It’s just plain rotten to kick someone when they’re down but I can’t help myself when I hear news like this. Ted Haggard is one of the top evangelical leaders in the US, an outspoken opponent to gay marriage and a personal friend of the Focus on the Family chump we know and love, James Dobson. He’s just been accused of buying drugs and having gay sex with a male prostitute. What a day: the news media are ruining poor Kerry simply because he forget to add a few words to the end of a joke written by his staff and Ted Haggard is fessing up to some of what his accuser is saying regarding the drugs and sex – wow!
Ted also said “I bought drugs from him but threw them away”. He also said that he never had sex with the accuser, just a little man on man massage. Hmm, sound’s somewhat gay to me! The problem with wankers like this is that they are directly responsible for Bush being in power due to the clout they have with their congregations. By day, preaching hell and brimstone from the pulpit and by night doing drugs and getting some back door action. He’s also furthering the stereotype that gay men are all a bunch of male prostitutes. Reminds me of Foley who’s excuse for liking young boys was simply that he was gay!
This whole thing is really getting me riled up today. Shame on you Ted Haggard and James Dobson, you hypocrites! Take the planks out of your own eyes before you stir up hate in others. This is a good lesson for the sheep who blindly agree with what those in power or at the pulpit say. Question your leaders, whoever they are, question what is going on in Iraq or in your church. Now I’ve got that off my chest ……. Also, what the hell is he doing taking meth a nasty drug made from horrible chemicals, what the hell is wrong with da herb man!
I guess we should feel sorry for the man, 5 kids and a poor wife who is probably asking herself what is wrong with her that he has to get sexual pleasure from another man. Of course you know that he’ll blame the entire thing on Satan and ask for his sins to be thrown into “God’s sea of forgetfulness”!
UPDATE, Nov 4th press release from New Life Church:
We, the Overseer Board of New Life Church, have concluded our deliberations concerning the moral failings of Pastor Ted Haggard. Our investigation and Pastor Haggard’s public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct.
The language of our church bylaws state that as Overseers we must decide in cases where the Senior Pastor has “demonstrated immoral conduct” whether we must “remove the pastor from his position or to discipline him in any way they deem necessary.” In consultation with leading evangelicals and experts familiar with the type of behavior Pastor Haggard has demonstrated, we have decided that the most positive and productive direction for our church is his dismissal and removal.
In addition, the Overseers will continue to explore the depth of Pastor Haggard’s offense so that a plan of healing and restoration can begin.
Pastor Haggard and his wife have been informed of this decision. They have agreed as well that he should be dismissed and that a new pastor for New Life Church should be selected according to the rules of replacement in the bylaws.
That process will begin immediately in hopes that a new pastor can be confirmed by the end of the year 2006. In the interim, Ross Parsley will function as the leader of the church with full support of the Overseers. A letter of explanation and apology by Pastor Haggard as well as a word of incouragement from Gayle Haggard will be read in the 9:00 and 11:00 service of New Life
Church.
I found this great article in Harpers Magazine on Ted’s New Life Church.