Christian Broadcasting Network Wants Former Employee Jailed

Network Calls Man's Claims 'False Accusations'

Associated Press/October 21, 2004

Los Angeles -- The world's largest Christian broadcasting network wants a former employee jailed or fined because he violated a court order barring him from talking about a homosexual encounter he says he had with its founder.

Trinity Broadcasting Network is asking an Orange County, Calif., judge to hold Enoch Lonnie Ford in contempt of court.

Last month, Ford went public with details of the relationship he says he had with televangelist Paul Crouch. In interviews with the Los Angeles Times, he talked about receiving a $425,000 secret settlement from Crouch in 1998 in exchange for staying quiet about the alleged encounter.

The Costa Mesa, Calif.-based network has called Ford's claims "false accusations." A hearing on the matter will be held next week.