Paul Haggis Renounces Church of Scientology in Blistering Letter
The Church of Scientology has long claimed many of Hollywood's most elite talents amongst its members, but now, one famous Scientologist is leaving the church, and he's not going quietly. In a candid, confrontational letter to Scientology top brass that's just been published online, Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis (Crash) details the abuses and cover-ups that have forced him to to leave Scientology after 35 years. It's a must-read.
The letter was originally published in four parts on the blog of ex-Scientologist Marty Rathbun, and it's directed at Scientology's current national spokesman, Tommy Davis. In it, Haggis takes Davis to task for doing nothing after the church's San Diego branch publicly sponsored the anti-gay Proposition 8.
As you know, for ten months now I have been writing to ask you to make a public statement denouncing the actions of the Church of Scientology of San Diego. [...] I called and wrote and implored you, as the official spokesman of the church, to condemn their actions. I told you I could not, in good conscience, be a member of an organization where gay-bashing was tolerated.
In that first conversation, back at the end of October of last year, you told me you were horrified, that you would get to the bottom of it and "heads would roll." You promised action. Ten months passed. No action was forthcoming. The best you offered was a weak and carefully worded press release, which praised the church's human rights record and took no responsibility. Even that, you decided not to publish.
The church's refusal to denounce the actions of these bigots, hypocrites and homophobes is cowardly. I can think of no other word. Silence is consent, Tommy. I refuse to consent.
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Dude, really? Some of these comments are just dumbfounding! CoS was simple started as a tax dodge, and now one of their high profile members speaks out, some take him to task over his pro gay stance. Get a brain. The whole thing is a money making, load of B.S. They don't believe in meds, well if my father in law didn't take his he'd be have seizures all the time, try breathing through the pain on that one! If my nana didn't take her heart meds she would have died years ago from a heart attack (but it's all in her head, wink wink). However we are born from aliens & they are coming back to save us.... (once you've bought 100 books or so)
Hmmmmm...... very interesting...I wonder what Paul's intention was in writing this letter?? Certainly not letting Scientology know he wanted to leave. Sound like he's trying to make Scientology look bad after they helped him!! Ha! In his own words! I don't believe for one minute that all Scientologists are anti-gay, I know some myself and I'm gay, so that's not true. It's like saying all Germans are Nazi's or all Christians hate gays. What a joke! What a joker!! I met him once and all he did was smoke and curse. What a great role model!
Since .000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000001%, at the best, of our Earth's population has even heard of Scientology, how can I get excited? Does any of this really matter against the big picture?
Maybe the black and white avenues are a bit narrow for most people. Everything else on the planet is in the gray zone. And from all evidence this subject of Scientology and everyone glued to it is floating around in one little gray raindrop.
I may be the only person ever get a refund of any kind from Scientology. I speak a foreign language and replied to Scientology's ad for translators of their materials. The branch I walked into (to apply
for this work) knew nothing about the translation situation.
But they chatted with me and learned that I was studying one more foreign language. They
said that their basic, "communications" course would teach me ways to learn languages
faster. AND there was a money-back guarantee.
There was nothing to lose, so I took their course and finished it. It was scary. There
was great pressure on the "students" in class to stand up one by one and say what they'd
learned each day. It was brain-washing, in a way.
When the course was over, I asked for my money back. I told them that this course
had not helped me learn the language I was studying. They told me (wait for it...) that I
must not have understood! If I'd understood the material, I would see how helpful it was.
I persisted and somehow got a refund. Maybe I'm the only one ...ever.
LOL!! That was brilliant.
Mr. Davis,
I understand that you are upset and have every right to be offended.
Consider the tone and character of those that offend. And treat the charge as you would any upset. From my past dealings with media they do not encourage real communication, if you get my drift.
As Mr. Pomerantz told me in October, "We are on the verge (coming onto a level playing field) and the enemy, knowing it does not have a chance on an even battlefield, will be throwing everything it has in the vain attempt to delay the inevitable - They are going down!" Their minion, The St. Pete Times is no exception. This is a bare-knuckle, no holds barred battle. Like JT in the role of Michael, treat it as a Big Game and the appropriate trophies shall adorn the wall at victory.
Godspeed and good luck,
Wm
When the ship sinks, I have no doubt that many of these very weird, brain washed, sick people will be found to also be gay!!!
You can bet that many are.Tom Cruise, when you coming out of that closet? God, I can't stand that man. He is so freakin ugly inside and out!
There's a lot more bad to this religion than just being intolerant. This is the weirdest religion I've every read about.
Its just another form of mindcotrol like jehovahs and mormons etc , just a different touch to it .These people are spiritual prisoners ......
You are nuts, sir.
Wm, your lies don't make things any better for either side.
I asked an ex-Scilon what Scientolgy's unofficial line on gays is and he said that they consider homosexuality a 'curable disease'.
Well, Paul Haggis is the one person to admire in Hollywood. Not only did he call it the way he saw it, but he resigned, and I'm sure is a much happier man because of his choice to leave.
And as for Scientologists, if they really think homosexuality is curable, I've got a bridge in Brookly to sell to 'em.
Just a heads up... your website looks very peculiar in Mozilla on a mac
Additionally the story isn't some want or unrealistic statement, slightly a fact.
Hey having a hard time reading your site on my smartphone is there a reason for this? I love reading blogs on the cab but this prohibits me from it.
The head of the cult of SCI is Satan himself. To dabble in this is to sell your soul. All SCI wants is money, money, money. Please tell me, how could stars be so utterly stupid. Jesus is the only answer.
Gay? Why do we have to be gay?
Agree. i think homosexual is wrong. like incest is. but being offensive against them won't cure. i mean if my brother was a homosexual, i would try my best to make him not be a homosexual. not by hitting him or yelling at him or hating him. but i'll never stop telling him and showing him and realizing him. and i want all homosexuals to be my brothers. and sisters..
[...] One high-profile Scientologist who left the church when he’d had enough is director Paul Haggis, who won an Oscar for Crash. In a 2009 letter to Scientology spokesman Tommy Davis, Haggis wrote: [...]
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