The Resurrection of Ted Haggard

The world has been littered lately with the mighty who have fallen.

I was contemplating writing a blog about them all, but there are so many with as many reasons for their spectacular fall from money or power or grace that it would constitute a book, not a blog, so for now I'll just focus on one at a time.

I wrote last time about the incredible fall from political grace of Portland (OR) Mayor Sam Adams, so keeping in the vein of men with skeletons in their gay closets, let's look again at Ted Haggard.

It's been a couple of years since Ted made national headlines with revelations that he, the head of the National Association of Evangelicals (as well as being the leader of a Colorado Springs mega-church) had not only bought methamphetamines from a male prostitute, he also frequently had sex with that male prostitute.

Embarrassed for himself and even more an embarrassment to his fellow evangelicals, Ted was forced out of his leadership roles and went into virtual hiding. Oddly, he also went into exile.

Seems part of the "deal" he struck with his church "family" was banishment from Colorado, so he sought refuge -- and psychotherapy -- in Arizona.

Now, he's all better.
He says.

Now, while he's a chastened man and his condemnation of "gays and lesbians" has softened, almost bordering on conciliatory, he's still in denial of his being gay (he is, according to his own words, heterosexual with gay 'issues') and has said he intends to continue with his wife, his family and his faith.

Continuing with his church, however, might be slightly more problematic. His church -- you know, the congregation of sinners who don't expect perfection unless it's heterosexual perfection -- is less enthralled with his return.

HBO, however, is really happy with his return.
Tonight, the cable network is airing a special docu/drama filmed by none other than House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's daughter, Alexandra entitled “The Trials of Ted Haggard."

To say that most critics are wild about this would be an understatement. America apparently loves its redeemed fallen.
Well, sometimes.

If you're Bernie Madoff and you've ripped off billions from your friends, or if you're an evangelical Christian whose church is still the brunt of jokes, you might not be as forgiving.

I'm not sure how forgiving many gays and lesbians are, either.

I mean, once you've been on the receiving end of that relentless fire-and-brimstone condemnation, you can't help but feel a little scarred from the burns.

.