NEW YORK (AP) - "Crash" director Paul Haggis has severed his ties with the Church of Scientology in part because of the organization's stance against gay marriage.

Haggis wrote a letter addressed to Tommy Davis, the head of the Church of Scientology's Celebrity Centre. In it, Haggis said he was disappointed by the church's tacit denial of gay rights and its backing of 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.

The letter, dated Aug. 19, was published on 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.

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