Televangelist kills brother, family sues

ponderingturtle · 2nd January 2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Tele-evangelist sued over 'God can heal' claim

Ed Pilkington in New York
Tuesday January 2, 2007
The Guardian

Darlene Bishop, as she appears on the cover of her book

Darlene Bishop, a tele-evangelist with a nationwide following, does not do things by half. When she and her husband Lawrence erected a statue of Jesus on the grounds of their mega church in Monroe, Ohio, they made it 62 feet high.
No less gargantuan are her claims about the power of prayer to overcome illness. Through a series of sermons, books and a television show, Sisters, broadcast on religious satellite channels throughout the US and abroad, she preaches that God has the power to heal even the most deadly diseases, including cancer.

Article continues

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But the contention is now the subject of a court action. Four of Mrs Bishop's relatives are suing her over her claim that God cured their father - her brother - of throat cancer. He died of the disease 18 months ago.
In her book Your Life Follows Your Words, Mrs Bishop tells how she overcame her breast cancer through prayer, and how her brother was also cured. There is no mention of his death in the book, which she says is due to the fact that it was published at a time when he had been in remission for more than a year.

But the volume is still on sale through her website (price $15) under the blurb: "How God healed her of breast cancer and her brother healed from throat cancer".

Mrs Bishop's brother, Darrell "Wayne" Perry, was an accomplished songwriter whose work has been performed by big names in country music such as Tim McGraw, and by the Backstreet Boys. For a year before his death in May 2005, aged 55, he was cared for by his sister.

His children, Bryan, Justin, Olivia and Christian, have issued a lawsuit for wrongful death against Mrs Bishop because they claim she persuaded Perry to stop chemotherapy and rely instead on God's healing. They contend in legal depositions that at the moment Mrs Bishop and her brother were touring the country preaching about the miracle of his recovery, they were both aware that he had been advised by doctors that his illness was terminal.

link

The odd thing is that it would seem she actualy believed in what she claimed.

KingMerv00 · 2nd January 2007, 11:29 AM

I wonder if they still believe in God. If so, shouldn't they sue Him?

Brown · 2nd January 2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Darlene Bishop, a tele-evangelist with a nationwide following, does not do things by half. When she and her husband Lawrence erected a statue of Jesus on the grounds of their mega church in Monroe, Ohio, they made it 62 feet high.

This is the very same "Big Butter Jesus" that has been making its way around the web.

http://www.buckeyestateblog.com/big_butter_jesus
http://calethos.livejournal.com/75100.html

casebro · 2nd January 2007, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by KingMerv00

I wonder if they still believe in God. If so, shouldn't they sue Him?

Which one has actual money? Deep pockets of it.

KingMerv00 · 2nd January 2007, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by casebro

Which one has actual money? Deep pockets of it.

The Judeo-Christian God authored the best selling book of all time. If J K Rowling is rich He must be.

ponderingturtle · 2nd January 2007, 12:37 PM

Originally Posted by KingMerv00

The Judeo-Christian God authored the best selling book of all time. If J K Rowling is rich He must be.

No he was a fool, he let the copywrite expire. The Co$ handels the copywrites in their holy books in a much better fashion.

CynicalSkeptic · 2nd January 2007, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by KingMerv00

I wonder if they still believe in God. If so, shouldn't they sue Him?

Even if you were to win such a lawsuit, good luck collecting. He is above the law after all.

fuelair · 2nd January 2007, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by KingMerv00

The Judeo-Christian God authored the best selling book of all time. If J K Rowling is rich He must be.

The various publishers have reported difficulty contacting the purported author to get his earnings to him or his legally designated agents.

Skeptic Guy · 2nd January 2007, 03:12 PM

In that case, as one of "God's little children", may I claim his royalties?

Mojo · 2nd January 2007, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Skeptic Guy

In that case, as one of "God's little children", may I claim his royalties?

According to Nietzsche, God was dead by 1882, so his copyrights will have expired by now.

grayman · 2nd January 2007, 03:31 PM

Originally Posted by Skeptic Guy

In that case, as one of "God's little children", may I claim his royalties?

You may have to split it six billion ways.

Skeptic Guy · 2nd January 2007, 03:44 PM

Originally Posted by grayman

You may have to split it six billion ways.

