What's your take on religious figures who get ...

Just because the scandal involves a religious figure, should not matter.  If they do wrong , they do wrong, it does not make them better just because they are a religious figure, and they should be punished accordinally.  in fact, they should be more concious of theie behavior, being a religious figure to the people.  men, women and children tend to look up to these figure, so they need to set an example....I am not saying that being a relgious figure makes a person any better than another, they should just be more aware.  we are all human and we all mess up once inawhile..man (and woman) was born into sin, we all do it, we all can be forgiven by our maker, if we chose to be, but i don't think anyone deserves sympathy for doing wrong... NO ONE...NOT EVEN A RELIGIOUS FIGURE...

They need psychological help.  Whether you call that sympathy or not is secondary.

Meanwhile they should not be in any position of influence where they guide others.

They are human too, but most of them take a vow to act in a Christian manner and when they don't it is a sin and they should be punished.

When they break Gods law, God will deal with them. When they break our laws the law will deal with them. Haggard was right to resign.

It so sad to read almost everyday that these peple of god, telling us what is right and wrong, and then they are the one committing the most sin.  So who do we listen to, trust, and who do we confess our sins to? 

we should confess our sins to our maker....he is the one who makes the difference.. even religious people sin....and they NEED to be held accountable, by both God, and also the law...not felt sorry for.....it is the victims that need the sympathy.

I agree with you... the leaders of our nations and churches or businesses need to be above reproach. The reality is that they are human beings so they come in all shapes and sizes--difeerent temperaments and levels of righteousness. Every man on the planet is a sinner and is capable of sinning-- the ones who are godly simply try to live lives that honor GOD through service. When they sin, hopefully, it is a sin that is simply an omission that does not hurt others-- one that they did not intend.  But sometimes it is an evil-- if they do not repent, then it is just evil. I will just say, all leaders should not BE leaders..they are chosen by men or self- appointed and they usually fail.

show me a self righteous conservative christian who opposes so vehemently homosexuality, drug use, and abortion ... And I'll show you the Ted Haggards, Jimmy Swaggarts, and Rush Limbaughs of this world. Such strong oponions these people have. So attatched to their beliefs and words they think are, when in reality they reveal their own demons. Jimmy hires hookers, Ted buys meth and hires homosexual prostitutes, Rush sends his maid with just under $10,000. ( so as not to raise the red flag for the feds as he withdwaws money from his bank ) to shop on the street for oxycontin. Then he gets busted at the airport upon returning from his " All Boy Vacation" with his boyfriend's prescription of Viagra. Oh... And the abortion thing... Show me a woman who hides behind an "Abortion Is Murder" sign and I'll show you a woman who has used abortion as her own personal form of birth control on more than one occasion. Humanity does not bother me. Hipocracy does.

Empathy rather than sympathy. I am a committed Christian - a new creation since the day I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior. However, a day never passes that I am not tempted to do wrong in some way. I fail to make the right choice sometimes on the issues society generally thinks of as minor (such as speaking in anger rather than love, or laughing at jokes which are off-color or insulting to others, etc.), yet on the things society would consider major I have found that my devotion to the Lord is rewarded by the presence of the Holy Spirit who helps me to make the right choice. My desire to please Him leads me to prefer to live according to the societal norms of America which have been based on Biblical teachings throughout our national history. And this may be where we fail as a people. If we abandon the values which prevailed throughout our national heritage, we become more vulnerable to the godless values of a secular culture. So, I find myself sickened by the failures of religious people at all levels, including my own "minor" sins, but also empathetic to anyone who fails for I know that I also am vulnerable to the lusts of the flesh if I do not remain focused on the higher calling of a child of God. My sympathy is reserved for those who are the victims of the sins of another.