Richard Rossi

Richard Rossi

Richard Rossi photographed in 2011
Born (1963-03-02) March 2, 1963
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Education

A.A. Cinema Arts/Theater Arts, Los Angeles Valley College

B.S. & M.A. Religion, Liberty University
Alma mater Los Angeles Valley College, Liberty University
Occupation Multi-medium artist
Years active 1970–present
Spouse(s) Sherrie Rossi (1984–present)
Children 2

Richard Rossi (born March 2, 1963, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American filmmaker, actor, producer, novelist,[1] musician, writer, talk radio host,[2][3] and a former evangelical minister,[4][5] church planter, and healing evangelist.[6] His 1995 trial for the attempted murder of his wife, who recanted her original identification of Rossi as her attacker and espoused his innocence, ended in a mistrial and was front-page news in Pittsburgh[7] and widely covered by syndicated television news programs;[8][9] Rossi eventually was acquitted of attempted murder,[4] but pleaded no contest to a lesser charge.[8][10][11]

Early years

Richard Rossi's childhood home above his father's music store in West View, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Rossi lived here from 1963 to 1974.

Rossi was the son of Richard Rossi Sr., a professional jazz guitarist in West View, Pennsylvania, and the boy followed in his footsteps, playing the guitar on stage at age 7.[8]

Rossi (standing on right) age 17 with singing-songwriting partner John Walker in 1980.

As a child, Rossi was fascinated with Pittsburgh-based faith healer Kathryn Kuhlman.[6] After one of his father's hospitalizations for manic depression,[12] Rossi landed in a surrogate family led by an evangelist who immersed him in Pentecostal preaching and outreach.[13] After a drug overdose,[8] he became a born-again Christian, and toured as a rock and roll preacher, usually in tandem with songwriting partner Johnny Walker,[14][15][16][17] playing gospel rock. He was featured on The 700 Club and in the CBS Evening Magazine documentary Teen's Songs Turn Youth to God.[16] His music from this period was released on the album New Wine (a.k.a. The Kingdom Is Near). Rossi would sing his religious songs in secular nightclubs.[6][18]

Pennsylvania ministries

Richard Rossi prays for the sick at one of his faith healing services, September, 1990.

Rossi moved to Lynchburg, Virginia at age 18 to study at Liberty University, where he earned a bachelor's and master's degree in biblical studies.[19] He married his classmate Sherrie Lynn Plaugher on May 11, 1984. In his senior year, he started his first church, "The Fellowship."

His second church, created informally with ministry partner Jack Sims, was called "Matthew's Party," the name taken from the biblical story about Jesus eating with tax collectors and sinners at the home of Matthew, the gospel writer.[20][21][22][23] In 1986, Rossi started First Love, a charismatic church. He rented movie theaters and showed films as an evangelistic outreach. Dramatic faith healings allegedly occurred. The healing services, called "Healing Clinics,"[24] grew from 200 to 2000. Rossi filmed the healings and co-produced a Fox TV documentary on faith healing and exorcism in 1992 entitled Quest for Truth. The program first aired during the fall season on WPGH-TV 53 and WPTT-TV 22.[6][13][18][25][26]

In 1988, Rossi tried and failed to change both the name of the Church of the Three Rivers and its affiliation.[10] He then joined the Assemblies of God the next year and led the Cranberry church, but left in 1991, saying that his ministry was too radical for the Assemblies; church officials said he left owing several thousand dollars for the church building.[10]

In September 1991, Rossi began broadcasting his nightly radio show Rich Rossi Live on Pittsburgh's WPIT-FM. The program created controversy when Rossi called other evangelical churches "whores" who sell out the gospel for money.[27][28] Rossi appeared on the Jerry Springer Show in 1994 to discuss faith healing, exorcism, and ESP.[29]

