Ted Haggard breaks silence to promote HBO documentary about his fall

[Questioninggeller]

From the NY Post:

HAGGARD PITCHING HBO FILM
By DON KAPLAN
NY Post
December 19, 2008

DISGRACED evangelical leader Rev. Ted Haggard will finally break his silence - to promote an HBO documentary about his own fall from power.

The coming out is set for next month at a convention of TV critics in LA.

"We look forward to presenting the film, Ted Haggard and his family at a press tour in LA next month," said a spokeswoman for HBO.

In 2006, Haggard was fired as the senior pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs and lost his post as the president of the National Association of Evangelicals after a former male prostitute said the reverend had been a regular customer for sex and methamphetamines.
...
The film, "The Trials of Ted Haggard," airs Jan. 29 and was made by Alexandra Pelosi - the daughter of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. It is the second documentary she has made featuring Haggard.
...


Source (http://www.nypost.com/seven/12192008/tv/haggard_pitching_hbo_film_144828.htm)

A description from The Colorado Gazette (follow link for video):


VIDEO: Haggard still struggles with sexuality, he says in documentary
December 17, 2008 - 6:48 PM
By Mark Barna
The Gazette

In an HBO documentary set to air Jan. 29, disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard says he never claimed to be heterosexual, as was once reported, and he continues to struggle with same-sex attraction. But he's committed to living a heterosexual life because he believes it's better for children to be raised by a mother and a father.
...
Haggard, a 52-year-old father of five, careens from self-pity to self-loathing to self-aggrandizement in the documentary. Anger about his dismissal from the church he founded bubbles just below the surface.

"The reason I kept my personal struggle a secret is because I feared that my friends would reject me, abandon me and kick me out, and the church would exile and excommunicate me. And that happened and more," he says.

He also criticizes New Life's handling of his firing. "The church has said go to hell," Haggard says in the documentary. "The church chose not to forgive me."

Two of Haggard's children show up in the documentary, as does his wife, Gayle, who talks about why she stayed with her husband after the scandal.
...
Haggard now sells insurance -- which the documentary shows - but he laments that he's not good at it. He says he left hundreds of fliers on people's doors, and didn't get any responses.

"At this stage in my life, I am a loser," he says.
...


Source (http://www.gazette.com/articles/haggard_45022___article.html/church_documentary.html)

And:


Haggard credits therapists, not clergy, for helping him understand himself
December 19th, 2008, 8:45 am
The Colorado Gazette
by Mark Barna

...
Below are some quotes from Haggard from the film.

* On his same-sex attraction:

“I did some same-sex play when I was in the second grade, then all that blew up when I was 50. I had to analyze myself — a heterosexual, a homosexual, gay, straight, bisexual? What are you Ted Haggard? I wrestled with it, fought with it, argued with it.”

“I am who I am. I am an evangelical, and continue from time to time to struggle with same-sex attraction.”

* On why he didn’t come out about his sexuality while New Life senior pastor and head of the National Association of Evangelicals:

“I didn’t think I could. I was a representative voice to 30 million people. My responsibility was to get worked out.”

* Wife Gayle on Haggard’s sexuality:

“I think I know from time to time that there wasn’t the level of intimacy.”

“I was not aware of the depth of struggle going on within him.”

* Haggard says it was a pastor friend, not himself, who declared that he was “completely heterosexual” after Haggard quit the restoration program, which was supposed to release him from his same-sex attraction. Haggard says he has never claimed to be completely heterosexual.

*Haggard credits therapists, not clergy members, for helping him better understand his sexuality.

“After my crises, the therapists were the ones who gave me answers. All these years I thought I was a dog, worthless, an awful person. Then I sat down and talked with an experienced therapist. And he said, ‘We can help you through that.’”

* On his mental state:

“I lie awake in angst because I’ve lost so many friends. I certainly understand that people can’t stand me.”

“I was suicidal for a while.”
...


