Oral Roberts President Exits Amid Scandal

Richard Roberts To Take Leave After Being Accused Of Lavish Spending At Donors' Expense

(CBS/AP)  Oral Roberts University President Richard Roberts asked the school's board of regents for a leave of absence Wednesday amid accusations of lavish spending at donors' expense and illegal involvement in a political campaign.

The allegations have rocked the Bible Belt university, known for its 60-foot bronze statue of praying hands, reports CBS News affiliate KOTV. Roberts, 58, said he would continue his role as chairman and CEO of Oral Roberts Ministries.

"I don't know how long this leave of absence will last, but I fully trust the members of the Board of Regents," Roberts said in a statement released by the university. "I pray and believe that in God's timing, and when the Board feels that it is appropriate, I will be back at my post as president."

An Oct. 2 lawsuit cites an internal report that says the Roberts allegedly remodeled their home 11 times in 14 years, used the university jet for personal trips, and forced members of the university to play an active role in a political campaign, something that is banned for non-profits such as the university, reports CBS News correspondent Hari Sreenivasan.

Three former ORU professors filed the suit and say they were forced out after turning over this information to the board of regents.

Their suit was amended last week to include new allegations that documents were shredded and destroyed days after the initial lawsuit was filed, and hours after ORU and Richard Roberts fired the school's comptroller.

The amended complaint also included an internal ministry report, titled "Scandal Vulnerability Assessment," documenting allegations of misconduct by the university and the Roberts family. Only a partial report was included in the Oct. 2 lawsuit. ( Read the "Scandal" document.)

The more detailed account alleges Richard Roberts' wife, Lindsay, spent the night in the ORU guest house with an underage male "on nine separate occasions," and was photographed 29 times with an underage male in her sports car, among other allegations.

The internal report was prepared by Stephanie Cantees, Richard Roberts' sister-in-law. An ORU spokesman said Cantees would not comment on the report.

An ORU student repairing Cantees' laptop discovered the document and later provided a copy to one of the dismissed professors.

In a statement, Lindsay said she lived her life in "a morally upright manner" and had never engaged in any sexual behavior with any man outside of her marriage as the accusations imply.

"The last three weeks have taken a serious toll on me and my family," Richard Roberts said in a statement Wednesday. "The untrue allegations have struck a terrible blow in my heart. The untrue allegations of sexual misconduct by my wife have hurt the most."

Gary Richardson, attorney for the dismissed professors, said his clients "stand ready and prepared at the appropriate time to prove the truth of those allegations, and also prove the truth of the fact they were fired after providing the information off Stephanie Cantees' computer to the board of regents.

"I want to know why they fired these guys," Richardson said.

Oral Roberts, 89, said last week that the allegations against his family had blindsided him, "but we have been through some tough experiences in building Oral Roberts University in the 1960s, and we have surprised them all and have built a university that we believe is for the glory of God."

The Roberts family ministry grew from Southern tent revivals to one of the most successful evangelical empires in the country, hauling in tens of millions of dollars in contributions a year. The university reported nearly $76 million in revenue in 2005, according to the IRS.

The elder Roberts founded the 5,300-student school, known for its 60-foot-tall bronze sculpture of praying hands, in 1963. He famously told viewers in 1987 that God told him to raise $8 million for the university or he would be "called home."

The week the lawsuit was filed, Richard Roberts said at a chapel service that God told him to deny the allegations. He said God told him: "We live in a litigious society. Anyone can get mad and file a lawsuit against another person whether they have a legitimate case or not. This lawsuit ... is about intimidation, blackmail and extortion."

[marcodele]

Another compassionate conservative republican hypocrite bites the dust.

[jon_mccain]

looks like the "conservative revolution" has been shot to he11

[stephengosson]

Roberts claimed that the home remodeling stemmed from a "black mold" infestation and the fact that the home has been pummeled by hail.
I think God want''s your ear for a moment, Mr. Rogers.
Also, does "...in God''s timing, and when the board feels that it is appropriate,.." mean to say that God and "the board" are one and the same?

