A spokesperson for Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis (Crash) confirms that he is the author of an incendiary letter announcing his resignation from the Church of Scientology. Haggis wrote the lengthy letter, which was addressed to Church of Scientology spokesperson Tommy Davis, back in August, according to his publicist, Ziggy Kozlowski. “Yes, it is his. It was meant to be private and it was leaked,” Kozlowski tells EW.com, adding that Haggis will not have any further comment on the controversial matter since he is currently in Pittsburgh directing his next film, The Next Three Days.
Former Scientologist Mark Rathbun originally published Haggis’ letter to Davis on his blog this week. Davis tells EW.com, “It was a private letter between me and Paul. I’ve known Paul since I was a kid. It’s unfortunate to see it be leaked like that.” EW spoke to Rathbun, who would not reveal how he got the letter.
The letter focused on reports that the Church supported California’s anti-gay ballot initiative Proposition 8 last year. “The Church doesn’t take an official political stance on any issue,” Davis says, adding that the Church opposes any infringement of civil rights for gays and lesbians. Davis declined to address the letter’s further allegations regarding the Church’s treatment of Haggis’ wife and her parents. “I would never comment on anything having to do with Mr. Haggis or his wife or his family. I don’t talk about other people’s private lives, ever.” (Additional reporting by Chris Nashawaty)
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It’s about time somebody exposed that Church for what they represent. A bunch of robotic, deceptive liars as far as I’m concerned. Let’s stick with the truth that’s contained within the Gospel, better known as “The Bible”. Praise God and Our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ…not a bunch of inter-galactic aliens. (Father, forgive me of my sin of casting judgment, for it is You who is responsible for casting judgment upon those who blaspheme Your Word.) Scientologists…it’s time for repentance!!! On your knees!!!
Inter-galactic aliens? Wait, are you talking about Xenu or the giant man-fairy in the sky that Christians worship? I don’t see the difference.
I think it’s great that we live in America so that all you non-believers who are going to hell can have your say without going out to the firing squad. GOD BLESS AMERICA though we definitely don’t deserve it.
scientolygy is a scam just hand over your life savings and your ok with them
yeah, because the truth in the bible is that the universe was created in 6 days (god needed the seventh to rest), that noah got two of every species on his ark, that jesus was the son of god but also was god himself and he turned water into booze.
but aliens are wacky!
best. comment. ever.
what do you believe in mike man let me guess you like allah in god we trust mike dont forget it if you dont like it leave
Yea. whats your point?
Danny, Danny, Danny…it’s people like you that give me a bad name. That said…GO PHILLIES! (yes, I’m a Phillies fan. I’m scouting Ryan Howard to replace me up here…shhh, don’t tell my son)
I’m so happy to see you’ve kept you’re sense of humor God. Gosh, we had some good times, didn’t we? Let’s get together again….next Tues. at 8? I’ll bring the bordeaux this time.
What up, sho’ty? You still playin’ up that whole “virgin” bit? You’ve been tapped more than a Canadian maple and you know it! Back to work…I have a natural disaster to orchestrate…TEXT ME!
You can’t be serious, can you? The Bible is just as much of a fraud as Dianetics.
I will pray for you my friend. The Bible is based on actual manuscripts written by real people who witnessed the events recorded in the Bible. Dianetics are blatantly fictional writings by a very deranged man with an incredible imagination i.e. John Smith (Mormonism) & Stephen King.
Danny G, what proof do you have that the Bible isn’t “blatantly fictional writings by a very deranged man with an incredible imagination”? Or have been changed numerous times since they were written thousands of years ago?
And please don’t tell me faith. That’s just annoying.
I’m starting to think Danny Gokey here is pulling our chains.
The Bible has been around for centuries and is filled to the brim with facts and dates to affirm its truths.
The bible is a nice bunch of stories, but you should never believe everything you read.
Christians are not required to give the church all their money or harm thier children by not seeking proper medical attention.
God, Xenu, Moroni, Jehovah…same fairy tales, different window dressing.
