<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>

  <head>
    <title>Televangelist Joel Osteen slammed for keeping megachurch doors&#39; closed after Hurricane Harvey</title>
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=3.0" />

    <script async src="//cdn.optimizely.com/js/10735605.js"></script>

    <script src="https://assets.dailykos.com/assets/mobile-270b902e0d1d9b8a0a24d514af3d838a.js"></script>
    <link rel="stylesheet" media="screen" href="https://assets.dailykos.com/assets/mobile-38e925e00b84ce99b4dd7e6ef7a179ee.css" />
    <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans:400,700" />
    <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="//fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Open+Sans+Condensed:700" />
    <link rel="icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://assets.dailykos.com/assets/favicon-107e987a32d716a6a9afb2cfe49c8604.ico" />
    <link rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon" href="https://assets.dailykos.com/assets/favicon-107e987a32d716a6a9afb2cfe49c8604.ico" />
    <link rel="apple-touch-icon" type="image/png" href="https://assets.dailykos.com/assets/iphone_icon-db0e430531c3b41bd7b7fa6d13521d02.png" />
    <meta name="csrf-param" content="authenticity_token" />
<meta name="csrf-token" content="08aSRMzEMVeIPwo3QZtfxM5+lP6o7OSwh8oLctTsqNkuFLyVwjqTsSndT4bKJfbhkC90j6pMKg4OzwgserVLGg==" />

    <script>
      DailyKos.pageType = 'stories';
    </script>

    <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/8/28/1694013/-Televangelist-Joel-Osteen-slammed-for-keeping-megachurch-doors-closed-after-Hurricane-Harvey" />
      <meta property="fb:app_id" content="170357783709" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="43179984254" />
  <meta property="fb:pages" content="243155501243" />
  <meta property="og:site_name" content="Daily Kos" />
  <meta property="og:type" content="article" />
  <meta property="og:title" content="Televangelist Joel Osteen slammed for keeping megachurch doors&#39; closed after Hurricane Harvey" />
  <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.dailykos.com/story/2017/8/28/1694013/-Televangelist-Joel-Osteen-slammed-for-keeping-megachurch-doors-closed-after-Hurricane-Harvey" />
  <meta property="og:image" content="https://images.dailykos.com/images/442299/story_image/GettyImages-612332252.jpg?1503948099" />
  <meta property="og:description" content="Televangelist pastor Joel Osteen of a Lakewood in Houston, Texas has come under fire for not being the charitable Christian leader many expected. While he was quick to offer his “prayers,” he wasn’t as generous with physical action. 



 

 As local..." />

        <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" />
    <meta name="twitter:site" content="@dailykos" />
    <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@wagatwe" />
    <meta name="twitter:title" content="Televangelist Joel Osteen slammed for keeping megachurch doors&#39; closed after Hurricane Harvey" />
    <meta name="twitter:image:src" content="https://images.dailykos.com/images/442299/story_image/GettyImages-612332252.jpg?1503948099" />
    <meta name="twitter:description" content="Televangelist pastor Joel Osteen of a Lakewood in Houston, Texas has come under fire for not being the charitable Christian leader many expected. While he was quick to offer his “prayers,” he wasn’..." />


        <script type='text/javascript'>
          // for chartbeat
          var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime()
        </script>
        <script>
  var googletag = googletag || {};
  googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || [];
  (function() {
  	var src = 'https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js';
  	document.write('<scr' + 'ipt src="' + src + '"></scr' + 'ipt>');
  })();
</script>

        <script type="text/javascript">
  var _gaq = _gaq || [];
  _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-50193-1']);
  _gaq.push(['_setDomainName', '.dailykos.com']);

  // Prevent self-referral
  //_gaq.push(['_setAllowLinker',true]);
  //_gaq.push(['_setAllowHash',false]);

  _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

  (function() {
    var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
    ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
    var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
  })();
</script>

        <!-- If you want to move this to a js file, you'll need to pre-compile assets with the correct rails env so that these DK::Ads constants are set for the correct environment. -->
<script>
  _.namespace('DailyKos.Ads.Google');
  