Source (http://thepulpit.freedomblogging.com/2008/12/19/haggard-credits-therapists-not-clergy-for-helping-him-understand-himself/506/)

[Sefarst]

I think about Ted Haggard sometimes. I usually feel pity for him and imagine he grew up in a religious environment where homosexuality was frowned upon and viewed as a sinful choice. I think he probably spent his youth and adulthood hoping that, if he would only be religious and faithful enough, God would "cure" him and make him well. This led to him becoming a preacher. However, that didn't change him either. So he thought maybe if he got married and had some kids, THAT would change him. When that didn't work, maybe he thought by becoming extremely anti-gay, God would reward him by taking away his homosexuality. When that didn't work, he found himself in the position of being an extremely repressed gay man that was also the leading homophobic voice of America and couldn't figure out how to change it. That led to self-destructive behavior like seeing a gay prostitute.

When I think of it like that, I feel an overwhelming amount of pity for the man. Then I remember the methamphetamines and I stop feeling bad for him...

[Moochie]

No pity here. He lived a total lie to himself, his family, and to the millions who thought/believed him to be their conduit to the hippie in the sky. Like so many other "Christians" -- watch the program American Greed sometime for a look at how "Christianity" is a ruthless, rapacious set of beliefs that some use to totally exploit their fellows -- Haggard played a vicious, ultimately stupid game, and got sprung.

Pity? The guy needs a lobotomy!


M.

[Egg]

Seems pretty sad to me, the way he was treated by his friends. My hope would be that by him telling his story it might help a few of the evangelicals get real on the issue of homosexuality and drop the ridiculous persecution that can go on.

I've often wondered if some of the most outspoken anti-gay preachers are struggling with homosexual tendencies themselves.

[articulett]

I feel bad for his wife.

[Darth Rotor]

I feel bad for his wife.
We agree. (Mark your calendar. ;) )

[Sefarst]

I feel bad for his wife.

But if she'd only been a better wife, she could have turned him straight.

[ponderingturtle]

I think about Ted Haggard sometimes. I usually feel pity for him and imagine he grew up in a religious environment where homosexuality was frowned upon and viewed as a sinful choice. I think he probably spent his youth and adulthood hoping that, if he would only be religious and faithful enough, God would "cure" him and make him well. This led to him becoming a preacher. However, that didn't change him either. So he thought maybe if he got married and had some kids, THAT would change him. When that didn't work, maybe he thought by becoming extremely anti-gay, God would reward him by taking away his homosexuality. When that didn't work, he found himself in the position of being an extremely repressed gay man that was also the leading homophobic voice of America and couldn't figure out how to change it. That led to self-destructive behavior like seeing a gay prostitute.

When I think of it like that, I feel an overwhelming amount of pity for the man. Then I remember the methamphetamines and I stop feeling bad for him...

It is also possible he is mostly straight, and would not want a long term relationship with a man, but wants to suck on penis's occasionaly.

[Moochie]

But if she'd only been a better wife, she could have turned him straight.

Yeah, some people will swallow anything.


M.

[articulett]

I hope she takes his "fall" as permission to guiltlessy indulge her sexual urges as freely as he indulged his with the person (people)(devices) of her choosing.

But, somehow, I doubt it.

[articulett]

Nor is it likely that Haggard, the kids, or the Christians would be so forgiving or blame Satan.

[CFLarsen]

Sure, lump all Christians together with Haggard. Stereotyping is fun!

[articulett]

HZmHC75FDqQ

[Moochie]

HZmHC75FDqQ


Wonderful stuff! :D


M.

[jmcvann]

HZmHC75FDqQ

Very funny. Thanks!

[LarianLeQuella]

I've often wondered if some of the most outspoken anti-gay preachers are struggling with homosexual tendencies themselves.

I too have speculated on this. By the same token, I guess that means Bill O'Riely is most certainly a pedophile! :p

[Moochie]

I too have speculated on this. By the same token, I guess that means Bill O'Riely is most certainly a pedophile! :p


Nah, Papa Bear's just a plain vanilla moron. :D


M.

[Lonewulf]

Nah, Papa Bear's Panda's just a plain vanilla moron. :D


M.

