April 20, 2008
Backstory:
• Everything You Need to Know About the Oral Roberts Scandal… So Far
• Oral Roberts U Scandal: Exit Richie, Enter “Convicted Sexual Deviant”
• Oral Roberts Battles the Devil for ORU
Judge Refuses To Dismiss Lawsuit Against Oral Roberts University
Tulsa, OK — A judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit accusing Oral Roberts University of wrongfully terminating two professors who uncovered alleged wrongdoing by the school’s former president. …
In denying motions to dismiss the suit, Tulsa County Judge Rebecca Nightingale also tossed out some of the professors’ allegations, including breach of contract claims. The judge also threw out libel claims against the defendants, but kept the professors’ allegations of slander and defamation. …
“But I ‘corrected’ them, sir.”
|
|
In other related good news, Tim Brooker, one of the profs suing ORU, tells the insanely right-wing OneNewsNow that “superstar televangelism” is just about dead in the water:
Tim Brooker … says it’s no coincidence that many high-profile televangelists are facing investigations over possible financial irregularities. …
Since the lawsuit [against ORU] has been filed, Richard Roberts resigned as ORU president, and in an unrelated move, U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) began an investigation into the financial practices of six high-profile televangelists.
However, Dr. Brooker is under the impression that the timing is not coincidental. “I think God is doing a corrective work in the [body of Christ], and I think that many of the abuses and distortions of doctrine that have been allowed to take root and grow are … being corrected,” he believes. …
More about God’s “corrective work” (Is that like a stock market correction? If so, we’re praying for a Black Friday to hit the telefundamentals reeeal soon!) at the link.
Posted by: Sapphocrat
Permalink
|
Trackback
|
Category:
Oral Roberts,
Radical Religious Right
October 26, 2007
The (presumably) final line-up for Barack Obama’s “gospel concert your” fundraiser is up at barackobama.com:
EMBRACE THE CHANGE!
Charleston
Friday, October 26, 2007
North Charleston Performing Arts Center
5001 Coliseum Drive
North Charleston, SC 29418
Gospel Performances by:
Mary Mary, Hezekiah Walker, Beverly Crawford
Mary Mary, in an interview with Clay Cane: “I feel how God feels about it … I don’t agree with the lifestyle, but I love them. … They have issues and need someone to encourage them like everybody else — just like the murderer, just like the one full of pride, just like the prostitute … hopefully our music impacts them in a way that makes them want to change it.”
Mary Mary. Anti-gay. Check. √
Hezekiah Walker says: Homosexuality is a “sin,” a “shame,” and “the worst”; the rumor of homosexuality is “character assassination”.
Hezekiah Walker. Anti-gay. Check. √
Beverly Crawford: One one hand, Crawford has “recorded some albums with Bishop Carlton Pearson” — the Oral Roberts alum whose radical “Gospel of Inclusion” got him kicked out of the Church of God in Christ (the nation’s largest African-American Pentecostal denomination); he’s now a bishop in the undeniably pro-gay United Church of Christ.
On the other hand, she’s also appeared with radically anti-gay Trinity Broadcasting Network televangelist T.D. Jakes — who “has called homosexuality a ‘brokenness’ and said he would not hire a sexually active gay person” and “endorsed the so-called Truth for Youth campaign, which is distributing specially-made anti-gay Bibles to high school students all across the country” — and is signed with Jakes’ record label.
Beverly Crawford. Anti-gay? Well, certainly not an ally. A draw. √
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Greenwood Civic Center
1620 Hwy 72 221 E.
Greenwood, SC 29649
Gospel Performances by:
Byron Cage, Mighty Clouds of Joy, Vanessa Bell Armstrong
Byron Cage, in a 2006 radio interview on “La Gospel Talk” (listen to MP3 audio here), agreed with NARTH “ex-gay” founder Joseph Nicolosi that homosexuality is in essence a defect. Cage said that “there’s an interesting passage” in the New Testament in which the disciples (we think he means the Apostles) asked Jesus why a child would be “born lame”; Cage’s answer was that God doesn’t make mistakes — but that God creates such a defect so that “Jesus could heal it.” (Kind of like the argument that Jesus needed Judas Iscariot to betray him, or else he couldn’t have been crucified, and then risen from the dead.)
Cage also said: “I agree with Dr. Nicolosi that there are choices people make to be one way or the other” — and then compared homosexuality to being overweight, as the sort of choice “that could kill us.” Cage then went on to say that one of his mentors had died of AIDS, and another had died of a heart attack, and asked, “Which is worse?”