  DailyKos.Ads.Google.defineSlotDesktop = function () {
    var Google = DK.Ads.Google.init();
  
    if (DailyKos.Ads.isBlogsPage()) {
      Google.defineSlot('/1095769/300x250_DK5_ATF', [[300, 250], [300, 600]], 'div-gpt-ad-1444077860311-7').addService(googletag.pubads());
      Google.defineSlot('/1095769/300x250_DK5_1-2', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1444077860311-1').addService(googletag.pubads());
      Google.defineSlot('/1095769/300x250_DK5_10-11', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1444077860311-2').addService(googletag.pubads());
      Google.defineSlot('/1095769/300x250_DK5_4-5', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1444077860311-5').addService(googletag.pubads());
      Google.defineSlot('/1095769/300x250_DK5_7-8', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1444077860311-6').addService(googletag.pubads());
    }
    if (DailyKos.Ads.isStoryPage()) {
      Google.defineSlot('/1095769/300x250_Story_DK5_ATF', [[300, 250], [300, 600]], 'div-gpt-ad-1449600715015-0').addService(googletag.pubads());
      Google.defineSlot('/1095769/300x250_Story_DK5_ATF', [[300, 250], [300, 600]], 'div-gpt-ad-1449600715016-0').addService(googletag.pubads());
      Google.defineSlot('/1095769/300x250_DK5_Story_BTF', [[300, 600], [300, 250]], 'div-gpt-ad-1450740708411-0').addService(googletag.pubads());
    }
    Google.defineOutOfPageSlot('/1095769/1x1_DK5_Interstitial', 'div-gpt-ad-1446660743951-0').addService(googletag.pubads())
      .setForceSafeFrame(false);
    Google.defineSlot('/1095769/PROD_Desktop_Stripe', [1, 1], 'div-gpt-ad-1474507278922-0').addService(googletag.pubads())
      .setForceSafeFrame(false);
    Google.defineSlot('/1095769/970x90_DK_ATF', [[1, 1], [728, 90], [970, 250], [970, 90]], 'div-gpt-ad-1516846012089-0').addService(googletag.pubads())
      .setForceSafeFrame(false);
  };
  
  DailyKos.Ads.Google.defineSlotMobile = function defineSlotMobile () {
    var Google = DK.Ads.Google.init();
  
    Google.defineSlot('/1095769/PROD_Mobile_Petitions', [1, 1], 'div-gpt-ad-1474507097776-0').addService(googletag.pubads())
      .setForceSafeFrame(false);
  };
</script>

<script>
  if (DailyKos.Ads && DailyKos.Ads.isAdsPage()) {
    googletag.cmd.push(function() {
      // Define Displayable Ads
      DailyKos.Ads.Google.defineSlotMobile();
  
      // Set Targeting
      DailyKos.Ads.Google.setTargeting();
  
      // Set Options
      DailyKos.Ads.Google.setOptions();
    });
  }
</script>

          <script type="text/javascript">
    window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
    _taboola.push({article:'auto'});
    !function (e, f, u) {
      e.async = 1;
      e.src = u;
      f.parentNode.insertBefore(e, f);
    }(document.createElement('script'),
    document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0],
    'https://cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/dailykos/loader.js');
  </script>


    
  </head>


  <body id="stories" class="controller_stories action_show mobile layout_main">
    <div id='wrapper'>
      <div class="authorization">
          <a href="http://m.dailykos.com/login.mobile">Log In</a>
      </div> <!-- #authorization -->

      <div id="masthead" class="masthead">
        <img id="flagman" src="https://assets.dailykos.com/assets/donations/background_flag_guy-ada3ebddd5d71b519585549e67ed512e.png" alt="Background flag guy" />
        <h1><a href="/">Daily Kos</a></h1>
      </div> <!-- #masthead -->

      <div class='subheader top_subheader'>
        Community
      </div>  <!-- .subheader -->

      <div class='mobile-petition-ad' id='div-gpt-ad-1474507097776-0'></div>
<script>
  (function () {
    var iframeContainer, iframe;
  
    DailyKos.Ads.push('div-gpt-ad-1474507097776-0', '.mobile-petition-ad');
  
    $iframeContainer = $('.mobile-petition-ad')
    $iframe = $iframeContainer.find('iframe:first')
  
    $iframeContainer.addClass('hidden');
  
