Rev. ted haggard looking "to where God can best use him,"

[Philosoraptor]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/haggard_what_s_next

It isn't clear whether Haggard will try to return to the ministry, at New Life or elsewhere. "He says that he has committed his life to God and that he is looking for direction as to where God can best use him," said Leonard Chessler, Haggard's lawyer and friend.
----------------

DENVER - There will be prayer, and perhaps the laying on of hands. There will be counseling and a confession. And there will be advice, confrontation and rebuke from "godly men" appointed to oversee the spiritual "restoration" of the Rev. Ted Haggard.

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After tumbling from the pinnacle of the American evangelical movement amid allegations he snorted meth and cavorted with a male prostitute, Haggard has agreed to a rehabilitation process that could last three to five years.

"I see success approximately 50 percent of the time," said H.B. London, vice president for church and clergy at Focus on the Family, the conservative Christian ministry in Colorado Springs. "Guys just wear out and they can no longer subject themselves to the process."

[Binka]

1. Corn Futures

[last1standing]

2. I doubt God needs a fluffer so....

Maybe haggard can give Him tips on how to make money by spreading intolerance. NO? Then he could teach him the art of influence peddling. Hmmmmm......I'm thinking God might not really need haggard's services anymore.

[Swamp Rat]

3. What kind of "process???"

:yoiks:

[lvx35]

4. hehehe! Great pics! nt

[Binka]

6. Maybe They Let Guys Fuck Like Bunnies Until Their Dick Falls Off

Process.:silly: Ya know all worn out like.:eyes:

[Swamp Rat]

8. Buon giorno!

:hi:

[Binka]

10. Ciao Bello!

Another beautiful day here! Around 78 with sunny blue skies! Hope you are doing alright my friend.

[Philosoraptor]

7. scary

[krispos42]

5. Plenty of heathens to convert in Baghdad

Bring a helmet and a Kevlar-covered Bible.

[NMMNG]

9. I don't suppose God needs him to preach against the evils of bigotry?

:shrug:

[TheBaldyMan]

11. I feel sorry for ex-Pastor Ted

He is a member of a dreadfully homophobic community, people who think gays and lesbians can be turned straight. A community that does not accept him for what he is. I doubt that Mr. Haggard accepts his own sexuality, it must be hell for him and I do feel for the guy. It can be traumatic enough coming out in a more tolerant atmosphere, imagine what it must be like for him.

I hope that he can come to terms with who he is. He may draw lessons from his experience and I hope it makes him a better man. Perhaps his community might do a little soul searching of their own and become more tolerant and less homophobic.

Perhaps other closeted fundamentalists might pause before they condemn another way of life that they have yet to come to terms with in their own miserable compartmentalised existance. These gays are living in a hell of their own making but it is still a hell and we should extend some measure of sympathy to them.

[Obamarama]

13. I really have to take issue with all these "feel sorry for Pastor Ted" sentiments....

He was not forced to travel down this road...he CHOSE it. Not his sexualtiy of course, but how he chose to deal with it, and how he chose to beat down, through words and actions, gays and lesbians.

You can sit back and say "Oh, he was a victim of his religious beliefs." And to a point, that's probably true. I'm sure he was deeply torn at times, as is anyone who is gay struggling to accept their sexuality. The point is, most people do move beyond the struggle and live happy, well-adjusted lives. Many gay people have had to choose between losing family or friends and social networks over living a lie in the closet. He could have chosen to come out in a much quieter, graceful, honest way. Instead he was caught by his own lies and then claimed the devil made him do it.
This cretin doe NOT deserve a pass in the name of compassion.


To have trouble accepting one's sexuality is not "wrong" or "bad". But to hide behind it as an evangelical leader, and then on top of it use his visibility and influence to actively work against tolerance and acceptance of gays and lesbians, that moves into duplicitous shit-bag territory.

I hope Ted twists in the wind and is villified by both the evengelical and gay communities.

[TheBaldyMan]

14. you mean there have been other posts? I thought mine was the only one

I don't defend his undoubted hypocrisy or condemn his outing. You can't live a lie and simultaneously condemn others for being less two-faced than yourself.

It's just that I wish that everybody involved comes out of this a little wiser.

[Mythsaje]

12. I've heard that the 'gators around New Orleans could use some

religious direction.

Make sure you smear yourself with raw hamburger, though, Mr. Haggard. They'll be more likely to pay attention to what you have to say.