Monday, October 26, 2009

Let's Talk Scientology


I could have headlined this let's trash Scientology but they really don't need our help, they seem to f**k things up pretty well on their own. For that I am grateful because I really do hate them. I especially dislike their spokesperson Tommy Davis. He is the kind of guy who was probably backstabbing other 5th graders in his class so he could get credit from the teacher for someone else's work. He just seems that type.

Anyway this was a bad weekend for the a-holes. Paul Haggis left the church/cult/freak show because he finally realized they were lying to him about everything. Paul was in the church for 35 years and he only figured out this week that they lie and are ruthless. Seriously? It took him that long? I'm glad he left but honestly if it took him that long to see the light you have to think he chose not to do anything about the lies until they finally lied about something that was important to him.

Here is some of Paul's letter to Tommy Davis. You can read the entire thing here.

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.

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.

I joined the Church of Scientology thirty-five years ago. During my twenties and early thirties I studied and received a great deal of counseling. While I have not been an active member for many years, I found much of what I learned to be very helpful, and I still apply it in my daily life. 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. I had my disagreements, but I dealt with them internally. I saw the organization – with all its warts, growing pains and problems – as an underdog. And I have always had a thing for underdogs.

But I reached a point several weeks ago where I no longer knew what to think. You had allowed our name to be allied with the worst elements of the Christian Right. In order to contain a potential “PR flap” you allowed our sponsorship of Proposition 8 to stand. 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.

The fact that the Mormon Church drew all the fire, that no one noticed, doesn’t matter. I noticed. And I felt sick. I wondered how the church could, in good conscience, through the action of a few and then the inaction of its leadership, support a bill that strips a group of its civil rights.

This was my state of mind when I was online doing research and chanced upon an interview clip with you on CNN. The interview lasted maybe ten minutes – it was just you and the newscaster. And in it I saw you deny the church’s policy of disconnection. You said straight-out there was no such policy, that it did not exist.

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. This is a lovely retired couple, never said a negative word about Scientology to me or anyone else I know – hardly raving maniacs or enemies of the church. In fact it was they who introduced my wife to Scientology.

Although it caused her terrible personal pain, my wife broke off all contact with them. I refused to do so. I’ve never been good at following orders, especially when I find them morally reprehensible.

For a year and a half, despite her protestations, my wife did not speak to her parents and they had limited access to their grandchild. It was a terrible time.

That’s not ancient history, Tommy. It was a year ago.

And you could laugh at the question as if it was a joke? You could publicly state that it doesn’t exist?

To see you lie so easily, I am afraid I had to ask myself: what else are you lying about?

***

Now you would think that would be enough damage for Scientology for the weekend, but Martin Bashir went ahead and took Tommy to task and made him look ridiculous on Nightline Friday night. Here is Part One of the interview on Nightline. Oh, and ABC News has devoted a whole section to trashing Scientology and you can read it all here.


30 comments:

jax said...

yuo show 'em Paul! Enty, I dont think he was an active member for the last while so probably didn't pay to much attention and distanced himself after Tom Cruise went apeshit on Oprah.

yay!!!!!! rot in hell cult leaders!

Anonymous said...

Wonder if the cult/weirdos are going to start stalking him and his family.

ItsJustMe said...

ABC is openly trashing the Scios. -- Good for them, and good for Paul for making this public!!!

Pookie said...

yay for paul...but eeep...can we expect there to be repurcussions (esp career-wise)? awesome chutzpah, yay him!

Cheryl said...

ABC has some good stuff, esp. about Will and Jada's school.

canadachick said...

i hope there's not a mysterious car crash in his future !

Unknown said...

It's Martin Bashir, not Brashear.

Linnea said...

Awesome... I love it when Tommy just walks out of the interview after he is asked if they believe in a god called Xenu. Its a pretty simple question.

Mango said...

Wow, I only hope that Paul Haggis doesn't have an untimely "accident". Those scientologistd scare me... they are truly EVIL.

Sporky said...

I wouldn't leave the house if I were this dude.

sunnyside1213 said...

Yeah! Another one escapes.

littleoleme said...

Scientology people will only be scary if people keep quiet about what they do. The power and strength of Co$ diminishes with every person that leaves and steps forward to tell the truth.
And Jada PS is a liar. She home schooled her kids with Scientology education programs before she started this school.

Maja With a J said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Maja With a J said...

I am now going to get every DVD of every movie Paul Haggis has ever made. This man must be shown support! *L

RocketQueen said...

@Omet - you'll have to excuse Ent's spelling mistake - he's a hockey fan and Brashear is a player :)

ent lawyer said...

Yes, and I miss Brashear playing for the Caps this year so I have him on my mind. I apologize.

von said...

Finally, someone famous speaks out against the "church". It's about damn time. This disconnection thing is utterly bizarre. Why would any sane, free-thinking person buy into that crap? Glad he and his wife left. Really happy to see how offended and appalled he was by Prop H8.

Katy said...

Hmmm, that link appears to be dead now. Wonder if the site has been pulled?

Unknown said...

Ahh! The Might Zenu shall not be pleased! Paul Haggis shall be sent through the highway to the danger zone to battle with the Rain Man.

There will be no vanilla sky for Paul, only days of thunder. A few good men have attempted to disgrace the mighty church of scientology and all have found the mission impossible.

When all is said and done it’s risky business opposing the mighty church and for Paul all that he can hope for is for mercy from the Last Samurai of death, before the young guns of revenge play taps at his funeral

Sis said...

Wow, I am glad he spoke out, good for him and I hope he and his family stays safe.

A couple of years ago I read a long account of a woman who was demoralized demeaned and ridiculed for wanting to leave this cult, it was really scary stuff.

ardleighstreet said...

Good for Paul! I'm suprized that he hasn't been bundled in a van and audited (brainwashed). Go him!

selenakyle said...

You go, dude! Bury those Co$ fuckers ALIVE.

selenakyle said...

Haaaa, Marisa. That's choice!

Jasmine said...

Yay! Serious balls on that guy...and was it just me or did anyone know they opposed prop 8? That sucks man, glad that was one of the reasons he gave the church up. I know the Mormons spent between 10-20 million in ads and propaganda to convince people to vote yes on prop 8 but the Scientologists too? Holy shit, its no wonder 8 passed here.

Majik said...

Yay, Paul! Will anyone else have the balls to follow suit?

Judi said...

Anything happens to Paul, his family or friends, we'll all know who's behind it. They want to threaten? Consider this message fair warning, you monsters. Leave them alone.

shakey said...

'bout f'n time.

If only John Travolta had the courage to do the same.

Paul Haggis is too respected in the business to have his name dragged through mud. So, SO happy for him and his family.

at_peace_az said...

Just an interesting odd fact...Tommy Davis is the son of actress Anne Archer...also a well known Scientologist.

Wil said...

This is what I get for being late! The video looks to be gone. : /

However, the letter was brilliance.

Glad he got out .. here is hoping more of those in the cult wake up and are able to get out. I hate these people with a passion.

Wil said...

I went to the ABC link EL provided and the video is there for anyone who wants to watch Tommy Davis defend Scientology. However, I will warn you it is unintentionally hilarious because after he says anything in defense of Miscavige .. he immediately looks down and to the side .. can you say lying!?!?

He is simply not even remotely capable of looking Martin in the eyes for longer than a few nano-seconds. : D - LOL! .. and they think they are sooo clever and fooling everyone!

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