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11/03/2006
Ted Haggard Voicemails Analyzed; Pastor Admits to Indiscretions
The Acting Senior Pastor of Ted Haggard's New Life Church, Ross Parsley, told KKTV news Thursday night that there has been "some admission to indiscretion" by Haggard, though he would not give details of the admission. Parsley says that work with "outside overseers" brought out the confession from Haggard.
Meanwhile, 9news brought in a nationally recognized voice expert to analyze two voicemails that Mike Jones claims were Haggard asking him about methamphetamine.
Voicemail 1:
""Hi Mike, this is Art. Hey, I was just calling to see if we could get any more. Either $100 or $200 supply. And I could pick it up really anytime I could get it tomorrow or we could wait till next week sometime and so I also wanted to get your address. I could send you some money for inventory but that's probably not working, so if you have it then go ahead and get what you can and I may buzz up there later today, but I doubt your schedule would allow that unless you have some in the house. Okay, I'll check in with you later. Thanks a lot, bye."
Voicemail 2 (Listen - WMV):
"Hi Mike, this is Art, I am here in Denver and sorry that I missed you. But as I said, if you want to go ahead and get the stuff, then that would be great. And I'll get it sometime next week or the week after or whenever. I will call though you early next week to see what's most convenient for you. Okay? Thanks a lot, bye."
Said speech expert Richard Sanders: "This certainly sounds like the same person. If we can find enough words and phrases that match then it's generally accepted by courts that that's the same person." (Listen - WMV)
"Everybody is 100 percent for him, for his family, and for encouraging the process where he gets some great encouragement and spiritual counsel."
Church Leader Says Haggard Admits To Some Indiscretions [kktv]
Voice expert believes Haggard contacted male escort [9news]
Previously
Evangelical Leader Ted Haggard Steps Down After Gay Escort Claims They Had a Sexual Relationship for Three Years [tr]
Posted 7:33 AM EST by Andy Towle in Colorado, News, Religion, Republican Party, Ted Haggard | Permalink
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Wow, I didn't realize Ted's middle name is Arthur, which make his pseudonym 'Art' all the more damning...I mean, not to mention the voicemails that sound exactly like Ted Haggard trying to score some Tina. That's pretty dammning too. I wonder if Jones has hard evidence of their sexual 'transactions' as well.
Posted by: GBM | Nov 3, 2006 10:19:39 AM
It's actually better that Jones isn't the prostitute that Haggard was getting it on with, although his lying about it will bring the whole story into question. It's good that the actual prostitute is willing to come forward. That gives us a drug dealer AND a prostitute with corroborating stories.
It was REALLY stupid for Jones to lie about the details especially when he volunteered to go live on the radio to take a polygraph.
What's really funny is the story about James Dobson, Focus on the Family and other Colorado Springs fundamentalists frantically organizing a mass rally to support Haggard until the acting pastor of Haggard’s church called them up and insisted that they cancel it.
Do you get the impression that FOF and Daddy Dobson are circling the wagons to protect their empire?
Do they not realize that circling wagons doesn't help when your empire is crumbling from the INSIDE?
Posted by: Zeke | Nov 3, 2006 10:31:52 AM
The prostitute is hot! http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/11/03/us/03minister190.1.jpg
Posted by: Anita Woodward | Nov 3, 2006 10:35:45 AM
What's that i see walking and quacking, in the distance?
Why.....it's a duck, and it looks and sounds exactly like Ted Haggard. Maybe he and Mark Foley, can be roomies.....in rehab because i bet that's where he's headed.
Posted by: candi | Nov 3, 2006 10:38:20 AM
Well said Mark M. Even if Jones is not one of his tricks, maybe just a dealer for his Tina, he may know of guys who are messing with that pig. I'm sure that more will come out, otherwise he would not have quit so soon. From the Meth Queens I've encountered one thing is common, they love to get high and fuck around all the time, someone else is going to speak up. Give the sleeze media time, they'll find the dirt.
I too thought that Parsley looked a bit fey, I mean he's named after a spice. His interview just cast more shadow on a very dark story, "outside overseers"?. The blessing, thank you Jesus, is that the focus is off Kerry and his lame joke and on the Religous Right.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Nov 3, 2006 10:44:11 AM
If Jones wasn't the one Haggard was banging, then he may NOT have lied.
He said that he had a three year "sexual business relationship" with Haggard, so maybe that means that Jones was acting as the PIMP????? (As well as drug dealer...)
Posted by: Brian Geoffrey | Nov 3, 2006 10:49:40 AM
Does anyone have links to these new developments?
Posted by: Curious! | Nov 3, 2006 10:55:25 AM
OUT THEM ALL!!!! Guys, we must declare ALL OUT WAR on these homophobes and hypocrites. TAKE THEM ALL DOWN!!!
