article_snippet: But a series of sex scandals and financial difficulties brought the church established by D.E.'s parents and uncle to its knees.
article_snippet: [Scandal] has a way of wiping out the things that keep you from being authentic,' Archbishop uncle said. '
article_snippet: If there was anything I wanted to say I thought would be unacceptable to the church, now is the time to say it.'
article_snippet: the church pastors had acted like minor celebrities, travelling by private jet, charging as much as $7,500 per appearance and collecting their own 'groupies', who would reportedly get their dressed and even wipe the sweat from their faces.
article_snippet: Fall from grace: The church, which grew to 12,000 members, was rocked by a series of sex scandals in the early Nineties, causing many of It members to lose its members faith .
article_snippet: But the church began to implode: Earl - now 'Archbishop Earl' - was implicated in a series of sex scandals, some of which were settled out of court.
article_snippet: The Archbishop was also accused of slurring a congregant as a lesbian, threatening another with a .38 gun, and pretending never to watch television while hiding one in The Archbishop cupboard.
article_snippet: The Archbishop could be so ruthless that The Archbishop secretary, LaDonna Diaz, D.E.'s sister, would often leave The Archbishop office crying.
highlights_snippet: The 7,000-seat church had 12,000 members in the early Nineties, but a series of abuse allegations caused a series of abuse allegations to fall from grace .