Chris Rosebrough of Extreme Theology has brought out some important points concerning the Apprising Ministries piece A Pastor’s Assessment of Richard Abanes and the completely unsubstantiated allegation of libel within it. A charge which is still being maintained by Christian apologist Richard Abanes of Saddleback Church where Rick Warren is pastor.

In his first post at Christian Research Net “Not So Fast Abanes, Did Ken Silva Really Break Federal Law?” Rosebrough points out:

Richard Abanes, in his ‘final’ missive regarding Ken’s Silva’s allegedly libelous article, emphatically claims that Ken Silva broke Federal Law by publishing the complaint email that Abanes sent to iPower… Well, I spent some time on the phone with an Intellectual Property attorney discussing this issue and it is not even remotely as simple as Richard Abanes makes it out to be… (Online source, emphasis his)

And then in “To Whom Did Abanes Tell the Specifics?” Rosebrough also points out :

Richard Abanes has made two very telling statements regarding his UNSUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS of libel.

It is an undeniable fact, that Richard Abanes, has yet to substantiate a single allegation that Ken Silva’s article “A Pastor’s Assesment of Richard Abanes” actually libels him according to the legal definition of libel. Furthermore, Abanes has made it clear that he has no intention of giving any specifics when it comes to this issue. Yet Abanes said:

“Those who need to know exactly what I found to be problematic in Silva’s article already know the specifics. I am not bound by anything/anyone to do anything more than what I have already done.”

If that statement were true then we would expect that BOTH iPower AND Ken Silva were informed about the specifics regarding Abanes’ allegations of libel. But, that is not the case at all. In fact, neither party has been given the specifics in regards to Abanes’ allegations… (Online source, emphasis his)

For the record I state again that never at any time has Richard Abanes ever approached me in any way to inform me of what it is he alleges as libel in that assessment piece. The fact also remains that had he done so this would never have spiraled into this sad saga. And I will also say I am deeply offended that I would simply be judged guilty without even knowing what exactly it is that I have been found guilty of doing.