11/13/2009
'Resurrected' Ted Haggard Says He Gained Compassion for Gays Because Christians Hated Him When They Thought He Was Gay
Pastor Ted Haggard is getting a renewed flurry of attention for the prayer meetings he is hosting from his living room. He held one last night:
"Wearing blue jeans and a gray T-shirt, Haggard spoke to
photographers and reporters before the prayer meeting at his home in
Colorado Springs. Almost 25 years ago, he had led about two dozen
people in prayer from his home and founded New Life Church, eventually
becoming an evangelical superstar. 'For the people who come tonight, that means they believe in the resurrection in me,' he said. 'Because I died. I was buried.' Haggard,
53, insists his intent is not to start a new church, but he isn't
ruling out the possibility. He said the reason for starting prayer
meetings at his home after three years of exile was a simple one. 'We were getting lonely,' he said."
Haggard was also interviewed by the local ABC affiliate, and asked specifically about his positions toward gays. Haggard says he has renewed compassion for the gay community because of how much people hated him when they thought he was gay (since he's now a heterosexual with issues) More from that interview:
Haggard says he was never an anti-gay preacher:
"I was always well aware of my own personal struggles, but my desire was to be more Godly. I was never a religious right, hateful, anti-gay guy -- secretly running off, except right at the end. I'd say right at the end, before the crisis. That did develop a little bit stronger."
Haggard is asked if he believes people are born gay:
"I haven’t got a clue. All I know is that in my case it's a very sad story. I regret that it happened. But, I'm glad I've been through what I've been through to take care of it, because in my story it wasn't about being born gay or being gay. I've always had a wonderful relationship with my wife."
Haggard says "trauma resolution therapy" in his childhood may have prevented the gay/escort/meth thing from happening, but he says the process of being hated as a gay man strengthened his compassion for the gay community.
"But it did. And unfortunately it was sexual. And unfortunately, it was about the most socially unacceptable type of thing that you can have. But, it was good for me as a heterosexual evangelical Christian, father of five, 30-year husband of Gayle. It was good for me to go through the Christian hatred of people believing that I was a gay man -- and hating me so strongly because of it. And so because of it, my compassion for the homosexual community has gone up incredibly."
Posted 9:19 AM EST by Andy Towle in News, Ted Haggard | Permalink
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yeah...he has a compassion for gays BECAUSE HE IS ONE. HELLO TED!
Posted by: LD | Nov 13, 2009 9:24:46 AM
What a twisted, demented individual. God is the worst scam ever invented.
Posted by: JeffRob | Nov 13, 2009 9:31:53 AM
Jesus had a perfect cock...
Posted by: homert | Nov 13, 2009 9:33:06 AM
What a delusional freak! "heterosexual evangelical Christian..... who smokes meth and sucks cock" is more like it A-HOLE!
Posted by: J. Bocca | Nov 13, 2009 9:37:24 AM
Oh Christ! Save us from your followers!
Posted by: Daniel | Nov 13, 2009 9:37:30 AM
What ever floats his boat down that Egytian river
Posted by: Gus | Nov 13, 2009 9:45:36 AM
AM I a bleeding heart liberal because every time I read something about him (including this post) I truly feel sorry for him.
I have been out, loud, and proud since I was 16 (now 38) so I can't imagine living a life of lies and being closeted. It seems sad, lonely and not a place I would wish on anyone.
I think Ted needs a HUG! (okay, I jest about the hug!)
Dave, Wicked Gay Blog
Posted by: Wicked Gay Blog | Nov 13, 2009 9:48:14 AM
But, it was good for me as a heterosexual evangelical Christian, father of five, 30-year husband of Gayle. It was good for me to go through the Christian hatred of people believing that I was a gay man -- and hating me so strongly because of it. And so because of it, my compassion for the homosexual community has gone up incredibly."
Too funny. I think they 'believed' you were gay Ted because you were sucking cock. At least he admits there is Christian hatred of gays. As for feeling sorry for this waste, I feel sorry for his wife and kids. What a sad and lonely place laying next to him every night must be.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Nov 13, 2009 9:59:42 AM
Oh rot in hell, you traitorous old queen. Do us all a favor and rail an 8ball of meth in a truckstop bathroom.
Posted by: Grimmlok | Nov 13, 2009 10:00:53 AM
Uhhh, let's just call it "bisexual"... allrighty, Ted? That's the new gay anyway.
Posted by: johnny | Nov 13, 2009 10:02:10 AM
I think the point to take from this is that Ted Haggard admitted that "good" so-called Christian people DO hate gay people.
