Evangelical Reaction to the Haggard Revelations

The LA times has an article detailing the reactions of some evangelical leaders to the Haggard revelations.

If you ask me, they're spooked.

According to the article:

The allegations against Haggard could further disillusion voters, depressing turnout, said Paul de Vries, a board member of the National Assn. of Evangelicals.

"If this is true," De Vries said, "it's obviously going to hurt a lot of people."

... more below the fold

Of course, some in the community are clinging to the fantasy that this is an election year ploy orchestrated by Democrats.  However, Haggard's admission has already cast doubt upon his standing among evangelical leaders.

Again, according to the article:

Other religious leaders close to Haggard expressed shock Thursday.

"The accusations do not comport with what I know of the man," said the Rev. Richard Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs for the evangelical association.

De Vries, who is president of the New York Divinity School, said of Haggard: "He's a brilliant man, an inspiring leader.... He has a strong sense of biblical teaching and biblical values. This is a reminder that we have to be sure that our own lives are coherent with what we say from the pulpit. It's a reminder to look in the mirror."

Interestingly, the article also alludes to the fact that Haggard promoted his ministry in gay bars.  According to the LA Times article, that fact was originally reported in Harper's magazine and

... quoted approvingly on Haggard's website.

Now, I'm sure the true believers will be wrestling with this one long after the election; and while evangelical hypocrisy is hardly news to anyone around here, I'm ceaselessly astonished by the blindness of the righteous.  

Moral clarity?!? This guy ministered to these people every Sunday, and they believed him!  He wasn't just a homosexual among them, he was leader of the band!

Bottom line, I think we need to make this about more than just Haggard.  This blindness has catastrophic consequences for the country. Bush has is eyes closed.  A man who gave Bush, by some accounts, weekly spiritual advice is a gay crystal-meth addict.  At best, Bush didn't know.  At worst, ... well, I'll leave that to your imaginations.  Furthermore, Iraq is a fiasco, and Bush thinks it's fine, etc, etc, ...  

These people will lead us off a cliff if we let them.  I'm going to make my MoveOn calls later.  We've got to get the congress back.