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In an e-mail obtained by NEWSCHANNEL 13, former New Life Church Pastor Ted Haggard admits to sexual contact with a gay escort and using drugs. This is the first public revelation of what Haggard claims is the full story of what happened between him and his accuser, Mike Jones. Haggard sent the e-mail to close family friend Kurt Serpe back in October. In it, he writes: "I was referred to Mike Jones from the concierge at a Marriott hotel when I asked for a masseur." The e-mail then becomes more detailed and sexual in nature.

Ted Haggard is back in Colorado Springs. It sits behind a gated entrance on 5.1 acres two miles from the 14,000-member megachurch Haggard originally founded in his basement. He was asked to leave in late 2006 after admitting to unspecified "sexual immorality." The confession came after he first denied knowing a former male prostitute from Denver who claimed Haggard paid him for sex nearly every month for three years. He was named one of the 25 most influential evangelicals in the nation by Time magazine in 2005. After his ouster, Haggard was given a severance package that paid his salary...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- More than a year after former pastor Ted Haggard resigned from his position at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Haggard has severed his official relationship with the New Life Church Restoration Team. The megachurch said Tuesday Haggard has prematurely ended a "spiritual restoration" process begun when he was fired for sexual misconduct. Haggard was the church's senior founding pastor. In November 2006, he was fired from New Life Church and resigned as head of the National Association of Evangelicals amid allegations he had an affair with a male prostitute. The man also said he...

Among the items in Norman Hsu's personal collection of Clinton memorabilia: CDs of presentations made by Hillary Clinton as well as an envelope of thank-you notes from the Democratic presidential front-runner... One envelope was devoted to letters from New York Sen. Clinton, thanking Mr. Hsu, who was one of her biggest fund-raisers. The Clinton campaign has said it would return to donors the money Mr. Hsu helped raise. Mr. Hsu had several CDs and a video of Mrs. Clinton giving presentations in New York. Another CD was entitled "Merle Haggard Hillary." Mr. Haggard wrote a song for Sen. Clinton earlier...

Disgraced pastor Ted Haggard won't be fundraising for a Monument nonprofit run by a sex offender, won't be ministering to anyone and needs to get a job, his overseers said in a statement released Wednesday. "Mr. Haggard's solicitation for personal support was inappropriate," his church supervisors said. The statement came one day after the four-member team of ministers responsible for overseeing the spiritual restoration of Haggard met with him in Phoenix.

DALLAS -- Nine months after influential US evangelist Ted Haggard was disgraced in a gay sex scandal, the man poised to take his place in the pulpit says he plans to steer clear of overt politics and focus on the Bible instead. "I believe Christians need to be good citizens. . . . But I will not take near the active political role that Ted did," Brady Boyd, recommended by a search committee to be the new senior pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, said in an interview. Haggard, a vocal critic of gay marriage, was forced from...

A Week After Ann Coulter Episode, 'Law & Order' to Air Haggard-Inspired Plot Posted by Brent Baker on February 9, 2007 - 16:27. A week after NBC's Law & Order aired an episode revolving around an Ann Coulter-like character (NewsBusters item with video) whose anti-embryonic stem cell research position so angered a student suffering from Parkinson's disease that he tried to kill her (but his gunshot kills an innocent student), tonight's (Friday) episode is inspired by the Ted Haggard case -- though with the added twist of murder. From TV Guide.com: “A popular reverend is suspected of a gay actor's...

Ted Haggard, founder and former senior pastor of New Life Church, plans to leave Colorado Springs and move to Iowa or Missouri to return to college, according to a message he e-mailed Sunday to some church members. Haggard’s family has been “offered two places” in the Midwestern states, Haggard wrote. He and his wife, Gayle, will go back to school together, but Haggard didn’t specify what college or university they would attend. “We are both planning on getting our masters in Psychology so we can work together serving others the rest of our lives,” Haggard wrote. The nationally known minister...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - The former male prostitute whose accusations against New Life Church founder Ted Haggard led to Haggard's dismissal as pastor has paid a visit to the megachurch. Mike Jones, who has a forthcoming book, told The Denver Post that several people shook his hand during the visit Sunday and told him, "God bless you." "I had read a lot about the church, but there's nothing like seeing it for yourself," Jones told the paper. "It wasn't to rub anyone's face in it by any means. I was wanting to get some perspective, to see where they...

