Televangelist Paul Crouch Attempts to Keep Accuser Quiet

LA Times ^ | 9/12/04 | William Lobdell

[The Bandit]

Televangelist Paul Crouch, founder of the world's largest Christian broadcasting network, has waged a fierce legal battle to prevent a former employee from publicizing allegations that he and Crouch had a sexual encounter eight years ago.

Crouch, 70, is the president of Trinity Broadcasting Network, based in Orange County, whose Christian programming reaches millions of viewers around the world via satellite, cable and broadcast stations.

The source of the allegations against him is Enoch Lonnie Ford, who met Crouch at a TBN-affiliated drug treatment center in 1991 and later went to work for the ministry.

After Ford threatened to sue TBN in 1998, claiming that he had been unjustly fired, Crouch reached a $425,000 settlement with him. In return, Ford agreed, among other things, not to discuss his claim about a sexual encounter with the TV preacher.

[cyborg]

Uh oh this isn't good news.

[leadpenny]

Guess I don't watch enough TV. Never heard of Paul Crouch.

[traumer]

[traumer]

[Manic_Episode]

After seeing his wife I can almost understand.

[zarf]

LOL! I predicted this about 6 years ago.

Jan's a loonball and now Paul's a fag.

Like the sun coming up in the morning, the self righteous spokesmen for the Lord eventually implode from their own pomposity.

[cyborg]

That's true about what happens to the proud before the fall.

[GadareneDemoniac]

Their sets look like a cross between Notre Dame Cathedral and a high-price New Orleans bordello - guess someone is into interior decorating in a big way, hmmmm...

[zarf]

Another prediction: Paul will repent on the air (tearfully, of course) and the lemmings in the audience will dig deeper into their pockets.

[csvset]

It must have been the hair spray. Yep, under the influence of Aqua Net.

[cyborg]

That prediction will probably come true. I know this thing. I saw Jimmy Swaggart on tv the other day with Robert Tilton besides and if that's not the sign I don't know what is! LOL

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

Why does that picture instantly remind me of Jim and Tammy Bakker.

[hershey]

There's something about California. Great place, wonderful. Libido freedom. But raise children there? They should give medals to every single California parent.

[Truthsayer20]

"...the lemmings in the audience will dig deeper into their pockets..."

These million-dollar TV "Christians" are a disgusting lot. I sincerely hope someone pulls the plug on them.

[dawn53]

After seeing his wife I can almost understand.

That's a low blow...I wasn't going to post anything about "pink" hair, but now that you've brought up the subject...

[joesnuffy]

Mammon preachers...all have the same rap...

Ya gotta 'give to get' and 'ya gotta give to rebuke the 'devourer'.....

The bottom line is avarice and fear of losing what you material possesions you already have....

greed and fear...and God is a vending machine you have to placate in order to get the payout..

imo

[zarf]

I would rather have an honest athiest in my corner than these crooks.

There is something evil about these blow dried hypocrites.

[Manic_Episode]

I had the 3 foot purple wig in mind. The image just won't go away no matter how much I drink and will forever haunt me.

[csvset]

Why does that picture instantly remind me of Jim and Tammy Bakker.

According to the article, they worked with Jim & Tammy back in the day.

[dawn53]

Ya gotta 'give to get'

My hubby says if they really believed that if you give, you'll get...they'd be sending money to their contributors, rather than asking their contributors to send money to them.

[Just mythoughts]

"Another prediction: Paul will repent on the air (tearfully, of course) and the lemmings in the audience will dig deeper into their pockets."

I don't know about that, maybe bjclinton's sermon a few weeks back was a trial run for this guy's position.

[kcvl]

She looks worse than Tammy Faye Baker used to. It's a pretty good assumption that if they are "preaching" and asking for money on television they are phony. Especially when they look like their from the local whorehouse.

[struggle]

Never liked Crouch anyway. The man is taking Christ and making money off of Him. If Jesus was on the Earth today He would go down to Costa Mesa and overturn that gaudy peice of marble next to the 405. Maybe some day He will. Why does bad Christianity have to always be so tacky? Tammy Faye anyone?

[Moomah]

I live in OC and it's a matter of public record that the Crouches paid $6 million cash for a home in Newport Beach several years ago. Kobe pays off his wife with a $4 million diamond ... Crouch does it with a new home?

[struggle]

You guys are gonna hafta invite me to some of your meetings. I will be re-OCed as of October. I would love to meet the OC and LA freep community and have fun wit juu guys!

[foreverfree]

bump

[spacejunkie]

who's the drag queen with Paul?

[The Bandit]

Despite TBN's efforts to keep Ford's charges secret, they surfaced in an unrelated 1998 lawsuit. A former bodyguard for TBN personality Benny Hinn testified in a deposition that during a European bus tour that year, Hinn had told a group of associates about "a sexual relationship that Paul Crouch had with his chauffeur."

The witness, Mario C. Licciardello, quoted Hinn as saying: "Paul's defense was that he was drunk."

Hinn and six others mentioned by Licciardello, who died in 2000, told The Times that Hinn never made such remarks. However, Rick Jones, a retired police officer and ordained minister who worked for Hinn, said he heard Hinn talk about Crouch's alleged homosexual relationship on that bus.

