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May 12, 2008 11:12 pm US/Eastern
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Art Imitates Life For Evangelist With Local Ties
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
Thirteen years ago, the Rev. Richard Rossi dominated local headlines.
But the attention was not on Rossi's ministry in Cranberry, but on the charges that he severely beat his wife, Sherrie.
In 1995 she wore a helmet to court after she was severely beaten in the head and told police that her husband was the attacker. But by the time Rossi got to trial, she said the attacker wasn't her husband but looked like him.
The case ended in a hung jury and was about to be retired when Rossi pleaded no contest to aggravated assault. He served just under four months in jail.
Now Rossi has written and directed a movie that mirrors his life experience. "Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story" is about an evangelist with quite a following who was also accused of wrong-doing in court.
"We were both evangelists who started our own church we both had a very public trial - we both were the subject of headlines," Rossi said during a satellite interview in Los Angeles.
Sister Aimee, a 1920s era evangelist, drew big crowds and the attention of police when she once disappeared and prosecutors said she faked a kidnapping to hide an affair with a radio operator. The charges were later dropped.
Beyond the film, Rossi says his ministry brings the gospel directly to parishioners homes rather than in a standard church setting for celebrities who like to remain anonymous and others.
"We're doing ministry to AIDS victims and some folks that are not welcome to attend other churches," Rossi said.
Rossi says his wife Sherrie works with puppets in their children's ministry and he says he has another potential film project in the works about the life of baseball great Roberto Clemente.
"Sister Aimee: The Aimee Semple McPherson Story" will be released on DVD.
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