President of National Association of Evangelicals resigns over gay sex scandal
{{date|November 5, 2006}}

On November 2, [[w:Ted Haggard|Ted Haggard]] resigned from the presidency of the [[w:National Association of Evangelicals|National Association of Evangelicals]] and his pastorship in the [[w:New Life Church, Colorado|New Life Church]] after allegations that he repeatedly engaged in homosexual sex with a prostitute (Mike Jones) and used [[w:methamphetamine|methamphetamine]].

Haggard, a critic of [[w:gay marriage|gay marriage]] and homosexuality, is a leading social conservative voice. Author Jeff Sharlet reported that Haggard "talks to. . . Bush or his advisers every Monday" and opines that "no pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism."

In his church, Haggard preached "we don't have to debate about what we should think about homosexual activity, it's written in the Bible."

On Wednesday Haggard denied knowing the male escort, Jones, but admitted Friday that he had summoned the escort to give him a massage in a Denver hotel room and bought methamphetamine from him. He then followed up and said, "I was tempted, I bought it, but I never used it."

== Sources ==

*{{source|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/11/04/MNGRKM66991.DTL&feed=rss.news
|title=Church leader says he only got a massage Haggard denies paying for gay sex, adds he bought meth but threw it out
|author= Laurie Goodstein and Neela Banerjee
|pub=New York Times
|date=November 4, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/03/us/03minister.html?em&ex=1162702800&en=31f683c988424dfd&ei=5087%0A 
|title=Accused of Gay Liaison, Head of Evangelical Group Resigns
|author=Neela Banerjee 
|pub=New York Times
|date=November 4, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/haggard_politics
|title=Haggard Case Fuels Debate Over Hypocrisy
|author=David Crary
|pub=Associated Press
|date=November 3, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5112770,00.html
|title=Haggard steps down amid sex allegations
|author=
|pub=Rocky Mountain News
|date=November 2, 2006}}
*{{source|url=http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110006847
|title=Cheer Up, Conservatives!
|author=John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge
|pub=Wall Street Journal
|date=June 21, 2005}}

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[[Category:Christianity]]
[[Category:Religion]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:LGBT]]
[[Category:Drugs]]
[[Category:Prostitution]]
[[Category:Methamphetamine]]
On November 2, Ted Haggard resigned from the presidency of the National Association of Evangelicals and his pastorship in the New Life Church after allegations that he repeatedly engaged in homosexual sex with a prostitute (Mike Jones) and used methamphetamine.

Haggard, a critic of gay marriage and homosexuality, is a leading social conservative voice. Author Jeff Sharlet reported that Haggard "talks to. . . Bush or his advisers every Monday" and opines that "no pastor in America holds more sway over the political direction of evangelicalism."

In his church, Haggard preached "we don't have to debate about what we should think about homosexual activity, it's written in the Bible."

On Wednesday Haggard denied knowing the male escort, Jones, but admitted Friday that he had summoned the escort to give him a massage in a Denver hotel room and bought methamphetamine from him. He then followed up and said, "I was tempted, I bought it, but I never used it."
Christianity Religion Politics and conflicts United States North America LGBT Drugs Prostitution Methamphetamine