It's too bad that the religious right may take away all the wrong lessons from the Haggard affair. Rather than gaining an understanding of the deceptions demanded of the closet, they continue to view homosexuality as simply a choice to behave sinfully. If Ted Haggard could have chosen to not be attracted to men, wouldn't he have made that choice? Doesn't it speak to the power of sexual orientation that Haggard regularly risked everything because of it?

And of course, when desire is denied, it can become all the more powerful, and lead to the desperate acts, like Haggard's. Yet that is what is demanded by the Christian Right-- that homosexuality be suppressed, furtive, that gays and lesbians be driven underground by persecution, as they were for so long. That Haggard was one of the few ministers of the religious right to support the repeal of sodomy laws is evidence of his recognition of the harm done by societal oppression.

Sadly, Haggard will now be subjected to James Dobson's ministering, in the hopes that he will be scared straight. This will fail, of course, as it almost always does. Let's hope that one day, Haggard will learn to love himself as he is, rather than as the false image he projected to his followers.

DOBSON will be overseeing Haggard's "rehabilitation"?

Oh, sweet Jesus. This is the first time I have really felt sorry for the man. He thinks he's screwed up now? He hasn't seen anything yet.

Seriously, people, pray for his deliverance; not from sexual sin but from the evil man he has submitted himself to.

This is not really about homosexuality, but about these evangelical ministers who are totally devoid of intellect,integrity, spirituality, theological understanding, and all the other qualities that one would expect to be prerequisites for their profession.

You only have to turn on the TV on a Sunday to see that "preaching the gospel" is a major source of employment for uneducated middle aged men with psychological problems.

I guess it is a generation ago now, but the point that struck me when Jim Bakker was exposed for having sex with Jessica Hahn was his reasoning was that he wanted to make his wife Tammy Faye jealous, so as to heal his marriage. To me this was much greater evidence of his degradation than the mere fact of physical infidelity.

Similarly with Haggard. I don't know or care why he had sex with a man. Maybe it was just overwhelming curiosity. Since he has 5 children, it seems that he is perfectly capable of heterosexual intercourse, but most likely his marriage had run its course and he felt a need for some other sexual outlet.

But what really concerns me is his use of methamphetamine. There is an awful lot of debate in various Christian denominations over ordination of gay priests, ordination of gay bishops, whether gay Christians should be celibate or have partners, but as far as I know there is absolutely no ethical argument anywhere that holds that preachers can use prostitutes (of either sex) or use methamphetamine for any purpose--both of which are ILLEGAL.

If a prominent Christian leader who rubs shoulders with the President is so spiritually sick that he cannot resist the temptation to use a prostitute and/or methamphetamine, can any Christian leader expect any congregant to be able to resist this temptation?

How about stealing? If we really, really want something and cannot afford it, is it OK to steal, as long as we are sorry when we are caught?

(stealing that term from Andrew Sullivan)...are just as much killers as they accuse 'Islamofascists' of being, except they kill the soul, not the body.

Haggard has a chance to be genuine, but he'll require more courage than he likely has to do so. Sad.

Those who think this will result in supressed voting among evangelicals, particularly in Colorado Springs, are whistling past the graveyard. They are more energized than ever because the male prostitute explicitly said his timing was politically motivated.

One thing not being reported, by the way, is that there are two gay rights measures on the ballot Tuesday. One is Amendment 43, which puts language into the Colorado constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman. It is likely to pass by a wide margin. But Referendum I (that's the letter "eye," not Roman numeral 1) contains language that would set up something close to civic partnerships. It's likely to fail, too, but significantly, while Haggard supported Amendment 43, he was against Referendum I, saying such legal arrangements should be left up to individuals.

"...Under Dobson's watch, Haggard's "problem" is one the religious right can surely solve with "restoration and rehabilitation..."

"...an investigation of the former pastor’s "mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical life" as well as his computer and hard drive to plumb the homosexual depths of his mind...."

Sound like he's being re-chromed - or crafted into Robo-Christian-Soldier from the dead or damaged parts of his faith. Regardless of the crowing ironies of Haggard's fall, he has a real chance to make something enormously positive, and universally beneficial, out of the ordeal. He can get away as fast as he can from the spiritual Mengeles around him, and simply come to terms with his own character, and its potential for loving acceptance of the beauty and mysteries of life, warts and all. He can quit the charisma and get closer to his God, and he might blossom rather than strut. He would provide an example to those who have a hard time holding complexities in their mind, and don't mind learning how to, and having opened himself up, might have all the more love to give.

How could these people be so blind as to think that huge, powerful, wealthy, mired-in-politics churches could possibly be something Jesus would have wanted his followers in? The mega-mega-megachurch movement is a ridiculous parody of Christianity, equivalent to the Roman bread and circuses for the masses, with "sinners" thrown to the lions regularly for their entertainment and pacification.

Earthly power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely ---- what the freakin' heck did they EXPECT to happen? Homosexuality is a sin in their eyes, but in slavishly following these charismatic leaders they are committing a much graver one: idolatry. A Christian owes allegiance to no one but Jesus, and to the teachings that actually came from his mouth: be quiet and humble in prayer. Help the widow and the orphan. Forgive those who would harm you. Love each other and the Lord without arrogance or reservation. Don't judge others with hate in your heart. Recall that Jesus especially emphasized not making big displays of your piety in public!

There are many Christians in this country that are intorverted, sensitive, thoughtful people of deep faith who have long been cringing at the antics of the Ted Haggards of the world. Progressives should use this opportunity to reach out to them, instead of falling into the comfortable lets-make-fun-of-the-ignorant-rednecks attitude that just keeps losing them elections.