Evangelical Leader Has Problems

Ted Haggard, head of the National Association of Evangelicals, admitted some allegations about homosexual sex drug use . He is admitting to buying meth from a homosexual prostitute, Mike Jones, but says he threw it away and never used it. Apparently a recorded voice message from Haggard has him asking Jones to get more meth. Haggard also admits to getting a massage from Jones. Haggard denies the allegations about homosexual sex with Jones, and Jones failed a lile detector test.

Well, it looks like Haggard's toast. Plenty of others have opined about hypocrisy, and the effect on evangelicals and their motivation to vote, etc. What struck me was the picture of Haggard sitting in his truck, talking to the camera through the passenger window. His wife was in the passenger seat and two kids, looks like sons, in the back seat. His unfortunate wife just looks stunned in the picture, and of course his kids sit there and listen to their dad talk about the allegations. Haggard also admitted to getting a massage from Jones.

Haggard said he was referred to Jones for a massage by a hotel in Denver. The minister said he travels to Denver to write books. Haggard drew a
silent stare from his wife when he told the gathered reporters that he received a massage from Jones.

I feel bad for Haggard's family. Not only do they have to go through the wringer on the allegations, but they're going to lose their friends, suffer a drastic reduction in status, and probably have money problems as well. I'd be surprised if the marriage survives. When you set yourself up as a moral leader, you'd better live the life. His family will never recover, it's not their fault, and that's tragic.