[nexgen99]

Your mistaking a snake oil salesman for a conservative. Your wrong.

[oscarez]

This is just another reason to be an Agnostic.

[jukbx]

Another person ''guilty until proven innocent''. I know, I know, if it''s in the news, it must be true. Let''s wait until we get all the facts to throw stones!

[lawyertom1]

Another holier-than-thou type brought down by mammon. "If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master. The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that may be said to possess him." Sir Francis Bacon.

[sevenveils]

This man and his minions have been preying upon the poor, weak and desperate; promising that with donations for prayer services god will answer their wants to have a better job and home.

The money from these desperate people is spent for lavish lifestyles, mansions, custom tailored clothing, fancy cars and private jets; almost the life style of Hugh Hefner.

What would jesus do if he were a televangelist? Quite the opposite of what is occuring today, no doubt.

[simonsez40]

Another compassionate Christian immersed in scandal, loving money, and living the MORAL life........

Sounds like the Bush Administration! Good Riddance to both!

[vastr-wcon]

.
Oral Roberts joins the huge trash heap of evangelicals that are proven liars, thieves, gay-bashing *** and assorted other reprobates. The troubles of the Repug Party just keep getting better and better!

.

[nexgen99]

Wow where is Singinrick when a so called Christian S c u m bAG BITES THE DUST. FN low life lies Before I would believe in Jesus I would believe in the great gods of Egypt

Posted by jerryomara

-----------------------

As opposed to what a, Jewish S c u m bAG BITING THE DUST

As opposed to what a, Atheist S c u m bAG BITING THE DUST

As opposed to what a, Agnostic S c u m bAG BITING THE DUST

What''s your point. Their are lowlife''s in every religion or non religion. Do you think he represents 2.3 billion Christians?

[shingles1]

"The amended complaint included details of an internal ministry report documenting Lindsay Roberts'' contacts with underage males."

I guess she puts the "Oral" in Oral Roberts University.

[brixtonc]

No, Oscarez...not an agnostic; card carrying atheist. There is no such thing as god. Never has been, never will be. And people who believe that there is have a mental defect.

[nexgen99]

No, Oscarez...not an agnostic; card carrying atheist. There is no such thing as god. Never has been, never will be. And people who believe that there is have a mental defect.

Posted by BrixtonC
--------------------------

Well I guess that makes it 5.4 billion for the people who believe and gosh 1 for you. Your lose!

[myidoncbs]

It''s those W-A-C-K-Y Christians again, up to their old tricks!

Someone suggested, "Let''s wait until we get all the facts to throw stones!" That would ordinarily be a good idea, except that we ALREADY know this guy is a sl/eaze.

Who could ever forget his daddy, Oral (sounds like a perversion to me) Roberts'' claim that God would "call him home" if he didn''t get $8 million right away! In 1981, Oral said a "900 foot Jesus" appeared before him and he "guessed" that Jesus wanted him to raise more money for his hospital. In 1983, Oral said Jesus had personally appointed him to find a cure for cancer. (That hasn''t happened!) In 1986, Oral claimed that God would "call him home" (i.e., kill him) if he didn''t raise $8 million dollars before March 1. When Oral didn''t raise all the money in time, God "extended" the deadline. In 1987, Oral said he had raised $9.1 million, so he didn''t have to die, yet. $1.3 million dollars of this, allowing him to reach the goal, came at the last minute from a dog racetrack owner in Florida. The City of Faith medical clinic, which the money was SUPPOSED to be for, was closed down later that year.

Like father, like son! The apple doesn''t fall far from the tree. etc.

The Roberts: they''re sl/eazebags, evey one!

[afmca]

This constantly amazes me - why are these religious foundations treated like a corporation? Just because the founder may have been religious why are the sons and daughters automatically afforded the same recognition? Roberts, Falwell, Graham all have been succeeded by their children and nobody has ever questioned whether they deserve to - doesn''t this raise anyone''s suspicion that these institutions are now less about saving souls and more about increasing the bottom line. The 2nd generation seem to be just like all CEOs these days more interested in the perks and profits than delivering the promised product.

[myidoncbs]

Let me go out on a limb here and admit that I actually believe in God. It''s not so much a belief as it is a direct experience.

But the koolaid that American "born-again" "Christians" are selling is pure cr/ap, and it really makes me sick to think that one of Theirs is in the White House, and he believes that God Himself ordered the Little Decider to attack Afghanistan and Iraq, and he believes that this will start Armageddon and Jesus will come back to earth to wage war with the Devil for 1000 years, during which time we''ll all suffer unspeakable torment (except for the few "lucky" ones that God sucks up into the sky, wearing their rotting corpses).

Such people should be immediately incarcerated in the nearest mental hospital. And then just throw away the keys!

[billpl-2009]

hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,hah!!!!!,

....yes I do think it''s hilarious

[eggy1620]

A big problem seems to be that the founders of the megaministries raised their kids in the opulence that the ministry afforded. Now the adult kids sincerely believe that the megaminstries belong to them, and the donations are personal incomes. Thus the argument, %u201CYes I did those things with the money, but I did not do anything wrong.%u201D

[nexgen99]

MyIDonCBS .... Is it all Christians your against or just the phonies? I am a Catholic and I despise the snake oil salesman, the TV evangelists. Their are 1.2 billion Catholics in the world not everyone is bad. Just like their are 2.3 billion Christians not all bad. You seem to use the word w-a-c-k-y Christian too loosely.

[shutupfreak]

"I don''t know how long this leave of absence will last, but I fully trust the members of the Board of Regents," Roberts said in a statement released by the university. "I pray and believe that in God''s timing, and when the Board feels that it is appropriate, I will be back at my post as president."


Translation: I''m going to take the millions of dollars I have from stealing and hide out in some luxurious paradise for a while until everyone forgets about this and I can slither back up to the table to gobble more stolen money down my glutonous throat.

[badbrown126]

The accusation ... front page.

If he his inncocent ... either not reported, or page 10.

This story already has generated more ink than Sandy Berger.

Sometimes the press shows there bias by omission.

If he was Islamic there would be no story.

[nexgen99]

Their are lowlife''''''''s in every religion or non religion. Do you think he represents 2.3 billion Christians?
Posted by nexgen9

I think he represents the HUGE majority of "christian" leaders who are always on the front line of $ex scandals, positional abuse, theft, and child molestation. By far, they play out as the greediest, most dishonest and arrogant group of "religious" scum in the US.

Posted by shutUPfreak

============================

Well sorry but I know of no rich priests. I know of a few bad ones but they are a minority. I think your lumping a lot of innocent people into a category of a small minority.

[JJASMAN]

The Southern Methodist (SMU) don''t want the Bush library maybe the Oral Roberts University will take it....

[badbrown126]

What was the name of the Hollywood private investigator that the Clintons used to find dirt on there enemies? Has that ever been reported.

Did you know that John Edwards had an affair .. inquiring minds want to know.

Did you know that Hillary listened to illegal phone conversations?

[badbrown126]

Atheist are religious radicals ... they worship themselves ... and practice intolerance of anyone not willing to worship them. Worst them islamic fascists really ... and verrrrryy poor dressers. Normally hemp!

Hard to get laid wearing hemp.

[barodent-2009]

He''ll get one of those messages from GOD and everything will be alright. I just don''t seem to be dailing the right number I guess?

[walt1944-2009]

Let''s keep score:

1) Jim Bakker - caught using church funds for his own private use.
2) Jimmy Swaggert - had such a terrific libido he was running from one prostitiute to another on a daily basis.
3) Pat Robertson - suspected of siphoning off millions in tax payer money since he went to work in the White House under Emperor George W. Bush II.
4) Jerry Falwell - rumors that Falwell used church funds to get the GOP control of Congress and Emperor George W. Bush II into the White HOuse.
5) Oral Roberts - possible misuse of church funds for personal reasons.

