At a hearing last October, I discovered I’m the cause of disgraced pastor James MacDonald’s alleged PTSD. And according to a psychological evaluation presented by MacDonald’s legal team, this PTSD is to blame for MacDonald allegedly assaulting a 59-year-old woman last March.
“Once the woman in the car in front of him got out of the car and moved towards him in an angry and agitated state, the years of traumatic memories of being vilified by Julie Roys rushed back to him and triggered a fight or flight response,” MacDonald’s psych evaluation states. “Feeling powerless and misunderstood and essentially trapped in his truck, he got out of the vehicle to fight back against his accuser.”
MacDonald is facing felony assault charges for this incident in Coronado, California, which reportedly left his victim hospitalized for 21 days. But at last October’s hearing, a judge bought the prima facie evidence that MacDonald has PTSD and ruled he is eligible for a mental health diversion. If granted, the charges against MacDonald would be dismissed, pending successful completion of a treatment program.
I have thought all along that MacDonald’s alleged PTSD is a bit too convenient. But this week, I received an invitation by MacDonald’s lawyer that confirmed my suspicions.
In a text, my lawyer wrote: “Just talked to MacDonald’s lawyer. His client proposes 2 meetings: The first meeting will be off the record for you 2 to sit down to see if you’re on the same page. The second meeting would be on the record, but you get to ask the questions.”
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Apparently, MacDonald thinks he has some evidence that will convince me of his innocence in some regard. Yet the time to talk was years ago, when I sought comment from MacDonald for the articles I was writing.
But this is so ironic. MacDonald claims I triggered his PTSD, yet invites me to not just one—but two face-to-face meetings! Either he’s a glutton for punishment, or he’s lying about his PTSD. Based on MacDonald’s past behavior, I’m leaning toward the latter.
Either way, I have no desire to be in the same room with a man who argues he can assault a woman with impunity.
In case you’re new to this saga, MacDonald pastored a multisite megachurch in the Chicago area for more than 30 years but was fired in 2019 for “engaging in conduct contrary and harmful to the best interests of the church.”
I had been reporting on MacDonald’s alleged bullying, pattern of “deceitfulness and manipulation,” and alleged financial misconduct for months.
But the final straw was when Chicago shock-jock Mancow Muller aired a hot mic recording of MacDonald joking about planting child pornography on the computer of an executive at Christianity Today and repeatedly mocking me. For many, it was a shocking window into the vile heart of this man who claimed to be a spiritual leader. But for me, it was simply confirmation of the bad character numerous sources, once close to MacDonald, had described.
Yet what’s most pertinent to MacDonald’s current claim that PTSD caused his recent violent outburst is MacDonald’s well-established pattern of alleged violence that predates his diagnosis.
As I reported previously, witnesses say MacDonald once used a butter knife to repeatedly stab a picture of a former Harvest pastor in front of 15 to 20 close associates to “get his point across.”
He also reportedly displayed a “pattern of uncontrolled anger” while teaching high school students at Harvest Christian Academy, allegedly calling them names and threatening them physically.
A former employee at Camp Harvest in Michigan once told me he saw MacDonald shoot a deer at “point-blank range” and said MacDonald didn’t stop shooting until he was out of ammunition.
But the most disturbing story I reported concerned MacDonald allegedly trying to hire a hitman twice to kill someone.
As bad as those incidents are, recently released depositions from MacDonald’s defamation lawsuit against Muller reveal there’s even more.
In the deposition of former Harvest Bible Chapel Chairman of the Board Dave Corning, Corning confirms an incident where MacDonald became enraged and threw books at a former assistant, hitting her in the eye.
Corning also tells of a time when MacDonald allegedly pushed an audio technician off the deck at MacDonald’s house because the man asked MacDonald to pay him. According to Corning, MacDonald injured the man so badly he needed medical attention.
All of these violent incidents happened well before I began reporting on MacDonald in December 2018—and well before his alleged PTSD. The truth is MacDonald has long been a danger to people around him. And it was just a matter of time before someone got seriously hurt.
But now, because of a very suspect PTSD diagnosis, MacDonald may escape prosecution. I pray that doesn’t happen.
On Wednesday, both the prosecution and MacDonald’s defense will put their mental health experts on the stand at an evidentiary hearing.