Attempted murder charge

On June 24, 1994, Rossi's wife, Sherrie Lynn, was found near death in a coma on the side of a Pennsylvania road; she had a crushed skull and was left covered in blood; her injuries were so severe that she needed to wear a helmet.[10][11][30][31] Her rescuers thought she had been in a traffic accident, and called for an ambulance.[32] Ninety minutes later, at 8:05 pm, Richard Rossi called police, and claimed that men killed his wife and shot at him twice.[32] But when police came to interview him, his story changed, first claiming that a man that looked like him got into the passenger side of the car, then that the man who looked like him attacked from the driver's side.[32] Rossi had a cellular phone available, but said he pursued the assailant instead of dialing for help because he was a "good runner."[32] Rossi also changed his story on where the assailants approached from, first saying they were in a white car, then that they "came out of the woods out of nowhere."[32] Police testified that Rossi told them a "satanic cult" was trying to frame him; Rossi denies this.[32][33][34] Rossi was wearing only a pair of tan shorts when police interviewed him; Rossi claimed that he lost his shirt running through the woods, but did not explain why he was barefoot.[32] Several witnesses reported seeing a man with long hair near the Rossi's cars, and State Police reports suggested the presence of two other cars, one blue and one white.[35]

Ms. Rossi twice testified that her husband attacked her and left her for dead.[10][30][36] Sherrie Lynn received an order of protection from a court. But in October 1994, Sherrie withdrew her accusation; a state court judge refused her request to void the order of protection.[30][33][36] (Press accounts claimed that Ms. Rossi stated that her attacker might have been a demon in human form, but the Rossis deny she said this.)[30][33][34] Sherrie's stepbrother, Mark Plaugher, accused the Rossi family of pressuring her to change her story; her father said she had been "brainwashed," and Sherrie's stepfather, Phil Plaugher, said that church members pressured Sherrie by telling her that it was a sin to testify against one's husband.[37][38]

Sherrie Rossi testified in the trial that her attacker was a different man with brown eyes and that Rossi's eyes are blue. She said her earlier testimony against Rossi was coerced by police when she was still recovering and did not have a complete recollection, and that her second testimony exonerating her husband came from "flashbacks" and a "fuller complete recollection" of what occurred.[9][39] Sherrie Rossi said "We have eyewitnesses who saw a white car similar to ours following us and several family members several weeks before I was attacked. My husband also received a number of threats before I was attacked."[40] Prosecutors charged Rossi with attempted murder over his wife's objection, and won a court ruling admitting her earlier testimony at trial.[32] The parties argued whether the blood-soaked interior of Rossi's car was consistent with Sherrie's claim.[7] The secretary of Rossi's church testified that Rossi asked him shortly after the incident to forge an alibi.[41] The defense called two witnesses, a church member and Rossi's mother, for a total of a half-hour of testimony; Rossi himself did not testify.[42]

After hearing of the hung jury, Rossi attorney Jim Ecker (foreground) faces the press with attorney Alexander H. Lindsay, Richard Rossi (3rd from left, behind Ecker), and Attorney Susan Jackson.

A five-day trial ended in a hung jury, with the vote 9–3 in favor of conviction after six and a half hours of deliberation.[7][37] Before retrial, Rossi pled no contest to a count of second-degree aggravated assault, and received a four-to-eight-month sentence in Butler County Jail plus four years probation and required domestic-violence counseling; he served 96 days.[37][43][44]

Domestic violence workers criticized the short sentence.[45][46] The Rossis renewed their wedding vows after his release.[43] Rossi wrote a letter to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette apologizing and saying "I repent of the sins I have committed and, with God's help, do not plan to repeat them."[47]

Sherrie Rossi, who had campaigned for her husband's exoneration, sued state and county officials for abridging her civil rights when courts refused to lift a bond restriction forbidding her husband to contact her while he was out on bail; the suit was dismissed by a federal court.[36][44][48] In 1996, Sherrie self-published Assault of Justice: The Richard Rossi Mystery, defending her husband and proclaiming his innocence, and claiming that charges were retaliation for exposing police corruption and a Satanic cult on his talk radio show.[3][49][50] She said eyewitnesses confirmed her husband's innocence and that they had been receiving threats prior to the assault.[40] A press release alleged Rossi was innocent based on physical evidence and the testimony of eyewitnesses. Prosecutors had no physical evidence linking Rossi to the crime.[34][51][52]

Rossi hugs Tom Fritz, during "Citykids Thanksgiving Pilgrimage." Fritz became Rossi's friend when they were incarcerated together. Rossi and his wife created the event after his release, to express gratitude for those who showed him compassion through his tribulations, and to minister to disadvantaged children and homeless families. (November, 1995).