Corrected.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Ooops! http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28820199

[Questioninggeller]

It looks like New Life Church tried to delay this:


New Life tried to avoid latest Ted Haggard sex scandal
By Mark Barna / The Gazette, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Monday, January 26, 2009

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — New Life Church tried to head off the fallout that has embroiled the congregation in its second sex scandal involving Ted Haggard, the Rev. Brady Boyd said Saturday.

Boyd asked the church’s disgraced former pastor in December to postpone the release of the HBO documentary "The Trials of Ted Haggard," saying that it could motivate a second man to go public with sexual allegations against him.
...
The latest Haggard scandal began Thursday when Boyd was notified by a Colorado Springs TV station that a church volunteer was going public with allegations against Haggard. On Friday, Boyd sent out an e-mail to inform thousands of New Life members that the church knew about the allegations and gave cash to the man, whom the church won’t name because of confidentiality rules observed by preachers.

Boyd also said in the e-mail that over the past two years several others at the church have come forward to report "inappropriate behavior" by Haggard prior to his firing for sex with a gay Denver prostitute.

Boyd didn’t elaborate Saturday on whether the accusations from those people included sex, or if the relationship with the young volunteer was consensual.
...


Source (http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/central/view/2009_01_26_New_Life_tried_to_avoid_latest_Ted_Hagg ard_sex_scandal/srvc=home&position=recent)

Well, I believe the answer to the last question is here:


New Life Addresses NEWSCHANNEL 13 Investigation
Updated: Jan 25, 2009 01:18 PM EST
krdo.com (http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?S=9729019)
By Tak Landrock


COLORADO SPRINGS - Pastor Brady Boyd for the first time addressed his congregation at New Life Church to talk about new allegations uncovered by NEWSCHANNEL 13.
...
Boyd added that six-figure payout was insurance money, not tithing from members of the church. He spoke about doing the right thing even if it hurts.
...
On NEWSCHANNEL 13 Monday night at 10 p.m., you will hear from the victim, who tells his side of the story and why he is going public. I have been speaking with him for almost two years about his story and his struggles to overcome what happened to him.

As you will learn, it was not consensual and it has changed his life. He says this is not about "opening new wounds" it's about a much larger issue.


Source (http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?S=9729019)

Mike Jones speaks about this latest scandal:
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...
I knew that there were others, others that I could not publicly out, they had to do it themselves but they were scared. Some of their parents knew … about what was going on at the church and some of the parents just wanted to turn a blind eye to it. [heavy sigh] I also realize … that … it was gonna be just probably me out there alone – uh – facing the press, facing the criticism. Now, when, Brady Boyd took over as pastor of New Life church, I contacted him. I wanted to talk to him about these other young men that were coming to me – with their stories. This was serious. And you know, pastor Boyd refused to meet with me.
...
But I will tell you right now most of my anger is at New Life Church. For over two years I have suffered being alone (?) out there, taking all the heat for all that’s going on, when all this time they knew there was others … and they paid hush money to this man to be quiet when they coulda admitted it there was others right at that moment and that woulda helped me out so much instead of putting me out there to face it all on my own.

I am so angry at the church. They stated at the time that Mike Jones was the only man out there that had … relations with Ted Haggard … and it’s wrong and it was a lie … and they owe me an apology.
...


Mikes Jones transcript (http://coloradoindependent.com/20084/mike-jones-speaks-out-on-latest-haggardnew-life-scandal)

Haggard interviewed at New Life by Dawkins (on The Root of All Evil?)
fibl2A3Ai7o

[saizai]

FWIW, it seems to me from what video interviews I've seen of him at the time that Ted Haggard genuinely believes (believed?) in the "sinner/sin" distinction, and in trying to treat homosexuals kindly despite his condemnation of homosexuality.

Evidently his church did not feel quite as kind about their pastor having that "struggle against sin".

(I strongly disagree with his teachings of course, but at least I can distinguish hate from condemnation.)

