A pastor's anguished suicide: TV station ran promos for expose on his sex life.

[Bluebear]

During an emotional meeting yesterday, members of Pittsburgh Presbytery prayed about how they might handle property disputes if some of their congregations leave the denomination and heard a final letter written to them by a pastor who committed suicide after KDKA-TV ran promos for an expose on his sex life.

The letter from the Rev. Brent Dugan, who died in early November, was read by a weeping Rev. James Mead, pastor to Pittsburgh Presbytery. It was intended only for members of the presbytery, but a reporter was briefed on its general outline.

In it, Mr. Dugan, pastor of the Community Presbyterian Church of Ben Avon, apologized for the shame he believed he had brought on the presbytery. He said he had struggled with his sexuality all his adult life, hoping to fall in love with a woman, but concluding he was to devote his life only to his congregation...

He said he did so until four years ago, when he became close friends with a man who claimed to love him, and with whom he had occasional sexual encounters. That man cajoled him into leaving specific kinds of sexual fantasies on his answering machine, and then betrayed him by setting up a meeting at an adult bookstore, where KDKA-TV recorded him, Mr. Dugan wrote.



http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06342/744553-53.stm

[Ian David]

1. This poor guy didn't spend his life victimizing those who shared his private torment

The media isn't alone to blame for his death.

Dobson and his ilk taught him to be ashamed.

All the media did was make his shame public.

But this man did not deserve this, because as far as I can tell, he did nothing to victimize anyone except himself and his own family.

That makes it none of the media's business and none of our business.

I looked, and I can't find one single public statement by this man condemning others.

[Bluebear]

2. "That makes it none of our business"

I hope you don't think I think he 'deserved' this. This is sad beyond belief, beginning with his own unnecessary shame.

[Ian David]

5. That is EXACTLY what I was saying.

If James Dobson left a "gay suicide note" I would almost be tempted to try and hold a huge outdoor block party with fireworks and cotton candy.

However, this guy didn't seem to have any interest in victimizing anyone else.

So no, he absolutely did not deserve this.

[JohnnyLib2]

3. This is a public tragedy involving an adult.

Unfortunately, there are too many cases of attempted or actual suicides by young people who are trying to deal with the crazy homophobic distortions of our society.

[Bluebear]

9. Oh, I would think it started when he was a young person.

Just because you become an adult doesn't make the hurt of homophobic distortions of our society less painful.

[LisaL]

4. What a sad story.

[valerief]

6. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" don't help. nt

[dsc]

7. This is thoroughly sad

It is so sad that he felt he had to kill himself instead of living a full life. It all but makes me cry.

[eppur_se_muova]

8. Really sad to see KDKA involved in this. They should know to avoid anything...

that seems like entrapment. This man was manipulated into doing something he would not have done on his own, all for the sake of a story.