[Vision2020] Evangelical Leader Says He Bought Meth But 'never used it'

[Tom Hansen]

>From CNN.com -

-----------------------------------------------------

Evangelical leader says he bought meth but 'never used it'

Story Highlights

.Accuser: Pastor called saying he was "Art from Kansas City"
.Evangelist admits he called male escort to buy drugs and get a massage
.Polygraph administrator says accuser's polygraph test "did show deception"
.AP: Church members say allegations are "political" and "ridiculous"


COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) -- The Rev. Ted Haggard, who resigned as
one of the nation's top evangelical leaders, admitted Friday he had
contacted a male prostitute for a massage and bought drugs from him.

Haggard, 50, said he never had sex with Mike Jones and never used the
methamphetamine he bought.

He was one of a group of religious leaders who regularly participated in
conference calls with White House aides. (Watch what Haggard said about the
drugs he bought -- 1:59)

Haggard told reporters earlier this week that he did not know Jones, who
claims to have had a three-year sex-for-money relationship with the pastor.

In an interview Friday with CNN, Jones said Haggard got his number from a
"newspaper or Web site" when Jones was advertising as an escort. (Watch
Jones describe how he and Haggard "hooked up" -- 7:26)

"He called me and said his name was Art from Kansas City," said Jones.

He and the pastor "hooked up" once a month, Jones said, and he gave the
pastor a "contact" from which Haggard could obtain methamphetamine.

Jones said he went public with the allegations because, "The more I
researched about Ted Haggard and what was being said about gay marriage [at
Haggard's church], I became very angry and, I go, this is not right for
someone who is up there preaching marriage should only be between a man and
woman, and he's going to a gay man for sex.

"I felt I owed it to the gay community to expose the hypocrisy," Jones said.

CNN's Denver affiliate, KUSA-TV, reported that a voice recognition expert
concluded that the voice mails left for Jones probably were from Haggard. A
more detailed analysis was under way.

In at least one of the messages, the speaker identifies himself as "Art."

Haggard's middle name is Arthur.

Polygraph test
Haggard resigned Thursday as leader of the National Association of
Evangelicals -- a group representing more than 45,000 churches and 30
million people -- and he also stepped down temporarily from leadership at
New Life Church in Colorado Springs.

Haggard told KUSA on Friday that he received Jones' name as "a referral"
from a hotel where he was staying in Denver.

He did not name the hotel. "I did call him," Haggard said. "I called him to
buy some meth, but I threw it away."

Haggard spoke to the Denver TV station from inside a car, with his wife,
Gayle, in the passenger seat.

"I was buying it for me, but I never used it. I was tempted. ...

"He told me about it. I went there for a massage."

Asked whether Haggard's admission of knowing him was a vindication, Jones
replied, "Thank you. Exactly."

Earlier, Jones said he would not back down from the allegations despite a
polygraph test that a polygraph administrator said showed "deception."

Jones took the test voluntarily, answering questions about his alleged ties
with Haggard.

Test administrator John Kresnik said the results "did show deception" but
that Jones was physically and mentally exhausted. Kresnik said he would like
to take the test again after Jones had slept and eaten, which could provide
more trustworthy results. (Watch Haggard's response to whether he knows gay
men in Denver -- 2:07)

The Rev. Ross Parsley, who assumed leadership of Haggard's church, said
Haggard had made "some admission of indiscretion -- not an admission to all
of the material that has been discussed, but there is an admission of some
guilt."

Time magazine named Haggard as one 2005's 25 most influential evangelical
leaders, and he has close ties with the White House, participating in a
regular conference call with other religious leaders. (Time.com article)

White House counselor Dan Bartlett on Friday called the revelations
"shocking and disgraceful if they turn out to be true. I think it's
important that we do find out exactly what it is right and what is wrong
here and get to the bottom of it."

Haggard has put himself on administrative leave as senior pastor of his
14,000-member church.

Church members who spoke with The Associated Press were stunned. "It's
political, right before the elections," said longtime member Brian Boals,
according to AP.

Another, E.J. Cox, 25, told the AP the allegations are "ridiculous." "People
are always saying stuff about Pastor Ted," she told the AP. "You just sort
of blow it off. He's just like anyone else in the public eye."

Accuser: 'I won't back down'
During an interview Friday with a Denver radio station after the polygraph
test, Jones said, "I'm disappointed. I won't back down from statements."
(Watch Jones' take on Haggard's denial -- 1:20)

Haggard had told KUSA on Wednesday, "I've never had a gay relationship with
anybody. I'm steady with my wife. I'm faithful to my wife."

He added, "I have never done drugs, ever -- not even in high school."

Jones said he has an envelope containing two $100 bills from Haggard, and
saved telephone messages from him.

Colorado considers same-sex marriage ban
Jones said four months ago he learned Haggard's true identity when he saw
him on television. He said he became upset when he learned that Haggard's
church supported a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex
marriage that's on the ballot in Colorado next week.

Colorado is one of eight states where voters will consider bans on same-sex
marriage.

"I cried many nights, I got sick tormenting myself about whether I should do
this," Jones said. "I finally had to come to peace with myself ... I had to
do the moral thing."

Jones, who said he no longer worked as a prostitute, described himself as a
Christian and said that while he was a registered Democrat, he had voted for
Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush for president.

In a written statement issued by his church Thursday, Haggard said he could
"not continue to minister under the cloud created by the accusations."

"I am voluntarily stepping aside from leadership so that the overseer
process can be allowed to proceed with integrity," he said. "I hope to be
able to discuss this matter in more detail at a later date. In the interim,
I will seek both spiritual advice and guidance."

Under the church's governing structure, a board of overseers will lead the
inquiry, with the power to discipline or remove Haggard or restore him to
the pulpit, according to the church's statement.

Before word broke of "some admission of guilt," other prominent religious
conservative leaders openly supported Haggard.

James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family -- which is also based in
Colorado Springs -- called it "unconscionable that the legitimate news media
would report a rumor like this based on nothing but one man's accusation."
"Ted Haggard is a friend of mine, and it appears someone is trying to damage
his reputation as a way of influencing the outcome of Tuesday's election,"
Dobson said in a written statement.

Richard Cizik, vice president for governmental affairs for the National
Association of Evangelicals, said that "the accusations do not comport with
the person that I know."

"Since 1942, the NAE has never had a moral, ethical or financial scandal of
any sort. Thus, this is very painful," Cizik said. "I believe that our
record of speaking and acting in conformity with biblical values will be
upheld."

-----------------------------------------------------

Seeya at the polls, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho


****************************************************************

"Must we continue to patronize these maladjusted freaks who would pervert
society to reflect their own warped perspectives?" 

- Tony "ToeKnee" Simpson (October 20, 2006)

****************************************************************