LA Times: Live TBN Fund Drive Axed

[NoPasaran]

Trinity Broadcasting Network, a Christian television ministry shaken last month by allegations that its founder had engaged in a homosexual tryst, has dropped plans for its annual live fall telethon next week and instead will show 40 hours of reruns of previous "Praise-a-thons."

The twice-annual "Praise-a-thons" have been a fund-raising mainstay of the Orange County-based network since its birth 31 years ago and now brings in more than $90 million in pledges each fall and spring.
TBN officials said the decision was made weeks ago and was prompted largely by concerns about the health of network co-founder Paul Crouch, 70, and his wife Jan, 66, who remain the most popular on-air personalities for the world's largest religious broadcaster.

But observers were quick to suggest that TBN was reacting to news reports last month revealing that Paul Crouch secretly paid an accuser $425,000 in 1998 to keep quiet about claims of a homosexual encounter with the televangelist. Crouch has denied the allegations.

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-tbn27oct27.story

[ClintonTyree]

1. Sometimes, as I flip through channels.................

I come upon TBN and watch out of curiosity for a while. I've never seen such hucksters in my life! All dressed in $5,000 suits, gold watches, women with hair reaching to the sky all covered in jewels, gilded furniture fit for a palace.......all paid for by little old Grannies who are shut in and want to buy their way into heaven. Disgusting. These are the type of people who give religion a bad name.
So Crouch is having a tough time dealing with his sexuality? It serves the pious ass right. This will hit them in the wallet, the only thing they understand. Maybe it will enlighten them, but I doubt it. For people who preach that worldly things are not to be desired, they sure seem to LOVE their worldly trappings.

[Aunt Anti-bush]

3. Jesus has a special place for those TBN people.

One hint: It's really hot there...

[rooboy]

5. Florida? n/t

[Aunt Anti-bush]

6. No.

It's hotter than Florida. :)

[Chovexani]

2. Damn I love watching those beg-a-thons!

There goes my entertainment. :(

[gavodotcom]

4. Like this 'chick' isn't a beard...

The TBN set looks like the guy had Liberace's taste and landed himself RuPaul to look 'respectable.'

[NoPasaran]

7. LOL!

I admit sometimes I watch it with the sound off just for the hair.

[The Zanti Regent]

8. That prick stole enough money from my family

He fleeced my grandmother and Aunt out of everything they had. All the time he was begging for their money, he was giving it to his gay black lover...

On the other hand, I hope he does do the BEST of Praise A Thons, there's nothing funnier than watching Helmet Head Paul beat his Bible and have Racoon Face Jan shed tears over Barbie dolls!

[doreme]

11. Just out of curiosity,

if his lover had been white do you feel that you would have included his race in your post. I don't mean to flame you but I am curious.

[Bandit]

13. I was going to ask the same question

Just what purpose did it serve to say his lover was black?

[liberalmuse]

9. He he.

My fundie mother used to go on and on about this woman, Jan Crouch (and I was thinking, 'Who in the hell is she?'), so when I read about this scandal, I perked up. I didn't have the heart to ask her about the scandal last time she blew into town.

Anyway, TBN and Pat Robertson have all of her retirement funds. She really thinks Jesus will drop a large sum of money out of the sky to her if she gives some of her meager funds to these charlatan preachers. That's GREED.

[colonel odis]

10. have you ever seen their son? he's a tech guy or something

who's on with them occasionally.

makes his pops look butch as hell.

[Journeyman]

12. "Pray TV looks like prey TV to me, it's just a curse on the human race."

--P. Townshend

[truthpusher]

14. Paul is taking time off to have a (fill in the blank)-a-thon