    $iframe.load(function() {
      App.Ads.Splash.init({
        $iframeContainer: $iframeContainer,
        showAd: function () {
          $('.mobile-petition-ad').removeClass('hidden');
        },
        hideAd: function () {
          $('.mobile-petition-ad').addClass('hidden');
        },
        onLoad: function () {
          DailyKos.Ads.Google.addMobilePetitionEventListeners($iframe);
        }
      });
    });
  })()
</script>


      <div id='main'>
        





<div id="story">

    <div class='image_container'>
      <noscript id='as-https-ff6cd4cc-9fd3-d5ee-25bb-aace2f0b129f'>
<img src="https://images.dailykos.com/images/442299/large/GettyImages-612332252.jpg?1503948099" alt="Gettyimages 612332252" />
</noscript>
<script>
  DK.Https.upgradeToHttps(
    document.getElementById("as-https-ff6cd4cc-9fd3-d5ee-25bb-aace2f0b129f")
  );
</script>
      <div class='dkimg-attribution'>Attribution: Cindy Ord/Getty Images</div>
      <div class='dkimg-cap'></div>
    </div>

  <div class='title'>Televangelist Joel Osteen slammed for keeping megachurch doors&#39; closed after Hurricane Harvey</div>
  <div class="story_main clearfix">
    <div class="story_info">
            <span class="timestamp " data-localize-time data-epoch-time="1503950780000" data-time-zone="-0700" data-time-format="%b %d, %Y %l:%M%P %Z">Aug 28, 2017  1:06pm PDT</span>

      by
      <span class='author_name'>wagatwe</span>
      <div class="story_stats story_recommend_login">
        <img src="https://assets.dailykos.com/assets/icons/comment_large-4e16ea855e9cadf25e6ae992e0153e1f.png" alt="Comment large" />548
        <a class="story_recommend" id="story-1694013" data-remote="true" rel="nofollow" data-method="post" href="#">424</a>
      </div>
      <span class='inline_notification story_recommend_login'>Please <a href="/login">log in</a> or <a href="/signup">sign up</a> to continue.</span>
    </div>
    <div id="intro" class="intro-text ">
      <noscript id='as-https-0e637a7a-ea1a-5cd5-ef0b-4fad6c8c3891'>
<p>Televangelist pastor Joel Osteen of a Lakewood in Houston, Texas has come under fire for not being the charitable Christian leader many expected. While he was quick to offer his “prayers,” he wasn’t as generous with physical action.</p>

<div class="dk-editor-embed center-block" data-twitter-content='&amp;lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&amp;gt;Victoria &amp;amp;amp; I are praying for everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey. Please join us as we pray for the safety of our Texas friends &amp;amp;amp; family.&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;mdash; Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) &amp;lt;a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen/status/901529457621688320"&amp;gt;August 26, 2017&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/blockquote&amp;gt;
'><div class="remove-embed-content">x</div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Victoria &amp; I are praying for everyone affected by Hurricane Harvey. Please join us as we pray for the safety of our Texas friends &amp; family.</p>— Joel Osteen (@JoelOsteen) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen/status/901529457621688320">August 26, 2017</a></blockquote>
</div>

<p class="is-empty-p"></p>

<p>As local folks start to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, people tweeted that they know the wealthy pastor could do more to help.</p>

<div class="dk-editor-embed center-block" data-twitter-content='&amp;lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&amp;gt;Hey Joel, don&amp;amp;#39;t you have the biggest and richest church? Why don&amp;amp;#39;t you open up the doors and the wallet in the name of Jesus for the people!&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;mdash; Mozez713 (@Mozez713) &amp;lt;a href="https://twitter.com/Mozez713/status/901966780318580736"&amp;gt;August 28, 2017&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/blockquote&amp;gt;
'><div class="remove-embed-content">x</div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Hey Joel, don't you have the biggest and richest church? Why don't you open up the doors and the wallet in the name of Jesus for the people!</p>— Mozez713 (@Mozez713) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mozez713/status/901966780318580736">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
</div>

