Late last night we learned that Ted Haggard, one of the most influential of the modern evangelical movement, may have been paying for both sex and drugs from a male prostitute for the past three years. This morning, we learned that Haggard had in fact admitted to some, but not all, of the allegations. The political implications of this are absolutely mind-boggling, so much so in fact that I really have no idea what to say.
So rather than say something I might later regret, I think I'll let Haggard speak for himself. From what very well may be the last sermon he ever delivers to his congregation, his words:
"Father, give us grace and mercy. Father, help us this next week and a half as we go into national elections, and Lord we pray for our country. Father, we pray that lies would be exposed. We pray that deception would be exposed. Father, we pray that wisdom would come upon our electorate and that they would think with clarity and with decisiveness, and Lord, that we would be a model for the whole world to see how people can disagree passionately but the rule of law … will prevail."
UPDATE: If you thought Clinton's "I didn't inhale" line was bad, just wait until you see what Haggard is using as his excuse.
And then watch the video. He obviously thinks he's a good liar, but wow... you can see in his eyes even he's not believing it anymore.
One day we will get to the point where gay men and women won't feel compelled to hate themselves. Until then, tragedies like this will continue to play out. Its sad, because it is all so very unnecessary.
UPDATE II: Want to know just how terrifying this whole scandal is for evangelical leaders? Rev. Jerry Falwell was on CNN this morning claiming that he's never even met the man.
There's one small problem with that claim. It's a lie. Haggard and Fallwell joined together in DC to witness the signing of the 2003 Partial Birth Abortion Ban. And after the signing, they were asked to meet with the President in the Oval Office for a private meeting. Take a look:
I sat with those from the Senate and House who voted for the bill, and afterward was escorted to the President's motorcade and taken to the White House. I and seven others were able to spend 55 minutes with the President in the Oval office discussing any issue we liked. It was incredible. I'll tell you about the discussion in church.
Attending the private meeting with the President were Rev. Jerry Falwell from Liberty University, Janet Parshall, author and host of the nationally syndicated radio broadcast "Janet Parshall's America," Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Dr. Jack Graham, former SBC President Dr. Adrian Rogers, American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) Chief Counsel Jay Sekulow, National Religious Broadcasters President Frank Wright, and President of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Dr. Richard Land.
Raise your hand if you believe that Falwell would have forgotten something like this. Anyone? Bueller?
UPDATE: Via Andrew Sullivan, a scary look at Haggard's ministry, courtesy of the great Richard Dawkins:
Watch all the way to the end. Their discussion of evolution is seriously disturbing. To accuse Dawkins of "arrogance" on evolution would be like accusing Einstein of "arrogance" on physics or Sagan on astronomy.
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