As if Ted Haggard’s downfall from respected homophobic preacher to gay prostitution john and drug user couldn’t get worse, it has: Haggard’s relationship with escort Mike Jones wasn’t his only closeted same-sex relationship. Just in time to drum up more publicity for the HBO documentary The Trials of Ted Haggard comes word Haggard also had a relationship with an unnamed young male volunteer at New Life Church, where Pastor Ted once preached.
The matter was supposed to be kept secret, at least according to the agreement signed between Haggard’s just-disclosed other lover and New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Shortly after Jones’ allegations surfaced, the volunteer — then in his 20s — came forward to church officials and informed them of his “consensual” relationship with Haggard, 52, according to New Life’s senior pastor Brady Boyd, who succeeded Haggard after he resigned. There is an “overwhelming pool of evidence” that shows an “inappropriate, consensual sexual relationship” that “went on for a long period of time … it wasn’t a one-time act,” Boyd tells the AP.
To put the matter behind them, the church and the volunteer reached a settlement where the church would pay for counseling and college tuition. There was also a nondisclosure clause; neither side would speak publicly about what happened. Except now the volunteer is reportedly making plans to tell his story to a Colorado Springs television station, motivated, Boyd presumes, by Haggard’s HBO documentary, where filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi humanizes the former pastor and paints him as a victim. The volunteer didn’t want that viewpoint to be Haggard’s legacy. (Haggard may be doing his best to remind America he sees himself as a victim; his already-taped Oprah episode airs this coming week.)
New Life insists the money it paid the volunteer wasn’t hush money. “It wasn’t at all a settlement to make him be quiet or not tell his story,” says Boyd. “Our desire was to help him. Here was a young man who wanted to get on with his life. We considered it more compassionate assistance – certainly not hush money. I know what’s what everyone will want to say because that’s the most salacious thing to say, but that’s not at all what it was.” We tend to believe Boyd, since he’s not planning to hold the volunteer legally responsible for violating the nondisclosure agreement; and Boyd himself is speaking openly to the press about the matter.
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All of this follows New Life’s disclosure in 2007 that their investigation found “new evidence that Haggard engaged in ‘sordid conversation’ and ‘improper relationships’ – but didn’t go into detail,” reports the AP. And that wasn’t the only new scandal for the church: At the same time Haggard’s scandal was blowing wide open, another church staffer told superiors about an inappropriate relationship and resigned.
Here we are, once again witnessing gay scandals inside a church that preaches against homosexuality — scandals that could have been prevented, perhaps, if Jesus’ message of loving your brothers equally, and treating all of God’s children with respect, were actually followed.
And call us cynics, but it seems awfully coincidental that the latest of Haggard’s gay sex scandals is being made public just in time for the HBO documentary. Haggard is, after all, heavily involved in promoting the film. Brilliant marketing efforts at work, or mere coincidence?
Here is Boyd’s letter to church members:
Dear New Life Family,
In the days ahead, there will be new press reports of allegations made by a man who knew Ted Haggard through his involvement with New Life Church. This man has decided to speak to the media about his alleged relationship with Mr. Haggard. Since these allegations were first brought to our attention, New Life Church leadership has reached out to him with compassion by providing him with pastoral care, professional counseling, and financial assistance. We did this with the hope that he would experience healing and move forward with purpose in his life.
At that time, he and church leaders agreed that publishing his allegations or our church’s assistance to him would not be in his best interest. This decision was made not as an attempt to conceal wrongdoings, but to protect him from those who would seek to exploit him. His actions now suggest that he has changed his mind.
A few weeks ago, when the news of the upcoming documentary about Mr. Haggard surfaced, this man informed me that he was considering telling the media the details of his relationship with Mr. Haggard. He was obviously upset about the reported content of the documentary and wished to tell his story.
After Mr. Haggard’s fall, we received reports of a number of incidents of inappropriate behavior. In each case, we have tried our very best to do the right thing, including disciplinary action when appropriate. Our concern has been and continues to be for every person affected. We renew our invitation today for anyone who believes he or she has been hurt to please come forward.
