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Televangelist Paul Crouch Attempts to Keep Accuser Quiet
LA Times ^ | 9/12/04 | William Lobdell

Posted on 09/12/2004 3:07:13 AM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: arrowhead; blackmail; christianmedia; encounter; homosexual; paulcrouch; tbn; televangelist
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To: Patton@Bastogne

(yawn)


241 posted on 09/13/2004 5:30:17 PM PDT by F16Fighter
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To: Deb
It is our job to expose charlatans... and shut-ins might be better served watching re runs of Andy Griffith of Mayberry... it is the shut-ins that these charlatans feed on, their money and false hopes... "stretch your hands toward the television and receive the healing power God has for you today, and won't you please send a check so we can keep you blessed"... makes me sick...
242 posted on 09/13/2004 6:41:26 PM PDT by Godfollow
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To: Godfollow
Paul and Jan propagate a false view of Christianity with their plastic hair,

You think "plastic hair" makes one's Christianity "false"?

I say judging people for their appearance is "false".

..their made for TV gold paint sprayed furniture, glozzed on make up, their propping up of "faith healers"... if Jesus were here today he would turn over thier money tables and flog them for giving the world such a distorted view of the sacrifice of Christ.

The apostle Peter was a faith healer as was Jesus Christ.
Are you saying they presented "a distorted view" of Christianity?

You're upset about "gold paint sprayed furniture"?
Do you know anything about King Solomom, the richest man in the world, his palaces and the Temple with it's gold plated ornamentation? He was chosen by God to be King.

Who are you to judge somebody on their extravagance?

They have been entrusted with much, I've been entrusted with little... You tell me who is to receive the harsher judgment.

Paul and Jan have DONE MUCH with what they've been entrusted with.

They have founded and run the LARGEST Christian program Broadcasting Network in the WORLD...enabling the largest number of Christian ministries and teachers to reach the most people around the world IN HISTORY.

Yet you feel qualified to tell us how God will judge them?

They are presently donating $100,000 to the Red Cross which is struggling to cope with the hurricanes in Florida.

How much have you given?

243 posted on 09/13/2004 7:19:15 PM PDT by Jorge
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To: Godfollow; Deb
It is our job to expose charlatans... and shut-ins might be better served watching re runs of Andy Griffith of Mayberry... it is the shut-ins that these charlatans feed on, their money and false hopes... "stretch your hands toward the television and receive the healing power God has for you today, and won't you please send a check so we can keep you blessed"... makes me sick...

The Bible tells us that people were healed simply by having Peter's shadow pass over them. And the Apostles always expected Christians to give money to the Church in order to support it.

Who are you to judge modern day Christians for teaching healing by faith or providing financial support to the ministries that serve them?

244 posted on 09/13/2004 7:41:24 PM PDT by Jorge
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To: Godfollow
It's not your call or your job to decide anything. You have no more right than the LA Times.

You don't know what's in the hearts of the Crouches and you have no idea how to evaluate their worth to their audience. Neither do any of the snotty, judgmental snobs who posted to this thread.

Get over yourself. The people who give to TBN love the Crouches and Benny Hinn and they aren't getting robbed if the Lord gives them peace and comfort for their money.

Notice how you never see these hit pieces on New Age conmen or the scandal with the whole Kaballah trend.

245 posted on 09/13/2004 7:54:08 PM PDT by Deb (The Democrat Party is a Criminal Enterprise)
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To: Jorge

I totally agree. Just like Pat Robertson and other media-hated televangelists, the millions they give to charities and food banks...are astronomical. I'd trust them to do the right thing before I would trust the LA Times.


246 posted on 09/13/2004 7:59:54 PM PDT by Deb (The Democrat Party is a Criminal Enterprise)
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To: Deb

Yo, I'm a Holy Rollin', rootin' tootin', plastic banana, plastic sergerised, beau-font haired, glozzed-on-faced, slain in the "spirit", "look at me, look at me, look at me, as I proclaim, 'thus says the Lord'" anointed of the Lord televangelist... and we all know what happens to those who speak out against the anointed of the Lord? Boo


247 posted on 09/13/2004 8:10:48 PM PDT by Godfollow
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To: Jorge

They have exposed their giving so their reward is here in this earth and their reward in heaven for that $100,000 dollars is Nil... remember the story of the widow's penny, it did more than the giving of the wealthy... The Crouches are likely worth millions and perhaps millions... gathered in from so many of those who have so little.


248 posted on 09/13/2004 8:20:50 PM PDT by Godfollow
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To: Deb
The Crouches give many older, lonely shut-ins something very valuable, a feeling of family and belonging. I've always thought that was worth a lot.

