Enquirer: Joel Osteen caught in financial scandal

WND ^ | 12/31/2014 | Chelsea Schilling

[Olog-hai]

America’s most popular supermarket tabloid claims famous televangelist Joel Osteen “is caught up in a financial scandal,” using his Houston megachurch to sell his books.

The National Enquirer alleges that New York attorney Richard Garbarini—who previously helped two musicians in a lawsuit against Osteen and his Lakewood Church accusing the church of unauthorized use of a song—is charging that Osteen uses his Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit to hawk his bestsellers. …

[Secret Agent Man]

It’s probably some tax technicality of how it’s declared. If they live off it as salary but it’s being reported under the church’s non-tax income, there could be a problem.

[Born to Conserve]

Tip of the iceberg. He’s a glorified used car salesman.

[Thales Miletus]

LOL. I got to say, though, the Enquirer does a really good job researching their stories—far better than the NYT or Wash Post.

This goes along with the "Men in Black": Best investigative reporting on the planet. But go ahead, read the New York Times if you want. They get lucky sometimes.

[righttackle44]

What's to see here? Osteen preaches in fulfillment of his church's 501(c)(3) status, and he donates substantial amounts of his book sales proceeds to the church.

The tests for whether or not an organization merits a 501 (c)(3)status are purpose and activities. If the purpose stated purpose on the application is educational, benevolence and education, religious, etc., and the activities of the church support those purposes, then the organization is legitimate, and the activities are legitimate. If the application SAYS that the church will sell items produced by the church or advertise products in support of its activities, then there's not a problem.

If the application doesn't specifically speak to those activities to support itself, then there might be a problem.

Another test of a 501(c)(3) organization is what happens if the organization should disband or otherwise cease to function: that is, what happens to the assets? An individual cannot profit from those proceeds.

However, there is also an informal test--the sniff test. So far as I've seen, the church smells like a 501 (c)(e) organization. We'd need to see the application to prove otherwise.

[SunkenCiv]

A third rate con-man (a lawyer) makes allegations against a fourth-rate con man. National Enquirer ping. Sidebars from the FRchives:

• Joel Osteen: Barack Obama Is a Christian
• Is Joel Osteen within miles of clinic where babies who survive abortions are murdered ?
• Joel Osteen, Gosh . . .
• Joel Osteen targeted by Westboro Baptist Church, protests at Lakewood Church
• Farrah Abraham reads Joel Osteen when she's not selling her adult novelties
• Joel Osteen or Fortune Cookie?
• America's Most Popular Pastor Doesn't Know The Bible
• Victoria Osteen Chides Critics: Chides Critics: I Didn't Mean Parishioners Shouldn't Worship God ...
• Joel Osteen Rebukes
• The Osteens' Donald Sterling Moment
• In defense of the prosperity gospel: Let's cut Victoria Osteen some slack
• Victoria Osteen Ripped for Telling Church 'Just Do Good For Your Own Self'; Worship Is Not for God.'
• Osteen meets with Pope Francis at Vatican
• Reward increased for information leading to arrests in Lakewood Church theft
• Osteenification and What it Portends
• $600K in Donations Stolen from Joel Osteen's Mega-Church [LISTEN]
• [ Spoof site - Satire ] September 3, 2009 From the Archives: Joel Osteen Reads the Gospels for the F
• Joel Osteen finally comes out on 'gay' issue
• MegaChurch or Catholic Church?
• Pray and Grow Rich: Neo-Pentecostalism gives Rome a run for its money
• Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Others Warn About Fake Facebook Pages Used For Money Scams
• Joel Osteen target of elaborate Internet hoax
• Mark Driscoll on Joel Osteen: 'There Are Worse Things Than Being Happy and Encouraging'
• Narrow is the Way (On Joel Osteen's "broad" view of Christianity)
• Joel Osteen: Mormon Romney Is Christian; Obama Is Too
• Joel Osteen Warms Up for 'Night of Hope' in DC
• Osteen: Romney "believer in Christ, like me"
• Televangelist Joel Osteen: Obama 'has reached out to us'
• TV preacher Osteen ventures into reality TV
• Televangelist Joel Osteen: Obama 'has reached out to us (BARF)
• Former Mormon to Joel Osteen: "Shame on You"
• Joel Osteen Reads the Gospels for the First Time
• On judging Joel Osteen (Is it judgmental to call Osteen 'insufferable'?)
• What Ever Happened to Sin? (A Response To Osteen)
• Lessons From Piers Morgan's Interview With Joel Osteen (Osteen refuses to take any firm stand)
• Joel Osteen & The Gospel of Prosperity
• US megachurch volunteer charged with child abuse
• Joel Osteen, Ravi Zacharias Encourage Dying CNN Sportscaster
• Pastors, LGBT Groups React to Joel Osteen's Remarks on Sin
• The Osteen Moment -- Your Own Moment Will Come Soon Enough
• Joy Behar Lectures Pastor About Homosexuality on 'The View', Insists Biblical View Leads to Bullying
• John 14:6 For Dummies
• *VIDEO* Joel Osteen, it's just the Truth - Paul Washer
• Today's Word with Joel Osteen - April 2, 2010 [Devotional]
• Today's Word with Joel Osteen - March , 2010 [Devotional]
• John Piper and the Prosperity Gospel
• Lukewarm Church Avoids Abortion & Health Care Reform Issue
• Today's Word with Joel Osteen - June 5, 2009 [Devotional]
• Joel Osteen Heresy Gauge
• What religion is Joel Osteen?
• JOEL OSTEEN: APPRISING HIS WORD FAITH TEACHINGS
• Promoting the Gospel of Self Esteem
• Father Pfleger Bashed Clintons...Again
• Osteens To Bring Message to NC
• The Joel Osteen Contribution to Seventh-day Adventism
• Osteen Spreads Religion His Own Way
• American Family Outing (GAY AGENDA)Seeks to Dispel Divisive Tactics(VISITS TO MEGACHURCHES)
• Become A Better Calvinist
• Caption Bill & Hillary
• 2007 Trends Analysis: Americans Reformulating Christianity
• Joel Osteen Heresy Gauge
• Reuben Armstrong files multi million dollar law suit against Streaming Faith
• TD Jakes, Eddie Long, Creflo Dollar, Joel Osteen is "Under Fire" by Talk Show Host Reuben Armstrong
• Interview: Joel Osteen on the Future of America's Churches and Him Pastoring One
• God, Mom and Country: A Filmmaker's Odyssey (Nancy Pelosi's daughter making film about Christians)
• Joel Osteen: The Smiling Preacher (God Wants You To Have Money)
• Vanity: Joel Osteen segment on CNBC's "On The Money" 9-12-06
• Linked laugh for the weekend: Joel Osteen's comments on suffering
• Lakewood Tops List of Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
• [SATIRE] Larry King Live with J-O
• Joel Osteen's Journey to the Troops [Request came from the Pentagon}
• Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread 16 April 2006
• Despite Poll Numbers to Pray For, NBC Sneers at Power of Prayer
• Joel Osteen "True or False" (Interview With Larry King Almost Alive)
• Thousands Gather to Celebrate Megachurch's New Home in Basketball Arena
• JOEL OSTEEN ISSUES APOLOGY
• CNN LARRY KING LIVE Interview With Joel Osteen Transcript
• Joel Osteen: The Smiling Preacher Builds on Large Following
• New Group of Televangelists Reaches TV Generation (In Both Red and Blue States)
• STUDY REPORTS ON TOP 100 LARGEST AND FASTEST-GROWING CHURCHES

