Senate committee investigating six televangelists.
By on Nov 6th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Senate committee investigating six televangelists.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is investigating whether “six prominent televangelist ministries” are “improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles.” According to CBS News, “letters were sent Monday to the ministries demanding that financial statements and records” by Dec. 6.
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Jeebus NO!
Benny Hinn is my personal savior and also has one heckuva combover too!
-GSD
November 6th, 2007 at 1:43 pm… Queue the executive order blocking Congress from investigating clergymen.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:45 pmThe FEC should be investigating them as well.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:45 pmOhmygosh! Not one of those dreaded “senate letter”. I wonder what will happen when the ministers ignore them.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:45 pmWell about time ! Repubs tried to take tax exempt away from a San Francisco church in 2004 for pushing a liberal viewpoint. What is good for one is good for all. Let’s be checking out the Atlanta Baptist church with “reverand Johnny” and his fanatical pushing of Bush.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:48 pmTax exempt was for churches when they really were being financed by Sunday offerings. Now churches have land, schools, business, so lets have them chip in as well. If you can’t keep church and state separate…cough up the taxes.
whether “six prominent televangelist ministries†are “improperly using their tax-exempt status
oh! i know! i know!
yes.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:49 pmWhy does the Senate hate Jesus?
November 6th, 2007 at 1:51 pmOFFTOPIC: Dennis Kucinich is making the case for impeachment of Cheney right now.
Watch it on http://www.cspan.org.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:54 pmIt staggers my mind to think that millions of viewers tune in to these shows expecting salvation. It’s like drive thru salvation – or fast food salvation. To think that someone on that stage would have access to ‘God’ and able to speak to ‘God’ on your behalf is so silly, it makes me scared. I imagine a lot of home schooling in those audiences.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:55 pmI’d also like to see them investigated for playing politics…
November 6th, 2007 at 1:56 pm9 – Strat – home schooling — and DROOLING as well…
Yikes.
November 6th, 2007 at 1:57 pmwhether “six prominent televangelist ministries†are “improperly using their tax-exempt status
i bet “hits” can answer that question… “hits”?
November 6th, 2007 at 1:58 pm#9 It would stagger your mind alot more if you knew how many of those viewers had college educated minds. The same ones that believe what “Reverand Johnny ” tells them. College educated and working in Research and Development. Which one would think would be a thinking brain.
So many believers of what one person tells them every week from that one viewpoint and they never even question. It is being frightening.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:00 pmI guess Republican Senators can’t possibly find anything more important in this country to investigate. Yes people, televangelists are what’s dragging our nation down. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain (deadeye Dick)! Look, over their…televangelists aren’t paying taxes. They may very well be breaking the law, however, if they want to see some truly criminal behavior they need look no further than their own backyard, their boy king and all his henchmen. Jeez, talk about irrelevance.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:00 pmI wonder what will happen when the ministers ignore them.
Comment by Shayne — November 6, 2007 @ 1:45 pm
Well, seeing as THIS one was floated by a GOOPer, it might have more bite to it. We can hope, no?
November 6th, 2007 at 2:02 pmYes, let’s Focus on Their Lifestyles!
My Grandmother, rest in peace, used to give money, that she had little of, to Oral Roberts back in the 70’s and 80’s. “Give me money or God will take me away.” Bastards, all of them, preying on people without the means to know what is happening. And for what? The biggest hoax in human history. Bastards.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:03 pmOT – I hope everyone has been watching Dennis Kucinich tear up the House floor with his resolution HR333 to impeach Dick Cheney. THIS IS WHAT WE’VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. I hope you’re calling your rep. and telling them to support this Resolution.
1-800-828-0498
November 6th, 2007 at 2:05 pm1-800-614-2803
(White House Operator, As for your Rep.)
It’s like drive thru salvation – or fast food salvation.
I’ll take a bacon Joseph Burger, a side of John the Baptist fries and an extra large MaryGulper.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:07 pmAnd extra NunNapkins, please
Guys like Benny Hinn, Marcus Lamb, Mike Murdock, Paul Couch and the whole bunch on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN- the hypocrite channel) are an embarrassment to REAL Christian’s everywhere. These con-men should be investigated completely and then have their “ministries” and their networks shut down for being fraudulent. They prey (not pray) on the stupid, the ignorant and the desperate. Of the 7 deadly sins, these guys conduct themselves as if greed and vanity don’t even exist.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:08 pmtax the churches!!!!
November 6th, 2007 at 2:09 pmwow — charles grassley!
but, i’m sure that chuck schumer and diane feinstein will soon be coming their rescue. jews for jesus….
November 6th, 2007 at 2:10 pmReverend Gene Scott was the only televangelist worth anything. I remember him saying to his audience “you’re all going to Hell, but send me some money anyway”. At least he was entertaining and knew that the public knew he was a fraud.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:12 pmimagine no religion…
November 6th, 2007 at 2:13 pmDidn’t Jefferson say something to the effect of waiting for the last King to be strangled by the vestments of the last priest?
