Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes

Sure, he's got some issues now -- his movie tanked, he's getting divorced -- but Tom Cruise is turning the big 5-0 today ... and he STILL looks like $275 million (minus Katie's share).

Here's the actor as a 29-year-old back in 1992 (left) -- and over 20 years later, the new fiftogenarian at some event in June.

The question ...

The Church of Scientology is adamant ... nobody under the age of 16, including Suri Cruise, is allowed to join its elite Sea Organization.

The Church's lawyer has released a statement ... saying in addition to the minimum age requirement (16 years old), minors must have "consent of both parents and/or all legal guardians" in order to join.

The lawyer adds, "There are no exceptions to that policy."

As TMZ first reported, Katie Holmes is concerned Tom Cruise will put 6-year-old Suri in the Sea Org. in the very near future ... and she clearly does NOT want that to happen.

It's gone -- Katie Holmes has finally removed her wedding ring.

Holmes was photographed moments ago in NYC, as she left a "Project Runway" taping ... sans finger jewelry.

Katie had worn the ring as recently as last week -- just days before she filed for divorce from Tom on Thursday.

TMZ broke the story ... Katie believes her marriage to Tom became "irretrievably broken" at least 6 months ago -- so the fact that she was still wearing her wedding ring last week is another sign she intentionally blindsided Tom with divorce papers.

TMZ has learned ... Katie Holmes says her marriage to Tom Cruise was "irretrievably" broken at least 6 months prior to her filing for divorce ... this according to divorce documents filed in New York.

Sources connected to Tom tell TMZ ... Katie's contention is baffling, because he had "no idea" she was about to file for divorce. As the sources told us last week, Tom was "blindsided" by the filing.

Indeed, take a look at the pic (below) of Tom and Katie strolling the streets of Iceland hand-in-hand a little more than 2 weeks ago.

But wait ... there's more.

We've also learned ... Katie claims in her divorce documents that both she and Tom have been residents of New York for "at least 2 years." Katie, who filed in NYC, must establish legal residency in NY in order for the court to have jurisdiction -- something she wants because New York courts are more likely to grant sole custody of Suri.

No doubt ... Tom -- who shared a home with Katie in Beverly Hills for years -- will fight the residency claim tooth and nail.

Katie Holmes has fired her old security team because they were way too close to Tom Cruise ... TMZ has learned.

The team -- made up of a bodyguard and driver -- worked for Tom for years, before Tom even met Katie ... and when he and Katie hooked up, Tom assigned the duo to Katie full-time.

The security team worked directly for Katie for years -- but today, Katie appeared with a new security detail made up of 5-6 bodyguards. Neither the old bodyguard nor the driver was anywhere in sight.

Sources connected to the actress tell us, Katie let the old team go after filing for divorce last week -- because of their allegiance to Tom. It's unclear if the duo were Scientologists.

The last time Katie was seen with her old security team was last Tuesday. Katie filed for divorce on Thursday.

10:14 AM PT -- Katie is in NYC to tape an episode of "Project Runway: All Stars."

We're told Katie will be a guest judge.

Katie Holmes finally surfaced in New York City today ... flanked by security ... and sporting the look of a woman who's unencumbered by marriage or religion.

It's the first time Katie has been seen in public since she filed for divorce from Tom Cruise last week.

According to reports, Tom is still in Iceland ... where he's been filming a movie.

The final straw in Katie Holmes' decision to file for divorce was that she was convinced Tom Cruise was going to send 6-year-old Suri away to a hardcore Scientology organization known as Sea Organization ... sources connected with Katie tell TMZ.

Sea Org, as it is known, is where the highest levels of Scientology are taught -- and according to the Church website, it is composed of adults and minors who have committed their lives to the volunteer service of their religion. Our sources say Tom is a big fan.

Our sources say Katie and Tom had been arguing over Suri's indoctrination into Scientology -- and we're told the Sea Org was the flashpoint.

The Sea Org has been often compared to a boot camp and several ex-Scientologists (including Oscar winner Paul Haggis) have been outspoken against its military-like conditions. The Freewinds, the massive Scientology boat that was the location of Cruise's infamous birthday party in 2004, is entirely staffed by Sea Org members.

According to the official Scientology website, members of Sea Org sign "a one-billion-year pledge to symbolize their eternal commitment to the religion and it is still signed by all members today."

Katie herself has first-hand knowledge of the Sea Org. When Holmes and Cruise first hooked up in 2005, Jessica Feshbach, a prominent Scientologist who had been with the Sea Org since 1994, was transferred and became Katie's assistant/Scientology chaperone. Feshbach, in one of Katie's first interviews after getting together with Cruise, was described by a writer for W magazine as "cold-eyed" and "a third-wheel."

The Church of Scientology has responded to TMZ’s story ... that Katie Holmes believes she is being followed by the Church -- they say it ain't so.

Gary Soter, lawyer for the Church, tells TMZ ... the Church of Scientology is not following Katie or conducting surveillance on her in the wake of her divorce with Tom Cruise.

Katie Holmes believes Scientology now views her as a threat to the organization and has put a team on her tail ... sources close to the actress tell TMZ.

We're told Katie believes in recent weeks -- as the discord between her and Tom Cruise grew -- Scientology has been following her moves, especially in New York City.

