Screen still promoting Mission Congo running at the TIFF.
The Christian Broadcasting Network’s Pat Robertson is considering legal action against two filmakers who accuse the televangelist of diverting African charity to personal business projects, including an diamond mining.
In Mission Congo, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this weekend, filmakers Lara Zizic and David Turner says that Robertson raised millions of dollars for relief projects in the Congo but diverted planes loaded with aid to mine precious gems.
A spokesperson for Operation Blessing, Chris Roslan, says the allegations in the documentary are false and defamatory. The group is considering legal action.
Pat Robertson visiting Operation Blessing at Victory Fellowship Church in Metairie, Louisiana in Feb. 2012. Image by Paparazzo Presents.
Hinkle says few flights went to people in need and said he was embarrased to have Operation Blessing lettering on his plane’s tail.
The Guardian as a good review of the allegations in the film.
Robertson has been accused of aid diversion before. The documentarians base their film on the reporting of Bill Sizemore, a journalist for The Virginian-Pilot. Sizemore reported that Robertson has extensive business dealings with Liberian president Charles Taylor and obtained rights for diamond mining.
Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation (OBI) is a non-profit that began operations in 1978 and is based in Virginia Beach, VA. It has contributed to disaster relief, medical aid and orphan care.
Comments
Tracy
The kind of crap that comes out of his mouth is what causes people to think that he is NOT a man of God, true or not, this is why people “think badly of him” Go figure.