Oscar winner and longtime Scientologist Paul Haggis sent a strongly worded letter to church spokesman Tommy Davis — obtained and published over the weekend by prominent ex-Scientologist Marty Rathbun. In it Haggis renounced the religion and slammed the church's official policies. Haggis won two Oscars for Crash (writing and best picture). Haggis' publicist confirmed that the letter is for real, though the director intended for it to remain private. "I have finally come to the conclusion that I can no longer be a part of this group," wrote Haggis. "Frankly, I had to look no further than your refusal to denounce the church's anti-gay stance, and the indefensible actions, and inactions, of those who condone this behavior within the organization."
Haggis claims the church:
• Promotes "bigotry, intolerance, homophobia and fear," particularly in its organizational refusal to speak out against California's gay marriage ban, known as Proposition 8.
• Engaged in "serious, indefensible human and civil rights violations," as outlined in a June report by the St. Petersburg Times in which several high-ranking former members, including Rathbun, levied allegations of abuse against the church and its leader, David Miscavige.
• Ordered his wife, actor Deborah Rennard, to "disconnect" from a relationship with her parents.
"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," Haggis wrote. "Well, luckily I have never held myself up to be anyone's role model."
Davis said that the church did not support Proposition 8 and that Haggis might have believed differently because of an erroneous endorsement announcement involving a San Diego chapter of the church.
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