A Catholic priest in Pennsylvania took his parishioners for a joyride after confessing to rigging a church fundraising raffle for a Corvette Stingray. The scheme was run with unchecked authority over parish funds, enabling him to award phony prizes to friends while running up a massive $300,000 American Express tab paid by the church. This shocking case highlights the petty corruption and financial malfeasance that runs rampant when religious institutions operate without oversight, exploiting the faithful for personal gain and high-end consumer luxury.  

News Source: Pennsylvania Priest Accused of Rigging Corvette Raffle, Using Church Funds to Pay Off American Express Bill By Hemet Mehta for The Friendly Atheist August 11th, 2025 🔗 https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/pennsylvania-priest-accused-of-rigging?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=95153&post_id=170503330&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=oa4eg&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email  

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.38.3 featuring Jimmy Jr., Sydney Davis Jr. Jr., and Jonathan Roudabush

Catholic Priest Rigs Raffle for a Corvette 🚗 
Church Funds Pay Priest's $300K Amex Bill 💳 
Rigging the Holiday Raffle is a Petty Grift 🤡 
Unchecked Power Destroys Parish Funds 💰 
The Clergy's Free Pass for Fraud 🙅‍♂️ 
Why Does Clergy Have No Oversight? 👁️ 
Stealing from the Church Raffle for a Tesla ⚡ 
The Priest Confesses: "I Did It, But..." 🤥 
He Paid for a Stingray with Tithes 💸 
Fraud is Now Common Clergy Behavior 📉 
Raffle Winner Martin Anderson: Fake Name 🤯 
Corvette Raffle Leads to Financial Controversy 🚨 
The Corvette Priest and Petty Crimes 😈 
Unsupervised Priest Cleans Out the Coffers 🚽 
Clergy Should Be Trusted Less, Not More 🤔


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Mega-church leader Kirby John Caldwell returns to the pulpit after serving time for a $3.6 million wire fraud scheme involving selling worthless Chinese bonds as investments. The hosts dissect the stunning hypocrisy and grifting required to defraud one’s own flock, only to be welcomed back with a standing ovation. This highlights the endemic problem of unchecked financial abuse within religious institutions and the manipulation strategies used by clergy and their families to maintain control over vulnerable, often uneducated congregations in places like the Deep South.

News Source:
Texas Pastor Returns to Megachurch After Prison for $3.6M Fraud
By Anugrah Kumar for The Christian Post
Sunday, August 10th, 2025

🔗 https://www.christianpost.com/news/texas-pastor-returns-to-megachurch-after-prison-for-36m-fraud.html?utm_source=Weekend&utm_campaign=Weekend&utm_medium=newsletter

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.38.2 featuring Jimmy Jr., Sydney Davis Jr. Jr., and Jonathan Roudabush

Pastor's $3.6 Million Hustle is Forgiven 🙏
Church Swindlers: Fraud is Not Incompatible with the Cloth 💸
Mega-Church Pastor Returns to the Pulpit After Jail 😮
Selling Worthless Chinese Bonds to the Faithful 🤡
The Presidential Pastor is Back to Grifting 🎤
Forgiveness or Indoctrination? The Scam Continues 🐑
Clergy Immunity: Stealing from Your Congregation Pays Off 💰
Methodists, Money, and Moral Bankruptcy 🤦‍♀️
Fraudster Pastor Didn't Even Know the Law He Broke 😂
Method to the Madness: Wife Kept the Flock Prepped 👩‍⚖️
Unchecked Authority: The Pastor's Financial High 📈
Deep South: Where Forgiveness Means Financial Danger 🛑
Wire Fraud Pastor Still Has Street Cred in Church 🤝
Methodists for Memorabilia: Scams Targeting the Uneducated 🎯
The Thrill of the Con: Why Pastors Keep Stealing 😈


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A secular examination of the Catholic Church's latest attempt to shore up declining European membership and fatten its coffers the canonization of the first millennial saint. The hosts mock the transparent, desperate marketing strategy of turning a deceased computer-savvy teen, dubbed 'God's influencer,' into a brand icon for younger generations. They dissect the blatant hypocrisy of institutional religion targeting the uneducated and vulnerable—including youth—while spending vast sums to verify ancient 'miracles' instead of providing real-world relief. This segment exposes the church's predatory reliance on exploiting grief and promoting unquestioning devotion for monetary gain and generational relevance.

