More Christian Values on display at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa

[BOSSHOG]

- Allegations of Money Laundering
- Involvement in local elections (gotta love that separation of church and state and the gratuitious tax exempt status)
- Using University Money to remodel home
- Using University Money to pay for daughter's senior trip
- Get University employees to do daughter's homework
- 39K of the University's funds for the wife's wardrobe (those christian women sure do have to dress up)
- And the wifee's text messages to underage males who were given phones at the University's expense.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=3706360

Richard Roberts, Oral's son who is now running the university told the faithful that God told him to fight the charges.

I just have to wonder WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

[Iris]

1. hee! hee! I love the way the real kicker is buried all the way at the bottom!

Perhaps the wardrobe expenses were due to the wife trying to keep up with the young hipsters!

[Arugula Latte]

2. Aaah, religion. There's been no better scam in the history of humans... nt

[donsu]

3. true and the neo cons have weaved it thru their crimes

nt

[Mist]

4. What an obliging god--Roberts' god doesn't tell him to repent and

"sin no more", just fight the (apparently true)charges.

[Bryn]

5. Oral Roberts Ministry isn't the only one

go to www.factnet.org and find a message board that people are discussing about problem with ministries raking in money for themselves. Too many of them (televangelists) are extravagant with money from people.

also go to

http://www.wittenburgdoor.com/archives/copeland02A.html

funny toons about "Lifestyles of the Rich and Religious" .. Kenneth Copeland Ministries

[Coyote_Bandit]

6. All of those allegations

have cycled around the university repeatedly since at least the mid 70's.

Lots of interesting stuff about the lawsuit that is not being reported:

(1) The mayoral candidate in question is an ORU alumni. Tulsa area voters received pre-recorded robo calls campaigning for that candidate from Richard Roberts in the days prior to the election. Interestingly, the Tulsa County DA is also an ORU alum but the ministry has not taken it upon itself to campaign on his behalf.

(2) One of the law partners in the firm representing the plaintiffs is a former law partner with Richard Roberts sister. Another attorney in the plaintiff firm is an ORU law school alumni. As is Richard Roberts sister who practices law in Tulsa. The sister is Richard's only surviving sibling. Another sister was killed in a plane crash and a brother died from a drug overdose. Richard Robert's wife Lindsey (his second wife as he is divorced) dropped out of the ORU law school after her first year of classes to marry him. (Folks from Minnesota might be interested to know that Congresscritter Michele Bachmann was one of her classmates.)

(3) There is no reason to think that bringing the allegations to the attention of the university board of regents would have any positive effect. Regents are routinely picked on the basis of their loyalty and service to the university. Many have ministries that are politically active.

(4) One of the long time university regents is an ORU alumni and pastors the large mega church that sits across the street from the university. The guy panders to the old man (Oral) and has been known to play tape recorded phone conversations with him during services. Guy is ambitious and controlling - even by accounts from his own church members. About 20 years ago (more or less) he prophesied at an ORU faculty/staff dinner that anyone who was critical of the ministry would be looking for other employment. And so it was. There was a staff housecleaning. About the same time there was a prophecy that he would eventually head the university. One of the attorneys in the plaintiff firm is an active member of this regents mega church.

(5) Oral is 89 and known to be in poor health. His wife is dead. Richard is the heir apparent to take over the ministry. Could be that there is a power struggle and Richard finds himself a target because of his own excesses. Question is who is gunning for him - the sister or the ambitious regent? After graduating and marrying the sister left Oklahoma for many years. She doesn't seem to have any ambitions regrading the university. Wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that the regent is gunning for Richard. The guy is in his 50s and this may be the best opportunity he has in the foreseeable future to take control of the university.

edit for spelling.