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.

[MineralMan]

"He denied having sex with Jones, just stated that he let Jones give him massages.
"

It all depends on your definition of what "massage" means, I suppose.

It's off to the rehab center for Haggard. Good place to hide out until this all blows (oops) over. After the election, nobody will care about Haggard. He can come back, make his "amends" and get back behind the microphone. A few tears will help, I guess.

Haggard, Swaggart...kinda poetic, in a way, huh?

[middie]

He should do the honorable thing ---Hara-Kiri

[tacticalogic]

He's not running for office, but I gather that there is some kind of "defense of marriage" proposition on the ballot in Colorado, and Ted Haggard has come out strong in favor of it, so I guess it is politically relevant in Colorado, at least. Another reason it "matters" to a lot of people is that this guy is a heavy hitter in the evangelical world, not just some unknown local pastor; as head of the NAE, etc., he's a powerful guy. There have also been reports that he's pretty tight with the White House, has a lot of access to Bush and/or his advisors, so there's that angle too, I guess.

Sometimes I see a little more enthusiasm for mixing religion and politics than I think is wise. Politics is a messy business, and I don't think you can bring the Church into politics and expect to keep politics out of the Church.

[twigs]

You may be right. But it seems to me that massages are not sex. That they are on the way to havinag gay sex, absolutely, and he was certainly on the wrong path. I just don't have enough info yet to make a determination on whether gay sex was a part of his sin pattern. Either scenario would not surprise me.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

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.

No kidding. I'm not at all religious and dabbled with various substances when I was younger, but crystal meth? Way too hard-core.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Right up there with "the dog ate my homework".

[Siena Dreaming]

over his attempts to Bush global warming on Bush

Was this the high-profile evangelical who was an advocate for Al Gore's global warming policy? I remember reading about him (I didn't remember his name).

Sheesh. How could evangelicals let this guy into top leadership?

[irishlass]

I became an Evangelical Christian 25 Years Ago. At that time, I was given great advice from an elderly lady in the church, and I have followed this advice all along. She told me, "Don't look at other Christians as your example, always and only look at Jesus." I have followed it and have never been disappointed.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Removes those tough stains too. LOL

[I'm ALL Right!]

He's a Christian - the MSM hate's Christians. He is the head of a huge Christian organization = political power. I am guessing that if he were, say, Muslim this wouldn't make the news at all. (Not defending him, just making an observation.)

[jdm]

Gay sex and meth? How does this even happen?

Don't ever ask for a #13 at a McDonald's drive-thru. /sarc

[blue-duncan]

"But in his defense, I must say that I have bought a lot of stuff I've never used.

I have a cupboard filled with all manner of canned vegetables that are older than some of my grown children."

I cornered the market on plastic sheets and duct tape after 9-11 and I have a hurricane shelf packed with Dinty Moore Stew and Spam in case we have a hurricane. The water bottles sprung leaks so I might get caught short there along with toilet paper.

[BLS]

"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."

It's really too bad. I wish him and his family peace and Gods' grace to get through this. They are going to need it.

[freeagle]

Amen

[opinionator]

[penelopesire]

I suppose you are right, but it just doesn't matter that much to me. Just looks like the press trying to embarrass conservatives and our President right before an election yet again! Please excuse me if I don't get all hot and bothered by this story (wink). Thanks for the info though.

[r9etb]

The funny part is that a well known side effect of meth is that it will cause, uh.., shrinkage. It will shrivel up your manhood ...

The damning part, though, is that crystal meth is apparently highly valued among promiscuous homosexuals because it supposedly enhances stamina and intensity. I suspect there's more than a massage involved.

[Paulus Invictus]

The whole story smells as a political move by the leftist media to have the news come out just before the election in an attempt to dissuade possibly demotivated evangelicals from voting. The media had the story months ago and just now it comes out? The hugely immoral pastor is toast and the homos get another media boost.

[twigs]

That's right. These sins do not make him less a Christian. That's determined by what is in his heart. All of us sin. I can't help but think he was headed down a terrible road and God is preventing him now through this public revelation. But I really don't know that. His excuse that he didn't use the meth, yet ordered it a second time, is weak.

[WalterSkinner]

..I am thankful that a tragic story like this was held back-- so not to effect the upcoming election </sarcasm>