Televangelist Osteen's Wife In Court

Houston Megachurch Co-Pastor Denies Assaulting Flight Attendant In 2005

(AP)  She's the wife of a renowned evangelical pastor and one of the leaders of a Houston megachurch, but Victoria Osteen is being accused of behavior that wasn't very Christian.

Opening arguments were set for Thursday in a civil lawsuit that accuses Victoria Osteen of assaulting Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown before the start of a 2005 flight from Houston to Vail, Colo.

The lawyer for Victoria Osteen called the lawsuit silly and denied that her client assaulted Brown. Brown's attorney, Reginald McKamie, said he hopes the trial will show "that celebrity status doesn't take precedence."

Victoria Osteen is co-pastor at Lakewood Church, where her husband, Joel Osteen, preaches and where about 42,000 people flock each week. Joel Osteen's weekly television address is broadcast nationally and internationally.

Brown alleges Victoria Osteen threw her against a bathroom door and elbowed her in the left breast during an outburst over a stain on her first-class seat. The Federal Aviation Administration fined Victoria Osteen $3,000 for interfering with a crew member.

Victoria Osteen "clearly was angry on this flight," McKamie said.

Brown wants an apology and punitive damages amounting to 10 percent of Victoria Osteen's net worth as part of her suit.

A 12-person jury was seated Wednesday after lawyers spent several hours questioning a pool of 130 people. The questioning touched on religious beliefs, celebrity and the public's perception of preachers and televangelists.

Many of those in the jury pool said they had been to Lakewood Church and acknowledged holding the Osteens in high regard and being star-struck by them.

But other potential jurors said they didn't like preachers or televangelists and that ministers can lie.

Joel Osteen was at his wife's side Wednesday in court. McKamie said he expected to call the couple as witnesses.

According to an FAA report, Victoria Osteen pushed and elbowed Brown in an attempt to get to the plane's cockpit after two other attendants had not cleaned a liquid on her armrest.

Brown's suit claims the flight attendants asked to have Victoria Osteen removed from the plane. Victoria Osteen's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, says his client and her family left voluntarily. The incident delayed the flight about 2½ hours.

Hardin asked that the FAA report's findings not be allowed in the trial, saying the agency's investigation was incomplete. State District Judge Patricia Hancock said she would make a decision later.

Brown had previously claimed she was attacked in another incident by an airport employee, according to a deposition she gave in the case.

According to court documents, Brown claims that she suffers from anxiety and hemorrhoids because of the incident involving Victoria Osteen and said her faith was affected. She is also suing Victoria Osteen for medical expenses for counseling.

[six-six-seis]

How do you get Hemorrhoids from being pushed???

[jenny1233-2009]

This story could give you hemorrhoids. Isn''t there war, pestilence and acid rain ? Also this morning I took a walk with my dog.

[liberalme]

Gotta love these thumpers--they can pick and choose the 10 commandments they want to live by.

But hey--they make a lot of money selling God and Jesus!

[xxunknown]

hehehe...hemorrhoids

[alien_view]

This is the biggest crock. I bet Brown is black, a racist, liberal and has had more than one encounter with co-workers and passengers. In her eyes, an opportunity of a life time to get rich all I have to do is bump into a passenger and make it appear that I am the victim. After all I am a god (a flight attendent) what I says goes and I know it.

[kennedy7955]

Is there any doubt that this is about money and not justice? Do you think that our courts could possibly tell the difference between without a full blown trial? Of course not. This is how America''s corrupt, stupid, broken justice system works. And the case will likely settle since a court trial is so *** expensive. What a bad joke our country has become.

[finallyyy9]

The Arrogance of a Pastor''s Wife in the Church - - I sincerely hope this will set a precedence that simply because you are a pastor''s wife, YOU CAN''T HAVE IT YOUR WAY !! Too often, people and in general, members of congregations are forced to tolerate these women simply because of their "make believe status!" They get away with everything from running members away from the church, to having members removed from positions because they don''t like them. Many of these wives feel threatened by members for being too smart. Many of them are also notorious for disrespecting members by giving them a piece of their mind ALL to the knowledge of their spouses who refuse to see wrong in their wives...after all, they have to go home with them - albeit some...unfortunately by their own testimony.

