COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) -- The president of the National Association of Evangelicals resigned Thursday after accusations by a male prostitute that the pastor paid him for sex over three years.The Rev. Ted Haggard said he also is temporarily stepping aside from the pulpit of his church in Colorado Springs pending an internal investigation by the church.The church official who temporarily has assumed Haggard's post said late Thursday that there has been "some admission of guilt," but not to all of the allegations. He did not give any more details.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.The National Association of Evangelicals is an umbrella group for more than 45,000 churches and some 30 million members across the country.FULL STORY HERE
ivylander says
The guy says he didn't do it, and I'm willing to entertain the idea that he's innocent until proven guilty and all that (though I have serious reservations that, if the shoe were on the other political foot, the right would exercise any restraint at all). But this is not the first time a major evangelical figure has been caught with his pee-pee roaming into regions where (by his standards, not necesarily mine) it does not belong. And yet evangelicals as a whole continue to seem so incurious as to the motives behind their positions. (Heh heh, he said "positions....")
eshep says
the thing about this that gets me the most is that this dude is one of the most vocal and influential opponents of same-sex marriage. (ok, as ivylander said, he's innocent until proven guilty.)
but let's entertain the allegations for a minute...
One of the major "accomplishments" under Haggard as leader of the NAE was fall 2004's "For the Health of the Nation: An Evangelical Call to Civic Responsibility."[5] This was "a document urging engagement in traditional culture war issues such as abortion and gay marriage but also poverty, education, taxes, welfare and immigration."[5] Haggard is opposed to same sex marriages.[6] The NAE says "Homosexual activity, like adulterous relationships, is clearly conÂdemned in the Scriptures."[7]
how can people be of a persuasion and to work so hard to make life suck for others of the same persuasion? i don't get it.
hand in the cookie jar. just like ol' foley, whose pet cause was the center for missing and exploited children. ~shudder~
eshep says
and another thing. religion needs to get THE FUCK out of washington. now.
i mean, are any of you starting to pine for reagan? or bush i?
i sure am.
ivylander says
Let's talk for a second about someone who has admitted his guilt. My favorite recently unearthed quote:
"It's vile. It's more sad than anything else, to see someone with such potential throw it all down the drain because of a sexual addiction."
-- Mark Foley, R-West Palm Beach, September 12, 1998, referring to Bill Clinton
Manos says
Here's a sample of the bullshit that goes on in this town. There's an initiative to make it easier for domestic partners to get medical benefits. It's not marriage (God forbid!) - it's just equal rights. The signs against the initiative say "Choose Life - No on I". WTF??
The thing is, many of the conservatives in this town are so ignorant and afraid, they'll vote against it just because of those signs.
eshep says
ivylander, people are so naive that they'll pay attention to anything - these scare ads, total lies, anything.
i heard an ad on the radio yesterday that had john mccain saying 'you people in new hampshire have a great way of life. no income taxes, no sales tax, you are the least tax burdened people in this great country. vote republican and keep it that way.'
i mean, no data supporting anything. just a political celebrity saying 'hey if you don't vote republican, your no-taxes situation will go away!' which is totally untrue. but people hear it, they don't read the paper, they wonder if he's right, and, to be safe, they vote republican.
it's shameless, and exploitive. not that democrats can't be shameless or exploitive. i'm just reacting to this one ad that i heard which was above and beyond the others in terms of sheer stupidity.
SatisfiedMind614 says
I vaguely remember something called "Separation of church and state..." you know, it was kind of the reason this nation was formed!
Dave says
I saw this guy on a great documentary by Richard Dawkins. He was hostile to Dawkins' questions about evangelism and chased him off the church property in his truck.
ivylander says
Excuse me if this post is starting to get hijacked, but Manos's comment reminds me of a harrowing story. Way back in 1999, we were sending our daughter to a private Christian school. It was affiliated with kind of a conservative church, and most definitely not one we'd ever go to, but the teachers didn't cram religion down the elementary schoolers' throats (that started around sixth grade) and the academic standards were high.
Anyway, we were at back-to-school and started talking to the parents of one of our daughters' best friends, who surprised me by asking us point blank who we were voting for in the 2000 Presidential election. I don't consider that anybody's business, but to be polite I said I hadn't made up my mind. The father answered, "You have to vote for Bush. He's going to bring prayer back into the schools."
