​'Crash' director Paul Haggis renounces Scientology over gay rights
Oscar-winning writer-director Paul Haggis finally quit Scientology after 32 years.
What do you think about Paul's reasons for leaving Scientology?
Do you think there will be ramifications for his Hollywood career?
Read on for more of Haggis' letter to Scientology celeb wrangler, Tommy Davis:
Dear Tommy,
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. Their public sponsorship of Proposition 8, a hate-filled
legislation that succeeded in taking away the civil rights of gay and
lesbian citizens of California – rights that were granted them by the
Supreme Court of our state – shames us.
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.
I joined the Church of Scientology thirty-five years ago. During my
twenties and early thirties I studied and received a great deal of
counseling. While I have not been an active member for many years,
I found much of what I learned to be very helpful, and I still apply
it in my daily life. I have never pretended to be the best Scientologist,
but I openly and vigorously defended the church whenever it was criticized,
as I railed against the kind of intolerance that I believed was directed
against it. I had my disagreements, but I dealt with them internally.
I saw the organization – with all its warts, growing pains and
problems – as an underdog. And I have always had a thing for underdogs.
But I reached a point several weeks ago where I no longer knew what to
think. You had allowed our name to be allied with the worst elements of
the Christian Right. In order to contain a potential "PR flap" you
allowed our sponsorship of Proposition 8 to stand. Despite all the
church's words about promoting freedom and human rights, its name is
now in the public record alongside those who promote bigotry and
intolerance, homophobia and fear.
The fact that the Mormon Church drew all the fire, that no one noticed,
doesn't matter. I noticed. And I felt sick. I wondered how the church
could, in good conscience, through the action of a few and then the
inaction of its leadership, support a bill that strips a group of its
civil rights.
This was my state of mind when I was online doing research and chanced
upon an interview clip with you on CNN. The interview lasted maybe ten
minutes – it was just you and the newscaster. And in it I saw you deny
the church's policy of disconnection. You said straight-out there was no
such policy, that it did not exist.
I was shocked. We all know this policy exists. I didn't have to search
for verification – I didn't have to look any further than my own home.
You might recall that my wife was ordered to disconnect from her parents
because of something absolutely trivial they supposedly did twenty-five
years ago when they resigned from the church. This is a lovely retired
couple, never said a negative word about Scientology to me or anyone
else I know – hardly raving maniacs or enemies of the church. In fact
it was they who introduced my wife to Scientology.
Although it caused her terrible personal pain, my wife broke off all
contact with them. I refused to do so. I've never been good at following
orders, especially when I find them morally reprehensible.
For a year and a half, despite her protestations, my wife did not speak
to her parents and they had limited access to their grandchild. It was a
terrible time.
That's not ancient history, Tommy. It was a year ago.
And you could laugh at the question as if it was a joke? You could
publicly state that it doesn't exist?
To see you lie so easily, I am afraid I had to ask myself: what else
are you lying about?
The great majority of Scientologists I know are good people who are
genuinely interested in improving conditions on this planet and helping
others. I have to believe that if they knew what I now know, they too
would be horrified. But I know how easy it was for me to defend our
organization and dismiss our critics, without ever truly looking at what
was being said; I did it for thirty-five years. And so, after writing
this letter, I am fully aware that some of my friends may choose to no
longer associate with me, or in some cases work with me. I will always
take their calls, as I always took yours. However, I have finally come
to the conclusion that I can no longer be a part of this group. Frankly,
I had to look no further than your refusal to denounce the church's
anti-gay stance, and the indefensible actions, and inactions, of those
who condone this behavior within the organization. I am only ashamed
that I waited this many months to act. I hereby resign my membership in
the Church of Scientology.
Sincerely,
Paul Haggis
Ps. I've attached our email correspondence. At some point it became
evident that you did not value my concerns about the church's tacit
support of an amendment that violated the civil rights of so many of our
citizens. Perhaps if you had done a little more research on me, the
church's senior management wouldn't have dismissed those concerns quite
so cavalierly. While I am no great believer in resumes and awards, this
is what you would have discovered: keep going.
More Scientology Dish:
Scientology critics cite prediction of Jett Travolta's death.
Lisa Marie Presley defends Scientology.