This does not appear to be the mind of a paranoid person. People who have photographed Katie multiple times tell TMZ there have been several "mysterious" men and vehicles around Katie's apartment and following her when she's out.

Specifically ... a white Cadillac Escalade and black Mercedes SUV (see above) have been seen near Katie's NYC apartment for the past week.

FYI -- there is a publication that has put a tail on Katie, but the people doing that are separate from the people Katie believes have been dispatched from Scientology.

It is unclear if the two vehicles that have been constantly spotted near Holmes' pad are from Scientology or from the publication.

If Katie is able to keep the divorce in New York -- where courts generally like to award sole legal custody to one parent or the other when there is conflict -- proof that she's being tailed could help her case.

Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise were both in New York City in the weeks leading up to her filing for divorce, but they did NOT stay under the same roof ... TMZ has learned.

According to our sources, Tom was in town for a few days around June 10 to film a movie. We're told Tom did not stay in the apartment the couple has in NYC ... but rather at The Greenwich Hotel ... and never once stepped in or near the apartment.

Our sources say Katie, meanwhile, was going back and forth between the apartment she and Tom shared, and a new apartment she recently got. The two were both photographed during their time in NYC (see above) but never together.

We're told Katie did bring Suri to visit Tom at the hotel on two occasions for a few hours and that the visits were unplanned -- Tom's own security didn't even know they were coming.

According to the people we spoke to in Tom and Katie's building ... they couldn't remember the last time they had seen Tom. Our sources say that while they were clearly having problems, Tom had no idea this was coming and his entire team was caught flat-footed by the filing.

Divorces, violence, and even a racial controversy -- it seems the "Rock of Ages" cast has been smothered in bad fortune from the moment the project began. It's almost like ... THEY'RE CURSED!

Think about it ...

Tom Cruise -- "Blindsided" with divorce papers from Katie Holmes ... who filed in New York instead of California because she's gunning for sole legal custody of their daughter.

Russell Brand -- Marriage to Katy Perry goes belly up after production begins on "Rock" ... later investigated by police in New Orleans for smashing an iPhone belonging to a paparazzo.

Mary J. Blige -- Engulfed in racial controversy back in April ... after she was featured singing about fried chicken in a Burger King commercial. Mary's charity's went broke and was sued after failing to pay back a $250k loan.

Alec Baldwin -- Kicked off a flight in Dec. after screaming at a flight attendant who asked him to stop playing "Words with Friends." Later went to cops to report an alleged stalker. Investigated by the NYPD after allegedly attacking a photog.

Julianne Hough -- We can't think of anything ... yet ... but don't say we didn't warn you.

Katie Holmes' master plan to file for divorce in New York may have created HUGE tax problems for Tom Cruise ... sources connected with the couple tell TMZ.

TMZ broke the story ... Katie filed divorce docs in NYC, in large part because she wants sole legal custody of Suri and New York courts are way more likely to grant Katie sole legal custody and control over child-rearing decisions than California courts.

But here's the problem ... sources connected with the couple tell us ... Tom has been trying to do everything legally within his power to avoid strong ties to New York City because the tax rates are ridiculously high ... and he does not want any appearance that he or Katie have been living there.

But here's the thing ... TMZ has obtained documents which show Tom deeded their NYC apartment to Katie last August and our sources say it was done specifically for tax purposes. Point of fact ... the deed lists a transfer to a trust, but TMZ has confirmed it's a trust established for the benefit of Katie.

Sources say Katie is using the apartment to establish residency in New York for the purpose of the divorce -- something we're told can screw Tom tax-wise.

Katie Holmes is divorcing Tom Cruise because she fears Tom will force her into the Church of Scientology, hook, line and sinker. So we gotta ask ...

Tom Cruise was spotted today for the first time since news of his divorce from Katie Holmes broke ... riding aboard a helicopter in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Katie shocked the world yesterday (ok, not really) when she filed for divorce after five years of marriage to the "Rock of Ages" star.

Katie Holmes had a VERY good reason for filing for divorce from Tom Cruise in New York ... because unlike California ... NY is a state that doesn't like giving waring parents joint power to make decisions for their kid.

As TMZ first reported, Katie filed the papers in New York ... and we know she's gunning for sole legal custody of 6-year-old Suri primarily because she doesn't want Tom to drag their daughter into the Church of Scientology.

Despite the fact Tom and Katie filed their marriage certificate in California, Katie went all the way to the East Coast to file the divorce docs because she knows she has a MUCH better chance of getting sole legal custody there ... New York family law judges typically don't like giving two parents who don't get along the power to make child-rearing decisions because they believe the kids will suffer from endless conflicts.

But ... our sources say Tom may mount a fight to bring the case to California ... which favors joint legal custody.

Tom Cruise really had NO CLUE Katie Holmes planned to file for divorce -- at least judging by this photo, showing what appears to be a blissfully ignorant Tom clinging to his soon-to-be ex-wife ... just two weeks ago.

The photo was snapped on June 16th in a city called Reykjavik -- where Tom's been filming his new movie -- and by the looks of it, Tom wasn't suspecting a thing as far as divorce was concerned ... walking around hand-in-hand with Katie.

And Katie didn't let on either.

The pic is even more proof Tom was "blindsided" by the divorce papers.

TMZ broke the story ... Katie filed divorce docs against Tom in New York yesterday, citing "irreconcilable differences."