Ted Haggard Surprised No One as Allegations Once Again Surface of His Drug Usage and Male Sexual Encounters.

Stephan’s Quintet, a galaxy cluster showing huge shockwaves and tidal tails.#NASAWEBB #NASA

“Methamphetamine is a hideous drug. Meth makes a person paranoid, violent, and aggressive – making them a serious threat to society and law enforcement. And maybe more importantly, meth users are a threat to their own children and families.” Dirk Kempthorne


The Denver Gazette reports that Ted Haggard is in trouble again for the same thing he was in trouble with in 2006: Powerhouse preacher Ted Haggard faces new allegations of illicit behavior.

National evangelical Christian powerhouse Ted Haggard, who founded New Life Church in Colorado Springs in 1984, grew it to 14,000 worshippers and was excommunicated in 2006 amid accusations that he paid a male escort for sex and was using methamphetamine, is facing new allegations from another congregation he started in 2010, Saint James Church.

Some former members allege that Haggard has continued his tendencies toward same-sex encounters and illicit drug use, and they say they have proof.

First, there are reports of unwanted sexual encounters.

Two young men, one of whom was a minor at the time the alleged incidents occurred in 2019, claim on a recorded tape — which Sethman shared with church elders and The Gazette — that Haggard made them feel uncomfortable in his mannerisms he displayed while around them.

The minor said on the tape that his statement was unrehearsed and uncoerced, and he wanted people to know that Haggard touched him inappropriately on several occasions at the church.

Then there are the drugs alleged to be used for his coming birthday…Happy Birthday, Ted…

In the spring of 2012, Haggard allegedly asked a young male church member — for whom Haggard was providing drug counseling as part of the member’s rehabilitation as a heroin addict — to buy methamphetamine for Haggard.

The young male related the conversation to Sethman, who then asked another Saint James parishioner — a medical doctor — to come to Sethman’s house so the pair could confront Haggard.

Haggard admitted to having the methamphetamine, according to Sethman, and told the men he was preparing to use the meth to celebrate his upcoming birthday.

Haggard then asked Sethman and the doctor to go to his house with him to remove and dispose of the narcotic so he wouldn’t be tempted.

“We agreed,” Sethman said.

After arriving at Haggard’s residence, Sethman said Haggard pulled out a briefcase and gave it to Sethman to get rid of.

“He asked us to conceal the matter and said he would be accountable to us in the future,” Sethman said. “Which never happened.”

After Sethman left Haggard’s home with the briefcase, he said he decided to open it.

Inside, Sethman said he found a bag of methamphetamine with very little of the nearly 1 gram of meth left from what the young man had bought for Haggard. It also contained a “well-used” glass meth pipe, multiple sex toys, a DVD with two young males on the cover and a credit card with Ted Haggard’s name on it, Sethman said.

Ted Haggard’s blog-The Pastor’s Pen-and his bio: Did you know that in his last iteration, he was an SBC pastor? Add him to the list!

See what he leaves out in his bio.

Ted Haggard is the founding pastor of St. James Church in Colorado Springs, CO, the second church he and his wife, Gayle, have started since their marriage in 1978.

Their first church, New Life Church, enjoyed 22 consecutive years of double digit growth, primarily through conversions, and grew from 20 people meeting in the basement of their home to 14,000 people meeting on a $60 million campus. Ted served as president of the 30 million member National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) from 2003-2006. During these years, he often represented evangelicalism in the media and with world leaders. He also built The World Prayer Center and worldprayerteam.org. which was the largest network of praying believers in the world coordinated at the World Prayer Center. He also founded the Association of Life-Giving Churches, which merged with the Association of Related Churches in 2006. In 2006, Ted resigned from all leadership positions for a period of healing and restoration.

Four years later, in the summer of 2010, Ted and Gayle started St. James Church in their barn before purchasing an office building and auditorium for weekly services. Gayle released a New York Times best-selling book titled Why I Stayed in 2010, and her second book, Courageous Grace, in 2013. Ted was invited to switch his ordination to the Free Methodist Church in 2015, which he accepted. Prior to that he had been ordained Southern Baptist since 1978.

