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Joe King's avatar

"The DoE is actually going easy on the school."

When I read this sentence, my first thought was of course, Christian Fucking Privilege in action.

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Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

And they still bitch that it’s persecution. They get a light sentence and they’re upset they got anything at all. Where’s that objective morality again? Oh yeah, that’s for other people.

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David Graf's avatar

Well, they're continuing the age old pattern (mentioned in the New Testament) of turning godliness into a way to make a buck.

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oraxx's avatar

Slap the word Christian on a con game and get a pass.

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ericc's avatar

More likely it's strategic. The regulatory equivalent of offering a plea bargain. The school can appeal, and the Dept of Ed doesn't want them to, so this is the Dept. of Ed saying "we'll cut you a break if you just pay it and change your practices rather than fight us in court."

After all, the real win is making them change their practices so that they don't deceive future students. So if a smaller fine gets them to do that without a legal fight, that's probably a good deal as far as the fed is concerned.

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cdbunch's avatar

That's a fairly forlorn hope on the DOEd's part. Especially once ADF promises to handle the school's case.

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Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

It’s funny how Christians claim superior morals and ethics, but then pull shit like this. And then on top of that are surprised and offended that they’re held to our lower standards. I mean, expecting them to be honest and transparent about the cost of their programs is too much to ask, but then fining them for clearly violating basic societal expectations must be Christian persecution.

If Christianity truly made people better then we wouldn’t be seeing these kinds of stories coming from pretty much every proudly christian business, colleges/universities, hospitals, insurance companies, mechanics, bakeries, website designers, etc. These places would be so superior to all others they would have to turn business away because it’s too much. Instead, they manipulate more to lure in marks and then face consequences from the government for their lies and fraud. It’s almost like religion doesn’t affect folks’ morals, at least not for the better.

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oraxx's avatar

I never patronize any business that advertises themselves as a 'Christian' business.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

The only businesses I know of who advertise as christian are the secours catholique stores.

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Donrox's avatar

Vive la France

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David Graf's avatar

It puts me on my guard as well because of examples I've seen where such businesses actually engaged in unethical practices. I would think that a business truly run in a Christian manner wouldn't need to bring it to your attention.

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oraxx's avatar

A lot of people have the foolish notion that a business presenting itself as Christian, will automatically be ethical and honest. Some are, but a lot arent.

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David Graf's avatar

I have known people who are better for being Christians. However, they are too busy doing the right thing to toot their horn unlike these others.

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Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

I have known good people who are Christian but are not good because of their Christianity. I know people who are morally reprehensible who spout Christianity and their raison d’etre. Good people find the good in the religion and others find what benefits them. Too bad the main representatives of Christianity turn out to be the latter time and again. The good people could continue to be good without the religion and we need to stop assuming the religion is an indication of goodness. It has lead to the worst atrocities throughout history.

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cdbunch's avatar

A-women.

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Joe King's avatar

That is why I would say they are better in spite of their Christianity.

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Maltnothops's avatar

If it’s anti-Christian to stop someone from lying and cheating others, that is a rather shocking admission of what Christianity actually is.

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oraxx's avatar

The words Christian and for-profit should have had red lights flashing and alarm bells ringing. Religious people can rationalize an excuse for anything. Instead of being fined, why aren't they being compelled to make restitution to the students and former students they lied to? Good state universities are almost always a better option than private religiously-oriented schools.

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ericc's avatar

"For profit" and "university" is a warning bell regardless of any Christian tie-in. Though that does add another warning bell to the mix.

The federal government needs to regulate how ALL universities (including traditional, on-line, non/not for profit, and for-profit) advertise their costs. Even the traditional ones are pretty deceptive and act like used car salesmen, with the real cost you pay rarely having much to do with the sticker price. The main difference being that the high reputation brick and mortar schools will often quote an absurdly high price and then grant you a scholarship to lower it to merely ridiculously overpriced, in order to let the student and parents feel good about taking a loan. Whereas the online for-profit chop shops go the other way, from low to high. But both practices are deceiving and there really needs to be stronger 'truth in advertising' rules when it comes to US colleges and universities.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

"The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth."

-- Proverbs 12:22

Remember that one, GCU? Oh, that's right. You don't read the bible, do you?

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Anri's avatar

Their favored translation includes that oft-missed wink emoticon.

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Lynn James's avatar

Of course they don't read it. They're probably too busy beating other people over the head with it

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Marjorie Logman's avatar

How Christians whine about getting caught and then call it persecution continues to amaze me.

Judeo Christian Values?????

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Sko Hayes's avatar

They're ALL victims. Trump tells them that all the time.

ESPECIALLY the Christians.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Oh, they have VALUES, all right. They're just not any values any of us would want to embrace, that's all! 😝

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Joe King's avatar

They value money and power above all else.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Rabbis will tell you 'Judeo-Christian' is a purely Christian concept.

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

Peanut butter and jelly. Salt and pepper. Christianity and dishonesty. That last is really earning its spot among famous duets which are naturally associated with each other.