Man, you got me there...you mean other people know about it?

Originally Posted by Mojo

According to Nietzsche, God was dead by 1882, so his copyrights will have expired by now.

You mean no one renewed the copyright? No sequels? It's almost like it was ghost written...

Capsid · 2nd January 2007, 04:07 PM

Originally Posted by KingMerv00

I wonder if they still believe in God. If so, shouldn't they sue Him?

Anyone seen this film?

KingMerv00 · 2nd January 2007, 04:16 PM

I will gladly represent everyone in a class action suit.

My take will be 25%.

Skeptic Guy · 2nd January 2007, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by KingMerv00

I will gladly represent everyone in a class action suit.

My take will be 25%.

That would be an interesting court battle.

KingMerv00 · 3rd January 2007, 02:31 PM

United States ex rel. Mayo v. Satan & His Staff, 54 F.R.D.

Quote:

We feel that the application to file and proceed in forma pauperis must be denied. Even if plaintiff's complaint reveals a prima facie recital of the infringement of the civil rights of a citizen of the United States, the Court has serious doubts that the complaint reveals a cause of action upon which relief can be granted by the court. We question whether plaintiff may obtain personal jurisdiction over the defendant in this judicial district. The complaint contains no allegation of residence in this district. While the official reports disclose [**2] no case where this defendant has appeared as defendant there is an unofficial account of a trial in New Hampshire where this defendant filed an action of mortgage foreclosure as plaintiff. The defendant in that action was represented by the preeminent advocate of that day, and raised the defense that the plaintiff was a foreign prince with no standing to sue in an American Court. This defense was overcome by overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Whether or not this would raise an estoppel in the present case we are unable to determine at this time.

If such action were to be allowed we would also face the question of whether it may be maintained as a class action. It appears to meet the requirements of Fed.R. of Civ.P. 23 that the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable, there are questions of law and fact common to the class, and the claims of the representative party is typical of the claims of the class. We cannot now determine if the representative party will fairly protect the interests of the class.

We note that the plaintiff has failed to include with his complaint the required form of instructions for the United States Marshal for directions [**3] as to service of process.

For the foregoing reasons we must exercise our discretion to refuse the prayer of plaintiff to proceed in forma pauperis.

It is ordered that the complaint be given a miscellaneous docket number and leave to proceed in forma pauperis be denied.

Real case. That's right...you too can try to sue fictional characters.

KingMerv00 · 3rd January 2007, 03:10 PM

*Bump*

Seems my last post didn't bump the thread up. Server glitch.

afreire70 · 3rd January 2007, 04:14 PM

This story is originally from the UK if I am not mistaken. After reading the story I was left with one thought.

How is it that in the United States (land of unbridled litigation), there haven't been a series of lawsuits along these lines? Surely there are dozens of exemplars of the dangerous evangelical fraud described above -- evangelists "zapping" away cancer and other serious ailments through the power of the holy ghost all the while advising the flock that their money is best put to use in service of the lord than the secular medical establishment. And surely we have no lack of ambulance chasers in this country that would take up the legal mantle.

Why haven't we seen this?

valis · 3rd January 2007, 04:24 PM

I am no attorney, plus even if I was I am in the U.S. so it would not apply anyhow, but it looks to me like there are at least two problems here.

One is that the doctor supposedly told him the cancer was terminal; unless I am missing something that means the ultimate outcome would not have been effected.

More to the point is the fact that all kinds of people tell you all sorts of things; you don't have to listen to them. It would be one thing if she said "for x amount of money I can perform y which will cure your cancer". I don't know if just telling someone that God will cure them is, or should be criminal.

Skeptic Guy · 4th January 2007, 08:28 AM

As KingMerv posted, what jurisdiction would God fall under? And where would you serve the process documents?

Surely you could sue the evangelist for falsley representing the Big Man...

KingMerv00 · 5th January 2007, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by Skeptic Guy

As KingMerv posted, what jurisdiction would God fall under? And where would you serve the process documents?

Dual citizen. Israel and Mississippi.

I less than three logic · 5th January 2007, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by valis

I am no attorney, plus even if I was I am in the U.S. so it would not apply anyhow, but it looks to me like there are at least two problems here.