[flaglady47]

I don’t understand the mentality of some Freepers. They sound more like populists than capitalists. There is such money envy around here. Jealousy? I don’t get it. And although Osteen isn’t my cup of tea, he is to a lot of others who like him, like what he says, and it makes them feel better about the world and themselves. I say let them be. They are part of a church they believe in, just like other religions with their congregations. This alleged scandal doesn’t sound like one at all.

[Political Junkie Too]

I’m not so sure it was a megachurch before he preached there.

It was the Houston Summit, where the Rockets played basketball. I saw many concerts there.

-PJ

[Catsrus]

I agree with you.

[BobL]

I figured with that non-stop smirk something was going down...I guess I was right.

[SunkenCiv]

There’s a lot of sectarian turmoil (just check out the agendas on the posting histories of some of those who’ve been banned for stirring it up); and I wholeheartedly agree, there are those who appear to be Occutards and outright socialists — or FINOs, the more encompassing and apropos term.

[rrrod]

Jim and Tammy Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Jones, the Huckster..........

[hondact200]

Joel Osteen is a financial swindler - just like Oral Roberts and many of the tele evangelists are as well. Jimmy swaggart and the 700 Club. Trinity Broadcasting Network another swindler organization. Please send me 100.00 dollars and the Lord will mulitiply your wealth overnight by 100 fold. yeah right. the Lord helps those whom help themselves, put the Lord never told you to send a preacher a 100.00 bucks. Look at Al sharpton and jesse Jackson - hustlers and con man.

[ScottinVA]

WND and the National Enquirer?

Folks.. please.

[Daffynition]

Seems to be an occupational hazard.

But they repent. So it's all OK

[DooDahhhh]

He reminds me of Obama....Tell them what they want to hear, and It means nothing. Bring on the Greek columns!

[VTenigma]

Another Jesus hawking televangelist caught up in a money scandal, say it ain’t so, now where did I leave that Claude Raines picture?

[Arlis]

I have thought of posting the exact same thing for years......but knew I’d offend so I didn’t. Thank you. Really hard to comprehend.

Read & have almost all of O.C.’s works (like Watchman Nee, almost none of which he wrote, but are rather collections of his ministry by others) and have used MUFHH since 1967. He is one of my top 3 sources for deep Christian truth......

[CAluvdubya]

What?? I’m shocked.....shocked I tells ya! /s

[Rodamala]

[yldstrk]

Ah’m shocked, shocked I tell ya! (not)