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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Wife Knew Haggard Was Hot for Guys

She believed he was 'winning the battle,' spouse tells Oprah

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(Newser) – Ted Haggard told his wife early in their 30-year marriage that he struggled with his attraction to men, she tells Oprah in an appearance with her husband due to air today. Gayle Haggard says she was shocked by the disclosure, but believed he was "winning the battle" before a scandal involving a male prostitute led to his resignation from the New Life Church in 2006.

"I felt it was the thing that could destroy Ted if he gave in to it," said Haggard, who added that she prayed for her husband to have strength. The Oprah appearance comes the day before the airing of an HBO documentary on Haggard's downfall in the wake of the prostitute affair. Early marketing of the documentary prompted a New Life parishioner to publicly reveal an "inappropriate relationship" with Haggard.

The Rev. Ted Haggard delivers a sermon to those gathered at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., beneath a live video feed of himself.
The Rev. Ted Haggard delivers a sermon to those gathered at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., beneath a live video feed of himself.   (AP Photo/The Gazette, Andy Rogers)
The Rev. Ted Haggard preaching in the documentary film
The Rev. Ted Haggard preaching in the documentary film "Jesus Camp."   (AP Photo/Magnolia Pictures,File)
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Ted Haggard faces another accusation of gay sex.   (godbegone)
Ted Haggard discusses his struggle with his sexuality in a new documentary.   (MissMelodia)

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3 comments
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Thinker
Jan 28, 09 6:58 AM CST
Oh brother. Ms. Haggard "prayed for her husband to have strength" against his homosexuality. She should have prayed for brains, awareness, understanding and a heterosexual husband for herself. Reply
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Caps
Jan 28, 09 9:57 AM CST
I agree. Reply
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drlarrymitchell
Jan 28, 09 7:03 PM CST
There is nothing wrong with being gay. The problem is that he was a finger-pointing, judgmental, hypocritical mass of feces about it. Reply
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