One is that the doctor supposedly told him the cancer was terminal; unless I am missing something that means the ultimate outcome would not have been effected.

More to the point is the fact that all kinds of people tell you all sorts of things; you don't have to listen to them. It would be one thing if she said "for x amount of money I can perform y which will cure your cancer". I don't know if just telling someone that God will cure them is, or should be criminal.

From my understanding it isn't criminal, hence why the family is suing in civil court.

TsarBomba · 7th January 2007, 04:06 PM

Buyer Beware. I think that's all there is to say.

2nd January 2007, 11:22 AM	#1
ponderingturtle Orthogonal Vector Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 50,817	Televangelist kills brother, family sues Quote: Tele-evangelist sued over 'God can heal' claim Ed Pilkington in New York Tuesday January 2, 2007 The Guardian Darlene Bishop, as she appears on the cover of her book Darlene Bishop, a tele-evangelist with a nationwide following, does not do things by half. When she and her husband Lawrence erected a statue of Jesus on the grounds of their mega church in Monroe, Ohio, they made it 62 feet high. No less gargantuan are her claims about the power of prayer to overcome illness. Through a series of sermons, books and a television show, Sisters, broadcast on religious satellite channels throughout the US and abroad, she preaches that God has the power to heal even the most deadly diseases, including cancer. Article continues -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- But the contention is now the subject of a court action. Four of Mrs Bishop's relatives are suing her over her claim that God cured their father - her brother - of throat cancer. He died of the disease 18 months ago. In her book Your Life Follows Your Words, Mrs Bishop tells how she overcame her breast cancer through prayer, and how her brother was also cured. There is no mention of his death in the book, which she says is due to the fact that it was published at a time when he had been in remission for more than a year. But the volume is still on sale through her website (price $15) under the blurb: "How God healed her of breast cancer and her brother healed from throat cancer". Mrs Bishop's brother, Darrell "Wayne" Perry, was an accomplished songwriter whose work has been performed by big names in country music such as Tim McGraw, and by the Backstreet Boys. For a year before his death in May 2005, aged 55, he was cared for by his sister. His children, Bryan, Justin, Olivia and Christian, have issued a lawsuit for wrongful death against Mrs Bishop because they claim she persuaded Perry to stop chemotherapy and rely instead on God's healing. They contend in legal depositions that at the moment Mrs Bishop and her brother were touring the country preaching about the miracle of his recovery, they were both aware that he had been advised by doctors that his illness was terminal. link The odd thing is that it would seem she actualy believed in what she claimed.
	__________________ Sufficiently advanced Woo is indistinguishable from Parody "There shall be no poofing in science" Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Force ***** on reasons back" Ben Franklin

2nd January 2007, 12:00 PM	#3
Brown Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 12,984	Quote: Darlene Bishop, a tele-evangelist with a nationwide following, does not do things by half. When she and her husband Lawrence erected a statue of Jesus on the grounds of their mega church in Monroe, Ohio, they made it 62 feet high. This is the very same "Big Butter Jesus" that has been making its way around the web. http://www.buckeyestateblog.com/big_butter_jesus http://calethos.livejournal.com/75100.html
	__________________ Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it. Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I am very sorry. I wish it were otherwise. -- The Day The Earth Stood Still, screenplay by Edmund H. North "Don't you get me wrong. I only want to know." -- Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice

2nd January 2007, 12:00 PM	#4
casebro Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 18,756	Originally Posted by KingMerv00 I wonder if they still believe in God. If so, shouldn't they sue Him? Which one has actual money? Deep pockets of it.
	__________________ Any sufficiently advanced idea is indistinguishable from idiocy to those who don't actually understanding the concept.

2nd January 2007, 12:37 PM	#6
ponderingturtle Orthogonal Vector Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 50,817	Originally Posted by KingMerv00 The Judeo-Christian God authored the best selling book of all time. If J K Rowling is rich He must be. No he was a fool, he let the copywrite expire. The Co$ handels the copywrites in their holy books in a much better fashion.
	__________________ Sufficiently advanced Woo is indistinguishable from Parody "There shall be no poofing in science" Paul C. Anagnostopoulos Force ***** on reasons back" Ben Franklin

2nd January 2007, 03:00 PM	#8
fuelair Banned Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 58,581	Originally Posted by KingMerv00 The Judeo-Christian God authored the best selling book of all time. If J K Rowling is rich He must be. The various publishers have reported difficulty contacting the purported author to get his earnings to him or his legally designated agents.
fuelair Banned Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 58,581

2nd January 2007, 11:29 AM	#2
KingMerv00 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 14,458	I wonder if they still believe in God. If so, shouldn't they sue Him?

