DENVER (AP) -- One of four ministers who oversaw three weeks of intensive counseling for the Rev. Ted Haggard said the disgraced minister emerged convinced that he is ''completely heterosexual.''

Haggard also said his sexual contact with men was limited to the former male prostitute who came forward with sexual allegations, the Rev. Tim Ralph of Larkspur told The Denver Post for a story in Tuesday's edition.

''He is completely heterosexual,'' Ralph said. ''That is something he discovered. It was the acting-out situations where things took place. It wasn't a constant thing.''

Ralph said the board spoke with people close to Haggard while investigating his claim that his only extramarital sexual contact happened with Mike Jones. The board found no evidence to the contrary.

''If we're going to be proved wrong, somebody else is going to come forward, and that usually happens really quickly,'' he said. ''We're into this thing over 90 days and it hasn't happened.''

Haggard resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals last year after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced. He was also forced out from the 14,000 New Life Church that he founded years ago in his basement after Jones alleged Haggard paid him for sex and sometimes used methamphetamine when they were together. Haggard, who is married, has publicly admitted to ''sexual immorality.''

Haggard said in an e-mail Sunday, his first communication in three months to church members, that he and his wife, Gayle, plan to pursue master's degrees in psychology. The e-mail said the family hasn't decided where to move but that they were considering Missouri and Iowa.

Another oversight board member, the Rev. Mike Ware of Westminster, said the group recommended the move out of town and the Haggards agreed.

''This is a good place for Ted,'' Ware said. ''It's hard to heal in Colorado Springs right now. It's like an open wound. He needs to get somewhere he can get the wound healed.''

It was also the oversight board that strongly urged Haggard to go into secular work.

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Three weeks for praying that gay away, he's now straight? That's just hilarious. Oh yeah... Remember churchs call it "same sex attraction disorder" and it can be cured through the power of christ! Because being a homosexual is just being completely evil!

I still think Haggard is gay or at least bi-sexual if he really likes it or not. I guess his religion has brainwashed him to the point where he hates himself for acting on his urges.

Faith as delusion. What a lovely role model he'll make, as he now becomes the poster child for those that would clamor , hallelujah! He must have downloaded some exodus programing. You know what they say. You can dig a million ditches and never be called a ditch digger, but suck one Johnson and you're a Johnson sucker, for life baby! Hell, this boy should run for office. Red States would swallow this.

Well then, isn't that special.
No comment on the drug angle though, eh?

I guess the Churches think it is worse to be gay than a drug addict.

A three week cure for gayness....do they honestly expect people to believe this?

It's simply not that easy to overcome one's short-comings in this respect, so unfortunately, I'd have to say that there is much more at stake here than simply wanting what's best for him. This is something that will need much time and much sincere effort on his part to properly resolve; he needs to humble himself once again, and re-assess all aspects of his life. Power corrupts and oft leads men astray. He should have recognized that what he was doing was wrong and evil, and that he was misleading and misguiding many, many people, and should have removed himself from all positions of influence.

KGS

He's in denial

Perhaps the Missouri or Iowa Y.M.C.A.'s could put his family up for a little while...


All together now...

It's fun to stay at the Y.M.C.A.

.......

<sorry, couldn't help myself>

Give it a few months and ..

For taking drugs or being gay?

I think that my post is clear enough.

KGS

No, really it isn't. it was a fair question.

Uh, maybe it's just me, but claiming to have "cured" his gay tendencies in three weeks DOESN'T exactly lend itself to sounding as though this man should pursue, let alone be awarded with, a Master's in Psychology...

Well, actually, yes it is, but I'm not going to argue the issue. I think one thing you fail to realize is, unless you've been following some of the discussions here, the member who responded to my post is one of a small group antagonists that have been trying to have me and my opinions suppressed, if not removed, from UM. He's just trying to bait me into another discussion where I'll end up "preaching" (in my opinion, all I've been doing is substantiating my arguments) and end up being sanctioned. My response illucidates my opinion on the matter quite well and will therefore not be elaborated on further.



KGS

Since KGS wont answer its probably the gay thing.

And people wonder why I left all forms of organized religion.

I used to believe that homosexuality was deviant, I don't believe that any longer. I believe that it is either nature/nuture. I can't definately say which, cause to me there's not enough proof. But let me ask you this, why would someone WANT to be part of a group that often is ridiculed or worse just for being? If you are ridiculed for your ethnic background, that is something you can't control or hide. Ridicule & fear has kept some people who are homosexual hiding for their entire lives! That, IMO, is not something that you wake up one day & say, "Oh, yes! Can I please be a traget of scorn, hatred & violence? PLEASE!"

After leaving the church I got to know people who are homosexual. They aren't deviants. They aren't "trying to make a statement". They are just people who are trying to live their lives just the same as anyone else on this planet.

Do I believe Ted Haggard? No. It's all a big show, that is all it is. He doesn't want to look like an idiot, loose his church money & fame. To me, religious hypocrites are the absolute worst. They say what they think you want to hear, then turn around & do all the evil they have preached against! Whatta load of BS!