How can you explain to someone stupid enough to believe this that the president of the United States HAS NO POWER TO BRING PRAYER BACK INTO THE SCHOOLS! Even if it were a good idea, which I am not convinced of. It's emblematic, though, of the magical thinking this administration and its backers have wallowed in for the past six years. A couple of weeks ago I was reading an excellent profile of Garry Trudeau in the Washington Post (there ya go, righties, proof positive that this guy is a knee-jerk lib), and he had a terrific insight into Bush: "He has substituted belief for thought." Sorry, kids, thinking is always better than blindly believing. God gave us brains and the ability to reason for a purpose. And it pisses Her off when we don't use our gifts.
Thanks, and don't forget to tip your waitress.
Brett Schieber says
I completely agree with you eshep and ivylander! 100%. "Thinking IS always better than blindly believing" and I'm thankful that many Moggers out there have a brain. I live in the "bible belt" and see this constantly. I've always been interested in sociology, psychology, and politics. It's fascinating, but frustrating to see people constantly "falling for it". I know, I know...I'm a musician, so I must be a liberal. True, most of what I think is right (notice I didn't say 'believe') falls along liberal lines. However, I think that the minute anyone says one claims to be liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, Catholic or Hindu, they stop "thinking" and just tow the line without questioning. I find it so frustrating, yet fascinating at the same time. I guess it's just easier to not question and easier to be a part of the collective. Zelig anyone? (By the way, if you get that reference, I know you're awesome and you must let me know!)
I haven't recorded this song yet, but I've been "test driving" it at my shows. It's called "Under The Gun" and I'm sure I'll record it for my next cd which I'm slowly working on
.
"Everybody's doing it, but it doesn't make it civilized
The Radio, the T.V., they're all telling me lies
Black and white, make your stereotypes to market your merchendise
Explicit, so sick of it, but why does everybody always fall for it?
Under the gun, I find a guilty consious in everyone
Under the gun, I find a guilty consious in everyone
When your morals come undone"
Anyway, have a good day and it's great to find that there are other "thinkers" in this world. Thank goodness for Mog!
Happy weekend,
brett
ps - Speaking of "thinking", I'm sure I've made typos here...I always do....so please don't mock my poor grammar! Ha!
Kirk says
"Thinking IS always better than blindly believing"
Most christians I know believe in what they do because they believe they've seen the proof of god, working in their own lives and the lives of others.
Most Christians aren't idiots.
Brett Schieber says
Yes, Kirk, I agree with you. Yes, most Christians (or those of any faith) are not idiots. My complaint and frustration lies among those that use the great ideas and rules to live by that religion gives us all as an excuse/reason to treat others unequally or for thier own selfish personal gain. If people blindly believe everything told to them simply because it's presented to them under the guise or umbrella of their religion, then they're easily manipulated. This happens in all religions - look at suicide bombers, etc. One can be a good Christian, or a follower of any religion, and still question what it teaches. I think that one should know why they believe what they believe and trace it down to it's roots. In fact, if you do that, you should have an even stronger faith in whichever one you choose. Like I said though, I'm no expert and can't pretend to be one. I certainly don't criticize anyone's beliefs, only hypocrites and those that use religion for some alterior motive (such as political gain, and a plethora of other reasons). I enjoy talking about politics, religion, etc and I know that most people do not because it's such a tender and delicate subject. I certainly hope those that read this realize that I'm only stating my opinions that were formed by lots of personal questioning on my own and that I never intend to belittle or criticize anyone's beliefs.
Have a great weekend and thanks for the interesting discussion,
brett
Slewzeus says
He was also quoted saying...that he wass tempted to purchase methamphedamine from a gay male prostitute...but he never actually used the drugs...I guess he just got off another way?
This is was repression of oneself leads to bizarre behavior. Just be a gay man dude!!!!
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) -- The president of the National Association of Evangelicals resigned Thursday after accusations by a male prostitute that the pastor paid him for sex over three years.The Rev. Ted Haggard said he also is temporarily stepping aside from the pulpit of his church in Colorado Springs pending an internal investigation by the church.The church official who temporarily has assumed Haggard's post said late Thursday that there has been "some admission of guilt," but not to all of the allegations. He did not give any more details.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.The National Association of Evangelicals is an umbrella group for more than 45,000 churches and some 30 million members across the country.FULL STORY HERE
Locating MOG account...
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