Our current elder team and all of our overseers have been aware of these allegations and have given us wise, prayerful counsel every step of the way. I regret that we have to revisit the unpleasant issues of the past, but I am convinced we are on the path of healing and great days are ahead for all of us. Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support.
Love,
Pastor Brady
And here is Mike Jones’ open letter to Haggard, which he submitted to Oprah’s show:
Dear Ted:
You have publicly apologized to me. I accept your apology. However, I cannot speak for the millions of proud gay men and women. I hope you understand the anger and sadness that overcame me once I discovered who you were. As a gay man who has fought for gay rights since my early teens, continually being treated as a 2nd class citizen, has never set well with me. I have second guessed myself so many times on my actions that I too have been brought to tears and loneliness. I believe you are a good person and could do so much more, my only sadness is that you have decided to make your comeback so publicly that is will open old wounds and new ones. My best to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Mike Jones
And Jones issued this statement to Colorado’s NBC-9:
With all the hate I took from so many people I had to endure when I exposed Ted Haggard, I hope all the parents out there say it is a good thing Mike Jones said something. Because if I had not, this would still be going on. And there are others
Read all of Queerty‘s Ted Haggard coverage
Lawrence
The media really need to follow up on this. Was Haggard practicing safe sex or did he put the young boy as well as his own wife at risk? What specific acts did Haggard perform on the boy? It is necessary to know the exact behavior in order to determine the medical risk. The New Life Church needs to explain why it fosters the propagation of so many homosexual staff. What is it inside these institutions of faith that promotes intense homosexual activity?
rick
@Lawrence: gee, maybe a religion which requires men and women not to be true to themselves and to hide or change their sexual identity.
ron
Who cares about this guy anymore? He obviously will never identify as gay, and he has no influence over christians so just ignore him already.
Jon B
@Lawrence: Ummm… I think you’re going a bit overboard. It’s none of our business what positions they were using. And also, for a megachurch, is 1 staff member and 1 volunteer an absurd number of gays?
Why anyone would be shocked by this is beyond me. Just looking at the dude you can tell he loves touching children.
Matt
“After Mr. Haggard’s fall, we received reports of a number of incidents of inappropriate behavior. In each case, we have tried our very best to do the right thing, including disciplinary action when appropriate. Our concern has been and continues to be for every person affected. We renew our invitation today for anyone who believes he or she has been hurt to please come forward.”
It isn’t clear from this that all the reports were about Rev. Haggard. Was this an inadvertent omission, or did others also reportedly engage in “inappropriate behavior?”
Punisher
The age of consent in Colorado is 17. If the guy was younger than that, there’s a legal issue. If he was 17 or older, then it’s just a matter of Haggard being a creep and a hypocrite, which ought to be enough.
On the creep front, I recall watching a video of Haggard talking about closeted homosexuals, in which he gleefully made an implicit threat to expose them in his church. I think the man is deeply conflicted, and has a major punishment fantasy kicking around his lizard brain.
And you know what, Ted? Trust me, not only do I know what you want and need but I am well equipped to give it to you. Who knows, maybe we’ll meet up on the trail. I promise not to tell anyone.
Punisher
Ted, if the idea gives you a stir, then look me up. Come home to Dad, and face the music. Ted, I ain’t gonna judge ya, ’cause that would be redundant. I’m just gonna beat the tar outta ya. You know it’s what you deserve, and you know it’s what you need.
Punisher
Ted, if the idea gives you a stir, then look me up. Come home to Dad, and face the music. Ted, I ain’t gonna judge ya, ’cause that would be redundant. I’m just gonna beat the tar outta ya. You know it’s what you deserve, and you know it’s what you need.
Lyndon Evans
This guy is such a work of art he should be in the Louvre. Just like “Forgive Me Lord, For I Have Sinned” Swaggert, these idiots are so self-delusional, no, sociopathic, that the members of their flocks buy it hook, line and sinker.
lyssa
Is it just me, or does he kinda resemble Matt Foreman when he recanted selling out transfolk in New York?
You do find some doozys when you seek teh Gay.
Smokey Martini
To quote Mike Jones… “And there are others.” dun-Dun-DUN!