[Questioninggeller]

More information about latest scandal:


Church Volunteer: Haggard Wanted To Be 'Bad' In Bed
Accuser: 'All I Wanted To Do Is Die'
KMGH - Denver's Channel 7 (http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/18570743/detail.html)

POSTED: 9:06 pm MST January 26, 2009
UPDATED: 9:43 pm MST January 26, 2009

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The church volunteer who came forward to tell a Colorado Springs TV station about his hidden sexual relationship with disgraced former pastor Ted Haggard says Haggard tried to take advantage of him with drugs and sex while on a trip.

The volunteer, who identified himself as Grant, said he first met Haggard in 2005 after being kicked out of the Moody Bible Institute (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moody_Bible_Institute) for his struggles with his homosexuality.

Grant said he told Haggard he was gay when they met.

It seemed at that moment, his eyes lit up and his whole attitude toward me changed," Grant told KRDO.
...
The answer would come in 2006 when Grant, 22 years old at the time, went on a trip to Cripple Creek with Haggard.

During the trip, Grant said Haggard asked if they were going to be "godly or bad that night."

"Pretty much we were going to hang out and be friends that night or was I going to buy him porn and masturbate with him and taken meth with him and let him show me all the things he likes to do when he travels," Grant said.

"I told him that night, I just wanted you to be my pastor and my friend," Grant said.

Grant said Haggard exposed himself in their hotel room. "He was like do you mind if I masturbate?" Grant said. "I told him that I didn't want that."

When asked by KRDO reporter Tak Landrock, "He did that with you in bed?" Grant said, "I couldn't move…this really was happening."
...
A few months after the incident in Cripple Creek, Mike Jones, a gay escort, came forward and claimed he had a three-year cash-for-sex relationship with Haggard.
...
Grant deleted the text messages to protect Haggard, according to an audio recording of a phone call between himself and Haggard in July 2007.

"I deleted them for you…because I didn't want your daughter to see," Grant said on the recording. "I didn't want your family to see them. I didn't want your wife to see them."
...
In one part of the call, Haggard admits what he did with Grant was wrong and tries several times to get him to drop his pending lawsuit.

"It's better to forgive," Haggard said. "Let it go. Forgive the people who've wronged you. I wronged you. Forgive me."

But Grant said he couldn't forgive, especially when the church backed out of a promise to pay his medical bills for counseling.
...
Grant said he never went through with the lawsuit, taking an $180,000 settlement from the church instead.

New Life Church Pastor Brady Boyd said that under a legal settlement the church reached with Grant in 2007, neither side was to discuss the matter publicly. Boyd called the payment "financial assistance," to help pay for counseling and medical bills. He said the money came from insurance, not member contributions.

Speaking to church members on Sunday, Boyd would only say that an "overwhelming pool of evidence" pointed to an "inappropriate, consensual sexual relationship" involving the volunteer that "went on for a long period of time."

"It wasn't a one-time act," Boyd said.
...
"They think Ted Haggard is not a harm to the community, and I really think they're wrong, they're dead wrong," Grant said reflecting on the whole affair.
...
Monday Haggard released a statement admitting that he met with Grant two years ago, along with his wife and a representative of New Life Church. At that time, he asked for Grant's forgiveness for "our inappropriate relationship."
...


Source (http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/18570743/detail.html)
Also see: KRDO's website for original details and video (http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?S=9737380)

In the video, the boy also accused the church of a cover-up and trying to silence him.

On the boy involved and more details:


Haggard's Accuser: His Side of the Story
Updated: Jan 27, 2009 12:58 AM EST
By Tak Landrock/KRDO (http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?S=9737380)

...
Before the encounter in Cripple Creek, Grant came to Colorado Springs after being kicked out of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois.

"I was a good student, I had a G.P.A of 3.6, I was class president for two years. I really had a great life there."

While he was only a semester away from getting his Bachelors in Pastoral Theology, he wanted to come clean about his sexual identity.

"I pretty much went to the Dean of Students and told them I was struggling with wondering if I was gay or not and they pretty much told me they wouldn't be able to help me."

The college recommended he come to Colorado Springs to get help with his struggle with homosexuality. Four months into attending New Life Church, Pastor Ted Haggard personally introduced himself.