Ted does not mention his last sexual encounters and his use of drugs which caused him to resign in 2006. This is quite important. He presents himself as a guy who just needed a break for healing and restoration. Still not truth-telling after 16 years,

Haggard had his last known go-round with drugs, a male prostitute, and another male in 2006 and was supposed to finish counseling. He didn’t. Uh oh!

No question that most readers of TWW could have predicted this one.

The Roys Report looks at his previous problems in Disgraced Colorado Pastor Ted Haggard Faces New Allegations:

Haggard resigned from New Life Church in Colorado Springs in the wake of a scandal involving a Denver male prostitute. Haggard admitted at the time that he bought methamphetamine and paid the prostitute for massages. Later, it also emerged he’d had an inappropriate relationship with a young man at the megachurch he founded.

Following the initial scandal, several Christian leaders outlined steps and provided personal counsel to help Haggard undergo a “spiritual restoration” process. However, after only 14 months, those leaders reported that Haggard prematurely ended that process of transparent accountability, according to multiple sources.

Haggard changed the name of his church from St James to The Storehouse, a “house” church.

Haggard is now a Methodist (I’m sure they are thrilled) and, after starting St James Church and seeing a recent decline in membership, has changed its name to The Storehouse.

A House Church With Intergenerational Christian Believers

Saint James Church is a community of people experiencing life together. It’s a place where it’s okay to not be okay. It’s a place where you can be accepted as you are, experience an amazing depth of grace, and heal from your hurts. We are a church where people will be challenged, inspired and encouraged to embrace real life change that only Jesus can bring.

It’s OK not to be OK at this church.

Where have you heard this one before? That’s right, Tullian Tchividjian. Have fun reading this at his church, The Sanctuary.

It better be OK not to be OK at The Storehouse because I predict things will not be OK from this point forward. However, one can fool some of the people some of the time. Colorado Springs will be his “ministry field.”

It is worrisome that Haggard has services in his home, including children.

According to the Denver Gazette:

Haggard said 40 to 60 people have been attending his home services in recent weeks. The gatherings use his sermons as the basis, followed by discussion and fellowship.

Sethman said he’s concerned that as Haggard establishes his home ministry — including providing a children’s and youth ministry room in the basement, as Haggard describes in his sermons — that the potential for Haggard to pursue inappropriate actions with youths is high.

…Haggard said during his Easter sermon in April that he’s been preparing his home for the new church model by expanding a concrete pad in the backyard for outdoor services, and opening the basement to kids, who can use a pool table, play games and participate in other kid-friendly diversions.

“There is a micro-church movement called the home-church movement,” he said. “We felt it was right for our lives.”

Storehouse or Storyhouse Church?

A number of the reports about Haggard claim his new church is called Storyhouse Church. From what I can find, it is called The Storehouse. Could anyone let me know if I am mistaken?

Final Thought

Ted Haggard claims he was healed of his same-sex desires. Haggard has more serious problems than same-sex issues, which he apparently was not healed. His actions indicate that he may be a predator, which is far more serious. As I have often said, it is difficult to overcome predatory tendencies. He also appears, according to reports, to have abused methamphetamines. Sex abuse and drugs are a dangerous combination. Children will come to his home and go down into a basement for some sort of teaching. Do you remember another basement? Jerry Sandusky?

This is a very concerning situation, and I hope those who attend his church will take heed.

Comments

Ted Haggard Surprised No One as Allegations Once Again Surface of His Drug Usage and Male Sexual Encounters. — 67 Comments

  1. An elderly neighbor raised in Germany after breaking a subdivision restriction on placement of an outdoor building on her property said “You can do anything you want to in America.” That shouldn’t apply to the church.

  2. dee: This guy is a real piece of work!

    And he had a mega-church with 14,000 members! Proof that anyone can be successful in the American church if they have a touch of charisma, a gift of gab, and a bag of gimmicks.

  3. Gayle (Mrs. Ted) Haggard’s book “Why I Stayed”, authored with Angela Hunt, was released in January 2010. The book is the story of her marriage to Ted Haggard and how they survived his infidelity. The book also teaches the fundamental Christian message of forgiveness and restoration while chronicling the events that took place during the three years after the scandal broke. – wikipedia

    So, now another best seller book? Establish celebrity pastor status, then morally fail & re-establish, over & over, as a growth industry? Lots of stories to tell and books to sell?