Sit these women down and put them in their place! Treat them the same as if they were another lay member who would be rebuked for being late to Sunday School, bible study, prayer or not attending each and every function. The wives and other family members are allowed to drag their hips in late or whenever they please and sit on the front row with no recourse. Some may say, people are just jealous...YOU WISH !! God has NO FAVORITES !

I hope the judge will make a bold statement and treat victoria as any other person in the courtroom !!

[longtree-2009]

If charges are true, she is just another Christian nut job. If not true, then flight attendant is a nut job. One wonders why Airline did not, or refused to, call police on the Olsteens. Olsteens must have done something wrong to be fined 3 grand which is chicken feed to these extremely wealthy Christians. But the Christian congregation of nut jobs keeps giving them their hard earned money so good for the Olsteens as they laugh all the way to the bank.

[bobnjersey]

[According to court documents, Brown claims that she suffers from anxiety and hemorrhoids because of the incident involving Victoria Osteen and said her faith was affected. ]

hemorrhoids? shouldn''t she be seeing a pharmacist ... and not an attorney?

[liberalme]

compared to you who makes money off welfare

Posted by jamesm12341

Speak for yourself jwind11--

I supported 5 kids working 2 jobs and put myself through college---never had any assistance from anyone, it was my responsibility.

How about you jwind11--you constantly assume (you know what that word means don''t you?) the worst of everyone---is that so you''ll feel better about your own failures?

[liberalme]

compared to you who makes money off welfare

Posted by jamesm12341

Speak for yourself jwind11--

I supported 5 kids working 2 jobs and put myself through college---never had any assistance from anyone, it was my responsibility.

How about you jwind11--you constantly assume (you know what that word means don''t you?) the worst of everyone---is that so you''ll feel better about your own failures?

[liberalme]

So she works in the religion industry, SO WHAT?



Posted by gop_forever at 11:53 AM : Aug 07, 2008

So God approves of being "sold". I don''t recall Jesus ever praying for money and these evangelists tell their audiences the money is for God--and I''ll bet God would say he has no use for money---better yet, ask George Bush---he seems to have some converstaions with God!!! LOL

[patriot12436]

gop
Where did you hear about the allegation she was a lesbian ?

[patriot12436]

Since the story leaves out so many details i would like to know the whole story befre deciding what is right or wrong.

[messiahx4eve]

Ah christian mythology, soon, it too, will be the stories told to future generations as the gods of Olympus were in ancient Greece & Roman times were told to us. Only in Capitalism would you find a god-for-hire.

[liberalme]

hey liberal me, what kind of work did you do to support those 5 kids, any of the old ''''in out in out''''? i bet youre good at it what with 5 kids. maybe you should have kept your legs together longer and gone to college and then your kids wouldnt have had to grow up as trailer trash.

Posted by URSODUMB at 12:05 PM : Aug

Hahahaha you are an idiot---I did go to college--we never lived in a trailer--I have always owned my own house and my kids are all college educated, have families careers and homes of their own too!

So URSODUMB---perhaps you didn''t do so well?? Sorry

[superdem]

This case is about an assault. One person cannot attack another person without legal consequences. An airline attendant must deal with the public, but is not a punching bag who must take abuse. It sounds like Ms. Osteen has become accustomed to privileged treatment, and reacts badly when such treatment is not forthcoming. It is hard to imagine a stain on an airplane seat would warrant hysteria, but I wasn''t there, it might have been disgusting. What truly IS disgusting is the nonsense "Christians" are writing in her defense, or against liberals on this site. It just shows how hateful "Christians" can truly be, and how they''ve formed their own little club, which Jesus taught against. How dare any Christian accuse liberals of tolerating child abuse. Thou shalt not bear false witness.

[jsl45]

Tammy Faye Baker and Victoria Olsteen two peas from the same pod. If there wasn''t some truth to the story then why did she pay the fine to the FAA? Now they don''t fly first class, they bought a $10M plane so she doesn''t have to deal with the lower "class".

[peachfuzz99-2009]

The flight attendant is a gold-digging biotch!

[chester_free]

Let''s see: preaches a phony "prosperity gospel", inherited the family religion biz from dad, makes no mention of sin or hell in his "sermons", banks millions upon millions of dollars, and has a wife who thinks her stuff doesn''t stink and that working stiffs are her personal slaves. That doesn''t sound very Christian to me.

