<p><object width="250" align="right" height="202"><param name="movie" value="http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/eyeblast.swf?v=yduzSU2G8z&sm=1"></para... name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.eyeblast.tv/public/eyeblast.swf?v=yduzSU2G8z&sm=1" allowfullscreen="true" width="250" align="right" height="202"></embed></object>ABC has apparently never heard that phrase, "There are two sides to every story." On Feb. 1, "World News Sunday" helped shamed former-pastor Ted Haggard take shots at the Christian conservatives who he says "shunned him."</p> <p>Reporter Dan Harris introduced the piece by qualifying Haggard as a former "insider, a powerful pastor at the highest levels of the Christian conservative movement."</p> <p>Haggard, who made headlines two years ago for getting caught in a gay sex scandal, is now offering advice to the Christian conservative movement; and ABC gave him the megaphone. Here is a portion of Harris' interview with Haggard:</p> <!--break--> HARRIS: But now, two years after he was fired in a sex and drug scandal, Haggard is back with some frank criticism of a movement he now says is <b>off course</b>. In his first broadcast news interview since he was brought down by a gay sex scandal, Ted Haggard says the movement <b>he once helped lead has gone too far to the right. </b> <p> HAGGARD: I think the religious right is increasingly impotent right now in America. And that it's going to have to return to the gospel in order to regain strength. </p> <p> HARRIS: How is it impotent? Because -- </p> <p> HAGGARD: Well, this last election demonstrated that the only thing it did that it's proud of is proposition eight in California. And that's <b>not much to be proud of.</b></p><p>Harris offered no follow up question regarding Haggard's ironic statement that the movement, and not Haggard, is the one "off course," or how a statewide majority passage of proposition eight is "not much to be proud of." Instead, Harris allowed Haggard to continue preaching about the "mistakes" of the church. </p> <p>"Just as the church made a horrible mistake, several centuries ago, insisting that the earth was flat, I think the church may make a major mistake in our generation saying that sexuality should be this, and nothing else," Haggard declared. Instead of asking whether or not a flat earth and a deceitful pastor who hid a gay sex scandal can even be compared, Harris followed up with "You think the church should tell people its okay to be gay?"</p> <p>Just moments earlier, Harris pointed out that Haggard used to "rail against homosexuality," showing clips of Haggard preaching that "Its written in the Bible," that homosexuality is a sin. </p> <p>As a journalist, Harris might well inquire whether Haggard ever believed what he preached, or whether he should be considered credible now. But Harris continued to paint Haggard as a victim. "Haggard is still bitter at the way he says he was treated by fellow church leaders after the scandal," Harris said. "Not just fired, but shunned." </p> <p>That statement set up Haggard for this hardball question: "You think there's a gap between the leaders of today's evangelical church and what the gospel preaches?" he asked Haggard. </p> <p>"Yes I do," responded Haggard.</p> <p>If ABC tried to interview anyone Haggard accused of straying from the gospel, the three minute report didn't mention it.</p> <p>Harris ended the segment with this doozy: "Some have said that the Haggard case is proof that religion and politics do not mix. Haggard says Christians should be involved in politics, only with a <b>more moderate tone</b>."</p>
ABC Gives Disgraced Pastor Platform to Bash Religious Right
By Erin R. Brown | February 2, 2009 | 3:15 PM EST
Erin R. Brown