The Jimmy Swaggart and Fundamentally Oral Bill Syndrome

The impetus behind this rather amusing  cartoon lies in the behavior of the man upon whom it was based. Jimmy Swaggart was once best known as "that television evangelist who happens to be Jerry Lee Lewis’s cousin." But all that changed in early 1988. I must warn you that this is a tawdry tale not meant for the chaste and pure of heart.

In a 1986 revelation he would come to greatly regret, Mr. Swaggart exposed fellow Assemblies of God minister Marvin Gorman for having several affairs. The Assemblies of God Church defrocked the New Orleans-based Pentecostal minister and his flock largely abandoned him. As a successful minister, Mr. Gorman seemed finished but the desire for revenge lingered. Mr. Swaggart would have done well to remember his old Sunday school lessons, “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” or even, “Judge not least you be judged.”

Mr. Gorman hired his son and son-in-law to stake out the Travel Inn on New Orleans’ Airline Highway. The two men photographed Mr. Swaggart and Debra Murphree, a known prostitute outside Room 7. It appears, according to later investigations, that contrary to her statements, Ms. Murphree was working with Mr. Gorman. The two men flattened all of Mr. Swaggart’s tires to prevent him from leaving and then called Mr. Gorman who quickly arrived at the hotel.

Mr. Gorman arrived at the Travel Inn and confronted Mr. Swaggart. According to Mr. Swaggart’s unofficial biographer, Ann Row Seaman, Mr. Swaggart promised that, in return for Mr. Gorman’s silence, he would begin the process of the defrocked minister’s reinstatement in the Assemblies of God Church, publicly apologize to Mr. Gorman, and publicly state that he had lied about the disgraced minster’s affairs.

Almost one year passed, and Mr. Swaggart had delivered on not one of these promises. On 16 February 1988, Mr. Gorman contacted the Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God. A meeting was arranged with Raymond Carlson, the Assemblies Superintendent of the Church. Mr. Gorman presented photographs proving that Room 7 at the Travel Inn was used for prostitution and then with a photo of Mr. Swaggart. The 13 member Executive Presbytery suspended Mr. Swaggart’s television ministry for three months.

"I have sinned ... ."

On 21 February 1988, Mr. Swaggart addressed his audience and congregation, tearfully proclaiming, “I have sinned against you, my Lord, and I would ask that your precious blood would wash and cleanse every stain until it is in the seas of God's forgiveness.” Mr. Swaggart offered no details of his misdeeds, but that proved unnecessary. Ms. Murphree was all too eager to offer details. Four days later, she appeared on a New Orleans morning news program. She had discovered new avenues of income thanks to her photographic customer. She described Mr. Swaggart as a regular visitor, but insisted that the two had never engaged in sexual intercourse. Apparently he paid her to pose nude. By now, the video clip of Mr. Swaggart’s tearful confession was being played repeatedly on television programs across America.

The National Presbytery soon extended the three month suspension on Mr. Swaggart’s broadcast ministry to two years, their normal standard for sexual immorality. Mr. Swaggart ignored the lengthened suspension. At the end of the initial three month penalty, he returned to the television. The Assemblies of God Church immediately defrocked Mr. Swaggard, revoked his Assemblies of God credentials, and withdrew his ministerial license.

July 1989 Penthouse

In March of 1989, Catherine Campen gave an interview to Penthouse magazine in which she claimed to have been Mr. Swaggard's mistress from July of 1987 to January 1988. Mr. Swaggard simply denied the affair, but Penthouse enjoyed phenomenal sales. Thereafter Penthouse featured Ms. Murphree in its July edition, and again profits soared.

The brash Mr. Swaggart was undeterred. He continued his television ministry, remaking it as an independent, non-denominational Pentecostal program. Mr. Swaggart did well as an independent. Oh, a few of the faithful strayed to be sure, but he still retained a large flock to fill the coffers and even won new converts.

Rosemary Garcia

But old habits die hard. On 11 October 1991, Mr. Swaggart was pulled over by the California Highway Patrol in Indio, California for driving on the wrong side of the road. With him in the car was Rosemary Garcia. When a reporter Ms. Garcia asked why she was in Mr. Swaggart's car, she helpfully replied, “He asked me for sex. I mean, that's why he stopped me. That's what I do. I'm a prostitute.”

Mr. Swaggart was again confronted with the task of explaining his behavior. But this time, God came to his rescue. If Mr. Swaggart lacks any virtue, it is not chutzpah that's missing. "The Lord told me it's flat none of your business,” he announced to his stunned audience. He then stepped down as head of Jimmy Swaggart Ministries for “a time of healing and counseling."

So what is Mr. Swaggart up to today. Alas, Mr. Swaggart’s multi-million-dollar empire has crumbled around him, but some few of the truly faithful remain true to their religious shepherd. He maintains the The Jimmy Swaggart Telecast, radio and television programs entitled A Study in the Word,  and a website. His much forgiving wife, Frances Swaggart helps tend to the flock with her daily radio show "Frances and Friends." The ministry has expanded to include offspring. Son Donny Swaggart has followed in his father’s footsteps as a Pentecostal minister. Grandson Gabriel Swaggart has become a minister as well and leads the family’s youth ministry, Crossfire.

If you bothered to follow any of the links provided in the preceding paragraph -- and I see no reason why you would -- you will quickly realize the family is still plucking the flock.  This habit of continuing to pay the con man, even after the con is blown, I call this the Jimmy Swaggart and Fundamentally Oral Bill Syndrome.