<p class="is-empty-p"></p>

<div class="dk-editor-embed center-block" data-twitter-content='&amp;lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&amp;gt;Eh, Osteen&amp;amp;#39;s net worth is around $56.5 million. How about doing more than praying? &amp;lt;a href="https://t.co/ZGswIBxuEF"&amp;gt;https://t.co/ZGswIBxuEF&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;mdash; Jennifer Hayden (@Scout_Finch) &amp;lt;a href="https://twitter.com/Scout_Finch/status/902202951669870592"&amp;gt;August 28, 2017&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/blockquote&amp;gt;
'><div class="remove-embed-content">x</div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Eh, Osteen's net worth is around $56.5 million. How about doing more than praying? <a href="https://t.co/ZGswIBxuEF">https://t.co/ZGswIBxuEF</a></p>— Jennifer Hayden (@Scout_Finch) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scout_Finch/status/902202951669870592">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
</div>

<p class="is-empty-p"></p>

<p>Osteen’s Lakewood has been referred to as the largest church in Texas, but it wasn’ t open to the public due to alleged flooding. People are not quite convinced. </p>

<div class="dk-editor-embed center-block" data-twitter-content='&amp;lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&amp;gt;Front of &amp;lt;a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen"&amp;gt;@JoelOsteen&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;amp;#39;s huge Lakewood Church in Houston at 11 am. Closed due to &amp;amp;quot;flooding&amp;amp;quot;. Person who took it asked to be anonymous. &amp;lt;a href="https://t.co/gOndOncFuC"&amp;gt;pic.twitter.com/gOndOncFuC&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;mdash; Charles Clymer&#x1f3f3;️‍&#x1f308; (@cmclymer) &amp;lt;a href="https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/902204084597469184"&amp;gt;August 28, 2017&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/blockquote&amp;gt;
'><div class="remove-embed-content">x</div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Front of <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen">@JoelOsteen</a>'s huge Lakewood Church in Houston at 11 am. Closed due to "flooding". Person who took it asked to be anonymous. <a href="https://t.co/gOndOncFuC">pic.twitter.com/gOndOncFuC</a></p>— Charles ClymerÃ°ÂÂÂ³Ã¯Â¸ÂÃ¢ÂÂÃ°ÂÂÂ (@cmclymer) <a href="https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/902204084597469184">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
</div>

<p>According to <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/houston-needs-you-social-media-rains-scorn-on-joel-osteen-for-closing-megachurch-after-hurricane/#.WaQ3ROQzqOc.twitter" target="_blank">R</a><a href="http://www.rawstory.com/2017/08/houston-needs-you-social-media-rains-scorn-on-joel-osteen-for-closing-megachurch-after-hurricane/#.WaQ3ROQzqOc.twitter" target="_blank" title="">aw Story</a>, Lakewood has a congregation so large that the building used to be an NBA arena; it could hold 16,800 people.</p>

<p>If there’s a reasonable explanation for keeping the church’s doors closed, Osteen isn’t interested in sharing. He’s apparently blocking people who are inquiring about the empty giant church that could help thousands in need.</p>

<div class="dk-editor-embed center-block" data-twitter-content='&amp;lt;blockquote class="twitter-tweet"&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p lang="en" dir="ltr"&amp;gt;If you tweet &amp;lt;a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen"&amp;gt;@JoelOsteen&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; about his church not opening its doors to floor victims he blocks you. &amp;lt;a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/socalledchristian?src=hash"&amp;gt;#socalledchristian&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; &amp;lt;a href="https://t.co/iSQCptqEJB"&amp;gt;pic.twitter.com/iSQCptqEJB&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;amp;mdash; JerseyCraig (@CJPatruno) &amp;lt;a href="https://twitter.com/CJPatruno/status/902154017828155392"&amp;gt;August 28, 2017&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/blockquote&amp;gt;
'><div class="remove-embed-content">x</div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>If you tweet <a href="https://twitter.com/JoelOsteen">@JoelOsteen</a> about his church not opening its doors to floor victims he blocks you. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/socalledchristian?src=hash">#socalledchristian</a> <a href="https://t.co/iSQCptqEJB">pic.twitter.com/iSQCptqEJB</a></p>— JerseyCraig (@CJPatruno) <a href="https://twitter.com/CJPatruno/status/902154017828155392">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
</div>

