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Top pastor quits over gay sex
03/11/2006 08:33 - (SA)
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| A New Life Church file photo of the Rev Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, who resigned after being accused of gay sex trysts. (Erik Stenbakken, New Life Church, AP) |
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Colorado Springs - The leader of the 30 million-member National Association of Evangelicals, a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, resigned on Thursday after being accused of paying for sex with a man in monthly trysts over the past three years.
The Rev Ted Haggard, a married father of five who has been called one of the most influential evangelical Christians in the United States, denied the allegations on Thursday.
His accuser refused to share voice mails that he said backed up his claim.
Haggard also stepped aside as head of his 14 000-member New Life Church while a church panel investigates, saying he could "not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations".
'I'm faithful to my wife'
"I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer process can be allowed to proceed with integrity," Haggard said in a written statement.
"I hope to be able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date."
He also told KUSA-TV that he had "never had a gay relationship with anybody, and I'm steady with my wife, I'm faithful to my wife".
The allegations come as voters in Colorado and seven other US states get ready to decide on Tuesday on amendments banning gay marriage.
Besides the proposed ban on the Colorado ballot, a separate measure would establish the legality of domestic partnerships providing same-sex couples with many of the rights of married couples.
Mike Jones, 49, of Denver told The Associated Press he decided to go public with his allegations because of the political fight. Jones, who said he is gay, said he was upset when he discovered Haggard and the New Life Church had publicly opposed same-sex marriage.
"It made me angry that here's someone preaching about gay marriage and going behind the scenes having gay sex," said Jones, who added that he is not working for any political group.
Jones, whose allegations were first aired on KHOW-AM radio in Denver, claimed Haggard paid him to have sex nearly every month over three years.
Drugs
He also said Haggard snorted methamphetamine before their sexual encounters to heighten his experience.
Jones said he had advertised himself as an escort on the internet and that a man who called himself Art contacted him. Jones said he later saw the man on television identified as Haggard.
He said that he last had sex with Haggard in August and that he did not warn him before making his allegations this week.
Haggard and his attorney, Martin Nussbaum, did not return calls on Thursday night from the AP.
- AP
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