The Collegian

Issue date: 11/14/06 Section: Opinion

Rev. Ted Haggard had everything a man could want. He had a job he loved. He had a loving wife. He had bright children. Most importantly, he had a love for God. But something still was not right. He was missing something. He was missing gay-sex and the consumption of drugs.

It is unfortunate that Haggard has had to live in a life of secrets. It is unfortunate that secrets coming undone ruined his life.

It is also unfortunate that he encouraged systemic oppression that forced others live with a secret.

Before giving up his glittery thrown, he led the 14,000 member New Life Church. He was also President of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), which represents over 30 million. His influence extended not just to religious followers, but to the nation because as Haggard says: "If the Evangelicals vote, they determine the election." This conveys the influence religion plays into politics in a nation founded on separation of church and state-a nation against persecution.

Haggard is no stranger to politics. Haggard and President Bush had weekly conversations. Haggard's fall proves he is just another political leader. It is the same pattern of the Mark Foley's and Mel Gibson's of the world: mess up royally in the public eye, beg for forgiveness, and suddenly remember a drinking and/or drug problem.

Religion is merely a means to establishing a political force. Haggard was recently featured in the documentary Jesus Camp. The summer camp for kids was a microcosm for what Haggard preached. The camp taught about the "right to life" and created political soldiers against gay marriage. The kids listened to the personable Haggard attentively. Hopefully, Haggard is not a Foley of the world. Hopefully, he did not teach the kids what an 8-ball was.

Haggard wants to begin what other Church leaders are calling the "restoration process." His "restoration process"-also known as excommunication-is said to take three to five years. This allows just enough time for the Evangelicals to gain back the ground lost by this supreme hypocrisy. But Haggard's absence does not sweep away the problem of sexual repression.

Focus on the Family leader James Dobson promised to oversee Haggard's return to "normalcy." However, he recently stated a lack of time would prevent him from being with Haggard (no pun intended). Way to help the family, Dobby. What Haggy fails to realize is it is not a matter of recovery from sickness. Evangelicals admittedly do not like to engage in sexual conversations and ironically have adverse reactions to homosexuality. Perhaps attacking one form of sexuality, while not fleshing out the ideas of others, can create complexes in the minds of let's say its proponents. Perhaps not attempting to understand heterosexuality diminishes understanding of homosexuality.

Haggard attacked gay rights because of his religious beliefs. Persecution, however, is one of the paradoxical pillars of the Church. Haggard's fallout should point to the burgeoning problems associated with judging the disenfranchised. Maybe they will extend their acceptance past Haggard and to those like him.

Haggard proves politcians and even religious leaders have no place in preventing others from liberty and the pursuit of happiness in a free nation.

"Those men [his overseers] will perform a thorough analysis of my mental, spiritual, emotional and physical life. They will guide me through a program with the goal of healing and restoration for my life, my marriage and my family," Haggard wrote in a letter to his Church and the public. Haggard must now experience what he imparted upon many-persecution.

Only time will tell what the future holds for Haggard.

My guess is electroshock therapy.

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