I'm not certain that's intentional (and I doubt those involved like it much!), but there it is.

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cdbunch's avatar

You forgot ebony and ivory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXAlfh6QKQs

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Speaking of Macca...

Here's the new (and final) Beatle song featuring John, Paul, George and Ringo.

https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-the-beatles-final-song-now-and-then/

(Scroll down until you come to actual song. An official video by Peter Jackson is coming).

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

And along with that, a "making of" piece, which lets you know just HOW "Now and Then" happened. Amazing stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APJAQoSCwuA

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Waiting for a bit to see the "making of." Should be sometime this morning.

Wonder if they can use this tech to go back and bring John's voice to the fore on both "Free As a Bird" and "Real Love."

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Troublesh00ter's avatar

The tech has come light-years since they first took a crack at "Now and Then." Of course, in the midst of that, they lost George ... but he IS on the recording, nevertheless!

Do watch it when you have a moment. VERY worth your time.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Wearing my officially licensed-by-Apple Beatles t-shirt with the borderless super graphic of the Sgt. Pepper LP cover.

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cdbunch's avatar

Isn't that hard and painful to get out of the hair. I know I'd be a little nervous about a razor down there.

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Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz's avatar

Definitely don't use Nair.

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cdbunch's avatar

It even says that on the bottle as well as don't use it in the peri-anal region (I'd never heard that word until I saw it on a bottle of Nair (I hate my beard but I hate to shave more))

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Anri's avatar

'Taint a good idea.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

I had several free depilations this past month. The dressing they use to maintain catheters in place has a special glue who is not hydrosoluble. And they change catheters every three to four days (that is when my veins don't play Houdini and they need to be taken off* and replaced elsewhere after one day or two).

* My record is about 30 minutes, the part supposed to be in my vein got out by itself. I guess it wanted to go on a stroll.

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cdbunch's avatar

They shaved me down there for my heart surgery. One they tried to keep a towel/washcloth covering me while doing it, which was ridiculous. Two, she did a bad job and I ended up with half a dozen nicks.

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Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz's avatar

I was told to shave when I got snipped and they indicated a general area. When the doctor was about to start, he poked around a little and decided to go into an area that hadn't been shaved, so I'm not sure why I needed to in the first place.

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cdbunch's avatar

Supposedly it's to cut down the chance of infection and give the surgeon a clear view of what ze's cutting.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Ouch².

Nurses and orderlies are not so prudish here. Some patients (men and women) OTOH.

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cdbunch's avatar

I thought of and should have said, if the towel is for my benefit, it's unnecessary and in the way.

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cdbunch's avatar

Ouch.

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Guerillasurgeon's avatar

https://www.alternet.org/send/mike-johnson/

LOL ... I thought most of you guys – at least around here – were too old for "rampant".

Edit: I just found this on another site "He has an adopted black son, Micheal, who he doesn't allow in family photos. " – That's really weird.

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Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

Oooh, that makes me question the child’s paternity.

Or at least the motivations behind the adoption. Who adopts a child they don’t intend on including in the family? CPS anyone?

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NOGODZ20's avatar

A southern white man who opposes racial reparations not allowing his black son in family photos? Doesn't seem weird at all.

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cdbunch's avatar

Every child deserves love. Maybe Micheal is just glad to have a roof over his head and food at the table, but he deserves so much more.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

FWIW, Michael's now a grown man raising a family of his own in California.

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cdbunch's avatar

Let's hope he's modeling his 'father' as an example of what *not* to do.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Johnson claims that Michael echoes his opposition to racial reparations "because it defied an important tradition of self-reliance." His comments drew boos and Michael was not available for comment.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Is Michael still in contact with dread daddy ?

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cdbunch's avatar

Reparations seems like another branding issue like Defund the Police. On the surface it sounds unfair or dangerous, but once you get into the details it actually makes a lot of sense.

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cdbunch's avatar

Or just maybe to the adoption of Christianity as the state religion. Seems just as valid a theory. All ancient civilizations, whether they condoned homosexuality or not, fell. All current civilizations, whether they condone homosexuality or not, will fall.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

I guess it's for "PR" purpose. It goes with his good christian persona "Look at me. I saved one of these black heathens" 🙄

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Lynn James's avatar

That seems very likely, based on what I've read about this brain-dead bible-beater so far

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NOGODZ20's avatar

That much hatred of people who have nothing to do with his life in any way, shape or form bespeaks of a deeply-closeted person.

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cdbunch's avatar

No issues for that young man. Nope, none at all. He won't need to spend thousands on therapy to deal with the feelings that his father doesn't love him.

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Guerillasurgeon's avatar

Doesn't that awful harridan on Fox – Ingraham – also have black adoptees? I might pity them more.

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

IIRC I posted an article about this "Chuck Cunningham" of a kid.

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChuckCunningHamSyndrome

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cdbunch's avatar

They didn't mention little Seven on Married... with Children.

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

Actually they did, subtlety.

