Amtrak
LOS ANGELES New York Israel Italy Chicago New Jersey Philly London San Fran

The God Blog

Email | Print | Text - Text +

September 22, 2008 | 7:50 am

Why news crews were waiting for Tony Alamo church raid

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

Photo

AP photo

You probably heard yesterday about the raid of Tony Alamo Christian Ministries compound in Arkansas. (If you hadn’t, authorities were investigating allegations of child pornography and six minors have been placed in state custody.) Alamo has, um, a colorful past—his church has been raided three times and he was previously charged, and acquitted, with child abuse and threatening to kidnap a judge and convicted of tax evasion—but that’s not why the Bible Belt’s press corps was ready for this raid.

Frank Lockwood, the Bible Belt Blogger, explains:

When state and federal law enforcement officials swooped into Tony Alamo Ministries, many, if not most, of the major news organizations in Arkansas were in Texarkana, Ark. watching it all unfold.

This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. The raid was originally scheduled for sometime in October. But on Friday, somebody in the U.S. Attorney’s office inadvertently sent an e-mail about the raid, several weeks early, to 50 media outlets across the state.

With the cat out of the bag, law enforcement officials moved up their time schedule. Newspapers had to decide whether to go with the story in Saturday’s editions or wait a day or two. With children reportedly in the compound and with allegations of child abuse, every news organization in the state voluntarily refrained from writing about the raid until it had already begun.

32 Comments — Leave your comment

Share this post: del.icio.us Favicondel.icio.us Digg FaviconDigg Facebook FaviconFacebook Google FaviconGoogle Reddit FaviconReddit StumbleUpon FaviconStumbleUpon Technorati FaviconTechnorati YahooMyWeb FaviconYahooMyWeb

COMMENTS

We welcome your feedback.

Privacy Policy

Your information will not be shared or sold without your consent. Get all the details.

They need to be raided-more often.
Talk to residents of Siloam Springs,AR area- he has a compound or something there, they’re scared to death of this guy, and if you’ve ever met some of his members you’d know why-hope the feds keep their powder dry (LITTERALLY) ‘cause the last time we had somebody claim they were jesus was…...David Koresh

Comment by okiefreethinker007 on 9/22/08 at 8:29 am

the most efficient way to weaken the am yisrael is to weaken the followers of the nazarene.

by libeling the tanakh, it is easier to hurt am segula and by extension, to hurt those with common interests.

with love of israel, zfa.org.il, yosef the canadian

Comment by yosef on 9/22/08 at 8:34 am

okiefreethinker007 said “They need to be raided-more often.” Is that right? On what grounds? “Suspicion”? You would have loved Nazi Germany then. Are you a Nazi?

Comment by Thomas on 9/22/08 at 8:56 am

It could be possible the State Attorney intentionally made the email available to the media in the hope that it would stop this raid that can’t hold water.

The funny thing (Suspicious) about the raid is no one was arrested. Some how the judge OKed a raid not having an arrest warrant. Isn’t that against the Constitution, to search a place without a warrant? Is it sufficient for a judge to circumvent this Constitutional process by probably using the rationalization that a child ‘maybe’ in danger? In that case cops should be allowed to briefly search the homes of suspects without warrants since it’s done for the safety of the officer. Such a move was not permitted in Louisiana where a legislator or someone said the ‘road to hell is paved by good intentions’.

Does it make sense to put children into custody while not arresting the one who is suspect of being danger to the children? This doesn’t and it shows how weak this 2 year long investigation truly is.

This nonsensical raid shouldn’t have happened with such bad results. Too bad the US attorney’s effort did not stop this worthless investigation as the raid has evidently shown. They deserve to be sued. They’ve wasted tax payers money for nothing. Why have 100+ cops? What did they expect? Did the investigation call for 100+ cops? A truly worthless investigation.

Comment by avara on 9/22/08 at 9:49 am

Well it’s about time, this guy should have been hauled away and placed in an asylum yrs ago. His literature appeals to the lowest iq’s out there. Often they distribute their literature in very low income villages, such as skid row downtown L.a.

