'Crash' director cuts ties with Scientology, citing church's gay marriage stand [Updated]

A well-known Hollywood director has severed ties with the Church of Scientology, citing in part the church's support for Proposition 8, the ballot measure last year that banned same-sex marriage in California.

According to the Associated Press, "Crash" director Paul Haggis "said he was disappointed by the church’s tacit denial of gay rights and its backing of California’s gay marriage ban.... Ziggy Kozlowski, a publicist for Haggis, confirmed that the director wrote the letter. Kozlowski said the letter was intended to remain private."

Voters approved Prop. 8 in November 2008, despite strong opposition from many Hollywood figures. Advocates of same-sex marriage are planning to ask voters to reconsider the ban in 2010 or 2011.

According to AP, Haggis wrote the letter in August and it has since been reprinted on some blogs and websites.

[Updated, 4:22 p.m.: Tommy Davis, a Scientology spokesman, said that the church did not support Proposition 8 and that Haggis might have believed differently because of an erroneous endorsement announcement involving a San Diego chapter of the church.]

-- Shelby Grad

Photo: Gus Ruelas / Associated Press.

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Comments

[mishi]

It's nice to have Haggis taking a stand, of course. But the question remains: How can an obviously intelligent man fall for the Xenu-and-the-volcano codswallop in the first place?

[pasadena jag]

How an anyone be involved in Scientology? Of course how anyone with any kind of mind be involved with organized religion?

[Tyler D. Davidson]

"Voters approved Prop. 8 in November, 2008, despite strong opposition for many Hollywood figures. "
That sentence makes it sound as if there's an expectation that Hollywood determines how Californians vote. I think a more accurate way to put the situation in context would be,
"Voters approved Prop. 8 in November, 2008, but it was strongly opposed by many Hollywood figures. "

[sireneb]

Good for him!

[Mark Sanchez]

When will Hollywood come together to support a real Human Rights issue in America?Like holding President Obama accountable for his promises to American Indians. President Obama hasn't fulfilled any of his promises to American indians. Thus far it's looks like Obama will just be another Bush Admin.when it comes to racism against it's first Americans!!!

[Jess]

Is it possible to be a Scientologist if you're not affiliated a millionaire?

[Warped Cowgirl]

Kudos to Mr. Haggis. $cientology needs to lose its tax-exempt status; it is not a religion.

[cc]

good for him!

[Dan]

Way to go, Paul Haggis! Your example will lead thousands.

[deshard]

Thanks, Mr. Hagis for taking a stand. But if you really want to do something meaningful, give the Academy back your Oscar for Best Picture for CRASH. You and pretty much the entire industry knows you didn't deserve it and won because of the studio's marketing campaign and the unwillingness of the old cronies to vote for the superior film you were up against.

[mark feigin]

Paul Haggis is a stupid lying manipulative pig.

[Tom Cruz]

I'm surprised that Mr. Haggis was not aware of Scientogoly's stand on homosexuality when he joined the cult. Still, good move on his part.

[William Lee]

You almost had me thinking David Cronenberg had been a scientologist for a second.

[AnonLA]

Re: the update -

[Updated, 4:22 p.m.: Tommy Davis, a Scientology spokesman, said that the church did not support Proposition 8 and that Haggis might have believed differently because of an erroneous endorsement announcement involving a San Diego chapter of the church.]

I believe Haggis' letter already states that he understands that the San Diego chapter didn't represent ALL of Scientology.

His issue was that the "church" had not done enough to discipline the SD chapter, or clearly state that the "church" was not in favor of discrimination. He requested that the "church" do this and waited a long time for the "church" to act.

I think he did a brave thing.

[MTK]

Really, I must critique you for deciding to do a story on a letter that was meant to stay private, especially when it maligns the scientologists and makes the letter-writer look uninformed to the point of being a little soft in the head. Please understand my critique is not motivated by support for Proposition 8; I voted against it. Also, I am not a scientologist, nor am I at any risk of ever becoming one. Still, have a care for the reputations of the people you do stories about, will you?

[JSA26]

While I support gay rights, I have been so offended by the threats, harassment and intimidation by the opponents of Prop 8 that I feel they need to pay politically.

