Evangelical Leader Ted Haggard Steps Down After Gay Escort Claims They Had a Sexual Relationship for Three Years
>> UPDATED <<
Prominent anti-gay evangelical Pastor Ted Haggard, the head of a "megachurch" with ties to the White House, stepped down today as president of the National Association of Evangelicals after gay escort Mike Jones claimed he had a three-year "sexual business" relationship with Haggard. Jones also told a radio show host that he has recorded voicemails and a letter from the pastor, and claims that the Haggard used methamphetamine in his presence on several occasions.
Haggard is the founder of the 14,000-member New Life Church based in Colorado Springs. He is married with five children.
Think Progress notes: "Haggard is president of the National Association of Evangelicals, representing more than 30 million conservative Christians. Time Magazine ranked him as one of the 25 most influential evangelicals and Harper’s contributing editor Jeff Sharlet noted, 'No pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism than does Pastor Ted.'"
Haggard also has ties to the White House and claims he has "direct access" to George Bush, and can get the President to return his phone calls within 24 hours.
Here's a video of Haggard preaching against homosexuality from the recent documentary Jesus Camp:
I guess now we may know what pastor Ted did last night too.
Haggard responded to Jones' claims: "I did not have a homosexual relationship with a man in Denver. I am steady with my wife. I'm faithful to my wife. I don't know if this is election year politics or if this has to do with the marriage amendment or what it is, but I'm not even the guy who will investigate it or question it. I don't know what the dynamics are, but this independent group will come in and do that."
Jones said he felt he had to come forward and expose the hypocrisy: "People may look at me and think what I've done is immoral, but I think I had to do the moral thing in my mind and that is expose someone who is preaching one thing and doing the opposite behind everybody's back."
Man claims 3-year sexual relationship with pastor [9news]
Jones interview [wmv - 9news]
Haggard interview [wmv - 9news]
(thanks joemygod)
Posted Nov. 2,2006 at 6:40 PM EST by Andy Towle in Colorado, Gay Marriage, George W. Bush, News, Religion, Republican Party, Ted Haggard | Permalink
The question is: what is it going to take to make this a national story? How much evidence does the press need to run with it and where should we look first? The main political blogs, like the Wire, Daily Kos, Andrew Sullivan and Huffintonpost would be the leads I suspect if it is going to go further.
Posted by: Anon | Nov 2, 2006 5:16:43 PM
RB, lose your religion away my friend. I'm right there with ya brother!!
These guys really are the scum of the earth.
For the record, hypocrites made Jesus Himself lose his religion!!!
Posted by: Zeke | Nov 2, 2006 5:24:43 PM
Man, that YouTube bit proves one thing at least -- Rev. Haggard has COCKSUCKING LIPS!!! LOL
Oh god, I love this kind of shit. Creepy, creepy wingnuts and moonbats getting their cum-uppance.
Now, though, to the topic of hookers...I guess this reminds me that one must be VERY careful about who they hire and where. I would personally NEVER open up to an escort with whom I am having a transaction (ahem) nor would I bring them to my house, nor would I give them anything but a one-off e-mail address or cell #. These folks who think they are in a "relationship" with a hooker and spout off about personal stuff to them are deluded -- and risk getting ratted out like the good Rev'ren' here...
Posted by: Becks07 | Nov 2, 2006 5:49:03 PM
Boo-yah...
Pastor....you're out. Auf wiedersehen.
COLORADO SPRINGS - A pastor from Colorado resigned from a national organization and put himself on leave from his church Thursday, according to 9NEWS' partners at The Denver Post.
The resignation came a day after a male escort claimed he has been having a sexual relationship with the pastor for the past three years.
Posted by: baboomaerienow | Nov 2, 2006 6:05:59 PM
I want to hear all the gory details. How depraved was the guy? I want it spilled all over the nation so his wife and kids have to hear it everywhere. I'm so sick of these closeted assholes.
Posted by: Jersey | Nov 2, 2006 6:09:59 PM
Updates: Haggard temporarily resigned, and apparently Jones says he has recorded voicemail messages as well as a letter from Pastor Ted, and that he'll take a polygraph test on the radio tomorrow.
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5112770,00.html
Posted by: GBM | Nov 2, 2006 6:13:35 PM
HEY GUYS!!! Give Meg a call and see if you can't arrange an, ummmm, "interview" with Pastor Ted!!!
Pastor Ted Haggard
New Life Church
11025 Voyager Parkway
Colorado Springs, CO 80921
Phone: 719-594-6602
Fax: 719-548-9000
Email: thaggard@newlifechurch.org
To arrange an interview, please email Meg Britton at mbritton@newlifechurch.org or call her at 719.265.3110.
Posted by: Becks07 | Nov 2, 2006 6:22:30 PM
Zeke, Merle Haggard is still with us. What's witht the RIP by his name?
