Religion Briefing

TED HAGGARD INTERVIEW

Fallen Pastor Makes Peace With Sex Scandal

Fallen evangelical pastor Ted Haggard says he doesn't consider himself gay, but rather "a heterosexual with issues."

In an interview shown this week on "The Oprah Winfrey Show," the former president of the National Association of Evangelicals said he used to think the same-sex attractions that led to his downfall were demonic, but now sees them as part of who he is.

Haggard told Winfrey that while he believes Jesus accepts him and everyone as they are, he also believes that the Bible is God's word, and that God's ideal is for "heterosexual monogamous marriage."

Appearing with her husband, Gayle Haggard said learning about what he did had caused her immense pain. But she told Oprah, "I choose to forgive him and I choose to love him."

-- Associated Press

CRYSTAL CATHEDRAL

Non-Schuller Will Lead Church for the First Time

The Crystal Cathedral is heading into a new era with a non-Schuller at the helm for the first time, the church's senior pastor announced to a group of elders last week.

The Rev. Juan Carlos Ortiz, who was appointed as the Crystal Cathedral's interim senior pastor in December, said his job is to prepare the church for a leader who would in no way be aligned with founder Robert H. Schuller or his family. The Garden Grove, Calif., church has been in turmoil since the departure of Robert A. Schuller, the son of the founder, who many believed was groomed to take over the ministry from his father.

Robert A. Schuller left the church's weekly "Hour of Power" program, which is broadcast to millions around the world, early in November. Later that month, he resigned from his post as senior pastor.