UNITED STATES
Christian Newswire

Contact: Pete Evans, Trinity Foundation, 214-827-2625 ext. 200

DALLAS, Texas, July 8, 2014 /Christian Newswire/ — When Pope Francis sacked the German “Bishop of Bling” Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst last October for spending $43 million of church funds for his residential complex, and denounced the “idolatry of money,” self-indulgence and “insidious worldliness” within the church, we were hopeful. In May, when the pope condemned “profiteers” and “climbers” and “people who follow Jesus for money,” calling for a “poor church for the poor,” we applauded.

But now the Pope has met with several televangelists who engage in more financial excesses than any of his own bishops ever even imagined doing. So why is he becoming cozy with televangelist “bishops of bling?”

In June 2014, the pontiff hosted Kenneth Copeland, dubbed the “Godfather of Prosperity” by CBS News. Also present were James Robison and his wife, Betty, of…