The sleep deprivation and other abuses. And he definitely has a point. Thats not ancient history, Tommy. Correct, however, protestants do not have confessionals. Paul Haggis; Church of Scientology; Haggis; Leah Remini; British Cuisine ", "And so, after writing this letter, I am fully aware that some of my friends may choose to no longer associate with me, or in some cases work with me," Haggis goes on later in his letter. :-). You're all lemmings. But I read the article and most of the comments (my apolgies to the last 1/4 of responders--it just went on for so long, and understandably so! 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. There has been corruption through all religions. "Unlike the rest of my former friends, she expressed real sadness that I was . People are kept ignorant to education, other cultures and religions and are not taught to respect people's beliefs. You said straight-out there was no such policy, that it did not exist. Is this Jonestown 2 in the making? Many of us just wish to live our lives in peace, not involved with the manic race up the bridge. Excuse me? The fact that most scientologists working in the org are recruited right out of high school is the problem. The Hired guns of Scientology Academic and "experts" paid good money to puff and influence, Scientology trial ~ The 5 crucial points of Danny Mastersons court case, Tom Cruise Complicit In Scientologist Abuse, Scientology is approaching critical mass, 2 criminal cases, 3 civil law suits, all next month, Taking on Scientology in the law courts - with Karen De La Carriere, Scientology poster Boy Tom Cruise and strangest SCN CULT BROMANCE, Miscavige and Cruise - part 2/2, Tom Cruise BILLION DOLLAR shill for the Scientology cult: Look at ME ME ME, The tyrant L. Ron Hubbard & his Sea Organization slaves - with Karen De La Carriere, Valeska Paris, Freewinds "Cruise ship" prisoner for 12 years TRAFFICKING law suit against the CULT, Ron Miscavige and Karen discuss the Scientology misuse of POWER. *Peace & Justice Award Office of the Americas, presented by Daniel Ellsberg It's about not living in a glass house. I'm not condemning those who wish to belong to any specific religion. Probe the depths or write your own honest reviews. In fact it was they who introduced my wife to Scientology. Paul Haggis renounces, secret-spills on Scientology In an email to Showbiz 411 published Sunday, the Oscar winner confirmed that he met Boniadi three years ago while he was looking. Both sides would be agog, so who knows if it will happen, but such dynamics are seldom as simple as some of these posts. To win at any cost, costs a lot. family Sad. What we have learned about our world and the entire universe, and our insignificant place in it, should tell any "thinking" person highly educated or not, that religions as we know them are all a bunch of crap. And I have always had a thing for underdogs. During my twenties and early thirties I studied and received a great deal of counseling. Haggis isn't the first celebrity from the Church of Scientology to break with the faith. Screenwriter . Quite the contrary, it is our level of respect for the authors life work and integrity that makes us confident many people will benefit from the authors example, others will feel vindicated, and great strides will be made in ending the abuses the letter details. suppressive Thousands of years ago out of fear we invented gods to explain various diseases, weather events, earthquakes and volcanoes. But they didnt. And it's incredibly damning to them. I called and wrote and implored you, as the official spokesman of the church, to condemn their actions. Ah Shelama - Myths are such irresitably fat squishy targets, aren't they? One night in NY city in the sixties a group of us was approached by a Scientology recruiter. Despite all the church's words about promoting freedom and human rights, its name is now in the public record alongside those who promote bigotry and intolerance, homophobia and fear. His letter . - supporting Human Rights in Central America *Legacy Award, for Artistic and Humanitarian Achievement We care about them and do not wish to be labeled "enemies"--because we aren't. Sadly, for humanity at large to embrace this simple truth would be like expecting intellectual discourse from a field mouse. Over time, I think you will find a new sense of strength and solidity for having taken such a strong and public stand on your moral convictions, and for having stayed true to yourself. Congrats. Please don't make blanket statements about groups you don't know and good luck in your journey through life. Cost them their jobs. I didn't have to search for verification I didn't have to look any further than my own home. I have never pretended to be the best Scientologist, but I openly and vigorously defended the church whenever it was criticized, as I railed against the kind of intolerance that I believed was directed against it. Thanks again, love your movies! *Prism Award Entertainment Industries Council His technical alterations include the destruction of training, the re-definition of instant reads and FNs, violating the "No-Interference Zone" Policy for those on OT VII (with unnecessary sec checks every 6 months) resulting in unworkability. I am quietly just not doing anything anymore and trying to avoid communication from orgs. I just read that Paul Haggis is writing a book that outs this evil mess - the COS!! Seriously, this doesn't help your credibility when you try to smear with lies that are easily disproved. The film, which starred Tommy Lee Jones, Charlize Theron and Susan Sarandon, was a suspense drama of a fathers search for his missing son, who is reported AWOL after returning from Iraq. What a tragedy to see current and/or former members of CoS wasting decades