News Source
Italian Teen known as 'God's Influencer' Declared the First Millennial Saint
for Newsbreak by CBS Chicago
September 7th, 2025

🔗 httpswww.newsbreak.comcbs-chicago-5002164219338429995-italian-teen-known-as-god-s-influencer-declared-the-first-millennial-saint

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.38.1 featuring Jimmy Jr., Sydney Davis Jr. Jr., and Jonathan Roudabush

Church Tries TikTok Shop with New Saint 🤑
Catholic Church Needs an Influencer 🤳
God's Influencer Holy Marketing Scheme 📈
Vatican Medical Team Verifies Miracles 🤡
Millennial Saint The New Merch Drop ✨
Decline in Europe Leads to Teen Saint 📉
Unchecked Authority Targets the Youth 🎯
The Hypocrisy of Don't Waste Your Life 🤥
Parents Monetize Dead Son's Legacy 💵
Canonizing Children The Consent Problem 👶
Saint Wore a 90s Windbreaker 🧥
Religion's Predatory Generational Gap 💀
Church Spends Big to Confirm Old Miracle 💸
Millennial Saint Too Soon or Too Late 🧐
Catholics Should Be Outraged at Church 😡


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This segment unpacks the potent intersection of queer identity, HIV stigma, and religious condemnation through a Pulitzer-winning musical. We explore how faith-based shame and societal neglect, especially during the AIDS crisis, weaponized pain against the LGBTQ+ community, leading to immeasurable loss and continued fear, even with life-saving medications. It's a stark reminder that bigotry costs lives, and that societal acceptance still lags behind medical progress, particularly for marginalized groups. When "morality" dictates who deserves care, humanity truly suffers.

News Source: Black Gay Playwright Michael R. Jackson Talks HIV Stigma, PrEP, and the Tyler Perry Film Inside His Strange Loop 

By Darian Aaron for GLAAD August 13, 2025 

🔗 https://glaad.org/black-gay-playwright-michael-r-jackson-talks-hiv-stigma-prep-and-the-tyler-perry-film-inside-his-strange-loop/

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.37.3 featuring Scott Dickie, Jonathan Roudabush, and Flabbergasted

HIV Stigma: A "Strange Loop" of Shame 🎭 
Queer Pain, Religious Blame 💔 
The AIDS Crisis: Ignored Plague 🕯️ 
Faith's Harm: Stigma Still Kills 🚫 
Beyond the Stigma: PrEP Saves Lives 💪 
Art, Activism, and AIDS Awareness 🎤 
Homophobia's Deadly Cost 💸 
When Morality Becomes a Weapon ⚔️ 
The Silent Suffering of Queer Communities 🤫 
From Shame to Self-Worth: A Journey 🌱 
Breaking the Cycle of Hate 🌈 
Government Neglect: A Human Tragedy 🚨 
Black Queer Voices Demand Justice ✊🏾 
Community vs. Condemnation 🤝 
This Stigma Is NOT What She Gets 😡


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-non-prophets--3254964/support.

This segment unearths the deeply disturbing legacy of a prominent Christian leader whose authoritarian parenting advice and regressive family models directly fueled modern Christian nationalism. From advocating physical child discipline to igniting the Satanic Panic, his teachings exemplify how religious authority can morph into widespread societal harm. We scrutinize whether religion, as a perceived "tool," can truly be beneficial when its applications enable such demonstrable abuse. The discussion tackles the difficult ethical questions of confronting harmful legacies without simply dismissing critiques as anti-religious bias, and navigating reactions to the passing of influential yet destructive figures. It’s a stark reminder of how spiritual strongmen, often claiming to "save the children," can inflict generational trauma by weaponizing faith to control minds, families, and ultimately, entire nations.

News Source: The Dark Legacy Of James Dobson: A Reflection On Influence 

By Henry Karlson for SmartNews August 25, 2025 
🔗 https://www.smartnews.com/en-us/article/4850687411010675221?placement=article-preview-social&utm_source=share_android_other&utm_campaign=sn_lid%3A4850687411010675221%7Csn_channel%3Acr_en_us_top&logo=logo_6&share_id=iYNTlM

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.37.2 featuring Scott Dickie, Jonathan Roudabush, and Flabbergasted

Dobson's Dark Legacy Exposed 💀 
Christian Nationalism's Architect 🏗️ 
Spank the Child, Save the Nation? 🚩 
Satanic Panic's Godfather 😈 
When "Family Values" Harm 💔 
Authoritarian Faith Unmasked 🎭 
Religion: Tool or Weapon? ⚔️ 
Beyond Dobson's Dogma 🤔 
Legacy of Religious Trauma 🌀 
Dismantling Christian Patriarchy 🚫 
The Price of Pious Power 💰 
Faith, Fear & Fascism ⛪ N
o Heroes in Harmful Hagiography 🤬 
Good Riddance, Bad Ideas 👋 
Shattering the Saintly Façade ✨


