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Haggis’ Private Letter Denounces Scientology
26-Oct-2009
Written by: Robyn Chelsea-Seifert
Oscar winner breaks with Scientology over Prop 8. views.
After serving as a member of the controversial Church of Scientology for over 35 years, Paul Haggis has severed ties with the organization for several reasons among which include its lack of support for gay marriage.
In a private letter dated August 19 to Tommy Davis, Church of Scientology Celebrity Center spokesman, Haggis expressed his anger, “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.”
The writer of “Crash and “Million Dollar Baby” goes on to criticize the Church for forcing members to disconnect with any ex-Scientologists viewing them as enemies of the organization – a statement Davis denied on CNN.
“You said straight-out there was no such policy, that it did not exist,” Haggis wrote. “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 ... To see you lie so easily, I am afraid I had to ask myself: what else are you lying about?”
Haggis’ publicist, Ziggy Kozlowski, has confirmed the letter’s authenticity and reiterates it was a private matter not for public viewing. The letter was published on ex-Scientology member Mark Rathburn's blog. There is no confirmation on how Rathburn retrieved the letter.
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