According to Grant, Haggard asked, "What's your story and what are you doing here?"

At first, Grant lied about why he was kicked out of Moody Bible, but finally admitted to him that he thought he was gay.

"It seemed like at that moment his eyes lit up and his whole attitude toward me changed," says Grant.

Haggard gave Grant his personal cell phone and took him to lunch the next day.

"In my mind, from a religious standpoint, I thought the Holy Spirit was speaking to him and God was telling him to help me out of this situation I am in."
...
Grant also claims Haggard would frequently talk about the party formula. "From his words, was pretty much: Viagra, some poppers, some crystal meth, porn and masturbation, just doing all of those things at once," says Grant.
...


More detail: Source (http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?S=9737380)

Around the same time this happened, Haggard campaigned for a Colorado anti-gay marriage referendum.

[Beerina]

No pity here. He lived a total lie to himself, his family, and to the millions who thought/believed him to be their conduit to the hippie in the sky. Like so many other "Christians" -- watch the program American Greed sometime for a look at how "Christianity" is a ruthless, rapacious set of beliefs that some use to totally exploit their fellows -- Haggard played a vicious, ultimately stupid game, and got sprung.

Like Jimmy Swagart, his only real regret was getting caught.

[Questioninggeller]

Gayle Haggard, Ted's wife, knew about his sexual identity all the while he criticized homosexuals and campaigned for laws against equal rights:


Ted Haggard’s wife: He told me of struggles years ago
By Associated Press (http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/general/view/2009_01_27_Ted_Haggard_s_wife:_He_told_me_of_strug gles_years_ago/srvc=home&position=recent)
Tuesday, January 27, 2009

CHICAGO — Former evangelical pastor Ted Haggard’s wife says she knew about his struggles with same-sex attraction for years and felt he was "winning the battle" before a scandal involving a male prostitute triggered his downfall in late 2006.

Gayle Haggard makes the remarks in an appearance with her husband on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to air Wednesday. She said she was shocked when Haggard first told her the truth about the allegations against him.

"The first words out of my mouth were, ’Who are you?’" she said, according to a publicity release issued Tuesday by Harpo Productions.
...
"I felt it was the thing that could destroy Ted if he gave in to it," she said. "So I prayed for him and I felt as though he was winning the battle."
...


Source (http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/general/view/2009_01_27_Ted_Haggard_s_wife:_He_told_me_of_strug gles_years_ago/srvc=home&position=recent)

She thought praying for him would change his sexuality? If praying worked why not pray that children don't starve to death? Does she really think an adult's sexuality can be changed?

[Silly Green Monkey]

Hey neat, papers I deliver!

[pgwenthold]

Gayle Haggard, Ted's wife, knew about his sexual identity all the while he criticized homosexuals and campaigned for laws against equal rights:



Source (http://news.bostonherald.com/news/national/general/view/2009_01_27_Ted_Haggard_s_wife:_He_told_me_of_strug gles_years_ago/srvc=home&position=recent)

She thought praying for him would change his sexuality? If praying worked why not pray that children don't starve to death? Does she really think an adult's sexuality can be changed?


Homosexuality is a choice, remember?

Seriously, I wonder if anyone could suggest that Haggard "chose" to be gay?

[Skeptic Ginger]

I feel bad for his wife.She appears to have chosen denial. It can be an effective coping mechanism. Except for the fact that recidivism is a problem both with drug use and I would imagine with a gay guy trying to be hetero.

[Skeptic Ginger]

Nah, Papa Bear's just a plain vanilla moron. :D


M.Do loofahs and phone sex come in vanilla?

[blobru]

She appears to have chosen denial. It can be an effective coping mechanism. Except for the fact that recidivism is a problem both with drug use and I would imagine with a gay guy trying to be hetero.


Yes, there's bound to be a lot of backsliding.

[dudalb]

Wow. they make Elmer Gantry look like a amateur when it comes to hypocrisy.

[Pardalis]

They're on Oprah right now. (stumbled upon it by accident I SWEAR!)

