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Kerrigan · Nov 3, 2006, 08:32 AM

The leader of America’s powerful National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal supporter of George Bush and opponent of same-sex marriage, has resigned after being accused of paying for sex with a man.

The Rev Ted Haggard, a married father of five who is seen as one of the most influential conservative Christians in the nation, vigorously denied the allegations but said he could not "continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations."
...
The claims were made by Mike Jones, a male escort from Denver, who told the media that Mr Haggard had paid him to have sex every month for nearly three years. He claimed that the Reverend had snorted methamphetamine before their sexual encounters in order to heighten the experience, an allegation also denied by Mr Haggard.
...
The Associated Press reported that Ross Parsley, the acting senior pastor at the New Life Church, had told local station, KKTV-TV, that Mr Haggard had admitted that some of the accusations were true, but did not elaborate any further.

US Church leader resigns amidst gay sex allegations - World - Times Online

I suppose we don't know if this is true or not. But it wouldn't be the first time an evangelical Christian who made a fuss over gay marriage, turned out to be a closet case. It's a bit funny to think of too, esp the part about chrystal meth.

This has to be taken with a grain of salt though. The Duke lacrosse team "rape" scandal has shown just how dodgy, dishonest, and unscrupulous "dancers" and "escorts" can be.

Zeeb · Nov 3, 2006, 08:39 AM

We'll see, but he has already admitted some of the allegations are true -- and he resigned. I love it when hypocrites are exposed for what they are. Every day the religious right is discredited in one way or another. When will it sink in to these right wing Christians idiots that hate isn't what Jesus taught? Neither is oppressing people.

Dakar² · Nov 3, 2006, 08:40 AM

It's just sad.

Kerrigan · Nov 3, 2006, 08:42 AM

"I just want people to step back and take a look and say, 'Look, we're all sinners, we all have faults, but if two people want to get married, just let them, and let them have a happy life,"' said Jones, who added that he isn't working for any political group.

Jones, who said he is gay, said he was also 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," Jones said.

What has the world come to when a prostitute makes more sense than a preacher?

art_director · Nov 3, 2006, 08:43 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

It's just sad.

The sad part is that manipulative people like this can influence others -- specifically, those blinded by faith.

And yet another crack appears in the wall of the faithful.

RAILhead · Nov 3, 2006, 08:44 AM

I love it how you non-Christians put Christians on such a high pedestal.

Dakar² · Nov 3, 2006, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by art_director

The sad part is that manipulative people like this can influence others -- specifically, those blinded by faith.

And yet another crack appears in the wall of the faithful.

No, what's sad is his sexual orientation and faith were at an impasse, and this is what he felt he had to do to maintain his religion.

art_director · Nov 3, 2006, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

No, what's sad is his sexual orientation and faith were at an impasse, and this is what he felt he had to do to maintain his religion.

Perhaps in your view, not in mine.

I know some people who are staunch Evangelicals. I've attended their church functions with them and have seen how manipulative that church is. IMO they're being played.

art_director · Nov 3, 2006, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

No, what's sad is his sexual orientation and faith were at an impasse, and this is what he felt he had to do to maintain his religion.

You mean he had to have sex with another man and snort crystal meth to maintain his religion? Wouldn't it have been easier and less damaging to just club a baby seal?

Dakar² · Nov 3, 2006, 08:54 AM

It's all about 'appearances'

davesimondotcom · Nov 3, 2006, 08:54 AM

Well, he's obviously a man - with flaws - just like the rest of us.

But the reason that this kind of thing makes news is because he, as a preacher, puts himself in a position to tell people how to live their lives. And it seems he wasn't practicing what he preaches.

Although, I don't see what this has to do with any marriage other than Haggards. After all, how many people marry their secret lover?

And what does it say about our society that his having gay sex is more newsworthy than doing illegal drugs?

Zeeb · Nov 3, 2006, 08:56 AM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

I love it how you non-Christians put Christians on such a high pedestal.

Not at all. I think some Christians put themselves on a high pedestal and are shocked when they find out that they are human.

art_director · Nov 3, 2006, 08:58 AM

Originally Posted by Zeeb

I think some Christians put themselves on a high pedestal and are shocked when they find out that they are human.