While charges were pending and Rossi served his sentence, membership in his church dropped from 300 to 12.[44] Media scrutiny of his trials and tribulations revealed Rossi suffered similar mental health, depression, and addiction issues as his father. Rossi enrolled in a recovery program in jail that he continues after his release, including meetings four days a week, daily monitoring, and treatment in Atlanta.[53][54][55]

After his release from jail, Rossi and his wife hosted a free Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless at the Ranch House in Pittsburgh's North Park. Rossi paid for buses to transport urban children out of high-crime areas to the park. Most of the buses got to those wanting to come, but one had difficulty getting to the arranged pick-up due to snow. Native Americans danced and helped Rossi serve dinners to disadvantaged children. Some of his fellow inmates Rossi befriended in jail attended to help serve the poor.[56][57][58]

California

Sister Aimee, the first feature dramatic film on the life of Aimee Semple McPherson, screens in Hollywood in April, 2008. Pictured are the period piece film's writer-director Richard Rossi, and his wife Sherrie in 1920s attire.

After completing his probation,[10] Rossi relocated to Hollywood with his wife and two children in 1997. He returned to preaching, serving as a pastor and church consultant, and moved into acting and filmmaking to explore his interest in creative and cutting-edge expressions of ministry.[6]

His tenure as pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church was interrupted when parishioners discovered his attempted murder charges and alleged that he had misused church money; litigation ensued, and the parties settled out of court.[10][31][59] Rossi's first Hollywood role was in the 1998 short film Jesus 2000. In 1998, he appeared on stage in his own adaptation of Elmer Gantry, which he wrote, produced and starred. His stage performance resulted in an offer to Rossi to play the role in a new film version.[18][60][61][62][63]

Richard Rossi (bottom right) backstage before a 2011 musical performance.

He started "Eternal Grace", a movement of Hollywood house churches for actors and celebrities who had difficulty attending public services due to paparazzi, and also for AIDS victims and others not welcome to attend other churches.[19][64][65] He was protested by followers of Fred Phelps from Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, who decried his lenient attitude toward homosexuals.[10] Rossi's wife Sherrie worked with puppets in their children's ministry.[10]

In 2001, Rossi wrote and directed Saving Sister Aimee, a short documentary film about 1920's evangelist Aimee McPherson. Though some considered it a sensationalized depiction, it won the Angel Award from the Southern California Motion Picture Council for best documentary.[8]

In 2005, Rossi revisited Sister Aimee's story in the low-budget feature biographical film Aimee Semple McPherson, featuring Mimi Michaels in the lead and Rance Howard as the preacher's father.[10][66][67] A group of Evangelicals offered to invest $2 million in the film, but with conditions that the movie did not depict McPherson's divorce or drug overdose and that the actor playing the lead be a Pentecostal Christian. Rossi turned them down. "By saying no to conditions that religious people put on me, I feel I'm actually of more service to God and people because I make an honest film," he said.[19][68] In addition to his film work, Rossi acted on stage in plays and musicals to positive reviews, remaining active in the Los Angeles theater community.[69][70][71][72]

Clemente film

Richard Rossi (center) at screening of his Clemente film at Vogue Theater in San Francisco on May 7, 2014. Pictured with him are two fans of the film from Nicaragua whose families were saved by Clemente's relief efforts.

