THE wife of televangelist Benny (“The Hair”) Hinn has filed for divorce from the parasitic pastor, whose reputation as an advocate of “prosperity” gospel has attracted millions of followers and criticism from lawmakers and watchdog groups over his lavish lifestyle.
Benny 'The Hair' Hinn
Suzanne Hinn filed the papers in Orange County Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences, after more than 30 years of marriage. The papers note the two separated on January 26.
Benny Hinn Ministries said in a statement this week:
Pastor Benny Hinn and his immediate family were shocked and saddened to learn of this news without any previous notice. Although Pastor Hinn has faithfully endeavored to bring healing to their relationship, those efforts failed and were met with the petition for divorce that was filed without notice.
Hinn, denied entry to the UK last year, is one of the best-known advocates of the “prosperity” gospel, which teaches that Christians who are right with God will be rewarded with wealth and health in this lifetime.
His TV broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcast Network, a Pentecostal broadcasting juggernaut, and other TV networks are seen by millions of people around the world nearly every day. He travels the globe in his ministry’s plane, named Dove One, holding events he calls “Miracle Crusades” that include spiritual healings.
Hinn is also author of a book called He Touched Me.
Hinn has never fully publicly disclosed how he spends the money he raises, but his vast ministry is believed to be a multimillion-dollar operation. There was no mention of finances in the court filing, which listed three recent Southern California addresses for the family.
Over the years, Hinn has been the target of intense criticism from fellow Christians and watchdog groups who call his teachings false and accuse him of raising money only to enrich himself.
He is one of six televangelists under investigation by Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, over whether he complied with IRS rules for nonprofits. Hinn has said on his Web site that external auditors ensure his compliance with IRS regulations and that in 2008, 88 percent of the money he collected was spent on ministry.
Benny Hinn Ministries is based in Grapevine, Texas, and operates a church and television studio in Aliso Viejo in California’s Orange County, according to its Web site.
J Lee Grady, contributing editor of Charisma, a news magazine on the Pentecostal community, pointed out that Hinn’s divorce is the latest in a string of high-profile ministry divorces and moral failures among the Pentecostal leaders, beginning with Ted Haggard’s fall from grace in 2006.
Haggard, who is married and has five children, admitted to receiving a massage from a male prostitute and buying drugs from him, but denied allegations he paid the man for sex.
Grady said that Hinn’s followers will want an explanation for the divorce because of the high profile the couple had.
It will be devastating to the people who have supported Benny Hinn’s evangelistic work around the world. Obviously because their ministry has been very public, they will need to issue a statement to their supporters to explain how this happened.
You can see the demented Suzanne Hinn in action below, telling the faithful that, if they can’t get their engines revving for God, what they need is a “Holy Ghost enema”.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6bTBN6kdGw[/youtube]
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
February 21st, 2010 at 12:05 pm
This video is almost too painful to watch. If there is a Hell, then there must be a special place of extreme torture there for the likes of this disgusting wretch, and that cunt Morris Cerullo!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sthm3vH6ixY
February 21st, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Here is Cerullo in action. My contempt for this evil man knows no bounds, especially as a dear friend who was crippled with rheumatoid arthritis since she was a teeenager was convinced that he was going to cure her during his London campaign, and probably donated large sums to the lying scumbag. Note that he uses the same hair stylist as Hinn – it’s good to see them giving employment to the blind!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2yG96OqNNo
February 21st, 2010 at 12:52 pm
I hate getting my jollies from the misfortunes of others. But I have to admit that something inside me grinned when I first heard about this. To my mind, Hinn is such an execrable villain, who has gotten rich by taking advantage of people at their most vulnerable times of life. People like that are only worthy of contempt. I’d like to think this will knock him down far enough that he will hang his head in shame, admit his wrongdoing, and shape up. Fat chance!
February 21st, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Little bit of business advice for the Hinns that has always stood me in good stead regardless of how my customers treat me,
“Keep smiling and taking the money”.
I’m sure in this case they’ll keep on paying.
February 21st, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Watching that appalling performance by the lovely (ex)Mrs Hinn set me thinking: As poor old Dumbledore is worried about his rapidly diminishing congregations, and as these maniacs seem to be doing so well at attracting worshippers (and their cash!), wouldn’t it be a good idea if he were to take a few tips from them? I mean to say – can’t you just picture him cavorting about in Canterbury Cathedral like that, screaming at the top of his voice “You gotta rev up for the Lord, brothers!!”
February 21st, 2010 at 1:16 pm
“Hinn is also author of a book called He Touched Me.”