Tony Alamo and his kind preach TRAILER TRASH CHRISTIANITY, they are the wolves in sheep’s clothing as described in the bible. This clown walks around in sunglasses and a bright satin Alamo jacket whom his church claims is worn by millions worldwide. Have you ever in your life saw anyone wearing one of these dumb jackets ? Of course not and if you read any of his words it would give you a good laugh, the only people who buy into his garbage are low iq people who live in the south specfically in Texas where there are lots of good ‘ol boys who agree with him 100%

Basically in his literature he puts down all religions other than Fundamentalist Christianity by labeling anyone who meditates, chants, does yoga or is a vegetarian as nonsense. This clown has also been atop of cultwatch.org for some time.

Anyone interested in reading the true story of Jesus the Vegetarian see this link

http://www.geocities.com/priitaa108/christ_and_krishna.htm

Comment by Valdez on 9/22/08 at 3:31 pm

Actually Don King wears his jacket Tony gave him all the time. It’s a USA jacket with icredible rhinestones. It’s avery nice Jacket. And of course you probably know Don King is a mega millionaire. Also, I met Mike Tyson in manhattan. He told me he knows Tony, “Personally” and didnt say anything bad about him at all.

Comment by Thomas on 9/22/08 at 6:20 pm

Hmmm. Don King and Mike Tyson you say? What a great high-class crowd to hang with. Say Thomas, you aren’t Tommy Scarcello, the guy that Tempur-pedic wants to talk to about that “Katrina Scam” involving their donated mattresses are you?

Comment by Tom Smith on 9/23/08 at 8:20 am

Tony Alamo gave up his Jewish Name, and his jewish roots when he became an admitted “born again christian” and yet he continues to call hisself a “Jew” with special insight to what God Believes.

Please read the hundreds of testimonies and atrocities concerning this World Reprobate Pastor at: tonyalamonews.com
Those of us who survived witnessed first hand the truth of his crimes and abuses.
There are some who would say the Holocost was a Hoax and that the Jews weren’t tortured.
I hope this is not still the case with “educated” readers of your blog-site.
Shalom

Comment by Dyann on 9/24/08 at 12:24 pm

well since i don’t know what really happened in this church, i can only say this.  the government does not like it when a church builds a compound,  they always find a reason to raid it including making up stories and lies.  Even in Waco TX,  the Fed’s finally released that it was the FBI who attacked, burned, and killed everyone including the ones trying to escape the fire.  what happened to freedom.  Waco compound did not have the weapons they were accused of, ummm sounds familiar.  but it seams in this case, here in ark.  that the government has been trying to nail this guy for a long time.  each time they failed except alittle tax B.S. which was probably trumpt up if i know the FEDs because if they cannot get you for something legit, they will fall back on good ol tax fraud which any tax person knows that there is no way to do taxes 100% right, so everyone is in one way or another guilty of tax B.S..  OH well anyhow   I will just say if he is trully guilty of this crime I hope he pays,  but if it is just the Government flexing it’s muscles against a church again, I hope that GOD takes care of those pulling the strings..

Comment by insanestorm on 9/24/08 at 6:42 pm

You know its true that “raiding” isnt a good thing to do and it does have a touch of “invading privacy”.  But there are Children involved and the whole multiple wives thing going on. which by the way with all tonys justifying that the bible dosn’t condemn it. Since when does tony do what the bible says? he is the biggest hypocrite around. Lust and control is what that place is all about. Absolute power corrupts. And that is what tony has over those people.
What should of really happened is that the people in there should of called it quits long ago when they knew in there hearts what the place was becoming all about.  They should of left there and taken the spoils with them and headed for the promised land but instead they stayed in Egypt and in bondage.

former member

Comment by tear down the strong holds on 9/26/08 at 8:18 am

Tony Alamo is a born again Jew. In the last days of this earth the Jews would be preaching the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the gentiles.
It is the sign from God that the end is near.
God destroyed the earth once with water but this time it will be fire.
Tony Alamo’s name is Bernie Hoffman, he changed his name years ago before he received salvation for the business he was in. 
Many Jews hid themselves for fear of persecution, But this Jew is Not hiding. He openly has preached the Bible on over 1,000 audio recordings on his website http://www.alamoministries.com.  He has written over 100 pieces of literature explaining the way to get into Heaven and stay out of hell. 
The charges are FALSE there is NO wrong doing. The backsliders from God have taken on 7 evil spirits worse than they had before they were saved. The devil is going about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

Comment by until the redemption on 9/27/08 at 8:49 am

Spare everyone the defense of -tony is a jew thats preaching the gospel sermon-. Dathan and Abiram,
Num 16:1 (KJV)  were Jews of the tribes of Israel and God swallowed them up alive into the pit for there sins.
So go blow that smoke out of another chimney.
Your ignorance of the bible is astounding. Quit defending the devil. The problem is your eyes and heart are not on the Lord and havent been for sooooo long that you cant see the difference between the Righteousness of Bible and the sins of a man.  WOE to all who cant see the difference.

