Canadian writer-director Paul Haggis denounces Scientology over gay rights

Nothing like an exciting religious skirmish to get your week started. From radaronline: "Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Jenna Elfman can count one less Hollywood A-Lister as a fellow Scientologist. In a shock heard-round-the-Scientology world, Paul Haggis has very publicly quit the organization. Among the acclaimed Haggis' many credits: he wrote Million Dollar Baby and Flags of Our Fathers for Clint Eastwood; and he produced/directed and wrote Crash for which he won an Oscar. He has an all-around stellar reputation in Hollywood as one of the good guys who made good. It was his conscience that made him quit the religion he's been part of for 35 years, Haggis said in a letter to Tommy Davis. Davis, the son of actress Anne Archer, is the face of Scientology, appearing on numerous TV interviews every year. Roger Friedman, in his Hollywood Reporter column, Showbiz 411, broke the story Sunday, and published a copy of Haggis' letter to Davis. Haggis first became disenchanted with Scientology last year when it backed Prop 8, the ban on gay marriage in California."

Here's Haggis' letter to Davis:

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

AP FILE PHOTO

Comments

[...pat.]

Wow. Great letter, Paul.

[Dan Giroux]

Mr. Haggis is a rare man in todays world of followers and cowards, i applaud his actions and wish him all the best in his future. And as he says if some members of the Scientology group refuse to work with him/interact with him in the future than they are no better than the leader!

[panove22]

Well done Mr. Haggis. Obviously a man of conscience and courage.

[Zoesmom]

Bravo!! Very brave of Mr. Haggis.....proud of him as a Canadian!

[JWalters]

Good for Paul. There needs to be many more of him and not just scientologists. Its time for people in all faiths to denounce the horrible state of their belief systems and the intolerance they inflict directly or indirectly through politics where they hide their hate in public policy..

[McLovin]

I wonder what Xenu would think of all this...

[Chris Benson]

Congratulations Paul! I'm sure this wasn't easy. You've shown the true quality of your character. How many of your Scientology friends will follow I wonder? The cost of dissent, especially in religious circles is always high.Good luck.

[watt]

"Paul Haggis is my new hero. Do you belong to a religion or organization which promote homophobia?" just became my twitter and facebook updates. Spread the word if you support Paul.

[mees]

you are a great human Paul. Thank you for standing up for humans whom some think does not deserve to live.
THANK YOU.

[Ian G]

Sounds like Mr. Haggis did the right thing.

I found Scientology stifling on interaction with other humans and would never recommend them to anyone because of their attitude!

[Pedro45]

Bravo Paul, now he has to hope that the Scientologists don't organize a campaign to destroy him like what happened to others that left the cult.

[Davidson Chan]

Way to go, Paul!!!
I have always wondered how religion treats decent people who have only one flaw, they are non-believers.

Truth is the number one asset of Religion.
I am not talking about truth on faith, or truth on God, but just the TRUTH.

[Leon Arp]

There once was a group called Scientology,
That Paul Haggis says should offer an apology,
Now Paul is be unable,
To play at the clay table,
And now has to study astrology.
(Hey, all you religious nuts, let's have a big love-in.)

[The Postman]

With what I know about Scientology, it takes to courage to rescind your membership. I do question why it took so long for Mr. Haggis to muster up the courage to do so now. So, I offer him tepid applause.

[myke]

the real reason to quit scientology is because it is batshit crazy

[Tom R. Story]

Good for Paul! Scientology is a cult that has always stifled independant thought, founded by a man who publicly stated that to make money one should found a religion. To publicly leave such an organization requires guts of the first order.

[Hawk-i]

Mr. Haggis, my respect for you just increased ten-fold. To act in that manner takes a great human being. Not many people would have stepped up to the plate as you have done. My hat of to you.

[mby1967]

for 35 years he was fine with scientology's nonsense, he is content with believing that an evil galactic emperor dropped the bodies of his enemies into volcanoes on earth in spaceships that looked like DC-9s, and there souls are trapped inside humans and thats why were are unhappy, but he draws the line at apposing gay marriage, good for him.

[Tracy]

That, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call character. Nicely done, Paul.

[Anvil Torquilson]

It took him 35 years to figure out something ain't right with this group?

[moodygirl]

I like Paul Haggis' film work. When I heard he was a Scientologist I began to have doubts of my critical judgement as I find myself suspicious of people who are followers of 'faiths' that dictate the behaviour of their flock. I commend him for speaking out over the issue of denouncing gay rights and the cruel policy of disconnection that this group enforces. He now has my unqualified admiration.

[J Ingram]

Any "religion" that isolates and punishes their members by prohibiting contact with one's own parents is just a cult.

Nothing more, nothing less. And I couldn't care any less how many celebrities they've got lined up for their public face.

[Jennifer]

Very courageous and well worded. I join all is saluting Paul for his stance and standing up for what is right, come what may. Discovery of the truth is paramount to true happiness, and I wish him well on his quest. I hope that the retaliation is not severe.