Says Church Saved His Life ‘a Couple of Times’ : Travolta Joins Scientology Protest Against Court

PORTLAND, Ore. — Actor John Travolta joined thousands of other Church of Scientology members and supporters today in a “crusade for religious freedom” to protest a $39-million fraud judgment against the group.

Travolta, star of “Saturday Night Fever,” said, “I just feel it’s time to stand up for what one believes in, and I certainly believe in it (Scientology).”

He said he felt he should do something for the organization because if there is “something you feel has saved your life a couple of times, you do that for it--and it has.”

Travolta, a follower of Scientology for about a decade, said he flew to Oregon in his private jet.

More than 2,500 church members were in Portland by early today to protest a county circuit court jury’s damage award in a suit brought by ex-church member Julie Christofferson Titchbourne, 27, who charged that the church, founded by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard in the late 1950s, made fraudulent misrepresentations to her, claiming it would improve her study habits and eyesight.

Folk singer Melanie, a Scientologist, and Frank Stallone, brother of actor Sylvester Stallone, also were here to join the protest.