Byron Cage. Anti-gay. Check. √
We honestly don’t know if Mighty Clouds of Joy, or any of its members are devout homophobes, but we did discover something very unsettling: The group’s choice in the company it keeps.
In 2004, Mighty Clouds of Joy appeared at an event that, by its name alone, sounds like something all nice and peaceful and Kumbaya-like: the Fourth World Summit on Leadership and Good Governance, sponsored by the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace and the Interreligious and International Peace Council, of which the International Peace Federation is part.
Problem is, the International Peace Federation is one of the organizations of the scary, extreme-right-wing, extremely anti-gay Washington Times publisher Rev. Sun Myung Moon (he of “Moonie” fame). In fact, Moon himself…
…took to the podium to deliver a profound ecumenical message, entitled “Our Mission in the Last Days of Providential History.” Having worked for decades to confront the threat of atheistic communism, Dr. Moon noted that with the conclusion of the Cold War, the fear and insecurity of this global conflict is thankfully past. “And yet,” he asked, how secure and happy are we? Young people now liberated from the yoke of communism are enjoying their freedom to such an extent that they are in danger of running off the cliff of debauchery.”
Selfish individualism and slavery to free sex has led to unthinkable calls for homosexual “marriage.” “Imagine for a moment,” he asked, “the world that would result from what they advocate. Humanity would become extinct within two generations.”
But that’s hardly all. Earlier in the summit:
…IIFWP conference participants were treated to breakfast courtesy of the Washington Times Foundation. They joined a total of roughly 3000 participants coming not only from the surrounding Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, but also from two conferences sponsored by IIFWP affiliated organizations—the American Family Coalition, and the American Clergy Leadership Conference.
. . .
The prelude to breakfast was concluded by an intimate video presentation from former president George Herbert Walker Bush. He remembered fondly the Washington Times, before speaking at some length about the importance of faith and family for the country, and for himself, his wife, and his children, including the current U.S. president.
As breakfast wound down, a performance by the noted gospel music group Mighty Clouds of Joy drew attention back to the central stage, where they were followed by the Honorable Robert J. Dole, former U.S. Senator from Kansas. The man who had once lost a bitter competition with George H.W. Bush for the Republican nomination for president was magnanimous and humorous as he, too, spoke in support of the breakfast’s themes.
In lead up to the keynote address, Dr. Chung Hwan Kwak introduced IIFWP founder, the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, by mentioning three key points. First, that Dr. Moon knows God’s heart… Second, that Dr. Moon intimately knows God as the invisible creator who is the True Parent of humankind. Third, that Dr. Moon is the king of peace…
. . .
The Mighty Clouds of Joy brought the house to its feet in thanks and praise as they led the assembly in singing “Amazing Grace,” and the concluding prayer was delivered.
Mighty Clouds of Joy. Anti-gay? We think so — among other things. √
Vanessa Bell Armstrong. We don’t know. 
Sunday, October 28, 2007
The Township Auditorium
1703 Taylor Street
Columbia, SC 29202
Gospel performances by:
Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin, Deitrick Haddon, Mighty Clouds of Joy
Deitrick Haddon. We don’t know.
Donnie McClurkin. You have to ask?
See also:
What’s The Matter With Obama. (This Is Not A Question.) Part 1.
Donnie McClurkin and the Unmasking of Black Hypocrisy
Barack Obama Attempts Damage Control, Comes Up Short. Way Short.
What Were We Saying Again About the Company Obama Keeps?
Memo to Obama: You’re Only Making It Worse
Obama On Imus Back In April: No Racists On My Staff
Posted by: Sapphocrat
Permalink
|
Trackback
|
Category:
"Ex-Gays",
Barack Obama,
Celebrities,
Christianity,
Donnie McClurkin,
Election 2008,
George H.W. Bush,
Hate Speech,
Homophobia,
Music,
Oral Roberts,
Race/Ethnic Issues,
Radical Religious Right,
UCC
ORU in debt $52.5 million
Oral Roberts University is $52.5 million in debt — an amount on the decline but a burden keeping the college from improving its campus, university representatives said Wednesday.
The debt accumulated from “years and years and years and years of . . . borrowing,” said board of regents Chairman George Pearsons, who still was gathering information on the sources of debt.
. . .
ORU is paying its bills on the debt and working on strategies to reduce the debt and increase income, he said Wednesday.
“We’re not crippled,” he said. “We could use more finances just like any university could use more finances.”
