What, to you, is the real tragedy of Pastor Ted Haggard's sex & drug scandal?
832124
That he was allowed to get away with it for so long because he filled the pews and the collection plate.
949508
I think it's good that he has stepped down from his church and from the other organization he was leading, but Christians also need to cut out the gossip and gawking and pray for the guy. Check out the blog entry below that I just posted about Haggard.
739900
Some say that it's sex education, instead of prayer, in the schools. And a failure to practice abstinence.\n\nAnd drugs of course: starting with marijuana, turning kids into dope fiends. I just got a DVD of "Reefer Madness" and can't wait to watch it.
581642
Right now I think Fred Phelps qualifies.  When a nutjob like Jerry Falwell calls another preacher a "loon", you know there have to be some serious issues.
1079426
I am sad - he was a good Christian - who fought back against the evils of drug use and steroids - and no, he didn't die of drug use or steroids - and ministered regularly to his fellow wrestlers and fans about his faith... I cried - especially for his wife and his children - may they know God has him in His care.
823977
I take no joy in anyone's disgrace. However, the irony of the situation isn't lost on me. It makes me wish that the Fundamentalists and other groups would lighten up on the gay issue so that people could just come out of the closet instead of living lives based on secrecy and falsehood. It's a recipe for hypocrisy. My own church is open to gay clergy, and we haven't seen anything like this coming from them; we already know they're gay, so there's nothing to hide. It's a sad commentary on one individual--in this case, the minister in question--but a worse indictment of his own church and its homophobic agenda.
732727
I think he has been punished by being shown to all as one of the people that he spent years preaching against. The closest thing to punishment I would like to see is for him to realize the harm he has done with his words demonizing gay people.
902929
Haggard belongs to a Charismatic church. They will probably return him to the pulpit. Charismatics have a very low tolerance to morality, with or without drugs.
744473
Yes, I think that is horrific that he would lead so many people and live a lie.  I can not stand hypocrites.  How are you supposed to preach about Sodom and Gomorrah when you are living in it.  It makes me sick.  I am a Christian, but it seems like a lot of these people who claim to be Christian Leader's are going to hell in a hand basket.  Yes, he needs criminal charges brought against him for being a liar, drug user, and male whore.  I just want to throw up!
911596
He is the big Evangelical Preacher that really headed up an anti-gay thing. Now he has been caught buying drugs and dealing with a male prostitute who  says he has had sex with the Reverend
384664
you know, it's so, so, sad the way he has done to his life . i was looking at a biography in a special since he was little , and he was a very handsome little guy . , grew up to be a good-looking young man and he's fans , WOW ! by the millions . what craved his mind to do what he did to himself , surgery's looking kind of scary , changing his whole face features around , and then to make EVERYTHING even worse, the sex molestation scandal is a total mess . i will always remember him as the good spectacular dancer & singer of our times , and as far the rest , i leave it up to god to judge him .
904283
You know, Haggard always struck me as possibly being gay. That being said, he was one of the more rational Evangelicals, one of the few who, you know, actually seemed COMPASSIONATE. I suspect it is true, but will withhold judgement.
956269
Extremely dangerous. It is people like them that do the most harm to America. These people are supposed to be preaching tolerance and forgiveness. However they use their pulpits to help split America by their hate-mongering. The separation of church and state no longer exists. I feel every church that even hints at which way you should cast your vote should be shut down immediately. Enough of these sick, twisted, immoral hypocrites. God-like? How about Godless.
858106
Actually I worked with a very cruel woman who was a minister in the the No Name Church.  She justified mistreating those in her way as necessary in the world at this time.  (I don't think it was their belief, I just think the wrong person in their religion was given some power.)  I witnessed many manipulative cruel schemes in the work place to help her gain a position of power.   I grew up in a fundamentalist hotbed of religion and thought I had seen and heard everything up to that point.  People like Ted Haggard may do damage on a phenomenal scale, but I have never seen evil masked as Christianity as I did with this woman.  It was truly a eye opening experience as I listened to how other members had to come to her for council and her advice . . . such as advising one man to divorce his wife.  Part of her rationalization was the marriage ceremony was not printed in the Bible so it was a man-made contract not supported by the Church.
936368
No, haggard is in a class by him self.  Marion really just screwed up him self.  But teddy, of course it seems easy for these guys to jump up and claim they got the message and there will be a gazillion people start tossing money at him and telling him what a great leader etc. he is.\nDon't worry he'll be shedding tears while the cameras are running telling us what an idiot he is asking for forgiveness and you'll see him with another army of idiots following him.
853958
the president and leader of the National Association of Evangelicals, with 30 million members,, Pastor Ted Haggerd, who lunches with Bush every week,, Karl Roves closest assistant,, resigned today because he was accused of having a three year relationship with a male prostitute,, the second domino (Foley was the first) to fall in the Dennis Hastert cover-up in the People's House of Representatives,, the GOP has self destructed,,,\nVote Democrat
17046
The power of internet rumors are what killed him. He is in fact not dead of an intentional heroin overdose as an email circulating around the 'net would have you believe. This rumour started from a story on Broken Newz which was suppose to be taken as satire.\n\nAnything else is just wishful thinking.