When one studies civilization and finds that the Irish people are 60,000 years old; 54,000 years older than the Jews/Palestinians; Egypt or Greece and that the myth of Catholicism or Christianity is a mere 2009 years old; one soon realizes that there is little evidence to prove any of the cross related bogus elements of that cult. In the year 300 AD when Emperor Constantine, who to some was the first pope; went on to fabricate Christianity - a fantasy - which turned out to be one of the most hateful & evil concoctions ever perpetrated on the world. The Vatican supported Hitler and religion is responsible for more corruption and violence in the world. Pope Ratzinger was involved in the Nazi youth. The Pope with his blatant witchcraft related to the bible and its hateful beliefs; tries to rule with extreme prejudice against a world ... that may fall victim to religions' absolute evil. To think of Matthew Shepard choking on his own blood after being savagely beaten; virtually sanctioned by the church ... is evil beyond comprehension ... yet is the same as boys being bullied into suicide; most likely being supported by their parents' religious cult.
Many theologians state quite correctly that the birth; crucifixion; resurrection and other elements of christianity actually didn't even happen! The pope is running a bigger fraud than Madoff's $50 billion ripoff. Today's evangelical extremists are like the nazis who cast others into ovens & are actually supremacists - who practice their bogus hocus pocus - and are trying to suppress and deprive others of their happiness and their legal rights in an open and proud society.
I am the son of a catholic father who never went to church and a protestant mother who took us to church and Sunday school. Although we as young children would sneak out the side door and play by the cannon from World War One where my grand-father fought for freedom as a Sgt Mgr at Vimy and father who fought at Normandy on D-Day for democracy. Onward christian soldiers ... I think not. Such absolute drivel. To be manipulated by a santa claus; an easter bunny and worst of all a bogus cross. One should appreciate each day of life and not expect another ... and if there is it might be given by a God of Love.
Perhaps the evil preachers should be told to take their cult out of America. United States is supposedly fighting for democracy? It is suppressing gay rights and following an extremist religious & bigoted family values path according to a basic cult riding roughshod over the rights of gay people. Canada and Britain are more civilized with its military and basic dignity. We must respect that these fine dignified gentlemen ... President Obama, His Excellency Governor Schwarzenegger, The Honorable Attorney General Jerry Brown, His Excellency Mayor Gavin Newson, Assemblyman Tom Ammiano & The Honorable Rep. Barney Frank (D) who is personally openly gay ... are trying to guarantee equal rights and reflect the respect shown to all.
Bigotry and hatemongering against gays should be banned. Tell them to take that cross and shove it where the sun don't shine ... and pay their taxes along the way before they take that cross down forever ... with its final station; extinction. It is written; so therefore it shall be? We are the chosen people? Such a wicked fantasy. To see the religious lunatics manipulate government and our lives ... is shameful. Gay rights must be given in Washington. It is a sometimes rare occurrence to fall in Love and to hold that person in your heart and be loved in return ... it is something that should be celebrated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If it is between two guys or girls ... all the better. It takes even more courage to defend that LOVE!
This bogus religious filth should be banned. It exists as a tax exempt structure which discriminates against human rights. The pope, bishops and mormons are cult members promoting discrimination against minorities. That bogus black book called the bible should be banned. Religion and the churches should now be exposed as a bigoted structure that gets away with hate mongering. Love between two guys or girls existed long before these cults existed. By enjoying their tax exempt status and benefits from the state ... it also puts them at the mercy of America; to be forced to adhere to the human rights laws. Religion is thriving like a cancerous growth on society that should be stopped in its tracks; outlawed & banned.
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien told the Vatican that there was to be no cross erected over the Canadian Parliament buildings ... figuratively speaking; when the Pope demanded the Prime Minister go against gay rights. An Alberta bishop had the audacity to say that The Canadian Prime Minister would go to h--- for going against the church. Such outrageous evil threats. The Right Honourable Prime Minister ... in return; basically told the Pope to go to H---! The Honourable Irwin Cotler, Canadian Minister of Justice, stood for equal rights for the gay community. With reference to protecting the children. The Honourable Hedy Fry, member of the Canadian Liberal Parliament, who happens to be a doctor who delivered many babies; spoke eloquently to defend the rights of babies being born and stated that she was in fact defending their rights by speaking on behalf of equal rights for the children and youth of the future -- defending their integrity and dignity. This truly reflects that Canada is a country of compassion.
My Jewish UCLA Professor friend spoke of the extremist radicals in Israel. Einstein stated in a letter recently auctioned that the bible was a collection of primitive legends. He said believing in God was childish and he as a Jew is no different than another person ... not chosen by God. Do you want to be lambs at the slaughter or be wise and reject religious cultist manipulation? Mean & nasty; run by evil and bogus religious cults from Rome or wherever. Is this the world you want? The pope talks about ending prejudice and hate; what a hypocrite! Religion is a crutch for the insecure. Appreciate every day and if there is no tomorrow; then know that you were fortunate to have lived!