I pray the truth about MacDonald’s well-established character and behavior becomes clear and the judge rejects MacDonald’s mental health diversion. For decades, this man has been making excuses for the harm he’s caused others. And it’s time he finally receives justice.
Julie Roys is a veteran investigative reporter and founder of The Roys Report. She also previously hosted a national talk show on the Moody Radio Network, called Up for Debate, and has worked as a TV reporter for a CBS affiliate. Her articles have appeared in numerous periodicals.
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68 Responses
Seriously?!!!! Seriously?!!! This dude is claiming PTSD…and that you Julie gave it to him?!
Seriously?!!!!! Did the judge even look at his past history?
Geez!!! I have great compassion for people who truly struggle with PTSD …my wife at one point struggled with it.
But McDonald’s past behavior before your articles are on the record as you wrote in the article.. What explains those behaviors?
I too pray he does not get away with this.
This is what happens when we put favor into fellow human beings. As sad as this seems to be and it is, remember this GOD loves justice. Which means regardless the outcome onthis side of eternity men like James will face GODS judgement. I for one will pray for James to truly repent or else he faceour GOD who loves justice.
Hopefully he won’t get what he wants. I think it’s somewhat customary for a judge to grant an inquest.
Unfortunately, California is the most liberal state in the Union. I cannot explain how bad it is in California, but google homelessness and violence in San Francisco, Oakland, or L.A.
Unbelievable. You can’t make this stuff up. Hang in there, Julie.
Spot on. Thank you, Julie, for this report. No other outlet has done such thorough & professional research & reporting. You did so while you were being brutally & publicly attacked (not criticism, but full-on ugly lies & personal attacks to destroy you). Be prepared for the next phase: the upcoming litany by James & his Clergy Fanboy Club that clearly you are not Christian, & the proof is th_t if you were, you would do what James MacDonald wants you to do. If only for your personal safety, first & foremost, it’s wise of you to decline meeting with him. (There are so many other good reasons, too.) He’s looking for Julie Roys to help him out of trouble? Now THERE’s irony for you.
I hope the prosecution did its factual research & has a solid expert who is well prepared for tomorrow’s evidentiary hearing. I honestly worry for the physical & mental well-being of his wife, Kathy. I pray for supernatural protection from God for her in accordance with Psalm 9I. I hope others will pray Psalm 9I for her, too. For the future, I worry for others who come in contact with him.
For a minute there I thought I must somehow be reading a Babylon Bee article . . .
Thanks so much for taking a stand Julie. I know you get a lot of people who take exception with what you do, but many of us are very thankful and grateful for what you do.
If the incidents of violence that occurred before your reporting were brought up, Mr. MacDonald’s lawyer or therapist could just say that MacDonald had PTSD then, too, and they just made an honest mistake in claiming that your reporting was the “trauma.”
Thank you Julie for exposing James MacDonald for the fraud that he is! The American church has allowed so much wickedness into its ranks and has allowed that wickedness to go completely unchecked. Courageous voices like yours are so needed to expose this evil and hopefully provide a pathway of justice for the victims.
Thanks, Julie, for keeping your readers informed about this travesty. I wouldn’t meet him without bodyguards, an attorney, and a recording videographer present. How can anyone be “on the same page” with a man who called you “gossipsl&t” over the telephone?
From Canada….I’ve heard from a few people that Mr. Mac is a bully, and has been one for a very long while. I pray that God’s will be done and that justice is served tomorrow in the courtroom.
Even with J Mac’s much publicized history there are still young pastors who sit under his tutelage even today.
What gives Julie? Did you make him cry too?
Seriously you had better take a bodyguard with you for any face to face meetings unless you’re trained in Aikido.
I know what he has done was wrong, and evil. He seems to lack humility and repentance over it as well…
However, if he is willing to sit down and discuss this with you (assuming others are in the room too) then I do not feel there is a real threat to your safety. I know this is difficult for your Julie, but please consider a humble and willing spirit in this.
An unbelieving world is watching us, what shall we do? Will we forgive our enemies – will we seek God’s glory? The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…
My lawyer said the reason MacDonald wants to meet with me is to show me documents that will prove his innocence regarding financial misconduct while at Harvest. But I likely would not be able to vet any of those documents because I doubt Harvest will open their books to me. So, this was simply MacDonald’s attempt to manipulate the narrative. If I believed he were a good faith actor, I’d meet, but he’s not.
MacDonald’s long history of fits of rage with extensive bullying and threatened or actual violence reveals his sham defense for what it is.
