Evangelical Church Leader

[jdobbin]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15536263/

Rev. Ted Haggard has been accused of a gay relationship and buying drugs.

He admits to buying drugs but says he didn't partake. Haggard has been a big supporter of the conservative agenda and Bush supporter. Colorado is about to vote on the gay marriage issue and one of the chief critics against it was seeing a gay man for massages and drugs.

[MightyAC]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15536263/

Rev. Ted Haggard has been accused of a gay relationship and buying drugs.

He admits to buying drugs but says he didn't partake. Haggard has been a big supporter of the conservative agenda and Bush supporter. Colorado is about to vote on the gay marriage issue and one of the chief critics against it was seeing a gay man for massages and drugs.

Sadly, I have a feeling this won't hurt his anti-gay movement that much in the end. Although, I'm fairly certain his "end" was a little sore after leaving the drug dealing, gay man whore, masseur's place.

Initially, Haggard denied even knowing the guy. Then he admits to buying meth and receiving massages from him.

Obviously, the guy is a liar and a hypocrite and likely needs some psychological counseling. Based on my immense knowledge of the human psyche obtained from TV crime dramas I'd say he has been brainwashed by the church from a young age and really believes that homosexuals are depraved, vile, sinners, yet he couldn't fight his genetics and gave into his inborn sexual urges. Now to atone for his belief that he sinned he has championed an army of 30 million plus ultra conservative Christian homophobes. He may feel that even though he is likely gay that his god will forgive him if he makes life miserable for gays in general.

I'd like to believe that this guy will go down in flames and somehow the evil spell he has put on his zombie followers will be broken...but I doubt that will happen. Deprogramming is tough and it takes a long time. Anyway, I'm glad Haggard has been disgraced and maybe, just maybe, a handful of his followers will become a little more liberal (note the small L) in their views and be a little less judgmental of others.

Maybe one day participants of all organized religions around the world will be content to live by their own belief systems without attempting to inflict them upon others.

[scribblet]

He probably will go down in flames, and rightly so what a scumbag.

However, the accuser failed a poly test and it is pretty obvious that the timing of this is suspect.

[jdobbin]

Sadly, I have a feeling this won't hurt his anti-gay movement that much in the end. Although, I'm fairly certain his "end" was a little sore after leaving the drug dealing, gay man whore, masseur's place.

Initially, Haggard denied even knowing the guy. Then he admits to buying meth and receiving massages from him.

He might repent and then be welcomed back in the church with open arms. They like sinners who come back strong against evil like homosexuality and meth.

[jdobbin]

He probably will go down in flames, and rightly so what a scumbag.

However, the accuser failed a poly test and it is pretty obvious that the timing of this is suspect.

His accuser did say the election was part of why he came forward.

The minister did admit some of the story though despite the failed polygraph.

[Who's Doing What?]

I find this funny as hell. Nothing like watching a "Man-of-God" behave no better than a common man.

Now if we could just get other religious leaders to admit they are in it for the money and power, we would be headed in the right direction.

[betsy]

I was watching CTV newsnet and they showed the accuser. He said he wanted to expose the hypocrisy over gay marriage.

How can there be an hypocrisy over gay marraige....since we know that there are homosexuals who do not support gay marriage (meaning the changing of the definition). Unless the pastor had asked him (the accuser) to marry him?

It is hypocritical though of preaching about the sin of sodomy and homosexual acts, and yet he indulges in it.

But in the end, the pastor is only human. Anyone can fall into sin.

I think the church had done the right thing in removing him from that position. Unless I've misread the article, I think he knew who Haggard was way back...otherwise why would he have kept those voice mails?

Quite opportune to come out with it now, isn't it? He may not have blackmailed Haggard....but I wonder if he was paid by other sources to come out at this time?

[jdobbin]

I was watching CTV newsnet and they showed the accuser. He said he wanted to expose the hypocrisy over gay marriage.

How can there be an hypocrisy over gay marraige....since we know that there are homosexuals who do not support gay marriage (meaning the changing of the definition). Unless the pastor had asked him (the accuser) to marry him?

It is hypocritical though of preaching about the sin of sodomy and homosexual acts, and yet he indulges in it.

But in the end, the pastor is only human. Anyone can fall into sin.

I think the church had done the right thing in removing him from that position. Unless I've misread the article, I think he knew who Haggard was way back...otherwise why would he have kept those voice mails?

Quite opportune to come out with it now, isn't it? He may not have blackmailed Haggard....but I wonder if he was paid by other sources to come out at this time?

He saved it till the election. I'm sure the minister will be accepted back later on in a church somewhere.

[betsy]

He saved it till the election. I'm sure the minister will be accepted back later on in a church somewhere.

Maybe. But with a much publicized scandal like this...and with that name tag? It won't be sometime soon....not as a preacher anyway.

As a man, he was already forgiven.

[jdobbin]

Maybe. But with a much publicized scandal like this...and with that name tag? It won't be sometime soon....not as a preacher anyway.

As a man, he was already forgiven.

I don't know. A lot of Christians love a person who repents.

[M.Dancer]

He probably will go down in flames,

Apparently he goes down and he flames.....

[scribblet]

Guess he got his in the end...

[kimmy]

He might repent and then be welcomed back in the church with open arms. They like sinners who come back strong against evil like homosexuality and meth.