A great story ... pertains to a boy at a catholic school in Oshawa, Ontario ... who wanted to take his boyfriend to his school prom. The evil catholic school forbid this. The boy's father is an employee with General Motors Canada and the courageous union leader ... Buzz Hargrove stood up for the boys' rights. The boy took his case through the courts and because the evil catholic school was benefiting from government funding which demands equal rights void of discrimination; the judge ordered the school to allow the two young boys to attend together. Their limo arrived at their prom with adoring onlookers.
Thank you Mr. Haggis.
Greg
I'm not sure but I think Scientology agrees with same sex marriage. Found a link that is really interesting - Keith Relkin is a West Hollywood Scientologist and he is Gay.
Link to info - http://digg.com/people/Gay_Story_I_m_Here_I_m_Queer_and_I_m_a_Scientologist
Here's another one: A full description of the Church of Scientology's stance on homosexuality. Here is an excerpt:
Gay activist Keith Relkin, a member of the Church of Scientology, passed a rainbow flag to the captain of a team running 250 miles throughout the city. Mike Loumeaux, Relkin said that:
"gay rights are human rights. ... Over the years, I have worked with the Church of Scientology for greater inclusion of gay people like me, and today represents a milestone in that progress."
Here's the link to the full text:
http://www.religioustolerance.org/hom_scie.htm
Yes, thank-you Mr. Haggis! I hope that many more celebs involved with the Church of Scientology take a closer look at what is really happening within that organization and follow your example. A close inspection will find instances of forced abortions and divorces, false imprisonment, exploitation of staff, some of whom work 100+ hours/week for 50 cents an hour! And there is much more. I encourage you to read Nancy Many's new book that just came out "My Billion Year Contract". I'm sure that some of you know her as she is a past executive at Celebrity Center. Read Marc Headley's (formerly of Golden Era Productions) book coming out in the next couple weeks. Go to the Ex-Scientologist Message Board and read hundreds of horror stories from former staff. Google the "Truth Rundown" and do it as a free service.
L Ron Hubbard classified homosexuality as an illness or sexual perversion, citing contemporary psychiatric and psychological textbooks to support his view:
"The sexual pervert (and by this term Dianetics, to be brief, includes any and all forms of deviation in Dynamic II [i.e. sexuality] such as homosexuality, lesbianism, sexual sadism, etc., and all down the catalog of Ellis and Krafft-Ebing) is actually quite ill physically... he is very far from culpable for his condition, but he is also far from normal and extremely dangerous to society..."[1]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_topics_and_Scientology
Tommy Davis and Scientology can try to spin this any way they want, but the cult has a long history of gay members who were cooerced to "go straight" after they joined.
For Will Smith, who is hosting this year's Nobel Peace Prize concert and yet contributes to Scientology and runs a Scientology school, he needs to sever that connection publicly if he wants to continue to enjoy the public's good faith.
For any Scientologists who have been sent here to defend your group, I know you may be having doubts. There is a place for you to go and get some moral support. Feel free to go to Ex Scientologist Message Board, just read, or get in touch with friends and family members you have lost to disconnection. The Scientology critics are here because we care.
The mormons & the scientologist need to hitch their wagon & spaceship to the new world and be more tolerant!
Marriage reflects the natural moral and social law evidenced the world over. As the late British social anthropologist Joseph Daniel Unwin noted in his study of world civilizations, any society that devalued the nuclear family soon lost what he called "expansive energy," which might best be summarized as society's will to make things better for the next generation. In fact, no society that has loosened sexual morality outside of man-woman marriage has survived.
Analyzing studies of cultures spanning several thousands of years on several continents, Harvard sociologist Pitirim Sorokin found that virtually all political revolutions that brought about societal collapse were preceded by a sexual revolution in which marriage and family were devalued by the culture's acceptance of homosexuality.
When marriage loses its unique status, women and children most frequently are the direct victims. Giving same-sex relationships or out-of-wedlock heterosexual couples the same special status and benefits as the marital bond would not be the expansion of a right but the destruction of a principle. . If the one-man/one-woman definition of marriage is broken, there is no logical stopping point for continuing the assault on marriage.
Bravo Mr.Haggins. Thank you for your courage.
Wow Macdonaldbank, you ramble on for paragraphs and actually say nothing....Truly amazing.