|
A series of scandals in the 1980s resulted in the destruction of the reputations of several famous Christian televangelists, including Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart.
Most scandalized televangelists continue preaching, though with a far diminished viewership. Despite their respective scandals, they each often retain a core group of "faithful" followers.
Jimmy Swaggart
Jimmy Swaggart admitted sinning against God and his wife in 1988 after being caught on film taking a prostitute to a motel. He built his ministry into a $150m-a-year (£65m) concern. The following year after allegations of a 10-year affair his 2 million television audience turned their backs on him.
Oral Roberts
In 1987 Oral Roberts addressed his television audience telling them that God had told him to raise $8 (£4.5m), if he did not God would take him home he raised $9.1m. By 1989, due to financial difficulties, he had to close down his ministry. Former employees have alleged that he used ministry funds to buy clothes, jewellery and fund travel in a private jets.
Roberts Tilton
By late 1980s Robert Tilton was pulling in $80m (£45m) a year. Later ABCs Primetime Live found out and announced that the prayers sent along with the financial donations were not being taken any notice of, Tilton never saw most of them, a pile was found in rubbish bins.
Source
The Independant, Bad faith, blackmail and a troubled TV evangelist, 14.9.2004
| 