Sounds to me like the fundies might try to make this into a moral panic. ‘Cause heaven forbid there be MORE of their leaders into the man-on-man sex thang!
adzomelk
i just dont understand why any man would have sex with haggard i mean hes well haggard & way to scary for me i mean isnt ther a line where gay men say stop do not cross isnt haggard on the opposite side of that line i say stop the madness oh yeah & while were on the subject isnt mike jones on the opposite side of that line as well eeek severe tripple eeek
Monica Roberts
Ted Haggard is like most Gay Menz… he preach from the Bible about “Adam and Steve” while he cruise the bath house near Houston looking for a black man with a long acrid smelling penix?
Oh,but wait!?
He doesnt’ do Black?
Apparently, Levitucials 18:22 do not apply when you are on hard and like white boys, especially if they have long pretty hair, thin, clean, “washed” bodies and do not smell “scorched” or “burnt.”
What a fucking liberty.
TheGT
The existence of homosexuality doesn’t discriminate but religion does.
WTF?
Monica Roberts: what are you rambling on about?
Anyway, to the rest of you: I can’t speak for everyone, but I feel full of wicked glee to watch this man suffer so in the harsh light of public humiliation. I can’t help it, I just enjoy it too much. I’m also curious, in a twisted way, to see just what Punisher will do, mainly because I’m picturing Punisher as a cross between Jason Statham and MORE Jason Statham.
Geoff
I share the cynicsm but I can’t really fathom how this could be some kind of shrewd marketing ploy. Even if the only goal is to make more money…any $ for Ted would be in future earnings based on ‘forgiveness’ of the christian flock. Another gay controversy wouldn’t further that. He’s gotta be sweating bullets which I like, but I wonder how his wife and kids are taking this new revelation. Sad and pathetic.
lyssa
@TheGT:
“The existence of homosexuality doesn’t discriminate but religion does.”
You obviously are not trans.
ceazer
People like Ted Haggard= the reason why people keep comparing our relationships with pedophiles. The fact that he is all over the news does not do justice the the gay community. What a shame shame.
silverkjk
I wonder if it would be more appropriate to use the word “bisexual” in describing Haggard as it appears he has sex both with women (his wife) and men. It would explain some of the confusion he says he feels re his sexuality.
Kid A
@silverkjk: That’s what I was thinking. It tends to be missed in the binary that many people insist in creating.
Pete
Bwahahaha!
Stupid bastard. I can’t imagine living a life like his where I couldn’t act on my sexuality. That’s too crazy of a prison.
casey
i don’t know which is scarier and more disturbing, Haggard or people like Monica and Lawrence.
Charles J. Mueller
@Geoff:
That the wify would still be with this creep, is sufficient proof to me that she suffers from a Christian Martyr complex and loves the shame, humiliation and suffering that this man is bringing down on her and his family.
Any self-respecting woman in her right mind would grab up the kids, pack their bags and distance herself from this mentally deranged dick head. he’s damaged goods.
Self-deceiving liars like this man will only keep on sucking people into their drama and draging everyone down with him.
I hope the kid was under age so they can lock this destroyer of lives up for the rest of his natural life. He’s a menace to mankind.
Mister C
Well Ted has his own hell to go through. But as for this:
Wasn’t this queen a known TRICK who wrote a book afterwards so she doesn’t have to work Gay and DL Men for $$$$$$? This queen needs to go on she got her 15 minutes of fame and once the coins is used for Meth. She’ll be back tricking again as a 2nd class citizen. Miss Mike is no positive influence for this community. And as for Pastor’s letter we don’t know how true any of it is. I believe he is just trying to further DAMAGE him so he would never return that’s the church for ya! HOMOPHOBIC and these are not African Americans curch goers.
Kevin (New Jersey, US)
@Monica Roberts: Damn.
Steve
What shameful hypocrisy! Here, Haggard who has always been in the closet and a homophobic anti-gay preacher is himself gay. Well suprise, surprise, hah? Now, he wants to make himself out to be a victim but what about all the gay and lesbian victims of bigotry inspired by the likes such “men of God” as himself, the “Reverend” Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church, Jerry Falwell and other arch bigot religious leaders. Of course it would never occur to any of them that sexual orientation is not “a choice” to go against what these bigots call “the will of God.”