The board is adopting a more hands-on role at ORU and is investigating the school’s use of money and other practices after learning of allegations of misspending, misuse of power and inappropriate relationships that later were made public in a lawsuit filed Oct. 2 by three former professors alleging wrongful termination or forced resignation.
More from Tulsa World
“years and years and years and years of . . . borrowing” *snort*
Why doesn’t Brother Oral just go on TV and tell his flock God’s threatening to kill him again if he doesn’t come up with the cash?
Meanwhile, Brother Oral returns to the scene of the cri– er, the probe, blames Sonny Boy’s indiscretions on the devil, and swears Old Scratch is not going to steal ORU:
Oral Roberts back at ORU
Oral Roberts returned to his namesake university for the first time in three years Monday and told a chapel packed with ORU employees and students fresh off fall break that no one would take away ORU.
Students had heard rumors that Roberts had returned to campus, but when he slipped into the chapel as George Pearsons, ORU board of regents chairman, was speaking, students nearby recognized him and let out a roar of a cheer that became the first of many standing ovations.
Roberts told the crowd that every allegation raised by a lawsuit against ORU and his son, university President Richard Roberts, was false. He said he was proud of ORU and its accomplishments “for the word of God,” and he said “the devil has come in to steal it away.”
“The devil is not going to steal ORU,” he said.
Oral Roberts said the university was born out of a healing ministry, and so ORU would turn to mediation this week to resolve the lawsuit.
“This will be over and behind us, and my son will be back and be president of Oral Roberts University,” he said.
. . .
Pearsons said in a written statement from ORU that whether Richard Roberts will return as president is undetermined.
More from Tulsa World
Mind you, that’s Christian mediation Brother Oral’s talking about. Funny, innit, how religious folks rail against the interference of the state in church affairs — but when it comes time to face the music in a purely civil (or criminal) matter, they want it all settled through Christian means.
But, just in case God forces ORU through the court system:
ORU hires law firm for probe
Oral Roberts University has hired the Washington, D.C., law firm of Miller & Chevalier Chartered to investigate allegations of misspent money and more made in a lawsuit that three former professors filed Oct. 2 against ORU, its board of regents and four administrators.
. . .
The review will result in a report to ORU regents, “who will take appropriate action,” the statement said.
ORU regents Chairman George Pearsons said this week that the board looked for a law firm that was high-profile, out-of-state and had not worked for ORU.
Pearsons said last week that ORU President Richard Roberts’ leave of absence during the investigation would help assure the public of the independence of the review.
More from Tulsa World
See also:
Everything You Need to Know About the Oral Roberts Scandal… So Far
Oral Roberts U Scandal: Exit Richie, Enter “Convicted Sexual Deviant”
More discussions in the Lavender Liberal Forums:
Scandal hits TV preacher’s academy
Oral Roberts University facing huge scandal
University leader requests leave amid lawsuit
Posted by: Sapphocrat
Permalink
|
Trackback
|
Category:
Corruption,
Crime,
Education/Schools,
Oklahoma,
Oral Roberts,
Radical Religious Right
October 17, 2007
Richard Roberts — you know, the son of Oral Roberts, who says he saw his dad raise a child from the dead — is taking a leave of absence as president of Oral Roberts University… just days after telling Larry King he would do no such thing, ’cause “I’ve not done anything for which I should have to step aside.”
Well, nothing except maybe spend buttloads of university money to redecorate his house eleven times in fourteen years, fly his daughter and her friends (on the university jet, natch) to Orlando to the tune of twenty-nine grand, use university employees to do his kid’s homework, and his wife!– well, everything’s deliciously documented here.
Anyway, it’s no surprise to us that Richie’s stepping down “until such time as these matters can be resolved”; the latest wrinkle that pricks up our ears (eyes?) is this tidbit from CNN:
The lawsuit [filed earlier this month, (which) contends that the professors lost their jobs at the Tulsa, Oklahoma, university after reporting information indicating that Roberts and his family lavishly spent school money for personal expenses] was amended recently to accuse the school of giving a “convicted sexual deviant unrestricted access to students” and of shredding evidence three days after the suit was first filed.
Interessante, no?
Stay tuned.
See also:
Everything You Need to Know About the Oral Roberts Scandal… So Far
Discuss this story
Posted by: Sapphocrat
Permalink
|
Trackback
|
Category:
Corruption,
Education/Schools,
Oklahoma,
Oral Roberts,
Radical Religious Right
October 9, 2007
Future home of Oral Roberts Ministries
|
|
First, some background: Oral Roberts is the ex-Pentecostal (we suspect the terminally - slain - in - the - spirit Pentecostals weren’t radical enough for him) who started his own ministry in the late 1940s, and opened Oral Roberts University (PDF) in Tulsa, in 1963 — on a direct order from God.
