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Debt-ridden Crystal Cathedral Offers to Pick Up Congregants' Food Donations in a Limo
Detail of the Crystal Cathedral | Photo by loop_oh via Flickr
The Crystal Cathedral's Pastor Jim Kok sent an e-mail to congregants asking for their help. The Rev. Robert Schuller's wife Arvella was recovering from a bout with pneumonia, and he said it would be really nice if they could donate some food: nothing too salty, nothing too sweet, fruit plates, meals with protein and egg dishes like quiche would be good. Oh, and if they could drop it off with the limo driver at the church, that would be fantastic.
That last part about the limo driver is really pissing off parishioners, according to the Los Angeles Times . It looks like another example of the debt-ridden church's wasteful spending.
"We're just tired of it," Bob Canfield, a congregant who is involved with an online petition to rid the church's board of Schuller family members, told the Times. "We're just tired of them taking advantage of us."
The Crystal Cathedral has fallen on hard times ever since the economy took a turn for the worst (and the hand-off between Rev. Schuller and his children hasn't been successful). The church owes its creditors $50 million, and Chapman University is making a bid to buy the church and pay off its debts.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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