haggisscient.jpg Oscar-winning writer/director Paul Haggis has quit the Church of Scientology due to the church’s support of California’s Proposition 8, which denies gays and lesbians the right to marry.

In an open letter to Scientology representative Tommy Davis, Haggis criticizes the church for their views on gay rights, and after 35 years with the religion, he's clearly had enough. Ex-Scientologist Mark Rathbun published the lengthy letter on his blog.

    Tommy,

    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. 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 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.” You promised action. Ten months passed. No action was forthcoming. The best you offered was a weak and carefully worded press release, which praised the church’s human rights record and took no responsibility. Even that, you decided not to publish.


Click after the jump to read the complete letter!