I don't have a problem with how Haggard chooses to define himself. After all, he is married to a woman and he does have five children with his wife. How Haggard chooses to define himself has nothing to do with me.
Posted by: elg | Nov 13, 2009 10:16:17 AM
Even if he is bisexual, at least he now has that "compassion" and he's not out to convert the gays. I'm glad he had to live through the hate we see every day and hopefully he is a better Christian because of it. He'll never be in a position of true power again, but hopefully other religious leaders take a hint and stop their hate.
Posted by: KFLO | Nov 13, 2009 10:26:12 AM
I think he is trying to send a coded message: 5 kids= I can fit 5 fingers in my ass. 'I have compassion'= I have a passion for cum.
Posted by: Booka | Nov 13, 2009 10:44:36 AM
The lesson we've learned here is that meth, manhookers, and gay sex can make you into a nicer, more understanding, more compassionate coward.
Posted by: Dusty | Nov 13, 2009 10:57:41 AM
What we have all failed to recognize here is not the "Attraction" to Drugs, or sex or gay men, what the attraction here is M O N E Y!!! As a renowned Televangelist this man had access to HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS a month if not more, right now he is dirt poor and he knows the value of "A Ministry" trust me he will be living in a Mansion and driving Lincoln SVU's before you know it!! Nothing sates the soul more then MONEY - even more then drugs or Sex!!!
Posted by: alexinboston | Nov 13, 2009 11:02:29 AM
I was never a religious right, hateful, anti-gay guy -- secretly running off, except right at the end.
So you WERE a religious right, hateful, anti-gay guy -- secretly running off.
For Christ's sake Gayle, take the kids and run for the hills.
Posted by: Paul Bunion | Nov 13, 2009 11:02:40 AM
i was all fucked up on meth and butt sex until i found the lord. now i'm all fucked up on the lord.
Posted by: psgoodguy | Nov 13, 2009 11:05:14 AM
This newfound compassion is based on his reduced income, and status. C'mon People, let's not get drawn into his bunk. Just look at his explanation of his own past. He is a heterosexual with issues? follow that definintion: a pedophile.. a heterosexual with issues. a spouse beater... a heterosexual with issues. etc. Honesty means first starting with admitting who and what you are. signed... a gay with issues.
Posted by: Reggie | Nov 13, 2009 11:05:17 AM
NEWSFLASH .....BISEXUALITY EXISTS TED
NEWSFLASH .....BISEXUALITY EXISTS TOWWLEROAD READERS - why the need to call this man Gay ?
Posted by: Tony X | Nov 13, 2009 11:14:00 AM
This is strangely heartening. In a weird way, it's progress. I particularly appreciate his using the phrase "religious right, hateful, anti-gay guy" -- implying that there are people who are exactly that.
And yes, Ted, as you've experienced first hand, there are people in your movement, who refer to themselves as Christian, who do plain-old hate gay people. I must wonder, why did you not know that before?
Posted by: Marsh | Nov 13, 2009 11:29:33 AM
I don't know if they hated him so much for being gay or for being such a polar opposite from his moral persona. I'd feel disillusioned if the leader of my Sunday morning had been jerking off for 28 hours the day prior.
Posted by: JonBenet | Nov 13, 2009 11:39:32 AM
All the other closet cases from New Life ended up in his living room. What fun!
Posted by: anon | Nov 13, 2009 11:39:42 AM
The very definition of 'Christian' is one who is a believer of Christ and his teachings. Nowhere in the Bible does Christ preach hate, nor is there any mention of homosexuality from him.
In fact, we don't even make the top 10, Commandments that is. If God was so down on gay sex, you'd think we'd make the top ten.
I agree that the only thing Ted has compassion for is money and himself.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Nov 13, 2009 11:39:54 AM
Well said, TONY. He's probably bisexual.....many of you need to stop the silly, knee-jerk binary reactions that someone must be gay because of same sex experimenting.
Posted by: nikko | Nov 13, 2009 11:48:18 AM
He has no one. His "church" showed their true colours when they used their influence to virtually exile him. They only had use for him when he was packing the seats and filling the collection plates. Hypocrisy thy name is evangelical religion.
Why so much venom towards him now? There are far worse people out there trying to oppress us leave this poor confused individual alone. At least he has seen first hand how bigoted the x-tian church is toward GLBT people. Even if he still regards us as "sinners" at least he knows now how hard his kind have made it for us.
Moreover it isn't up to us to tell him to come out, it's up to him to walk his own journey just as each of us walk ours.
Posted by: Tone | Nov 13, 2009 11:55:17 AM