<p>Considering that Osteen is <a href="http://www.oprah.com/own-oprahs-next-chapter/why-pastor-joel-osteen-makes-no-apologies-for-his-wealth" target="_blank" title="">unapologetically rich </a>from his <a href="http://houston.culturemap.com/news/real-estate/07-04-10-after-move-to-river-oaks-joel-osteen-wants-to-sell-tanglewood-land-for-11-million/#slide=0" target="_blank" title="">$10.5 million mansion</a> there’s definitely more he could do to help the hurricane victims. Instead, all we get is silence. I’m sure Jesus would be proud.</p>

</noscript>
<script>
  DK.Https.upgradeToHttps(
    document.getElementById("as-https-0e637a7a-ea1a-5cd5-ef0b-4fad6c8c3891")
  );
</script>
    </div>
    <script type='text/javascript'>
      $(function () {
          DailyKos.displayMobileAds = true;

        if(!DailyKos.displayMobileAds) return false;
        var $storyAdTarget;
        var $introElements = $("#intro").children(':visible').not('h3, h4');
        if($introElements.length > 1) {
          $storyAdTarget = $($introElements[1]);
        } else {
          $storyAdTarget = $introElements.last();
        }

        $storyAdTarget.after("<div class='mobile-story-ad'><!-- /1095769/300x250_mobile_story --><div id='div-gpt-ad-1465849693465-0' style='height:250px; width:300px;'></div></div>");

        googletag.cmd.push(function() {
          googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest();
          googletag.defineSlot('/1095769/300x250_mobile_story', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-ad-1465849693465-0').addService(googletag.pubads());
          googletag.enableServices();
          googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1465849693465-0');
        });
      });
    </script>
    <div class="body body-text">
      <noscript id='as-https-85039b16-3716-6e29-112b-8397f17ce8c7'>
      <div>
        <a name="update-1504036708000"></a>
      </div>
      <div class="live-update-wrapper" data-epoch-time="1504036708000">
        <a class="live-update-link" href="#update-1504036708000">
                <span class="timestamp " data-localize-time="" data-epoch-time="1504036708000" data-time-zone="+0000" data-time-format="%A, %b %-d, %Y · %l:%M:%S %p %Z">Tuesday, Aug 29, 2017 ·  7:58:28 PM +00:00</span>

          ·
          <span class="live-update-user">wagatwe</span>
        </a>

        <div class="live-update-content"><p>The church is <a href="https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2017/8/29/1694367/-Joel-Osteen-opens-his-megachurch-s-doors-after-widespread-backlash?_=2017-08-29T12:57:04.748-07:00" target="_blank">now available</a> for shelter.</p>
</div>
      </div>

</noscript>
<script>
  DK.Https.upgradeToHttps(
    document.getElementById("as-https-85039b16-3716-6e29-112b-8397f17ce8c7")
  );
</script>
    </div>
  </div>
  
</div>

<div class="load-comments-wrapper">
  <a href="#" id="load-comments">
    <div class="load-comments-inner">Display 548 Comments</div>
  </a>
</div>

<div class="comments-wrapper hidden">
  <div class='subheader comment_count'>548 comments</div>
  <a class="anchor" name="comments"></a>
  <div id="comments" class="comments">
    <div id='comments_inner'></div>
    <div id='spinner'></div>
    <div class='subheader comment_count bottom'>548 comments</div>
  </div>
</div>


<script id='static_comment_form' type='text/x-handlebars-template'>
  {{#ifCanComment}}
    <div class="wrap_hack" style="height: 1px; display: none"></div>
    <form class="new_comment {{staticFormClass}}">
      <div class="input"><textarea class="text" name="text" placeholder="Leave your comment..."></textarea></div>
      <div class="buttons clearfix">
        <div class="countdown hidden">
          <span class="warning soft-red">Warning!</span>
          <span class="countdown-message">
            Comments are closing in:
            <span class='countdown-timer'></span>
          </span>
        </div>
        <button class="preview">Preview</button>
        <!-- <button class="cancel">Cancel</button> -->
      </div>
    </form>
  {{/ifCanComment}}
</script>

<script id="comment-actions-partial" type="text/x-handlebars-template">
  <span class="recommend_buttons">
    {{#ifCanComment}}
      {{#if canReply }}
        <a href="#" class="reply">Reply</a>
      {{/if}}
    {{/ifCanComment}}