  4. Ava Aaronson: Gayle (Mrs. Ted) Haggard

    Television and movie appearances:
    Celebrity Wife Swap (2012)
    Larry King Live
    CNN
    Oprah Winfrey
    HBO’s The Trials of Ted Haggard
    Divorce Court

    Books:
    Courageous Grace: Following the Way of Christ (2013)
    Why I Stayed: The Choices I Made in My Darkest Hour (2010)(with Angela Elwell Hunt)
    From This Day Forward: Making Your Vows Last a Lifetime (2006)(with Ted Haggard)
    A Life Embraced: A Hopeful Guide for the Pastor’s Wife (2004)
    Free to Soar (contributing author) (2005)
    Leading Women to the Heart of God (contributing author) (2002)

  5. Ava Aaronson:
    From This Day Forward: Making Your Vows Last a Lifetime (2006)(with Ted Haggard)

    His vows sure didn’t last a lifetime, did they?
    And hers……..??? Whew! I think if I was his wife, I be a divorcee ….. or in trouble for spousal abuse.

  6. Remember the shooting New Life Church in 2007?
    Matthew Murray shot and killed two people at a youth with a mission training center and later that same day shot and killed two more people people at New Life Church
    An article “The Nightmare of Christianiy” was written in the Nation in 2007 investigating the shooter’s background being homeschooled according to the Gotthard method

  7. Nancy2(aka Kevlar),

    Didn’t mean to throw shade on or in any way blame the wife.

    However, it seems like couple ministries may not always be as they appear (would be closer to my point of noting her activities).

    Another point is that no matter how a wife seems to legitimize her pastor husband, he may just really go off the rails anyway. It would be his doing, that she can neither prevent nor undo nor in the end, hide.

  8. “It’s OK not to be OK at this church.”

    No Sir Tullian & Sir Haggard, I spit on your cynical cannibalish “permissions”.

    I a powerless and autonomous underling decide all by myself where it is OK for me to not be OK.

    Thank you very much sirs.

    tomke: youth with a mission

    They had a bad effect on my then vicar about 4 years ago.

  9. It’s just a rebranding, a “now doing business as” situation. There was a ‘Statement of Trade Name’ filed by “Ted Arthur Haggard” with the Colorado Secretary of State, April 25, 2022:

    “True name: St. James Church”
    “Trade name: The Storehouse at Seton Place”
    further described as “The House Church ministry of St. James Church”

  10. Max: And he had a mega-church with 14,000 members!

    i.e. One helluva lot of Tithe$$$$$$ coming in.

  11. Ava Aaronson: Didn’t mean to throw shade on or in any way blame the wife.

    Though her CELEBRITY TV appearances and list of books (Christianese Best-Sellers?) does make you wonder just how involved she was.

    Or putting up with his antics for Wife-of-The-CELEBRITY Prestige (like Camille Cosby).

  12. After Sethman left Haggard’s home with the briefcase, he said he decided to open it.

    Inside, Sethman said he found a bag of methamphetamine with very little of the nearly 1 gram of meth left from what the young man had bought for Haggard. It also contained a “well-used” glass meth pipe, multiple sex toys, a DVD with two young males on the cover and a credit card with Ted Haggard’s name on it, Sethman said.

    Most of the Meth missing (either “diverted” or already smoked up)…
    Well-used meth pipe…
    “Multiple sex toys” (details not specified)…
    “DVD with two young males on the cover” (I think we can guess the subject and probable title)…
    And apparently a “burner” credit card…

    Appropriate for a ManaGAWD whose “GOD H8S FAGS!” sermons were second only to Fred Phelps.
    But then Rank Hath Its Privileges.
    Touch Not Mine Anointed and all that.

    And there was a story that came out after the first scandal, about how he (or at least his obvious disquise) was known on sight to the staff of local gay sex shops.

    Haggard changed the name of his church from St James to The Storehouse, a “house” church.