2nd January 2007, 12:13 PM	#5
KingMerv00 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 14,458	Originally Posted by casebro Which one has actual money? Deep pockets of it. The Judeo-Christian God authored the best selling book of all time. If J K Rowling is rich He must be.

2nd January 2007, 01:18 PM	#7
CynicalSkeptic Master Poster Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,608	Originally Posted by KingMerv00 I wonder if they still believe in God. If so, shouldn't they sue Him? Even if you were to win such a lawsuit, good luck collecting. He is above the law after all.

2nd January 2007, 03:12 PM	#9
Skeptic Guy Raccoon Death Squad Leader Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,990	In that case, as one of "God's little children", may I claim his royalties?
	__________________ "Our history is in part a battle to the death of inadequate myths" - Carl Sagan Even Mother Teresa^WP doubted.

2nd January 2007, 03:19 PM	#10
Mojo Mostly harmless Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Nor Flanden Posts: 33,893	Originally Posted by Skeptic Guy In that case, as one of "God's little children", may I claim his royalties? According to Nietzsche, God was dead by 1882, so his copyrights will have expired by now.
	__________________ "You got to use your brain." - McKinley Morganfield "The poor mystic homeopaths feel like petted house-cats thrown at high flood on the breaking ice." - Leon Trotsky

2nd January 2007, 03:31 PM	#11
grayman Happy-go-lucky Heretic Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 5,655	Originally Posted by Skeptic Guy In that case, as one of "God's little children", may I claim his royalties? You may have to split it six billion ways.
	__________________ Stupidity is a condition. Ignorance is a choice. - Wiley All great truths begin as blasphemies. - George Bernard Shaw God is evil. As soon as you accept that, it all makes sense. - Sledge

2nd January 2007, 03:44 PM	#12
Skeptic Guy Raccoon Death Squad Leader Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,990	Originally Posted by grayman You may have to split it six billion ways. Man, you got me there...you mean other people know about it? Originally Posted by Mojo According to Nietzsche, God was dead by 1882, so his copyrights will have expired by now. You mean no one renewed the copyright? No sequels? It's almost like it was ghost written...
	__________________ "Our history is in part a battle to the death of inadequate myths" - Carl Sagan Even Mother Teresa^WP doubted. Last edited by Skeptic Guy; 2nd January 2007 at 03:46 PM.

2nd January 2007, 04:07 PM	#13
Capsid Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,744	Originally Posted by KingMerv00 I wonder if they still believe in God. If so, shouldn't they sue Him? Anyone seen this film?
Capsid Graduate Poster Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,744

2nd January 2007, 04:16 PM	#14
KingMerv00 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 14,458	I will gladly represent everyone in a class action suit. My take will be 25%.

2nd January 2007, 07:14 PM	#15
Skeptic Guy Raccoon Death Squad Leader Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,990	Originally Posted by KingMerv00 I will gladly represent everyone in a class action suit. My take will be 25%. That would be an interesting court battle.
	__________________ "Our history is in part a battle to the death of inadequate myths" - Carl Sagan Even Mother Teresa^WP doubted.

