The Miami Herald
Miami-Dade

The South Florida preacher who gained fame after declaring himself to be Jesus Christ has fared poorly in divorce court.

BY CASEY WOODS
cwoods@MiamiHerald.com

The Christmas season was not kind to the self-proclaimed Antichrist.

Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda, who gained international notoriety by declaring himself first to be Jesus Christ, then the Antichrist, roundly lost his divorce court bid to protect his church from financial claims by his most recent ex-wife.

Miami-Dade County Circuit Judge Roberto Pineiro essentially ruled that de Jesus Growing in Grace church was his personal business, rather than a religious nonprofit organization, and awarded Josefina de Jesus Torres the more than $2.2 million she sought in the divorce -- the amount her lawyer deemed was half the assets of her ex-husband and his church.

I think the judge did what was right and awarded Josefina what she was entitled to under the law, said Torres lawyer, Norman Segall. ``The church has millions of dollars . . . and Im sure if [de Jesus] issues an edict from up above that he needs money, its available to resolve the situation.

Click here to read the whole story.

Personal comment from the web log writer
Another reason we as a country are falling on our face. If we accept those living in SIN as preachers speaking from our church pulpits and leading our church membership we are in real trouble. God states without a stutter or slur what is SIN and we as a nation look the other way. God says those who are preachers, deacons, elders, or in any leadership position of the Church are to be above reproach.

Qualifications of bishops, deacons, and their wives
1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Tim 3:1-13 (KJV)