In "Ride Scare" when the women that Al is working with for the rideshare program visit him at the Bundy residence, one of them says that she's going to get some milk from their fridge. As she hands the carton over to one of the other women, a close up of the carton is shown featuring a black and white picture of Seven under the "Missing" heading.

In "Kelly Knows Something", Kelly is studying for a sport trivia show. As she learns new information, it is visually shown going into one ear, while the the information she has now lost pops out of the other ear. One thing that "pops out of her ear" is an image of Seven after learning about the "Fearsome Foursome" .

In "No Pot to Pease In" the milk carton featuring Seven's face can be briefly seen on the Bundy's coffee table when Al tells his family to get in their "FOX viewing positions" to watch Pease in a Pod, just before Marcy informs them that it has been cancelled.

https://marriedwithchildren.fandom.com/wiki/Seven#SnippetTab

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

OT : DM is supposed to be discharged on the 7th but the hospital where she is is ready to push it back a couple of days so that I am the first to come back and be there to help her.

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cdbunch's avatar

I know being in a hospital sucks, but I'm a little jealous your medical system will keep a person for their 'convenience' (I know you being there to help is more than a convenience, quite possibly a necessity, but our medical system wouldn't see it that way).

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

They know we live together and she is an elderly woman. It also left them with more time to organise the help she needs, I am mostly healed but I won't be able to do as much as I did before. At least in the beginning. I am short of breath and will need oxygen tanks.

I forgot, we are a demonic socialist country 😇

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

So, no more furniture assembly?

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Guerillasurgeon's avatar

Yeah, my mother was taken to a hospital miles away from where she lived with no public transport. She was 80 something and when they discharged her she had to pay about $100 for a taxi ride home. Funny, because there was a hospital just up the road, but somehow that wasn't available.

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Black Hole and DM mourner's avatar

Unless there is a major problem you are always sent to an hopital in the same department if you call France equivalent of 911. For example A hospital was nearer than B's but the former is in 01 and I live in 02.

Some taxis works with hospitals and with the right form you pay nothing. I don't know if they will use this system or an ambulance to send me back. I need oxygen tanks but I am autonomous.

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Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

I was given a hydrocodone, and then frog marched out the exit.

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Die Anyway's avatar

> "The nation's largest Christian university..."

And I never heard of them. Hmmm...

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larry parker's avatar

They are probably fudging the numbers on that too.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

What's one more lie, right?

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cdbunch's avatar

When I watched commercials, I used to see ones for their online programs all the time.

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cdbunch's avatar

In fact, for a long while, I didn't realize they had a brick and mortar campus, much less a football team.

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cdbunch's avatar

Wonder if Vegas will give odds on this going to SCOTUS and DOEd's regulatory powers gutted?

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Daniel Rotter's avatar

Disgracing a beautiful American monument with the name of this "university."

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NOGODZ20's avatar

A monument whose very age shoots Christianity's YEC out of the saddle.

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painedumonde's avatar

I said, what does God need with a degree anyway?

Jim!

I mean c'mon Bones God is all knowing and ... oh wait he needs his minions to be lawyers in order strangle the world's governments. Render unto Caesar indeed!

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Wizard Suth's avatar

I'd say that God doesn't need a degree or a starship, just lots and lots of money, but George Carlin beat me to it.

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larry parker's avatar

Fewer plot holes than the original.

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Lynn James's avatar

Is it on DVD? Sounds like a scream. ;)

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NOGODZ20's avatar

OK, I just had to look that up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LRIypcaIX4

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Whitney's avatar

When I decided to get more education, GCU wasn't even on the 'maybe?' list. Man, do I ever feel like I've dodged a bullet there.

Setting aside the questions I have about a for-profit university and stuff Jesus allegedly said about wealth, I find I just can't be terribly shocked in this case. This facility has been in the news around Arizona before, and it's usually for some sort of shady dealings that involve large sums of money and/or conflicts with the government. The school even has its own police force*, for pity's sake. I don't trust this school, and quite bluntly, I don't see why anyone else would. Too much attention for what certainly appears to be all the wrong reasons.

I think it's really too bad the government isn't coming down on GCU much harder. I don't believe for a moment that anything will change just because of this record fine, I think the school is still going to be making money hand over fist. I know the state isn't about to do a thing, either, considering just how red most of it is. Good luck to young people who may have to attend there, because it's not going to do you kids any favors.

* https://news.gcu.edu/gcu-news/gcu-now-has-own-police-force/

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cdbunch's avatar

Lots of universities have their own police force. UT Austin does. My Alma Mater did when I started there in 1990. All the easier to sweep rape allegations against the football team under the rug.

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Lynn James's avatar

FSU in Tallahassee does.

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cdbunch's avatar

I've even seen a hospital with it's own police force.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

The VA Hospital here has a police force.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Quite frankly, no one should be surprised by this. After all, the whole religion is built on a lie.

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cdbunch's avatar

I'm a little surprised about how blatant it is.

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NOGODZ20's avatar

Wish I could say I'm surprised. Their arrogance and self-endowed 'privilege' knows no bounds.

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