Between acting gigs that included numerous guest appearances on TV shows, including The King of Queens, Ally McBeal, The X-Files, JAG, Gilmore Girls and several movies,[73] Rossi appeared as a contestant on Merv Griffin's Crosswords.[28] In addition, Rossi finished his first novel, Stick Man, about a boy growing up in a bohemian household, with an accompanying musical soundtrack,[74] and began working on Baseball's Last Hero: 21 Clemente Stories, a film about his childhood hero, baseball great Roberto Clemente,[75][76][77] planning a "bicoastal" return to Pittsburgh to premiere his film on Roberto Clemente's birthday, August 18, 2013[78][79][80][81][82] before exhibiting the film in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, other cities, small art theaters, Roberto Clemente High School in Chicago, the Wild Goose Festival in North Carolina, and on DVD.[83][84][85][86]

Richard Rossi warming up on guitar before performing at the 2014 Wild Goose Film & Music Festival in Hot Springs, North Carolina.[87]

The feature film was a labor of love for Rossi and the cadre of actors and technicians who volunteered their time and donated their services to the project. Rossi's telling of Clemente's story of commitment, loyalty, and devotion attempts to provide a counterpoint to today's baseball culture of players suspected of steroid abuse.[10][11][88] The dramatic fulcrum of Baseball's Last Hero is a conversation Clemente has with a nun. "She talks to him about the cross. 'Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for his friends,' is what the nun quotes to him from Scripture, talking about sacrificial love and Christ's sacrificial love," Rossi said. "This is the theme I wanted to point out – an allegory of Christ on the cross." Rossi was pressured to delete the scene from the movie for being "too preachy and too Catholic."

The controversial scene turned out to be one of the most popular scenes in the film and won over fans to the idea of pitching the Pope for Clemente's canonization as a saint. Rossi, a former evangelical minister, received several messages of support, including a letter showing papal support from Pope Francis in starting the process[89][90][91][92][93][94] from the Vatican through the Apostolic Nunciature in Washington, D.C. and from Archbishop José Horacio Gómez of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.[95][96][97][98][99][100][101] "I've never thought of him in terms of being a saint", said Pirates second baseman Neil Walker, a devout Catholic whose father knew Clemente. "But he's somebody who lived his life serving others, really. So if it would happen, I wouldn't be terribly surprised by it." [95][102]

Recent news

On November 28, 2014, Rossi was in the news again regarding the controversy over the shooting of Michael Brown. Rossi wrote and recorded a protest song expressing his feelings about a grand jury's decision not to charge a white police officer in the death of the unarmed black teen in Ferguson, Missouri. "I wrote the song in five minutes as a way to express my emotions about the danger of trigger-happy police," Rossi said. "I filmed it on my laptop at my kitchen table and uploaded it to YouTube." Rossi uploaded the video on November 26, and provided the song's lyrics in the video description. Here is a sample from the song's beginning, printed in the Los Angeles Daily News: "Down at the courthouse on a Monday afternoon/Justice was thrown right out the window when a young white cop entered the room."[103]

Rossi continues to host his radio talk-show "Richard Rossi Live" as a podcast on BlogTalkRadio. In 2015, the format of the program changed from its Christian roots on WPIT, a Salem Radio Network station, by broadening its content for a general audience.[104][105] Although Rossi still on occasion discusses religion, the program's focus is on known artists, writers and celebrity guests. Recent guests have included (partial list): Michael Jackson attorney Thomas Mesereau, Elvis Presley fiancée Ginger Alden, Nicole Brown Simpson's youngest sister Tanya Brown, the Harlem Globetrotters, Woodstock performer singer-songwriter Melanie Safka, Charles M. Schultz Peanuts voice-actors, novelist Frank Schaeffer, Walt Disney animator Andrew Ramos, The Bionic Woman and The Incredible Hulk (1978 TV series) creator Kenneth Johnson (producer), Night of the Living Dead screenwriter John A. Russo, actors Richard Anderson, Lindsay Wagner, Cindy Williams, Dawn Wells, Liz Torres, Sally Kirkland, Kathy Garver, Rance Howard, Karolyn Grimes and Julie Adams.