God, it seems, spent a lot of time giving Oral direct orders; in 1977, a 900-foot-tall Jesus told Roberts to build the City of Faith Medical and Research Center. Of course, building a hospital takes some serious money — so, in 1987, God tried to extort $8 million dollars out of Roberts, or He’d kill him.
Well, OK — Roberts said that God would “call him home.” In any case, through a televised plea so anguished it rivaled Jimmy Swaggart’s award-worthy perfomance as he begged forgiveness for his “moral failure,” Roberts managed to raise more than $9 million — in part because a few of his followers were afraid God wasn’t going to “call him home,” but that Roberts was planning on committing suicide if his fundraising bid failed.
But Roberts’ God was a greedy god. A few years earlier earlier, Jesus had reappeared to commission Roberts personally to find a cure for cancer. Ol’ Oral let Jesus down, the medical school went bankrupt, and Oral had to sell off the hospital to cover its crushing debts, in 1989.
As a consolation prize, God began using Roberts’ ministry to raise the dead. In fact, Roberts himself brought a dead child back to life (his son Richard swears so — but more about Richard in a moment). Too bad Roberts’ God was also a cruel God; had he gifted Roberts with this ability earlier, Roberts could have resurrected his daughter and son-in-law, who died in a car wreck in 1977, and his eldest son Ronald, who committed suicide in 1982.
With that, we turn to today’s MO’Kelly Report, “Mrs. Dick Roberts Gettin’ Her Freak On” (which is really just a re-cap of the AP story, “Scandal brewing at Oral Roberts,” but far more entertaining):
Fast forwarding twenty years, it’s nice to see that Oral’s family is making good use of that money. This week, Oral’s son and president of Oral Roberts University Richard Roberts began answering to numerous allegations of financial misconduct and questionable behavior by himself and family members.
No…the word “questionable” doesn’t even begin to adequately describe the allegations. Mo’Kelly will just run them down for you quickly.
• According to a lawsuit, he asked a professor in 2005 to use his students and university resources to aid a county commissioner’s bid for Tulsa mayor. Such involvement would violate state and federal law because of the university’s non-profit status. Up to 50 students are alleged to have worked on the campaign.
• A longtime maintenance employee was fired so that an ahem…”underage” male “friend” of Mrs. Roberts could have his position. (Stone-cold freak alert! Flash the yellow light)
• Lindsay Roberts (Bob’s wife) — who is a member of the board of regents and is referred to as ORU’s “first lady” on the university’s website — frequently had cell-phone bills of more than $800 per month, with hundreds of text messages sent between 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. to, ahem… “underage” males who had been provided phones at university expense. (Sound the alarm! Stone-cold freak alert!)
• The university jet was used to take one daughter and several friends on a senior trip to Orlando, and the Bahamas. The $29,411 trip was billed to the ministry as an “evangelistic function of the president.” (Mo’Kelly got a “senior trip” to Disneyland which cost all of $40).
• Lindsay “Freakmama” Roberts spent more than $39,000 at one Chico’s clothing store alone in less than a year, and had other accounts in Texas and California. She also repeatedly said, “As long as I wear it once on TV, we can charge it off.” The document cites inconsistencies in clothing purchases and actual usage on TV. (With all the underage…ahem, “friends” it’s a wonder she had time to put/keep any of the clothes on.) …
Plus, notes the Christian Broadcasting Network (which is probably no great fan of Roberts’; we need a scorecard to keep track of which televangelist ministries are in bed together, and which hate one another, from moment to moment), that a lawsuit filed by three former ORU professors claims that “the Roberts’ home was remodeled 11 times in the last 14 years and had university employees doing his daughter’s homework.”
CBN also notes (with glee?) that using ORU “students and university resources in a local mayor’s race… could jeopardize the school’s tax exempt status.”
We can only hope.
Of course, Richard Roberts is denying everything, and whining like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar: “I am not intimidated by blackmail and extortion. Make no mistake about it, this suit is about money.”
Oh? We can’t wait to hear who’s been blackmailing you, Richie. Was it a 900-foot-tall archangel acting as goomba for God’s hit squad?
Discuss this story
Posted by: Sapphocrat
Permalink
|
Trackback
|
Category:
Corruption,
Education/Schools,
Oklahoma,
Oral Roberts,
Radical Religious Right
