Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Flashback: Pastor Ted Haggard and his Wife talk about the Gay Sex Scandal
Oprah Show ^ | 2009

Posted on 08/19/2018 5:28:46 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege

Ted Haggard was once one of the most power evangelical leaders in America.

New Life Church leader Ted Haggard was once one of America's most charismatic and powerful evangelical leaders, with an audience of more than 30 million people. Ted began counseling foreign dignitaries and consulting on a weekly basis with President George W. Bush. By 2005, Time magazine named him one of the most influential evangelicals in America.

But no one—not even his devoted wife, five children and his Colorado Springs, Colorado-based congregation—suspected that Ted was paying an admitted male escort for crystal meth. In November 2006, Mike Jones publicly alleged he'd engaged in a three-year sexual relationship with the pastor, which Ted immediately denied. Three days after the scandal broke and after a voice mail featuring Ted asking Mike for drugs was released, Ted's story unraveled. Eventually, Ted admitted to sexual immorality and to buying drugs. He later resigned from the church he helped to found.

In his first television interview since the scandal, Ted talks with Oprah about why he kept secret a part of his life he calls dark and repulsive...

Ted says he and Gayle, as church leaders, made their private lives more public than many others in their position. "We were very open, very transparent, about everything—except this one area of my heart," he says.

Why did he keep such an important part of his life hidden from his church? "I thought it would go away," Ted says. "Unfortunately, that's the state in a lot of leadership roles. And when you're in a leadership role, whether it's political or a religious leadership role, that exists. And I'm not saying that as an excuse."

(Excerpt) Read more at oprah.com ...


TOPICS: Ecumenism; Evangelical Christian; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: butthurtcatholic; celibacy; deflection; diggingupbones; glasshouses; haggard; homosexualagenda; hypocrisy; moralequivalancy; notchurchwide; pastor; tedhaggard
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-94 next last
To: boycott

If not no one should attend. I believe in forgiveness but that doesn’t mean the forgiven one automatically returns to a position of trust. I would think a quiet life of penance and service to others would be in order


21 posted on 08/19/2018 7:13:04 PM PDT by Mom MD ( .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Big Red Badger

Good and Absolutely Juvenile.


22 posted on 08/19/2018 7:14:06 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (UNSCANABLE in an IDIOCRACY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: boycott

“I watched the 40+ minute video and I don’t believe there was mention of Jesus.”

The only Jesus that Haggard knew was the illegal alien that supplied his hooker with meth.


23 posted on 08/19/2018 7:17:29 PM PDT by Blue House Sue
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege

2009


24 posted on 08/19/2018 7:20:20 PM PDT by bonfire
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mom MD

The reality is that now even Evangelical churches are getting rocked with scandals as well. Have to repent and clean also .


25 posted on 08/19/2018 7:21:04 PM PDT by Biggirl ("One Lord, one faith, one baptism" - Ephesians 4:5)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: CondoleezzaProtege

You got an agenda.

Trying to protect Keith Ellison?


26 posted on 08/19/2018 7:21:49 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Bulwyf

I believe that there are enough good Catholics in the pews to bring pressure on the bad Bishops, which will eventually get to the Pope. I think he is running scared right now.

Likewise, I pray that the good Catholics in the pews praise the good Bishops/Archbishops and that also will filter upward to the top.

We need to pray and act.


27 posted on 08/19/2018 7:24:24 PM PDT by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Mom MD

No doubt Ted can be forgiven and still serve the Lord but I believe that his poor decisions take away from what should be the focus.


28 posted on 08/19/2018 7:27:41 PM PDT by boycott
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Mom MD; CondoleezzaProtege

“If you think finding a sex scandal in an evangelical church not even involving minors with no cover up excuses the systematic evil in the RCC ...”

I get it now.

This person, CondoleezzaProtege, is posting all this agenda driven stuff from leftist media. I didn’t know why.

CondoleezzaProtege, there’s no reason to be defensive, they hate the Catholics and Protestants and will try to smear all of us.


29 posted on 08/19/2018 7:28:15 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

Actually there is evil in the leadership of some evangelical churches. All men are sinful and no church is perfect. Evil in any church should be exposed rooted out and removed from the church. It is the sin and pride of these so called leaders that brings shame on the congregation they are associated with, not the media that reports it. We should be thankful it is brought to the light of day to be dealt with


30 posted on 08/19/2018 7:32:41 PM PDT by Mom MD ( .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: Mom MD

Your response is a bit of a non-sequitur.

E.g. “We should be thankful it is brought to the light of day to be dealt with”

Yeah. Nine years ago this happened.

And he was a nobody fake type pastor no one ever heard of anyhow.

This condolleeeza person is posting all sorts of attacks on Protestants as sex abusers.

I’d have the same reaction if someone was posting a bunch of stuff meant to smear Catholics.


31 posted on 08/19/2018 7:38:58 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: odawg

“Sure seems to be a lot of stories lately”

Lately. This is from ten years ago.


32 posted on 08/19/2018 7:40:47 PM PDT by ifinnegan (Democrats kill babies and harvest their organs to sell)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

...but no one is .


33 posted on 08/19/2018 7:41:10 PM PDT by Big Red Badger (UNSCANABLE in an IDIOCRACY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

I remember the initial scandal I don’t live far from there. I get the intent is to excuse what the Catholics are doing by smearing the Protestants. My point is Protestants will generally own up to win and scandal in their ranks not bury it and point fingers at someone else


34 posted on 08/19/2018 7:41:21 PM PDT by Mom MD ( .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Biggirl

It’s not about what church Biggirl.....it’s about where these preditors build their lairs because they go after any kids not just those in whatever church they attend.

As for Haggard...well I never listened to the guy as he was like some of the others....all in for emotional manipulation while filling his coffers and personal wealth.


35 posted on 08/19/2018 7:41:53 PM PDT by caww
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Mom MD

A church in my once neighborhood had a married Junior Pastor sleeping with an underage gal (14) who babysit for his two kids. Once discovered he was immediately removed. Nobody higher up in any way protected him. However the girls Parents chose not to press charges. I would have.


36 posted on 08/19/2018 7:48:13 PM PDT by caww
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: caww

“However the girls Parents chose not to press charges.”

That is not typically how it works.

You rape a 14 year old kid and the law is going to come after you.


37 posted on 08/19/2018 7:51:26 PM PDT by Blue House Sue
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: ifinnegan

It was republished today. Along with about two others I have read today.


38 posted on 08/19/2018 7:51:40 PM PDT by odawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Biggirl

What is going on is a concerted finger pointing trying to divert attention.


39 posted on 08/19/2018 7:52:52 PM PDT by odawg
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Blue House Sue
Did the article convey Ted Haggard was “shooting” meth? I did not read that, perhaps I missed that. Meth can be snorted and or smoked as well.

Also, as repugnant as this whole story is, God does bring these things to the surface...to heal.

I read through the article and was wondering why was he having secret gay liaisons and self medicating....and then, there it is. Ted Haggard is an adult survivor of child sexual abuse.

This whole thing is off-putting, but I choose to show the guy grace. Children who suffer at the hands of a pedophile more times than not grow up with dysfunctions of some type/magnitude. Good on his wife for showing him that same grace.

40 posted on 08/19/2018 7:59:15 PM PDT by servantboy777
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-94 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson