Ted Haggard Talks Temptation and Contempt for American Church

From Charisma: 

Disgraced mega-church pastor Ted Haggard is offering another angle on the temptations that led to his downfall in a new video interview for Lifetree Café, a network of discussion forums.

In the interview, Haggard tells about events in his past, including being sexually abused as a child, which contributed to his temptation. He also describes characteristics of temptation he believes make every person vulnerable, and tells what has helped him since the scandal.

The interview will be used to facilitate candid discussions during the week of February 20, when people are expected to gather at Lifetree Café venues in numerous cities to explore personal and societal issues of temptation, forgiveness and the role of the church.

Haggard complains in the Lifetree interview about the treatment he has received from Church leaders since his downfall.

"The church only believes in forgiveness and restoration for insignificant people," Haggard says. "Virtually every institution on earth is demonstrating that they're doing a better job restoring people than the church."

Haggard, former pastor of a large Colorado Springs, Co., church and former president of the National Association of Evangelicals, was removed from his positions after an incident with a male prostitute in 2006.

Haggard has returned to Colorado Springs and formed a new church. He recently appeared in a documentary on the TLC network. And he's featured in the February issue of GQ magazine.