Even if "all" of the allegations aren't true, it looks like we've taken down another intolerant voice who has so maligned and harmed our community.
Now, WHO'S NEXT?
Posted by: Jonathon | Nov 3, 2006 10:55:45 AM
In the words of Whitney. Merry Crystal-meth-mas! Just when things couldn't get any worse for the Republikkklan's and their right-wing CLOSET case nuts, this is delivered in a nicely ribboned Holiday gift box...
Posted by: Cory | Nov 3, 2006 10:57:21 AM
ABC news quote:
"Jones also told ABC News that he never actually procured drugs for Haggard."
So let's all calm down and enjoy watching this train crash.
Posted by: Timothy | Nov 3, 2006 11:09:18 AM
McGreevy, Foley, Haggard, etc.....
keep them coming boys. Actually, that might be the problem?
In any case, each of these three people deserved to be seen for who they really are. Unfortunately, it sends out a terrible message to people everywhere when gay men are so ashamed of who they truly are that they actually do things to hurt the rest of the community.
These are all cautionary tails.
Posted by: Bam Bam | Nov 3, 2006 11:16:22 AM
Yes Zeke, the empire is truly crumbling from within. Back when the Swaggart and Baker scandals were big, my Mom, a conservative Christian, called it "God cleaning house." While I think her viewpoint is definitely skewed from mine, I agree, God IS cleaning house.
A Christian author was on Bill Maher a couple of weeks ago (I forget his name) but he summed it up nicely. Christians have been seduced by power.
The ultimate message of Christ was humanitarian, not political. Evangelicals are now reaping a bitter harvest for their greed and power hungry aspirations. They have twisted and distorted the message they claim to follow and God is bringing out the Dirt Devil to suck 'em all up.
Posted by: mark m | Nov 3, 2006 11:19:56 AM
Well, its made it onto the BBC News in the UK, now all the darn Brits know too....
Posted by: And | Nov 3, 2006 11:28:52 AM
JT, you are ABSOLUTELY right that the gay community is one of many groups of people that this man preyed upon. He was an equal opportunity destroyer.
I want to make a couple of things clear. Yes, I am committed to my faith, which, unlike Haggard's, recognizes and attempts to follow the teachings and examples of Christ (as well as other enlightened figures in history: Buddha, Gandhi etc.). Though I have the CAPACITY to forgive I am FULLY human and am not always quick to offer forgiveness. My faith teaches me to forgive, even before I'm asked. To be honest, I've NEVER been able to live up to this ideal and I’m certain that that won’t change with Haggard.
I have not forgiven Haggard yet and sadly I can't swear to you that I ever will. What I can promise, is that if he admits to the hurt he's caused to so many, ASKS for forgiveness, and shows an honest effort to repair the damage he's done, THEN I will do my best to find a way to forgive him. At this point that's the best I can do and, as I said before, I’m not holding my breath.
If I claim to follow the teachings and examples of Christ but I can't find a way to forgive those who have hurt me, then I am just as big of a Christian hypocrite as Haggard.
To be honest, I take a certain sense of satisfaction from the knowledge that a man who has spent a lifetime trying to control the thoughts and actions of others, is found to be totally incapable of controlling his own and totally ineffective (to his dismay) in controlling mine
It gives me a sense of peace AND power to realize that I, unlike he, DO have control over my own thoughts and actions because I don’t try to force a square peg into a round hole. Being able to forgive the unforgivable is one way I can demonstrate this self-control.
Trust me my friend; nothing pisses off the self-righteous more than a "sinner" who acts more Christian than they do.
One of my greatest callings in life is to piss off the self-righteous. That’s yet another lesson that I learned from the teachings and examples of Christ; one of the greatest and most effective self-righteous pisser offers in history.
Posted by: Zeke | Nov 3, 2006 11:31:14 AM
I won't celebrate this outing until our lame community stops heaping praise on politicians who come late to the party when it's convenient for them. Yeah, I'm talking 'bout you, McGreevey!
And to every weak gay guy who has ever hooked up with a public person that actively denounces gays - and then agrees to keep it confidential - fuck you.
Posted by: jeff | Nov 3, 2006 11:37:48 AM
I am part gleeful that such a powerful man on the right has fallen, and part hopeful that he is able to find some help outside of the evangelicals to find peace with his inner demons, and hope that he finds a 12-step program really soon, too.
Posted by: Alan | Nov 3, 2006 11:37:58 AM
Does anyone see a resemblence between Haggard and Patrick Swayze's role in Donnie Darko? Both of them were evangelist types who liked dudes... although Swayze's character was more along the lines of child pornography if I recall.
Sick as this situation is I'm at least grateful though Haggard was soliciting another ADULT and not raping a child.
Posted by: Jason | Nov 3, 2006 11:46:42 AM
Jerry Falwell is claiming that he doesn't know who Haggard is.
