Another White Rightwing Pedo-Minister Faces More Gay Sex Accusations

[G Ray]

Haggard faces more gay-sex accusations
Disgraced pastor Ted Haggard's former church disclosed Friday that the gay
sex scandal that caused his downfall extends to a young male church volunteer
who reported having a sexual relationship with Haggard.

Disgraced evangelical leader Ted Haggard's former church disclosed Friday
that the gay-sex scandal that caused his downfall extends to a young male
church volunteer who reported having a sexual relationship with Haggard — a
revelation that comes as Haggard tries to repair his public image.

Brady Boyd, who succeeded Haggard as senior pastor of the 10,000-member New
Life Church in Colorado Springs, told The Associated Press that the man came
forward to church officials in late 2006 shortly after a Denver male
prostitute claimed to have had a three-year cash-for-sex relationship with
Haggard.

Boyd said an "overwhelming pool of evidence" pointed to an "inappropriate,
consensual sexual relationship" that "went on for a long period of time ...
it wasn't a one-time act." Boyd said the man was in his early 20s at the
time. He said he was certain the man was of legal age when it began.

Reached Friday night, Haggard declined to comment and said all interviews
would have to be arranged through a publicist for HBO, which is airing a
documentary about him this month.

Boyd said the church reached a legal settlement to pay the man for counseling
and college tuition, with one condition being that none of the parties
involved discuss the matter publicly.

Boyd said a Colorado Springs TV station reached him Thursday to say the young
man was planning to provide a detailed report of his relationship with
Haggard to the station. Boyd said the church preferred to keep the matter
private, but it was the man's decision to go public.

The disclosure comes as Haggard, 52, is about to give a series of high-
profile interviews to promote the cable documentary about his time in exile.
He is scheduled to appear on CNN's Larry King Live on Thursday, the date of
the documentary's premiere, and already has taped "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

'Not hush money'
In early 2007, New Life Church disclosed that an investigation uncovered new
evidence that Haggard engaged in "sordid conversation" and "improper
relationships" — but didn't go into detail. Earlier, a church board member
had said there was no evidence that Haggard had sexual relations with anyone
but Mike Jones, the former male prostitute.

Haggard confessed to undisclosed "sexual immorality" after Jones' allegations
and resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals and
from New Life Church, where he faced being fired.

Anticipating criticism of the settlement with the former church volunteer,
Boyd said Friday that it was in the best interests of all involved. He would
not name the volunteer or the settlement amount.

"It wasn't at all a settlement to make him be quiet or not tell his story,"
Boyd said. "Our desire was to help him. Here was a young man who wanted to
get on with his life. We considered it more compassionate assistance —
certainly not hush money. I know what's what everyone will want to say
because that's the most salacious thing to say, but that's not at all what it
was."
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He said that "secondarily, it's not great for our church either" that the
story be told. Boyd said Haggard knew about the settlement two years ago.

In a letter e-mailed Friday to New Life Church members, Boyd said of the
settlement and agreement not to talk: "This decision was made not as an
attempt to conceal wrongdoings, but to protect him from those who would seek
to exploit him. His actions now suggest that he has changed his mind."

The letter said the church "received reports of a number of incidents of
inappropriate behavior" after Haggard's fall. "In each case, we have tried
our very best to do the right thing each time, including disciplinary action
when appropriate."

Speaking out
Boyd said the "inappropriate behavior" referred to the man who was the
volunteer involved with Haggard. After Haggard's fall, another church staff
member resigned after admitting to what was described as "sexual misconduct."

Boyd said the church will not take action against the man if he tells his
story in the press.

"We have legal standing to do that, but not the desire to," he said.

Boyd said he had spoken to the man once and came away with the impression
that he was speaking out because of the documentary. "I think what caused
this young man to be a bit aggravated was Ted being seen as a victim, when he
himself had experienced a great deal of hurt," Boyd said. "I seriously doubt
this man would have come forward if the documentary had not been made."

In an AP interview this month before an appearance in front of TV critics in
California, Haggard described his sexuality as complex and something that
can't be put into "stereotypical boxes."