Former Male Prostitute Who Exposed Evangelical Leader Welcomed To The Church Haggard Led

[matcom]

<snip>

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) -- The former male prostitute whose accusations against New Life Church founder Ted Haggard led to Haggard's dismissal as pastor visited the megachurch Sunday.

Mike Jones, who has a forthcoming book, told The Denver Post that several people shook his hand and told him, "God bless you."

"I had read a lot about the church, but there's nothing like seeing it for yourself," Jones told the newspaper. "It wasn't to rub anyone's face in it by any means. I was wanting to get some perspective, to see where they are coming from, what the magnet is."

Haggard resigned last year as president of the National Association of Evangelicals after Jones alleged Haggard paid him over a three-year period for sex and sometimes took methamphetamine during the encounters.

Haggard then was fired as pastor of the 14,000-member New Life Church. He publicly admitted in November to unspecified "sexual immorality."

In an apology to the church, Haggard had urged members to forgive and thank Jones for exposing deceit.

Church members invited Jones to the church several times.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CO_COC_HAGGARDS_ACCUSER_COOL-?SITE=CODEN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Hugin]

1. ...

Sure they're going to be nice to a dealer.

:eyes:

[Deja Q]

2. Do they want him to convert or give free covert hoover operations?