Philip Crouse, who was from Alaska, died in the Arvada shooting.
METH AND MAN ASS |
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© Paul Hipp 2006 Click here to play Meth and Man Ass Come on you sinners I’ve been preachifying moralizing every day Give me meth and man ass on a Sunday morning This train don’t take no sinners It runs on meth and man ass on a Sunday morning If a man lays with a man as with a woman Filled up with meth and man ass on a Sunday morning I’m looking for someone to turn the other cheek Give me meth and man ass on a Sunday morning Give me meth and man ass on a Sunday morning _______________ American-Buddha Librarian's Comments: Haggard admits 'sexual
immorality'
This photo made available by New Life Church shows the Rev. Ted Haggard in September 2005, in Colorado Springs, Colo. COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Saying that he was a “deceiver and liar” who had given in to his dark side, the Rev. Ted Haggard confessed to sexual immorality Sunday in a letter read from the pulpit of the megachurch he founded. The disgraced former president of the National Evangelical Association, which represents 30 million evangelical Christians, apologized and said “because of pride, I began deceiving those I love the most because I didn’t want to hurt or disappoint them.” “The fact is I am guilty of sexual immorality. And I take responsibility for the entire problem. I am a deceiver and a liar. There’s a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I have been warring against it for all of my adult life,” he said. Haggard, 50, resigned last week as NEA president, where he held sway in Washington and condemned homosexuality, after a man claimed to have had drug-fueled homosexual trysts with him. Haggard also placed himself on administrative leave from the 14,000-member New Life Church, which he founded in the 1980s. Its independent Overseer Board fired him Saturday. The letter was read to the New Life Church by another clergyman, the Rev. Larry Stockstill, senior pastor of Bethany World Prayer Center in Baker, La., and a member of the board that fired him. Neither Haggard nor his wife, Gayle, attended. In his letter, Haggard said “the accusations made against me are not all true but enough of them are that I was appropriately removed from his church leadership position.” He did not give details on which accusations were true. Haggard had acknowledged on Friday that he paid Mike Jones of Denver for a massage and for methamphetamine, but said he did not have sex with him and did not take the drug. The Overseer Board, made up clergy from various churches, used stronger language. “Our investigation and Pastor Haggard’s public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct,” the board said in a statement. At the New Life church, youngsters were sent from the room before elders began discussing the church crisis. “Worshippers are always challenged by crisis. And when tragedy and crisis strikes it is at that moment that you truly decide if you are a worshipper of the most high god. And today as the worship pastor of this church I am very proud of you,” said the Rev. Ross Parsley, who has replaced Haggard. Ryan Price and his fiancee, Karen Geyer, were impressed. “It seemed genuine — from the heart. It’s unfortunate but it happens,” said Geyer. “He’s reaching out and asking for forgiveness,” said Price. Jones, who said he is gay, said he was upset when he discovered who Haggard was and that New Life opposed same-sex marriage — a key issue in Colorado, with a pair of issues on Tuesday’s ballot. “I am sad for him and his family. I know this is a tough day for him also,” he said in a telephone interview Sunday. “I wish him well. I wish his family well. My intent was never to destroy his family. My intent was to expose a hypocrite.” The scandal has disappointed Christian conservatives, whom President Bush and other Republicans are courting heavily in the run-up to Tuesday’s election. Many were already disheartened with the president and the Republican-controlled Congress over their failure to deliver big gains on social issues even before the congressional page scandal involving former Rep. Mark Foley. Haggard, who had been NEA president since 2003, has participated in conference calls with White House staffers and lobbied Congress last year on Supreme Court nominees. © 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Church forces out Haggard for
'sexually immoral conduct'
Former escort Mike Jones, talks about his alleged sexual relations with evangelical Ted Haggard. He's holding an envelope he said Haggard used to deliver cash to him. (Post / Andy Cross) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (CNN) -- The Rev. Ted Haggard agreed Saturday to resign as leader of the megachurch he started in his basement more than 20 years ago after its independent investigative board said he was guilty of "sexually immoral conduct." On Friday, Haggard admitted he had received a massage from a Denver man who claimed the prominent pastor had paid him for sex over three years. Haggard also admitted he had bought methamphetamine. Haggard, in an interview with CNN affiliate KUSA, denied having sex with Mike Jones and said he did not use the drug and threw it away. After the allegations were made public, Haggard resigned as president of the influential National Association of Evangelicals, an umbrella group representing more than 45,000 churches with 30 million members. He also temporarily stepped aside as pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church. (Parishioners stand by Haggard) But on Saturday overseers of the church recommended he be permanently removed. "We, the Overseer Board of New Life Church, have concluded our deliberations concerning the moral failings of Pastor Ted Haggard," a statement from the church said. "Our investigation and Pastor Haggard's public statements have proven without a doubt that he has committed sexually immoral conduct." Haggard, 50, and his wife were informed of the decision, the statement said, and "they have agreed as well that he should be dismissed and that a new pastor for New Life Church should be selected according to the rules of replacement in the bylaws." The statement said "a letter of explanation and apology" from Haggard and "a word of encouragement" from his wife, Gayle, would be read at Sunday morning services. The couple has five children. The church's statement said the investigation would continue to determine the extent of Haggard's misconduct. The Rev. Ross Parsley will lead the New Life Church until a permanent replacement for