NEWSPaul Haggis Writes Letter Renouncing Scientology
Oct. 26 2009, Published 3:30 p.m. ET
Paul Haggis has had enough of Xenu, it seems, as PopEater reports the Oscar-winning director wrote a letter of resignation to the Church of Scientology Celebrity Center leader Tommy Davis. Paul states in his letter that his main reason for leaving Scientology is their support of Proposition 8 in California banning gay marriage.
"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,' " Paul writes in the letter, published in full on former Scientologist Marty Rathbun's blog. "You promised action. Ten months passed. No action was forthcoming."
"The church's refusal to denounce the actions of these bigots, hypocrites and homophobes is cowardly," Paul added, "I can think of no other word. Silence is consent, Tommy. I refuse to consent."
Paul also wrote about his anger with Scientologists' practice of "disconnection," which Tommy denied in a recent CNN interview.
"We all know this policy exists," Paul wrote, "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 ... Although it caused her terrible personal pain, my wife broke off all contact with them," Paul explained, "I refused to do so. I've never been good at following orders, especially when I find them morally reprehensible."
Paul acknowledged that the personal information he shared in his audit session would now be made public since he has left the organization.
"I am now painfully aware that you might see this an attack and just as easily use things I have confessed over the years to smear my name," the Million Dollar Baby director wrote, "Well, luckily I have never held myself up to be anyone's role model."
Paul ended his letter with a formal statement about leaving the church."I am only ashamed that I waited this many months to act," Paul stated, "I hereby resign my membership in the Church of Scientology."