I believe the majority of Evangelicals view themselves as being superior to others.

BRussell · Nov 3, 2006, 09:04 AM

Video of Haggard at work. This is yet another tiny insight into the immoral philosophy known as "conservative Christianity."

Atheist · Nov 3, 2006, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

I love it how you non-Christians put Christians on such a high pedestal.

I put no man/woman on a pedestal. However, this man was in a position of power. He used that position to influence people and now he is wallowing in his own hypocrisy. He should be held accountable by his congregation. He has deceived them. I don't pity him at all...

ironknee · Nov 3, 2006, 09:13 AM

why am i not surprised?

typical

Nicko · Nov 3, 2006, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

I love it how you non-Christians put Christians on such a high pedestal.

Caught paying for sex with a gay prostitute...
And I love how evangelical christians put their leaders on such a low pedistal?

How much lower can one go?... or should we not go there?

art_director · Nov 3, 2006, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by Atheist

I don't pity him at all...

That makes two of us.

Monique · Nov 3, 2006, 09:23 AM

Once I heard someone say that people enjoy seeing Christians fall more than anyone else; so we should watch our conduct a lot more carefully than anyone else. It is not the Christian thing, it is the people that say they are more rightous than God and those who judge others. It just shows 2 things, Christians are no better than anyone else and that the gay thing cannot be controlled by getting married to a straight woman. It is ashamed for his wife; he lied to her about the most important thing, he is not a heterosexual and he was never attracted to her.

Dark Helmet · Nov 3, 2006, 09:51 AM

What a friggin burn

Sky Captain · Nov 3, 2006, 09:57 AM

Is it me or does he look like the motivational speaker off the Burger King commercials?(Full of Sit)

ironknee · Nov 3, 2006, 09:59 AM

he looks like the catcher

Dakar² · Nov 3, 2006, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Sky Captain

Is it me or does he look like the motivational speaker off the Burger King commercials?(Full of Sit)

His teeth are so white its disturbing.

Doofy · Nov 3, 2006, 10:11 AM

No evidence at all for this yet.

In the same way that there's no evidence that I had Jessica Alba come over and cook me some cheese toasties last night.

Nicko · Nov 3, 2006, 10:15 AM

People only resign if there is enough evidence to have them fired

Shaddim · Nov 3, 2006, 10:17 AM

He looks a little like Sting.

zerostar · Nov 3, 2006, 10:20 AM

He looks like a neighbor of mine.

I wouldn't say the is no evidence AT ALL, we do have a confession of his lover, allegedly. And that is evidence that just need to be found true or false.

/would not hit it.

zerostar · Nov 3, 2006, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Monique

It is ashamed for his wife; he lied to her about the most important thing, he is not a heterosexual and he was never attracted to her.

Woah, hey now, I am attracted to men and women, my g/f is also. We are monogamous but there are definitely people who are attracted to both sexes.

The most important thing he lied to her about is having buttsecks, not being attracted to her.

Dark Helmet · Nov 3, 2006, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

No evidence at all for this yet.

In the same way that there's no evidence that I had Jessica Alba come over and cook me some cheese toasties last night.

So what if he admitted it and ask for forgiveness yadda yadda. Would all be cool then?

Shaddim · Nov 3, 2006, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by Nicko

People only resign if there is enough evidence to have them fired

That's patently false. I've known people who have stepped down to avoid a scandal, even when the allegations were false. I'm not saying that's the case in this instance, but it does happen.

davesimondotcom · Nov 3, 2006, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

No evidence at all for this yet.

In the same way that there's no evidence that I had Jessica Alba come over and cook me some cheese toasties last night.

Ha! She was at my house, cleaning wearing a French maid outfit.

Originally Posted by MacNStein

He looks a little like Sting.

So then it was Tantric meth-using gay prostitute sex...

Doofy · Nov 3, 2006, 10:27 AM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

So what if he admitted it and ask for forgiveness yadda yadda. Would all be cool then?

Yep. Until then I'm treating this as a "whacko" case. Wasn't there some woman in Texas claimed that Montel Williams (or someone similar) had actually proposed to her using secret messages (only known to her) in his show?

