the building block of any society.t time they spoke with their son michael was two years ago. >> said i never want to talk to you again. that's what they do. it's a cruel and vindictive organization. >> reporter: the jones who were members of the church say they are now victims of disconnecting, cut off from their children after being labelled suppressive people. >> scientology is not allowing me to be a mom. >> reporter: they rented a billboard on a busy street of los angeles appealing to my loved one in scientology, call me. in a statement the church said the billboard was promoting anti-religious hate and bigotry adding two people desperate for publicity. they say they are working on a documentary and wouldn't be the first time the church has been shown in an unflattering light. form eer describe dissecconnect >> she said i have to disconnect from you. i was concentrating on smelling her hair, touching her skin. >> reporter: the jones family planned to put up their billboard near scientology sites in hollywood but s

thank you very much, gio. >>> coming up next, calling out the church of scientology. one couple's plea to reach their estranged children with this billboard in their backyard. >>> your world first exclusive look at at the "star wars" movie is just moments away.ital after a dvt blood clot. what about my wife... ...what we're building together... ...and could this happen again? i was given warfarin in the hospital, but wondered, was this the best treatment for me? i spoke to my doctor and she told me about eliquis. eliquis treats dvt and pe blood clots not only does eliquis treat dvt and pe blood clots. but eliquis also had significantly less major bleeding than the standard treatment. knowing eliquis had both... ...turned around my thinking. don't stop eliquis unless youdoctor tells you to. eliquis can cause serious, andin rare cases, fatal bleeding. don't take eliquis if you havean artificial heart valve or abnormal bleeding. if you had a spinal injectionwhile on eliquis call your doctor right away ifyou have tingling, numbness, or muscle weakness. while taking eliqui

a rare look inside the powerful church of scientology and its his father speaking out about his own son. here's dan harris. >> reporter: when tom cruise celebrated his 41st birthday, the man next to him was the undisputed leader of scientology, david miscavige. but playing the horn, ron miscavige, his dad. what's the relationship? >> tom cruise thinks that david is the top spiritual being on the planet. >> reporter: he's speaking out about why he decided to leave the church, and write a book about his own son called "ruthless." >> power tends to corrupt. that taste of power, i think, is what changed david. >> reporter: he said one night, tongue lashing with other scientists look on. >> he's backstage, tearing me apart for 55 minutes. cursing, screaming, yelling at me. >> reporter: he says his life in the sea org became unbearable because of crushing workloads and little sleep. the church is pushing back. >> they may work hard, but they enjoy it. >> reporter: and letters from ron's former band mates calling him lazy and a disgusting pig. and ron said if he was that bad, he would have nev

phil and willie jones left the church scientology after 40 years. but their son and daughter both work for the church and have not spoken with their parents since they left the religion. the jonses claim that is because they have been disconnected. that is a term for ending communication with people who are hostile toward the church. >> your daughter is 38 and your son is 42. they could reach out if they so chose? >> you would think so but that is not necessarily the case in scientology. i don't know if the billboard is going to do anything, but it is another step. >> the church scientology says the jonses are using a private family matter to promote antireligious bigotry and hatred. "star wars" movie has got millions of views online from its premiere on "good morning america" this morning. rogue 1 chronicles the rebel effort to steal the empire's plans for the first death star. the movie is produced by disney, the parent company of wabc. if you want to see the full movie trailer, head to our website abc 7 ny. >>> he predicted it would be raining by

the leader of the church of scientology under attack from his own father saying power has >> he wasn't always that way. when he was a kid, i am telling you, he was a lovable kid. >> telling his story after leaving scientology. the church hitting back hard. this morning, leah remini coming to his defense. it's only on "gma." >>> and good morning, america. happy thursday. we like to call it wedding day here in times square. a lot of that coming up and robin is in rome at the vatican today. look at vatican city right there. what a gorgeous shot enrobin is there for a very special event. >> bon giorno, america. yes, i'm here in the middle of moderating and participating in a history-making conference. it's something that is very near and dear to my heart about stem cell research. yep, doing that here at the vatican. it could provide hope for girl whose story i cannot wait to share with you and i will later this morning. but now back to you in new york. amy and george. >> all right, robin, thank you. we know the vatican is especially important for robin. there before her own stem cell trans

. >>> all-out war inside scientology's ruling family.ather of the church's leader speaks out calling his son ruthless. >> that taste of power, i think, is what changed david. >> with a volatile temper. >> cursing, yelling, screaming at me. >> this morning he opens up about why he left scientology and faces a bitter backlash from the church.

the leader of the church of scientology under attack from his own father saying power has

. >>> all-out war inside scientology's ruling family. church's leader speaks out calling his son ruthless. >> that taste of power, i think, is what changed david. >> with a volatile temper. >> cursing, yelling, screaming at me. >> this morning he opens up about why he left scientology and faces a bitter backlash from the church.

volume, length, definition, choose love >>> this morning on "today," scientology disconnect. find out why couples have purchased a bill board in l.a. urging scientists to reconnect with loved ones that have been cut off. >>> ahead of today's masters tee off, a family day in augusta that had a number of holes in one. justin thomas, a perfect 130 yards that lands and rolls right into the cup for the ace. look at that. and that was immediately followed by ricky fowler who matched thomas's hole in one. there must by a trick there somewhere. two in a row, really? three time masters champion, gary player tee off at the seven hole. wait for it. >> there's lot of really good players that haven't played in 35 majors. >> yes. >> yes. worth the wait. that player's fourth career ace in the par three contest. he celebrated with his grandson, along with the golden bear himself, jack nicholas. >>> and jack teeing off and much more of a family friendly atmosphere. the masters tees off today in augusta. one cute little kid. soccer legend wambach. she was arrested on suspicion of dui. and the

. >>> all-out war inside scientology's ruling family. the father of the church's leader speaks out calling his son ruthless. >> that taste of power, i think, is what changed david. >> with a volatile temper. >> cursing, yelling, screaming at me. >> this morning he opens up about why he left scientology and faces a bitter backlash from the church. the exclusive interview you'll

. >> and the father of the leader of scientology is speaking out about life inside that controversialhurch and the battle brewing between him and his son. >> and the boycott of target is growing over their bathroom policy but will it really have an impact on the well known retailer? >> ♪ >> ♪ >> turns out will ferrell will not play ronald reagan a movie that's already being widely criticized. it had been widely reported that ferrell was set to star in the film which focused on president reagan at the beginning of his second term as dementia began to set in but today ferrell's rep released a statement that while it is by no means an alzheimer's comedy as has been suggested by many mr. ferville not pursuing this project. >> ron miss catch have much the father of david miss cavage speaks for the first time about his life inside the church. in a interview ron now 80 is speaking out about why he decided to leave the church and write a book about his own son called ruthless. >> power tends to corrupt. and absolute power corrupt absolutely. that taste of power i think is what changed david.