Quite a scorecard the religious right has! Almost as good as the GOP has!

It''s no wonder that Jesus Christ never kept any money in the young church treasury. He didn''t want any, knowing full well that money corrupts! After all, didn''t Judas sell Him out for 30 pieces of silver?

SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!

[nexgen99]

Well sorry but I know of no rich priests. I know of a few bad ones but they are a minority. I think your lumping a lot of innocent people into a category of a small minority.
Posted by nexgen99

Did you miss reading the part whjere I wrote "child molestation"? Oh, and s0d0my and rape too.

Posted by shutUPfreak
==============================

OK let''s count how many "child molestations" their are around the country. How about Agnostic child molestations or Atheist child molestations. Does that make all Agnostics and atheists child molestations? Grow up, your a sad excuse for a human.

[badbrown126]

Hey walt1944 :

Lets add two.

Teddy Kennedy - killed a woman.
Robert Byrd - Prayed in front of a burning cross while reading the bible and wearing a KKK uniform.

Both are Religious Democrats.

[shingles1]

badbrown126, and your point is?

[funkiwiteboy]

Only thing I believe I kin do bout all this...
Pray hard, Work hard, Play hard and STAY HARD!!!
Lawd Jesus, PLEASE Hep US.
AMEN

[nexgen99]

george2221.... It''s time for your meds.

[dutchfarmer]

Ha, what a hypocritical apostate!! The Bible be praised because this behavior has been predicted years ago. Don''t forsake the Bible because of idiots like Roberts and his ilk. Let God be true and every man a liar.

[blackpearlsx]

walt1944

Don''t forget the founder of TBN, Paul Crouch paying off a guy who claims to have had *** with him. He only paid him off the shut him up......not because he
did anything wrong.........Do I hear a sigh of relief??

[nexgen99]

YOU and your christian and priest pals are sad excuses for humans...


Posted by shutUPfreak
----------------------------------

Well shutUPfreak, Their are 2.3 billion of us and just a few of you maggots. We''ll see whose standing when the dust settles someday.

[gwagener]

In a statement, Lindsay said she lived her life in "a morally upright manner" and had never engaged in any sexual behavior with any man outside of her marriage as the accusations imply.

So because she had *** with a boy outside of marriage it''s OK becasue having *** with a man would be adultery?

[badbrown126]

Why thank you for asking shingles1.

He included only sleazy religious people from the left on his list. I was pointing out that both sides have there fair share of hypocrits.

Also ... the press gives the hypocrits on the left a pass.

Lets see ... Teddy - Senior statesman.
Byrd - Dean of the Senate.
Billary Clinton - God like.

Senator Craig - Touch someones foot. Obviously too weird for public office.

The HUGE double standard is my point.

[gwagener]

In a statement, Lindsay said she lived her life in "a morally upright manner" and had never engaged in any sexual behavior with any man outside of her marriage as the accusations imply.

So because she had ***** with a boy outside of marriage it''''s OK becasue having ***** with a man would be adultery?

[gwagener]

In a statement, Lindsay said she lived her life in "a morally upright manner" and had never engaged in any sexual behavior with any man outside of her marriage as the accusations imply.

So because she had *s*e*x* with a boy outside of marriage it''''s OK becasue having *s*e*x* with a man would be adultery?

[superdem]

The problem with Christianity, and all other religions I know of, is that they are all like inverted pyramids, saying the individual is flawed and powerless and in need of salvation depending on total surrender to one all knowing and all powerful outside force, be it Jesus, Allah, or whatever. Buddhism is just the opposite - Buddha told his follows NOT to believe in him, or trust his teachings blindly, but to find out for themselves through contemplation, not to believe in anything, because belief is delusion and a form of attachment, he taught that every single soul has to find out for him/herself, the meaning of emptiness, no one can do it for you, the work is all on you, to achieve enlightenment. Our every sense is flawed and limited, upon close inspection nothing is what it seems to be, and even if it is, it is changing into something else. Everyone who thinks they know "the way" or is "saved" is wrong. There is no "creator", no "sin" and no "hell", the penalty for remaining attached and deluded is simply another rebirth and life of pain and suffering because we misunderstand the nature of existence.