3rd January 2007, 02:31 PM	#16
KingMerv00 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 14,458	United States ex rel. Mayo v. Satan & His Staff, 54 F.R.D. Quote: We feel that the application to file and proceed in forma pauperis must be denied. Even if plaintiff's complaint reveals a prima facie recital of the infringement of the civil rights of a citizen of the United States, the Court has serious doubts that the complaint reveals a cause of action upon which relief can be granted by the court. We question whether plaintiff may obtain personal jurisdiction over the defendant in this judicial district. The complaint contains no allegation of residence in this district. While the official reports disclose [2] no case where this defendant has appeared as defendant there is an unofficial account of a trial in New Hampshire where this defendant filed an action of mortgage foreclosure as plaintiff. The defendant in that action was represented by the preeminent advocate of that day, and raised the defense that the plaintiff was a foreign prince with no standing to sue in an American Court. This defense was overcome by overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Whether or not this would raise an estoppel in the present case we are unable to determine at this time. If such action were to be allowed we would also face the question of whether it may be maintained as a class action. It appears to meet the requirements of Fed.R. of Civ.P. 23 that the class is so numerous that joinder of all members is impracticable, there are questions of law and fact common to the class, and the claims of the representative party is typical of the claims of the class. We cannot now determine if the representative party will fairly protect the interests of the class. We note that the plaintiff has failed to include with his complaint the required form of instructions for the United States Marshal for directions [3] as to service of process. For the foregoing reasons we must exercise our discretion to refuse the prayer of plaintiff to proceed in forma pauperis. It is ordered that the complaint be given a miscellaneous docket number and leave to proceed in forma pauperis be denied. Real case. That's right...you too can try to sue fictional characters.
	Last edited by KingMerv00; 3rd January 2007 at 03:04 PM.

3rd January 2007, 03:10 PM	#17
KingMerv00 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 14,458	Bump Seems my last post didn't bump the thread up. Server glitch.

3rd January 2007, 04:14 PM	#18
afreire70 New Blood Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 0	The litigious US This story is originally from the UK if I am not mistaken. After reading the story I was left with one thought. How is it that in the United States (land of unbridled litigation), there haven't been a series of lawsuits along these lines? Surely there are dozens of exemplars of the dangerous evangelical fraud described above -- evangelists "zapping" away cancer and other serious ailments through the power of the holy ghost all the while advising the flock that their money is best put to use in service of the lord than the secular medical establishment. And surely we have no lack of ambulance chasers in this country that would take up the legal mantle. Why haven't we seen this?
afreire70 New Blood Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 0

3rd January 2007, 04:24 PM	#19
valis Muse Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 647	I am no attorney, plus even if I was I am in the U.S. so it would not apply anyhow, but it looks to me like there are at least two problems here. One is that the doctor supposedly told him the cancer was terminal; unless I am missing something that means the ultimate outcome would not have been effected. More to the point is the fact that all kinds of people tell you all sorts of things; you don't have to listen to them. It would be one thing if she said "for x amount of money I can perform y which will cure your cancer". I don't know if just telling someone that God will cure them is, or should be criminal.
valis Muse Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 647	__________________ Everybody knows freedom, it's living inside your head. Everybody knows Jesus, you'll meet him when you are dead. A song, by those guys...

4th January 2007, 08:28 AM	#20
Skeptic Guy Raccoon Death Squad Leader Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,990	As KingMerv posted, what jurisdiction would God fall under? And where would you serve the process documents? Surely you could sue the evangelist for falsley representing the Big Man...
	__________________ "Our history is in part a battle to the death of inadequate myths" - Carl Sagan Even Mother Teresa^WP doubted.

5th January 2007, 10:39 AM	#21
KingMerv00 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 14,458	Originally Posted by Skeptic Guy As KingMerv posted, what jurisdiction would God fall under? And where would you serve the process documents? Dual citizen. Israel and Mississippi.

5th January 2007, 11:20 AM	#22
I less than three logic Graduate Poster Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 1,463	Originally Posted by valis I am no attorney, plus even if I was I am in the U.S. so it would not apply anyhow, but it looks to me like there are at least two problems here. One is that the doctor supposedly told him the cancer was terminal; unless I am missing something that means the ultimate outcome would not have been effected. More to the point is the fact that all kinds of people tell you all sorts of things; you don't have to listen to them. It would be one thing if she said "for x amount of money I can perform y which will cure your cancer". I don't know if just telling someone that God will cure them is, or should be criminal. From my understanding it isn't criminal, hence why the family is suing in civil court.
	__________________ “There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world.” - Carl Sagan “The fact that we live at the bottom of a deep gravity well, on the surface of a gas covered planet going around a nuclear fireball ninety million miles away and think this to be normal is obviously some indication of how skewed our perspective tends to be.” – Douglas Adams

7th January 2007, 04:06 PM	#23
TsarBomba One Damn Dirty Ape Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 808	Caveat Emptor Buyer Beware. I think that's all there is to say.