Comment by tear down the strohgholds on 9/27/08 at 1:20 pm

There is no such thing as a born again Jew and as Alamo proves with his shtick about his wife rising from the dead, most Jews who become Christians are whack jobs who’d be better off doing time in a mental hospital.

Comment by catsy on 10/03/08 at 1:41 pm

I wouldn’t believe a Christian’s “supposed” testimony if you paid me.

Comment by catsy on 10/03/08 at 1:43 pm

KJV is the Christian edited version of the Tanakh and no educated, sane Jew would give it any credence.

Comment by c on 10/03/08 at 1:46 pm

As far as tony being a “Jew”, I thought it was if the mother is a Jew, one is considered a “Jew”. Only his dad is one, not his mom. He is a horrible individual and I am so oo happy he is behind bars where he can’t hurt anyone anymore..

Comment by Ellen on 10/04/08 at 11:13 pm

Hi Christian brethren,
I have been reading the news letter from the world pastor,Tony Alamo.I really was impressed with all the messages.The problem I have is that I do not know where and how to get more of the news letters.
  I am from Africa,to be precise West Africa,Ghana.I would like to have a Christian Dad and Mom who will encourage me always in the Lord.I am an Evangelist and and also have interest in children ministry.

  I hope to hear from you too.

                        Lemuel

Comment by Lemuel Taylor on 10/28/08 at 8:04 am

I always thought that one was considered a “Jew” if the mother was a Jew. tony alamo’s father was a Jew; not his mother. He wasn’t even raised in the Jewish religion. He is scum of the earth…He and susan alamo used young men and women to their own financial gain. susan is dead and tony has committed heinous acts against young vulnerable girls. He is locked up and awaiting trial.. He directed his goons to beat up others with a “board of education”. tony is the lowest of the low.

Comment by Judith on 10/29/08 at 3:23 am

This teaching of a child being Jewish solely because of the mother is a teaching that must have come in from the Roman Catholic church and their Mary, mother goddess worship because all through the whole Bible it was if the MAN Jewish then the children would be Jewish. We can look at Moses, Ruth and Obed, and many others.

As far as your allegations against Tony. it’s all unfounded at this point. he hasn’t even gone to trial. He isn’t guilty yet. Little lowlifes such as yourself try and go around saying he did this and that when you don’t know a thing about it. You didn’t SEE anything with your OWN EYES. You go by hearsay and stories from liars.

Comment by Larry Weinstein on 10/29/08 at 7:28 am

Larry Weinstein must be a member of the alamo foundation. Why else would he so vociferously be defending tony alamo? That is true; I didn’t witness what I have heard happened. But I believe it did. Those men would have NO REASON to lie and say what they did, unless it did happen.. I did live there, for many years, in the early years.. Tony seemed to have gone crazy after sue died. Marrying all those women; forcing underage girls into sex,many being beaten by boards… I believe all that happened with all my heart and soul. tony didn’t get out on bail for a reason…

Comment by Ellen on 10/29/08 at 9:41 am

Actually I am NOT a “member” of Alamo Ministries. And what if I was? Does that automatically exclude me from making a statement here? You must be one of the disgruntled “ex members” who was excommunicated from the church and therefore you are the one with the bias whose testimony should be scrutinized all the more. I hear that anyone who doesnt follow simple rules laid out in the church are asked to leave and are banned from the church. Maybe you still miss the free meals and the life of ease you had there. Including free room board, medical and dental benefits, clothing, vitamins.

