Senate Panel Probes 6 Top Televangelists (Turn Over Financial Records Within One Month)

Source: CBS News

Senate Panel Probes 6 Top Televangelists
Sen. Charles Grassley Asks Ministries To Turn Over Financial Records Within One Month
Nov. 6, 2007

CBS News has learned Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is investigating six prominent televangelist ministries for possible financial misconduct.

Letters were sent Monday to the ministries demanding that financial statements and records be turned over to the committee by December 6th.

According to Grassley's office, the Iowa Republican is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles.

The six ministries identified as being under investigation by the committee are led by: Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Three of the six - Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar - also sit on the Board of Regents for the Oral Roberts University.

A spokesperson for Joyce Meyer Ministries provided CBS News with an IRS letter to the ministry dated October 10, 2007, that stated: "We determined that you continue to qualify as an organization exempt from Federal income tax." The letter could not be independently verified in time for this story. The ministry also pointed to audited financial statements for the last three years that are posted on the organization's website.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/06/cbsnews_investigates/main3456977.shtml

could not happen to a nice bunch.

nt.

He is the con man's con man.

But at least Tilton makes those faces so folks can make "Farting Preacher" clips on YouTube. Hinn has no redeaming qualities.

Hinn does have one redeeming quality -- namely, he ISN'T twins!

just ask Jim Traficant.

They own half of downtown Clearwater. Office buildings, hotels, etc. Their headquarters sits on prime, downtown, oceanfront property. All tax free.

Enriching yourself by preying on the spiritually needy is beyond disgusting. I don't understand how Pat Robertson is not on that list though. I've never cared much for Grassley since I lived in Iowa years ago. But I must admit he's done several things recently to show he is no lapdog of the extreme right.

But he is too powerful, and too useful to repukes to be on the list.

..do not flaunt it as much as these other creeps do. I want to know where are the Croches?

a barbie doll face on an old woman's body. Sad, sad, sad.

People give these jokers money??

contributions. For one thing he has perfected the art of "spinning off" profit making companies from charitable organizations which were built with tax deductible contributions. Secondly, once he does that, he mixes operations of charitable and for profit companies - and he chooses the likes of Charles Taylor of Liberia as a business partner to dabble in gold and diamond mine ventures. Oh he is a slick one, that Pat "Hurricane will get you" Robertson.

No wonder Republicans like this guy so much.

These guys are doing the same things that Republicans like Grassley usually applaud.

... is just the greatest name ever.

They taste better that way!

He calls him Dollar Dollar Bill, Y'all...he said that place had more bling than a rap video. :rofl:

You can't make this shit up.

Which isn't too far off from what he actually is, but he's much less cool, since all he does is pimp Christian shit. Not that there's anything wrong with Christianity, but you know what I mean.

Say it ain't so! And while they are at it, they ought to go after the regular city mega churches, too. The pastor at the First Baptist Church in Orlando wears Cartier watches, Armani suits, and drives a late model luxury car. Some coworkers talked me into attending a Sunday service with them once and there were at least three appeals for donations throughout the service. When the basket was passed around I noticed that it was filled with checks ranging from $400-2,000! And there were THOUSANDS of people in his congregation! Quite a haul, and no mention of charitable works other then "spreading the word of God". :eyes:

Amen, Lorien.

Sounds like Cornerstone Church in San Antonio. John Hagee putting on a show and rolling in the dough!

The best, however, was when he was beseeching his congregation for all to try to lose weight to honor the body as God's temple. Have you see this dude? He hasn't missed any barbecues himself!!!

Back when I still had satellite I used to love watching that fat motherfucker go into heart palpatations over Harry Potter.

That takes guts (and he's certainly got a lot).

subdivision, but a very wealthy one, where some of the top athletes (Spurs) live.

Ken Copeland creeps me out for what that is worth.

As is Rexella - who has a name like that anyway? Maybe she moonlights as a stripper?