My sentiments exactly. Science and mathematics are the only real truths in this world so what do they point to…Darwin was right. Everything on this planet originated millions of years ago as single-celled organisms and evolved through survival of the fittest to become what we know today. Fossils dont lie, people do.
umm, Darwin fucked his cousin……you believe a cousin fucker?
The only real difference between Scientology and the Church is that Christianity has been around for much longer and is much more established. Other than that they’re both cults.
Christianity is a religion. Scientology is a cult. The signifying difference between the two? With Scientology, you must pay extreme amounts of money to learn their secrets. You must become a member before they divulge some of the aspects of the religion. No such thing with Christianity. You can find out whatever you want, ask leaders any types of questions about the belief system before becoming a member. That’s the real difference.
I agree 100% with Adam here. Don’t get me wrong, there are several Christians in the media and historically who are @$$holes and should receive criticism, rebuke, and/or criminal charges. But their activities are done against the message of Jesus Christ. On the other hand, L. Ron Hubbard was an abusive, lying bastard who created Dianetics for fame and fortune, and wrote letters to Sci-church officials urging them to get more followers in the door for more cash. The whole point of the belief system is to isolate vulnerable people from their families and friends, and take their money for the rest of their lives. Big frakking difference.
I’m sorry, but I have to play the devil’s advocate… Couldn’t you apply all of these “rules” to Christianity, too? Only in recent years has the church NOT asked for money from its believers, limited its membership, withheld knowledge (and reserved it for the elite), etc. Christianity was once a cult, too. (And, on that note, I can’t believe that I just defended Scientology!)
Basically, I’m trying to say that ALL religions, however strange, have cult-like aspects to them.
Danny G were you there when they wrote the passages and scriptures?! Or is this you just believing what you want to believe? I need facts…
The bible is as real as the breath you take. It allows you to choose to follow the things that are written in it, and whether you believe it or not it is your choice. There are alot of religions out there, but only one relationship with Jesus Christ. This is what you need to see heaven. Man’s set of traditions does not get you in to Heaven, Only by the grace of God and Jesus who died on that cross for you will get you into heaven. There is a Hell so choose wisely. God does not send anyone there you send yourself.
The whole “were you there when the bible was written, or when Jesus turned water to wine, or when he healed the sick and what not” is no point to argue if it did or did not happen(and saying “I will pray for you” to non believer doesnt help either, its annoying) cant the same be said about Darwinism and evolution. “Were we their when we evolved from single-celled organisms?” Doesnt that sound “loose” to you?
Religion is neither necessary or sufficient to lead a good life, be a good person, love your neighbour, etc. etc. Outside of church attendance habits I see nothing in good person “A” that I don’t also see in non-religious good person “B”. That leaves the “A gets to go to heaven” reason for church attendance. So the only real reason to go to church is to get into heaven. Maybe “B” doesn’t want to base his spiritual life on such selfishness.
Scientology=John Jones Cult+Nazis+Manson
FYI – Manson was raised by his Aunt who was a Bible-thumping Christian.
Charles Manson was also a Scientologist at one point as well.
Oh Tommy, you are such a liar.
Don’t talk about the personal lives of others? What about you spouting off about Shawn Lonsdale?
Danny, while I agree with you about Scientology, your “truth” is not mine, nor most of the people on the planet. That kind of language is the stuff that creates war. Perhaps you are being ironic?
I think our friend “Danny G” might be an American Idol fan… perhaps mocking a certain religious contestant?
Oh no, they would never talk about the personal lives of their members, they just post the info on their website at religiousfreedomwatch dot org
Religion is regarded by the common people as truth, by the wise as false, and by the powerful as useful.
agreed.
totally agree.
How very true…and, everyone, please do remember that religion and fate are not the same thing. You can be fateful and yet not religious.
If a fair maiden kisses a frog which instantly changes into a handsome prince, we would call it a fairy tale.But if the change takes 40 million years, we call it evolution.
Excellent. Take that NON-BELIEVERS!
