family, he was left with a Polish woman during World War II, who baptized him and raised him Catholic; he was returned to his parents in 1944, whereupon he reverted to Judaism. Paula Fredriksen, American scholar and historian of religion Aaron Freeman, American journalist and comedian Thomas Jones, English publisher John King, American journalist and the host of CNN's State of the Union Anne Meara (1929–2015), American comedian and actress, partner and wife of Jerry Stiller Mary Doria Russell, American author Jews of San Nicandro, Roman Catholic proselyte community to Judaism in Italy Joseph Abraham Steblicki, teacher and treasurer Karen Tintori, American author of fiction and nonfiction Géza Vermes, biblical scholar, Hebraist and historian of religion, best known for being an eminent historical Jesus scholar and translator of the Dead Sea Scrolls; a former Catholic priest of Jewish descent, he rediscovered his Jewish roots, abandoned Christianity and converted to Liberal Judaism. John David Scalamonti, former Catholic priest, converted to Orthodox Judaism. Kenneth Cox, former Catholic priest; changed his name to Abraham Carmel and converted to Orthodox Judaism. Kabbalah Ariana Grande, American actress and singer Madonna, American singer-songwriter, actress, and businesswoman Raëlism Brigitte Boisselier, mostly known for her association with Clonaid and the Raëlian Church, raised as a Catholic in Champagne-Ardenne, holds a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of Dijon in France and another one in analytical chemistry from the University of Houston Scientology Tom Cruise, American actor, originally desired to become a priest. His girlfriend Katie Holmes married him and also switched from Catholicism to Scientology, but upon her divorce from Cruise in 2012, she returned to the Roman Catholic Church. Jenna Elfman, American actress David Miscavige, leading figure in Scientology John Travolta, American actor, in 1975 Nancy Cartwright, American actress Catherine Bell, American actress Debatable This section lists some who, while adopting ideas that some others would consider incompatible with the Catholic faith, may have defected from the Church neither by a formal act nor even informally by an act of heresy, schism or apostasy. Mere attendance at services of another religion or adoption of certain meditation techniques need not signify abandonment of one's own religion. According to a 2009 survey of the Pew Research Center Forum on Religion and Public Life, one in five American Catholics report that they at times attend places of worship other than the local Catholic parish (which does not have to