On 'Joy Behar,' Pastor Jim Swilley Questions Ted Haggard's Straight Claim
PUBLISHED: NOVEMBER 10, 2010
Megachurch Pastor Jim Swilley provides convincing testimony that being
gay is not a choice, and says he's unconvinced that Ted Haggard has
successfully altered his sexual orientation.
gay is not a choice, and says he's unconvinced that Ted Haggard has
successfully altered his sexual orientation.
The twice-married father of four founded Church in the Now in Rockdale
County, Georgia 25 years ago. The 52-year-old Swilley told his flock
last month that he's gay and that he has known about his orientation
since he was a child.
County, Georgia 25 years ago. The 52-year-old Swilley told his flock
last month that he's gay and that he has known about his orientation
since he was a child.
Appearing Tuesday on cabler HLN's Joy Behar Show, Swilley told Behar
that he witnessed in his youth failed church attempts to alter gay people's
sexual orientation, and questioned Ted Haggard's claims that therapy
has freed him from his gay urges. Haggard is building a new church after
he lost his Colorado-based congregation in 2006 over a sex scandal
involving a male prostitute.
that he witnessed in his youth failed church attempts to alter gay people's
sexual orientation, and questioned Ted Haggard's claims that therapy
has freed him from his gay urges. Haggard is building a new church after
he lost his Colorado-based congregation in 2006 over a sex scandal
involving a male prostitute.
“Back in the day, we had people coming to us when I worked with my
father. Our church was right in the middle of the gay community, so
people would come and would want to be delivered. And so, we would
take them through that. We would pray for them, get them married off, whatever.”
father. Our church was right in the middle of the gay community, so
people would come and would want to be delivered. And so, we would
take them through that. We would pray for them, get them married off, whatever.”
“Every one of those people now, they're gay. They're openly gay. It didn't
change anything.”
change anything.”
“I'm not saying he's [Haggard] lying,” Swilley added. “I'm just saying if
someone came to me and asked 'Do you think that's possible?' I would
say no.”
someone came to me and asked 'Do you think that's possible?' I would
say no.”
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