Trinity Broadcasting Network

Trinity Broadcasting Network has appealed a motion by the Costa Mesa Planning Commission that places good-neighbor rules on the televangelist ministry before it is allowed to conduct outdoor tapings. The commission on March 24 imposed two dozen restrictions on TBN operations, including a 10 p.m. curfew for churchgoers, limits on nighttime hours of its million-light display and limits on street parking by buses and cars.

Trinity Broadcasting Network officials say they want a former employee jailed or fined because he violated a court order against talking about a homosexual tryst he says he had with the ministry's leader, televangelist Paul Crouch. A temporary restraining order issued by Orange County Superior Court Judge John M.

A church watchdog group recommended Tuesday that Jan and Paul Crouch step aside as leaders of Orange County-based Trinity Broadcasting Network while a panel of Christian leaders investigates its finances. An executive for TBN, the world's largest Christian network, rejected the idea but said he would meet with critics and review audited financial statements and other related documents with them. "We will turn over to them whatever we need to turn over," said Paul Crouch Jr., a network executive.

Today's question: Pat Boone lost his weekly gospel show on the religious Trinity Broadcasting Network after he showed up for a music award ceremony in heavymetal attire. He says the stunt--a promotional gimmick for a new album--had nothing to do with his mission to spread the Gospel. Is it ethical for people professing to be Christians to be so unforgiving by removing Boone from the air? Richard J.

Trinity Broadcasting Network is appealing for funds on the air and on the Internet, saying the behemoth Christian TV system is in jeopardy because of a pending Federal Communications Commission case against it. "Your TBN is facing a very serious spiritual battle," the network's World Wide Web page says of the FCC battle, which stems from a 1995 ruling that the network set up a sham minority corporation to take advantage of minority preferences for broadcast licenses.

Televangelist Paul Crouch often blames Satan for the difficulties he encountered building Trinity Broadcasting Network into the world's largest Christian broadcaster. But the most serious challenge TBN has faced was from an earthly source: the Federal Communications Commission. In 1995, the agency ruled that Crouch had created a "sham" minority company to circumvent limits on the number of television stations his network could own.

The yearlong sniping between Paul Crouch, founder of Tustin-based Trinity Broadcasting Network, and the National Religious Broadcasters over ethics and financial accountability continued this week at the NRB's convention in Washington. In December, Crouch resigned from the voluntary organization of 1,100 Protestant evangelicals involved in radio and television, citing "lying, trumped-up charges (that) were aimed at the heart" of his 24-hour-a-day Christian programming service.

Two Christian broadcasters, including Costa Mesa-based Trinity Broadcasting Network, have withdrawn their bids for Orange County's public television station, officials close to the negotiations said Monday. The five trustees for the Coast Community College District are expected to decide Wednesday whether to sell KOCE-TV and use the money to prop up the district's ailing budget.

Praise the Lord! You can be fishers of men and enjoy all manners of fish in Tustin. You can also satisfy your longings for worldly goods. In fact, the city suits those activities to a T--as in Trinity Broadcasting Network, Tustin Market Place and Tommy's Sushi. 11 A.M. : 1 The national headquarters of the Trinity Broadcasting Network, which operates hundreds of television stations worldwide, is located in a complex of four buildings in Tustin; the "Praise the Lord" cable show, a.k.a.