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Gay Rights Group Calls for Investigation of Haggard's Church

Truth Wins Out, a group that calls out antigay and "ex-gay" propaganda, is pushing for an investigation into Colorado's New Life Church after it was revealed the church paid to keep a male volunteer from publicly admitting an affair with its former minister, Ted Haggard.


Truth Wins Out, a group that calls out antigay and "ex-gay" propaganda, is pushing for an investigation into Colorado's New Life Church after it was revealed the church paid to keep a male volunteer from publicly admitting an affair with its former minister, Ted Haggard.

Haggard left his job as pastor of the Colorado Springs-based New Life Church in 2006 after it was revealed he had had an affair and done drugs with a male prostitute, Mike Jones. More recently, Haggard admitted to having another gay affair while serving as pastor, this time with a church volunteer. According to the AP, New Life's current senior pastor, Brady Boyd, said the church paid the man for counseling and college tuition, with one condition being that none of the parties discuss the relationship publicly. Truth Wins Out says the church is guilty of providing the man with "hush money."

"Authorities should investigate to ensure that this volunteer was not manipulated or coerced into silence," said Wayne Besen, Truth Wins Out's executive director, in a press release. "The leadership of New Life has little credibility and should not simply be taken at their word. At a minimum, Boyd should resign for using his position of power to pressure a vulnerable member of his congregation into silence." (Neal Broverman, Advocate.com)

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Reader Comments
  • Name: anto
    Date posted: 2/13/2009 4:29:00 PM
    Hometown: dublin

    Comment:

    Dear John, I would like to concureee with J and say it is these Churches and the like of Haggard who are to blame for pushing homophobia, fear, voilence, Haggard engaged in homosexual acts, and as much as I really detest the fact, he is most likley gay, his self-loathing and sexual antics are common with his type, he most probably will not come out, he will continue to preach hate against LGBT people however, and he is not alone, we must stand up against this haterid, anto

  • Name: Stan
    Date posted: 2/13/2009 2:51:00 PM
    Hometown: Richmond, VA

    Comment:

    ALL religious organization should be INVESTIGATED annually and ANY violation of the tax exempt status, no matter how minor should be sufficient to cancel the tax exempt status for LIFE. Other than that, religious organizations should be treated as businesses; business license, pay taxes etc etc etc. For they are NOT much different than any WalMart or other store. You go in and if you find something you like, you stay with it, otherwise you move ON... to another store. INVESTIGATE them all!!!!

  • Name: J
    Date posted: 2/13/2009 1:02:00 PM
    Hometown: Dayton

    Comment:

    To John: WHY? I'll tell you why. Because churches are entering the political arena and are influenceing our poiliticians, contributing to poilitcal "campaigns", and playing an influential role in legislating changes to State Constitutions!!! Read a little European History to become enlightened as to where THAT (Christian Church involvement in government) LEADS (lest we forget from where and WHY our founding fathers came) ...or ask Middle Easterners in countries like Egypt, IraQ, Iran, Pakistan, India, Yemen...THEY'll tell you what clergy involvement in government can do!!! "getting accurate information published,distiributed and finding the (beneficial) 'fights'..." is EXACTLY what this investigation is all about...to FIND who the political terrorists in this country are...and MANY are Banks and CHURCHES!!!!!

  • Name: John
    Date posted: 2/13/2009 12:35:00 PM
    Hometown: Denver, CO

    Comment:

    Why, of all the important issues facing our community, do we wish to put our energy into having an investigation done of a private religious group! If the members of that church are not out raged and they monetarily support that church why should we! Let's focus on getting accurate information published, distributed and finding those "fights" that will benefit the most in our community. John



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