His ruse makes a mockery of the justice system, and also the innumerable people who live with real, serious PTSD but somehow manage to not violently attack and injure others, much less defenseless women, over minor incidents like hitting their vehicles while trying to park.
He is and has been a menace to civilized society. It’s high time for the law to hold him accountable.
I think James should try his hand at stand-up comedy! Because, if it wasn’t for all the people he’s hurt, this situation with simply be hysterical.
I would not give very many people that much power. They cannot give me PTSD because they are not important enough. Jesus is one who can lean on me that much, and maybe my wife. The rest are very few and very far between.
You may become a victim of PDST, too, as you MUST stifle the urge to point and laugh.
As a disabled military veteran with diagnosed PTSD who is and has been medicated for a few years now, I raise the BS flag on Ole MacDonald. Hopefully the judge can see through the nonsense and not confuse a false claim of PTSD for a true case of narcissism!
Julie, I thank you for your diligent work and brutal honesty in cases like this and many other. I was a pastor in the mega-multisite church world for 13+ years. I wish I could say my experience was different than Harvest but sadly I can identify with way to much.
I was really hoping that COVID would change the church culture and we would have seen the end of the mega church but sadly we did not!
Keep fighting the good fight!
Julie, you a truly a warrior for the Lord – brave, inspiring and standing for truth. Many of us intercessors pray for you in the Spirit often!
I’m praying along with others who can see through his attempt at gas lighting. Additionally, I lift up his many victims who may suffer (legitimately) from PTSD directly attributed to his treatment of them. There are many we don’t know about, I’m sure.
Thank you, Julie (as always).
He requests to meet “off the record” but communicates through a lawyer? No idiot would believe that.
He wants to see “if you’re on the same page”? He already knows the answer to that.
Is his intent to demonstrate the true repentance that leads to confession and restitution that he has preached about for years? (Which those preaching videos are still on his website) It doesn’t appear he’s following his own preaching very closely.
He’s a joke and a fraud. Sadly.
Hold the line, Julie!
I pray moments of refilling and refreshing over you— may you not grow weary of doing good. It’s ugly and horrific to watch a man give himself over to his sin and be eaten by it from the inside out. He’s crumbling apart, each falling piece damaging other people. It’s hard to look at, but the Lord has certainly formed you into a pillar of strength.
Do not be cowed by power beneath the Lord’s feet! I am praying for justice!
James MacDonald is still blaming others for his horrible actions. It is never his fault. I hope the judge has some wisdom on this case and the prosecutor did their homework. His narcissistic behavior needs consequences.
Interesting photos of him and his wife walking through the parking lot. Someday she might have the courage to speak up, but probably not unless he’s in the next life.
He put a woman in the hospital for 21 days!! Injured another man by pushing him off his deck. Stole another man’s church, and all the other awful things he did. I can’t believe there are people who still would actually listen to him for teaching. He is such a fraud. This has always been one of Gods great calling to you JR to bring him down. I hope God moves in the California justice system as well to continue the exposure
I want to vomit. James repeatedly spoke to his anger multiple times when speaking at Harvest. He bragged about how hard he is to work for. On one occasion, he ripped into an intern in front of the intern’s father. I remember him always joining the service late and often shaking hands with people around him rather than worshiping. When he called people up to the stage to have them participate in a sermon illustration, it was always meant to demean that person. For a season, Macdonald posted stats on the screen regarding his weight loss efforts and how many times he had a quiet time. Not once did he have a quiet time every day of the week, and he didn’t come close to his weight loss goals. It was common for him to dress down someone requesting baptism if they didn’t use the right words. Love people. I never saw that. His staff lived in fear of him and abused hundreds of congregants. As far as I’m concerned, being on staff at Harvest makes a person dangerous and unworthy of church employment.
Tim S,
JMD’s most telling statement I heard out of his mouth during a sermon was, “you do not like what I am saying/doing? Tough, you consented to it.” And his is right. Evil will always point out that we had an alternative to submitting to it, when we start to blame it (or for pointing out it’s behavior) for the choices we have made in our lives.
J Mac sounds like a rough and tumble type of guy, so why doesn’t he just man-up to the charge of felony assault? Alternatively, if he has succumbed to PTSD, he then might need to be medically assessed and put into a secure mental facility until cured. Either way he and wider society needs protecting.