A Long Fall From Grace
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News stories captivate us, then vanish. We revisit those stories to bring you the next chapter.
Starting Point
In 1985, Ted Haggard starts New Life Church. It grows to 14,000, and in 2003, he's made head of the National Association of Evangelicals. He is also an adviser to President Bush.
Fever Pitch
In November 2006, prostitute Mike Jones alleges that Haggard has paid him for monthly meth-fueled sex. Haggard, who is married with five kids, admits to "sexually immoral conduct." He's fired from his own church, resigns from NAE and enters a "restoration" program.
The End Result
Haggard is deemed "completely heterosexual" by a church official and moves to Phoenix in April 2007 to study for a master's and preach at a halfway house. He asks for donations to help support his family to be sent through a charity later found to be run by a convicted sex offender. A New Life Church official tells NEWSWEEK Haggard returned to Colorado in June, with plans to sell life insurance. Haggard didn't return calls, but his voice mail says he's working for a company called Mortgage Protection Group.
© 2008
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