While I do not know whether the headline for Jimmy Swaggart’s obituary, “Televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, 90, whose ministry was toppled by prostitution scandals,” was the brainchild of the Associated Press (whose obituary appeared in the June 2 Portland Press Herald) or that of a gutter-press sensationalism at the Press Herald, I found the headline egregiously offensive and vulgar.

I am not a Pentecostal, but I have infinite respect for the Bible-based theological publications written by Pastor Swaggart. I own and rely upon his King James Expository Bible that explicates with scholarly accuracy what each verse, from Genesis to Revelation, means. His SonLife Broadcasting Network reaches millions. His ministry provides free Bibles by the thousands. Pentecostals find joy in the network’s services, especially the music.

That a print media postscript to Swaggart’s life should focus only upon his personal scandals is in bad taste at best and snidely exploitative at worst. No one is perfect, least of all the late Pastor Swaggart. However, his public acknowledgement of his imperfections can inspire the rest of us to believe in salvation and redemption through God’s grace. Even the New York Times obituary (written by David Stout), which focused equally upon Swaggart’s brush with prostitution and lawsuits, ended with an uplifting 2014 quote from the dead man — “God is patient with us. Thank God for that.”

Albert Black
Ogunquit