FLORIDA
Orlando Sentinel
Paul Brinkmann
Orlando Sentinel
Orlando pastor declares he is unable to pay $16 million in debts
Questions are growing about $16 million in debt racked up by Orlando Baptist Church’s former pastor, David Janney, who resigned in February amid a sex scandal.
A former member of the church, Arlene Miranda, filed suit Dec. 10 accusing the church of forcing her to shut up about her sexual encounter with Janney, who is married.
Three days after Miranda’s lawsuit, Janney filed for personal bankruptcy in federal court. Most of the debts date to 2007 or 2008, and they include some large foreclosures filed by banks.
New lawsuits are being filed against Janney this week. On March 22, a financial company filed a claim in the bankruptcy seeking to deny Janney his chance at washing his hands of at least $3.6 million. Miranda also filed a second lawsuit, this time aimed at church officers, alleging that they tried to cover up her alleged affair.
“When I saw how much money he owes, I thought, ‘How can a pastor of a church have that much debt?'” said Miranda’s attorney, Mayanne Downs. “And also, where did it all go? There appears to be a pattern of irregular financial activity, coupled with the sexual abuse that we’ve alleged.”
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