Jones said he was disgusted by the talk and "got up and walked away. I didn't want to hear gossip."

[Moomah]

That Benny Hinn is another whack job ... I'd more quickly believe a story about Crouch getting it on with him ...

[garylmoore]

Like the sun coming up in the morning, the self righteous spokesmen for the Lord eventually implode from their own pomposity.

You can't stero-type all Christians from the sins of one who fell short.

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[trickyricky]

Matthew 7: 21-23

7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the
kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which
is in heaven.

7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and
in thy name done many wonderful works?

7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from
me, ye that work iniquity.

[Straight Vermonter]

If only he had been allowed to get married none of this would have happened.

[alnick]

Oh, he's the one who's married to the lady with lavender hair.

[Moonmad27]

If you think their TV sets look like that, you should see that hideous building. It's the very definition of someone with more money than taste. (And the yearly Christmas display on it just adds to the awfulness of it all)

[lupie]

My hubby says if they really believed that if you give, you'll get...they'd be sending money to their contributors, rather than asking their contributors to send money to them.

LOL! Great point!

[lupie]

That he is a "Christian" is something we can't know - only God knows the heart. He certainly has never spoken for true Christianity as far as I know. Perhaps years ago? Unfortunately those who are not believers think he representes Christianity because he says he does. Prayerfully, he will truly submit to the Lord of Lords.

[txzman]

'These million-dollar TV "Christians" are a disgusting lot. I sincerely hope someone pulls the plug on them.'

Someone will. And when HE does it will be into a very long, deep drain.

[truthandlife]

Galatians 1 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

I don't know if this story is true but TBN has a lot of heretics in their programming. I have asked myself why God has not taken down this so called "ministry" sooner because they have deceived many. This could be the story that does it. TBN has been on life support the past few years and this could be the story that burys it.

[Sci Fi Guy]

Uh oh this isn't good news.

It depends on how you look at it. A Lot of Christians think TBN does more harm than good. They have a track record of supporting unbiblical(but highly rated) ministries.

Still I do hope that this accusation is false.

[RightOnline]

""Paul's defense was that he was drunk.""

Oh, ok then.

[truthandlife]

http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0118a.html

Paul Crouch

Paul Crouch and his wife, Jan, are the founders of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, which today has an estimated net worth of half a billion dollars. As Crouch himself puts it, "God has, indeed, given us the MOST POWERFUL VOICE in the history of the WORLD."[65] Unfortunately, this voice is being used to promote teachings straight from the kingdom of the cults. Crouch's influence has become so vast that he can now raise as much as $50 million during a single "Praise-a-Thon." What many of the well-intentioned Christians who support TBN do not know, however, is that part of this money goes to promoting cultic groups and individuals who not only deny the Trinity but claim that this essential of Christianity is a pagan doctrine.[66] It is indeed ironic that a broadcasting network called "Trinity" would promote anti-Trinitarian doctrine.

To those who would speak out against the false teachings proliferated on his network, Crouch has this to say: "I think they're damned and on their way to hell; and I don't think there's any redemption for them."[67] Shortly after I met with Crouch to prove that the Faith movement compromises essential Christian doctrine, Crouch looked into the lens of the television camera and angrily declared, "If you want to criticize Ken Copeland for his preaching on faith, or Dad Hagin, get out of my life! I don't even want to talk to you or hear you. I don't want to see your ugly face. Get out of my face, in Jesus' name."[68]

Sadly, Crouch refers to the Faith message as a "revival of truth . . . restored by a few precious men."[69]

[Patton@Bastogne]

.


GadareneDemoniac


Their sets look like a cross between Notre Dame Cathedral and a high-price New Orleans bordello ...


I've been around Free Republic for six years, I guess, and that's one of the BEST replies I've ever heard anyone say about anything ....



Patton@Bastogne
Free Republic Member since 1998.



.

[danamco]

'These million-dollar TV "Christians" are a disgusting lot. I sincerely hope someone pulls the plug on them.'

Someone will. And when HE does it will be into a very long, deep drain.



Here we go again: CHRISTIAN BASHING!!!

[Patton@Bastogne]

.


Cyborg


This is such a pathetic situation.


IRS 501 c-3 is a Federal Contract (US Supreme Court decision) that "earns" Religious Corporations hundreds of millions annually, paid from the US Government coffers, as "political hush money" (a la Webster Hubble, Monica Lewinski, ad nausea). Religious Corporations agree to abstain from candidate endorsements & legislative lobbying.



REPLY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1 - Church Tax-Exempt Status : Why Created in 1934 ?

2 - Church Political Success : 1919 versus 1998 (General Patton vis-à-vis Richard Simmons).

3 - Christians' "Right-to-Know" : Primary Goal of Federal Lawsuit against Dobson, Falwell and Robertson.

4 - Biblical Commands AGAINST Church Tax-Exempt Status.

5 - US Churches : Frankenstein of Religious & Secular Entities



ISSUE-1 : Birth of Church Tax-Exempt Status - As Political Hush Money

Adopted by US Congress in 1934, immediately after Prohibition Repealed. WHY ?

