Loading...
|| News ||
Page 1 of 1

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)

Click here to follow The Advocate on Twitter. Page 1 of 1
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



More Online Only
  • Film Teen Spirit

    While Native American cultures have long honored people of integrated genders, a new documentary looks at a shocking hate crime against a two-gendered Colorado teenager.

  • Politicians L.A. Confidential

    What's it like to be 33, gay, and one of the most powerful people in America's second-largest city? Stressful, says Matt Szabo, the new deputy chief of staff to Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

  • Commentary Love Bites for Twilight's Gay Fans

     

    Gay fanpires are sure to flock to New Moon, but with questions lingering about author Stephanie Meyer and the cash she gives to the Mormon Church, Mike Albo wonders if we'd be better off tying a clove of garlic around our necks.


  • Youth Church Opens Doors for Homeless Gay Teens

    A church-turned-shelter for homeless youth in Queens, New York is a far cry from sleeping on the streets after a $200,000 renovation and a partnership with the Ali Forney Center for LGBT youth.

  • Music France's Latest Export

    He's opened for Britney and Katy Perry, kept Dita Von Teese company in the front row at Paris Fashion Week, and gets name-checked on Twitter by Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Sarah Silverman. So who the hell is Sliimy, anyway?

  • Marriage Equality Triumph in the Tar Heel State

    The loss of marriage equality in Maine was a major blow on Election Night, but down the coast in North Carolina there was an LGBT victory. Pam Spaulding talks to Chapel Hill's mayor-elect, Mark Kleinschmidt.

  • Theater Video Content Flag Puppet Masters

    When performance-art drag diva Joey Arias combines forces with master puppeteer Basil Twist, anything — no, seriously, anything — can happen.

  • News Softball With Oprah and Palin

     

    Dave White recaps as Oprah plays nice with Palin in her exclusive, personality-rehabbing interview. Topics include Katie Couric ("badgering"), Levi Johnston ("Ricky Hollywood"), and step class ("gee, it's fun").

  • News View From Washington: Frank Tells

    This week Congressman Barney Frank laid out a plan and a timetable for repealing "don't ask, don't tell..." and a reminder that he's been saying it would happen in 2010 from the beginning.

  • News Features Where's Mitrice?

     

    Mitrice Richardson is a 4.0 student, a former beauty pageant contestant, and a lesbian. She’s also been missing since September, and her family and girlfriend want answers. 


     

  • Theater Seat Filler

    The Advocate’s queen on the New York theater scene meets bisexual conjoined twins, pits Sienna Miller against Jude Law, tastes Cheyenne Jackson’s Rainbow, and saves up for a rainy day with Hugh Jackman.

  • Art Fairey Good 


    Controversial artist Shepard Fairey spends his creative capital to bring marriage equality back to California.

  • Film Crazy Like a Fox

    Hipster actor Jason Schwartzman gets schooled on his gay fans and the Hollywood closet and reveals why he’s never played a gay role.

  • Television Viki Victorious?

     

    Soap icon and six-time Emmy Award winner Erika Slezak talks about the trials and tribulation of playing Victoria Lord and her run for mayor, gay rights, and the sudden death that rocks Llanview.

  • Commentary Called to Serve

    The military continues to operate under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which even the Pentagon says is unsubstantiated. As General McChrystal asks for more troops in Afghanistan, one gay Navy vet offers his service to his country in spite of the policy that would deny him.

  • News Features Marriage Foe Tied to Pro-Gay Companies

    Ford Motor Co. and Reynolds American, two companies that receive consistently high marks from the HRC, have ties with Schubert Flint Public Affairs, the firm that was instrumental in defeating marriage equality in California and Maine.

     

  • News Features A Few Good Men

    In honor of Veteran's Day, two of the most famous gay vets -- Frank Kameny and Dan Choi -- share their letters from Uncle Sam.

Most Popular Stories