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This week, we unpack a truly divine scam where self-proclaimed holy rollers stand accused of running a $50M forced labor ring, complete with luxury cars and coerced "donations." It’s another classic tale of religious leaders enriching themselves while their flock endures psychological abuse, starvation, and threats of eternal damnation—because nothing says "love thy neighbor" like a Bentley and a BITE model. We dissect how easily faith can be twisted into a tool for control, exposing the thin veil between spiritual guidance and outright cult behavior. This segment peels back the layers of hypocrisy, reminding us that sometimes, the holiest places harbor the most unholy acts. When religion becomes a weapon for exploitation, who needs actual devils?

News Source: FBI raid in Houston tied to $50M forced labor case against religious leaders By Jaime E. Galvan, Deevon Rahming, and Orko Manna for KHOU 11 August 27th 2025

 🔗 https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/jmmi-houston-fbi-raid-interstate-45-north-freeway/285-c9032542-2f6c-40a1-b5e1-2b6e33629008?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_KHOU_11_News

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.37 1-3 featuring Scott Dickie, Jonathan Roudabush, and Flabbergasted

Holy Hustle: $50M Cult Exposed 💰 
Faith-Based Forced Labor Ring Busted ⛓️ 
BITE Model Breakdown: Cult or Church? 🤔 
Praise the Lord, Pass the Bentley 🙏 
Religious Leaders' Luxury Scam 💸 
When Pastors Become Predators 🚨 
Unmasking a Spiritual Crime Syndicate 🎭 
The Dark Side of Divine Donations 😈 
From Pulpit to Prison: A Cult's Fall 🏛️ 
Exposed: The Hypocrisy of "Holy" Leaders 🤬 
Not So Divine: Forced Labor in Faith 🚫 
Cult Tactics 101: The BITE Model in Action 🧠 
Beyond Belief: Religious Exploitation Exposed 😡 
God's Work or Grand Theft? ⚖️ 
This "Ministry" Is a Mafia 🔫


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-non-prophets--3254964/support.

A small Illinois town took on the Proud Boys after a blatant recruitment billboard appeared near a high school. This segment dissects the audacity of extremist groups feeling emboldened enough to openly recruit and the critical importance of local communities pushing back against hate and fascism. It highlights how hate groups exploit societal anxieties and strategically infiltrate local politics, raising questions about corporate responsibility in platforming such dangerous ideologies. This local victory proves that grassroots efforts can, and must, challenge the normalization of bigotry eroding our society.

News Source: Community Outcry Forces Proud Boys Billboard Removal in Illinois 
By Hunter Basler and Holden Ker Wiki for Katie Askey, local news
August 19th, 2025
 
🔗 (URL not provided in source)

The Non-Prophets Episode 24.36.3 with Kelley Laughlin, Flabbergasted and Cynthia McDonald

Small Town vs. Proud Boys: Community Wins! ✊ 
Hate Group Humiliation in Illinois! 😂
Proud Boys Billboard Busted! 🚫
Local Heroes Kick Out Hate! 💥
Fascism Fails in Flyover Country! 📉
Billboard Battle Against Bigotry! 👊
Extremists Exposed: Illinois Edition! 🚨
Corporate Complicity: Standing Up to Hate! 💸
Proud Boys' Recruiting Flop! 🤡
From Billboard to Backlash: A Win for Decency! ✅
Illinois Says NO to Proud Boys! ✋
Grassroots Good vs. Grown-Up Goons! 🌱
Hate Has No Home: Town Tells Proud Boys! 🏡
The Audacity of Extremism: Rejected! 😠
Community Power Against White Supremacy! 💪

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-non-prophets--3254964/support.

Oklahoma's school superintendent is weaponizing education, forcing a political loyalty test from Prager U on incoming teachers from "blue" states. This isn't just about vetting educators; it’s a blatant attempt to indoctrinate students with right-wing propaganda, rewrite history with claims like "slavery was better than death", and sideline critical thinking. This move undermines academic freedom, exacerbates severe teacher shortages, and sets a dangerous precedent for ideologically driven schooling, turning classrooms into battlegrounds for conservative narratives rather than places of genuine learning.