You’re not alone, Hinn. these things tend to happen when you in Xtian circles!
February 21st, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Perhaps I’m easily amused, but those who profess to be christian, yet preach prosperity are in direct violation of their own supposed savior. And I quote: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:24)â€
Those who aspired to follow Jesus were instructed to give away their possessions, not hoard them. While humorous, it is certainly no surprise that hypocrisy blooms in vivid color when it comes to these evangelical demigods.
NeoWolfe
February 21st, 2010 at 4:21 pm
Bush should have given Hinn a one-way ticket to Irak instead of sending an army because when he swings his arms and especially his suit coat people fall at his feet like flies ! Talk about a WMD ! What is scary however is that millions of people can lead such empty lives that they put their faith in snake-oil salesman like him and keep on sending him money they can ill-afford to keep him in luxury and what is even more scary is that these people are allowed to vote for laws against rights to abortions, gay rights, etc. Are so many people blind or are they just dumb?? And now his wife who looks as if she should be dragged away in a straight jacket and locked up will probably start her own ministry and will have a following of her own! It boggles the mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v.....re=related
February 21st, 2010 at 4:32 pm
Let me clarify a point made by NeoWolfe. To avoid any misunderstanding, I’ll start by making clear that he did not get anything wrong. The gospels indeed show Jesus instructing converts to sell their possessions and give the proceeds away. What the gospels do not mention, although it was made clear in ACTS, is that “give the proceeds to the poor” meant give the proceeds to Jesus’ communal treasury. Jesus called his cult “ebionites”, meaning “the poor.” Like the Essenes from whom Jesus separated, the Ebionim were communists. As Acts 4:32 explains, “not one claimed any of his possessions as his own. Rather,everything they had became communal property.”
None of that makes the contrast between Jesus’ teaching and the behaviour of Benny Hinn any less blatant.
February 21st, 2010 at 4:37 pm
How can anybody be ‘devestated’ about people that you don’t know getting divorced? Well, maybe if you are the kind of person inclined to support or fund this pair of lunatics. Divorce without prior adultery or violence is hardly a ‘moral failure’ but, as Edwina Currie pointed out following Iris Robinson’s glorious comeuppance, the more you hurl tablets of stone at others, the more eager people will be to hurl them back at you first opportunity.
I expect the Hinn’s will spin some stomach-churning sermons about strength and honesty from this, though it would be entertaining to know what these irreconsilable differences actually were. I am reminded of a story from about six years ago about a Christian couple having a blood-spattered domestic after rowing about meanings within ‘The Passion of the Christ’ after a cinema trip.
February 21st, 2010 at 5:45 pm
He must be crazy to let a prize like that slip away.
But when she starts going for her share of the loot we just might see some interesting revelations. I do hope the IRS is watching.
February 21st, 2010 at 6:12 pm
I always thought it funny about the hair. Benny Hinn, Tony Alamo, Jim Bakker, all of them wear their hair big. It always made me wonder about the whole “dress like a woman” thing. Typically, in American culture, big hair has been reserved for women (or, in the case of Grease and Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta). Here in the south it’s almost a tradition for women to have big, poofy dos. So I’m wondering, when they preach about men and women wearing separate clothes, does that include the hair? When I see them on TV, I kind of want to draw a Darth Vader helmet on the screen, or maybe add a little bow.
At any rate, I wonder if it has been calculated how much ozone depletion due to use of aerosol hairspray occured simply because of these a$$holes.
February 21st, 2010 at 6:27 pm
Good point, Don. Now, what’s that verse?
“But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.”
Yeah, a little out of context, but it sorta seems appropriate.
February 21st, 2010 at 6:29 pm
Dr Harwood: I can confirm from personal experience that present-day evangelical Christians have no wish to follow New Testament teaching, but follow instead the teachings of mainly 19th Century leaders. Anyone who has the temerity to point out where their practices differ from those of NT Christians receives extremely short shrift! (I posted a question on the Demented Rabbi thread: did you see it? My comment on a more recent thread early this morning asking THIS question has disappeared completely!!)
February 21st, 2010 at 6:31 pm
@mikespeir: It is indeed unChristain to gloat over the misfortunes of others. I am not a Christian.
February 21st, 2010 at 7:05 pm
“Hinn is also author of a book called He Touched Me.” …
… which includes stills, from the police video, of Hinn using a doll to point out to specially trained officers precisely where the Lord touched him.