Course he is just the most recent in a looooong line of these creeps! For example there Jerry Falwell, Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Tilton....I also have to throw in the priests in the Catholic church who have molested young children!!! And the list goes on & on. These people have engaged in all sorts of sexual activities that spoken against in the Bible, their handbook. They have also gotten into drugs/excessive alcohol & illegal activities. And these people want to lead me to Heaven? Think not!

He's is not "saved from homosexuality" cause you can't be saved from it. It is a part of who you are, either by nature or nurture (like I said...not sure which). Also if prayer saved him, why didn't it save him BEFORE he acted upon his urges? Or is praying in difficult situations just for those who AREN'T so enlightened?

LOL ROFL ROOFLSTOOFLS and LAWLZERBEANS!

In other words, this whole thing made me laugh. Hard.

Really, the only thing he has to be ashamed about is his additude about homosexuality. It's not evil.. it's not the work of whatever evil goobledygook. It's natural, and it's just as lovely as hetrosexualness.

I'm sorry.. but three weeks to cure this mythical "same sex attraction dissorder" is just as moronic as half the "possessions" people claim their sugar hopped up kids have.

Ugh... If there was a Jesus up in whatever heaven... He's probaly doing a faceplant and groaning and these biggots.

Okay, if I understand you correctly, you claim that homosexuality isn't deviant behaviour but you suggest that homosexuals do recognize it as being "wrong" because they willfully wouldn't choose to be homosexual; yet you then state that you aren't sure whether homosexuality is the product of "nature" or "nurture". Obviously, then, you don't believe that homosexuality is brought about through "nurture" (although this would fly in the face of volumes of research on the nature of parental, social and media influences on children's psychological development). Even if homosexuality is a product of "biology," logic and common sense should lead one to conclude that human reproduction has been structured in such a way that there is only one manner in which copulation can lead to reproduction in a natural setting.

If a person who claims to be Christian engages in conduct that according to the Bible is sinful, then obviously they are sinners, and if they don't change their ways, then they will reap the consequences as stated clearly in the Bible. This person misled many people, as have many other so-called religious leaders in the past; but Jesus states in the New Testament that there will be such people. Ultimately, being Christian is about following the teachings of Christ, and these are clearly outlined in the New Testament for all to read. The legitimacy of what is written in the Bible is not contingent on how others fail to live up to them. People just use these things as excuses for turning their back on Christ because they for whatever reason can't or don't want to place their faith in Him.

KGS

Incidently, if you hear of people who claim to be law abiding citizens end up committing crimes, does that make the law and the legal system illegitimate and hypocritical?

The infamous Michael savage once said, "Never trust a politician or a religous person who needs 2 cans of hairspray and makeup to appear perfect"

Wow, the concerns that I have about you have multiplied exponentially.

KGS

No reasons to have concerns for me. I like accepting people for who they are (save those who get pushy about their beliefs and get all up in my face about it...)

So you dont like pagans gay people or people who say Earth is billions of years old.

"same sex attraction disorder" What a diagnosis. I imagine not to far in the future, we'll hear about a medication for this. Or we'll hear it's declared an official disability so that gay people will then be relegated to having a disorder. Which would make them less than equal to all "normal" i.e. straight, citizens.
Why doesn't someone work on calling bigotry a disorder!? Something official so the FDA and AMA can vie for dominion, like: "Offensive monomania disorder".

Had to fix something for you.

No. KGS says Earth is a couple of thousands of years old and dosnt like it when people say its billions of years old but thats off topic.

Ahhh. right then. I was still laughing so much that I totaly misread what you said

Just hearing a belief like that makes me chuckle.. even if it's coming from a Christian, there is so much evidence to the contrary.. fossils, light from stars billions of lightyears away, heheh.

heh, I've never heard this term "same-sex attraction disorder". Who came up with that phrase? And if this is something the "churches" teach then why have I not heard of it until now, being in a church for 7 years and all that jazz........

Put it down to American fundies PA.

That and the American fascination with "disorders"

Because we here in america have to have disorders for everything.. so we don't get to take the blame for our actions.

Kids don't behave(usually due to parents not discaplinning their brats) it's Antiathoritorian disorder. Eat to much fast food? It's fast food addiction disorder.

feeling like the guy in the next cubicle is some sexy manmeat?(while you're a man yourself) You have same sex attraction disorder!

*sighs and shakes her head*

No.. It's you don't disciplin your kids and teach them right from wrong... You are to damned lazy to cook and eat healthy... and you're gay or bisexual... or maybe even bi curious.


Though with the tpoic at hand... It's not his fault he likes other men... 3 weeks will not make him stop likeing men.. . and people who think that they can council "the gay" out of someone is just moronic. That's like trying to council me so that I turn into a man. YOU CAN'T COUNCIL OUT GENETICS!!

Now.. bigotry... that can be counciled out. Because there ain't no gene that makes people bigots. That's their own choice..