News Source: Oklahoma to test teachers from New York, California for radical leftist ideologyBy Chris Williams for FOX 26 Houston August 19, 2025 🔗 https://www.livenowfox.com/news/oklahoma-prageru-teacher-certification-test-controversy

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.36.2 featuring Kelley Laughlin, Flabbergasted, and Cynthia McDonald

Prager U's Brainwashing Test 🤦‍♀️
 Oklahoma's Teacher Loyalty Oath 📜
Culture War in the Classroom 🔥
Teacher Shortage? Add Propaganda! 🍎
Rewriting History for Kids 😈
No "Radical Leftists" Allowed 🚫
Prager U's Fake History Debunked 🤥
Fascism in Our Schools? 🏫
Weaponizing Education for Politics ⚔️
Critical Thinking vs. Automatons 🤖
Oklahoma's Dangerous Precedent ⚠️
Saying No To Brainwashing Kids 🛑
The "What To Think" Education Model 🧠
Cold War Pledge of Allegiance 🇺🇸 Filtering Teachers for Ideology 📉


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-non-prophets--3254964/support.

A new "Catholic investing scorecard" promises to help the devout align their portfolios with church teachings by dodging investments in anything supporting abortion, pornography, or LGBTQ+ rights. While some applaud this "faith-based stewardship," others—including us heathens—see it as a transparent, hypocritical weaponization of finance in the ongoing culture wars. A financial advisor, who evidently didn't use divine intervention to amass his own wealth, is now offering a tool based on "faith not seen" rather than evidence, potentially leading to exclusion and bad investments. We’re just wondering if the Vatican is secretly funding the White Sox now. Talk about a holy roller… 💰🏳️‍🌈🚫

News Source: Catholic investing scorecard aims to steer money from abortion, pornography and LGBTQ causes 
By Claire Giangrav for Religious News Services
August 21, 2025
 
🔗 https://religionnews.com/2025/08/21/catholic-investing-scorecard-aims-to-steer-money-from-abortion-pornography-and-lgbtq-causes/

The Non-Prophets Episode 24.36.1 with Kelley Laughlin, Flabbergasted and Cynthia McDonald

Holy Portfolio: Investing with God! 😇 
Catholic Cash Crusade: Divine Dollars? 💸
Faith-Based Funds: Invest or Indoctrinate? 🤔
Praying for Profits: A Risky Bet! 📉
Weaponizing Wealth: Culture War Capital ⚔️
Hypocrisy's Hidden Hand: Money & Morals 🎭
No Gays, No Gains? Catholic Investing! 🚫🏳️‍🌈
Beyond Belief: Investing Scorecard Exposed 🤯
Financial Salvation or Scam? You Decide! 🙏
Market Morality: Whose Values Rule? ⚖️
Profits Over Principles: The Catholic Way? ⛪
Evidence-Free Investing: A Leap of Faith? 🎢
The Vatican's Invisible Hand in Finance? 👀
God's Greenbacks: Divinely Guided Investments? 🌟
Buyer Beware: Catholic Investing Edition! ⚠️

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-non-prophets--3254964/support.

Harvard physicist Avi Loeb *probes* the possibility that a fast-moving interstellar object, 31 Atlas, might be an alien probe, not just a comet. While other scientists remain skeptical, citing ordinary physics, Loeb urges world leaders to prepare for extraterrestrial contact. This episode dives into the fine line between scientific speculation and sensationalism, questioning humanity's readiness for "close encounters" and whether we're jumping to "alien to the gaps" conclusions. It’s a hilarious look at how even serious scientists can trigger an X-Files episode, highlighting the need for skepticism when wild theories eclipse peer review, and reminding us that perhaps aliens are just smart enough to leave us alone.

News Source:
Scientist challenges world leaders over mystery comet he fears could be alien probe but time is running out
By Alex Oliveira for New York Post
August 10, 2025

🔗 https://nypost.com/2025/08/10/us-news/scientist-challenges-world-leaders-over-mystery-comet-he-fears-could-be-alien-probe-but-time-is-running-out/

The Non-Prophets, Episode 24.35.3 featuring Helen Greene, Tracy Wilbert, and Kelley Laughlin

Alien Probe or Just a Space Rock? 👽
Harvard Physicist's Wild Alien Claim 🚀
Comet 31 Atlas: E.T. on the Way? 📞
First Contact: Are We Ready? 😬
X-Files Meets Harvard: The Alien Comet 🛸
Skepticism vs. Sensationalism in Space 🌌
"Alien to the Gaps" Thinking? 🤔
Professor Loeb's Extraterrestrial Panic 🚨
When Scientists Bet on Aliens 🎲
Beyond the Comet's Tail: A Probe? ✨
Is This the Mothership? 😱
Why Aliens Are Probably Ignoring Us 👋
The Truth is Out There (Maybe) 🤫
Humanity's Alien Contact Plan? 😂
Just an Astronomical Anomaly, Right? 🌠

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-non-prophets--3254964/support.