Key Evangelical Quits Amid Gay Sex Claim

Karin · #1 Nov 3, '06, 5:08 am

The president of the National Association of Evangelicals, an outspoken opponent of gay marriage, has given up his post while a church panel investigates allegations he paid a man for sex.The Rev. Ted Haggard resigned as president of the 30 million-member association Thursday after being accused of paying the man for monthly trysts over the past three years.

http://www.optonline.net/News/Articl...cle%3D20054099

Kendy · #2 Nov 3, '06, 5:31 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karin

The president of the National Association of Evangelicals, an outspoken opponent of gay marriage, has given up his post while a church panel investigates allegations he paid a man for sex.The Rev. Ted Haggard resigned as president of the 30 million-member association Thursday after being accused of paying the man for monthly trysts over the past three years.

http://www.optonline.net/News/Articl...cle%3D20054099

I feel terrible for him.

Karin · #3 Nov 3, '06, 5:32 am

Will be interesting to see if the MSM makes a big deal out of this...I mean he is not Catholic...so will the news coverage etc. drop after today?

steveandersen · #4 Nov 3, '06, 6:05 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karin

Will be interesting to see if the MSM makes a big deal out of this...I mean he is not Catholic...so will the news coverage etc. drop after today?

Why would it be dropped because he's not Catholic?

Remember the feeding fests over Jim & Tammy Faye or Swaggart?

The sinning preacher is always grist for the mill. Especially when he’s essentially hoisted by his own petard as this guy was.

deb1 · #5 Nov 3, '06, 6:12 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveandersen

Why would it be dropped because he's not Catholic?

Remember the feeding fests over Jim & Tammy Faye or Swaggart?

The sinning preacher is always grist for the mill. Especially when he’s essentially hoisted by his own petard as this guy was.

People under a certain age might not recall the Bakers or Swaggert.

Boy, have I just aged myself.

Karin · #6 Nov 3, '06, 6:14 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by deb1

People under a certain age might not recall the Bakers or Swaggert.

Boy, have I just aged myself.

Oh geez..I totally forgot about them...how anybody can forget Tammy Faye and her makeup

is beyond me

steveandersen · #7 Nov 3, '06, 6:28 am

What’s the old saying?

"When the preacher pounds the pulpit it is his sin."

**estesbob** · #8 Nov 3, '06, 7:11 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by deb1

People under a certain age might not recall the Bakers or Swaggert.

Boy, have I just aged myself.

When Tammy Baker cried it made grooves in the heavy makeup she was wearing.

**Holly3278** · #9 Nov 3, '06, 3:06 pm

How horrible. I feel sorry for the man in a way but he should have known better.

Kendy · #10 Nov 3, '06, 4:36 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Karin

Will be interesting to see if the MSM makes a big deal out of this...I mean he is not Catholic...so will the news coverage etc. drop after today?

I think the media hates evangelicals at least as much as they hate catholics, if not more.

kim3260 · #11 Nov 4, '06, 8:13 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kendy

I think the media hates evangelicals at least as much as they hate catholics, if not more.

I agree, where I live most people are Baptist, Evangelicals, or other Christians Religions, very few Catholics, They do refer to them as "Religious Right Wing Nut Jobs"

I seen and hear it too much.
Past few years it was Catholic Priest bashing, this year is any Republican or Christian they can find. It time for them to look in their own closets

steveandersen · #12 Nov 4, '06, 9:01 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by kim3260

I agree, where I live most people are Baptist, Evangelicals, or other Christians Religions, very few Catholics, They do refer to them as "Religious Right Wing Nut Jobs"

I seen and hear it too much.

What kind of press outlets are you reading that say "Religious Right Wing Nut Jobs"

Sure, maybe morning radio hosts or comedy central but I don't think any real, responsible outlet would speak that way.

You’re more likely to hear Limbaugh or someone of his ilk say" Atheist Left Wing Nut Jobs"

Quote:

Originally Posted by kim3260

Past few years it was Catholic Priest bashing, this year is any Republican or Christian they can find. It time for them to look in their own closets

Traditionally the party in power has always been a target regardless of who it is.
When that party goes to great length to identify itself as the party of family values then this type of story is naturally going to get a lot of press.

St John · #13 Nov 4, '06, 10:07 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by steveandersen

What kind of press outlets are you reading that say "Religious Right Wing Nut Jobs"

Sure, maybe morning radio hosts or comedy central but I don't think any real, responsible outlet would speak that way.

You’re more likely to hear Limbaugh or someone of his ilk say" Atheist Left Wing Nut Jobs"

Traditionally the party in power has always been a target regardless of who it is.
When that party goes to great length to identify itself as the party of family values then this type of story is naturally going to get a lot of press.

Good point Steve. The Bible holds preachers to a higher standard. Yes, it was extremely hypocritical for Jimmy Swaggart, who used to rail on and on about the evils of rock and roll, to then get caught with a cheap prostitute who supposedly got paid to watch him masturbate, if I remember the story correctly.

If this Haggard was "pounding the pulpit" as you say about homosexuality, then it turns out that he himself was dabbling in it on the side, then there's something wrong here. It makes religious people look like total fools who live in glass houses.

deb1 · #14 Nov 3, '06, 5:53 am

Its a tragedy and I feel sad for the entie evangelical community who might get tarred in the same manner as Catholics do for those few priest who are guilty of sexual abuse.

At the same time, I do think that people who are acting in a hypocritical manner have a tendency for their crimes to come to light.

Karin · #15 Nov 5, '06, 10:15 am

Ousted Evangelist Confesses to Followers
"I am so sorry for the circumstances that have caused shame and embarrassment for all of you," he said, adding that he had confused the situation by giving inconsistent remarks to reporters denying the scandal.
"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.