Posted by April MacIntyre Feb 8, 2011, 1:47 GMT
In a revealing interview with New Yorker magazine, Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis reveals the bizarre, ego-stroking, insulated world where the famous have their fragile egos coddled, weaknesses preyed upon and are charged on a sliding scale that boggles the mind for the privilege to call themselves 'Scientologist."
OUT. Paul Haggis - "RED" Broadway Show Opening Night - Arrivals - Golden Theatre - New York City, NY, USA © Jill Bednar / PR Photos
Scientology is a tax-exempt alleged club of sorts for stars, where allegations from past members say the "Church" acts as a rabid dog gatekeeper, using legal strong-arm moves, alleged physical abuses and outright cronyism to ensure their top-paying clients are "in with the Hollywood in-crowd."
Scientology Investigated by the FBI
Haggis is not the first profile defector of the "Church of Scientology," and in The New Yorker's 26-page eye opening expose, Haggis, the father of two lesbian daughters, broke away after the "Church" helped to put down gay marriage in California.
Here is an excerpt, where John Travolta, outed by Carrie Fisher and others in the media as a gay man (which is frowned upon by his "Church") responds and calls Josh Brolin a liar:
"In 1975, the year that Haggis became a Scientologist, John Travolta, a high-school dropout, was making his first movie, 'The Devil¡¯s Rain,' in Durango, Mexico, when an actress on the set gave him a copy of Dianetics. 'My career immediately took off,' he told a church publication. 'Scientology put me into the big time.' The testimonials of such celebrities have attracted many curious seekers. In Variety, Scientology has advertised courses promising to help aspiring actors ¡°make it in the industry.¡±
One of those actors, Josh Brolin, told me that, in a 'moment of real desperation,' he visited the Celebrity Centre and received 'auditing'¡ªspiritual counselling. He quickly decided that Scientology wasn¡¯t for him. But he still wonders what the religion does for celebrities like Cruise and Travolta: 'Each has a good head on his shoulders, they make great business decisions, they seem to have wonderful families. Is that because they were helped by Scientology?' This is the question that makes celebrities so crucial to the religion. And, clearly, there must be something rewarding if such notable people lend their names to a belief system that is widely scorned.
Brolin says that he once witnessed John Travolta practicing Scientology. Brolin was at a dinner party in Los Angeles with Travolta and Marlon Brando. Brando arrived with a cut on his leg, and explained that he had injured himself while helping a stranded motorist on the Pacific Coast Highway. He was in pain. Travolta offered to help, saying that he had just reached a new level in Scientology. Travolta touched Brando¡¯s leg and Brando closed his eyes. 'I watched this process going on¡ªit was very physical,' Brolin recalls. 'I was thinking, This is really fucking bizarre! Then, after ten minutes, Brando opens his eyes and says, 'That really helped. I actually feel different!¡¯ (Travolta, through a lawyer, called this account ¡°pure fabrication.¡±)
According to Haggis' accounts of his spending during the 37 years of membership, over $100,000 on courses and "auditing," and $300,000 on church initiatives was spent.
The Church of Scientology is on high alert and sent the following statement to TheWrap.com:
CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT
It is unfortunate that The New Yorker chose to introduce its readers toScientology through the eyes of an apostate, someone religious scholarsunanimously denounce as unreliable, rather than take advantage of the Church¡¯sinvitation to experience its practices and humanitarian works firsthand. The NewYorker doesn¡¯t mention Scientology¡¯s global human rights initiative, which haseducated millions on human rights. Or its ¡°Truth About Drugs¡± crusade, teachingmillions how to live drug-free. Or its global Volunteer Ministers program, whosework in Haiti alone has been hailed by the international community. Or its dozensof new Churches bringing Scientology¡¯s life saving technology to communitiesaround the world. Indeed the newest Church opened just this last week inMelbourne, Australia.
The one grain of truth in the article is its acknowledgement of the positive effectScientology has had on the lives of its adherents and the world at large¡ªthat isthe message of Scientology.
The article is little more than a regurgitation of old allegations that have longbeen disproved.
UPDATE: Tommy Davis, son of actress/ Scidentologist Anne Archer and spokesperson for Scientology has sent M&C this statement on Feb. 7 claiming AOL's source contradicts The New Yorker's account:
¡°Paul Haggis vs. the Church of Scientology,¡± released Monday, reported on an alleged federal investigation. The New Yorker was well aware the Church knew nothing of the investigation but had refuted the same claims based on a case already thrown out by a Federal Court Judge. Nonetheless, The New Yorker irresponsibly used the same sources who were discredited in the dismissed case to claim an ¡°investigation¡± so as to garner headlines for an otherwise stale article containing nothing butrehashed unfounded allegations. Allan Lengel, a former Washington Post reporter who writes for AOL News on federal law enforcement matters, filed this late today in a breaking story on Wright¡¯s allegations: ¡°The author cites two sources in the FBI who¡®assured me that the case remains open.¡¯ However, a federal law enforcement source told AOL News the investigation has fallen short and no criminal charges are expected to be filed.¡± Click HERE for the article.
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