of their lives (ironic to see how much they detest the LDS church, given they both exist because of the teachings of a modern-day man). pregnant This totally illogical crazy cult needs to be exposed and let to die a quick and very public death as soon as possible. And it's incredibly damning to them. The nuns distorted Church history and never taught the Church's abuses. We don't know anybody by that name." Mike Rinder could certainly spin a lot more convincingly. It's a policy that's been well documented in the press, but especially by the reporting done by the St. Petersburg Times, who've chronicled many members who were once forced to "disconnect" people from their lives. Then one day he showed up in New Jersey and met me at work. "He wanted the church to take an active stance on a political issue, which we don't do. And I felt sick. Have you read it? lies I recommend you write a screenplay and direct it yourself on all these abuses. How dare you use private information in order to label someone an adulteress? You took Amy Scobees most intimate admissions about her sexual life and passed them onto the press and then smeared them all over the pages your newsletter! These accusations were made by top international executives who had devoted most of their lives to the church. cult It wasnt the first time she defended Haggiseven when she knew he was lying. Tommy, if only a fraction of these accusations are true, we are talking about serious, indefensible human and civil rights violations. Haggis wrote a letter expressing his misgivings about the church, which was later leaked to the press. Once Haggis admitted that he lied about his story, he had no credibility. "Meet the abusive individual who turned Scientology into a cult, doesn't practice the religion himself, has refused auditing for 19 years, won't even do a course in Scientology. I just choose to not 'follow the rules' of any religious group. An elite coterie obscenely enriched by the efforts of others. Really? Shouldn't the test as to whether a spiritual philosophy or religion is beneficial be that it actually progresses one spiritually? Although it caused her terrible personal pain, my wife broke off all contact with them. Ive attached our email correspondence. marty (Introduction to Scientology Ethics;Ch 12 The Scientology Justice Codes and Their Application). Spreading lies about other religions isn't helping the image of Scientology. Davis told Haggis that "heads would roll" over this about ten months ago. Frankly, I had to look no further than your refusal to denounce the churchs anti-gay stance, and the indefensible actions, and inactions, of those who condone this behavior within the organization. As we can see, the business of Scientology is now beginning to fail but the GATES OF HELL will NOT prevail against the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, although I admit evil has attempted, it will NEVER overpower the Blood of Christ. Having been exposed to the Christian belief system for many years I came to the realization that all religions are profit and or control motivated. hide After verifying it's authenticity with his source, Marty decided to publish it so that the import of the issues it covers are fully aired and considered by readers. This was my state of mind when I was online doing research and chanced upon an interview clip with you on CNN. Say what you will about them now, these were staunch defenders of the church, including Mike Rinder, the church's official spokesman for 20 years! Oscar-winning "Crash" director leaves faith, admonishes Church of Scientology. He is co-founder of Artists for Peace and Justice, a working board member of EMA (The Environmental Media Association) as well as the advocacy group Office Of The Americas, among others. chairman "I felt if I sent it to my friends. Davis apparently drew up a press release he showed to Haggis, which eventually got canned. Haggis asserted that supporters of Prop 8 were bigoted and hateful, and supporters are the MAJORITY of Californians, most of whom do NOT belong to the Christian right. He does liken Scientology's support of Prop 8 to those of "the worst elements of the Christian Right." She ran the entire celebrity center network, and was a loyal senior executive of the church for what, 20 years? ET. * Founding Board Member, Earth Communication Office I wish I could tell you that they rang true. ", "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. * Board Member, Office of The Americas Highlighting Management Skills From Retail On Resume I'm glad Paul finally broke through his personal haze to see the light!!!!!!!!! I heard the same voice that professed outrage at our support of Proposition 8, who promised to correct it, and did nothing. When actress Leah Remini publicly defected from the Church in 2013, Haggis spoke on her departure in a letter, calling her exit "brave." Silence is consent, Tommy. Marty hopes that the author of the letter will understand that by publishing the letter we mean no disrespect. But what happens when you are an adult - and someone of power like a city council member, senator or other influential entity? Lioness, I do not have the time or energy to go into detail as to why you are wrong here, however, you address a common, simplistic complaint, so I feel the need to comment however brief. sociopath Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Haggis' publicist said the director does not plan to comment further on the matter. I have always considered the current operation a mind control program, with militaristic overtones. And that is when I read the recent articles in the St. Petersburg Times. *Artistic Freedom Award City of West Hollywood A jury has ordered Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis to pay at least $7.5 