EDITORIAL – Haggard “cured” of homosexuality

The Rev. Ted Haggard, whose exploits with a male prostitute and drug use surfaced this fall,… The Rev. Ted Haggard, whose exploits with a male prostitute and drug use surfaced this fall, has now emerged from counseling as a heterosexual, according to one of the ministers who oversaw his treatment.

“He is completely heterosexual,” the Rev. Tim Ralph told The Denver Post. “That is something he discovered. It was the acting-out situations where things took place. It wasn’t a constant thing.”

Haggard was forced to leave the 14,000-member New Life Church – which he founded – and resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals last fall after Mike Jones alleged the evangelical minister paid him for sex and used methamphetamines when they were together.

Haggard, who is married, initially admitted to the claims of drug use, but denied engaging in sexual contact with Jones, instead insisting that he paid him for massages. But, after Jones threatened to come forward with evidence, Haggard publicly apologized, admitting to acts of “sexual immorality.”

Following the claims, Haggard decided to take the route of choice for many scandal-plagued public figures of late and decided to undergo counseling.

While the details of Haggard’s three-week, intensive counseling session have not been released, the therapy session has apparently convinced him that his dalliances with Jones were “acting-out situations,” rather than the manifestation of repressed homosexuality.

We are not sure what kind of therapy Haggard has undergone, but images of brainwashing reminiscent of “A Clockwork Orange” do come to mind.

By entering into rehab and claiming he has overcome his homosexual tendencies, Haggard is presenting the image often held by evangelicals: that sexuality is some sort of addictive, sinful behavior – like drug use or alcoholism – that one can conquer.

And while we have no idea if Haggard is himself truly convinced of his heterosexuality – it is easy to say all of the right things to the right people – the sad thing is that someday, he may wake up and realize that his whole life has been a lie.

Haggard’s actions, which came on the wind of the Mark Foley scandal, are yet another example of the manifestations of repressed homosexuality, which often results in child molestation, adultery and – in Haggard’s case – drug use.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where it is acceptable to believe that loving someone of the same sex is something that someone gives in to, like drugs or gambling. And because of this societal viewpoint, people like Haggard choose faith as a way to “cure” their “sinful” nature, rather than live a happy, self-accepting life.

Haggard obviously feels that his “rehabilitation” can be viewed as a model for other members of his religion. But sadly, had he been more accepting of himself, he could have been a role model for society.

Haggard and his wife, whom he has remained committed to, are now both pursuing master’s degrees in psychology. Maybe this further education will teach them him a thing or two about self-acceptance.