One of the most hateful fire-breathers on the entire religious right has resigned from his church because... he had an (alleged) affair with a male escort:
Ted Haggard, one of the most prominent evangelical pastors in the nation, resigned today as president of the National Association of Evangelicals amid allegations that he carried on a three-year sexual relationship with a male prostitute.The reign of these lying hucksters, mercifully, is likely coming to an end in just five days.Haggard, founder of the 14,000-member New Life Church, has denied the accusations but said in a statement released by the church today that he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by accusations made on Denver talk radio this morning."
You should have seen Haggard on Richard Dawkins' documentary, the man was literally a raving nut.
I can only hope that evidence comes out that Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell had paid to watch.
Posted by: Tainted Bill at November 3, 2006 06:23 AMThis guy is "one of the most prominent evangelical pastors in the nation," yet he's only got a church of 14,000? Not that I don't like seeing jerks like this busted and publicly humiliated for the hypocrites that they are, but puh-leeze.
Posted by: Emily at November 3, 2006 09:50 AMI agree with Emily(no surprise there). If the charges are proven true, then he is another in a long line of fallen bible-beating proselytizers. As for this--"The reign of these lying hucksters, mercifully, is likely coming to an end in just five days." Yeah, he was Duke of Alabama, Secretary of the Interior, or a Senator? I forget.
Posted by: DBW at November 3, 2006 10:16 AMHe didn't only lead a church of 14,000, he was head of the National Association of Evangelicals, which has 52 member denominations, including the Salvation Army. Sure, he isn't the Archbishop of Rome and he doesn't have the political clout of a Dobson or Robertson, but he is somewhere in the Chuck Colson/Jerry Falwell range of influence.
Well...was.
Posted by: Tainted Bill at November 3, 2006 08:23 PMIt's not the size of his church, really, that gives him the influence. He was voted one of the most influential evangelicals of the year by Time mag - he's an adviser on all sorts of political issues - he's kind of a bigwig. I don't even pay attention to evangelicals and I had heard of this dude.
Posted by: red at November 6, 2006 08:14 AM