[nexgen99]

HAHHAHAHHHAHAHAAAAHAHAHAHA
HAAAA!!! LOL, love you morons white trailor trash dudes! We''''ll see WHO''''S standing when all of the "2.3 billion of you" idiots who can''''t find your own a$$ with a flashlight and a mirror. Maybe one of us maggots can shout out as we crawl out of your sperm filled a$$hole?

Posted by shutUPfreak
===========================================

You seem to have a thing for a.s.s.e.s. I bet you into that whole ham and salami thing aren''t you.

[badbrown126]

Actually shutUPfreak ... of ALL of the clergy Priests are the least likely to commit crime ... all crime including *** with children.

The crime rate among Catholic priests I believe is less tha 1 % compared to the general population.

You do know that right? You wouldn''t put a post out there that stupid on purpose would you? I will give you the benefit of the doubt ... we will call it a conversation starter.

[badbrown126]

Why shutUPfreak your arguments are stunning ... I believe the rest of us are in awe of your wit.

Anything about my mom? Gosh no .. please ... no more ... your BRAIN is soooo big! Compensating for something are we ..

[igy11]

You know what.. all you God haters can mock and have your fun.. But one day Jesus is going to Judge all your sins and mockery (Hebrew 9:27) It''s appointed for man to die and then face Judgement.

If you die in your sins..you will burn in Hell for eternity!!.... No one is laughing in HELL!!!

Jesus is the only way to heaven.. Get your eyes off man.. Man fail!!.. Jesus paid the price to save you..Trust in Jesus..Repent and follow Jesus!!!

Turn from your sin.. trust in Jesus!!.. A lot of people think "I believe in God" ..Belief alone will not save you.. The devil even believes, he certainly wont be going to heaven... You need to surrender your life to Jesus!! ..Do it!! Before its too late!!

-Igy

[shutupfreak]

WRONG...and clearly YOU didn''t know THIS badbrown...


In a 1983 doctoral thesis by Richard Blackmon, 12% of the 300 Protestant clergy surveyed admitted to sexual intercourse with a parishioner. Clergy Sexual Abuse
Denominations Sexual Abuse: 17 percent of laywomen said that their own pastor had harassed them.... 10% of Protestant pastors had been sexually active with an adult parishioner... only 6.1 percent of Southern Baptist pastors admitted to having sexual contact with a parishioner. Although the actual extent of the problem is unknown, the significance of clergy sexual abuse is acknowledged by the leaders of most Christian churches, Protestant, Orthodox... Buddhism, Judaism...While pedophilia, the sexual molestation of children, captures headlines in most abuse cases, in actuality over 90% of all clerical sexual abuse and misconduct cases are perpetrated against women.
Up to the year 2000, 800 US priests have been through the court process; not all convicted, out of 50,000 Catholic priests in America... and some 1300 priests have been treated for psychosexual disorders over the period of the crisis The Sexual Abuse Crisis in the Catholic Church Priests Sexual Abuse
... and, at least, 232 priests removed of their pastoral duties Pedophiles and Priests Survey: 232 Priests removed

[scarletphd]

LOL!!! shutUPfreak, you rock!

[nexgen99]

LOL!!! shutUPfreak, you rock!

Posted by ScarletPhD
===============================

You mean he crawled out from under a rock!

[scarletphd]

I looked your stats up shutUPfreak, they are right on. 800 out of 50,000 is 1.6% of priests, and it''s irrelevant about the general population. (badbrown "I believe" is a statement used by bull$hitters who hope they won''t be questioned) The "general population" does not promise to do all of the good things priests promise to do either...another great point you made. And what was that stupid argument about athiests and agnostics brown??? You sound like a 3rd grade dropout.

[rfcnj68]

They will sit on their high horse until all the information comes out and forces them to say we are sorry and we hope god will forgive us.