Comment by Larry Weinstein on 10/29/08 at 9:48 am

yes, I am an ex member (happily). For what I and many others went through, it wasn’t worth the ‘free meals, etc.” I don’t remember receiving any vitamins and only healthcare when I had babies.. We didn’t join for the “free this and that.” We thought we were joining a genuine Christian organization. It is a cult. Whether you want to believe it or not. I suggest you go live there awhile and then tell me what you think of the place.. You will be begging to leave…

Comment by Ellen on 10/29/08 at 10:15 am

There’s an excellent book to read: “Youth, Brainwashing and the Extremist Cults” by Ronald Enroth. There’s a chapter on the tony and susan alamo Christian foundation. You should read it…

Comment by Ellen on 10/29/08 at 10:30 am

It’s funny the diluded morons who still follow this guy after he ran his $9M slave labor business enterprises…takes, rapes, beats 9 year olds as his “wives”...stuffs his dead wife like a wax museum,,,maybe make him an honorary mormon??  Brainwashed down home idiots,,grits for brains…...only in Arkansas

Comment by kwilliams on 12/04/08 at 7:15 pm

Raid em, stuff em, ship his “commune” cronies to Iraq….love his shades and jackets though..how low an IQ do you need to be a “member” in this commune and see what a liar this dude is??? So long suckers

Comment by SteveO on 12/04/08 at 7:18 pm

I joined when I was only 21 and a very naive 21 at that. I really believed in the Tony and Susan Alamo Christian Foundation. I didn’t “break any rules.” Susan Alamo could see I was losing my enthusiasm for the group and I was asked to leave, thus not “kicked out.” That was the best thing that could have happened to me. If anyone wants to, read books about cults. A good one is “Kingdom of the Cults” by Walter Martin. Excellent book. It took a long time for me to see that Tony and Sue were charlatans. Now Sue is dead from cancer and Tony had free reign, until his many lusts got the better of him. Google: Tony Alamo. Read all about it…

Comment by Ellen on 12/04/08 at 11:16 pm

Comment by Ellen on 10/04/08 at 11:13 pm: “As far as tony being a “Jew”, I thought it was if the mother is a Jew,”

My answer:  It was his father who was a Jew and a self-hating one at that, not the mentally ill pervert’s mother.

Comment by catsy on 12/09/08 at 8:23 pm

Larry Weinstein: As far as your allegations against Tony. it’s all unfounded at this point.

Now when I see the Anti Catholic, un American lowlifes handing out the perverts garbage, I’ll remember that their leader is a NUT JOB, so they probably are too.  Does that include your sorry…

Comment by catsy on 12/09/08 at 8:29 pm

after two whole years of investigations, tony alamo has finally begun to fall ! the FBI moved right in on that great-grandfather age preaching pedophile, and all his robotical yes men and yes women actually think he’s (chuckle) INNOCENT !!  OSTRICHES, that’s what they are.

Comment by christian spectator on 12/24/08 at 7:27 pm

to Larry Weinstein   -  were you a member of the Tony and Susan Alamo Foundation during the late 60’s and early 70’s? Did you go by the name of ‘Lenny’ while you were there? If so, I have many positive and favorable memories of you. However, you have to admit that you were far better off financially and materially than most of your fellow members - and you were treated preferentially by both Tony and Sue - I can see why you would stand up for Tony in spite of his proven criminality - who wants to see their dad go to jail?

Comment by cmingus on 1/20/09 at 7:07 pm

Larry Weinstein-

Your ignorance of Tanakh and Halacha is astounding.

Comment by eli on 7/26/09 at 7:04 pm

Well the day of justice has come .. tony alamo found guilty on all 10 counts.
Larry Weinstein if you are Lenny,  we are wondering where John W is.  please call B.H. and let him know how John is.

Comment by tear down the strongholds on 7/27/09 at 1:36 am

Post a Comment

Name:  
Email:  
URL:  

Type the word you see below:

Comment:

About this Blog

Blog Home
About the Blogger(s)
Contact

RSS


Blog Archive

Newspaper

Serving a community of 600,000, The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angles is the largest Jewish weekly outside New York City. Our award-winning paper reaches over 150,000 educated, involved and affluent readers each week. Subscribe here.

© Copyright 2010 The Jewish Journal and JewishJournal.com
All rights reserved. JewishJournal.com is hosted by Nexcess.net. Homepage design by Koret Communications.
Widgets by Mijits. Site construction by Hop Studios.

counter fake hit page