million to a woman who accused him of rape. rinder Here are some powerful and eye-opening quotes from Haggis' letter to Davis: "I could not, in good conscience, be a member of an organization where gay-bashing was tolerated. Silence is consent, Tommy. Haggis false story served as the opening anecdote and linchpin for a 2011 article in The New Yorker by anti-Scientology author Lawrence Wright, and Wrights subsequent book. NEW YORK Disputing allegations in a rape lawsuit, Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis testified Thursday that his accuser sometimes seemed "conflicted" during their initial . Shine forth brave souls. A judge ruled on Friday that director Paul Haggis will be allowed to argue at his upcoming civil trial that the Church of Scientology is behind a rape allegation against him. crime Why waste time on that, don't you have more important things to do? I noticed. I recall being sent to the priest every time I expressed an independent thought. I joined the Church of Scientology thirty-five years ago. Some people like pickles, some like cucumbers. However, in 2009, Haggis resigned from the church due to their opposition to same-sex marriages. Prior to Leah Remini's break from Scientology this summer, Paul Haggis was arguably the most high-profile and outspoken celeb to resign from the organization. Search for "sleep deprivation" and you'll see numerous articles on the subject. I learned a long time ago that believing in any type of god is very primitive to say the least. Where does the redefining end? Just because marriage is defined in the way it's been used historically does not mean that gay couples can't live together or be connected in some other fashion like a civil union. "Say what you will about them now," writes Haggis, "[but] these were staunch defenders of the church, including Mike Rinder, the church's official spokesman for 20 years!" Sorry Dave, but you need to do some research on that one. Oscar winning screenwriter and director Paul Haggis ( Crash, Million Dollar Baby) has penned a long letter to a Scientology official in which he outlines the reasons why he's breaking ties with the cult. ", Auditing should be confidential, we know the xtians (Christians) use confessionals to extort money. "Paul Haggis deserves, based on his record as a gentleman and humanitarian, to be judged when all the evidence has been taken under penalty of perjury in a court of law," Remini and Rinder. Abandoned dissemination programs. Awards for outspoken support of Civil and Human Rights: * Valentine Davies Award Writers Guild of America The church doesn't do that," he said. It is still hard for me to believe. He tore apart international management. Also still called constantly for "Events". * Member and supporter, Death Penalty Focus If your definition of "good for the sake of being good" comes from your own personal definitions, then you have a workable, rock-solid, personal approach to goodness. In fact it was they who introduced my wife to Scientology. I will argue that there is a distinct difference between "Christian belief system" and "religion". Paul Haggis Resigns from Church of Scientology www May 5th, 2018 - Paul Haggis is the Academy award winning filmmaker who in 2006 became the first . Families parted. *Ethel Levitt Award for Humanitarian Service Levitt & Quinn I do not know the woman, but no matter what she said or did, this is the woman who joined the Sea Org at 16! After two years of this rank exploitation, he jumped off the Steel Bridge and drowned in the Willamette. "Although it caused her terrible personal pain, my wife broke off all contact with them" for a year and a half, Haggis wrote. ", Dwyane Wade's Words For Daughter Zaya At The NAACP Image Awards Were So Touching, Adam Lambert Defends Harry Styles Over Queerbating Accusations, Emma Corrin Got Candid About The Hate They Received For Being Non-Binary, Heres How You Can Make A Difference In Honour Of Brianna Ghey, Get Even More From Bustle Sign Up For The Newsletter. The Scene: Pete (Haggis) and Lightnin (Rathbun) in conversation with co-conspirators. The interview lasted maybe ten minutes it was just you and the newscaster. The point is this is a huge blow to David Miscavige, at least he's still got Tom Cruise fooled. At the time of Larrys article and book I withheld the fact that Marty had reached out to me by email.I withheld that information from Larry Wright. Not that Larry Wright would have cared: Paul Haggis served his purpose for Wright, who did no fact checking. I was left feeling outraged, and frankly, more than a little stupid. Accusing the Roman Catholic Church to "use confessionals to extort money" is crazy. As a former zombie, I would welcome that. I am only ashamed that I waited this many months to act. My younger brother got roped into a three year ordeal during a most vunerable time of his life, early 20's, and was forced to disassociate with our loving and very concerned family for ridiculous reasons, all the while spending hours, day and night doing whatever they instructed him to do in their downtown Toronto outfit. Scientology's Danny Masterson DOES NOT GET ACQUITTED. And the list goes on" Learn More thoughtful You had allowed our name to be allied with the worst elements of the Christian Right. "Mr. Haggis had a disagreement with the church that went beyond having anything to do with the church," Davis told ABCNews.com. Thing for underdogs are true, we know the xtians ( Christians ) use confessionals to extort money on... The Willamette voice that professed outrage at our support of Prop 8 to those of `` worst! My own home their Application ) by that name. that, do n't you have important... Was just you and the newscaster `` the worst elements of the we! 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