Posted on 03/06/2008 1:21:44 PM PST by fweingart
The ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee says the televangelist ministries that he's investigating for alleged financial misconduct may be ignorant about the seriousness of his probe, but they're "not going to get away with their stonewalling."
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) says he is sending out a second letter to well-known "prosperity gospel" ministries, asking them to address allegations they are using their tax-exempt status to pay for lavish lifestyles. Grassley reports he has received the cooperation of only two of the six televangelists under investigation -- Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn. The ministries of Paula White, Eddie Long, Creflo Dollar, and Kenneth Copeland have resisted the Finance Committee's probe.
The senator says he may eventually issue subpoenas to ask the ministries what they "have to hide." "I'm on sound ground as far as the law is concerned, the Constitution ... I think I've got public opinion behind me...," confirms Grassley. "So eventually it gets back to them -- do they think they can get away with stonewalling? I don't think they understand the seriousness of it, and that's why this second letter is going out." He adds that it matters not to him whether he is on sound ground politically speaking.
The Iowa senator fully expects the ministries to cooperate with the investigation. "I think in the end they will cooperate because in five years of investigations on non-profits, I've only had one person refuse to cooperate and that's [former lobbyist Jack] Abramoff -- and he's in prison," the lawmaker notes. "So I think that speaks about his lack of cooperation. That isn't why he's in prison, but that's the sort of a person [who] did not want to make things right."
Grassley says his investigation of the multi-million-dollar ministries has been a popular topic of discussion in Iowa, where he says letters to the editor have overwhelmingly encouraged his effort. Opponents believe the Internal Revenue Service should conduct the probe. The senator believes some of those making that argument may be ignorant of the tripartite nature of the U.S. government and not fully understand Congress' oversight responsibility. The IRS is under the jurisdiction of the Senate Finance Committee.
It is a part of an investigation into a large number of non-profit organizations, not just these “prosperity” ministries.
Is this really in your job description, senator?
I pay tithe and I believe in God but the Church is its own worst enemy. They should have nothing to hide. Lawyers,Churches, tax exempt organizations and politicians should be forced to have full disclosure. I find nothing wrong with the truth!
And while we're at it, chuck Kay Bailey Hutchinson!
Senator Kay recently advanced an ammendment that would effectively kill any construction of a barrier between the USA and Mexico.
Can you elaborate some on that thesis and provide a source?
That would make the problem worse, not better.
I don't believe that is correct. All I have heard is Grassley going after about six television ministries.
Besides, the establishment of non-profits are not protected by the first amendment, Churches are. Equating churches with non-profits was an LBJ trick that many in the GOP are now falling for. Pure evil.
Exactly. What in the heck is this idiot doing? Regardless of how this is spun, once you begin to break into churches, metaphorically speaking, and grab parishoner or donor lists, it will be a tool to utterly destroy religion in America.
Agree. If the government starts getting the donor/tithe lists of all churches, well . . . can’t you just see the Clintons with that one?
If I were him I’d seek a closed door session with Pastor Melissa Scott.
Why in the hell is he wasting tax payers money on this crap?
Sometimes I think Republicans are sadomasochists.
I think it is criminal what some of these ministers do with the money that people send them. No one should get rich off of the ministry. The apostle Paul and Peter both died penniless as martyrs, not in 6 garage mansions!
However, investigating these churches opens the door to the government to go after all church information and I thought the 1st amendment was pretty clear. Grassley of all people should know this. Unfortunately, Republicans have forgotten they are the party of the constitution and limited government. Maybe it was all a bunch of hot air to get votes in the 80s and 90s anyway, who knows.
As for the RNC, I contributed at one time, but have decided that contributions to other institutions, like the right church, are a far better investment. I don’t want my money going to some child predator or toe-tapping pervert or even a big brother investigating Senator or Congressman’s re-election campaign.
I'd rather do without the US Senate than let that kind of INQUISITION be restarted.
That noted, I see little-to-no justification for a U.S. senator to be dragging privately-funded church ministries before his committee in order to badger them about how they spend their incomes. These evangelists are ordained ministers. Their church is a television audience as well as the folks who physically attend their services. They frequently ask for donations and duly receive large sums of money every week. Now, one may challenge their doctrine (I would) or even condemn them for misleading people in order to gain wealth for themselves but to use the law regarding non-profit organizations against even questionable church operations and ministers, ordering them to appear before some senate committee to be questioned like criminals, thus smearing evangelical ministries as a group, is simply wrong.
Senator Grassley is yet another Washington, D.C. politician in office far too long and drunk with his own sense of importance and delusions of power that the constitution never intended people like him to acquire in the first place. Another reason for term limits on these congressional critters.
I heard an interview with him on a Christian radio station recently. These ministries are being investigated because of public complaints, and also because of current or former employees who have knowledge of or suspicion about wrong-doing at these ministries.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but don’t all tax-exempt entities have to abide by rules set up by the IRS?
I don’t know . . . I think it’s “pure evil” to use money, given for the purpose of furthering “the ministry,” for lavish lifestyles instead.
