• WWJD on August 26, 2022 12:58 pm

    Tax all the cults!

  • loi on August 26, 2022 11:41 am

    Leave it to a house of god thinking they were above the law.

  • Anonymous on August 26, 2022 10:44 am

    Is good to hear they are taking responsibility. Honestly, I’ve been to that church several times and this wasn’t the only play they have done. They also did “Elf”, “Beauty and the Beast” and other plays from Disney. They say they invite every person into their church, which is Not true. They are against gay people and transgender people. You will not see a single person in there that is gay. They believe you’re sinning and will try to convince that person to become “straight” .
    This church has thier followers go to church 3x a week , have no TV at thier homes, always checking to see how much you make so you can contribute as much money as you can to the church. There’s so much going on in that church. Politics is a big one in thar church. They believe Women shouldn’t become a president . They be little women . Yes there are some great families there. But they have changed and mocked many other movies for thier benefit.

  • Ruby on August 24, 2022 11:04 am

    The settlement should have included that they had to produce and perform Hairspray. Or any musical that supports, educates, and promotes equal rights.

  • Jay Vee on August 24, 2022 6:23 am

    Well the church that teaches lies and stealing are sins but they can do it to promote their agenda. Another example of good for me he not for thee. So does anyone think their followers will see the hypocrisy of their church and leave?

    • Anonymous on August 26, 2022 10:45 am

      They’ve done this with several plays.

    • Michael Kempesta on August 24, 2022 7:55 am

      No, but they might go out and vote MAGA.

  • Anthony on August 24, 2022 5:22 am

    Pastor Guiterrez’s letter of apology seems very sincere and it also sounds like he’s covered all bases of the copyright infringement, to all parties involved..But the monetary damages still need to be addressed! From the outcome of this case I hope others who are thinking about copyright infringement, will give it a second thought! Good verdict and Loved The Real Hamilton 🎶..

  • To Be Fair on August 24, 2022 3:12 am

    I’m sure Shakespeare would have rolled over in his grave a million times with the bastardization of his plays over the years, but then again, there is no active copyright for his plays.

    “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:8-9)

    This church isn’t confessing their sins. They got slapped with a cease and decist order and are trying to save face with a standard PR apology. Ah, religious hypocrisy marches on.

  • Nobodu on August 23, 2022 7:15 pm

    They aren’t sorry they did it, only that they got caught.

  • J. Allen on August 23, 2022 2:13 pm

    I think it is astonishing how people think they can use their religion to justify doing whatever they want! I am glad this church has been found guilty and really hope their 501c3 is reviewed as well as all other penalties!!

  • Anonymous on August 23, 2022 11:56 am

    This is the same as when Clean Flicks used to take movies from the studios and edit out the parts that were not “family friendly”, in their eyes, then resell them edited, then they took a persons video and did the same thing, thinking they would get around the law. Studios sued and they are not in business any more.

  • Anonymous on August 23, 2022 11:20 am

    The Lake of Fire awaits these false prophets and pharisees.

  • M on August 23, 2022 11:15 am

    Why didn’t they just use parody as a defense?

    • Rick Shaw on August 23, 2022 2:56 pm

      $2500 was the amount paid….

      • Anonymous on August 26, 2022 10:46 am

        Seriously.

    • Anonymous on August 23, 2022 1:17 pm

      Because that’s not a defense when it’s not a parody.

    • Anonymous on August 23, 2022 12:17 pm

      Parody requires some aspect of ridicule or criticism of the original work, which may be lacking in the church’s version. It might have been hard to defend in court. The church probably didn’t want the legal expense.

    • Chrysagon on August 23, 2022 11:38 am

      Because there were no atheists in the audience. WE would have laughed at them.

  • Lance on August 23, 2022 10:49 am

    I couldn’t resist checking our their web site. EXACTLY what you’d expect.

    I wonder if after reading three of their “Creedal Statements”…

    2. In the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Jn.1:1)
    ‍
    3. In the person and deity of the Holy Spirit. (Jn. 16:8)
    ‍
    4. In the inspired and inerrant Word of God, The Bible. (2 Tim. 3:16)

    …these “Christian patriots” realize that Thomas Jefferson rewrote the New Testament, completely removing all reference to Christ’s deity, including miracles. That the Founding Fathers are NOT who they presume them to be. It would boggle their “Magic Genie” minds!!

  • Vanessa Reyes-Smith on August 23, 2022 10:49 am

    Bravo for Lin. Being creative is tough and so it is important that that work of art stay the way it is intended. If you want to do a “Christian” play put in the work. Doesn’t Jesus love everyone and that includes homosexuals?

    • Anonymous on August 23, 2022 12:41 pm

      Glad to hear of this. So called “Christians” have a tendency to think they can alter or misconstrue anything they want including the Bible to satisfy themselves. Love some of the satirical comments in 5his thread.

  • Jake on August 23, 2022 10:38 am

    Rather than this standard boilerplate apology, I would much prefer to hear why they originally decided to stage the show and alter it in the first place. And did they not know about licensing, or just purposely ignore it because they wanted to alter it (in which case the apology really means nothing).

    • Jay Vee on August 24, 2022 6:28 am

      When confronted when this first came out I read the church representative said they had all the permissions et in order. Yeah the church lied about it all and stole the property.

    • Jane on August 23, 2022 11:59 am

      As Rear Admiral Grace Hopper said: it’s easier to ask forgiveness than to request permission!

    • Datrick Puffy on August 23, 2022 11:43 am

      “purposely ignore it” this. they’ve probably done this for every play they’ve put on. MANY MANY MANY churches do this.

  • Lance on August 23, 2022 10:31 am

    As it SHOULD be.

  • Cigarette Smoking Man on August 23, 2022 10:30 am

    People still waste their time going to church so they can feel all morally superior or something?

    • Anonymous on August 23, 2022 12:08 pm

      You are proof that church is not necessary to feel morally superior.

    • Anonymous on August 23, 2022 11:22 am

      Yeah I thought that’s what Twitter was for.

  • Alexander Scamilton on August 23, 2022 10:21 am

    Woo! Love to see that they’re paying damages- it would be a dangerous precedent to set if they weren’t held accountable.