    {{#if recommended}}
      <a href="#" class="unrecommend">
        <img alt="unrecommend" src="https://assets.dailykos.com/assets/star_gold-9062bb97f35ab574f524929150d32660.png">
        <span class="count">{{n_recrates}}</span>
      </a>
    {{else}}
      {{#ifRecommendable id}}
        <a href="#" class="recommend inactive">
          <img alt="recommend" src="https://assets.dailykos.com/assets/star_blue-a36c3cd4d512a56cde2e4d4cea6bd1a7.png">
          <span class="count">{{n_recrates}}</span>
        </a>
      {{else}}
        <a href="#" class="recommend recommend_disabled">
          <img alt="unrecommendable" src="https://assets.dailykos.com/assets/star_grey-3dd2078c3a5a7c2f1f9e4d86e3273d96.png">
          <span class="count">{{n_recrates}}</span>
        </a>
      {{/ifRecommendable}}
    {{/if}}
  </span>
</script>

<script id="comment_template" type="text/x-handlebars-template">
  <div class='comment_wrapper'>
    <a class="anchor" name="comment_{{id}}"></a>
    <span class="hidden-comment-controls">
  <a href='#' class="dkons icon-eye toggle-hidden-comments" title='See hidden comments'></a> HIDDEN COMMENT
</span>

    <div class='comment_body'>
      <div class='comment_text'><span class='comment_title'>{{{subject}}}</span>{{{textToRender}}}</div>
    </div>
    <span class='inline_notification comment_recommend_login'>
      Please <a href='/login?return_to=/stories/2017/8/28/1694013/-Televangelist-Joel-Osteen-slammed-for-keeping-megachurch-doors-closed-after-Hurricane-Harvey?detail=facebook&return_anchor=comment_{{id}}'>log in</a> or <a href="/signup?return_to=/stories/2017/8/28/1694013/-Televangelist-Joel-Osteen-slammed-for-keeping-megachurch-doors-closed-after-Hurricane-Harvey?detail=facebook&return_anchor=comment_{{id}}&return_topic={{truncatedSubject}}">sign up</a> to continue.
    </span>
    <div class='meta'>
      <div class='comment_meta'>
        <span class='comment_author'>
           <a href="/user/{{author}}" id="{{author_id}}">{{author}}</a>
        </span>
        <a href="#comment_{{id}}" class='comment_time'>{{{created_at}}}</a>
      </div>
      {{#unless preview}}
        <div class="actions comment_recommend_login">
          {{> commentActions}}
        </div> <!-- .actions -->
      {{/unless}}
     </div> <!-- .meta -->
     <div class='up_triangle_gray'></div>
    </div> <!-- .poop comment_wrapper -->
    {{#ifCanComment}}
    <form class="new_comment reply">
      <div class='comment_instructions'>Post your reply</div>
      <div class="input">
        <textarea class="text" name="text" placeholder="Leave your comment..."></textarea>
      </div>
      <div class="buttons clearfix">
        <div class="countdown hidden">
          <span class="warning soft-red">Warning!</span>
          <span class="countdown-message">
            Comments are closing in:
            <span class='countdown-timer'></span>
          </span>
        </div>
        <button class="preview">Preview</button>
        <button class="cancel">Cancel</button>
      </div>
    </form>
    {{/ifCanComment}}
    {{#if preview}}
      <div class="comment_post buttons clearfix">
        <button class="post enabled">Post</button>
        <span class="post display_text">Posting...</span>
        <button class="edit">Edit</button>
      </div>
    {{/if}}
</script>

<script type="text/javascript">
  (function() {
    var hash = window.location.hash || "",
        showComments = hash.indexOf("comment") >= 0,
        commentsLoaded = false;

    function loadComments() {
      if(commentsLoaded) return;

      commentsLoaded = true;

      $(".load-comments-wrapper").addClass("hidden");
      $(".comments-wrapper").removeClass("hidden");

      $.getJSON('/stories/1694013/comments', function(comments) {
        var options = {
          el:               $("#comments"),
          storyID:          1694013,
          commentsCloseAt:  new Date(1504734715000),
          commentRatings:   null
        }
        comments = _.sortBy(comments, function(c){ return c.sort_string; });

        CommentApp.initMobile(comments, options);
      });

    }

    if(showComments) {
      loadComments();
    }

    $("#load-comments").click(function(e) {
      e.preventDefault();
      loadComments();
    });

