NEW YORK - "Crash" director Paul Haggis has severed his ties with the Church of Scientology, in part because of what he alleged as the organization's stance against gay marriage.
Haggis wrote a letter addressed to Tommy Davis, the head of Scientology's Celebrity Centre. In it, Haggis said he was disappointed by the church's tacit denial of gay rights in the debate over California's gay marriage ban.
The 56-year-old Haggis, who won an Oscar in 2005 for co-writing "Crash," said he was quitting the church after 35 years.
"I could not, in good conscience, be a member of an organization where gay-bashing was tolerated," Haggis wrote.
The filmmaker said that he was promised that action would be taken but that he was frustrated after time passed.
"Silence is consent, Tommy," Haggis wrote. "I refuse to consent."
The letter, dated Aug. 19, was published in a blog about Scientology and has since been widely circulated online.
Ziggy Kozlowski, a publicist for Haggis, confirmed that the director wrote the letter. Kozlowski said the letter was intended to remain private.