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Ford's claim to wrongful termination doesn't seem to have much basis, either. TBN terminated his employment in 1998 while Ford was serving a prison sentence for violating terms of his probation through drug use. The network hired him in 1992, took him back after a 1994 jail term for statutory rape, and again took him back after a 1995 conviction for possession of cocaine. One would think that TBN had ample reason to let him go.

But it wasn't the fraud that brought down Bakker's PTL, and few could probably tell you why he went to prison. Still, people vaguely remember Jessica Hahn, and it was the affair that stopped the contributions. TBN may take a major hit in the wake of this story, and Crouch's position as president could be at risk, but he's not going to prison.

Then again, Crouch and TBN could very well make it through this. Ford is legally prohibited from talking about his claim. The Times quotes arbitrator Robert J. Neill's ruling that Ford's "right to discuss these matters was bought and paid for. He relinquished that right." That right, Neill said, "was sold to [Crouch] for $425,000."

It doesn't appear that Crouch is going to make a big deal of responding to the Times story. The press release calls the claims "dishonest, false, and scandalous," and adds that "Dr. Crouch will continue to respond to God's call on his life as president of TBN. … This storm will pass." Another storm was the focus of today's "Behind the Scenes," a live show that focuses on "the ministries & activities taking place each day at TBN locally and around the world. Crouch did not host today, but his son (Paul Crouch Jr.) focused on the effect of Hurricane Ivan on TBN's Caribbean affiliates. The Times story was not mentioned. (The Crouches' better-known show, "Praise the Lord," airs at 2 p.m. Pacific, and is streamed live online.)

Crouch has weathered decades of criticism for his Word-Faith theology, and is famous in some evangelical circles for his prophecies against his critics. ("God, we proclaim death to anything or anyone that will lift a hand against this network and this ministry that belongs to You, God," he said in 1997.) The question now will be whether Crouch's donors see the Times story as a revelation, as a demonic attack, or (as the TBN press release puts it), "a reprehensible fact of modern life." If Crouch is forced to leave, it could have a huge effect on the world's largest religious television network (and thus global Christianity). TBN is broadcast via 43 satellites and more than 10,000 television and cable affiliates worldwide.

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September (Web-only) 2004, Vol. 48