Haggard exploited Mike Jones and God knows how many others for his own sexual pleasure. While older gay men should be mentors to younger gay men learning to accept and deal with their sexuality they all too often exploit them for their own sexual pleasure. That is a sad truth.
Gay and lesbian men and women are gay and lesbian for life. It is not a choice and there is no “repairative therapy” for what these bigots call “sexual brokenness.” No laying on of hands, prayers or “casting out” so called “demons or devils” will make a gay or lesbian person into a heterosexual. Organizations such as Exodus International are a farce and just further frustrates gays and lesbians in achieving a healthy self acceptance of themselves as they are. These so called therapies quite often do serious damage to those they claim to help. They are not founded on any credible research or science and are not recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. Haggard and other closeted bigots need to stop fooling themselves and stop pretending that religion can cure homosexuality.
Steve
Punisher, you are right on when you wrote:
“Ted, if the idea gives you a stir, then look me up. Come home to Dad, and face the music. Ted, I ain’t gonna judge ya, ’cause that would be redundant. I’m just gonna beat the tar outta ya. You know it’s what you deserve, and you know it’s what you need.”
You also wrote:
“On the creep front, I recall watching a video of Haggard talking about closeted homosexuals, in which he gleefully made an implicit threat to expose them in his church. I think the man is deeply conflicted, and has a major punishment fantasy kicking around his lizard brain.”
You know just what Teddy needs. Fundies love corporal punishment. They love taking a belts to their boys and putting fire in their butts. They love it. They’ll tell you it’s their “Christain duty” and will quote scripture to back up their sadistic nature. They will say they do it because the ‘luv’ im.
So, lets give the bad boy Teddy what these Bible quoting fundies love to give their boys. Lets take him into the bedroom or out to the wood shed, take up a good thick razor strap and set that bad boy’s butt on fire! Lets do it like a real fundies. We’ll deliver full force blows to his expose up turned bigot butt. Indeed “their will be great wailing and gnashing of teeth!” Just like the fundies want for everyone of us who don’t belong to their narrow minded flock. Let’s ‘luvingly’ punish the boi so that his butt burns for a whole week and he won’t be able to set down.
A bigot is an ignorant self-righteous hypocrite. Maybe one day he will realize that hypocrisy and bigotry are just not acceptable for Christains or anyone in a civilized society.
Steve
@Punisher:
Punisher, you are right on when you wrote:
“Ted, if the idea gives you a stir, then look me up. Come home to Dad, and face the music. Ted, I ain’t gonna judge ya, ’cause that would be redundant. I’m just gonna beat the tar outta ya. You know it’s what you deserve, and you know it’s what you need.”
You also wrote:
“On the creep front, I recall watching a video of Haggard talking about closeted homosexuals, in which he gleefully made an implicit threat to expose them in his church. I think the man is deeply conflicted, and has a major punishment fantasy kicking around his lizard brain.”
You know just what Teddy needs. Fundies love corporal punishment. They love taking a belts to their boys and putting fire in their butts. They love it. They’ll tell you it’s their “Christain duty” and will quote scripture to back up their sadistic nature. They will say they do it because the ‘luv’ im.
So, lets give the bad boy Teddy what these Bible quoting fundies love to give their boys. Lets take him into the bedroom or out to the wood shed, take up a good thick razor strap and set that bad boy’s butt on fire! Lets do it like a real fundies. We’ll deliver full force blows to his expose up turned bigot butt. Indeed “their will be great wailing and gnashing of teeth!” Just like the fundies want for everyone of us who don’t belong to their narrow minded flock. Let’s ‘luvingly’ punish the boi so that his butt burns for a whole week and he won’t be able to set down.
A bigot is an ignorant self-righteous hypocrite. Maybe one day he will realize that hypocrisy and bigotry are just not acceptable for Christains or anyone in a civilized society.
c.portillo
no wonder white women like black men.
Pinky
It is so funny to see this obviously gay man making the talk show rounds with his stupid, stepford wife. Please, just looking at this fool…..He is gay! He needs to just get down on all fours and take it like he wants it! He needs to just shut up and stick a big dick in his mouth! Then he will be happy! BIG FAKE FAGGIT!