Haggard is chosen, something that should happen by the end of the year, the statement said. "Please continue to pray for Pastor Ted and his family, and let's all continue to stand strong together for the kingdom of God," Parsley's note to church members said. "We will get through this together. Remember, New Life Church has never been a man, a building or anything else -- we are a family." Although Haggard initially denied even knowing Jones, the pastor admitted on camera Friday to a Denver CNN affiliate that he sought a massage from him. Haggard also admitted buying methamphetamine but said he did not use it. "I was buying it for me, but I never used it," said Haggard, sitting in the driver's seat of a car with his wife, Gayle, at his side during an impromptu interview with KUSA-TV. "I never kept it very long because it was wrong. I was tempted. I bought it. But I never used it." Haggard also acknowledged contacting Jones but has denied Jones' accusation that the two men regularly had sex over three years. (Watch how the scandal has quickly unfolded -- 3:35) Haggard's admissions resonated among America's evangelicals and Christian leaders. Haggard was one of a group of religious leaders who regularly participated in conference calls with White House aides, Time magazine reported. On Friday, the White House sought to downplay Haggard's influence within the administration. Spokesman Tony Fratto told reporters Friday that it was inaccurate to portray him as being close to the White House, insisting Haggard was only an occasional participant in weekly conference calls between West Wing staff and leading evangelicals. "He has been on a couple of calls," Fratto said. "He's been to the White House one or two times." Last year, Time -- citing Haggard's White House access -- put him on its list of the nation's 25 most influential evangelicals. Many religious leaders had rallied to the pastor's defense when the allegations broke earlier in the week. Dobson: He's still my friend But Focus on the Family founder James Dobson -- who had castigated the media Thursday for reporting Jones' allegations -- issued a statement Friday saying he was "heartsick" upon learning of Haggard's admissions. "The possibility that an illicit relationship has occurred is alarming to us and to millions of others," Dobson said. "He will continue to be my friend, even if the worst allegations prove accurate," he continued. "Nevertheless, sexual sin, whether homosexual or heterosexual, has serious consequences." Tony Perkins, head of the Family Research Council, a Washington-based conservative policy group, said he was "saddened to learn of these allegations of reprehensible behavior." "In his position as a leader of the evangelical community, this personal tragedy has public ramifications, so we urge that a full accounting of the facts be swift and complete," he said in a statement. In an interview Friday with CNN, Jones said he went public with his allegations because of Haggard's support for a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage that is on the ballot next week in Colorado. "For someone who is up there preaching that marriage should only be between a man and a woman, and he's going behind his wife's back and seeing a gay man for sex -- I felt like I owed it to the gay community to expose the hypocrisy," Jones said. Unclear polygraph test Jones' account of events also came under scrutiny Friday after he voluntarily took a polygraph test for Denver's KHOW radio, where he originally made his allegations Wednesday. The polygraph examiner concluded Jones showed some "deception." However, the examiner said because Jones was exhausted at the time the test was administered it would need to be redone after he slept and ate to get more reliable results. Jones told CNN that the part of the test he failed was on the question of whether he and Haggard had sex. "I don't understand why I did fail the part about when they asked me if I had sex with Ted Haggard," he said. "That's the reason he contacted me to begin with." Haggard told KUSA that he was "grateful that [Jones] failed the polygraph test." The Denver Police Department issued a statement saying it was "watching this situation unfold" and planned "on reaching out to the involved parties for information on crimes that may have been committed in Denver." Haggard on Friday said a Denver hotel where he was staying referred him to Jones for a massage, and Jones "told him about" the methamphetamine. He did not identify the hotel. Jones told CNN he did not sell methamphetamine to Haggard, but he said he gave Haggard a contact to obtain the drug and saw him use it on multiple occasions. He also said he was "not listed with any concierge" at a Denver hotel. Asked about Haggard's continued denials of a sexual relationship, Jones noted that Haggard had denied even knowing him until he released voice mails he said he had kept from Haggard. "The more denial he gives, the messier he looks," Jones said. An expert hired by KUSA concluded the voice on the messages was probably Haggard, and a more detailed analysis was under way. The pastor admitted Friday that he did call Jones "to buy some meth, but I threw it away." Jones has said he met Haggard three years ago when the pastor answered his escort ad, pretending to be a man from Kansas City named "Art." He said their sexual encounters continued monthly until August. Haggard's middle name is Arthur. Jones, who has said he no longer works as a prostitute, told CNN he only learned Art's identity several months ago, when he recognized Haggard on TV. "You can't put yourself in the position he was in and want respect and people to follow your words when you're actually doing the opposite behind their backs," Jones said. CNN's Delia Gallagher contributed to this report. December 11, 2007
As many as 20 bullet holes riddle the entryway at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs. COLORADO SPRINGS, Dec. 10 — Two deadly church shootings in Colorado over the weekend, 12 hours apart in different cities, were committed by the same man, though his motives remain unclear, the police said Monday. Five people were killed, including the gunman, identified as Matthew Murray, 24, of Englewood, who was shot by a volunteer security guard during the second incident, at the New Life Church here. The guard, Jeanne Assam, a church member with police experience and a pistol permit, said she took cover as Mr. Murray began his rampage at New Life, a 14,000-member evangelical megachurch, at about 1 p.m. Sunday, while hundreds of worshipers were leaving after the 11 a.m. service.