ETA: Boy, they're really into deep philosophical debates... :rolleyes:

Holy mother of God! His daughter is a bombshell! :eye-poppi

[Pardalis]

Meh, nothing much to the interview (except the daughter, sweet Jesus :eye-poppi...)

I thought this bit in the links of the OP seemed optimistic:
*Haggard credits therapists, not clergy members, for helping him better understand his sexuality.

“After my crises, the therapists were the ones who gave me answers. I thought this was encouraging, could he see the light? Could he finally understand that religion doesn't have the answers?

But in the interview he keeps apologizing for his church for ostricizing him, and praised them for taking him back... And said Jesus was "faithful" to him, or some similar bs. Didn't learn a thing.

But at least he recognized that homosexuality is part of him, and he seems to have soften on homosexuals altogether, which is I think as far as he'll go.

BTW, what's with this annoying format to jump to a commercial every two minutes?

[saizai]

Homosexuality is a choice, remember?

Seriously, I wonder if anyone could suggest that Haggard "chose" to be gay?

The idea is that homosexual acts are a choice, and the thing that are condemned.

Haggard is merely being tempted by evil (Satan's fault, y'know). His choice is supposed to be to refuse to give into sinful temptation.

This is a general disconnect in how fundies and not talk about sexuality; fundies talk about the acts as the choice, not talk about the orientation as unchangeable (and don't see why one would refuse oneself one's desires).

[Questioninggeller]

Haggard admitted on The Oprah Winfrey Show he lied about not using meth:


Haggard admits he lied about meth use
posted by: Jeffrey Wolf
Jan 28, 2009
KUSA-TV/9News (http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=108715&catid=339)

...
"I lied about it because I was so ashamed, and it was the first time that that dark area of my life that I had worked so hard to keep secret and fight against was coming to the surface," he told Winfrey.
...
Haggard told Winfrey he still has attractions to men.

"But they're not compulsive any more, and I do have temptations, but they're not compulsive," he told Winfrey.

The scandal surrounding Ted Haggard has widened in recent days with disclosures that Haggard also admitted to an "inappropriate" relationship with a church volunteer, identified as Grant, who was 22 at the time.
...
Winfrey read a statement from Haggard on the latest scandal at the end of the show. In it, Haggard denied having physical contact with Grant.


Source (http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=108715&catid=339)

A trailer of the Oprah interview:

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[Juustin]

He's still tip-toeing around what his sexual preference is in these interviews. He's totally doing doublespeak about it. He might as well have said "I'm 100% straight, but also 100% fabulous!"

I'm just curious where he's going to go with this. Him and his wife keep talking about "wanting to tell their story". How much money are they set up to make from him being a meth addict and a hypocrite? Not to mention, in the instance of the man who looked to him as a pastor, while he was of-age, there's some serious ethical problems with trying to take advantage of that guy in that situation. But apparently it all amounts to bigger paychecks in the end.

[Monketey Ghost]

Wow. they make Elmer Gantry look like a amateur when it comes to hypocrisy.

Thank you for the Sinclair Lewis reference, greatest author ever.

[Pardalis]

Ted Haggard's juiciest secret starts at 5:00:

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=sAosdvwrqdU

Damn :drool:

I'm more offended that he kept her a secret for so long.

[Jonnyclueless]

I think there's a phrase which sums it up well.

What goes around comes around.

Only now that he can no longer steal money from a congregation of people who buy into his religious crap, he can make money with an HBO special on it. And soon he can repent and get back to conning people out of their hard earned money by pretending to be an example of "god's work".

But I doubt he will be able to return to the White House to continue influencing how the president runs the country.

Glory how he blew ya.

[Moochie]

Homosexuality is a choice, remember?

Seriously, I wonder if anyone could suggest that Haggard "chose" to be gay?


I got the impression that the Haggards saw homosexuality as akin to alcoholism, and therefore able to be "treated." As long as he publicly espouses scripture's sanctions against homosexuality he will have to keep denying who he is. Pitiful. Just pitiful.


M.

