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June 10th, 2012
02:07 PM ET
Megachurch pastor Creflo Dollar on his daughter: 'She was not punched'By Steve Almasy, CNN Atlanta (CNN) - Telling thousands of parishioners that he should never have been arrested, Pastor Creflo Dollar said at his Sunday morning service he neither choked nor punched his 15-year-old daughter, as she claimed in a report to police. Dollar, senior pastor of World Changers Church International in suburban Atlanta, told congregants in the sprawling megachurch and listening at one of more than a dozen satellite churches that when the facts of the case come out, they will be "appalled." "The truth is, she was not choked. She was not punched," Dollar said. On Friday, deputies responding to a 911 call photographed a scratch on the daughter's neck and arrested Dollar on charges of simple battery, family violence and child cruelty. Dollar said the mark on his daughter's neck is more than 10 years old, the result of eczema, a skin condition. CNN’s Belief Blog: The faith angles behind the biggest stories "I want the church family to know that all is well in the Dollar household," he said, in his first public comments since spending more than 12 hours in jail. He immediately addressed the issue upon taking the pulpit Sunday, speaking for nearly eight minutes about the challenge of raising children and denying he had hurt to his daughter. After Dollar told the crowd about the skin abrasion, one man yelled, "Case dismissed!" Dollar's daughter said she argued with her father over attending a party, investigator Brent Rowan of the Fayette County Sheriff's Office told CNN on Friday. Rowan said the daughter told the deputies that her father charged her, put his hands around her throat and began to choke her, according to a police report. She said he then slammed her to the ground, punched her and beat her with his shoe. Deputies also spoke with another daughter, 19, who corroborated her sister's account of what happened. Follow the CNN Belief Blog on Twitter Dollar blamed the devil for causing the controversy, saying that to discredit his message of "prosperity gospel," the enemy must discredit the messenger. Prosperity ministers preach that God rewards the faithful with wealth and spiritual gifts. Pastors such as T.D. Jakes, Dollar and Joel Osteen have become the Prosperity Gospel's most well known preachers, building megachurches and business empires with a message equating piety with prosperity. Dollar's church claims about 30,000 members and has an $18 million, 8,500-seat sanctuary about 15 miles from downtown Atlanta. Friday's incident was emotionally charged and escalated from an argument, Dollar said Sunday. But he never intended bodily harm to anyone, he assured the audience. "I love her with all my heart," he said, shaking his head with conviction. Creflo Dollar's Prosperity Gospel finds followers and critics He cited a Bible verse from Psalms that talks about malicious witness against the good man, and evil men delighting when he stumbled. He later, during his sermon, also joked about the arrest, saying that being a religious man sent to jail "upped my resume." "Paul ... Jesus ... and Creflo," he said to a huge cheer. The pastor, known for his pinstriped suits, laughed at being clothed in a yellow jumpsuit and sandals while being handcuffed and being held in a cell. For most of the service, Dollar spoke of the people being "the righteousness of God by faith," the third in a series of sermons he prepared weeks ago, he said. "No weapon that forms against you shall prosper," he reminded the audience, citing scripture. At the end of the more than hourlong appearance, he said that he was persevering thanks to God's love. "And we couldn't do it without the love of you brothers and sisters." After the service, congregants declined to comment on Dollar's appearance. Since he started his ministry in an elementary school cafeteria in 1986, Dollar has earned praise and criticism. Supporters say he has preached a message that's financially empowered his parishioners and challenged the idea that Christians should be ashamed to be rich. Critics call him "Cash-Flow Dollar," and say his message perverts the Gospel. CNN's John Murgatroyd and John Blake contributed to this report. soundoff (2,056 Responses)« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 Next »
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The CNN Belief Blog covers the faith angles of the day's biggest stories, from breaking news to politics to entertainment, fostering a global conversation about the role of religion and belief in readers' lives. It's edited by CNN's Daniel Burke with contributions from Eric Marrapodi and CNN's worldwide news gathering team.  |
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He probably shoved her and/or grabbed her around the neck. If he punched her, it would have been evident in the photos taken by police. Either way, it's very likely he is not innocent when his own daughter called the police on him and his older daughter corroborated the story. Wonder what kind of car Pastor Dollar drives? Probably a Mercedes or BMW. He rocking designer suits and is probably sporting the Rolex too.
Bentley (or 2), Mercedes (or 2 or 3), private jet (or 2). I used to live very, very close to the church (Clayton Co, GA)and had ties in the area he lives in (Fayette Co., GA).
And the point is????
I always thought that someone with the name Creflo Dollar could not be trusted. His name is too close to Creased Dollar ie a dirty been around the block dollar. He probably did choke his daughter. He does not want to lose his bank, I mean his congregation.
LOL! I agree.
Get Real, you're not too good at the whole sarcasm thing are you? Besides, how can you find it offensive if God commands slaves to be obedient to their Earthly masters? Isn't that in the good book?
You have obviously not read the Good Book.
Sounds like there's a bit of dysfunction in the Dollar household. I wasn't there to see what actually happened to come to my own conclusion. But I do know 15 year old girls can lose their minds and become quite dumb and disrespectful; especially, if they become too involved with a boy. Raising teen girls is no picnic and I can certainly understand Dollars intense frustration.
Soooo.. its ok to choke her.. when he get's frustrated.. No picnic, agreed.
So everyone out there quoting the good book, what do you think is a proper way to beat my slaves if they disobey?
You still profess to have slaves.....Isn't that special!
Set them free, you idiot.
This guy is an egotistical maniac and he should man up and admit he was wrong. I can't believe he would sit in front of a congregation and discuss personal matters and lie. He's going to throw his daughter under the bus for his own sake. You get famous and hide behind the bible and think you can do whatever you want. I hope this is the end of another hypocrite.
