Alexandra Pelosi Interview: The Story Behind Her New Ted Haggard Documentary

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When Haggard's behavior came to light and he was ditched by his church, there was a lot of handwringing over how he was treated. Many people complained that this was hardly an example of "Christian love" that would be expected. One wonders if anyone actually reads the Bible anymore, because Paul said to the church in Corinth (1 Cor 5) that believers are not to associate - or even eat - with a person who is a Christian and is sexually immoral or a drunkard, a liar, swindler, etc. Paul specifically says that it is people OUTSIDE the faith that believers are not supposed to judge since God will judge us heathens. Paul tells the Church to "Remove the evil person from among you." THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is what the Bible teaches.

Jennifer Smiith of CA 5:19PM March 13, 2009

GOP is racists people. They constructed slavery. They don't care. They even make Latino's, Mexicans check other. Which means they would be counted as white. White and GOP knows all the tricks. Since GOP knows the ends and outs. We(Democrats) know gangsta. May be ignorant, but hey. Looks who's calling the kettle black. lol... That's a good one.

Mike of IL 3:11PM February 17, 2009

Haggard is living in a world of denial. He is a gay man who can't accept it because of religion's condemning posture. He will come to peace with who he is if he ditches religion.

Gerald of CA 2:18AM February 16, 2009

I must be one of the few people who knew nothing about Ted Haggar until I watched the documentrary on tv last night. I can only say this, at first, I looked at him with his constant smile and said to myself, how can you trust anyone who smiles so much? It seemed artifical. But then I realized at the end of the documentrary that this guy was really a very sad and tragic figure, but amazingly he never gave up hope, and that is a quality I must admire.

I am not an Evangelical nor interested in being one. I am a Catholic and live my life not solely as a "Catholic" but as a good,and respectful person who never intentionally hurts anyone. My religion was the gift my parents gave to me, and one I choose to keep. But to think that Christians could exile a man in this day and age because he embarrassed his Church is beyond comprehension. Absolutely, the Church had every right to be embarrassed and was correct in expelling him, but to destroy a man and his family and have them leave their home in Colorado Springs is the furthest thing from being a true Christian. His behavior might have been outrageous to the Church and his followers, but did he murder? did he hurt and abuse children? Did he really steal from the poor? No, he only gave the millions of people the words they wanted to hear and they were willing to pay for those words. Deception yes. But does the crime fit the punishment?

What I find most ironic is that the CEOs on Wall Street committed such crimes of greed and destruction, took money from government bailouts and innocent taxpayers, managed to take the money to give themselves bonuses and done so without regard, concern, or compassion for "thy" neighbor. That to me is a horrific crime,and yet I don't see the millions of people affected by this have any reaction that comes close to Ted Haggar's former Church. Is it because they don't "worship" CEOs they way they do leaders of their religions?

What am I missing here??

Isn't it time Americans started thinking with their souls and have compassion for the weaker, and not just their self-rightousness? Isn't it time Americans learn to live with self-respect, integrity, and responsibility and not destroy a man and his family because he took their meaning of "Christianity" out of their context?

After all, wasn't it Jesus who preached forgiveness.

Marilyn of CA 1:58AM January 31, 2009

I was on Broadway, and I’ve chose not to walk down the gay road… and that is a good thing.

www.gaytestimony.com

David MacDonald of OR 9:16PM January 30, 2009

Thanks for this interview!

Alexandra, I'm a huge fan of your work.I saw Ted on Oprah today and I hope he comes to terms with who he is. Same for the wife, who seems quite delusional.

Sam of TX 6:58PM January 28, 2009

Thanks for posting audio clips. Insightful stuff indeed!

A Uresti of MA 9:56PM January 27, 2009

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Dan Gilgoff covers religion for U.S. News & World Report. He is the author of The Jesus Machine: How James Dobson, Focus on the Family, and Evangelical America are Winning the Culture War, and is a former politics editor at beliefnet. E-mail Dan at godandcountry@usnews.com.

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