Key Evangelical quits amid gay sex claim

[SLCPUNK]

By CATHERINE TSAI, Associated Press Writer 16 minutes ago

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, resigned Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years.

The Rev. Ted Haggard, a married father of five who has been called one of the most influential evangelical Christians in the nation, denied the allegations. His accuser refused to share voice mails that he said backed up his claim.

Haggard also stepped aside as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church while a church panel investigates, saying he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations."

"I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity," Haggard said in a written statement. "I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date."

He also told KUSA-TV late Wednesday: "Never had a gay relationship with anybody, and I'm steady with my wife, I'm faithful to my wife."

The allegations come as voters in Colorado and seven other states get ready to decide Tuesday on amendments banning gay marriage. Besides the proposed ban on the Colorado ballot, a separate measure would establish the legality of domestic partnerships providing same-sex couples with many of the rights of married couples.

Mike Jones, 49, of Denver told The Associated Press he decided to go public with his allegations because of the political fight. Jones, who said he is gay, said he was upset when he discovered Haggard and the New Life Church had publicly opposed same-sex marriage.

"It made me angry that here's someone preaching about gay marriage and going behind the scenes having gay sex," said Jones, who added that he isn't working for any political group.

Jones, whose allegations were first aired on KHOW-AM radio in Denver, claimed Haggard paid him to have sex nearly every month over three years. Jones also said Haggard snorted methamphetamine before their sexual encounters to heighten his experience.

Haggard and his attorney, Martin Nussbaum, did not return calls Thursday night from the AP.

Jones said that he had advertised himself as an escort on the Internet and that a man who called himself Art contacted him. Jones said he later saw the man on television identified as Haggard.

He said that he last had sex with Haggard in August and that he did not warn him before making his allegations this week.

Jones said he has voice mail messages from Haggard, as well as an envelope he said Haggard used to mail him cash, though he declined to make any of it available to the AP.

"There's some stuff on there (the voice mails) that's pretty damning," he said.

Haggard, who is about 50, was appointed president of the evangelicals association in March 2003. He has participated in conservative Christian leaders' conference calls with White House staffers and lobbied members of Congress last year on

After Massachusetts legalized gay marriage in 2004, Haggard and others began organizing state-by-state opposition. Last year, Haggard and officials from the nearby Christian ministry Focus on the Family announced plans to push Colorado's gay marriage ban for the 2006 ballot.

At the time, Haggard said that he believed marriage is a union between a man and woman rooted in centuries of tradition, and that research shows it's the best family unit for children.

"Homosexual activity, like adulterous relationships, is clearly condemned in the Scriptures," the evangelicals association says on its Web site. The Bible says homosexuality is a sin that "brings grave consequences in this life and excludes one from the Kingdom of God."

Haggard's resignation from the NAE seems unlikely to do lasting damage to the organization, an umbrella group for a diverse and independent-minded membership. At his own church, Haggard's decision to step aside ? if it became permanent ? would have a more profound effect.

"One would hope and pray that this matter would be resolved expeditiously and quickly and he can be restored back to being the pastor of the church and the leader of the NAE," said Michael Cromartie, vice president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative Washington think tank.

New Life Church member Brooks DeMio, 44, said he thinks Jones is a liar and can't believe Haggard would engage in sex with a man.

"He loves the Lord, homosexuality is a sin and that's not Ted," DeMio said. "His desire is to serve other people and uphold the word of God. ... I don't know him well enough to give a complete character description, but I know him enough to know it's not true."

Carolyn Haggard, spokeswoman for the New Life Church and the pastor's niece, said a four-member church panel will investigate the allegations. The board has the authority to discipline Haggard, including removing him from ministry work.

"This is really routine when any sort of situation like this arises, so we're prepared," Carolyn Haggard said. "The church is going to continue to serve and be welcoming to our community. That's a priority."

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

if you're gay, why would you publicly fight gayness ?
if you're a pedophile, why would you publicly fight pedophilia?

i dont get it.

[Bud Fox]

Now that the leader of the largest evangelical movement in America has been exposed as a meth-sniffing switch hitter,  Fox thinks it's time that we ask which party has the real "gay agenda". The GOP is essentially the biggest practictioner of Clinton's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, and as such has allowed a group of closeted gays, starting with GOP chairman Ken Mehlman on down, to run the GOP. Their agenda seems to be to use the prejudices against gays of most average republicans to achieve power while hiding thier own homosexuality. Isn't it time to admit the real party that represents homosexuals in America is the GOP? What bunch of hacks.

[Izzy]

He denies the allegations - and quits

Wow, sounds innocent to me

[Doc Emmett Brown]

if you're gay, why would you publicly fight gayness ?

Here is one answer.

Let's say you grow up in moderately religious household (like most people in this world), and so you learn what is a sin and what isnt.

But somewhere around your teenage/college years, you realize that you are a sin.  Because you're gay.  You can try to change and be on the straight path, but you know, inside, you're faking it.

So now you have 2 options. One: you can say Woooooo! I am a freak! I wear pink feather boas!  (ok,  you dont have to wear the feather boa, but you have accepted your identity). Or you continue to believe it is a sin (which it might be...) and fight to prevent other people from accepting it.  Or you can flip flop between the two, which is what many people do. 

