When Ted Haggard’s gay sex scandal became public in Nov. 2006, the Rev. Don Armstrong was still riding high.
Rev. Donald Armstrong
He was about a month away from being placed on leave by the Episcopal Church over what it viewed as evidence he may have stolen hundreds of thousands of dollars from his church, Grace and St. Stephen’s Episcopal in downtown Colorado Springs.
On Sept. 17, Armstrong pleaded “no contest” to a class 3 felony theft count, and accepted a misdemeanor theft charge being added on the charges involving his time at Grace Church from 1999 to 2006. Both are viewed in a legal sense as guilty pleas; in other words, his punishment will be determined as if he’d pleaded guilty to both counts.
In a Gazette article called “Confronting Scandal” that ran Nov. 4, 2006, a statement from Armstrong on Haggard’s fall is interesting in light of Armstrong’s plea bargain.
Here is what Armstrong said:
“I am praying hard for Ted. Somebody like Ted, who’s so prominent, is going to be under constant attack from evil and temptation. So it’s hard for any of us to understand the level of temptation or the level of attack he’s had to deal with, but if this is the case then he walked up to the edge and was victorious, and I think we ought to celebrate that.”
both need to step down due to sin.
What a clown. So called religious leaders are not under any more temptation than anyone else. I guess evil is defined as being caught with your hand in the cooky jar.
Hi Boyd,
I think the point Armstrong is making is that religious leaders are in a position of power and trust and have not much oversight.
So once you have that, it is easy to start abusing it and pushing the boundaries..
Thanks for your comment,
Mark Barna
Gazette Religion Reporter
Mr. Barna,
I guess I didn’t consider the lack of oversite as an issue given their position as a moral authority. To me this is such a contradiction, a little like a lung doctor who smokes. Armstrong may have had 1Tim.6:9 in mind as a critizism of Ted more so than as an excuse.
Thanks, Boyd
Pastor, are you close to either of the parties in this story? I have seen you condemn three other pastors here in the religion section so far, and I really doubt you have any real knowledge of these situations other than what you read in the papers. Yet you feel it is your job to condemn these pastors? Why is that? I am glad I am not in whatever church you lead.
Awh, lets turn a blind eye to sin….. is that what you are saying Richard B.?
As I stated in another story…. When a minister has open the door for people to question their relationship with God.. Due to sinful actions or settling court cases that brings a shadow of possible sinful actions. For the benefit of the Church and office of Pastor, then need to step down.
Boy pastor roy, you sure think you are God don’t you? I can kind of understand what Richard B was saying about condemning without knowing the whole truth, but you can’t seem to grasp that for some reason. Again, no wonder people are walking away from God with pastors like this around.
David point to what I have stated that is wrong?
Pastor, does this sound familiar???
“Pastor, are you close to either of the parties in this story? I have seen you condemn three other pastors here in the religion section so far, and I really doubt you have any real knowledge of these situations other than what you read in the papers. Yet you feel it is your job to condemn these pastors? Why is that? I am glad I am not in whatever church you lead.”
Please tell me who this sounds like. I think you’ll agree that the words lead directly to moN. And yet you question ME?
MMoM
ManitouMoM at this moment I am more concern with the damage that is being done by these Pastors, who are casting a shadow of doubt over the Gospel of Christ.
I will agree that his comments do sound like MN and TF. It does not mean they are the same people, it means they come from the same views points of life….
Ok, this is story number 5 where manitouMOM has repeated this same message. Is anyone at the Gazette paying any attention? I happen to agree with richard. Does that make me him too?
Glad to see the truth finally being told about this whole insane mess. The new story shows exactly what we have known for some time now. Mr Armstrong is innocent.