Megachurch Meets with Creditors

Leaders from the Crystal Cathedral met with vendors and creditors yesterday to apologize for failing to pay them. Several businesses have filed lawsuits against the Crystal Cathedral stating that the megachurch owes them more than $2 million. There are as many as 185 creditors waiting in line to be paid. The church, founded by Robert Schuller, has put various properties up for sale, fired employees and cut its Easter pageant.

Documents Contradict Account of Abusive Priest

A priest involved with looking into accusations of sexual abuse by another priest at a Milwaukee-area school for the deaf now admits there are documents that contradict what he says happened. Thomas Brundage admits in a letter to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (read it here) that his archbishop in 1998 told him to stop the judicial process against Lawrence Murphy, a priest accused of molesting 200 deaf children. Brundage says he's sorry but his false statements were only a misunderstanding of how he remembered the events.

What Did the Pope Know?

An AP reporter discusses the Pontiff's involvement in the Catholic church's decision on what to do with a California priest with a record of sexually molesting children.

Protests Over Play

Students and their parents are calling on Gallaudet University to cancel a play at the deaf tschool they are calling offensive and blasphemous. The production is called Corpus Christi and in it Jesus and his disciples are portrayed as gay. Tarleton State University in Texas canceled a planned performance after a protest. Gallaudet's theater department has scheduled three performances from April 8-10 where Jesus will be portrayed as both gay and deaf.

A Catholic group called The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property has launched an online petition here. The group says Gallaudet does not have the right to let the play be performed. So far, the university is standing by its production.

Church: "No Homo Mayor"

A Gainesville, Florida church changed the sign in front of the sanctuary from No homo Mayor to No Homo after learning it could lose its tax-exempt status for making a political statement. The original message in front of Dove World Outreach Center referred to Craig Lowe, a gay city commissioner who is running for mayor.

TBN Settles Lawsuit

The Trinity Broadcasting Network has settled a lawsuit that alleged an employee was harassed for his sexual orientation. Brian Dugger once worked as an engineer at the Christian broadcast network. His lawsuit alleged that Paul Crouch Jr., the son of founders Jan and Paul Crouch, teased Dugger and told him to quit acting gay. Crouch denied that ever happened but still made an out of court settlement with Dugger for an undisclosed amount.

Vatican Dismisses Abuse Accusations

The Vatican is calling accusations it covered up the abuse of deaf children by priests "petty gossip." The remarks came in a surprise move in which a cardinal made the unusual decision to speak before Pope Benedict offered his Easter Sunday Mass. Benedict himself did not mention the scandal though the Vatican several times has recently blamed the media for creating a smear campaign. The Vaican newspaper says he's the real victim, writing that Benedict is having to endure a "despicable campaign of defamation." The New York Times reported Benedict was warned about the priest but he was not defrocked and he continued abused children even after his forced retirement. Barbara Blaine, a leader of Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said, "Victims are seeking consolation and healing and should not be insulted and told that our speaking out is petty gossip."