Liberals FEARED the Awesome Political Power of Christian churches, especially after their successful Constitutional Amendment for Prohibition in 1919. Liberals wanted to "politically castrate" the Churches, and keep them "Out of the Game" forever. IRS 501 c-3 did just that.

Church Building Programs & Sunday TV-Broadcasts get BIG BUCKS (courtesy of tax-exempt donations). Meanwhile, Prayer is removed from Public Schools, Ten-Million Babies are butchered like Dogs, and the Nation descends in an abyss of moral degeneracy.



ISSUE-2 : Who had/has more political power ?

Option-1: US Churches in 1919 (14 years BEFORE tax-exempt status) in their Campaign for Prohibition, without the benefit of CBN's satellite TV network.

Option-2: US Churches in 1998 (64 years AFTER tax-exempt status), with pathetic defeats on the Abortion Holocaust, TV Pornography, Prayer removed from Public Schools, Prayer removed from University Graduation ceremonies, an Educational Disaster, and the culmination of all abominations, President William Jefferson Clinton (with all his decayed baggage of murder, sex scandals, and unparalleled corruption).



ISSUE-3 : Why did I launch a Federal Lawsuit against Icons of the Christian Religious Right, especially since I endorse 99-percent of the Christian Socio/Political Agenda ?

To expose the leadership's "dirty little secret" about IRS 501 c-3 (et al). Lawsuit demanded that ALL church members receive an explanation of the "voluntary" political activity restrictions of Dobson, Robertson, Falwell, et al.

IRS 501 c-3 is a Federal Contract (US Supreme Court decision) that "earns" Religious Corporations hundreds of millions annually, paid from the US Government coffers, as "political hush money" (a la Webster Hubble, Monica Lewinski, ad nausea). Religious Corporations agree to abstain from candidate endorsements & legislative lobbying.



ISSUE-4 : Why is "Political Tax-Exempt Status" such a Spiritual Abomination, with Churches having a "sweetheart Deal" to not pay Federal Taxes ?

There's NO FREE LUNCH (especially from Governments), as clearly taught by Jesus Christ. His "Render Unto Caesar" acknowledged that Rome would demand a Quid Pro Quo (something in return) IF they let Him get away with not paying taxes.

(Exodus 23:8) "You shall not accept a bribe, for bribery makes the discerning man blind and the just man give a crooked answer" (NEB).

(Deuteronomy 16:19) "You shall not pervert the course of justice or show favor, nor shall you accept a bribe; for bribery makes the wise man blind and the just man give a crooked answer." (NEB)

(Matthew 6:24) "No servant can be the slave of two masters ... You cannot serve God and Money". (NEB)

Therefore, GENUINE (I surrender all) Christians are clearly forbidden to accept money or gifts for Silence on Any Issue, albeit spiritual or moral. Church tax-exempt status absolute violates God's clear requirement that Christians say whatever needs to be said, regardless of the consequences or retribution.



ISSUE-5 : US Churches : Frankenstein of Religious & Secular Entities

I’m NOT a lawyer, just an Engineer, so my knowledge of Religious Corporations was acquired slowly after many hours in the Tulane University Law Library (New Orleans).

The US Supreme Court recognizes that US churches are comprised of TWO "Separate But Equal Entities".

Just like US segregation laws before Civil Rights …

Entity A : Religious Piece / Independent of US Government Control

Legal Jurisdiction over Theology, Prayers, Hymns and other Spiritual Stuff, etc.

Entity B : Secular Piece / Potential Slaves to Federal Tax-Exempt Law

Legal Jurisdiction over Money, Property, Purchase Orders for Hymn Books, Insurance Contracts, Payroll, Corporate Officers & Boards of Directors, Zoning Permits, Water & Electric Utility Bills, Salaries, Bonuses, Air Conditioned Dog Houses, Legal Fees, TV and Radio Broadcasts.

IF --- a Religious Corporation is under IRS 501 c-3, then ALL of the Secular Stuff is UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL.



LEGAL CASE STUDY : Bob Jones University vs. United States (1973)

Bob Jones University (BJU) prohibited inter-racial dating and marriage between it’s Staff and Students. The US Justice department said this violated the "pre-eminent" policy of US Racial Integration Policies.

BJU replied that their prohibition against inter-racial dating and marriage rested EXCLUSIVELY on their Theology and Biblical Interpretation. US said that their Federal Integration Policy was more important than BJU’s theology, especially since BJU was a Federal Contractor vis-à-vis IRS 501 C-3.

US Supreme Court ruled against BJU in 1973.

BJU’s Response : Jettisoned their Tax-Exempt Status, so that they could faithfully follow their Biblical Beliefs and Convictions. Moreover, BJU was NOW free to engage in Political Activity to their heart’s content, NO LONGER SPIRITUAL SLAVES to their Federal Tax-Exempt Masters.

Copy of Federal Lawsuit available upon request.



Patton@Bastogne



.

[wideminded]

Why does that picture instantly remind me of Jim and Tammy Bakker?

For a long time, whenever I saw these people on TV I thought that Tammy Faye was still on the air. I recently found out it was someone who looked like her.