    House Church – the latest fad for REAL Church, the Cure for Megachurch corruption.
    Just like Megachurch was the last time around.
    (Though House Church fad still sounds like “Ten guys in socks chanting in somebody’s living room” Syndrome.)

    Sex abuse and drugs are a dangerous combination.

    With or without the Rock & Roll.

    Children will come to his home and go down into a basement for some sort of teaching. Do you remember another basement? Jerry Sandusky?

    Or Unca Raggy’s soundproofed haunted studio?
    (“In This Basement, No One Can Hear You Scream”…)
    Did John Wayne Gacy’s house have a basement?

    “Methamphetamine is a hideous drug. Meth makes a person paranoid, violent, and aggressive

    Just ask Adolf Hitler or his Inner Ring – his Herr Doktor Feelgood was shooting the Fuehrer up daily with “vitamin” shots spiked with Pervetin (first-generation Meth). Explains a LOT of Germany’s behavior from ’43 on when you factor in the Anointed Moses Model (“Fuehrerprizip”) of that regime.

  13. It is a massive red flag when pertinent information is deliberately withheld or distorted. Anyone trying to make an informed decision regarding whether or not to get involved with Haggard needs to know what he did. Information control is a really big deal. I attended a church that just hired a new pastor – absolutely zero info about the old pastor (who had been around for 10 years) on the website. Red flag.

  14. Paul K: I attended a church that just hired a new pastor – absolutely zero info about the old pastor (who had been around for 10 years) on the website. Red flag.

    If you ever find out what happened, be sure to let us know.

  15. dee,

    This post brings to mind:
    ~Maya Angelou. “Remember this because it will happen many times in your life. When people show you who they are the first time believe them.”

    This is not to say Jesus’ redemption doesn’t work or doesn’t take. I believe Jesus really does change people from the inside out.

    However, rebranding, relocating, & re-opening the business do not qualify as fundamental change. Celebrity is not an endorsement from God. People applause and praise can actually be for the wrong thing. Money success may not indicate Eternity riches in Heaven. Jesus warned us about all of these false pretenses.

    What is church? A “pastor” and his wife gathering a following? Or, following Jesus.

  16. “It’s a place where it’s okay to not be okay.”
    +++++++++++++++++

    hmmm…..

    perhaps there’s merit in thinking through where the boundaries come from that define ‘not be okay’.

    boundaries that shrink to a 2 foot circle in which one can only stand still (or at the most do weird jumping jacks) sort of compel/propel a person to ‘go astray’.

    or boundaries that shrink further & fit like someone else’s worn-in shoe mean it’s not even possible for a person to be ‘okay’, defining them as as one big living problem, 24 hours a day.

    artificial boundaries which create a host of new compounding artificial problems.
    .
    .
    an oblique way of getting my point that there is value in living honestly (legally, and with philadelphia, but honestly).

    removing oneself from a system that inherently makes one dishonest, (perhaps miserable), and a hypocrite has merit.

  17. And now we know why I can smell a “we wanna be just like New Life Church was” establishment a mile away.

    Rejoice with us: since midnight we have had officially 4.27 inches of rain. In reality, when we went to bed at 10:30 our rain gauge was empty. Got up to see it pegged full at 5 1/2 inches. Had to wait another 30 minutes for the heaviest downpour ever to let up enough to empty it. Since then we have had right around another inch. No idea when the gauge pegged last night, so no idea how many inches might not have been measured. WOOO HOOO and thank you Lord!

  18. It’s quite possible Mrs Haggard’s writing keeps the couple financially solvent. Some women do stand by their unfaithful husbands. I know one who stayed with her adulterous spouse 50+ years. It was more than scandalous how he managed to stay in ministry. Many knew, but with non-denom churches, the pastor can just move on or start his own church. He was still pastoring when he died a few years ago.

  19. Haggard’s ‘denial’ of his personal situation is problematic in that,

    IF he was ABLE to recognize and acknowledge what he sees as his sinful proclivities,

    THEN he would know to NOT PUT HIMSELF or anyone else in any position where what he considered ‘sinful’ would be tempted

    Is the man in ‘denial’ and on drugs to self-medicate away his confusion/pain?

    OR

    Is this man a predator who knows exactly willingly what he is doing?

