"Embattled Oral Roberts President Resigns"

[in_cog_ni_to]

Embattled Oral Roberts President Resigns
By JUSTIN JUOZAPAVICIUS, AP
43 minutes ago

TULSA, Okla. —

The president of Oral Roberts University who is facing accusations he misspent university funds to support a lavish lifestyle resigned from his position, officials said Friday.

Richard Roberts' resignation is effective immediately, according to a statement e-mailed from George Pearsons, chairman of the school's Board of Regents.

Roberts and the university have come under fire since a lawsuit was filed by three former professors.

The lawsuit includes allegations of a $39,000 shopping tab at one store for Richard Roberts' wife, Lindsay, a $29,411 Bahamas senior trip on the university jet for one of Roberts' daughters, and a stable of horses for the Roberts children.

Roberts, son of school founder and televangelist Oral Roberts, had been on temporary leave from the evangelical university, fighting the accusations against him. In a recent interview, the couple denied wrongdoing.

Roberts has said the lawsuit amounted to "intimidation, blackmail and extortion."

On Friday, he said in the statement that he loved the university. He became president in 1993. "I love ORU with all my heart," Roberts said in the statement. "I love the students, faculty, staff and administration and I want to see God's best for all of them."

The professors also alleged in their lawsuit that Richard Roberts required students in a government class to work on 2006 mayoral candidate Randi Miller's campaign.<snip>

http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/general/2007/11/24/Oral.Roberts.Scandal/

[tularetom]

1. Has Oral Roberts croaked yet?

Remember years ago when he said the lord was gonna call him home if the 'faithful' didn't give him like a bazillion dollars. did he get it? Did he get called home?

[madokie]

2. last I heard he was on the west coast living out his days

his god or his devil haven't decided on who has dibbs on his sorry ass yet, methinks

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. I do believe he's still alive.

I remember him begging for that bazillion dollars. How tacky. Look at how he lived...from Wiki:

From the late 1980's to 1992 Roberts maintained a residence in the exclusive St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida. Roberts would commute via private jet from his base in Oklahoma to Boca Raton airport for weekend visits to his golf club retreat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oral_Roberts

[stevedeshazer]

5. Anybody who says a 900-foot-tall Jesus asked him to raise cash has my trust.

Praise the Lord and pass the collection plate.

Can I get a Amen?

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Wow! 900 feet tall? and I thought THIS was a tad over done:

:eyes: I swear...they're all alike.




The Cross Foundation completed a 198 foot Cross at the intersection of Interstates 57 & 70 in Effingham, Illinois. The site is intended to serve as a beacon of hope to the 50,000 travelers estimated to pass the site each day. The Cross Foundation is dedicated to building both faith and family on an ecumenical basis.

[malaise]

9. Fugging con men preying on the gullible

They are the worst vultures on the planet.

[Ghost in the Machine]

4. If *my* name was 'Oral', I'd be searching for god all my life too....

just so I could kick him in the ass a couple of times for making my parents so stupid that they named me 'Oral' to begin with...

[valerief]

7. When do we get to flush the word "embattled" down the toilet? nt

[karlrschneider]

8. He's trying to avoid criminal indictments. It will probably work.

But he's got a LOT of dinero squirreled away for 'contingincies'...

[rasputin1952]

10. Why is this always the answer:

"Roberts has said the lawsuit amounted to "intimidation, blackmail and extortion."", that is always given?

I mean, really, the charges are based on real financial situations that he got himself into, so where is the,
"intimidation, blackmail and extortion." I have to wonder just how many coats, shoes, socks or meals could have been provided over the years with the amount of csh spent on this type of living.

I also have to wonder if there is any type of "Charitable Organization" that is attched to this...just so that tax money could go to him as well...via "Faith Based Initiatives"...