I think any religious extremism is suspect, but Scientology is not a religion. It famously fought (illegally – do your homework) to be called a Church so it could be tax-exempt. Basically, it is a mafioso-style run cult that makes you pay (in upwards of millions of dollars) to learn you that are a Thetan comprised of bits and pieces of alien parts that can only be removed by “auditing” yourself. These audits (which bring to mind indulgences in the corrupt days of the Roman Catholic middle ages) must be bought and paid for in order for the Thetan to move up in the levels of understanding in the Church. These LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING all stem from the rantings of an old insane pervert who thought he was a naval commodore AND SOUGHT A TAX SHELTER SCHEME TO PROTECT HIS MONEY.
This “church” seeks to separate its members from loved ones who do not believe. It alienates its members from the rest of society by citing “scientific evidence” “facts” and other official sounding nonsense. The sad true FACTS are that most of its members are uneducated and brainwashed. Its current leaders joined in their teens and early twenties – never having been educated.
Of course we also remember David Koresh (Branch Davidian, Waco, TX.)
thanks for that information “well’
its interesting (and sad).
Scientologist Alien War Gods, or 2k year old zombie messiahs. Is there a choice “c”?
I’m curious to see how Haggis’ career will be affected. The Scientology network in Hollywood, I believe, is massive. What guts he has!
He did state he would probably not do any projects with United Artists anytime soon. (Paula Wagner and Tom Cruise’s studio).
Yes, you’re right! Here’s hoping this will be a short,’small-b’ blackballing period for him. I’m sure he comes through this a creatively richer filmmaker.
I should clarify – so I don’t get sued – Paula Wagner’s role as a principal with UA was reduced in August 2008.
The Scientologists like folks to think that it’s all over the industry, but honestly, it isn’t. Most people working in Hollywood think it’s wacky as you do, believe me.
And besides, look at the long list of Scientologist “celebrities” whose careers are scraping the bottom of the barrel at present – Kirstie Alley, Anne Archer, the Masterson Brothers, etc. Not exactly the “golden ticket” to fame and fortune they’d like you to think it is. (And why? Beacuse in my experience, scientologists are EXTREMELY difficult to work with, they deliberately push boundaries and don’t do what is asked of them by non-scienos.)
I’m not a fan of Haggis; I like mostly American food like hamburgers and peanuts.
Scientologists are okay I guess, they’re curing cancer and making smaller ipods and whatnot. I don’t get all the hate. If we didn’t have them we’d still be driving cars that burned wood and had stone wheels.
I lol’d, so I hope that’s what you were going for.
I spewed Coke through my nose.
Through your nose, or up your nose? ;^b
WELL..you put it perfectly. I learned a lot about Scientology from an article I read a few years ago, and what you wrote is right on the money.
Scientology is not the bible. It is a very mixed up group of people that claim to be a religion, of what!
I actually live in Tampa Bay and have seen for myself what goes on down on Ft. Harrison Street in Clearwater, FL. They are like a bunch of brain-washed robots strolling around the block in circles, lost in their own little world, wearing their pressed blue rent-a-cop uniforms and carrying notepads in their hands. What are they writing in those things anyway?
I like that Scientologists don’t try to hide the comment Hubbard made: If you want to make a million dollars, start a religion.
There are aspects of Christianity that sound hinky to someone who isn’t sincerely interested: God creating the earth in six days; the flood, Jesus raising from the dead. I don’t have a problem with the first because- He’s God. If He couldn’t do that He wouldn’t be God. I don’t have a problem with the second because- the fossil evidence supports a worldwide flood. How else do you get fossilized fish in the mountains of Bolivia? Or mammoth’s “fossilized” with food undigested in their stomach? I don’t hacve a problem with the third because, again, He’s God. And the secular historians support the story.
Okay, go ahead and make fun of me.
all I have to say is “AMEN!”