So let me get this "straight"; Jerry Falwell, the queen of all things EEEVANGELICAL, is totally unfamiliar with, and has NEVER met, the PRESIDENT of THE AMERICAN EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION with whom he is on a conference call to the White House weekly?
And in today's episode of "The Passion of the Christ" we have Jerry Falwell playing the role of Peter and Theodore Haggart playing the role of Christ.
Scene one: Peter, three times, denies knowing Christ....
Oh, I forgot to mention, we have Mike Jones in the role of the crowing Cock.
...aaaaand ACTION!
Posted by: Zeke | Nov 3, 2006 12:07:54 PM
Good call, Jason. I totally see that.
I like how he admitted to some indescretion. Like he kinda just sucked some of a guys dick, but not the whole thing.
The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Posted by: Marco | Nov 3, 2006 12:08:45 PM
I don't get it...What is this obsession some guys here have about McGreevey? Yeah, he was no ideal gay role model...but if you can't see the difference between him and this Haggard creep, then you really have no ability to make moral distinctions.
Posted by: Glenn | Nov 3, 2006 12:39:21 PM
I don't see a whole lot of difference between this guy and the closeted Catholic priests who were preaching anti-homosexuality every sunday at mass. The protestants are just now getting their comeuppance.
Posted by: Twink | Nov 3, 2006 12:44:31 PM
The thing about homosexuality that most people don't understand, is that it is a spiritual problem in nature. The source of all homosexual tendencies, whether it be thoughts that produce emotions and body sensations, is the devil. Now before you dismiss what I'm saying, just finish reading. God created the male for the female. Because of sin which empowered the devil in the earth, Satan has been busy in perverting creation since the fall of Adam and Eve.
What I'm saying is that there is a demonic spirit or spirits behind the homosexual behavior. Many people can be delivered from this demonic infestation by casting the devil out in the name of Jesus Christ. That can be done either by a born-again minister or by an individual who makes Jesus Christ his Lord and Savior.
If you are a homosexual and are born again, or want to get born again, you can take authority over the demonic spirits influencing you, and cast them out by the name of Jesus Christ. The devil only submits to the name and authority of Jesus Christ. You can be free from this.
I'm a bible believing-practicing Christian who at some point in my teenage years was heavily attacked by the devil with homosexual thoughts that produced some desire to carry out those things. But when I came to Christ at 20, and after I learned the truth about the devil, I took my authority in Jesus to deal with it. I never struggled with it again. I was literally demon possessed, but now I'm free, Jesus set me free. I'm now married to a woman and can tell you the truth, I'm absolutely free from whatever the devil wanted to do to destroy my life.
I'm not condemming Ted Haggard nor the male prostitute. There is no sin that Jesus did not take to the Cross. Jesus provides forgiveness, cleansing and deliverance for all types of sin, no matter how terrible they are. Jesus doesn't condem homosexuals, even thought homosexuality is a terrible sin that is destroying people's lives.
You see, people don't go to hell for individual sins they commit, they go to hell because of 1 sin and 1 sin only: the rejection of Jesus Christ. You can be a homosexual and a Christian and you will go to heaven, you might get there quicker since you're open to the devil to come to destroy you, not to mention all the diseases you're embracing. But homosexuality will not send you to hell. Rejecting Jesus will send you to hell.
But, if you truly love God, and if the Holy Spirit dwells in you, you will know that homosexuality is a sin and you will want to be free from it. Again, you can take your authority in Christ to cast the devil out in the name of Jesus.
Posted by: Fed | Nov 3, 2006 12:50:05 PM
... said the visitor to a web site crawling with pictures of hot, carnal male flesh ...
Posted by: jeff | Nov 3, 2006 12:55:37 PM
Twink, The Catholic priests with whom I am familiar were hardly "preaching anti-homosexuality every [S]unday at [M]ass". How long has it been since you have been in a church, Twink? I have never heard a priest preach anti-homosexuality. Indeed, there are virtually no readings upon which the sermons are based that would lead to that subject. The Church can be accused (deservedly) of many things but the vast majority of individual priests are not homophobic and would not ever address the issue in a public sermon. I have known many gay and straight Catholic priests and not one has ever preached "anti-homosexuality". It discredits your argument when you cast your net so broadly. Most Catholic priests are exceedingly uncomfortable with the gospel of greed and condemnation preached by the Evangelicals. Your lack of knowledge of theological philosophy is appalling. Condemn those priests who are pedophiles and demand that they be brought to justice but differentiate between criminal activities and theological practice.
Posted by: rudy | Nov 3, 2006 1:01:47 PM
Hey FED,
I think there's a job opening that would be perfect for you. It's at the New Life Church. Go check it out and get off this blog!
Posted by: JR | Nov 3, 2006 1:04:43 PM