It hit the news recently that Ted Haggard and his former church tried to silence another, a volunteer at the church.

The church agreed to pay the man in exchange for his pledges not to talk publicly about the relationship, Boyd said, referring to a settlement reached by the man's lawyer and the church's insurance company. Under the settlement, the church provided the man money to pay his college tuition, moving expenses and counseling, Boyd said.

Boyd is a senior member of the church, and the reason for this post. At the end of the article I read he is quoted,

Despite the fresh scandal, Boyd said he is hopeful for the future.

"We've added 1,500 people in the last 18 months," he said. "We're trying to adopt 100 orphans into families in the church.

"We had a leader with flawed character and we're trying to clean up from the residue of the past. This will not always define us. I can promise you that in the days ahead, we won't be identified with scandal, but helping the widows and orphans."

When I see something like this, I see a theist announcing the promotion of his religion by assimilation, and selling it as commendable. I'm sure he truly believes his actions deserve the highest praise. What he probably wouldn't even consider though, is that he is purporting to 'help' those that are most susceptible to coercion and indoctrination. I've talked to other theists, and even if the concept of indoctrination is allowed, the rationalization is that it is for the inductee's own good.