Following the positive Pittsburgh reception to Rossi's Roberto Clemente project, Rossi said enough time had passed for him and his wife to forgive the media in his hometown for writing untruths about them. Rossi said they were finally coming home, living "bicoastal," maintaining homes in Hollywood and Pittsburgh. "We'd like to spend more time in our home, where most of our family and friends live, in the North Hills of Pittsburgh," Rossi said.[106]

In March, 2016, it was reported that Rossi is in pre-production on his new film Canaan Land, that threatens to expose fake faith healing. Rossi was allegedly threatened by well-known Pentecostal preachers from the world of televangelism who want to stop the film. Rossi is cast to play an Elmer Gantrylike con man preacher who falls in love with a female evangelist, Sister Sara. Pop star Katy Perry and actress Megan Fox, both raised Pentecostal, are rumored to be under consideration for the part of Sara, along with thousands of unknowns who auditioned.[107] In interviews about the film, Rossi criticized faith healer Benny Hinn, Bethel Church (Redding, California), and others in Charismatic Christianity. Followers of Hinn responded to the film's subject matter by threatening Rossi that God would smite him with sickness.

“The fakes make you dependent. ‘Give us $3000 to learn the gifts of the Spirit. Sow a seed to us to get blessed,’ they say. They aggrandize their personality cult and finances. They increase their stature with titles like Doctor, Bishop, Apostle, Prophet. This increases their authority to manipulate,” Rossi said. "I’m going to publicly challenge the biggest names in religion to repent and give back the money they’ve ripped off from the poor." Rossi said he does not consider the film an attack on religion. "It is my intention in exposing the counterfeit to show the search for that which is pure, lovely, true. Defensive believers may say we shouldn't expose the counterfeit, but a counterfeit testifies that there is a truth sets us free," he said. "There's a redemptive ending, in which even the narcissistic evangelist running the con is confronted by unconditional love. God loves those who start out with pure hearts and get seduced by money, power, and fame. He wants them to come back to their first love."[108][109][110][111][112]

On October 17, 2016, it was announced that an actress who starred in the 1985 film Back to the Future was cast in the lead role of Sister Sara Sunday in Rossi's upcoming film Canaan Land.[113][114][115][116][117][118][119] However as controversy regarding the film grew, the following month the actress "no longer wants her name associated with the controversy," according to a casting associate. Press sources say another popular actress told Rossi she wants to play the role.

When pressed for information on the new star interested in the Sara role, Rossi was tight-lipped but gave a few clues. "She welcomes the controversy and feels it is a sign the film is on the right track. She stands for Christ and is a favorite actress of one of the greatest directors out there. She starred in a cult classic TV show in the 1990's that is coming back in 2017," Rossi said. "She is an actress so beautiful she played the ultimate screen beauty Elizabeth Taylor in a biopic."[120][121]

