Paul Haggis divorces Scientology over gay marriage -- and then some

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

After 35 years as a Scientologist, ‘Crash’ director Paul Haggis has left the church because of its position on gay rights.

And dang, on his way out, did he ever give them a piece of his mind.

‘I told you I could not, in good conscience, be a member of an organization where gay-bashing is tolerated,’ Haggis said. The Church of Scientology of San Diego had, without being denounced by the larger church, backed California’s Prop. 8, which banned gay marriage.

And that’s some of the mild stuff.

The letter -- written in August to Tommy Davis, Scientology’s director of public affairs and son of actress and Scientologist Anne Archer -- was supposed to be private, a Haggis rep told the Associated Press.

That would’ve been the polite thing to do, I suppose, but with Haggis ranting in the letter not only about gay rights but also regarding some alleged church practices that have been quite controversial -- well, some secrets just don’t like to be kept, do they?

-- Christie D’Zurilla