Comments on: Scientology’s Homophobic Backlash: Crash Director Paul Haggis Quits Church

By: ianzen

ianzen — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:36:21 +0000

In the late 60′s early 70′s when Scientology was just starting I was a early member. Many of the teachings Of Hubbard made since to me. I knew him personally and his family very well. His son Quintin was an amazing being, so sweet and kind, you would just want to be around him because of his sweetness. Unfortunity, he was also gay and even though he loved his father very much, he also knew that his being gay was going to distroy their relationship.
He felt the only answer to this situation was to take his life, which he did, and it was horrible to us all. He went into the desert and his body was found with his ID under a rock. I left the church soon after, but because I was so close to the family and all the church hunted me for years.
Now I’m a happy homo, but the church still scares me.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 23:12:09 +0000

People switch religions all the time, that is not to say that the religion the switched from is a bad religion. It is usually something chose to leave that particular religion or may have chosen to join that particular religion. Religion is something personal and not usually displayed. Even Britney Spears went from Baptist, studied Kabbalah – a branch of Jewish mysticism and is now apparently dabbling in Hinduism.

Gossip blurs a lot truth. Go to the msnbc read the Church response. Here is the link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33.....nt-gossip/

By: Louanne

Louanne — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:45:46 +0000

I write this on the other article about but it is valid here as well: Scientology couldn’t care less if you share your bed with another woman or man. Ask a Scientologist.

Or read up on it:

Is Scientology against homosexuality? Are there gay Scientologists?

There was some early writings that appeared to be “anti-gay”, stating that homosexuality was covertly hostile. But one must look at that in the context of the times. In the 1940s – 1950s most people in western countries did consider homosexuality to be a mental or even physical illness.

I do not have any knowledge or evidence of anti-homosexual actions taken by the church at any point, other than the few writings on the subject. It was pretty much left alone for many years.

Then in 1967 Hubbard issued a policy which reads, in part, “It has never been any part of my plans to regulate or to attempt to regulate the private lives of individuals. Whenever this has occurred, it has not resulted in any improved condition…

Therefore all former rules, regulations and polices relating to the sexual activities of Scientologists are canceled.”

Hubbard later released a book about ethical behavior that was silent on the subject of homosexuality, and offered a gender-neutral ethical guidelines about being faithful to one’s partner and avoiding promiscuity.

The Church of Scientology is a leading proponent for human rights for all people of earth as can be seen by their campaigns with Youth for Human Rights and the Citizens Commission on Human Rights.

In October 2009 a spokesperson of the Church of Scientology International put it this way:

“The church supports civil rights for everybody, regardless of sexual orientation, race, color or creed. We are a minority, too; we understand what it’s like to be persecuted, so to the extent that anything prohibits or inhibits on civil rights, we don’t agree with it.” (MSNBC, 28 October 2009)

(this is from scientologymyths dot info)

By: Brian NJ

Brian NJ — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:28:19 +0000

What a set.

By: WillBFair

WillBFair — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:09:02 +0000

@ Merv.
Nice cherry picking of the record to trash the church. It’s an old game, popular with ‘rationalists’ who rely heavily on rhetorical tricks.
Some cash comes from the government. So what. They use it with volunteers to feed and warehouse the most vulnerable. And plenty of other programs use private money. I know, because I’ve worked for them. If you had ever lifted a finger for the oppressed, you’d know better than to make such an accusation. The point is to relieve the sufferings of others, not run a scam. That you can call such work a racket creeps me right out.

By: Merv

Merv — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:17:51 +0000

Homeless people fed and housed by Christians?! Don’t make me laugh. These people contract with the government to deliver government-funded services. Most of Catholic Relief Services money comes from the government. We pay for it, they take credit, and skim off a fee. Nice racket if you can swing it.

By: WillBFair

WillBFair — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:59:46 +0000

Sweet. I especially like that a straight guy is defending us.
Scientology is totally out there, which shows how stupid actors are. From personal experience, I can say they’re second only to models.
@Chauncey
Religion and fairness are not incompatible. I’ve done charity work for most of my adult life, with tons of liberal christians. I haven’t seen many free thinkers doing such work. Probably their too busy with the mental masturbation on Sam Harris’ blog.
@Tarxian
Maybe you should tell homeless people being fed and housed by christians what a waste of time religion is. Too bad you weren’t around to explain things to the abolitionists.

By: tarxien

tarxien — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:53:13 +0000

But it took him 35 years???
What a waste of his life.
All religions are a waste of time, but scientology is so obviously nonsense, it’s difficult to understand how anyone can spend 5 minutes on it.

By: rudy

rudy — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 23:42:47 +0000

Now I have to wonder if Scientology’s influence helped steal Brokeback Mountain’s Oscar and handed it to the wretched Crash.
Maybe Marriage Equality should stage kiss-ins in front of the cult’s recruitment center.

By: William Day

William Day — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:41:22 +0000

Hahahahahaha! Joyous day! One question: What operating level was Haggis? With all these rumours about brainwashing and cult activity within Scientology, it’ll be interesting to see if Haggis is willing to talk about what exactly he experienced during his thirty five years with the Church. If you are familiar with Operation Clambake, there have been many reports about harrassment of people who try to leave…

By: Chauncey

Chauncey — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:07:59 +0000

@ Brian

If people put reason before anything like believing in religion, homophobia wouldn’t be a problem. You cant put fairness and equality before religion…its really incompatible when u get down to it.

By: Brian

Brian — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:29:26 +0000

Did you see that Mormons and Baptists? People can put fairness and equality before religion. Who’s next?

By: jojococoa

jojococoa — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:50:36 +0000

crash was still terrible.

By: DeAnimator

DeAnimator — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:53:03 +0000

Good for Paul Haggis. One of the only Scientology members with a brain and apparently, a moral conscience.

By: Freeman

Freeman — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 16:47:34 +0000

This guy is awesome!

By: scott ny'er

scott ny'er — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:20:29 +0000

good for him. Hopefully other big name “stars” will follow suit, since that’s what the American public needs. They follow stars like lemmings.

By: terrwill

terrwill — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:37:48 +0000

Kudos to him for having the balls to give a big FU to Tommy and Johnny et all…..Now when is someone going to indict Travolta for manslaughter for the death of his son Jett? He admitted they knew that Jett suffered from seizures on a regular basis yet refused to allow Jett to take anti-seizure medication because it would force them to acknodledge Jett had Autism, which is not accepted by the Scientologists. Parents action has direct effect on
death of child=Manslaughter…….unfortunately no DA is going to have the guts to impanel a grand jury to indict them……..

By: Fitz

Fitz — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:34:36 +0000

Ladies and Gentlemen, we have backbone.