For graphic (and comical) illustration, see Ally McBeal episode (S4E20) where some woman sued Sting.

Dark Helmet · Nov 3, 2006, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Yep. Until then I'm treating this as a "whacko" case.

You're treating this? Are you on a panel or Jury or something?

Doofy · Nov 3, 2006, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

You're treating this? Are you on a panel or Jury or something?

Yep. The MacNN PL jury. Same as you.

davesimondotcom · Nov 3, 2006, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

For graphic (and comical) illustration, see Ally McBeal episode (S4E20) where some woman sued Sting.

Obscure reference number #940970823.

Seriously, Ally McBeal? Whew...

Doofy · Nov 3, 2006, 10:35 AM

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

Obscure reference number #940970823.

Seriously, Ally McBeal? Whew...

Gotta watch something while I eat the cheese toasties. No point getting on to Jess to do a lap dance or anything 'coz she's always looking at her watch and on about she's got to go round to "Dave's house to do some cleaning" or something.

davesimondotcom · Nov 3, 2006, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Gotta watch something while I eat the cheese toasties. No point getting on to Jess to do a lap dance or anything 'coz she's always looking at her watch and on about she's got to go round to "Dave's house to do some cleaning" or something.

Figured you'd be watching the first season of Dark Angel.

Dark Helmet · Nov 3, 2006, 10:38 AM

Originally Posted by Doofy

Yep. The MacNN PL jury. Same as you.

Well I am not "Treating" it as anything. It is just funny and a hell of a burn.

davesimondotcom · Nov 3, 2006, 10:41 AM

I'm still perplexed as to why the guy having sex with another guy is such a big deal, but nobody gives a crap about the illegal drugs....

Dakar² · Nov 3, 2006, 10:42 AM

Well, which one is the hot-button issue?

zerostar · Nov 3, 2006, 10:44 AM

Who pays for gay sex anyway? You can get it free on craigslist.

davesimondotcom · Nov 3, 2006, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

Well, which one is the hot-button issue?

Well, considering the billboards less than a mile from my home showing people with scabs, missing teeth, etc. trying to get people not to do meth, where there is a serious lack (thank dog!) of billboards discussing gay sex.

zerostar · Nov 3, 2006, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

Well, considering the billboards less than a mile from my home showing people with scabs, missing teeth, etc. trying to get people not to do meth, where there is a serious lack (thank dog!) of billboards discussing gay sex.

Just make them watch spun... creeepy

davesimondotcom · Nov 3, 2006, 10:47 AM

Originally Posted by zerostar

Who pays for gay sex anyway? You can get it free on craigslist.

What, and you expect this guy to actually use a site that has a peace symbol as it's favicon? Sheesh!

zerostar · Nov 3, 2006, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

What, and you expect this guy to actually use a site that has a peace symbol as it's favicon? Sheesh!

Friggin' hippies

Dakar² · Nov 3, 2006, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

Well, considering the billboards less than a mile from my home showing people with scabs, missing teeth, etc. trying to get people not to do meth, where there is a serious lack (thank dog!) of billboards discussing gay sex.

Well, I speak from a national perspective. Drugs are old hat. Homosexuality is the new exciting decadence.

Doofy · Nov 3, 2006, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

Figured you'd be watching the first season of Dark Angel.

Call me weird, but I actually like season two more. She seems... ...taller.

davesimondotcom · Nov 3, 2006, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar²

Well, I speak from a national perspective. Drugs are old hat. Homosexuality is the new exciting decadence.

"Have you tried the cock-o-late penis butter pound cake? It's absolutely decadent!"

ironknee · Nov 3, 2006, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

I'm still perplexed as to why the guy having sex with another guy is such a big deal, but nobody gives a crap about the illegal drugs....

why do republicans always bring up gay marriage as an issue before an election?

and THIS GUY is who is a big bush supporter and anti gay turns out to be gay himself...according to his preachin' he ain't goin' to heaven

now that's hypocrisy!

Kerrigan · Nov 3, 2006, 12:06 PM

The homosexuality is a big deal b/c this man personally spoke out against gay marriage, and boasted that he had connections in the Whitehouse who would help him in his campaign against homosexuality. The drug thing only sweetens the irony.