[Moochie]

<snip>

BTW, what's with this annoying format to jump to a commercial every two minutes?

I've noticed that they do the same thing on Larry King, especially in the last half. I suppose that by then they figure they have plenty of committed eyeballs for the advertisers.


M.

[Moochie]

Ted Haggard's juiciest secret starts at 5:00:

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=sAosdvwrqdU

Damn :drool:

I'm more offended that he kept her a secret for so long.

I thought the daughter was rather ordinary looking.

Having seen this and the Haggards' appearance on Larry King, I reckon this guy's not even set a foot on the road to any real salvation -- biblical or otherwise.

I see a carefully stage-managed re-entry into his particular milieu. I think that some months or years down the track, there'll be a small item in the papers reporting their divorce. After all, the kids are adults so there's no need to continue the charade for their sakes.


M.

[Juustin]

Haha, they were showing the clip from Trials of Ted Haggard. He seems all giddy, and says "I'm 51 and I've never been on a job interview. I feel like a 19 year old boy!"

My wife: "Hang on, we'll go get you one."

[billydkid]

I don't know much about Ted, but it seems to me he must have led a seriously tortured existence. I am not certain about this, but I'm not sure he was one of the worst in terms of teaching intolerance toward gays. He was never one of those "God hates fags!" guys, I'm pretty sure.

[Questioninggeller]

I don't know much about Ted, but it seems to me he must have led a seriously tortured existence. I am not certain about this, but I'm not sure he was one of the worst in terms of teaching intolerance toward gays. He was never one of those "God hates fags!" guys, I'm pretty sure.

You are wrong.

He was famous for his anti-gay claims, cheered on by the organization of evangelicals he led.

Haggard believed homosexuality and being a "Christian" were mutually exclusive. In this brand of Christianity, if you weren't Christian were couldn't be a good human being. When he was busted he campaigned against gay marriage, that's why he was exposed.

I recommend you watch Jesus Camp, which has a sermon where he preaches, "we don't have to debate about what we should think about homosexual activity. It’s written in the Bible."

For the record the Bible says:

In the King James Version, Leviticus 18:22 is translated: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."
Living Bible: "Homosexuality is absolutely forbidden, for it is an enormous sin"
New Living Translation: "Do not practice homosexuality; it is a detestable sin.

For more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bible_and_homosexuality

[ponderingturtle]

Anyone else here seen The Trials of Ted Haggard? It makes him out to be a sad individual. Unlike many big time preachers it seems he did not get a large personal fortune from this, and it makes it out that in person he is a kind individual.

How accurate this view is of him is not something I will attempt to guess at.

[Louisthe13th]

Appears to be another example of cherry pickin'... If you be believe then it shows the power of jeebus etc...

Sick, sick man.

[HarryKeogh]

Just finished watching the documentary on HBO.

I'm a bad atheist. I actually feel bad for the guy.

The guy can't just admit he's gay or bisexual because of all that religion nonsense stuck in his head.

His church, which preaches forgiveness every chance they get have exiled him from the state. He's been reduced to putting flyers on doors to try and sell loan counseling ("haven't gotten one call")

His life would be so much different, and for the better, if we lived in a world where a large segment of the population didn't think homosexuality was evil and dirty and an abomination.

Haggard was a hypocrite to be sure. But I blame his downfall on his struggles with his sexuality and his religion and the God he loves telling him how awful that part of him is.

[slingblade]

Haggard was a hypocrite to be sure. But I blame his downfall on his struggles with his sexuality and his religion and the God he loves telling him how awful that part of him is.

And that same God refusing to "heal him of his affliction." I'm sure he's prayed for that, a lot.

It may even be part of the reasoning behind his anti-gay campaign. If he just shows God how much he hates homosexuality, fights against it for God, rejects it utterly, maybe God will believe him and heal him.

Of course, God's not there, so Ted's praying to nothing.

But the lack of response is devastating. Especially for a preacher, who probably believes God "called him," and he's one of the special ones. If god won't listen to a pastor, who would he listen to, after all?

Religion, my friends, will mess you up.