More Bad Rightwing News As Another White Rightwing Pedo-Minister Faces More Gay Sex Accusations

[G Ray]

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."