Bill Clinton gave the same tax benefits and religious protections to Scientology.
I attended a service by Copeland about 25 years ago. He was visiting John Hagee’s church in San Antonio.
I recall two things about the evening:
1. Copeland’s long-winded explanation of how God wanted him to have a $1M jet, and how he convinced his congregation to give it to him (he’s a former airline pilot, and my impression was that he flew the jets himself - at least when he was younger), and
2. The call to give offerings at the end, with attendees going up and leaving large wads of cash on the stairs leading up onto the stage where he and Hagee were sitting.
Now Hagee himself generally (when I used to see him on occasion) steered away from this sort of obvious Mammon-worship, but this particular guest (Copeland) did not. As an aside, Hagee’s fire and brimstone message was quite entertaining in person - he would often stray into politics - he once yelled out that “The President is a whoremonger!” at a service I attended in 1994 - which brought a moment of shocked silence, followed by a smattering of subdued applause because - well - in 1994 it was the truth!!
Copeland, though,has always looked a little ‘possessed’ to me. (As an aside, has anyone else noticed how abnormally large his head is in proportion to his body? Watch for how many other actors/preachers have had this anatomical combination. Its more than a few. Something about it seems to make them appear mroe noticeable on the screen - or to a crowd) ...
Yet amother of the ‘Toon’s myriad crimes ...