Works

Selected Bibliography

Selected Filmography

Selected Discography

References

  1. ↑ Vancheri, Barbara (August 8, 2013). "Film Notes: Strand to screen movie about Roberto Clemente". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  2. ↑ Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (October 20, 1991). "Revivalist accuses rivals of selling out for money, fame". Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "'Sopranos' lawsuit brings up question of idea ownership". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 27, 2007. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  4. 1 2 McMillen, Gabrielle (January 12, 2015). "Saint Roberto Clemente? Former pastor pushes canonization for Pirate". Sporting News. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  5. ↑ Biertempfel, Rob (July 19, 2014). "Biertempfel: One man's cause to canonize Roberto Clemente". TribLive. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Griffiths, Lawn (August 27, 2005). "Finding Sister Aimee". GetOut. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  7. 1 2 3 Kane, Karen (April 1, 1995). "Rossi jurors can't decide". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. A1. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Donnally, Ed (October 2005). "Filmmaker Tells Story of 'Wounded Healer'". Charisma. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  9. 1 2 "Rossi: Wife intends to sue officials". North Hills News Record. January 11, 1995. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Levin, Steve (May 4, 2008). "Rev. Rossi back in news as Hollywood success story". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  11. 1 2 3 Kurutz, Daveen Rae (August 8, 2008). "Minister jailed for beating wife in '94 plans return to Pittsburgh". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  12. ↑ ZumMallen, Ryan (August 15, 2014). "FEATURE: Roberto Clemente Biopic a Dream Come True". Gazettes. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  13. 1 2 Griffiths, Lawn (August 27, 2005). "Finding Sister Aimee". East Valley Tribune. Archived from the original on March 11, 2009. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  14. ↑ Guydon, Lynda (October 29, 1981). "Singing 'poets' spread gospel". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved August 16, 2016.
  15. ↑ Bennett, Marcia (March 22, 1984). "Their Faith Beats the Odds". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Their Singing and Writing Hits a High Note". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. July 14, 1983. Retrieved September 25, 2014.
  17. ↑ Stackawitz, Grace (February 13, 1981). "Teens' songs reflect positive outlook". News Record. Retrieved September 11, 2014.
  18. 1 2 3 Armstrong, Chris (January 1, 2005). "Aimee Semple McPherson". Christianity Today. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  19. 1 2 3 Horwitch, Lauren (February 7, 2006). "Actor Chad Allen's lead role in a $30 million". Backstage. Backstage, LLC. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  20. ↑ Miller, Virginia (September 5, 1986). "West View minister uses 'friendly' approach" (Front Page). North Hills News Record. Gannett Publishing. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  21. ↑ Buursma, Bruce (October 3, 1986). "Minister Caters To Yuppie Tastes". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  22. ↑ Wilgoren, Jodi (December 24, 1993). "Jet Crash Victims Eulogized Amid Tears, Smiles : Memorial service: Three officials of the In-N-Out burger chain are remembered as fun-loving men. Anecdotes elicit laughter from 2,000 friends, relatives.". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
  23. ↑ Perman, Stacy (2009). In-N-Out Burger (1st ed.). HarperCollins. p. 217. ISBN 9780061872143. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Having faith: Adams pastor holds fifth healing clinic". North Hills News Record. December 12, 1992. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  25. ↑ Allen, Sue (March 15, 2007). Spirit Release (First ed.). 6th Books. p. 1. ISBN 978-1846940330. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Miracles". Beaver County Times. January 10, 1993. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  27. ↑ Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (October 20, 1991). "Revivalist accuses rivals of selling out for money, fame". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  28. 1 2 "'Sopranos' lawsuit brings up question of idea ownership". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. December 27, 2007. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Museum Fetes Fred Rogers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 4, 1994. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  30. 1 2 3 4 Karen Kane (October 13, 1994). "'My Husband Is Not To Blame'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. A1.
  31. 1 2 Kim Phillips (November 21, 1999). "Pastor Wins By Default". Long Beach Press-Telegram. p. A2.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Kane, Karen (January 21, 1995). "Beating testimony ruled admissible". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. B–6. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  33. 1 2 3 Gabbay, Alyssa (January 14, 1995). "Church troubles: Work of Satan?". Associated Press. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  34. 1 2 3 "The Trauma of Being Falsely Accused" (Press release). Ethel Bernstein. July 14, 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  35. ↑ "Rossi's trial a whodunit with reluctant key witness". Beaver County Times. Associated Press. March 26, 1995. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  36. 1 2 3 Pitz, Marylynne (October 2, 1996). "Judge dismisses civil rights suit". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  37. 1 2 3 Karen Kane (May 19, 1995). "No-contest plea entered for assault". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. A1.