Your other question is about a crime and criminals obviously hide their actions.

[Bill 213]

Hypocracy reigns supreme!!! 

[Where is Hassan Nasrallah ?]

if you're gay, why would you publicly fight gayness ?

Here is one answer.

Let's say you grow up in moderately religious household (like most people in this world), and so you learn what is a sin and what isnt.

But somewhere around your teenage/college years, you realize that you are a sin. ?Because you're gay. ?You can try to change and be on the straight path, but you know, inside, you're faking it.

So now you have 2 options. One: you can say Woooooo! I am a freak! I wear pink feather boas! ?(ok, ?you dont have to wear the feather boa, but you have accepted your identity). Or you continue to believe it is a sin (which it might be...) and fight to prevent other people from accepting it. ?Or you can flip flop between the two, which is what many people do. ?

Your other question is about a crime and criminals obviously hide their actions.

point's clear
tho, there is difference between hiding and making a scene

if i steal an orange (i dont that!) im not gonna scream on the roofs that stealing oranges is bad ....

but yeah, these cases are just lonely cases, we make a fuss about it cause it's on tv

[pasnow]

I just saw this on MSNBC, the host was funny, he said "Now I'm going to assume that if you're an evangelical minister and your caught buying Crystal Meth from a gay prostitute, that's not going to be good for your reputation."

[Doc Emmett Brown]

tho, there is difference between hiding and making a scene

if i steal an orange (i dont that!) im not gonna scream on the roofs that stealing oranges is bad ....

I know what you mean.  I wonder about this too.  My answer is that you do it because it's like an alibi of sorts. 

So, if you ever get accused of stealing an orange, people can defend you by saying, 'No, he could not possibly have stolen the orange! He is such a vocal opponent of orange stealing! blah blah' 

[Eazy E]

"Homosexual activity, like adulterous relationships, is clearly condemned in the Scriptures," the evangelicals association says on its Web site. The Bible says homosexuality is a sin that "brings grave consequences in this life and excludes one from the Kingdom of God."

Now are all gay people quaking in their boots? ?

[Evolution]

Haggard, who is about 50,

Wtf kind of reporter would write that?

On topic, it's a shame he forced himself into such hypocrisy but not accepting his sexuality.

[TAP]

That was the  guy from Richard Dawkin's "Root of all Evil" documentary wasn't it.........couldn't happen to a more deserving hypocrite.

[SLCPUNK]

My guess is that he will be entering rehab, like Foley, and blame his gayness on his drug use.

Pass the loofah.................

[CheapJon]

when i looked at the title of this thread quickly first, I read "admit gay sex dream" 

[Brody]

Now that the leader of the largest evangelical movement in America has been exposed as a meth-sniffing switch hitter,  Fox thinks it's time that we ask which party has the real "gay agenda". The GOP is essentially the biggest practictioner of Clinton's 'don't ask, don't tell' policy, and as such has allowed a group of closeted gays, starting with GOP chairman Ken Mehlman on down, to run the GOP. Their agenda seems to be to use the prejudices against gays of most average republicans to achieve power while hiding thier own homosexuality. Isn't it time to admit the real party that represents homosexuals in America is the GOP? What bunch of hacks.

you really think because a handful of people do this that its the majority of the GOP? / Christian community?

THE REAL HYPOCRITE IS YOU. JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE SUBJECT TITLE YOU CHOSE LITTLE BOY. YOU CALL PEOPLE FAGS AND ALL KINDS OF NAMES THAT WOULD BE VERY OFFENSIVE TO GAY PEOPLE.  NOW GO BACK TO YOUR GODLESS USELESS LIFE.

[freedom78]

Haggard faces more gay-sex accusations
Disgraced pastor's former church paid settlement to young volunteer

DENVER - Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard's former church disclosed Friday that the gay-sex scandal that caused his downfall extends to a young male church volunteer who reported having a sexual relationship with Haggard ? a revelation that comes as Haggard tries to repair his public image.

Brady Boyd, who succeeded Haggard as senior pastor of the 10,000-member New Life Church in Colorado Springs, told The Associated Press that the man came forward to church officials in late 2006 shortly after a Denver male prostitute claimed to have had a three-year cash-for-sex relationship with Haggard.

Boyd said an "overwhelming pool of evidence" pointed to an "inappropriate, consensual sexual relationship" that "went on for a long period of time ... it wasn't a one-time act." Boyd said the man was in his early 20s at the time. He said he was certain the man was of legal age when it began.

[continued at link in title]
************************************

This stuff makes me feel sorry for people.  Can you imagine having oppressive beliefs that tell you that you're a horrible person or evil or some sort of second-class citizen? 

[mrlee]

why do radical christians who are anti gay.

Always end up being gay?

[CheapJon]

why do radical christians who are anti gay.

Always end up being gay?

it's simple, it's because they are gay

[polluxlm]

2 years old? Brushing up on the gay threads, huh?

[freedom78]

2 years old? Brushing up on the gay threads, huh?

The story I posted is new...though I did have a nice selection of two year old, evangelical gay sex threads in which to post.