LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY ellid)
A slightly more detailed article on Ted Haggard, including what looks like a smarmy portrait at the church. What is this, the cult of personality? Has this guy no shame? Or taste?
http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/ev
Page Summary
May 2008
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Latest on Ted Haggard
LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY inkedgeekfreak) Two articles for your perusal. . .
LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY velvetpage) Oh my. Could this be why Haggard stepped down?
If a recent article in AMERICAblog is to be believed--in reference to some of the text of the GigoloGate voicemails from Ted Haggard which was revealed on "Good Morning America" (video in the second link)... Mike Jones: "He goes 'a fantasy of mine is to have an orgy with about 6 young college guys ranging from 18 to 22 in age." If this in fact pans out this has the potential to be downright thermonuclear: ( More below the cut ) UPDATE 2:46PM EDT: Apparently now Haggard has admitted publically to purchasing meth from the gay escort in question, though--in some *very* suspicious lines--claims he "threw away" the meth in a location he cannot recall, and claims he contacted the gay escort for "massages": Haggard says he bought the meth from a gay escort, 49-year-old Michael Jones, after contacting him for a massage. (Video here.) Seeing as there are legit massage parlours and spas in Colorado Springs, this is a rather unlikely explanation--especially since New Life is also a major promoter of the dominionist "parallel economy" which includes "Christian massage parlours". UPDATE 4:34PM EST: Reportedly Mike Jones also has envelopes postmarked from Haggard. Video from MSNBC here. UPDATE 5PM EST: And as it turns out, a simple Google Search would have turned up the fact that Mike Jones is most well known in gay bodybuilding circles as a trainer and massage therapist--as noted on bodyworkformen.com, a site designed for men seeking men for massage, so to speak. Also, the church is apparently in major spin control mode, accusing Mike Jones of making political hay out of the Meth, Massage and Men Affair; video (rather interestingly) shows Ted Haggard actually nodding his head whilst denying having sex with Mike Jones. UPDATE 2:15AM EST 5 November (Remember, Remember the Fifth of November...): Reportedly Ted Haggard has been officially ousted from New Life Church's leadership due to "sexually immoral conduct", in what may be the most damning evidence yet that Haggard in fact engaged in a sexual liason with Mike Jones and admitted to it in the church council meeting (it is generally very rare for a dominionist church to oust a head pastor under *any* circumstances; just about the only thing that will successfully do so is in fact revelation that he's a man seeking men). The press release from New Life Church itself (noted below) states that "Our investigation and Pastor Haggard’s public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct"--in other words, the church "inquisition council" has evidence so damning that Haggard *was* involved with Mike Jones that they have no other course of action. Reportedly a statement and apology from Haggard will be read at New Life Church's meetings this AM; according to a press release issued by New Life Church further investigation is likely and a "plan of healing and restoration" is being proposed for Haggard--most likely involving Haggard being remanded to a group promoting "reparative therapy", if past trends involving deacons and pastors being outed as gay in neopente churches are any guide. It is also *extremely* unlikely that Haggard will *ever* be allowed to return to the pulpit in a neopente church, and this is pretty much the worst case scenario for him. It just keeps getting worse and worse and worse and....
LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY ellid) "Dr. Dino" guilty on all counts
LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY sunfell) Pensacola evangelist and tax protester Kent Hovind winked at his wife and gave her a reassuring smile as he was led away to jail. Woops. Charlie Crist of Florida next in line?
LJ-SEC: (ORIGINALLY POSTED BY bob_bowers) |