How do you know his own daughter didn't throw him under the bus? I have seen teens say and do horrible things to their parents because they can't get their way.
And the 19 year old, the older sister, she was lying to get what? What would she gain in losing everything and being kicked out of the house for lying? Did she lie because she felt it was more important for her younger sister to go to some random party, than both of them to lose everthing?
Thinking is an option.
"Dollar blamed the devil for the controversy..." This seems lime a man with responsibility and authority not telling the truth and owning up to his mistakes.
There is a high probability of a tragic accident over the next two weeks if it's a neck abrasion that's allowed to heal and it healing proves he's lying. People have been killed for much less than millions of dollars. A lot is at stake, get shelter girls, quickly, time is running out.
My thoughts exactly.
Prayer changes things .
If it did, your posts would be unnecessary. The fact that you've been posting the same drivel for at least a year is proof you're wrong.
is posted for the nonbelievers not for those that already know and cherish the grace of God. And for the most part it is the nonbelievers that respond terrified of two simple Truths. first that atheism is totally useless and second that God has been made available for conversation and instruction.
I love the smell of desperation. It smells like victory.
Eat it, you zealots.
fear grips the nonbeliever and it responds with a false bravado, a telling danger sign.
Just because you live in a house with a bunch of hypocrites, doesn't mean you have to believe like they do.. At least she's standing up for herself. I hope this guy is knocked off his pulpit.. finally... One more bible-beater down..
Ken are you on the right thread?
Yea, pay attention.. you got some attention.... go away now.
Religious poison caused by fake pastors.
Definitely.
somehow this is going to be blamed on the police. wait and see
He has to blame it on something. No way these people will take responsibility. O.J. is innocent and Obama is the best president ever because everything is George Bush's fault. LMAO
El Scorcher, why don't you go find yourself some traffic to play in.
Bigots like this idiot are always telling gay people they shouldn't have families, while these hypocrites are abusing their own families. Typical religious vermin.
Damage control...... Don't want to lose parishioner dollars!
AMEN...
The 19 year old daughter actually gave two different stories to the police. One in which she sided with her Dad and said he did nothing to harm her....the other in which she sided with her sister. USA Today website has posted the police report online. Read it and see the inconsistencies for yourself.
Creflo made himself look foolish with his comments today in the pulpit, after yesterday declaring it an internal family matter. Then he compared himself to Paul and Jesus because of having been in jail for a few hours over this. I was withholding judgment and giving him a fair shot. Now I know that I was wrong.
I'm sure it's completely impossible that the 19 year old daughter, along with the mother who didn't witness a thing *wink wink* would NEVER lie to protect daddy. I mean, that NEVER happens with rich public figures. Maybe you're the one who should get real.
yeah, daddy probably begged her to change her story.
THE BIBLE STATES THAT DISOBEDIENT CHILDREN ARE TO BE STONED TO DEATH !!! HE WILL SUFFER IN HELL FOR DISOBEYING MY DADDY'S WORD !!!
Can someone say pyscho? Are you kidding me?
The African American lifestyle is one of violence and treachery in all walks of life. It doesn't matter if they work at a fast food drive thru or become ministers, they're violent and political correctness comes to their rescue via the leftist media every single time. Many of you here are defending this man and his violent actions because you are sheltered. The only "hood" you've ever seen is on the front of a car. I've been living around these dirtbags my entire life and they're lower than dogs. They steal, abandon their children and pick a fight with anyone who looks at them.
I present to you Nelson Mandela.
"The African American lifestyle is one of violence and treachery in all walks of life"
you're an idiot.
I'm sure your pasty inbred self is no picnic of a neighbor.
Go crawl back under your rock and stop posting stupid stuff. You're the idiot. If you don't like your neighbors, move.
INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN "GUILTY"! END OF STORY...
***The African American lifestyle is one of violence and treachery in all walks of life***
By that remark I should assume that ** EL SCORCHO ** is a lifestyle of taking siestas on the side of building with a mexican sombrero hat & a bottle of tequila with a worm in it? get real!
You haven't studied European history? Have you? Perhaps you were sick that year. Excuse me! I didn't know Hitler was African.
if your daughter is pressing charges against you...... true false or otherwise....... all is NOT right in your house
that should be self evident
and anyone who could make that statement in this situation is a liar
Well put. I couldn't agree with you more. He must be pulling the wool over the eyes of the entire congregation for them to believe all is well in his household.
I'm sorry but this girl probably had it coming lol! Shes 15 for goodness sake and she was arguing with her father about him not letting her go to a party at 1AM!!!! Anybody with any kind of common sense could figure out what happened here!
Another pathetic observation by a "tolerant" liberal?
Kat please do not reproduce.
JWT, that's a rotten thing to say. Either you got too many whoopin's or not enough. CD and family will survive this and grow closer to the Lord. Few will understand this comment. It is of the Spirit.
Oh ok... so an argument means you can choke your kid into compliance... hmm.. I guess there are other idiots out there as well. I bet you go to that church, don't you. Oh and you probably have a picture of this psycho pastor on your wall. Wake up call idiot, he's an abuser and should go to jail. Teenagers are problematic, but they are human and should be treated with at least a minimum of decency too. I would think living in a home, one could expect not to have a life threatening event occur at the hands of their own parent. Had it coming?.. geeze, please give your kids up to someone else...
If your spirit suggests that beating a child is ok then your spiirit is full of BS. Adults that do that are wrong in every possible way.
Katja, if you don't know the difference between discipline and abuse, you shouldn't have children.