If you look at the big picture, these criminals have set back gay rights a long ways. People need to be able to vote their hearts without repercussions.

If you harass the like of someone who owns a small business and donates $100 to a cause you don't like by organizing a boycott of her business and protests at her house, to hell with whatever it is you are trying to accomplish.

I now will vote for freedom of political expression vs whatever your position is.

[david spring]

What letter? The article keeps referring to a letter, apparently written by Mr Haggis. But when (OK, August sometime) and to whom? And only indirectly does the article suggest that the letter contains Mr Haggis' renunciation of his ties with Scientology. Something's missing here.

[AngelWolf]

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.

[Heather]

But how many gay-rights supporters are found in the Christianity religion? I feel this article may have been written just to spark more anti-Scientology and anti-Tom Cruise remarks. The fact remains, unless you are a practicing, applying member of the Church of Scientology, you truly have NO idea what the belief system consists of. You can read all the wikipedia definitions in the world, and never have a clue what they believe.

Religious tolerance is a must, even if that means you need to respect another religions disagreement with a specific subject. As long as that religion is not physically harming homosexuals, I don't believe it matters much. After all, no one can change the mind of a thousand practitioners of a religion that has an opposing viewpoint.

[Heather]

I also wanted to bring up something, perhaps to the attention of the author. According to this label, "Comments are moderated, and will not appear until they've been approved" so why is it that those moderating these comments are accepting anti-religious and moronic people to spread incorrect information and slander the name of Scientology?

It is highly offensive, and where I do not agree with the PC police, I do disagree with spreading lies and stigmatizing those who practice Scientology, and have been helped by the religion. After all, the religion teaches morals above all things.

[theamazingcat]

Why is it that those who disagree with homosexuality are immediately considered cold hearted? I completely disagree with homosexuality and allowing homosexuals to "marry" (I personally think unification fits the situation more literally - to allow them to "marry" is to change the entire definition of the word!) It is unnatural and, in essence, an abuse of the body you have. You wouldn't screw in a lightbulb with your teeth, would you? I have no problem with love, and loving all genders (man or woman) - but sexual relations with the same sex is not correct. Your body itself indicates that much!

[Guillermo]

Haggis is correct.
Hubbabard himself had this to say:
"In any event, any person from 2.0 down on the Tone Scale should not have, in any thinking society, any civil rights of any kind, because by abusing those rights he brings into being arduous and strenuous laws which are oppressive to those who need no such restraints."
L Ron Hubbard
Science of Survival

Yes, gay people are considered to be below 2.0 on the Scientology Tone Scale, so are people with black, yellow or brown skin.

[Ken]

I support his freedom of association, which includes leaving (or joining) the "Church of Scientology". However, I am no fan of Scientology for many reasons. The way it has been widely reported makes it sound like this was mainly over the marriage neutering issue, when that was simply the issue that caused him to think critically about how the organizationa leadership operates. He actually had much larger bones to pick, including such things as leadership using "private confessional" information to try to discredit former executives who criticized the organization. (Read my link.)
He's wrong though, when he equates the valuing of the bride+groom marriage foundation with "gay-bashing".

[Bill]

It is always quite amusing to listen to people rant about Scientology. The usual response is that it 'isn't a real religion.' (See post by Warped Cowgirl | October 26, 2009 at 03:13 PM)

What IS a real religion, dear? The religion that YOU believe? With ALL others being false? How precious.

This is a perfect example of the harm that ANY religion does to society. It costs us all far too greatly. These silly religions accomplish nothing but keeping mankind at odds and at war.

Since so many of you are so willing to drop your weekly stupid tax into the collection plate, perhaps I should consider starting a 'religion' of my own.

[Joseph A. Msutich, Justice of the Peace]

Kudos to Paul Haggis!
Cheers, Joe Mustich, Justice of the Peace,
Washington, Connecticut, USA

And congrats to all the couples who came to CT to wed this summer from all across the country. Kudos to CT for supporting civil marriage.

And to the marriage police and sexually phobic, please find something else to do with your time, because life's just to short. Find love.