US pastor says guilty of sexual immorality

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Nov 5 (Reuters) Disgraced US evangelist Ted Haggard, a vocal opponent of gay marriage, said today that he was guilty of ''sexual immorality'' and that he had long battled with a ''repulsive'' side of his life.

''I am guilty of sexual immorality, I am a deceiver and a liar. There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark and I've been warring against it my entire adult life'', Haggard said in a letter that was read to his New Life Church in Colorado Springs by a church overseer during a Sunday morning service.

Haggard resigned as president of the National Association of Evangelicals on Thursday after being accused by a male escort of having had a sexual relationship with him.

He also agreed to step down as senior pastor of the New Life Church, a 14,000 member ''mega-church,'' yesterday.

Haggard had initially denied the allegations but began backpedaling on Friday when he admitted to seeking the man at a Denver Hotel for a ''massage'' and contacting him to buy the drug meth. But he said he had thrown the meth away.

In the letter Haggard, once a leading light in the political wing of America's evangelical movement which has strongly influenced the Republican Party, said he was embarrassed and ashamed and asked the congregation to forgive his accuser.

The scandal has shaken New Life Church and the evangelical community in Colorado Springs which is a hive of charismatic Christian activity.

''I'm heartbroken. We're all humans and make mistakes. I believe God can take a bad situation and turn it into something positive. I believe God can restore Ted and his family,'' said Deena Hinojos, a nurse attending the Sunday morning service at New Life.

REUTERS AKJ BST2356