Pastor Ted Haggard accused of having gay encounters with a male prostitute

[PELarson]

Originally posted by: slash196
If he was an openly gay, gay-friendly democrat, I would support him. It's not the gay part, it's the hypocrisy part.

:thumbsup:

 

[jhu]

Originally posted by: slash196
If he was an openly gay, gay-friendly democrat, I would support him. It's not the gay part, it's the hypocrisy part.

i as well, except for the infidelity part

 

[extra]

Actually I'll defend him anyway--I think he should have the right to have gay sex if he wants..Even with a *gasp* prostitute! and to use drugs if he wants. AND then to go out and say something totally different if he wants. It's America.. And that means you can do stuff that is sleazy and wrong as long as it isn't hurting anyone else!

and guess, what I'm Christian.

HOWEVER, he has no right to complain when people call him out for the hypocrit that he is! He has no room to complain when he gets fired from his job, loses credibility, gets made fun of by gay-haters, gets made fun of by gays, anything. It's his life to ruin--and if these allegations are true, then his life SHOULD be ruined for all practical purposes. No one should trust him again for a very long time.

Just like most of us didn't care about the drugs themselves that Rush used. It was that he was a hypocrit and said that other people should go to prison for them, then he himself did not.

I resent that ProfJohn thinks I would say something different regarding if the guy was in a different political camp. Hypocrisy is legal, you can do it, but don't complain when your life gets ruined when you get found out.

For this guy, lets wait to see what truth there is to the allegations.

 

[LEDominator]

He has only been accused... I love how people start assuming instantly... the article says he resigned because thats what the charter calls for in a situation like this. I think we should see what happens before judging this guy.

 

[Aegeon]

Originally posted by: LEDominator
He has only been accused... I love how people start assuming instantly... the article says he resigned because thats what the charter calls for in a situation like this. I think we should see what happens before judging this guy.

This is false. He apparently was forced to temperarily step down from his Pastorship due to this reason, but there was no good reason he needed to outright resign (which is different than temperarily stepping down) as President of the National Association of Evangelicals. (Which is a seperate organization by the way.) The only plausible explanation I see for this action is that he knows he is guilty and those tapes the gay escort has are going to be highly incriminating.

 

[LEDominator]

Under the church's governing structure, a board of overseers made up of four senior pastors of other congregations will lead the inquiry, with the power to discipline or remove Haggard or restore him to the pulpit, the statement said.

from cnn.com http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/02/haggard.allegations/index.html

 

[Aegeon]

Originally posted by: LEDominator

Under the church's governing structure, a board of overseers made up of four senior pastors of other congregations will lead the inquiry, with the power to discipline or remove Haggard or restore him to the pulpit, the statement said.

from cnn.com http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/11/02/haggard.allegations/index.html

Yes, but this has nothing whatsoever to do with him actually outright resigning as the as President of the National Association of Evangelicals, which is an entirely seperate organization and position than what you quoted the rules for, which is referring to his pastorship at the New Life Church.

Basically that explains why he temperarily stepped down from his pastorship, but not permantly stepping down as President of the National Association of Evangelicals.

 

[LEDominator]

ah, I see what you are saying now. Even still I'd rather wait a bit and see how it plays out.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: LEDominator
ah, I see what you are saying now. Even still I'd rather wait a bit and see how it plays out.

If he's innocent, god will save him right?

 

[CrazyHelloDeli]

It is a much easier task to convince others of your beliefs then it is to convince oneself of said beliefs.

 

[LEDominator]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: LEDominator
ah, I see what you are saying now. Even still I'd rather wait a bit and see how it plays out.

If he's innocent, god will save him right?

lol, well, thereotically he is saved either way according to John

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
You know this looks bad and all, but if this was a Democrat you would all be defending him.

Democrats don't preach the "party of morality" line like Republicans do.

 

[ProfJohn]

Originally posted by: Lothar

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
You know this looks bad and all, but if this was a Democrat you would all be defending him.

Democrats don't preach the "party of morality" line like Republicans do.

This guy is not a Republican though. He is a Pastor. He is NOT running for anything.
His failing is a personal failing, not a failing of the Republican Party.

 

[senseamp]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn

Originally posted by: Lothar

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
You know this looks bad and all, but if this was a Democrat you would all be defending him.

Democrats don't preach the "party of morality" line like Republicans do.

This guy is not a Republican though. He is a Pastor. He is NOT running for anything.
His failing is a personal failing, not a failing of the Republican Party.

It's a failure of the social conservative movement. They think they are somehow morally superior, when in fact they have the same failings as everyone else, they just keep them in the closet and live pretty lies.

 

[shira]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Look at what happened when we found out that Barney Franks' roommate/lover was running a prostitution ring out of Franks house. Was there some big outcry over that? NO.

You think the two situations are analogous? Really???