Animal rights crusader PETA is looking for a new preacher. The organization had arranged for Ted Haggard, the Colorado Springs evangelical pastor disgraced by accusations of soliciting gay sex from a prostitute, to narrate a 15-minute PETA slaughterhouse video called "What Would Jesus Do?" The video was to appear on peta.org and be widely distributed to the evangelical community. It was to show graphic slaughterhouse conditions of chickens, turkeys, cattle, calves and pigs. Haggard had agreed to narrate the piece. The script, obtained by this column, has Haggard saying things like, "Of all God's creatures, chickens and turkeys are the...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- A pastor who worked with young adults at New Life Church has admitted sexual misconduct and resigned just weeks after former church leader Ted Haggard stepped down over sexual immorality. Christopher Beard, who headed the "twentyfourseven" ministry that taught leadership skills to young adults, resigned Friday, said Rob Brendle, an associate pastor at the 14,000-member church. Brendle said Beard told church officials about "a series of decisions displaying poor judgment, including one incident of sexual misconduct several years ago." The church said in a statement that the misconduct was with another unmarried adult several years ago....

What’s the worst thing that could happen to an evangelical leader who has been an outspoken critic of the homosexual agenda? You’d think it would be a scandal involving the services of a gay prostitute. But Ted Haggard, recently departed head of the National Association of Evangelicals, managed to top even that. In Haggard’s case, it appears that his favorite male prostitute was also his drug dealer. Many in the evangelical community are wringing their hands, wondering how such a thing could happen. It’s the wrong question. We live in a fallen world and have fallen natures, and we face...

Members of the church once led by evangelical minister Ted Haggard met Tuesday to elect the members of a committee that will help choose his successor. Members of New Life Church elected three men and three women to join the church’s three most senior staffers on the committee, including Haggard’s temporary replacement, Ross Parsley, church secretary-treasurer Brad Fallentine said in the announcement. The committee will recommend a candidate to replace Haggard as senior pastor to the church’s overseers board. If approved, the candidate will be asked to preach at the 14,000-member church for three weeks and then the whole congregation...

Time for some Political Tidbits and of course we have an midterm election 2006 rant. Also, Rosie on terror, Maher "outs" major Republican, Haggard's REAL problem, Rush Limbaugh's "confession", and a winner in this year's midterms that is bound to shock.

Well, another preacher has been caught, if not with his pants down, at least with his zipper down. Dr. Ted Haggard, pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs and President of the National Association of Evangelicals admitted to getting a massage from a homosexual man and purchasing meth (which is supposed to heighten sexual activity). However, he declares that he didn’t inhale, snort or swallow, or whatever one does with the very dangerous methamphetamine. Ted, a very talented preacher, first declared that no sex was involved but no one with the IQ of a stump believed that fairy...

Will Pastor Ted's love of hot man sex open the narrow mind of the religious right? Let's assume it's all true. Let's assume that Ted Haggard is just deliriously, stupidly, crazyjuicy gay. I know, not much of a stretch, but let's go with it. Yes, Pastor Ted, disgraced former leader of 30 million blithely homophobic evangelical Christians, yet another of those flamboyant semi-insane Liberace-with-a-Bible megachurch preachers, a man who had weekly conference calls with George W. Bush, a man who lobbied Congress on behalf of homophobic Supreme Court nominees, . . .

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 7) - Citing a lack of time, Focus on the Family founder James Dobson withdrew Tuesday from the team overseeing counseling for the Rev. Ted Haggard, the evangelical pastor who was fired amid allegations of gay sex and drug use. "Emotionally and spiritually, I wanted to be of help - but the reality is I don't have the time to devote to such a critical responsibility," Dobson said. The other two members of the team, Pastors Jack Hayford of The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, Calif., and Tommy Barnett of First Assembly of God...

Don’t take the wrong lesson from Ted Haggard’s fall.The meaning of evangelical leader Ted Haggard’s downfall needs to be well understood by religious conservatives, lest the tragedy be compounded. The pain that has befallen the man — now resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals — along with his family and church is the consequence of his poor decisions. What would be worse than his personal destruction, however, is if the side of the culture war that Haggard ably fought against in his public life were allowed to define his sins as a final proof that religious conservatism...

Sometimes it seems that the folks at Google News have an agenda. Nah, I'm probably just toosensitive.This is a screen capture from this morning. The linkable picture was a dead link. They must not have enjoyed the rising Republican poll numbers...Just found it an interesting choice of headline/picture combo.A_R

Nov. 03, 2006: Hypocrites? A sensational but to-date unsubstantiated allegation has been hurled at a major American religious figure. On much of the left, the reaction is gleeful delight: See! He is no better than anybody else! In my mind, however, this story highlights a widespread moral assumption that I have never been able to understand. Consider the hypothetical case of two men. Both are inclined toward homosexuality. Both from time to time hire the services of male prostitutes. Both have occasionally succumbed to drug abuse. One of them marries, raises a family, preaches Christian principles, and tries generally to...

To my New Life Church family: I am so sorry. I am sorry for the disappointment, the betrayal, and the hurt. I am sorry for the horrible example I have set for you. I have an overwhelming, all-consuming sadness in my heart for the pain that you and I and my family have experienced over the past few days. I am so sorry for the circumstances that have caused shame and embarrassment to all of you. I asked that this note be read to you this morning so I could clarify my heart's condition to you. The last four days...

"Less than 24 hours after he was fired from the pulpit of the evangelical megachurch he founded, the Rev. Ted Haggard confessed to his followers Sunday that he was guilty of sexual immorality." "The fact is I am guilty of sexual immorality. And I take responsibility for the entire problem. I am a deceiver and a liar. There's a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I have been warring against it for all of my adult life," he said." " Haggard, 50, had acknowledged on Friday that he paid Mike Jones of Denver for a...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Reuters) - Disgraced U.S. evangelist Ted Haggard, a vocal opponent of gay marriage, said on Sunday that he was guilty of "sexual immorality" and that he had long battled with a "repulsive" side of his life. "I am guilty of sexual immorality, I am a deceiver and a liar. There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark and I've been warring against it my entire adult life", Haggard said in a letter that was read to his New Life Church in Colorado Springs by a church overseer.

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."

Just as the Dow Jones has hit a new high, the 'Dowd' Jones has reached a new low. In her pay-to-read column this morning, Maureen Dowd of the New York Times analogizes the relationship of Vice-President Cheney and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld to that of preacher Ted Haggard and a male prostitute.Setting the titillating tone with her headline, "A Wartime Love Story", Dowd writes: At the heart of every administration, there is one relationship above all others that shapes history . . . W. is the hood ornament, but Cheney & Rummy are the chitty chitty bang bang engine of this...

The alleged phone calls always came from a public phone. Area code 719. Hundred-dollar bills allegedly arrived in an envelope with a single name, "Art," where the return address should be. Michael Jones claims the calls and the money were for drug-fueled gay sexual encounters with Colorado Springs pastor Ted Haggard...(Jones) He said he decided to come out with his story before the election to influence voters.

The Reverend Rob Schenck, president of the Evangelical dominated National Clergy Council in Washington, DC, and chairman of the Committee on Church and Society for the Evangelical Church Alliance, America's oldest association of Evangelical clergy, released this statement today on the resignation of the Reverend Ted Haggard from the presidency of the National Association of Evangelicals: "Ted Haggard has denied the allegations made against him. So far, there is only one accuser. The Bible says no man is to be condemned on the testimony of a single accuser. We must prayerfully wait out the investigative process and continue to judge...

It stinks. I'm sure that is the initial response of most people of faith and family values. However, for the secular Left it's an "ah hah!" moment of glee.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Rev. Ted Haggard admitted Friday he bought methamphetamine and received a massage from a gay prostitute who claims he was paid for drug-fueled trysts by the former head of the National Association of Evangelicals. "I bought it for myself but never used it," Haggard told reporters gathered outside his home. "I was tempted, but I never used it." Haggard, 50, said he never had sex with Mike Jones, a 49-year-old Denver man who raised the allegations this week. Haggard said he received a massage from Jones after being referred to him by a Denver hotel.

"A sudden about-face in the scandal facing New Life Church's pastor. After Pastor Ted Haggard went public Wednesday night denying allegations of a homosexual affair, senior church officials told KKTV 11News Thursday evening, Pastor Ted Haggard has admitted to some of the claims made by a former male escort. The church's Acting Senior Pastor, Ross Parsley, tells KKTV 11 News that Pastor Haggard has admitted to some of the indiscretions claimed by Mike Jones, but not all of them."

COLORADO SPRINGS — The Rev. Ted Haggard stepped aside as senior pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church and resigned today as president of the National Association of Evangelicals amid allegations by a former gay male escort that the two had a three-year sexual relationship. The church issued a statement saying Haggard "could not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations made on Denver talk radio this morning." Haggard has said that the escort is lying. The statement said he placed himself on administrative leave pending investigation, spiritual counsel, and a decision by the church’s board of...