[casey0157]

$10M plane? Gee, I wonder who paid for that? Yes people, keep sending money to these people for prayers or for a direct connection to God Himself. This is insane! God is free for all who worship him and allow him into their lives, their hearts. It''s just a money-making scheme although many believe he has made differences in their lives or has he? God is who makes things happen for us. Believe in Him! People believe in this man and give to this man when they have little themselves to give and he lives like a king? Something is terribly wrong with this picture.

[theusa1st]

The flight attendant is a gold-digging biotch!

Posted by peachfuzz99 at 12:25 PM : Aug 07, 2008

you are spot on....anxiety and hemmoroids...that''s the best this money grubber can come up with. The whench needs to get a grip and get a life. What a joke!!

[eggy1620]

The flight attendant is a gold-digging biotch! Posted by peachfuzz99


So is Victoria Osteen. Trophy wife if there ever was one.

[observer2020]

The stewardess was a feminist and got into Mrs Osteens face about lesbianism. A christian can only take so much you know.
Posted by gop_forever
_________________________
Amazing! You were there to hear what the argument was about? It was stated in this story that it was about a stain on the seat and how this God faring woman was childish and had a temper tantrum. Not about your serious problem with women and people who choose an alternative lifestyle. Being Christian is all about forgiveness, understanding, and acceptance...you are SUCH a good Christian. I really think this whole thing falls under the frivilous lawsuit category. Victoria Osteen does need to learn how to act in public. This should be dismissed but both need a stern talking to by the judge.

[charlieot]

The stewardess idiot is not entitled to someone''''s "net worth" anything, especially not 10% of someone''''s life''''s work. If this woman is found guilty, she is entitled to payment of medical expenses and a verbal apology...ONLY.

If she is found guilty, which she hasn''''t been, then people can make comments about her "celebrity" status or whatever you call the spouse of someone who takes money from the poor and lives an extravagant lifestyle with said money. Just because he married a plastic trophy wife, that doesn''''t entitle this stewardess to any of it. This case should be settled with no award of money other than medical expenses only. Otherwise, Mr. Osteen''''s wife should sue for exploitation. Posted by MyOpinion1 at 11:45 AM : Aug 07, 2008

MyOpinion1
There fundamental misconceptions in your post...
1) Punitive damages have long been considered legitimate awards in our court system. The proper amount may well be debated, but the principle remains.

2)This is a civil trial, not a criminal trial. There will be no finding of guilt or innocence. There will simply be a finding for one party or the other based on "the preponderance of evidence" ( a long-standing legal principle in civil actions).

[hologram5]

You all that state the airline lady is gold digging: I have known many pastors and their wives, they can be that way, no matter hard it may be to believe but it is most likely true. Look at the celebrities, they act the same way.

[checkthepast]

Brown claims that she suffers from anxiety and hemorrhoids.....Is this to say that sometimes the pastors wife can be a pain in the buttt?

[observer2020]

Let the Osteens buy a private jet with the money intended to do God''s work. Looks like she spends enough of that on botox, face lifts, her hair, makeup, clothes, etc. Guess you have to make yourself look good for God to accept you.

[observer2020]

Good4Always: We can read...you don''t have to continuously shout at us. Unlock your caps.

[observer2020]

checkthepast: Way too funny...thanks for the hearty laugh!

[eggy1620]

If you look at recent history and contemporary society, most fabulously wealthy Christians acquired their assets not through hard work and contributing to society, but through convincing others to give them money.

[bill517]

Praise the Lord.

[excoachken]

The title of this article should have been "Con Man''s Wife Getting Conned!"

[credibility2]

Good4Always - neither Osteen will lose everything based on the charges; you must be on something to thing that way. And if all those thousands of their followers believe in whatever they want to, that''s their decision, not the Osteen''s. If people are that feeble as not to use their own intelligence to make decisions, then they get what they deserve for their stupidity. At most, if all the charges are true, Osteen''s wife should be made to pay and apologize because what she did was wrong and unacceptable. I''m surprised with all their money and at least one private jet, that she was flying commercial.

[jbright9]

The Osteen ministry is a lucrative business which has little to do with preaching Christianity. They have become celebrities in their own right and are totally caught up in themselves. Victoria thinks she is so special that she deserves to have her every need taken care of immediately. She acted badly, inconvienced a whole plane full of people and is guilty of assault.

