Fr. Houser+

Generally speaking I'm in favor of free speech, but in
Robertson's case wouldn't it be neat to see some
medieval restraints applied?

Fr. Wiebe reminded us of Robertson's investments. 
This sad story of abuse of Christianity by the TV
evangelists has been too long with us.  

More than 40 years ago an Ohioan, Rex Humbug, er, er,
Rex Humbard, erected "The Cathedral of Tomorrow" and a
radio TV network that was broadcast world wide,
attendant with miracle healings, people falling over
in the aisles, etc.  An investigative reporter alleged
that he had shills bringing in people who for a fee
would feign various illness and incapacities to be
miraculously cured on tv. Throw away the crutches and
say amen!

He also had a women's lingerie factory and other
investments.  When asked my opinion of that ministry,
my response was, "The Cathedral of Tomorrow and
Brassiere factory puts on quite a show."  No slander
there, just the facts ma'm.

He did put on quite a show.  After building the
largest church in Akron, Ohio (seated over 5,000
people), he added a restaurant and was building a
communications tower when his financial dealings
caught up with him and he had to sell the Cathedral to
Rev. Angley's ministry.  The exposure of the
shennigans of Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggert may have
caused sufficient drying up of donations to force the
sale.

He eventually left Ohio, and I think began some
"independent churches" (oxymoron)in Florida and at
last report, still doing guest appearances and
preaching.  At least he didn't wind up in jail.

Some wag referred to TV Evangelism as the new Tower of
Babble.

Sounds right to me.

Of course the shows must go on and on.  The following
post from a devotee of TV religion proves P.T.
Barnum's dictum to be true, or does it cause us to
marvel at the way "all things work together . . . .?"

Cheers!

Charles+

"----------------------------------

THE GREAT MEN OF GOD,APOSTLES, IN THIS CENTURY ARE 1.
REX HUMBARD, 2. ORAL ROBERTS, 3. BILLY GRAHAM, 4.
BENNY HINN, 5. PAT ROBERTSON. LORD BLESS YOUR
APPOINTED MINISTERS OF THE 2O CENTURY WITH LONG LIFE
AND GOOD HEALTH. THANK YOU, FATHER GOD, FOR GIVING US
EXAMPLES OF GREAT FAITH AND CHARACTER. FATHER, APPOINT
THOSE YOUNG MEN WHO SEE VISIONS, AND OLD MEN WHO DREAM
DREAMS, THAT WE YOUR FRIENDS AND FOLLOWERS WILL
CONTINUE TO BE FED BY YOUR APPOINTED APOSTLES. AMEN 

"-------------------------

Guess that sets us straight?
C.S.

--- JHouser943@... wrote:

>  
> In a message dated 1/9/2007 > 
> Pat  Robertson Predicts 'Mass Killing'
> 
> Updated: 5:32 a.m. ET Jan 3,  2007  from  msnbc
> VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - In what has become an  annual
> tradition of prognostications, religious broadcaster
> Pat  Robertson said Tuesday God has told him that a
> terrorist attack on the  United States would result
> in "mass killing" late in  2007.
> 
> 
> 
> This is an embarrassment.  Didn't Robertson also
> reveal  to us that God had told him it was going to
be an especially brutal  hurricane season this past 
> year?  Makes you wonder what god Robertson is 
> listening to.
>  
> Please make it stop!
>  
> J. Scott Houser+