Follow up
Posted on April 20th, 2005 by catalyst into the Uncategorized categoryIf I was getting paid for this blog, I would transfer all my checks to Lucygirl. She writes from such an honest point of view, I think everyone should read her comments.
I’m back…
First of all, I wanted to thank the webmaster for posting my comment. I really hope that some of the leadership from CBC happen to read my message so that they can get a glimpse of what people go through, after being fired from that horrible place.
There are so many stories of people being “let-go” from CBC because they began to attend another church (Bob MacGregor’s, Bob Isabell, or Joel Hjerdstedt’s churches). There are also several incidences of people getting laid-off due to budget cuts, that hapopen to be in their 50’s. One recent lay-off (I probably shouldn’t even mention his name) was J.D. This man, in his 50’s, had worked for CBC for years! (probably about 30 yrs.) Not only that, but he had been a full-time missionary for years at a time, and has additionally spent numerous years serving CBC. Why him??? What is he supposed to do at this age for work? I just don’t know what’s going through the minds of these idiots that run that place. There are many more people and many more stories (that are true), but there’s just not enough space for me to write all about it.
My family actually considered suing CBC after they fired my mom, but she felt guilty at the thought of it. She had been taught for so long that that place was so holy and right, that suing just seemed like an impossible thing for her to do. My poor mom was so depressed for over a year after the incident. How do they expect a person in their 50’s to go out and get a job??? It’s ridiculous. At least one good thing did come from the whole experience and that is that my whole family’s eyes were finally opened and for the first time, we saw what that place was really all about. None of us ever want to step foot into that place again.
This is what happens when you run your church like a business.
Editors note (April 22): I recognize that this post makes some fairly harsh accusations, while also including some personal references, which is something I usually try to avoid. However, this isn’t my story, it’s Lucygirl’s story. And I figured, since it’s her story, she can share it however she feels best.
As for being sued… it’s not libel, if its true. And I believe its true.
RSS feed for posts
April 20th, 2005 at 9:53 pm
I disagree with your statement. If they had been running CBC like a legitimate business, they would be more careful about their hiring practices. Good businessmen think long and hard before letting anyone go, and even when there is just cause they take great pains to cover their behinds to prevent lawsuits. CBC’s hiring practices appear, according to these recent reports, to be anything but professional. Assuming this is all true, of course, which brings me to my next point…
Catalyst, I would caution you about posting such stories without verifying them. You seem to have broken your own rules by posting possible hearsay/rumor and you’ve left yourself open to a possible libel lawsuit on this one. It’s OK to mock publicly available info about CBC that you feel is wrong, but this is private information that may not be entirely accurate. Even if accurate, you don’t know the whole story here, and things may not be as bad as they appear. Seriously, you may have crossed the line on this one…
FICM
April 20th, 2005 at 9:55 pm
I see you beat me to the punch and removed the named person before I could publish my comment. A step in the right direction, but I still think this is a questionable post.
FICM
April 21st, 2005 at 12:55 am
li•bel n.
A false publication, as in writing, print, signs, or pictures, which damages a person’s reputation.
The named individual was the victim and it would be up to him to prove he was wronged. This means that while he’s standing in the unemployment line he realizes, “Hey, I got fired because of the internet!!! DAMN YOU, INTERNET!!!”
Of course, the best defense of libel is the truth. Maybe he was just a bad missionary. Maybe he was passing out Books of Moron instead of Bibles. Maybe he was baptizing people in diet Sprite instead of holy water. Whatever the case may be, it would be interesting to know what “long and hard” reasoning that went through the minds of his bosses which led to the firings of a 50 year old missionary and a 50 year old teacher.
Secondly:
sat•ire n.
A literary work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision, or wit.
par·o·dy n.
A literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule.
I doubt anyone that reads this blog would mistake it as representing CBC. Now, if I reproduced actual CBC letterhead and pamphlets which contained eye witness accounts of the pastor and staff romantically linked to farm animals, that would be a different story. Lawsuits would spring forth left and right as the farm animals try to repair their reputations. Damages would be hard to prove due to overwhelming CBC sales of little donkey outlines for car trunks, piggy key chains, and “I Boffed Bessie at Eternity 05″ bumper stickers.
Besides, now that Satan’s called Johnnie Cochran home, who will defend Frank from a libel lawsuit when Jesus comes back?
April 21st, 2005 at 2:19 pm
Dear “FICM”, what…are you trying to warm him or something? You disgust me. Do you really think that any sort of lawsuit against this blog would really hold up in court? How often do you read blogs? Do you know the stuff that is said out there against other more profitable business entities than CBC who have the funds to sue and yet don’t? It’s a blog not CNN. No one assumes every detail of all info in here is 100% true.
Seriously “FICM” stop trying to bully people. I think YOU may have crossed the line on this one and may God hold you accountable for trying to theaten people and keep the truth hidden.
April 21st, 2005 at 6:13 pm
“Do you know the stuff that is said out there against other more profitable business entities than CBC who have the funds to sue and yet don’t?”
Yes, but CBC isn’t just an average business. Most wouldn’t sue, but CBC believes their image is “God” so…you’ll be hearing from our lawyers.
April 21st, 2005 at 10:43 pm
I wasn’t trying to threaten anyone. I’ve stated multiple times that I support this blog and think it’s a great idea to poke fun at the things we see wrong with CBC. The last two posts contained no satire, only allegations of poor hiring practices. Some of what was posted was hearsay and so I cautioned Catalyst to follow his own rules against naming names and posting rumors. (It was clear, to me anyways, that one account was firsthand, and the other hearsay.) I seriously doubt that any lawsuit will come of any of these posts, especially if this blog manages to maintain the humor and satire which drew me here in the first place. The last two weren’t “funny” and I don’t think they were meant to be funny. Or maybe I really missed the point. So please don’t be so quick to judge me for trying to protect this blog and its bloggers from mistakes. I really do have their best interests in mind.
FICM
April 21st, 2005 at 10:52 pm
Catalyst, I just noticed your update. If you believe her story to be entirely true, then I guess it’s your call to post it. I won’t say any more about it.
FICM
P.S. More satire/parody please! I think you need a follow up story on your search for a wife. And, hey, if you figure out how to find one, then let me know, my parents won’t stop bugging me about it either!
April 22nd, 2005 at 2:50 am
Fair Enough
May 11th, 2005 at 12:49 pm
lucygirl, that same thing happened to my mom & dad. after years of service to the church & school, my dad’s salary was cut for one entire summer. an entire summer of being broke, of watching my parents smile through the sadness of realizing that no matter how hard they worked, how good they were at their jobs, to the big boss they were completely dispensible. previously, “pastor” Hank had fired him and gave him some lame-ass job because P.H. thought my dad was too old for the job he’d been doing for years(and as we know, P.H. is on a life-long search for the fountain of youth). I also watched my mom, also an amazing teacher at PBC, watch her beloved, well-run program slowly disintegrate because, once again, P.H. hired someone on a whim. P.H. is like a spoiled child with parents who don’t know how to say no. He makes decisions on a whim and doesn’t think through the consequences. He doesn’t ever feel the consequences, but everyone around him sure does.
We now live far, far away, and every time we visit, it makes me sadder and sadder. I can’t believe that for so long I strived to find my identity in a church full of lemmings. I’m so glad to be out.