Accused pastor admits he bought meth

NBC News ^ | 11-3-06 | NBC

[dogbyte12]

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.

[bahblahbah]

It seems like Haggard and the man whore are both lying.

[applpie]

i am one of those evangelicals he supposedly represents and if either of these two "admissions" is correct.....he should be outa there on all counts. that is appalling. a "massage" by an escort? geesh.

although i really wonder where the word on "this" admission came out. i am suspect.

[Fighting Irish]

He admits it's himself on the tape ordering "more" meth like the last time, but says that he keeps ordering it and not using it, and that Jones just gave him a massage.

And this man never inhaled or romped with an intern either.

[Old Professer]

I opened this because it was the only thread among many that had a headline that did what headlines are supposed to do - tell the reader something about the story rather than the subject.

[50sDad]

Screwtape must be laughing his @$$ off, and half a dozen people who looked to this man as an inspiring example of Christ are now sullen, disappointed and lost. We all have our failings. I hope the rest of us are better at admitting them and getting help.

[tioga]

Drugs and sex are two ominous sins. The truth shall set you free.

[dogbyte12]

Yeah but how many gay hookers have you hired to get you the meth and a friendly non sexual massage too? (snark)

[top 2 toe red]

Good Grief!

...and there's still four more days until the election for secrets to get oozing out of all these slimy closets.

[dogbyte12]

lthough i really wonder where the word on "this" admission came out. i am suspect.

He gave this admission to reporters, a pack of them in front of his house. I say that is pretty good sourcing on the story.

[Old Professer]

If you spend your life running around with your petard hanging out, somebody's going to step on it.

[HostileTerritory]

He spoke to Bush once a week as a counselor and has been strongly involved in getting evangelicals active in conservative politics.

[vox_freedom]

He was "tempted" alright, but it wasn't just the Meth or massages. The temptations come from the evil one and repentance is what he should be seeking. BTW, he evidently directly lied yesterday in the interview where he categorically denied even knowing the accuser or connection to Meth.

Perhaps "Pastor Ted" can soon come clean with the TRUTH and spare his family, and us, in having this SCANDAL play out over weeks and months... Maybe he could look up the word "scandal" and truly realize the damage being caused by his denials, duplicity, evident hypocracy, and lies...

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

It's very simple. Even if what he says is true, it is enough that he should be removed from his position, have his credentials removed, and be repudiated by his Church for his activities.

Afterward, his life is between him and God, his family and his friends. If he wishes to be re-credentialed, he should have to go through the whole process with no favoritism offered, but he should never see a place of leadership within the Church again.

Ministers should be held to a higher standard, and for this very reason.

[CindyDawg]

Sad. He needs to do the honorable thing and resign. I disagree with the above poster that you have to have done something to be tempted because temptation is where it begins but even if all is as he says, he needs to quit and get his life straightened out before leading others.

[Vasilli22]

Did the massage have a "happy ending"?

[Dante3]

Just maybe MSNBC wants to divert from Kerry and from Webb's child porn writing? In one poll, 36% of voters were troubled by what Webb wrote and then the plagiarizing charges surfaced.

[P-Marlowe]

Screwtape must be laughing his @$$ off, and half a dozen people who looked to this man as an inspiring example of Christ are now sullen, disappointed and lost.

Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:5-8 KJV)

[GraniteStateConservative]

Did the massage have a "happy ending"?

This phrase isn't usually my cup of tea, but "Ewwww."

[Asclepius]

"I bought it for myself but never used it," Haggard told reporters gathered outside his home.

Crystal meth!? Crystal meth is not typically a gateway drug like pot or alchohol. You don't just leap from using nothing to suddenly procuring crystal meth. And who procures crystal meth and doesn't do something with it?--I mean maybe he didn't use it himself. Maybe he traded it for sex form someone who genuinely is tempted by crystal meth.

[tacticalogic]

If you spend your life running around with your petard hanging out, somebody's going to step on it.

In the case of a petard, they're more likely to spark it up for you.