Last November, Republican Sen. Charles Grassley launched a public investigation into the ministries of six top televangelists who attract thousands of followers and collect hundreds of millions of dollars around the world. Grassley is demanding financial records to determine whether these churches deserve their tax exempt status.
- Benny Hinn, a TV preacher who runs the World Healing Center Church in Grapevine, Texas. Hinn, who travels the globe conducting faith-healing revivals, lives in a seven-bathroom, eight-bedroom mansion overlooking the Pacific Ocean valued at $10 million. It is claimed as a parsonage.
- The Rev. Creflo Dollar’s World Changers Church International in College Park, Ga. Dollar drives a Rolls Royce and has large homes in Georgia and New York. He is asked to provide a list of all vehicles provided for himself, his wife, board members and ministry employees.
- Paula and Randy White’s Without Walls International Church in Tampa, Fla. In a letter to the ministry, Grassley asks the couple to provide a list of expense account items “including, but not limited to, clothing expenses and any cosmetic surgery for years 2004 to present.”
- Joyce Meyer Ministries in Fenton, Mo. Grassley asks Meyer and her husband David to explain expenditures like a $23,000 commode with a marble top, a $30,000 conference table, an $11,000 French clock and a $19,000 pair of vases for the ministry headquarters.
- Kenneth Copeland Ministries in Newark, Texas. Copeland is asked to explain how cash offerings are handled during overseas crusades and to explain the use of a ministry jet for “layovers” in Maui, Fiji and Honolulu.
- Bishop Eddie Long’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga. Among other things, Long is asked to explain a church official’s 2005 claim that Long no longer accepts a salary from the church but does take a “love offering.”
CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian takes a hard look at one target: Kenneth Copeland, the so-called “godfather” of “prosperity gospel.”
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February 1st, 2008 at 12:13 am
Nice. Very Nice. Glad they are using all that cash from pimping a non-existent entity on TV to help others like the bible (you know - that book they all thump and wave around) says to.
If they are looking for more to investigate, they should take a look at Casey and Wendy Treat up here in Washington - they fly a Jet Ranger helicopter between their churches on Sunday mornings so they can preach to even more sheep.
February 1st, 2008 at 11:25 am
A REPUBLICAN suggested this? Incredible.
February 1st, 2008 at 12:28 pm
why do churches have tax exempt status anyways? why does the general populace have to support these scams?
February 1st, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Incredible. I didn’t realize that Churches didn’t even have to show PROOF that they were deserving of their tax exempt status. I was thinking that tax exempt businesses and churches still had to show records to prove that they were non-profit, goodwill, etc.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:03 pm
It is about time someone looked into these criminals. They are frauds, and they are criminals. Everything they own should be confiscated and put into the public coffers, they should be jailed, and their “ministries” closed down.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:51 pm
If they are misappropriating donation and tax exempt funds, I would agree with you Michael. It is interesting to see how easily some money *read “power”* corrupts men and women if these accusations are indeed true.
February 1st, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Names aside, these scam artists have very little to do with religion. These guys are just running their businesses, with a frighteningly large number of happy customers.
Andyr2120
February 1st, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Good point andyr2120. They may have been in it for the business from the beginning.
February 1st, 2008 at 5:24 pm
While I generally am not a fan of Republicans, I must say that as an Iowan I have always been impressed with Sen. Grassley’s integrity. I hope he takes these crooks to the cleaners.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:32 pm
I dont know much about Mr. Grassley, but I’d vote for him over any of the other republican presidential candidates on this alone.
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:59 am
Blasphemaster: You might want to give Wikipedia a look, it gives a pretty good idea of him. He honestly is the only republican that I have ever voted for.
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:41 pm
I like the bit about pointing out the BILLION DOLLARS sent to dead farmers. Right. Sure. Zombie bean growers.
February 3rd, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Well, maybe it’s a good time to toss out the whole Tax-exempt thing.
