AP NewsBreak: Haggard Leaves Colorado

[rodeodance]

Source: AP




AP NewsBreak: Haggard Leaves Colorado

ERIC GORSKI | AP | April 18, 2007 07:37 PM EST
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DENVER — The Rev. Ted Haggard moved Wednesday from his longtime home in Colorado Springs to Phoenix, where the disgraced minister will join the same church that helped fallen televangelist Jim Bakker.

Haggard, 50, resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals last year, after a former male prostitute alleged a three-year cash-for-sex relationship. The man also said he saw Haggard use methamphetamine. Haggard confessed to undisclosed "sexual immorality" and said he bought meth but never used it.

As part of his severance package from New Life Church, a 14,000-member congregation he started in his basement, Haggard agreed to leave Colorado Springs, a city he helped make an evangelical center.

"When he moved out of town today, there was a kind of relief on the part of the church that life can get back to normal," said the Rev. H.B. London, one of three ministers overseeing what has been called Haggard's "restoration." "For the Haggards, it is the beginning of a huge new chapter. It's a brand new start for them, the beginning of a new beginning."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20070418/haggard-scandal

[KingFlorez]

1. I guess that church he's joining is for clergyman who like prostitutes?

[BR_Parkway]

16. Wow, he actually is getting closer to Jeebus instead of the politicians

seems Jeebus hung out alot more with the criminals and prostitutes than he did the political leaders of the day.

[Bicoastal]

2. Ah, Haggard simply cannot deal with his own actions....

He'd still like us to believe he bough meth, but never used it.

Or that he hired a gay prostitute, but they never had sex.

What a hypocrite weasel.

[truthisfreedom]

3. He never confessed his sins. He's still lying, and his congregation will know this.

They'll have to supress their suspicions even though they know in their hearts they are being preached to by a hypocrite and a liar.

[rodeodance]

4. Haggard has told his advisers he does not believe he's gay.

The Rev. Mike Ware, a member of a separate panel of pastors that investigated the claims against Haggard, said: "We've all been in agreement that Ted should have a fresh start, gain some fresh perspective, and it's very difficult for them to get the kind of healing they need staying in Colorado Springs."

Ware said Haggard is continuing to receive counseling, which officials said will include an exploration of his sexuality. Haggard has told his advisers he does not believe he's gay.

As part of a severance package that will pay Haggard through 2007, Haggard agreed not only to leave town but to refrain from discussing the scandal publicly. He did not return messages Wednesday. Haggard's most recent annual salary was about $138,000, benefits excluded.

His former congregation has felt the sting of the scandal. Since Haggard's fall, attendance has fallen 20 percent and giving has dropped 10 percent, said Rob Brendle, an associate pastor. As a result of the decline, the church laid off 44 employees, or 12 percent of its work force.

[thereismore]

17. maybe he's bisexual. It happens. nt

[Divine Discontent]

25. we gotta BINGO!

"maybe he's bisexual. It happens. nt
Posted by thereismore"

EXACTLY! there's several of them out there... I know a few. A guy who has kids wanted me to be his hookup. I told him, if he wasn't married already I would date him, but I would never expect him to leave his wife. Of course, Haggard's crowd and his own twisted mind can't believe he could be BI for goodness sakes, let alone gay! SOOOOO SADDDDD... they are what God made them, there is no shame in who you love.

GOD HELP THEM because supposed compassionate leaders like Dobson only tell them they are misled and just "confused" by a past that includes a lack of male leadership. BULL-HIT!

[Divernan]

23. And binge drinkers deny their alcoholics - all the same river in Egypt.

nt

[TomInTib]

5. "life can get back to normal,"

As if it was normal under Brother Haggard?

"normal" equals "totally dog-nuts fucking crazy"?

See ya, Bro Ted....

[Botany]

6. No gay hookers or Meth in Poenix

By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be rising
She'll find the note I left hangin' on her door
She'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leavin'
'Cause I've left that girl so many times before

By the time I make Albuquerque she'll be working
She'll prob'ly stop at lunch and give me a call
But she'll just hear that phone keep on ringin'
Off the wall that's all

By the time I make Oklahoma she'll be sleepin'
She'll turn softly and call my name out loud
And she'll cry just to think I'd really leave her
Tho' time and time I try to tell her so
She just didn't know I would really go.

[Breeze54]

8. Buwahahahahaha!!

:rofl:

[Tunkamerica]

7. I thought you meant Merl

[Dr.Phool]

9. I hope he's not coming to Florida!

We have enough religious nutjobs down here.

[StarryNite]

10. Swell

just what we need here in Phoenix.

[Hawkeye-X]

11. Just make sure you have enough gay prostitutes with plenty of meth

And he'll be happy as a clam.

Guara-damn-teed.

One less fundy whacko priest in my state, now if we can get rid of Dobson....


Hawkeye-X

[Alexander]

12. Phoenix, the city of sleaze. Where else?

How did I guess it was either going to be Phoenix or Vegas?

:eyes:

[RushIsRot]

13. BUT. as of this moment, Brother Ted is STILL

HETEROSEXUAL! :evilgrin:

[annabanana]

14. How IS Bakker these days..

don't hear much from him...

[AnneD]

19. Actually...

I caught a little bit of a program he was doing. He was taking about forgiveness, hypocrisy, and the real christian message. I didn't recognize him at first. He seemed real and interesting. Wouldn't mind seeing him again actually.

Edited to add that Tammy is not doing to well and is under hospice care, per her website.

[Divine Discontent]

24. my mom watches him a lot

she said that since his fall he's become real. I watched 10 min. with her, I think he seems niced, but of course, he was hawking 10000 buck sculptures to pay for a giant new synagogue since he's out of a small building... I think most (Graham was cool to me) TV preachers are delusional, I do like that Bakker has been brought to some reality however, but I would NEVER give him a dime and asked my Mom to please never give to him, as he's broken any trust about money... didn't they have an air conditioned dog house?? lol

www.cafepress.com/warisprofitable <<-- check it out, top '08 stuff

[jamesinca]

15. I love this part

"Ware said Haggard is continuing to receive counseling, which officials said will include an exploration of his sexuality. Haggard has told his advisers he does not believe he's gay. As part of a severance package that will pay Haggard through 2007, Haggard agreed not only to leave town but to refrain from discussing the scandal publicly."

Lets see- He does not think he is gay, but he is being paid money to leave town and not talk about it.

[ecstatic]

18. What a farce!! His wife should leave him ASAP

this guy will continue lying to himself and others.

[candice]

20. Hey, he's taken the cure!

[joshcryer]

21. He can't be bisexual?

[ecstatic]

22. Instead he wants to pretend to be getting cured/treatment to rid his

dark side. This guy is full of crap. If he could at least admit what he's really feeling to his wife maybe they could go from there but as it stands, he's playing with his family's emotions.

[Hieronymus]

26. Buh bye, Ted.

:hi: