Ted Haggard - Sexual Scandal

[NguyenKimPhat]

Dear CAF,

      Ted Haggard was an famous Evangelical Pastor who lead one of the biggest churches in America.  A few years ago, a news scandal broke out when a male prostitute exposed Ted Haggard's secret scandalous affair with homosexual prostitution and illegal drug dealing.  Do you think that the male prostitute's decision to publicly reveal the sin of Pastor Ted Haggard and humiliate him was the right thing to do?  

      When a church official sins, especially grievously through private sexual scandal, should that church official be reported to the public?  Or should the sins of the church leader remain private and be dealt with in private?  Why or why not?

 

[Rascalking]

Before we go any further in this discussion, let us NEVER forget that people in glass houses should not throw stones.

We should be in prayer for this man, his family, and all members of his church.

 

[gardienbleu]

Remember than calumny and detraction regarding grievous sins are mortal sins.

 

[Iprobe]

Remember than [sic] calumny and detraction regarding grievous sins are mortal sins.

Calumny has to do with lying about someone; that was not applicable in this case, because Haggard actually did what he was accused of. Detraction also doesn’t apply, since “everybody” knows about what Haggard did (through the media).

OP, first of all, I’d say he was infamous, not famous. But to answer your question, yes, this needed to be aired; there was a poison in the midst of that congregation (and by extension, in the Body of Christ). Such poisons need to be purged. (No doubt this forum already has umpteen threads on your question in regards to the pedophile scandals.)

*But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber—not even to eat with such a one…Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Drive out the wicked person from among you.” * (1 Cor. 5:13)

Paul exhorts Timothy, Set the believers an example in speech and conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Tim. 4:12)

Other qualifications for men of the cloth are: above reproach; hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience (1 Tim. 3, passim) blameless (mentioned 2x); master of himself; upright; holy; self-controlled (Titus, 1st ch.)

 

[puzzleannie]

Dear CAF,

        Do you think that the male prostitute's decision to publicly reveal the sin of Pastor Ted Haggard and humiliate him was the right thing to do?  

      When a church official sins, especially grievously through private sexual scandal, should that church official be reported to the public?  Or should the sins of the church leader remain private and be dealt with in private?  Why or why not?

depends. how much money did he get from the news outlet to whom he reported it? The proper course of action when a clergyman transgresses is to report it to church leadership, not the media. If laws have been broken or innocent people have been harmed or endangered there is also an absolute moral and legal duty to report to appropriate law enforcement.

 

[dswearin]

If you look through the Wikipedia article on him (yes, I know Wikipedia’s not the best source), he’s apparently doing speaking circuits, writings, documentaries, and everything about his fall. He asked for donations for living expenses while owning a $700,000 home, receiving $138,000 severance package (Why would you pay for someone’s sin? I never understood severance for fallen pastors), an $87,000 bonus just before the scandal broke, and so on. I know I’m not supposed to judge, but that’s pretty rough to ask for donations with all of that money.

EDIT: Guess I should have read more. He went back to Colorado Springs and started a new house church, even though he agreed to never return to Colorado State when he left his old church. He reported that he feels that he “over-repented” for his sin. I’m a little mystified as to how one can over-repent…

 

[BobObob]

If you look through the Wikipedia article on him (yes, I know Wikipedia’s not the best source), he’s apparently doing speaking circuits, writings, documentaries, and everything about his fall. He asked for donations for living expenses while owning a $700,000 home, receiving $138,000 severance package (Why would you pay for someone’s sin? I never understood severance for fallen pastors), an $87,000 bonus just before the scandal broke, and so on. I know I’m not supposed to judge, but that’s pretty rough to ask for donations with all of that money.

EDIT: Guess I should have read more. He went back to Colorado Springs and started a new house church, even though he agreed to never return to Colorado State when he left his old church. He reported that he feels that he “over-repented” for his sin. I’m a little mystified as to how one can over-repent…

I don’t think Tedd Haggard is even Christian. I think he’s just a guy taking advantage of Christians who are naive to take their money. I don’t think he’s the only one.

Scandals like this and sexual abuse by priests should be properly exposed. The evil of scandal is much less than the evil of covering-up. The following document, which is a secret 1962 Vatican document ordering the secrecy of all clerical sexual abuse, is the biggest factor for sex abuse scandal for the Catholic Church:

image.guardian.co.uk/sys-files/Observer/documents/2003/08/16/Criminales.pdf