I think it's worth a lot too. But I don't think feeling good should come at the price of false doctrine. That's just hearing what your "itching ears" (2 Tim. 4:3) want to hear. One of the reasons I'd like to see orthodox Christians on TV is because I know what a powerful tool TV is and how it really can comfort those who are alone. I totally understand the elderly or shut-ins getting comfort from TBN.

It's not our job (or the Times) to decide who God uses.

I agree with you. God can use anyone--even people of other faiths. But it is our job to use discernment and make judgments accordingly. The Bible warns that "even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth" (Acts 20:30) and that "there will be false teachers among you" (2 Peter 2:1).

249 posted on 09/13/2004 9:13:53 PM PDT by Glenmerle
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To: Glenmerle
If someone is saying they have the gift of discernment, that's one thing, but calling people "false prophets" is pretty heady stuff and I'd be real careful if I was making that claim.

There's a ton of difference between the evil intentions of a false prophet and people of good intention who may have lost their way some. I believe the Lord will bless those who give with a pure spirit...even if the Paul and Jan Crouches of the world aren't perfect. And I would never allow the LA Times to dictate to the flock who is of God.

250 posted on 09/13/2004 9:23:16 PM PDT by Deb (The Democrat Party is a Criminal Enterprise)
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To: Deb
There's a ton of difference between the evil intentions of a false prophet and people of good intention who may have lost their way some. I believe the Lord will bless those who give with a pure spirit...even if the Paul and Jan Crouches of the world aren't perfect. And I would never allow the LA Times to dictate to the flock who is of God.

You're so right that you have to be careful about calling someone a "false prophet." And I completely agree that intentions matter. The reason I'm a little rough on the Crouches is because I know a lot of Christians have lovingly tried to put them straight, for years, and they won't listen.

As for the LA Times, I don't trust what they say about anybody or anything!

251 posted on 09/13/2004 9:37:34 PM PDT by Glenmerle
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To: Glenmerle

I check in at TBN every two years or so just to see what the heck is going on with her hair. If your friends could influence her on that...they will have been a force for good.


252 posted on 09/13/2004 9:41:42 PM PDT by Deb (The Democrat Party is a Criminal Enterprise)
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To: Godfollow
They have exposed their giving so their reward is here in this earth and their reward in heaven for that $100,000 dollars is Nil...

Who said they are looking for a reward? Did it ever occur to you that some people give simply because they want to give?

Furthermore "exposing their giving" as you call it, is the right thing to do since they are using contributions of their viewers and owe it to them to make it public.

Your misapplication of the scriptures in order to judge those you personally disapprove of is just astounding.

253 posted on 09/13/2004 9:43:49 PM PDT by Jorge
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To: Deb

Deb, I understand your point, really I do. But, IF, and I do mean IF this is true, then it should be exposed. Hopefully in time, the real truth will come out. There is something strange about the payoff money, and other aspects of this in my opinion, but we shall see.


254 posted on 09/13/2004 9:47:40 PM PDT by ladyinred ("John Kerry reporting for spitball and typewriter duty.")
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To: Deb
...they will have been a force for good.

LOL!

255 posted on 09/13/2004 9:51:58 PM PDT by Glenmerle
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To: ladyinred
The picture in the Sunday paper of the mental patient who is making the claim is pretty obviously not well. So much of the story made no sense, I finally gave up on it. The LA Times dropped their "Religion" section without a word, not long ago. A section of the paper it had carried for decades. They don't care about justice being done they're just looking for any club to kill Christianity with.

Even if the story is found to be totally bogus, people will never forget and always feel differently about Paul Crouch. It's a claim people don't come back from. Dragging it into a political forum makes me sick.

256 posted on 09/13/2004 10:10:28 PM PDT by Deb (The Democrat Party is a Criminal Enterprise)
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To: VOA

Most of the Christians I know are registered and vote. Here in PHX area during the primaries last week talk radio was saying the reason all the moderate repubs got replaced by conservatives was because it was the religious right who DID get out to vote while everybody else stayed home.


257 posted on 09/13/2004 11:04:18 PM PDT by valleygal
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To: The Bandit

What happens in Lake Arrowhead, stays in Lake Arrowhead!


258 posted on 09/13/2004 11:05:15 PM PDT by BurbankKarl (.)
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To: cyborg

eeeew...


259 posted on 09/13/2004 11:31:34 PM PDT by RobRoy (You only "know" what you experience. Everything else is mere belief.)
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To: zarf

I am a professing Christian fundamentalist who gave up TV in 1997.

That said, I was on a business trip a month ago and in my hotel room I DID turn on the TV and watched these guys for five minutes tops. They were with a guy who I think is Benny something.

Folks, what I was watching gave me the creeps!


260 posted on 09/13/2004 11:33:52 PM PDT by RobRoy (You only "know" what you experience. Everything else is mere belief.)
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