In any event, the writer is either taking liberties with "largest" or "mega."
Posted on 10/10/2021 2:39:27 PM PDT by American Number 181269513
Celebrity pastor Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church buckled to pressure and will repay $4.4 million in COVID-19 disaster loans meant for small businesses, according to a new report.
In a statement to the Houston Chronicle, Lakewood — whose pastor Osteen is reportedly worth $50 million — defended its decision to seek support from the Paycheck Protection Program and insisted neither Osteen nor his wife received any of the money.
“Like many organizations temporarily shuttered by the pandemic, this loan provided Lakewood Church short-term financial assistance in 2020 ensuring that its approximately 350 employees and their families would continue to receive a paycheck and full health care benefits,” a church rep told the paper Friday.
The church’s PPP payments came under scrutiny last December. Lakewood — the nation’s largest megachurch — has 368 full-time and part-time employees.
At least 60 religious institutions in Texas received PPP loans, the Chronicle said. Hundreds more across the country also received COVID-19 relief funding.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
The large payouts were criticized by some civil libertarians who believe churches should operate entirely financially separate from any government programs.
Jim Bakker still has a show. What does Free Republic think of him?
Not a huge fan of this guy, but what was he doing wrong? Assuming of course it really was to help the workers at the church. They were workers that paid taxes just like anyone else.
There are stories of people falsifying their employment records and stealing millions. Those make sense. Was he falsifying payroll records?
The money can only go to Woke firms?
Maybe pressure from up above?
“the nation’s largest megachurch”
Bigger than Francis’ church? I must have missed that news.
I’m not seeing what he did wrong in this case. You ask, and either qualify, or you don’t.
Just how many worship at the Vatican numberwise?
$4M for osteen is walking around money.
I will be he and his congregation pay more than 4.4 million in taxes.
“Because we’re the government, and when we tell you to shut down we won’t compensate you for it, but will foe everyone else we told to shut down.”
Why?
“Because we’re the government and you are a church”
In any event, the writer is either taking liberties with "largest" or "mega."
In what part of “the nation” is that church?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.