I am sure the flight attendant''s attorney advised her of what to ask for in damages and neither expect her to get anywhere near that much. I don''t find the flight attendants asking for damages to be nearly as troubling as the Osteen''s con of asking money for their ministry from the poor and ignornant. Those mega churches are built in adoration of the con not God. Find yourself a nice small church where you can really have fellowship and do good works. You don''t need to be entertained by the Joel Osteen show every Sunday morning.

[udontnoitall]

Why would anyone go too far one way or the other on this? It is obvious that athiests will be on the flight attendant''s side, most liberals and democrats will be on the same side. Christians will be on the Osteen''s side, most conservatives and republicans will be on the Osteen''s side. All of this is rediculously typical!
But I ask you this, regardless of what side you come down on...What in the world would make any of you think that the flight attendant has any crediblility? Is it her suffering faith or her hemorrhoids?

[jbright9]

k2345

Amen. Good points but I don''t think we will see that happen in my lifetime. People are too superstitious and afraid to question those beliefs. Religion is also big business and will work hard to protect itself.

[ioweign]

If you look at recent history and contemporary society, most fabulously wealthy Christians acquired their assets not through hard work and contributing to society, but through convincing others to give them money.

Posted by eggy1620 at 12:40 PM : Aug 07, 2008

sort of like how libs get welfare from the government

Posted by jamesm12341 at 12:58 PM : Aug 07, 2008

So Exxon/Mobil is a lib - with record profits and it "still" get tax breaks - "Corporate Welfare"

[honestabe8]

The Osteens have made themselves wealthy appealing to good intentioned, but superstitious, people. I guess there is no law preventing people from taking advantage of idiots. In fact, that is what idiots are there for.

[udontnoitall]

Why would anyone go too far one way or the other on this? It is obvious that athiests will be on the flight attendant''''s side, most liberals and democrats will be on the same side. Christians will be on the Osteen''''s side, most conservatives and republicans will be on the Osteen''''s side. All of this is rediculously typical!
But I ask you this, regardless of what side you come down on...What in the world would make any of you think that the flight attendant has any credibility? Is it her suffering faith or her hemorrhoids?

[udontnoitall]

mike, my point exactly.

[observer2020]

mike071067: Yes! A couple fries short of a happy meal...has a full six pack (negotiable) but lacks the plastic thingy holding it all together...not the brightest crayon in the box...etc. This entire thing is stupid...although Mrs. Good Christian Wife needs to curb her temper...and the attendance needs to have a reality check about frivilous law suits.

[udontnoitall]

although Mrs. Good Christian Wife needs to curb her temper...and the attendance needs to have a reality check about frivilous law suits.

Posted by observer2020 at 01:55 PM : Aug 07, 20


Agreed. But how do we know she lost her temper? For now, it''s just she said, she said.

[firststate]

Anyone who wasn''t there should probably wait until the facts come out at trial. It''s easy to make a snap judgement, but it sounds possible that both the so-called ladies involved might be lacking a few cards from their decks. Televangelists are as human as the rest of us and have lapses in judgement. If Mrs. Osteen disagreed with the FAA''s investigation, she should have appealed their decision in levying the fine. How does being elbowed in the breast cause hemorrhoids? The trial should be interesting.

[udontnoitall]

I dont believe Brown and neither will anybody else.

Posted by onlythereal at 02:02 PM : Aug 07, 2008


She might have had a shot if she''d left the hemorrhoids out of the picture. Oh yeah, and the thing about wanting 10% of her net worth! The only way this idiot would have had credibility is if she had only wanted an apology.

[udontnoitall]

Posted by Good4Always at 02:28 PM : Aug 07, 2008


Don''t know, but we know where Sharon Brown takes it, right?

[udontnoitall]

My last post makes no sense. Apparantly the post to which I was responding got pulled. Oh well, probably should have anyway.

[davvictor]

Now I find it hard for the courts to allow a suit for these kinds of damages. Does this seem out of line for anyone else?

. . . .

Now I''m no Osteen fan. I pass his church every week and I''ve heard the teachings. The guy''s a false teacher, knows little about Christianity, and is misleading MANY people away fro the truth of the bible.

That said, it still doesn''t matter -- what the woman is being sued for it plain stupid.

[ann3332]

this story is hard to believe especially when she mention hemorhoids. this case should be throw out.

[antoniof123]

Osteen says if it makes you feel good it is good with god.....

Oh brother snake oil salesman out for money.