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This church founder is enjoying some of the least-humble accommodations imaginable.
Brian Houston, the scandal–burdened founder of Australian megachurch Hillsong, was recently spotted staying at a $1,500-a-night hotel. The embattled 67-year-old, who previously stepped down from his role as board chairman of the once celebrity-beloved church, allegedly was at the Park Hyatt — reportedly one of Sydney’s most expensive — to secretly meet with church elders and board members, the Daily Mail reported.
Over the course of two days, a casually dressed Houston allegedly was seen engaging with megachurch higher-ups at the luxury lodgings directly across from the Sydney Opera House.
Hillsong did not immediately return The Post’s request for comment.
Houston has been charged with — but since pleaded not guilty to — allegedly concealing his late father Frank Houston’s child sex offenses; his next court date is Jan. 27.
“Police will allege in court the man knew information relating to the sexual abuse of a young male in the 1970s and failed to bring that information to the attention of police,” officials for Sydney’s Royal Commission on Institutional Leaders’ Handling of Sexual Abuse told local outlets upon charging Houston in August. The charges followed a two-year investigation into sexual abuse by Frank Houston, who died in 2004 at 82. They carry a maximum sentence of up to five years behind bars.
In addition to spending two nights at the star-favorite hotel alongside 10 board members, elders and three staff members, Brian and his wife Bobbie — who accompanied him to the hotel but reportedly did not attend meetings — were also seen eating at another nearby hotel’s pricey breakfast buffet. The assorted other Hillsong honchos were also seen enjoying meals out two nights in a row.
Some church followers questioned who was footing the bill for the Hillsong associates’ meal and hotel bills, worrying that tithe money could possibly have been used.
“Hmmm… anyone still attending Hillsong have anything to say about how your tithe dollars are being used?” the Instagram account HurtByHillsong — which is run by an “anonymous group of Hillsong Survivors” — captioned a screenshot of the Daily Mail article.
The publication noted that the 131-church strong brand’s Christian-themed TV network, Hillsong Channel, has struggled and reportedly laid off at least 10 employees recently.
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