Who knows, he might become a big celebrity for doing so. He could attend one of those rehabilitation camps where they cure homosexuality by playing football, watching NASCAR, drinking beer, leaving the toilet seat up, eating chicken wings, and ogling the waitresses at a Hooters restaurant.

Then he could return to work as a newly reformed heterosexual and be living proof that homosexuality is a curable condition.

O'Reilly: "A lot of people watching this are probably skeptical that you're realy cured. A lot of people are probably asking themselves... he lied before, so how can we believe him now?"

Rev. Haggard: "Before, I was duped into the homosexual lifestyle of drugs and massages by the liberal media. But now through the love of our saviour and the healing ministry of the Coach Jones Football and Homosexual Rehabilitation Camp, I lust in my heart for only 3 things: beer, boobies, and righteousness. The good lord baby Jeezus knows that I am speaking the truth."

O'Reilly: "Well, that's good enough for me."

-k

[Shady]

This is the Democrat equivalent of McCain has a black baby. They're trying to suppress the Evangelical vote.

[jdobbin]

This is the Democrat equivalent of McCain has a black baby. They're trying to suppress the Evangelical vote.

What are you saying here? That the pastor was set up?

[scribblet]

This is the Democrat equivalent of McCain has a black baby. They're trying to suppress the Evangelical vote.

This is so true, the timing here was everything, definitely designed to do just that.

[jdobbin]

This is so true, the timing here was everything, definitely designed to do just that.

Just like Saddam's conviction?

[MightyAC]

This is so true, the timing here was everything, definitely designed to do just that.

The timing here was calculated for sure. Haggard was rallying his drones for the Colorado SSM vote.

Still glib comments about timing do not discount the fact that this hypocrite did buy meth and receive massages from a gay, drug dealing, hooker.

The American righteous right was appalled that their president could ding his intern. I wonder how they feel now after following this hypocritical, low-life, criminal.

[jefferiah]

Hmmm. I don't think this case makes any difference in the belief that homosexual marriage is wrong. I know not everyone believes this, but the fact that a person who is anti-gay marriage has lost his reputation has little to do with anything. Let's take a case of something we can all agree is wrong. Since we dont all agree on gay marriage. How about littering. Ok, now lets say you (the reader) have a deep hatred of littering. And you belong to the North American Foundation of Anti-Litterers (fictional group). The President of this foundation is Mrs. Joan Cullingsworth (also fictional). Now you are watching the news one day and you see a breaking news report exposing the "secret lifestyle of excessive littering" Mrs. Cullingsworth has been living behind the scenes. You may call this woman hypocrite. But do you think this would change your views on "Anti-Littering". Would you all of a sudden become pro-littering?

[Who's Doing What?]

This is so true, the timing here was everything, definitely designed to do just that.

Just like Saddam's conviction?

No, more like what the Swiftboat Vets did to John Kerry during the presidential campaign.

What's good for the Republicans is good for the Democrats, I guess.

[scribblet]

The gay prostitute admitted he went to the media at this time, eight states vote on whether to maintain the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman in this coming election - the timing was everything.

The media loves this kind of scandal and is almost unanimous in its support of redefining marriage, he knew the media would be all over this, and so could undermine the movement to maintain the historical definition lf marriage.

I suppose supporters of SSM feel that since they can't radically change one of society's important institutions through intellectual argument or of course the democratic process it would give them some impetous by outing their opponents.

Even if most of SSM opponents turned out to be closet gays it doesn't affect the content or merits of their arguments against it.

[Drea]

Even if most of SSM opponents turned out to be closet gays it doesn't affect the content or merits of their arguments against it.

Such as?....

I just cannot for the life of me figure out why anyone would be against ssm. ("God says so" is not a valid argument) It's not like every heterosexual will all of a sudden become gay.

[scribblet]

Personally I don't care what anyone's G.d' says, I don't agree with changing the defintion of marriage. A civil union or whatever, does not deprive individuals of fundamental rights that marriage normally confers - they are entitled to all benefits etc.

SSM is not a fundamental human right. The UN Commission on Human Rights upheld a New Zealand court decision that same sex marriage is not a basic universal human right. No national or international court or human rights tribunal has ever ruled that same sex marriage is a human right.

However, thats off topic and been rehashed umpteen times. The reason the gay escort spoke out was because of political considerations, a chance to sway voters and change the vote.

[ft.niagara]

Personally I don't care what anyone's G.d' says, I don't agree with changing the defintion of marriage. A civil union or whatever, does not deprive individuals of fundamental rights that marriage normally confers - they are entitled to all benefits etc.

The use of the term ' marriage' instead of 'civil union' to me is another one of the 'in your face' homosexual attacks meant to shock and offend. Homosexual parades, plastic cloths, makeup on men. Stuff that is meant for its shock value. Shock, numb, shock, numb. Pretty soon, the 'establishment norms' are jello. They wiggle when pressed.

[DarkAngel_]

I find this funny as hell. Nothing like watching a "Man-of-God" behave no better than a common man.

Now if we could just get other religious leaders to admit they are in it for the money and power, we would be headed in the right direction.

i agree that it is finaly aparent that many men of god are hipocrates, in almost every church their are roomers of sex, drugs, and over night rapes. i know not all men are like this that are in the church, but i've seen some sick people in the faith do some sick things, so whose responsability is it to uncover this in the church, is it that deep into the faiths?