    God have mercy. Libera nos a malo.

  20. Ava Aaronson,

    It’s called “passing the trash” in private school circles (I work in a private school). Someone is fired for doing “bad” things (often of a sexual nature), and they are sent on to another school with glowing recommendations. When this pastor was found out at the church I attended 40 years ago,he was allowed to leave with a good recommendation. It turned out that this had been the case at his previous three churches. I believe the last church he was in was one he had founded,as he didn’t have any credibility anymore. I was overseas when my own church split, and didn’t attend there regularly after that. I mentioned the situation to a church in our denomination, and he told me to stop gossiping. I was appalled.

  21. Paul K,

    Is it typical to have information about former pastors hanging around the website? I’ve seen a mix when visiting different churches in the area.

    But then, two of my former (shady) churches have scrubbed their websites. One has no mention now of being a Harvest Bible Chapel plant. And the other that underwent a Calvinista takeover recently deleted all their sermons from before the takeover. So, there’s that, I guess.

  22. Heck, Haggard’s story was big enough news that it’s impossible for anyone to say they don’t know.

    I thought he was gone, baby, gone after 2006.

    There’s no good guys here. Sethman is as much a clown as Haggard. What kind of folks follow these fools?

    Ok, his original church he fooled and they excommunicated him. But anyone after that who got on board his crazy train? I really don’t feel anything for them. Feel bad for their kids. Parents are morons.

  23. Wild Honey,

    My church proudly displays a photo of three of our pastors (the current one, one who was serving in a another church, and one who was-since passed away-retired) when they all participated in a funeral of a much-loved church member. My current church has always had amicable pastoral transitions in its 60 years as a church. They’re mentioned on our web site in the history section. But, we haven’t had a scandalous pastor as yet. Of all the churches I’ve been in, this one has been the best administratively. We had one elder do something really bad, but it was dealt with lovingly, carefully, and discreetly. The congregation got necessary information, but the family wasn’t hung out to dry, either.

  24. Jack: What kind of folks follow these fools?

    Sweet dreams are made of this
    Who am I to disagree?
    I’ve traveled the world and the seven seas
    Everybody’s lookin’ for something

    Some of them want to use you
    Some of them want to get used by you
    Some of them want to abuse you
    Some of them want to be abused

    —- Eurythmics 1983 —-

  25. Linn: “passing the trash”

    Makes sense.
    And talking about what goes on is gossip? No wonder the trash keeps getting passed around. When the pedo priests in our area were found out, it turns out they all had trails of reports all over the USA and then some. Tragic. The people in charge didn’t want to deal with it so more damage was done. Polite Society doesn’t tell, so – tragedy.

  26. “See what he leaves out in his bio.”

    Besides the scandal? Any mention of actual pastoring. Or Jesus.

    Swap out a few names and this could be the bio of an entrepreneur CEO.

  27. Ava Aaronson: What is church? A “pastor” and his wife gathering a following? Or, following Jesus.

    IMO, most of the American evangelical church have that confused. They may say they are “Christ-followers” on the website, but it doesn’t play out in their lives … in both pulpit and pew.

  28. Nancy2(aka Kevlar): And hers……..??? Whew! I think if I was his wife, I be a divorcee ….. or in trouble for spousal abuse.

    And lose the Wealth and Fame and Prestige of being the Wife of a CELEBRITY ManaGAWD?
    “Just like Camille (Mrs Pill) Cosby, Except CHRISTIAN(TM)!”

  29. Jack: What kind of folks follow these fools?

    Born-Again Bible-Believing Real True CHRISTIANS(TM) with the Spiritual Gift of Discernment(TM).

  30. Linn: It’s called “passing the trash” in private school circles (I work in a private school). Someone is fired for doing “bad” things (often of a sexual nature), and they are sent on to another school with glowing recommendations.

    i.e. “He’s THEIR Problem Now.”

  31. linda: Rejoice with us: since midnight we have had officially 4.27 inches of rain.

    Where are you located? Kentucky?

  32. dee: I heard that Hitler was addicted to opoids. Were those his “vitamin shots?”