He's got satellites to launch
So you better hang on to your purse
Soldier of fortune

He's doing it for the money
He's doing it for the thrill
He doesn't have a conscience
And I guess he never will
Soldier of fortune"

Interesting tune by the old Jesus-rock group Degarmo & Key from back in the day...I always thought of Van Impe when I heard that song, since he all but memorized the entire New Testament. You don't see many Christian artists calling out charlatans...it's a bit sad. They weren't as bashful about that in the 80's I think...and the hippie-ish Jesus Movement in the 70's certainly wasn't. There was more emphasis on calling out hypocrisy and greed back then...

Todd in Cheesecurdistan

My mom used to watch her stupid ass tv show everyday. :puke:

according to the Apologetics Index Color Key. Not to mention promoters of something called the "Word-Faith" Movement (the horror!) and Copeland supposedly preaches that God is both male and female (zounds!) In other words, the "real fundies" don't like him so much.

He and Sam used to scam the sheep ...

Never once did Jesus ask for money in exchange for the good works he had done.

I think it's an embarrassment that these religious nutbags take advantage of their tax-exampt status in order to live an extravagantly wealthy lifestyle. Don't get me wrong, I think any minister/preacher/priest deserves the right to earn a salary; even buy a decent home (many have one provided) and provide for their families. But to live an excessive life was never Jesus' ministry.

I see a dark and dank part of hell for those 'religious' leaders willing to dupe their parishioners in order to profit off of them.

between many of these ministries and CULTS. Scientology and many of these charismatics use (proven) mind control methods to rake in the cash. But all they seem to get nailed on is improper use of tax-exemption.

They'll all be considered martyrs by the people they ripped off.

I have had to be sneaky, tearing up letters from those TV preachers begging money from Mom. I even tear up checks she put in mailbox for them before mailman comes without Mom knowing it. She DOES not have money. I am not about to let those TV preacher bastards get money from a little old lady for their own gain, their obsence wealth. Enough is Enough! Kenneth Copeland has been preaching like this: Give 10.00 you get 1,000 back. Give 1,000 you get 10,000 back. Right! For himself! Benny Hinn is disgusting. They all look like used salesmen.

Looks to me like someone's getting a head start on 2008.

Yer mug shots won't be in color...

Source: CBSnews

--CBS News has learned Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is investigating six prominent televangelist ministries for possible financial misconduct.

Letters were sent Monday to the ministries demanding that financial statements and records be turned over to the committee by December 6th.

According to Grassley's office, the Iowa Republican is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles.

The six ministries identified as being under investigation by the committee are led by: Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Three of the six - Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar - also sit on the Board of Regents for the Oral Roberts University.


Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/06/cbsnews_investigates/main3456977.shtml?source=mostpop_story

---

Every church engaging in politics should be stripped of their tax-exempt status

It's too cynical to think he's sending a message.

I thought it was a product.

at the Creflo store.

"Earn Creflo Dollars! Shop at Creflo!!"

pat robinson and james dobson. Then. I'll believe that this is an actual and real investigation.

Supporting Giuliani!!!????

Absolutely no way of tying this to any form of spirituality...

This endorsement is a de facto admission of what a crooked, lying, filthy son-of-a-bitch he is.

(And I'm a Christian, too.)

about doing the right thing, it would have happened long ago.

Although the thought of probing any part of these gentlemen is pretty unsavory!

Does this mean that you are going to investigate the nexis of bush* administration $$-->rw church organizations-->get out the vote for the rnc-->$$ for rw anti-American & weird asses programs (turn your gay ten-ager straight, private, religious based prisons, etc...)-->money for the bush administration and their candidates/appointees/legal defenses of bush* believers-->rnc for the nest round of "elections"-------->>>>>>>>>>repeat

....but he preaches what strikes me as a very Republican doctrine; if you're rich, it's because God loves you. God must love ol' Creflo a LOT, because he sure as hell is rich.

and ministries coupled with his combination of Tony Roberts and Dale Carnegie raise red flags for me.

Jesus For Sale
Fascinating piece:
http://www.clevescene.com/2007-10-31/news/jesus-for-sale

Much like Bob Dole opposing the Telecommunications Act of 1996, but it's fun nonetheless!