  38. ↑ Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (November 5, 1994). "Family advice shunned: Sherri Rossi's kin doubt her husband". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. C1, C7. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  39. ↑ "Trial, Wedding Renewal Set for Minister Accused of Wife Beating". Associated Press. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  40. 1 2 Walsh, Lawrence (November 25, 1995). "Love and near-death: Sherrie Rossi announces book". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  41. ↑ Kane, Karen (March 30, 1995). "Cover story by Rossi alleged". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. A1, A3. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  42. ↑ Kane, Karen (March 31, 1995). "Rossi jury to begin deliberations". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. pp. A1, A11. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  43. 1 2 "Rossi renewal blocked". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. June 26, 1995. p. C4.
  44. 1 2 3 Karen Kane and Mark Belko (August 30, 1995). "'Lucky' man is out of jail". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. B1.
  45. ↑ Associated Press (May 20, 1995). "Rev's 4-month jail term for beating wife ripped sends bad message, Victims Center says". Philadelphia Daily News. p. 9.
  46. ↑ Cindi Lash (May 19, 1995). "Domestic violence workers score 'obscene' Rossi term". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. p. A9.
  47. ↑ "Pastor seeks public forgiveness". Reading Eagle. September 13, 1996. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  48. ↑ Rossi v. Court of Butler, et al., No. 2:95-cv-01144-WLS-KJB (W.D. Pa.).
  49. ↑ Rodgers-Melnick, Ann (October 20, 1991). "Revivalist accuses rivals of selling out for money, fame". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  50. ↑ Walsh, Lawrence (November 25, 1995). "Love and near-death: Sherrie Rossi announces book". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  51. ↑ "Trial, Wedding Renewal Set for Minister Accused of Wife Beating". Associated Press. April 3, 1995. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  52. ↑ Rossi, Sherrie Lynn (1996). Assault of Justice: The Rev. Richard Rossi Mystery. Eternal Grace. ISBN 0-9652330-0-6.
  53. ↑ "Richard Rossi seeks the power of forgiveness". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. September 12, 1996. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
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  56. ↑ Walsh, Lawrence (November 24, 1995). "Troubles don't dampen Rossis' hospitality". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
  57. ↑ Walsh, Lawrence (November 16, 1995). "Rossis to host Thanksgiving festival". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  58. ↑ "Rossis plan event for inner-city children". North Hills News Record. TribLive. November 17, 1995. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  59. ↑ "Pastor faces suit for revising bylaws of church". Long Beach Press-Telegram. November 20, 1999.
  60. ↑ "Chaudhri seeking investors to remake 'Elmer Gantry". Sharon Herald. April 6, 1999. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  61. ↑ "ROSSI IN REMAKE". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 7, 1999.
  62. ↑ "Local filmmaker to remake classic". The Vindicator. April 5, 1999. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  63. ↑ "Controversial clergyman tapped for remake of film 'Elmer Gantry'". The Herald. April 5, 1999. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  64. ↑ Wooding, Dan (February 6, 2011). "Maverick Minister Richard Rossi Goes Hollywood". Assist News. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  65. ↑ Walker, Ken (May 31, 2006). "God is Out of the Box". Strang Publishing. Retrieved September 22, 2016.
  66. ↑ "Movie on founder of Four Square filmed here". Bakersfield Californian, The. November 19, 2003.
  67. ↑ Gilbert, Ryan (November 5, 2012). "Hallelujah! How Faith Healer Aimee Semple McPherson Inspired the Rip-Roaring New Musical Scandalous". Broadway Buzz.
  68. ↑ Wooding, Dan (February 5, 2011). "Maverick Minister Richard Rossi Goes Hollywood". Assist News Service. Sloppy Noodle Inc. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  69. ↑ O'Neal, Dink (January 23, 2009). "Modern Love". Backstage. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  70. ↑ Weaver, Neal (February 5, 2009). "Modern Love". L.A. Weekly. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  71. ↑ O'Neal, Dink (January 21, 2009). "'Love' misses mark on many accounts". Burbank Leader. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  72. ↑ "O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!". California Highways Press. May 3, 2009. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  73. ↑ Jones, Diane Nelson (January 11, 2015). "Saint Roberto Clemente?: Former Pittsburgh pastor seeks sainthood for the Pirates great". Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  74. ↑ Vancheri, Barbara (August 8, 2013). "Film Notes: Strand to screen movie about Roberto Clemente". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  75. ↑ McCollough, J. Brady (August 4, 2012). "How an Olympic high jumper became Clemente in indie film – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  76. ↑ Tuttle, Andrew (July 27, 2011). "Feature Film on Roberto Clemente in the Works". Seamheads Baseball Magazine. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  77. ↑ Coughlin, Michael (March 15, 2012). "Genia Nunez...Got the Part". Backstage. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
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