Cruise, 43, addressed questions about the religious faith of his pregnant bride-to-be, and Scientology's practice of 'silent birth' in an ABC News television interview broadcast yesterday.

Contrary to perceptions that Scientology frowns on giving painkillers to women in labour, Cruise added: "We're there, you know, with doctors . . . Whatever the woman wants . . . If she needs an epidural, she's gonna get her epidural."

Asked whether their baby would be given a Catholic baptism, Cruise said, "No, " then added: "I mean you can be Catholic and be a Scientologist. You can be Jewish and be a Scientologist.

But we're just Scientologists."

"Katie, too?" Sawyer asked.

"Katie, too, " he replied.

It was the first public acknowledgement from the couple that Holmes has joined Cruise, one of Scientology's most prominent adherents, in embracing a faith founded by science-fiction writer L Ron Hubbard.