    Don’t know about Opioids (which would have been natural Opiates back then) but as I understand it, the vitamin shots were laced with Pervetin (first-generation Meth). According to one documentary, Himmler had the SS get a sample and analyze it. (Then Himmler sat on the results for the duration – probable Palace Intrigue.)

    Long-term Methamphetamine Psychosis (and Meth Crashes like what happened on on D-Day) explain a lot.

  33. Paul K: It is a massive red flag when pertinent information is deliberately withheld or distorted.

    Like “(Unspecifid) Moral Failings”?
    Like “Multiple (unspecified) sex toys”?
    Like “DVD with two young males on the cover”?
    Must protect the Mighty ManaGAWD’s Reputation (even when there’s no reputation left) –
    It’s for the GOSPEL!

  34. Muff Potter,

    “I’ve listened to preachers
    I’ve listened to fools
    I’ve watched all the dropouts
    Who make their own rules
    One person conditioned to rule and control
    The media sells it, and you live the role”

    Ozzy Osbourne – crazy train

  35. Jack,

    “…Ozzy Osbourne…”
    ++++++++++++++++

    blimey… so much more thoughtful than he appears.

    he scared me too much as a kid so i nixed him off my radar.

    same with kiss. i still have difficulty separating gene simmons from the terrifying image on the destroyer poster coming after me that was on my cousin’s wall.

  36. HUG
    Headless Unicorn Guy,

    No, we are in the Ozarks. Our town got about 2 inches, the airport got that 4.27. We measured 6 1/2 all told so far this weekend in our rain gauge. We know it was more, since the gauge was full yesterday when we got up and the downpour was too strong to go empty it for another half hour. I suspect at least an inch in that time span. We are not in the steepest hills and hollers here either, and our house is on a ridge. No flooding for us, our town did not flood, and we are all quite grateful as we still are in an official extreme drought. But the cistern is recharged, the public water wells should be good to go for several weeks, and we are so blessed. Very hot weather coming. One model forecasts return to drought by Tuesday, the others say chance of rain again midweek. Praying we get some! So many trees have died this summer.

  37. Ted Haggard is only one among many church leaders restored to American pulpits after gross moral failure who should have been disqualified permanently from Christian ministry. We’ve become so open-minded to “There but for the grace of God go I” that our spiritual brains have fallen out! There’s a segment of the church that loves pastors who live no differently than they do … it makes them feel better about themselves. We are an ungodly mess in many corners of Christendom … when judgment falls, it will fall on the House of God first.

  38. Ava Aaronson: When enough money comes in, buildings go up, music ministry performs, events calendar filled, coffee is served … then, church?

    Don’t forget PASTOR’s Furtick Mansion and Private Jet…

  39. dee,

    This works both ways. A head minister I knew and his new assistant minister at the time, whom one had no obvious reason to not look up to, and their “senior leadership team” conspicuously avoided the slightest mention of the previous assistant minister who had had a pivotal role at a crucial moment (whom I knew and had met there several times). They must have felt very insecure in the light of his non-fancy, straightforward heritage.

  40. Ava Aaronson: When enough money comes in, buildings go up, music ministry performs, events calendar filled, coffee is served

    I actually know people who go to church ONLY for the free coffee/pastries and cool music. Jesus? Jesus who?

  41. elastigirl: blimey… so much more thoughtful than he appears.

    he scared me too much as a kid so i nixed him off my radar.

    same with kiss. i still have difficulty separating gene simmons from the terrifying image on the destroyer poster coming after me that was on my cousin’s wall

    Sometimes the imagery didn’t match the message. One of my favorite Iron Maiden songs “Run to the Hills” is a scathing indictment of colonization.

    Then there was the imagery on the band t-shirts with mascot “Eddie” coming out of a grave with a Confederate flag “the South shall rise” which I would never wear now – knowing all the history.

    Hits and misses.

  42. Jack,

    Gene Simmons is not consistently the most warm-hearted person in real life. The interview with Terry Gross, twenty years ago, still makes my skin crawl. It showed his personality, rather than a bad day.

  43. Friend: Gene Simmons is not consistently the most warm-hearted person in real life. The interview with Terry Gross, twenty years ago, still makes my skin crawl. It showed his personality, rather than a bad day.

