Hypocrisy in the Pulpit

Richard Roberts Resigns as President of Oral Roberts University

The scandal keeps getting bigger and bigger in the world of organized religion. This is the second scandal in a week to hit a major figure in the religious world, as Archbishop Earl Paulk Jr. of Atlanta was revealed to be the father of his brother's "son," D. E. Paulk, after having an affair with his wife. Richard Roberts, son of Oral Roberts and president of Oral Roberts University, has resigned his position effective immediately. "I love ORU with all my heart. I love the students, faculty, staff and administration, and I want to see God's best for them," Richards wrote in his resignation letter. His decision to resign has come as the school is fighting a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by three professors who accused him and his wife, Lindsay, of misconduct.

John Swails, Tim Brooker and Paulita Brooker have said that they were fired from the University after they reported information indicating that Roberts and his family had lived lavishly by spending school money to finance their lifestyle. Roberts and his wife have vehemently denied the allegations both on Larry King Live and on other media. Equally disturbing is the latest allegations that the university gave "a convicted sexual deviant unrestricted access to students" and evidence in the case had been shredded. Lindsay Roberts has also been accused of repeatedly spending time with an "underage male" in various situations. I wonder if they did not learn anything from the meltdown of Tim Haggard after he said that he did not engage in sexual relations with a male prostitute, only to step down from his position in disgrace.