    $('.intro-text, .body-text').mobileRender();

  })();
</script>

<div class="modal_box clearfix jqmWindow">
  <a class="close jqmClose" href="#">x</a>
  <div class="content"></div>
</div>

<script type='text/javascript'>
  $(function(){
	  DailyKos.Metrics.track('Viewed Story', {  url: "2017/8/28/1694013/-Televangelist-Joel-Osteen-slammed-for-keeping-megachurch-doors-closed-after-Hurricane-Harvey", 
	  																			  	author: $('.author_name').html(),
	  																			  	title: $('.title').html() });
	 });
</script>
	  

      </div> <!-- #main -->

      <div class='footer'>
        <div class='footer_left'>
          <div id='stories_url' data-url='http://m.dailykos.com/story/2017/8/28/1694013/-Televangelist-Joel-Osteen-slammed-for-keeping-megachurch-doors-closed-after-Hurricane-Harvey'></div>
          <span class='left_item'><a class="mobile_preference" href="#">View Full Site</a></span>
          |
          <span class='right_item'><a href="http://m.dailykos.com/helpdesk_redirect">Helpdesk</a></span>
        </div> <!-- .footer_left -->
        <div class='footer_right'>&copy;2018 Kos Media</div>
      </div> <!-- .footer -->

        <script type='text/javascript'>
          DailyKos.currentStoryID = 1694013;
          CommentApp.initHiddenCommentsClickListener($('#comments'));
        </script>


      <!-- Taboola -->
<script type="text/javascript">
  window._taboola = window._taboola || [];
  _taboola.push({flush: true});
</script>
<!-- end Taboola -->
<!-- Quantcast Tag -->
<script type="text/javascript">
  var _qevents = _qevents || [];

  (function() {
   var elem = document.createElement('script');

   elem.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://secure" : "http://edge") + ".quantserve.com/quant.js";
   elem.async = true;
   elem.type = "text/javascript";
   var scpt = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];
   scpt.parentNode.insertBefore(elem, scpt);
  })();
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
_qevents.push( { qacct:"p-94z2SIg8PaHLI"} );
</script>
<noscript>
<div style="display: none;"><img src="//pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-94z2SIg8PaHLI.gif" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/></div>
</noscript>
<!-- End Quantcast tag -->


      <script type='text/javascript'>
  // mobile only chartbeat tags
    var _sf_async_config = {
      uid:          2709,
      domain:       'dailykos.com',
      useCanonical: true
    };
    (function() {
      function loadChartbeat() {
        window._sf_endpt = (new Date()).getTime();
        var e = document.createElement('script');
        e.setAttribute('language', 'javascript');
        e.setAttribute('type', 'text/javascript');
        e.setAttribute('src',
          (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://a248.e.akamai.net/chartbeat.download.akamai.com/102508/" : "http://static.chartbeat.com/") +
          "js/chartbeat.js");
        document.body.appendChild(e);
      };
      var oldonload = window.onload;
      window.onload = (typeof window.onload != 'function') ?
        loadChartbeat : function() { oldonload(); loadChartbeat(); };
    })();
</script>

    </div> <!-- #wrapper -->
    <div class='modal fade' id='modal'>
      <div class='modal-dialog modal-md'>
        <div class='modal-content'>
          <div class='modal-header'>
            <button class='close' data-dismiss='modal' type='button'>
              <span aria-hidden='true'>&times;</span>
              <span class='sr-only'>Close</span>
            </button>
            <h4 class='modal-title'></h4>
          </div>
          <div class='modal-body'></div>
          <div class='modal-footer error-footer'>
            <button class='btn btn-danger' data-dismiss='modal'>Close</button>
          </div>
          <div class='modal-footer message-footer'>
            <button class='btn btn-default' data-dismiss='modal'>Close</button>
            <button class='btn btn-primary'>Save changes</button>
          </div>
        </div>
      </div>
    </div>
    <div class='toast'>
<div class='inner'>
<div class='title'></div>
<div class='msg'></div>
</div>
</div>

      <div id="fb-root"></div>
  <script>$(window).load(function() {(function(d, s, id) {
    var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
    if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
    js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
    js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=170357783709";
    fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
    }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));})</script>

  </body>
</html>