November 6th, 2007 at 2:15 pmJeez, talk about irrelevance.
Comment by A Patriot Acting — November 6, 2007 @ 2:00 pm
Really, you don’t think all these ministries keeping all this money and using it to further spread lies and deceit are a destructive thing to this country. Religious fundamentalism both Christian and Muslim are a danger to the well being of this country and the world.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:17 pmOff Topic
November 6th, 2007 at 2:20 pmTrollConcernedDon nice publicity stunt in a futile effort to try to get enough viagra to increase his…
OT – nice publicity stunt by Kucinich in a futile effort to try to get enough publicity to increase his
Comment by TCDon — November 6, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
You said it yourself TCDonkey, you’re off topic. Anyway, you wouldn’t understand somebody who does the right thing because he has ethics and cares about this country and the constitution. After all what’s in it for you, right?
November 6th, 2007 at 2:21 pmComment by TCDon — November 6, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
Comment by TCDon — November 6, 2007 @ 2:19 pm
First of all, it took two posts for you to express that single idiotic thought?
Second, only a mouthbreathing neocon apologist such as yourself would characterize an attempt to hold one of this corrupt and criminal administration accountable for their innumerable crimes as a ‘publicity stunt’.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:21 pmOne of Grassley’s targets is the aptly named Creflo Dollar.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:23 pmWell duh this is way overdue.
A good site for info:
November 6th, 2007 at 2:23 pmhttp://www.inplainsite.org/html/tele-evangelist_lifestyles.html
I’ll take a bacon Joseph Burger, a side of John the Baptist fries and an extra large MaryGulper.
And extra NunNapkins, please
Comment by RUCerious
LOL…I didn’t know there was an actual menu for this stuff. How about some ‘Save my bacon’ BLT’s, or ‘Turn the other cheek bun burger’.
This could be fun, after all…
November 6th, 2007 at 2:26 pm“Freedom will never come until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.”
November 6th, 2007 at 2:29 pm-T. Jefferson
“He’s got 20 million in his heavenly bank account,
All from those chumps who’ve been born again.
He’s got 7 limosines and a private plane,
All for the use of his special friends…”
Frank Zappa, Heavenly Bank Account (from “You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1)
November 6th, 2007 at 2:37 pmdaryll must be devastated. someone should really keep an eye on him.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:38 pmThe Senate should focus its resources on more intelligent pursuits. This is an abject waste of my tax payer money.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:38 pmI’m actually more concerned that these guys are using their 501(c)3 status to shield political activism. If they con their members into paying for a lavish lifestyle, that’s between them. But by using their tax exemptions to funnel political influence, activism and perhaps donations to parties and candidates, that is a legal violation and an assault on the proper separation of church and state.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:40 pmFor a great book on the predatory practices of these “saviors” try “The Faith Healers” by James Randi.
It is pretty sad that these hyenas are able to prey on the old, poor and uneducated in the name of Jesus.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:40 pmhits: “This is an abject waste of my tax payer money.”
But $30 million a day in Iraq is money well-spent, right?
November 6th, 2007 at 2:42 pmPobrecito sHits, someone is wasting his tax money.
How about the trillion dollars of tax money spent on Bush’s War? Wait, I forgot who I was addressing. sHits thinks killing Muslims to keep him from soiling his tighty whiteys is a good use of taxpayer money.
Fo little guy.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:43 pm“The Senate should focus its resources on more intelligent pursuits. This is an abject waste of my tax payer money.
Comment by hits ”
Of course it’s a waste of your money, you like criminal behavior, you’re a republican. You can’t wait until airports put wifi in the rest rooms so you can troll the internet at the same time you troll for sex.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:52 pmwhy else would those people bother to be “televangelists”, were it not to secure a lavish lifestyle shielded from scrutiny, taxation, and accountability? that’s the only reason any Righty gets out of bed in the morning, parochial or secular.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:53 pm“I have had a lot of pessimistic feelings about the intention/purpose of Benny Hinn’s ministry, but I am suprised to see Dr. Creflo Dollar (Presides over the ORU board) and Kenneth Copeland on the list. I hope it isn’t true. If so, as an alumnus of ORU, I will cease sending financial donations until Dr. Dollar is removed as chairof the board.
Comment by Daryll ”
According to the story Hinn also sits on the board of ORU, so why wait if you have “pessimisitic feelings” about hinn?
And, is anyone else tickled by a televangelsist named “Dollar”? Could that be anymore appropiate?
November 6th, 2007 at 2:56 pmdaryll must be devastated. someone should really keep an eye on him.
Comment by cha cha cha — November 6, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
To make sure he takes the right poison?
November 6th, 2007 at 2:59 pmThe Senate should focus its resources on more intelligent pursuits. This is an abject waste of my tax payer money.
Comment by hits — November 6, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
Don’t worry shits, you’ll still get your welfare check even with this investigation? Does one of these ministries run the food bank you go to?
November 6th, 2007 at 3:00 pmWe need to return to God’s business instead of trying to accumalate excessive amounts of worldy items (money, cars, homes, etc.)
