I did not see the HBO special, however, I did see Ted Haggard on Oprah -- which also showed some clips from the HBO special. I think to get a better perspective, you should watch him on Oprah b/c he had a chance to share his story with less editing than the journalist/documentary style perspective on HBO.

My husband and I were very impressed with him on Oprah. Continually we were asking the question, "Is he really changed? Did he really repent? Is he telling the truth?" By the end of the show, we were convinced that he most likely was being genuine. The Oprah show really highlighted his journey and although he mentioned the fact that his church sent him away, the focus was not on the church. He really focused on himself and talked about the secrets and hypocrisy that dictated his life.

He also talked about the gospel in a very clear and real way, sharing about how even though he had given up on himself and was ready to even go as far as kill himself, Christ sought after him and got a hold of him.

On Oprah, he mentioned that he and his family are back in Colorado and that they were welcomed back to the community with open and loving arms by the members of New Life.
I'm guessing that they welcomed him back after the documentary was filmed. ???

Ted Haggard, Nancy Pelosi, and the amoral media want to label this sad story of personal self-destruction as the "New Life Church Scandal." It is not. It never was. It should not be. Get it right...it is100% the Ted Haggard scandal. I don't think I've ever seen a church handle a moral tsunami of the magnitude that Haggard unleashed with any more biblical love, restraint, charity, and generosity as did the overseers and leaders of New Life Church. Ted Haggard was not the one violated--it was the godly leadership and body of New Life Church. Haggard is like an abusive father who does irreparable harm to his children, and then lies about his abuse and still expects his children to love him the same way. They will love him in spite of his lies and his sickness, but never again in the same way or with the same trust. Haggard brought on himself everything that happened to him--he was not "judged" by the church, but judged by God and by his own sin.

Let's just keep in mind how Haggard betrayed his call to pastoral ministry, his testimony for Christ, and the trust of the New LIfe body. By his own actions and admissions, Haggard is a deceiver and a liar, immoral (for at least three years according to Mike Jones), unfaithful to his wife, a drug abuser, a hypocrite (preached against the very sins he practiced), and a sexual predator (in just one case of a vulnerable NLC volunteer staff). Aside from that, he also engaged in homosexual behavior, which is condemned by Scripture, as taught by Ted. And this was not a random "fall from grace," but a prolonged lifestyle of sin, degradation, and immorality.

His attitude now? He's complicated, was not understood, and was treated badly. Please. Let Ted find a new place of growth and ministry in another body under the authority of godly men who will hold him accountable, but he should never return to the pastorate and the pulpit. He has lost that privilege biblically. He wants us to just gloss over his nearly epic and historical failure as a national Christian leader so he might regain a piece of his former life. But it was a sham and a lie. And it was entirely of his own choosing. Don't blame New life. It was Ted.

I have not seen the film, but I saw several interviews with Pelosi on CNN. There was no mention of the offers for counseling or the generous severance package. Yet again, the media painting Christians as the bad guys beating down on homosexuals.

I saw the HBO documentary. And I think before we rush to criticize Alesandra Pelosi, we need to think about how we as a Church behave in ways that give a false impression to the rest of the culture about the Gospel message. We can protest all we want and point to the severance package, etc. But in the end, how does the rest of the culture view what happened?
I think it viewed it as Pelosi portrayed it. I think people get the basic message of love and forgiveness from Jesus, the message that we are all broken and in need of His healing. Here was a man and a family that needed love, forgiveness and healing. He didn't get that initially. The money ran out. Friends withdrew. For all intents and purposes he was told to "disappear," and did serve an "exile" in the desert.
Jesus' message was pretty radical. It was too radical back then, and it remains radical for us to this day. Love in all circumstances? Forgive in all circumstances? Restore a broken person to wholeness, within the community, instead of away from it? Yikes. Easier to say than do.
My husband and I watched Haggard and his wife on Larry King. My husband's response: Haggard's wife is the "real" Christian. Why? Because she stayed with him, even when he told her to leave. She obeyed the idea of "forgive seven times seventy." She chose to fight for the good in Haggard that she knew was there. Wow. Thank God for her, and her example to the rest of us.

I didn't see the special or anything about it. I did however see the initial news story about it. This to me is what is happening to a lot of people in todays' society. They committ a crime, they buy or pay for a prostitute and drugs, then when they are caught, it's not their fault. It's the fault of their mothers or fathers or home life or in this case the church. They will not take responsibility for their actions. Just like Michael Phelps and smoking pot, he is sorry, but will he be arrested for committing a crime? Only time will tell, but please if you do something be responsible about it. If it is wrong admit to it and make it right. We all sin and fall short of what God wants for us, but the ones who are closest to God admit it and make it right. They don't blame it on someone or something else. In God's Grace John

Typical media response. And typical of humans to want to put the blame anywhere but on their own personal choices. I think the advice to "disappear" was meant to say "lay low" and "get out of the limelight" because his personal issues were interferring with the message of the Gospel and how it is perceived. His behavior created a HUGE stumbling block to effective witness and, even in repentance, he needs to do whatever he can to repair the damage, or at least not cause more.

Haggard did wrong. He deceived. He lied. And it wasn't just his church. He was representing millions as the president of National Association of Evangelicals.

And now somehow its our fault?

Why would immoral behavior by a minister be subject for a documentary or a movie? If all was in balance (which it isn't) this would be a semi-private matter for the erring individual, his family, his church community (that's what makes the private part only semi- ... but the church has a right to its own internal life and processes, no matter what the rest of the population thinks), and perhaps his legal obligations, civil or criminal, which again may generate some publicity. One thing out of balance is many high profile Christians are waging a crude sort of holy war against alleged demons, apostates, heretics and unbelievers. Therefore, when they themselves stumble, the cries of "hypocrite" are only natural. If we remembered that our relationship to God is individual, that fellowship and worship are based on an individual commitment to communal institutions, and that none of the above are political parties, then when an individual pastor stumbles, it would not have the same unfortunate reverberations. I am not a member of New Life Church, therefore Ted Haggard's transgressions are none of my business, just as, not being a member of the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, Gene Robinson's sexual orientation is not really my business either.

This is just so typical of how the media warps what true Chrsitianity is.

i heard Haggard's testimony. i think he has a lot of courage to speak out and confess like he did. i also beleive he has a great message for the world to hear, and through his trail God can use him to bring healing to others that are suffering. he doesn't proclaim to be a perfect person just that God is forgiving, and can still use a willing vessel.