Posted by: Kyle Childress | Nov 2, 2006 6:35:35 PM
Wait. Jones is 59?? Oooh, Daddy!
Posted by: Spike | Nov 2, 2006 6:40:36 PM
Jersey, I was enjoying all of the giddy speculation until the comment about his wife and kids.. especially his kids. Made me pause.
As much as I would revel in the fact that another anti-gay bigot turned out to be a self loathing hypocrite, I DO NOT wish the pain and suffering of such a revelation on his children.
Let's not lose sight of the fact that if he is guilty of this, his family are unwitting victims.
Posted by: mark m | Nov 2, 2006 6:40:58 PM
...damn that TINA...! makes ME SO HORNY...!
Posted by: TRULY haggard! | Nov 2, 2006 6:52:23 PM
Mark M, Maybe he should have thought about that before he started spouting off all the invective against us gays. You are right though, and I do feel for his children and wife, but I hate him (and all of those hate spewing evangelicals) with a passion.
Posted by: Jersey | Nov 2, 2006 6:59:34 PM
Self-hatred literally refers to an extreme dislike of oneself, or being angry at oneself. The term is also used to designate a dislike or hatred of a group to which ONE BELONGS! Haggard falls deeply into this category. May his life be a living hell for some time because of his own making!!!
I fell sorry for his wife and kids. Their life as they know it just ended. Peace be with them...but for Haggard, go to hell!
Posted by: RB | Nov 2, 2006 7:00:14 PM
Jersey, I understand your anger, but you should have no beef with the wife and you should certainly not wish pain and suffering on the kids.
Don't forget, these kids have been indoctrinated by this man their whole lives to fear gay people. They will look at this through the anti-gay lense that he has pushed upon them. That's very sad.
I feel for his kids and, to a lesser degree, his wife. The kids are totally innocent in this. The wife, as his partner in crime, and an adult, is receiving a bit of the Karma that comes with portraying oneself as the epitome of family values while supporting homophobia and the oppression of gays and their families.
The absolute foundations of the religious fundamentalist right is being destroyed by the aftershocks of scandal and hypocrisy.
I personally won't shed one tear.
Posted by: Zeke | Nov 2, 2006 7:01:41 PM
Sorry Jersey, I was typing when you posted your last comment.
Big of you to rethink your statement and clarify your feelings.
Posted by: Zeke | Nov 2, 2006 7:06:18 PM
Woh, well I guess that answers the question of whether it's true or not.
Posted by: Daniel | Nov 2, 2006 7:07:15 PM
Damn Kyle, I was trying to bury Merle before his time. I don't know who I was thinking of. Thanks for the correction.
He and George Jones must be really creeped out by all of this talk about Haggard and Jones doing the nasty.
Posted by: Zeke | Nov 2, 2006 7:12:09 PM
And another one down and another one down, another one bites the dust. I have yet to see it fail. As I have posted previously, those that spew hate the loudest are usually the most self-loathing. He will burn in Hell eventually. In the mean time we can give him hell here. Congrats gay brethren. The haters and the bigots lose another round.
Posted by: rudy | Nov 2, 2006 7:13:40 PM
Rocky Mt Hard
Rentboy.com
Looks Like
Posted by: ggreen | Nov 2, 2006 7:13:56 PM
I love this kind of thing. I hope the escort has it on video. That would be so amesome...
Posted by: Tyler Ice | Nov 2, 2006 7:19:40 PM
I also feel bad for his wife and kids is this is true, but they're all better off in the long run. I wonder if Haggard will be entering into a reducation camp instead of rehab?
Posted by: Marco | Nov 2, 2006 7:25:00 PM
Mike Jones, male escort, is the key witness and we feel the case is closed, not quite.
Where is the victory here? It's not like society is going to condemn this man for speaking out against homosexuality when he's screwing the male whore. They will condemn his sexual behavior not his prior protests. Ten more people will step to the front to take his place and use him as an example of our "promiscuous", "deviant" "lifestyle".
Posted by: Mc Frank | Nov 2, 2006 7:25:30 PM
Oh, and P.S.
God obviously loves hot, sweaty gay sex. He turns his favorite, most-outspoken earthly disciples towards our light all the time.
Posted by: Marco | Nov 2, 2006 7:26:32 PM
i wonder how this is going to play with the amendments in colorado tuesday ?
Posted by: titus | Nov 2, 2006 7:29:02 PM
WOW!!! Well, this answers my question about whether this can be proven. I think his "temporary" resignation says it all. Hopefully what will come out of this as well as with the Mark Foley deal is that a man that has to keep his sexuality hidden or repressed is bound to act out at some point. Usually that repression results in actions that are less than noble or even remotely rational. But this is what happens when a society makes people believe that who they are is wrong and are forced to hide it.
Posted by: JR | Nov 2, 2006 7:32:06 PM