Evangelical Leader Accused of Gay Affair Resigns

Associated Press ^ | 11/2/0y | Catherine Tsai

[jamese777]

The Rev. Ted Haggard resigned as president of the influential National Association of Evangelicals on Thursday after being accused of having a sexual affair with a gay man.

Haggard also stepped down as head of his 14,000-member New Life Church pending an investigation by a church panel, 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. In the interim, I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance."

Haggard, a married father of five, denied the allegations in an interview with KUSA-TV late Wednesday: "Never had a gay relationship with anybody, and I'm steady with my wife, I'm faithful to my wife."

Mike Jones, 49, of Denver told the AP that Haggard paid him to have sex nearly every month over three years. His allegations were first aired on KHOW-AM radio in Denver.

[TankerKC]

Does being accused make him guilty? I'm not so sure of that.

Resigning takes me a step closer to believing it.

[Wuli]

Again, you are making the assumption that the accusations are true.

Making that assumption is what the liberals and the LameStreamMedia always hope for, because in their agenda, as Rush says so often, its the severity of the charge, not the accuracy of the evidence that matters.

It should not be a stretch to suspect the possibility (possible, not sure) that the accuser may (I said "may") be part of the libs agenda to supress the votes of the "values-voters", because the Foley story is losing steam and now Kerry's hoof-and-mouth disease is acting up again.

[MP5SD]

Just to clarify.

1. He resigned as President of the Evangelical Association.

2. He placed himself on Administrative Leave as Pastor of the Church until the matter is settled.

I believe the administrative leave was the correct move for a Pastor who cares for the welfare of his congregation.

[11th_VA]

Wow - I'll give him the benefit of doubt, and if there is some truth behind it, and he seeks help, I'll forgive him too.

[Alia]

Yours is my standard response to matters like these.

But not 5 days before an election.

[WVNan]

two-hour broadcast encouraging viewers to make it to the polls and to call their congressional representatives in support of the Federal Marriage Amendment, which would ban same-sex marriages.

Sounds like it could be a setup. How can he prove his innocense if he is? It's his word against another unless the gay guy has film.

[AmericaUnited]

Haggard paid him to have sex nearly every month over three years.

Well this would be very easy to have the queer specify dates and then see if Haggard had alibis for those dates.

[montag813]

Isn't this faggot one of the so-called "evangelicals" to embrace Global Warming? If so, I hope he rots.

[montag813]

Answering my own question...YES, the "Rev" Ted Haggard is one of the fraudulent "evangelicals" who embraced "global warming" and declared in October 2004 that mankind has "a sacred responsibility to steward the Earth and not a license to abuse the creation of which we are a part." Haggard called the environment "a values issue." James Dobson and Chuck Colson said that Haggard had circulated a draft paper calling for the Bush administration to support mandatory limits on carbon dioxide emissions.

I hope this commie faggot fraud rots in hell.

[montag813]

The funny thing is that Haggard was both a fag and a leftie tree hugger...why is the left eating one of their own, their own little mole within the "Christian Right"? Dumb move.

[Diverdogz]

I hope this commie faggot fraud rots in hell.

I can just feel the Christian love radiating from the goodness of your heart.

[MEGoody]

If we're all supposed to celebrate diversity and all that, why does he feel compelled to resign?

Probably just to protect the church from being drug through the mud with him.

[no dems]

If this is true, then, Denny Hastert must resign.

[MEGoody]

I sincerely hope he is innocent, but for him to step down from the leadership of his church and go under the submission of overseers tells me there is something more to the story that he hasn't yet revealed.

Not necessarily. He may well have just wanted to spare the church being dragged through the mud with him.

[dmw]

I sure pray that is the case, I really do.

[AmishDude]

Ha!

[dmw]

Are you always this nonjudgmental? /Sarc

[BLS]

I can understand why he'd step down for the investigation to have the appearance of propiety. Just because a man is accused does not mean he is guilty.

[jamese777]

"I can understand why he'd step down for the investigation to have the appearance of propiety. Just because a man is accused does not mean he is guilty."
I disagree. Resigning is a cut and run strategy. It makes a person appear guilty even if they are innocent. The manly (or womanly) thing to do is stand and fight.

[BLS]

"I hope this commie faggot fraud rots in hell."


It warms my heart that the Lord is not with you in wishing ANYONE goes to hell.