Haggard's fall 'doesn't surprise' counselor

It took seven, count 'em, seven reporters of the Colorado Springs Gazette to report the Ted Haggard story today, and it's all wrapped up -- for the day, at least -- in this update, headlined Community stunned as Haggard admits buying drugs.

Some of the interesting details:

A clergyman who heads a pastoral counseling center for the Religious Right pressure group Focus on the Family, also located in Colorado Springs, said he wasn't surprised at the accusations "because I deal with it so much." Between four hundred and six hundred evangelical pastors call his service every month to deal with their problems -- "many of whom are struggling with addiction or sexual issues."

At a staff meeting of Haggard's New Life Church today:

More than 200 church staff members attended a meeting this afternoon to discuss the Haggard situation, said Joe Kirkendall, associated pastor for the church's college ministry. The gist of the discussion, Kirkendall said, was "Let's be a team. Let's be a family. We are charting unchartered waters. This isn't a time to hide, it's a time to serve."

The wife of Ross Parsley, the assistant pastor who took over the church after Haggard was suspended, gave birth today. No pressure, Ross!