I have never thought any man to be sexy....whats up with that?
That would make me throw up...period.
Genetics makes him gay?
If that were the case...who would be here to talk about it?
gayness = extinction so if its so right why?
There is a reason that there are men and women or do you not understand that?
Same sex= extinct..............period

Soooo, because my genetics give me blue eyes, that means ALL people have blue eyes?

How about artistic talent? Why can some people express themselves through paint or sketch, and others can't draw a stick figure?

Your grasp of genetica and hard wired psychology is rather weak

Not really - There is still the bi-sexuals, people who didn't know any better before they had kids, society/social pressures and such through out history.

I think it could also be a choice. The Taliban is having a problem in Afghanistan lately from their people taking young boys into their tents. So much that they had to put out a set of rules a couple months ago telling them to knock it off. I guess they couldn't find any women, so boys were the next best thing.

Its just embarrassing that we in the world would place such limitations on ones sexual expression, of course the guy is gay or Bi...What kind 'god' asks of his worshippers to deny who they are.......Gay men have sex with gay men thats what they do. its not evil its not a sin its not a mistake ...The bible hasn't figured in alot of htings could it be it missed that there is more than one way to embrace your sexua;ilty...Really for me as long as it is consenting adults i find all expressions of sexuality beautiful...I'l mention this too many, many men and females find two woman to be beautiful and a turn on and many many women find two men beautiful too i'm one of them... ...isn't it time we stop with the gay homobhobic label obseession and let them be who cares.... gee whiz...

I jsut read SC Bravo lady bravo...I agree, we can certainly council out homophobia and bibles that generate hatred and shunning, after all religon is a product and lets not forget the consumer does have the power...I say the spot light is pointing right at relgion wondering why they are insisting on being hateful and not trying to understand, not trying to rise above their ignorance.....Hmmm makes you wonder.....,

Ok...I'm sorry that I said same sex is extinction........my bad

Exactly. He is Gay. Just look at those wonderful full lips of his. LOL

Gee, have you never seen an actor, or athelete and thought he was handsome?

Or is that too gay for you? Or are you the type to look away if shown a picture of Michaelangelo's 'David'?


Can you not appreciate the beauty of the human form, both female & male?

If not, I am sad for you.

My reply has nothing to do with religion at all...I don't believe in a god.
Common sense tells me a man is not supposed to be with a man and same with women.
Personally I think those that choose the same sex and cannot have a child should live happily ever after on an island.
If you think what you do is normal...then the island will populate. It won't....why?

Why in the world would I think someone of the same sex to be handsome? Thats perverted. I'm sad for you!!!!

Just because you think someone of the same sex as handsome doesn't mean you want to sleep with them. I am not blind I can see George Cooney is a lot better looking than I'll ever be, but I wouldn't to have sex with. I might hang out with him to catch the broken hearted women he casts off, though. I don't think Haggard was gay, some people will do anything to get their fix.

Don't waste your breath on him DW.

He is homophobic with a capital H.

Well, look at the consequences of not putting limitations on sexuality: Anne Nicole Smith, for one. What a horribly shameful situation this is. Not only was a child born to a woman who exemplified the trashy side of modern culture, now she is motherless, the subject of a pitiful scandal, a legacy which she will be burdened with the rest of her life. And think, this sort of thing is going on all across North America. Yeah, let's not put limitations on sexual behaviour--the last thing we want to be doing is raising kids in stable nuclear families (not saying all nuclear families are stable, but studies show well-adjusted children tend to come from them). And people like you fancy themselves to be "progressive". Shameful.

KGS

I prefer to respect rather than "appreciate" the human body. Nothing good comes from lusting after flesh.

KGS

Ya your right I guess it is a redneck thing. Me I don't care what direction people go in, it is not my business what they do in bed. Love is a good in all it many forms.

I don't know about that. I can think of a lot of good things.

Homophobic? If that means that a man should be with a woman you are correct.
just as a doe deer hooks up with a buck....or a lion procreates with a lioness......on and on.
Homophobic?...no....normal.

How old are you? You do know that in the recent past, it was considered a mental illness, and that under pressure from the gay "rights" movement, this was changed, although to my knowledge, there's no medical basis for doing so. There are indications that this has got the ball rolling in terms of other alternative lifestyles. The Supreme Court of Canada has already ruled that some child porn is in fact "legitimate" art, polygamy is getting much more attention, some of it tacitly sympathetic, and some political parties in Canada are supportive of legalization of prostitution and swinging, among other things. In The Netherlands, there is even a politcal party for pedophiles. So clearly the gay "rights" movement has blazed a trail for others to follow, and people who support gay "rights" are in fact lending their tacit approval to things like pedophelia. The fact that some people consider disapproval of inappropriate sexual behaviour to be biggotry really speaks volumes as far as I'm concerned.

KGS

LOL so then, if you were looking at Da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa', you could respect it rather than appreciate it? How mundane.

Look out swampy animals do a lot of homosexual behaviors. Look at it this was every gay man means less competition for us.

Yeah but DW, Bi-sexuals have twice the chance of hooking up.