Haggard: I Still Struggle With Sexuality

Glenn Beck calls on 1,000 religious leaders to break law

(NEWSER) - Hundreds of pastors are trying to goad the IRS into a political battle over free speech from the pulpit, the New York Times reports. Organizers of tomorrow's Pulpit Freedom Sunday are urging pastors to flout a law that prohibits tax-exempt churches and other charities from political campaigning. Sponsored by the conservative Alliance Defense Fund, the event has been promoted by Glenn Beck, who is calling on 1,000 pastors to partake. “There should be no government intrusion in the pulpit,” says one. More»

(NEWSER) - The hallelujahs are strained in US churches these days as donations plunge at the same time demand for aid is skyrocketing, reports the Wall Street Journal. Congregations across the nation are slashing budgets and even laying off staff, including pastors. Churches and synagogues usually weather downturns well, but not this time. "There has been significant tightening of budgets," said Rabbi Elliott Kleinman, spokesman for the Union for Reform Judaism, which represents some 900 congregations. "People have less money to give." More»

Data bares UK officers' foibles

(NEWSER) - Top British military officials are at risk of blackmail after three Royal Air Force hard drives containing revealing vetting details were stolen, the Daily Mail reports. Files on the drives told of “criminal investigations, drug abuse, use of prostitutes, and extra-marital affairs,” said a Ministry of Defense memo. “This data provides an excellent target list for foreign intelligence services, investigative journalists and blackmailers.” More»

Couple goes on Divorce Court to talk about lasting marriage

(NEWSER) - Disgraced pastor Ted Haggard and his wife are headed for Divorce Court, the Colorado Springs Gazette reports—but to plug the virtues of marriage and describe how his homosexual affair made theirs stronger. In a taping to air April 1, the New Life Church pastor says he asked Gayle Haggard to divorce him; she refused. “I see what happened as a divine rescue,” she says. More»

His therapist says he's 'heterosexual with complications'

(NEWSER) - Disgraced evangelical pastor Ted Haggard has confessed to another "compulsive" relationship, this one with a young male volunteer in his former church. "I felt like God's plan was for sexuality to be in a monogamous, heterosexual marriage. But I had these other things going on," Haggard told Larry King yesterday. The church volunteer said Haggard's actions in 2006 made him feel "really uncomfortable" and drove him to drink. More»