Jeanne Assam, a guard, said, “I knew I was given the assignment to end this. Ms. Assam said she leaped up and identified herself, and when Mr. Murray did not respond, opened fire. She said she had been on the third day of a three-day fast, praying to God to provide direction for her life. “I knew I was given the assignment to end this,” Ms. Assam said at a news conference Monday at the Colorado Springs Police Operations Center. “I give the credit to God.”
Arvada is about 70 miles north of Colorado Springs Officials said they were still investigating whether Ms. Assam’s shot killed Mr. Murray or whether it might have been a self-inflicted wound. Two sisters were killed in the parking lot at New Life. Police identified them as Stephanie Works, 18, and Rachael Works, 16, both of Denver. Their father, David Works, 51, was wounded and was in stable condition late Monday, the police said.
Two other people at the church had minor wounds. The first shooting, just after midnight at the Youth With a Mission Center in Arvada, near Denver, killed Tiffany Johnson, 26, from Minnesota, the center’s hospitality director, and Philip Crouse, 24, of Alaska, who was training to be a missionary. Two other people there were wounded; one remained in critical condition Monday. Sgt. Jeff Jensen of the Colorado Springs Police Department said weapons recovered here allowed for a positive ballistics match with rounds fired in Arvada. He added a search of Mr. Murray’s home also produced further evidence, which he declined to specify.
Tiffany Johnson, from Minnesota, the director of hospitality for Arvada's Youth With a Mission, was also killed Mr. Murray was associated with the Youth With a Mission Center in 2002, but Arvada police said any links to the New Life Church were still being investigated. Sergeant Jensen said two assault rifles and three handguns were recovered, as was a backpack stuffed with 1,000 rounds of ammunition.
Charlie Blanch suffered gunshot wounds in the Arvada shooting. On Monday, the scene at the Youth With a Mission complex in Arvada was ghostlike, as the snow-covered property was cordoned off with police tape. The campus’s 80 members have been taken to another site operated by the group in nearby Golden, mission officials said. Peter Warren, director of Youth With a Mission in Denver, said Mr. Murray was active with the center five years ago but could not continue in the training programs because of “issues related to his health.” Asked to comment on news reports that Mr. Murray had sent threatening letters to the center, a police official would say only that Mr. Murray had expressed “discontent.”
Dan Griebenow also was wounded in Arvada. Pastor Phil Abeyta, an uncle to Mr. Murray, read a statement on behalf of the Murray family at the news conference. “We cannot express the magnitude of our grief for the victims,” Mr. Abeyta said, his voice shaking. “We ask for forgiveness. We cannot understand why this has happened.” Neighbors whose homes abut the center or the sprawling Faith Bible Chapel campus nearby were in shock. “It brought me to tears, how horrible this is,” said Mimi Martin, who lives down the block from the center. Friends of the victims described Ms. Johnson and Mr. Crouse as devoted Christians who had joined the center because of an intense belief in missionary work. Church members at New Life said the Works family members were getting into a car in the parking lot when Mr. Murray opened fire. The teenage sisters were involved with a Youth With A Mission program, the center said in a statement Monday. Stephanie Works had gone on a mission last year in Asia, said her aunt, Anita Schaepe, of Lincoln, Neb. Rachael Works went on a mission to Brazil last year, Ms. Schaepe said. At New Life, some members said the congregation’s travails over the last year had toughened the church. In November 2006, the former senior pastor, Ted Haggard, a prominent author and national evangelical leader, was dismissed for “sexually immoral conduct” for his relationship with a male prostitute. “I feel like we’ve been battle-hardened,” said Justin Spicer, an associate pastor at the church. “But this is worse — an incredible violation and a painful one.” Kirk Johnson reported from Colorado Springs, and Dan Frosch from Englewood, Colo. Jeff Kass contributed reporting from Denver.
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