Excerpt from Wikipedia article on Barney Frank

In 1990, the House voted to reprimand Frank when it was revealed that Steve Gobie, a male prostitute that Rep. Frank had befriended after hiring him through a personal advertisement, claimed to have conducted a prostitution ring from Frank's apartment when he was not at home. Frank had dismissed Gobie earlier that year, and reported the incident to the House Ethics Committee, after learning of Gobie's activities. After an investigation, the House Ethics Committee found no evidence that Frank had known of or been involved in the alleged illegal activity.[1]

That reprimand, by the way, was for fixing Gobie's parking tickets. Period.

So let's compare:

Frank broke no laws, had no knowledge of the illegal activity, and is not a hypocrit.

Haggard, on the other hand, preaches against homosexuality, advocates legislation against gay rights, and supports candidates who oppose gay rights, yet allegedly leads a closeted lifestyle in which he pays gay prostitutes for sex.

Now, please explain how you see the behavior of these two individuals as somehow being similar.

 

[ProfJohn]

Shira, I am talking about the people who are trying to link this guy and Bush or other Republicans, look at a few of the first couple of posts.

Originally posted by: alien42
per wiki:

"Haggard is a firm supporter of President George W. Bush, and is often credited with rallying evangelicals behind Bush during the 2004 election.[4] Jeff Sharlet reports that Haggard "talks to? Bush or his advisers every Monday" and opines that "no pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism?"

Originally posted by: International Machine Consortium
So, basically, this is the guy running the country. Weird. It sounds like the witness has some evidence. He'd better have some body guards too.

Originally posted by: dahunan
Probably a very strong Rush Limbaugh supporter

 

[dahunan]

Are you insane? Why wouldn't he be linked to Republicans? Care to tell us who he talks to all the time and who he helped get elected and what party he supports and works hard to help get elected etc..

The party of values.. right?

 

[jackschmittusa]

People like this disgust me. Gutless wonders who obtain money, power, and prestige by creating a false facade of superiority. If it all proves untrue, I will remove him from my list of disgust. We have all seen this type of thing before. The world would be a much better place if everyone presented themselves as they truly are.

 

[aidanjm]

I'm surprised Karl Rove hasn't been "outed" yet, it's pretty obvious where his preferences lie

 

[aidanjm]

.

 

[dahunan]

I hope it is true.. and I do wonder why he stepped down SO fast.. seems it must have some truth to it.. something ...

 

[Aegeon]

And here comes the truth behind the accusations...

Haggard, 50, initially denied the allegations, telling 9News Wednesday night that "I've never had a gay relationship with anybody, and I'm steady with my wife. I'm faithful to my wife."

But KKTV in Colorado Springs reported that New Life Associate Senior Pastor Ross Parsley told a meeting of church elders Thursday night that Haggard had met with the church's overseers earlier in the day and "had admitted to some indiscretions."

Parsley told the elders that Haggard had said some of the allegations were true, but not all of them.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/l...article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5115230,00.html

Incidentally in response to the assertion he has nothing to do with Republicans...

Haggard was well-known to the Bush administration. Various news articles over the years have made reference to Haggard's close ties to the White House, which sees the evangelical community as a major source of political support.

Last year, Harper's magazine, in a profile of Haggard, said "Pastor Ted" talked to Bush or his advisers on a weekly basis. Haggard was phoned personally by an administration official after Bush nominated conservative John G. Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court last summer.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/l...article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5115230,00.html

 

[aidanjm]

wow. I wonder what his flock of evangelical sheep will think of all of this

 

[International Machine Consortium]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
Shira, I am talking about the people who are trying to link this guy and Bush or other Republicans, look at a few of the first couple of posts.

Originally posted by: alien42
per wiki:

"Haggard is a firm supporter of President George W. Bush, and is often credited with rallying evangelicals behind Bush during the 2004 election.[4] Jeff Sharlet reports that Haggard "talks to? Bush or his advisers every Monday" and opines that "no pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism?"

Originally posted by: International Machine Consortium
So, basically, this is the guy running the country. Weird. It sounds like the witness has some evidence. He'd better have some body guards too.

Originally posted by: dahunan
Probably a very strong Rush Limbaugh supporter

Yes, and you're DAMNED right they are linked to the Whitehouse. These are the people running the country. Read up before launching into your usual knee-jerk response.

Haggard was well-known to the Bush administration. Various news articles over the years have made reference to Haggard's close ties to the White House, which sees the evangelical community as a major source of political support.

Last year, Harper's magazine, in a profile of Haggard, said "Pastor Ted" talked to Bush or his advisers on a weekly basis. Haggard was phoned personally by an administration official after Bush nominated conservative John G. Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court last summer.

In 2005 Time magazine put Haggard on its list of the 25 most influential evangelical leaders, noting his participation in a weekly conference call with White House staffers and other religious leaders.

Looks like the party of family values is again showing us their true colors.
We'll see if the "Professor" is an honorable person and apologizes.

 

[Corbett]

Wow! Another Christian bashing thread on ATPN! What a surprise! :disgust: