I live in Colorado Springs, home to the right-wing conservative evangelical movement. As the nation recently learned, the founder of New Life Church, Ted Haggard, was fired after a male prostitute alleged that Haggard bought sex and drugs from him. It’s hard not to feel a bit sorry for him, even though I’ve always hated everything he stood for. How do you view all of this? Does Haggard deserve our sympathy? Or do we point our fingers and laugh? –Confused Coloradoan
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Arguing with religious people about the futility of giving your heart to Jesus–at least where “cures” for homosexual orientation are concerned–can be maddening. As with evolution, they’re not moved by science, data, or irksome facts. Not even the existence of ex-ex-gays gives them pause. Anything is possible through Christ, they blandly insist, and if you invite him into your heart, he will cure you.
Hello, fundies? I know you’re reading this, because every week I get e-mails from concerned Christians who just happened to chance upon my column–cough, cough–and write to share the wonderful news: I don’t have to be gay! If I give my heart to Jesus he will cure me! Well, my friends, did you see that letter of apology Haggard wrote to his congregation? I’d like to wrap it around a brick and shove it up all of your asses. But since I can’t do that, I’ll just quote from it. In his mea gulpa (Haggard gives lousy head, according to Jones), Haggard copped to “sexual immorality” and described himself as “a deceiver and a liar.” Those details made it into most of the headlines. These details didn’t.
Consider yourself warned, Paula Zahn.
As for Santorum’s kids, well, we’re put in the position of having to feel sorry for the offspring–the oddly attired offspring–of a delusional bigot. But just how bad should we feel? I remember listening to the radio when Santorum said that an anti-gay-marriage amendment was a homeland security measure, equating gay couples with terrorists. My son, who happens to be the same age as Santorum’s younger daughter (the one weeping and clutching a doll in that widely circulated photo), was in the room at the time, and he got pretty upset. So, yeah, we should all feel bad for Santorum’s kids–what kind of parent drags a sobbing child in front of the national media? But let’s also feel bad for all the other kids that Santorum hurt.