“People who donated should have their money spent as intended and in adherence with the tax code.”
In the radio interview, he mentioned other non-profits they were looking into. I’m sure you can research this yourself.
Thanks for the additional info.
"Oh, I see," he said. Quietly tip-toeing away.
Nope. Churches are exempt from filings and are automatically considered tax exempt, although many churches do apply for 501c3 status as a tax exempt organization, but IRS rules clearly state it is not necessary.
I don’t know . . . I think it’s “pure evil” to use money, given for the purpose of furthering “the ministry,” for lavish lifestyles instead.
If they indeed rob from the church, God will judge them on that, not Congress.
Investigating fraud that goes across state lines is a function of the government. Lavish lifestyles at the expense of nonprofit status by misleading people on the use of their money is not a right.
What fraud? I know of no allegations of fraud. This is a fishing expedition. And no thank you, it is not Congress's responsibility to regulate what a lavish lifestyle is or isn't.
Once the government gets it foot in the door what happens to serperation of Church and State!
And if fools want to part with their money on phonies that is their business!
How many times have we brought things and got snookered!
Caveat emptor is Latin for “Let the buyer beware
It’s good to hear that Joyce Meyer has been cooperative. My wife loves her teaching.
Yep, the First Amendment will have been flipped upside down. The Constitution is a document which defined powers and limitations of the Federal Government, not the Church. It was meant to restrict the federal government from mingling in the church. We are about to reach a point where the government is allowed control over the church and the law will be used to prevent the church from even saying anything about the government. Really sad and against everything this country would founded on.
Sorry, I just meant if you’re curious about it, then I’m sure there’s more info out there about it.
It concerns me that the Church like the Senate and the House uses its position at the expense of the tax paying citizens in this country. I think all should be held accountable.
Apologies not necessary. { 8^D
Yes, I've found a few things. Thank you.
Anyone know what church this Grassley guy belongs to? Do they follow the correct doctrines?
That's how we hold Congress accountable, and that should be the first thing we do.
We vote with our feet and our money when it comes to church. You don't like a church don't go there and don't give 'em any money. If you want to make Grassley your chief religious advisor and guru, go to it. Don't expect me to follow him though.
That would make the problem worse, not better.
Sorry but I do not agree. The founders made the US Senate as the representative of the States the House was the representative of the people (that is why they have to be elected every 2 years).
If the Senators are appointed by the state legislator like the Constitution says they are suppose to be then they must be the envoys of the state and not their own personal royal elite selves as were the royal senators of Rome.
The US Senate is a club of 100 and all feel they are the most elite and most powerful force in the land. We need to go back to having them appointed by the States so they can be removed and replaced when they do stupid things.
Congregants who donate to the TV preachers do so of their own free will, while Sen. Grassley's income, massive benefits, perks and obscene retirement packages are stolen from us citizens under the threat of summary execution if we don't pay our taxes.
The Senate's power to hold kangaroo courts is getting out of hand. If the evangelists are committing fraud, that's what the IRS and the criminal justice system is for.
Leni
Wow, what a brave man, taking on the (cue scary music) MEGA churches!
Oh, wait. Numerically, the “megas” don’t amount to a pimple on the cheek of the local mainlines, and have comparatively few elected officials among their members.
Hey, Grassley, how about taking on the local Archdiocese or the local Methodists, hmmmmmm? No, too busy?
I just don't happen to have the faith in members of the US Senate that you appear to have. I have watched members of Congress, Republicans even, cover for pedophiles. I have watched waste and fraud in the government at all levels. I refuse to encourage more of it by granting Inquisitional authority to the US Senate.
Fortunately Jesus Christ never became a government officer so he could live off taxes collected at the point of a gun. Why you want to put a US Senator on a pedestal to worship him, I have no idea. Still, Jesus did sit down to dine with tax collectors and other reprobates, we are taught, to bring them his message. He didn't do it the other way around ~ take the government's message and deliver it to the people."
At this point it gets rough since you then equate Jesus to government officials and then claim that proves how stupid America is.
Does not compute BZZZZT BZZZZT SPARK BZZZZT Will Robinson Does not compute.
Little things, such as increased domestic oil production, reforming our tax and regulatory system, funding the border fence, etc.
Of course. He regularly dined with Judas didn’t he?
It's always referred to as 'taxpayers' money. What a disgusting farce.
It ceased belonging to the taxpayers when they mug us, seize our money and shove it into the massive slophole they call a treasury.
The government does everything we don't want them to do, and as a result, today's dollar is worth 5 cents when compared to the dollar of 70 years ago.
Jackasses like Grassley and the RINO K. B. Hutchinson are just two recent examples of why I've changed my party affiliation to Monarchist.
What about now? You may be a religious freak or not but man can not get you to heaven. And all these millionaires with several homes and private jets that claim to be ministers of the gospel are not any better than the Judas in which you speak. They take money from poor uneducated people and when they are on their death bed how many of these attend them. Get you head out of the clouds. By the way Jesus did not put up with Soddom did he? I live in a county that must have one Church for every hunfred people and the crime rate,children out of wedlock and education are as bad as they come.
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