Pastor Beaten After Blunt Eulogy

The Carolina Channel ^ | 21 June 02 | AP

[aomagrat]

LOXLEY, Ala. -- Authorities in Loxley, Ala., are investigating the alleged beating of a preacher by funeral mourners who didn't like his blunt eulogy.

Glynis Bethel told The Associated Press that her husband -- the Rev. Orlando Bethel -- was attacked during a June 14 funeral and dragged out of the church.

That's because Bethel told mourners the deceased was in Hell and that they were headed the same way.

The dead man was Glynis Bethel's uncle.

Orlando Bethel referred to him as a "drunkard and a fornicator."

Glynis Bethel, who's also a preacher, says "the fornicators didn't like what he said so they got up and beat him."

She says police didn't make any arrests, so she and her husband -- who may have a broken nose -- are taking out warrants.

[WVNan]

Awww man, this is going to be my favorite thread of all time. Keep those pithy comments coming. I'm saving them for posterity.

[Libertarian_4_eva]

We are located in South Alabama in beautiful and progressive Baldwin County

Ok now I know something is up. Progressive? A keyword for follower of Marx. I think I admire this preacher.

[WVNan]

BUMP

[shuckmaster]

Orlando & Glynis? 'nuff said...

[cynicom]

Dog...

I have been to one such funeral. The minister painted such a saintly halo for the guy that I ran outside, to check the address to make sure I was at the right funeral. I laughed all the way home. He was trying to fool St. Peter or someone.

[RipeforTruth]

I was in your beautiful town (Loxley) while I was working in the town to the south (Foley) for two days last year.

The whole area down there is beautiful.Folks, Alabama's Gulf Shores is a wonderful visit. The highway to it ranks among the nicest I have ever been on!

But it was the people I remember. Southeners have a basic hospitality to strangers.

[Gritty]

Do you think we could get the Rev. Orlando Bethel to give blubba's eulogy, when that glorious time comes?

Now you've gone and done it. It will take me at least 1/2 an hour to get the coffee spray off my keyboard!!

[Ann Archy]

HAHAHAHAHAAHA!!! I would PAY to hear THAT eulogy!!

[HairOfTheDog]

Well, at least the pastor gave you a laugh, and he didn't end up with a broken nose! I went to one too I suppose... The pastor did his best to say something good, and then they played a Led Zeppelin song. It fit ;~D

[Jerry_M]

Check out this thread.

Doubt this guy is a Calvinist (his wife is also a preacher), but he has seen that the world really doesn't want to hear the truth.

[SarahW]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHahhaha

[sweet_diane]

Ya'll just keep on having your little fun making fun of south Alabama and Baldwin County. If you knew how little it bothers us it would spoil your fun. Anyway, we get to make fun of all you Snowbirds who decend in mass on us every winter... making us more and more grateful we live here and not from where you come from!! lol

While his message may have been the truth, I believe it would have been more effective had he delievered it a bit differently or at another time.

[dighton]

Rev. Bethel should work at the Telegraph, obituary desk, Wicked Earl Department.

[BigWaveBetty]

I would PAY to hear THAT eulogy!!

Who wouldn't?! :-) Then we could take a collection and give some to Gritty for a new screen.

[john in missouri]

Probably wasn't what he said, it probably was the way he said it.

If you're going to tell an audience of mourners that they're going to hell, it pays to use a little... make that a lot... of diplomacy.

[Yeti]

Orlando Bethel referred to him as a "drunkard and a fornicator."

The guy's kids were probably there, and while it is easy to laugh at something like this when it didn't happen to you, such a heartless assault on the memory of a loved one while grieving is despicable. Can you imagine what the kids at the funeral were thinking? Telling his grieving kids that he was in hell?

Even if we haven't a whit of compassion for the mourners, this behavior is in such apallingly bad taste as to boggle the mind.

I would sue for intentional infliction of emotional distress, as well as breach of agreement and/or fraud.

If the deceased is indeed in hell, we can be sure that he will be afflicted with the company of this "preacher" in due time.

[DugwayDuke]

Actually, if you check the Red/Blue map, Baldwin county went for Bush.

[Texas Mom]

Funny.. I'm going to forward the story to a couple preacher friends of mine.

[Lessismore]

But it was the people I remember. Southeners have a basic hospitality to strangers.

Apparently it's pious kinfolk they can't stand.