I’m not defending Haggard’s actions--especially since we still don’t know exactly what he may or may not have done—or saying that I necessarily agree with everything the NAE says or does.  But I think Democrats and those with a more liberal inclination need to be very wary of lumping the NAE and its president in with Dobson, Faldwell and some of the other partisan/”hot-button only” elements of the religious right or strategists in the Republican Party. 

It will be tragic if these allegations turn out to be true, and as faithfuldemocrats said, it will stand as another reminder of the fallen nature of all of God’s children.  The press is focusing in on the hypocrisy angle, and there is no denying that the NAE and Haggard have taken a prominent position on the definition of marriage.  But unlike some others who have taken public positions against gay marriage, the NAE has focused on much more than abortion and gays.  The largest Member of the NAE is the Salvation Army, and Rich Cizik (lead crusader for environmental stewardship) is the NAE spokesman. 

So I think we need to avoid saying things like, “this is what happens when you focus all your time on calling out sins in others.”  As with the rest of the evangelical community, the NAE and its leaders spend the vast majority of their time and energy on issues that many Democrats also consider the priorities in Scripture.  We shouldn’t be pointing fingers during this time but instead keeping them clasped together in prayer for Haggard and all those affected by this story.  Kudos to faithfuldems for striking the right tone here.

to ever raise a dissenting voice in response to a call for Christians to avoid judgmentalism.  Even a casual reading of the Epistle of St. James makes our duty in the matter clear.

Of course, Pastor Haggard needs and deserves our prayers and our compassion at this most difficult time for him, for the souls entrusted to his pastoral care, and for the Cause of Christ sullied whenever such scandals arise.

I am concerned, however, that the damage is compounded if we allow ourselves to be mis-read as condoning rather than merely withholding judgment.  The entire matter is prompting me to redouble my efforts at introspection with regard to the perils, spiritually and in terms of witness, when we allow, either by design or benign neglect, the lines between our roles as pastors and our activities in the political arena to be blurred.

This is an issue that has been giving me some discomfort for a long time, and I had already planned to delve into it more deeply after the current election cycle is over.  The postponement is motivated in no small part to not wanting to unwittingly become part of a voter suppression effect.

In the meantime, I think I need to pray not only for the Rev. Mr. Haggard, but for myself, that I might better discern God's will with respect to his command to be not conformed, but transformed. 

Lets get honest.  Finally we are hearing of the hypocrisy and deceit in right wing, religious men who are obviously controlled by physical desires and the arrogance to think it is OK for them to do the very thing they are publicly condemning.  Come on, wake up.  They are representative of the true nature of such egotistical church leaders we have in every denomination and every religion worldwide.  They use the Bible or other Holy Book or Mantra to control others, especially women, and society,  to get what they want physically, financially, emotionally and socially. 

It is pathetic that leaders like James Dobson and religious websites are asking us to forgive and not judge these deceptive, guilty men of recent.  At the same time they are asking us to defeat legislation to protect or assist those who do such  'sins' openly and honestly, asking only to have their freedom of choice protected. In light of recent 'right wing' transgressions, are we to honestly believe no such religious leaders family has not been touched by abortion, homosexuality, and all other 'sins' which they so publicly condemn?  They publicly want to deny others the rights to do the very thing they themselves have done.  That is just pride and arrogance, it has nothing to do with 'sin' or 'purity' or 'God', it is just selfishness. 

...And religious leaders wonder why everyone is leaving 'the church'.

When Christians allow their brothers and sisters to come out of the closet, these tragic stories will go away. For every Foley and Haggart, there are thousands of scared, closet Christians in our churches.

How many more lives must be ruined before Christians will truly examine this issue????

Your post is an example of why this site was so sorely needed.  I didn't read this message on any other site.  Thank you for showing a great example!

 While launching several attacks over the Foley scandal, I was never truly upset at Foley. I was more conflicted I would say than anything, and not at all surprised by his confession that he had been in a similiar situation in his own youth. That he was so interested, devoted to enact legislation to protect children, was a clear indication to me that this was probably the case. That he was a closet alcholic, in order to self medicate the suffering inside, was just par for the course.

 The people whom I found fault with, were those that forced Foley to suffer alone, through a chosen ignorance. They just didn't want to know, they just didn't care enough to listen, and so like a stone tossed into a pond, the suffering spread, its ripples extending out into society abroad.

  This is the wisdom that is found in the teachings of Christ. When we allow pride and arrogance to persuade our moral judgement of right and wrong, then in our self imposed ignorance, we allow the suffering to continue.

  And yet, also the opposite is true, as in the parable of the good samaritan. When healing begins, it to is as a ripple, that heals all those around. However this can only happen when we allow ourselves to forgive.

This website perplexes me so much that I either have to quit or take up drinking. Last week, this website excommunicated me from the Party, giving me the boot and calling me "right-wing" for being WELS. It took a late night call to my dad to calm me down and convince me that I didn't have to be a Republican. I could at least go Independant. This website is just another sad example of why the Democratic Party - the party I loved - just doesn't get it.

In the headlines, Faithful Democrats called the WELS response to the Bachmann congressional race a "evastion statement." I don't know what "evastion" means (and neither does dictionary.com) but I think FD is trying to bash the WELS by saying it is eluding the issue. However, there is an article on this page about Jennifer Granholm of Michigan. Her position pretty much hits the same point. Yet there is a button to donate to her campaign.

THEN.. and this is what really kills me. This article titled, "Don't Judge Haggard." THE DUDE HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE BY LYING! And I'm the one who has all hell and damnation on me for saying I belong to the WELS. I can't even belong to a particular church and this guy, who was probably Republican, can condemn homosexuals and teach his church the same. Then turns around and cheats on his wife and pays for prostitution!

Did you donate your brain cells to stem cell research? Pass me a beer, I quit!