February 21st, 2010 at 7:44 pm
LOL..you think with all the cash he’s suckered in from his deluded herd of sheeple he could afford a proper haircut and some to advise him of suitable clothing for an aging robber…sorry preacher…..
February 21st, 2010 at 8:02 pm
The Lord just told me there’s a Benny Hinn Ministries pledge drive on the horizon. Wow, I’m a prophet!
February 21st, 2010 at 8:55 pm
You may like to collect some old vinyl as well as rushing off to Amazon for Hinn’s book.
I do find this LP cover slightly disturbing.
http://lpcoverlover.com/wp-con.....15;497.jpg
February 21st, 2010 at 11:10 pm
And the Good Lord has just revealed to ME that the delectable Mrs Ninny will be writing a book about all this before long, Mike!!
February 21st, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Gayle Haggard has already written HER book: “How The Lord Enabled Me To Swallow My Pride And Cash In On My Famous Husband’s Infidelity”.
http://gaylehaggard.org/
http://www.womensconference.org/gayle-haggard
February 21st, 2010 at 11:24 pm
I know I’m going off-topic here, but just read what Gayle Haggard has to say about Good Ol’ Ted’s “cure”!
http://www.christianpost.com/a.....index.html
(I posted a comment about Gayle’s recently published book, but that has gone for moderation again!!)
February 22nd, 2010 at 8:46 am
@Broadsword: I used to have a copy of this!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/He_Touched_Me
And you MUST watch this. The Gaithers were truly cringeworthy, but it was the only type of “entertainment” of which the “Brethren” approved!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1g9tH2osQQ
(PS Your comment has only just appeared.)
February 22nd, 2010 at 9:52 am
GOOD. Let him lose millions of dollars. He’s a wolf in sheepskin clothing.
February 22nd, 2010 at 10:31 am
@barriejohn
Ta for Gaithers link. It was, as mentioned, cringeworthy.
The innuendo value of the lyrics is really something else. I imagined sniggering children singing this at school assembly or a popular comedian such as Rowan Atkinson belting it out with a straight face.
February 22nd, 2010 at 12:11 pm
@Broadsword (et al): The utter hypocrisy of the Calvinistic, Puritanical, fundamentalist “New Testament” Christians is beyond belief! Listening to someone “worldly” like Hoagy Carmichael (those were the days!) playing brilliant ragtime was absolutely taboo, yet listening to some “saved” person playing a similarly “jazzed-up” verion of When We All Get To Heaven was somehow supposed to be “food for the soul”. And in similar vein to the Victorians, who only allowed their children to play with toys like their Noah’s Ark on the “Sabbath”, believers’ children were only allowed to do Bible Jigsaws, and play “Christian Quizzes” or colour in Biblical pictures on a Sunday (“The Lord’s Day”!). Can you see why absolutely NOTHING that Birdshit, Hutton and their friends come out with will ever shock me?
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Jesus Christ – she’s terrifying! I’d probably give money to her so she f**ked off and left me alone.
People like this really do have no shame. I remember a story a few years ago about an TV evangelist called Oral Roberts who claimed that God would ‘call him home’ if his viewers did not donate $8 million during a fundraiser. The sad thing is that his viewers believed him, and donated above and beyond that target. I think he once also claimed to be able to raise the dead!
I have attempted on a couple occasions to watch (purely for laughs and to hear what lies they’re spewing now) the God Channel shown in the UK, but only managed to get two minutes in before spitting blood and bile at the morons on-screen. Its truly sickening.
February 22nd, 2010 at 3:56 pm
Funk Monkey: I had the self-same experience as you – I just couldn’t bear watching the channel (if you mean the execrable GodTV of course). The people on it (including Ben Hinny himself) are, as you righly say, complete morons; and the husband and wife team who present the channel are smug and self-satisfied beyond belief. They used to feature a nightly segment from good old Pat Robertson, which included his hilarious “Answers to Questions” slot, gems from which can be viewed on YouTube!
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Oral Roberts (stop lughing at the back there!) has been featured many times on this site, and his sad death was reported by Barry in December:
http://freethinker.co.uk/2009/.....the-world/
What no one was able to explain was the fact that being “called home” was somehow not preferable to him to continuing his struggle in THIS “vale of tears”!!
February 22nd, 2010 at 4:10 pm
YouTube to the rescue again! This is the God Channel – prepare to be amazed!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fs0OvGKr8cM
Here’s more bollocks – straight from the horse’s mouth so to speak. If I hear the words “share” and “anointing” much more I shall go berserk!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QRP_o0CZavU