(note, i’m not an american)
I’m just glad churches over here have to pay taxes like normal institutions. Gifts are tax deductable, but the chruch still has to pay Income tax and VAT. Though the buildings themselves are state property, and thus exempt.
Why the heck don’t churches have to pay taxes in the USA? Is it because they’re such a boon to society? (ahahaha)
February 4th, 2008 at 9:40 am
At one time, they were to some extent. Churches often filled the gap for many individuals before the government offered any social services. Most churches still are engaged in legitimately charitable work. It is a combination of this work, non-profit status, and a perverse reverence for religion that churches enjoy tax-exempt status. Now the secular government takes care of many of these social needs.
Unfortunately, with the rise of the religious right as a political force, these institutions are doing much greater harm than good. Also, by endorsing one or more political candidates, these churches should legally lose their tax-exempt status. Finally, the churches such as the ones being investigated are definitely for-profit, and should rightfully lose their special status.
February 4th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
I believe the main reason for the tax-exempt status is it was used by politicians and such as a tax shelter a long time ago. Once the church gets the money, its hard to track. They give political favor to the church and the church gives them money from the coffers on the sly.
February 4th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
thanks Sid, that was very usefull. Of course, it raises the question of why these investigations have taken so long, I don’t asume it’s a problem that was discovered last month?
I guess it’s the religion-reflex, “Uhoh, it’s about relgions, quick, avoid the issue”
February 5th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Just a reminder to US citizens: Primaries today.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
You mean primaries for certain states. North Carolina primaries are not until May 6th.
February 5th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Aaah, thought it was across the country. Im in NJ.
February 7th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
A lot of primaries were on Feb. 2nd though. Many different states.
February 17th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I still don’t understand how people can get scammed so easily with these hucksters! Its really sad..
February 18th, 2008 at 6:31 am
Aaron, there’s a really simple explanation. In fact, it’s an explanation for most things you see.
People are idiots
March 31st, 2008 at 10:14 pm
money’s growing like grass(ley) - prosperity pastors still under scrutiny…
Today marks another milestone in the continuing investigation of ‘The Grassley Six’
……
May 27th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Copeland is standing up for what he thinks is right and that is protecting our future rights. The implications for the future are scary if Grassley is given this kind of power and access to such information.
May 27th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
It’s hard to believe that Copeland is standing up for anything other than his ability to go on into the future with his tax-exempt lining of his already well-lined pockets.
Furthermore, I find it stunning that anyone falls for his spewing and donates money to his “cause”.
May 28th, 2008 at 4:29 am
There are many non-profit organizations, religious and non-religious, that do and ought to enjoy exemption from taxes in many western countries. In my country, which is more socialistic that the US, this is still the case. No government can replace the power of voluntary organizations to function as they do in community relations, though many totalitarian states have tried it.
So whether an organization is religious or anti-religious in it’s orientation, it does seem important that if it’s function is that of a community service of some kind and that this function is maintained by the donations of it’s members, then it ought not to be taxed. Of course, if its staff receive an income from these donations, then they should pay taxes like anyone else. I don’t see why a non-profit organization of any ilk should loose its tax-exempt status because of its political activity, but I can see why politicians thus affected would want to use his power to penalize them.
The real problem is when the tax-exempt status is exploited for profit. IMO Grassley has every right, perhaps a moral duty, to investigate, and if necessary, prosecute offenders be they religious or otherwise (whatever his motive). The televangelists listed above, IMO, are deeply immoral and hypocritical in what they do with their supporters’ donations given in good faith. FWIW, Jesus and his disciples said quite a lot about money, and what he said condemns the practices of these who purport to follow him. Paul condemned those who “think that religion is a way to become rich.”
June 5th, 2008 at 12:18 am
looks like Copeland is fighting back with a website of his own. I can’t say that I blame him. This article recently came out in Dallas Star Telegram..
http://www.star-telegram.com/northeast/story/671754.html