The president of the U.S. National Association of Evangelicals, who has had regular talks with the White House and vocally opposes gay marriage, resigned on Thursday after being accused of having a sexual relationship with a male escort. Ted Haggard, who denied the accusation, also temporarily stepped down as senior pastor of the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, the church said in a statement....

BOOK REVIEW & DISCUSSION: Ain't Got No Cigarettes: Memories of Music Legend Roger Miller By Lyle E Style "It's an endless story about Roger. He was one of the cleverest people I've ever met in my life." (Waylon Jennings) This is my own review of Ain't Got No Cigarettes, the first Roger Miller book ever published. My review is based on reading the book (twice) and having several discussions with Lyle E Style, the author. He may stop by later to answer questions (as his schedule allows). This one is a must-read, folks. And for you radio personalities who...

The Dixie Chicks appear to be more popular than the president these days. President Bush's approval rating has plummeted, but the Chicks are on top of the pop and country charts with their first album since publicly criticizing Bush three years ago. They did it without the support of country radio, which largely ignored the Dixie Chicks after lead singer Natalie Maines told a London audience in 2003 that the group was ashamed Bush was from their home state of Texas. The new album, "Taking the Long Way," took the No. 1 spot Wednesday on the country albums chart and...

"Rednecks & Bluenecks" is a new book about the politics of country musicians, from Cash and Haggard to the Dixie Chicks and Brooks & Dunn to Steve Earle and Sara Evans. I put up a review of this from the American Conservative the other day, and it turned out not to have a working link. But this one I found from Reason is both linkable and interesting. The One On the Right Was On the Left... The political puzzle of country music By Jesse Walker The surprise tour of last year—a surprise, that is, to anyone whose worldview froze around...

Fellow Americans, there comes a time every mans life when we must give up ourselves before we are worthy to recieve. There comes a time in this war on terror when in order to protect liberty, we have to give it up in the mean time for safty. That's right folks. Today, Americans have forsaken the creator for the creation and have decided that they would value our "civil liberties" than protecting western civilization and rich white people from the tender mercies of radical Islamic terrorists. Selfish liberals insist and whine that Bush has no right to spy on Americans...

The acclaim surrounding Johnny Cash and the recent hit biopic about him—Walk the Line, whose two leads, Joaquin Phoenix as Cash and Reese Witherspoon as his wife June Carter, are up for Golden Globe awards Monday night in Beverly Hills—raises a question. Why has Cash stood out for Hollywood from the ranks of country singers, most of whom mainstream popular culture dismisses and parodies as musically unsophisticated rednecks? Granted, Cash’s life story is filled with film-worthy drama: the Arkansas cotton farmer’s son who becomes a star, records with Elvis, but must overcome drug addiction, a marital break-up, and a series...

After reading all of the crap that people have been saying regarding Adult Private Social Clubs, I felt that I had to post an article and give my opinion. I am sick and tired of all the religous groups that are saying that there are drugs, prostitution, minors, non-consenting people, and just immoral people at these clubs! First of all, who do these people think they are to decide what is morally right or wrong for me? I believe that I have a good set of morals. I am a law abiding, tax paying citizen, I work full time and...

A senior representative of America's evangelical Christians is to make an attempt to set up a meeting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The Rev Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, wants to distance American Christians from the remarks of a tele-evangelist. Pat Robertson earlier this week called for Mr Chavez to be assassinated. The US State Department called his remarks "inappropriate" and Mr Robertson later apologised for them. Mr Haggard says he wants to meet Mr Chavez face to face and apologise for Mr Robertson's remarks. He also wants to secure assurances about the safety of American...

To praise Kerry... or to bury him? by Mia T, 1.27.04 After spending the best part of a year listening to the Democrats' strolling minstrels strumming their way round the White Mountains, I'm staggered by how little any of them have to say. If you go to a Kerry rally &endash; something of an oxymoron, but let that pass &endash; the senator's stump speech is a karaoke tape of floppo populist boilerplate. If he'd downloaded it for free from the internet, that'd be one thing. Instead, he paid a small fortune to hotshot consultant Bob Shrum, who promptly faxed...

Here's the letter I wrote to Hag in response to his anti-Bush comments: Merle- I think you have a lot of talent, and you're staying power speaks for itself. I also think your hope to find WMD, Saddam and Osama is shared by all Americans, but the tone of your comments was way out of line. I got the feeling by this and a previous comment that you don't like the fella in the White House, and you're entitled to that. I know you're a pal of Jimmy Carter. I think Americans were more afraid during his four messed up...