    Not a fan of the guy either and wasn’t defending him. Their popularity is a form of rebellion against the hypocrisy of popular culture including religion.

    In your above statement when we read the bible literally you could say

    “(God) is not consistently the most warm-hearted person in real life. The missives from the old testament still make my skin crawl. It showed his personality, rather than a bad day.”

    It’s all a matter of context.

  44. Jack,

    “It’s all a matter of context.”
    +++++++++++++

    well, it was an amazing moment when I happened to watch Gene Simmmons’ Family Jewels, and there he was in the kitchen, the demon in all his middle aged-portliness & thinning hair, asking his son to go to the grocery store to buy some whipped cream. “spray whipped cream”, he clarified.

  45. Max: I actually know people who go to church ONLY for the free coffee/pastries and cool music.Jesus?Jesus who?

    Actually that should really be spelled “KEWL! music”.
    Better describes the emotional baggage and shallow emptiness.

  46. Friend:
    Jack,

    I didn’t have “God = Gene Simmons” on today’s Bingo card, yet here we are.

    Hey, I’m a Knight in Satin’s Service, what can I say?

  47. Jack,

    For what it’s worth, years ago there was this guy in local fandom (a musician and Screen Extras Guild member known as “Zachariah the Rockin’ Unicorn”) who claimed he once won a “tongue-off” against Gene Simmons.

  48. Muff Potter,

    I see no humor in it.

    He’s gay. That’s fine.

    Soliciting teenage boys isn’t fine. Nor is meth, which is a party drug (at 1st) for many people (of all sexual orientations) because of how it affects libido – male libido in particular. A lot of meth abuse begins for this very reason.

    Haggard is pathetic. And it’s deeply disturbing that he’s what’s known as a “chickenhawk.” If he wants to have sex with other adult men, fine. But *not* this.

    I do not see anything to laugh about here. Muff, i hope you’ll take time tomthink about the implications of your comment. It’s hurtful. Full stop.

  49. Linn,

    No different than the persistent reshuffling of sexually abusive priests from diocese to diocese, parish to parish.

  50. christiane,

    Christiane – men who use crystal meth know how it affects theur libido.

    So, # 3.

    It’s not about him being gay, it’s about preying on teenagers and all the rest. He should never be permitted to work in any field where he has contact with young people. Ever.

  51. numo,

    AKA it starts out pumping up the “libido” until you’re on “Top of the World, Ma!”

    Then the addiction/tolerance diminishing returns kick in, the dosage has to get bigger and bigger for less and less effect, and you turn into Gollum jonesing for “My PRECIOUSSSSSSSSS”.

  52. numo: It’s not about him being gay, it’s about preying on teenagers and all the rest.

    Yet Christians will tunnel-vision on Teh Gay and ignore the Ehebephilia Factor.
    Like if he went after Opposite-Sex Jail Bait (like Polishing-the-Shaft Schaap), that would be OK.

    Remember Voddie Baucham and “As a Man gets older, his eye turns towards Younger Women”?
    Younger and Younger, to PROVE to himself He’s Not Getting Old.
    * Like a Sixty-something Michael Jackson, plastic surgery long gone south, screaming into a mirror “i’M YOUNG! REALLY! I AM! I’M YOUNG! I’M YOUNG! I’M YOUNG!”
    * As an Ehebephile in that one movie clip watching high school girls go past with the line “I keep getting older, they stay the same age.”
    And that applies no matter what the sexual orientation.

  53. The drugs are what enables the sexual escapades. The man is 66 years old. Even though he is good looking, he probably does not have a lot of young men chasing him. He offers the drugs in exchange for sex.

  54. R2:
    The drugs are what enables the sexual escapades. The man is 66 years old. Even though he is good looking, he probably does not have a lot of young men chasing him. He offers the drugs in exchange for sex.

    Ever heard of the term “Cruising for Coke Whores”?

    “Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll,
    Doo doo doo doo doo doo!”
    — Ian Dury and the Blockheads, (song of the same name), 1977
    (And Haggard scores two out of three on that one! Remember Rock & Roll is the Devil’s Music!)