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Oscar-winning director quits 'gay-bashing' Church of Scientology
Paul Haggis, the Oscar-winning director of Crash and writer of Million Dollar Baby, has quit the Church of Scientology in protest at its stance on same-sex marriages, saying that he could no longer "be a member of an organisation where gay-bashing is tolerated".
Haggis wrote to Tommy Davis, spokesman for Scientology head David Miscavige, announcing his departure from the church because of its support for Proposition 8, the legislation that bans gay marriage in California.
"As you know, 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," Haggis wrote.
"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.
"I called and wrote and implored you, as the official spokesman of the church, to condemn their actions. I told you I could not, in good conscience, be a member of an organisation where gay-bashing was tolerated.
"The church's refusal to denounce the actions of these bigots, hypocrites and homophobes is cowardly. I can think of no other word. Silence is consent, Tommy. I refuse to consent."
Haggis, a member of the church for 35 years, was one a of number of celebrity devotees that includes Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Lisa-Marie Presley, although Nicole Kidman, Van Morrison and comedian Jerry Seinfeld are among those who have also reportedly abandoned it.
Haggis's letter went on to list other grievances that prompted his departure, claiming that the church wages smear campaigns against former members by leaking details of their private lives to the press and contradicting Davis's public insistence that the organisation did not have a policy of "disconnection", whereby followers break off all contact with those who have criticised it.
"I was shocked," wrote Haggis. "We all know this policy exists. I didn't have to search for verification - I didn't even have to look any further than my own home. You might recall that my wife was ordered to disconnect from her own parents...although it caused her terrible personal pain, my wife broke off all contact with them."
