"My spiritual life was wonderfully empowering for me in the midst of the struggle. But it wasn't the solution," he says.
"I needed a therapist."
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Before he worked it through, however, Haggard toed the evangelical line on gay sex. He supported Amendment 2, a Colorado referendum nullifying civil protections for gays and lesbians (passed, but later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court). He advised youngsters to look to the Scripture that describes homosexuality as an abomination.
Meanwhile, his own secret behavior proved a source of incessant torment.
"There were a few times when I talked to other people about it, but they were always within the religious leadership community, and they always gave me bad advice," Haggard says, with what only sounds like a laugh. "I talked to one old man of God, told him about it, and he said, 'You just need to be busier in the church.'
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"I would say I am a heterosexual," he begins, when asked his sexual preference. "But I have had to deal with issues, other issues associated with sexuality, and with the complexity of homosexuality and bisexuality and questions and feelings and thoughts and all that kind of thing.
"But what was so incredibly confusing to me about it was the way I enjoyed my relationship with my wife."
Washington Post. (January 25th, 2009)
Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard's former church disclosed Friday that the gay sex scandal that caused his downfall extends to a young male church volunteer who reported having a sexual relationship with Haggard — a revelation that comes as Haggard tries to repair his public image.
Boyd said an "overwhelming pool of evidence" pointed to an "inappropriate, consensual sexual relationship" that "went on for a long period of time ... it wasn't a one-time act." Boyd said the man was in his early 20s at the time. He said he was certain the man was of legal age when it began.
Reached Friday night, Haggard declined to comment and said all interviews would have to be arranged through a publicist for HBO, which is airing a documentary about him this month.
Denver Post. (24th January, 2009)
One wonders how many "tormented souls" like Haggard still use religion to deny the truth about themselves.
A holy facade covereth a multitude of sins.
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