Mammoths were fossilized with undigested food as a result of a sudden change in the Earths climate, also known as an Ice age, a flood didnt cause them to freeze. There were glaciers that stretched almost to Mexico back then so yeah, Im pretty sure it wasnt because of this biblical flood. Dont forget, those people who wrote those stories 2000 years ago had no education either and everything to them became overexaggerated to “biblical proportions.” One perfect example is the bible’s description of the “fir and brimstone raining down from the sky”…have you ever heard of a volcanic eruption? or how about a meteor shower? Those people back then didnt know what those things were so they became acts of “God”…put yourself in the timeframe folks…they just didnt know what what happening in their world.
Clever dude, that God. Making everything that is detectable by the rational mind to lead one to conclude that, He, in all likelihood, does not exist. The better to make people down here hate each other for no good reason. Bah. Rationality is the only thing that will save us in the end…and it’s pretty clear that the dearth of same does not bode well. Nature doesn’t play favourites when push comes to shove.
“I don’t talk about other people’s private lives, ever.”
That is a complete LIE! Tommy Davis divulged personal information about critics of Scientology at least twice:
First, he read Shawn Lonsdale’s criminal record to a BBC reporter, interrupting an interview of Mr. Lonsdale:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bru5MZueD1Y
Also, as a rebuttal to the allegations against Scientology leader David Miscavige brought up by the St. Petersburg Times story, Davis releases “confidential” files of confessions from former Scientology members:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/article1012148.ece
It is a crime that ANY churches – but especially christian, muslim, and judaism – get to freeload on society with unfair tax breaks. This must stop, now. Either that, or tax nobody for anything. Scientology, christianity, muslim, judaism are all based upon made-up non-existent un-scientific fairytale excrement: not a shred of evidence. Believing in those mythologies is no different than any type of delusion or hallucination.
There is a lot more evidence for the existence of Bigfoot (multiple independent sightings, encounters, recordings of vocalizations, and the rare video footage) and even more so of alien beings with advanced technology visiting earth than any mythology or stories made up by humans. Anyone who claims to know the full truth behind Bigfoot and aliens and their purposes and weaves elaborate stories involving them is either a liar or stupid. The pure debunkers are just as stupid and crazy as the religionist who jump in with their certainties about aliens being “angels” or “demons”.
Bigfoot, aliens with advanced technology are at least consistent with the facts of biological and technologicl macro-evolution.
You can always tell who the real researchers into these mysteries and political activists – MUFON, FUFOR, Stephen Basset’s UFO disclosure movement – are: they are the poorest, unfortunately.
More proof that the economy is going great for the 99.9% of the world – a bunch of mentally inferior subhumans who have life so easy that they can throw their money away on scams like religions=cults and politicians who defend tax-breaks for religions=cults.
Tripper…You must be a follower of Charles Darwin. Scientific archaeological discoveries continually prove the existence of Christ and His disciples and monumental moments in biblical history. Have you ever read the Bible?. Start with the Gospel of John, then go to Matthew and read the entire New Testament. Jesus Christ will change your life!
Again, you can’t believe everything you read.
God sure did an awful lot to make scientists believe in evolution, eh? So much for prophets having any clue about it when they wrote their stuff!
Meanwhile, what L. Ron Hubbard wrote is so bizarre that it has to be kept secret from a new member until he/she can be brainwashed enough to swallow it. And no family can hang together unless the whole family gets sucked into the cult. Conventional religion may be bad, but by and large it doesn’t do to people what Scientology can do to them. Before blaming religion too much, don’t forget that the largest atrocities in human history were *not* caused by religious belief.
Still, cults and religious fundamentalism of various kinds have increasingly effective, even “scientific” ways to use peer pressure and brainwash lost souls, and they are truly are out to get the rest of us. You people who don’t see much difference between conventional religion and cults need to study up.
Danny and the rest of the zealots need to go some studying. The bible wasn’t written by eyewitnesses. But, in some cases, hundreds of years after the “fact”. The bible was constructed by a group of men in a quasi-democratic fashion. Constructed to take control of weak-minded fools. The worst thing that man has ever constructed is religion. More pain, misery, and death has been caused/taken in the name of some god than anything else. Saying that the bible is fact or “the truth” doesn’t make it so. Doesn’t matter what religion it is. They were all created as a means of control. And you fools defend it.
Don’t drink the wine Danny!