Comment by Daryll — November 6, 2007 @ 2:51 pm
Hey Daryll, have I told you lately where to stick your bible?
November 6th, 2007 at 3:03 pm“He’s got 20 million in his heavenly bank account,
All from those chumps who’ve been born again.
He’s got 7 limosines and a private plane,
All for the use of his special friends…â€
Frank Zappa, Heavenly Bank Account (from “You Can’t Do That on Stage Anymore, Vol. 1)
Comment by Ret. Col. Jack Ripper — November 6, 2007 @ 2:37 pm
Speaking of FZ:
“My best advice to anyone who wants to raise a happy, mentally healthy child is: Keep him or her as far away from a church as you can.”
“Let’s not be too tough on our own ignorance. It’s the thing that makes
November 6th, 2007 at 3:07 pmAmerica great. If America weren’t incomparably ignorant, how could we
have tolerated the last eight years?”
Is that the same Daryll who admitted to masturbating with a crucifix as a butt plug?
Daryll, you should be ashamed of yourself. I know it’s just a symbol, but it’s not very sanitary and could cut the lining which would lead to severe problems.
Not safe sex Daryll, not safe at all.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:23 pmThe Senate should focus its resources on more intelligent pursuits. This is an abject waste of my tax payer money.
Comment by hits — November 6, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
lol, i knew you wouldn’t let us down!
November 6th, 2007 at 3:23 pmDaryll if you live a good life do you really need help in getting in to your heaven? Sounds like you want to hedge your bet a little.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:25 pmOT – nice publicity stunt by Kucinich in a futile effort to try to get enough publicity to increase his
Comment by TCDon — November 6, 2007 @ 2:18 pm
Yeah, sure, it’s a stunt when a Democrat finally stands up and demands some action against the thugs in the White House . . . and when no Democrat does anything, then you can deride them as weak.
Typical.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:25 pmMy wife listens to these guys 24/7. In case you forgot to tune in here’s what you missed:
1. Praise The Bush! Greatest President ever and ONLY Christ lovin’ Preznit ever.
2. Support Isreal or Die… Then again support Isreal and die: it’s God’s plan.
3. Islam = Devil. Kill them all if you can’t turn them into good murderous Christians.
4. America IS a Christian nation. Founding Fathers were all Christians and God commanded we kill all of those pesky Indians to make room for a Christian Country: it’s God’s plan.
5. If more than 60 seconds has gone by since you read #1, then Please Pray for The Bush, Greatest Preznit ever and THE ONLY CHRISTIAN PREZNIT EVER !!! (Funny, this somehow seem contrary to the belief that we’ve always been a Christian nation. Whatever.)
6. Remember, BUSH IS …
You get the idea. I’d have to say they do spend just a bit of air time each day doing GOPer political activism.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:35 pmMy wife listens to these guys 24/7.
umm….. why?
November 6th, 2007 at 4:14 pm“The Senate should focus its resources on more intelligent pursuits. This is an abject waste of my tax payer money.”
Comment by hits — November 6, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
hows about $400 million dollars a day on the occupation of iraq? would you consider that “an abject waste of my tax payer money”?
November 6th, 2007 at 4:17 pmHmmm….going after a key constituency of the Republican Crime Syndicate? While I applaud your decision, Chuck, you can’t be making the Republican strategists happy. You might end up getting the Mullahs to take their votes to a 3rd Party or just not vote in ‘08. Seems like political suicide…
November 6th, 2007 at 4:33 pmTCDon: “nice publicity stunt by Kucinich in a futile effort to try to get enough publicity…”
Something tells me that the Don didn’t think it was a “stunt” to try to remove a President from office for lying about a blowjob.
November 6th, 2007 at 6:02 pmI have to say…I’m actually rather surprised (and pleasantly so, I might add) to see that it’s a Republican doing this. Given the fact that so many Republicans seem to be in bed with the Religious Right and perceive the church (or at least in this case, the soi-disant church) as being untouchable and unquestionable, it’s nice to see someone who’s not afraid to step up and ask the televangelists in question to demonstrate as a show of good faith (if you’ll pardon the pun) that they’re truly “walking the talk”.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:30 pmLike anything will come of this. The GOP has spent BILLIONS just trying to BRIBE the evangelical clergy (along with their crystal snorting gay sex practicing leaders) to promote Bush’s mass murdering orgy in Iraq. The so-called Christians are all having a big orgy of corruption and loving it.
November 6th, 2007 at 10:37 pmJESUS HATED HYPOCRITES.
.
Woe to ye…
Let these EVILgelicals rot in their ivory tombs.
.
November 7th, 2007 at 1:50 amYou shouldn’t talk about things you know nothing about. Instead of jumping on the anti-preacher bandwagon, why don’t you all do a little research and find out for yourselves? I’m sure some of these preachers deserve everything that’s coming to them, but the ones that have been tossed into the same boat with them don’t deserve it.
And no, all preachers are not the same. You only hear about the ones that make good copy.
November 7th, 2007 at 7:33 pm