Rev. Lou Sheldon, the founder and chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition was interviewed by The Jewish Week about the results of Tuesday’s election.
Considering that Sheldon rejected the faith of his Orthodox Jewish mother and aligned himself with a political movement that supports the ability of Christian groups to take federal funding for social service programs and then refuse to hire Jews, the Jewish Week was remarkably fair. Yes, Sheldon comes across as delusional but, having met Sheldon some years ago, I don’t think that is an unfair representation.
Lou Sheldon discusses his take on the Democrat take-over
“We know that in America the people are with us,” insisted the founder and chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, one of the largest groups in the Christian right. “They’re just confused.”
and bi-partisan efforts that Evangelicals may adopt
Sheldon scoffed at this notion, and the idea that Christian right activists might cultivate relationships with the newly empowered Democrats. Some new Democratic members may be more in tune with their views on sexual or church-state issues, he said, “But the leadership won’t let us work with them. We can’t reorient because our issues are issues the Democratic Party national platform repudiates.”
before discussing his good personal friend Ted Haggard
Months before a male prostitute publicly revealed Haggard’s secret relationship with him, and the reverend’s drug use as well, “Ted and I had a discussion,” explained Sheldon, who said Haggard gave him a telltale signal then: “He said homosexuality is genetic. I said, no it isn’t. But I just knew he was covering up. They need to say that.”
While some may be desirous of Haggard’s restoration, Sheldon’s clearly having none of it. He’s already written off Haggard as one of “they”. Sheldon has deemed Haggard to be a non-genetic homosexual who is covering up and you can hear Sheldon’s contempt dripping off the page.
Interestingly, if Sheldon is accurately describing an event that occurred outside his own head (one never knows), it seems that Haggard has already given some thought as to the mutability of sexual orientation. And it seems that his conclusions fly in the face of the political message of the ex-gay movement.
Perhaps this is why Dobson backed so quickly away from him and the restoration process. If Haggard were to say, “I believe I was born with same-sex attractions”, this would be in direct conflict with the psychological suppositions about parenting that Dobson preaches through the ex-gay language of his anti-gay empire. If Haggard were to seek restoration of his behavior in relation to inborn orientation, then Dobson has no advice to give him. If Haggard blames his genes instead of his father, then there is no “root” event to discover and heal.
And Dobson has no program to help the behavior of those who realize that their orientation isn’t going to change. He only has political solutions which require “change” and the rejection of “identity”. And that is where Dobson does a huge disservice to his fellow Christians like Ted Haggard. All Dobson can do when faced with this reality is to walk away..
Nice catch, and well written. I wonder how many of Haggard’s peers are now thinking of all those times when “something didn’t seem right,” suggesting that the Holy Spirit must have been prompting them; “not one of us, not one of us…”
I think your insight on Dobson’s reasoning for backing out is quite plausible.
Great information I had never known about Lou Sheldon….all I really knew about him was that he was (and still is) a total moron full of hate for LBGT people.
I think your Dobson comments are probably right on. Pastor Ted Haggard’s preacher friend who will remain with him was on CNN yesterday, he was very smart in his comments, and seemed to hint that Haggard’s gayness is very likely to not be “changeable” ..saying that if Haggard is “in fact” a homosexual – that they both will have to “live with it.” Seemed like an odd, liberal view from a team which I would think would be determined to add him to the “EX GAY” bus tour some day.
A potential knockdown for the fundies at Exodus and Dobson and Truth Won Out if this super high profile self-hating homophobic homo [and father of five] comes to the realization that his gayness simply is not reprogramable.
The Ex Gay people are so full of crap that even with all the bases loaded [i.e. God, the Bible, a pretty wife,five cute kids, and thirty million parishoners praying daiy] – I ll bet you (and hope) that some day Pastor Ted Haggard will find himself celebrating his life as an OUT gay man.
If not he will probably be sneaking through the dark back doors of gay bars with John Paulk, making a living off books, and living more of the same old lies. How tragic.
EXPOSE REV. RICK SCARBOROUGH
[ the truth squad ]
If Sheldon had a conversation with Haggard “months before”, why didn’t he urge Haggard to step down before this thing blew up? I don’t trust a thing Sheldon says. The man is a card-carrying, delusional homophobe.
Even given the anti-gay efforsts of Haggard, I can feel no animosity towards him. He’s a prisoner of war.
So… Lou implies that anyone who thinks being gay is genetic must be gay?
Gosh, and all this time I thought I was a ragin’ heterosexual. The girls in HS didn’t nick name me B Ware for nothing. Just shows you’re never too old to learn something about yourself. LOL
BTW, thanks for the links to Jewish News, CCN interview with Campolo, etc. I post snippets from these at the Charisma forum. It really drives them nuts. 😉
Bill, I was about to say the same thing. Anyone who even thinks being gay is biological is therefore gay. What a leap.