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TBN Seeks Fine or Jail for Accuser of Network Chief

Los Angeles Times, USA
Oct. 21, 2004
William Lobdell and Stuart Pfeiffer, Times Staff Writers
www.latimes.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Friday October 22, 2004

Trinity Broadcasting Network officials say they want a former employee jailed or fined because he violated a court order against talking about a homosexual tryst he says he had with the ministry’s leader, televangelist Paul Crouch.

TBN: The Blasphemy Network

Trintiy Broadcasting Network (TBN), led by founders Paul and Jan Crouch, is the world’s largest religious TV network. It claims to be a Christian ministry.

However, while some legitimate ministries and teachers (those who adhere to the orthodox teachings and practices of historical Christianity) appear on TBN, the network promotes such an incredible amount of heretical material – including extremist Word-Faith teachings – that it is often referred to as “The Blasphemy Network.”

Research resources on TBN

A temporary restraining order issued by Orange County Superior Court Judge John M. Watson in 2003 at the network’s request barred Enoch Lonnie Ford from talking about the alleged encounter — or anything else involving Crouch and TBN, the world’s largest religious broadcaster.

Ford, 41, provided general facts about his employment at TBN for an article published last month in The Times that detailed a $425,000 confidential settlement he received from Crouch in 1998 in exchange to keep quiet about the allegations. Crouch has denied Ford’s allegations.

Ten days later, in another interview with The Times, Ford went public with details of the relationship he says he had with Crouch.

On Sept. 24, TBN filed a request with Watson asking him to hold Ford in contempt of court. A hearing is set for Monday.

“He has to be held responsible … and we demand he has to stop talking,” said Ronn Torossian, a TBN spokesman.

• Read the Los Angeles Times online