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Federal Lawsuit: Controversial Pastor Ran Mars Hill Megachurch Like a Crime Syndicate
The Daily Beast ^
| 02/29/2016
| Brandy Zadrozny
Posted on 03/10/2016 12:15:02 AM PST by ppaul
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This may be the first time, a the leaders of a religious organization are defendants in a federal R.I.C.O. (Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act) lawsuit. This could have profound repercussions on how church leaders are accountable to their donors on where and how their offerings and donations are spent - to further the work of the gospel, charitable care for the disadvantaged, sick, the elderly, orphans and widows, or to feather the financial nests of the leaders. If you tell your congregation that their giving is to be used to help overseas missions in Africa and India, but you conspire to use those $millions in funds on your own pet projects in the U.S., the old classic "bait & switch" scheme, you may find yourself the subject of a RICO action in federal court.
1
posted on
03/10/2016 12:15:02 AM PST
by
ppaul
To: ppaul
Hmmm. I wonder how Farrakhan runs The Nation of Islam, and when that indictment is coming down?
2
posted on
03/10/2016 12:23:03 AM PST
by
Darteaus94025
(Can't have a Liberal without a Lie)
To: ppaul
Driscoll and Turner..
Driscollini and Turneretto.
There. Fixed it.
Can I get away with that because i’m Italian American? :)
on a serious note, it’s disgusting what they’ve done. and it’s as old as civilization.
3
posted on
03/10/2016 12:25:05 AM PST
by
dp0622
To: ppaul
Not all televangelists are corrupt... but the church has its share of hucksters and scam artists whose only interest in preaching the gospel and doing good works is not to honor God and glorify His Name on earth but to line their own pockets.
Which Mark Driscoll appeared to do and being with a RICO lawsuit is a first of the federal anti-racketeering law against a religious organization. People who don’t set an example show us the difference between venality and true faith. The love of God doesn’t give a preacher license to mock God. And whoever mocks God will find his days in this world numbered.
Be careful of your tongue and your deeds, you cannot hide your secrets from your Heavenly Father and what is done in darkness will be made known to men in open daylight. Do not be led into temptation and always live in the fear of Heaven. For your true treasures are not on the earth but are found above and walk in the light and be sure you are as holy as God is holy in all your comings in and comings out so you will be the Child Of God you were born to be.
4
posted on
03/10/2016 12:28:32 AM PST
by
goldstategop
((In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever))
To: Darteaus94025
Farrakhan makes no pretense that he is a follower of Jesus Christ, nor do I think he is making appeals to those who call themselves Christians to give money to help missions work in Africa and India - and then using those funds for other purposes. Am I mistaken?
5
posted on
03/10/2016 12:54:47 AM PST
by
ppaul
To: ppaul
RICO has been used in Scientology-related cases before—both against the Church of Scientology including specifically Tom Cruise and by the Scientologists against their targets. In both cases I believe it was dismissed.
6
posted on
03/10/2016 1:06:07 AM PST
by
Fedora
To: Fedora
In this case, the RICO lawsuit is not against the church or religious organization. It appears to be against individual defendants who allegedly conspired and used the church in furtherance of their racket.
7
posted on
03/10/2016 1:23:39 AM PST
by
ppaul
To: ppaul
Do you think this should be the federal government's business?
8
posted on
03/10/2016 1:27:46 AM PST
by
Ken H
To: Ken H
What do you mean?
I am not expressing any opinion one way or the other, although it is interesting that although there is so much of this sort of thing going on in churches, some people are deciding to hold their leaders accountable for possible wrongdoing. Just putting it out there because it is newsworthy and of interest to FReepers.
Here is a
link to the actual complaint filed in U.S. District Court.
After you read it maybe you can express your opinion on specifics?
9
posted on
03/10/2016 1:57:25 AM PST
by
ppaul
To: Darteaus94025
10
posted on
03/10/2016 1:59:00 AM PST
by
SoFloFreeper
(I am undecided between Cruz, Rubio & Trump...)
To: Darteaus94025
Or that melanometric, melon headed weasel, Al Sharpton!
11
posted on
03/10/2016 2:14:51 AM PST
by
sheik yerbouty
( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)
To: Gamecock
12
posted on
03/10/2016 2:46:24 AM PST
by
StoneWall Brigade
(Vote Tom Hoefling 2016 to restore our God given unalienable rights and Liberty's)
To: sheik yerbouty
How DARE you insult weasels!!!
13
posted on
03/10/2016 2:50:54 AM PST
by
Elsie
(Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
To: ppaul
Not to defend Driscoll but that is exactly the model used by red cross, denominations, and a host of other charities. Their budgets are fungible. That is the bottom line. If they decide 10000 is going to Burundi, then your designated 1000 to Burundi will be said to go there. Their target will then drop to 9000. With your 1000 that will equal their planned 10000. Nothing has changed. If they get 11000 in designated money, then 1000 will be pushed to the next year’s budget for burundi. Apparently, that’s legal.
14
posted on
03/10/2016 3:29:32 AM PST
by
xzins
(Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Prayer for Victory is the ONLY way to support the troops!)
To: ppaul
The main problem, other than being a stalking horse for religious persecution under this administration, is that RICO is unconstitutional on its face: If you know you don't have a prayer of showing someone committed a crime, you accuse him of having skeevy friends.
And it's Federal. Anyone care to list all the Amendments--not to mention provisions of the main document--that this violates?
Yes, they've used it to go after some bad people, but so what? It's also used all over the place, by law enforcement and ambulance-chasing lawyers in private practice, for extortion. Hard cases make bad law.
To: xzins
The United Way comes to mind...
To: goldstategop
Good words, FRiend. Thanks.
17
posted on
03/10/2016 4:24:37 AM PST
by
60Gunner
(The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. - Plato)
To: ppaul
The first of many government attacks on Christianity.
Not that I support Driscoll, I think he's a dork.
18
posted on
03/10/2016 4:56:03 AM PST
by
grey_whiskers
(The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
To: ppaul
The White House calling the collection Kettle ...black.
19
posted on
03/10/2016 4:56:35 AM PST
by
grey_whiskers
(The opinions are solely those of the author and are subject to change without notice.)
To: ImJustAnotherOkie
I think they operate similarly. I’m not sure.
We have found it’s better to send the money directly to a church or organization working in a disaster area. We had a tornado here in our part of the state about 2 years ago and knew a church in that vicinity. They used the money that we sent them directly for the affected people.
I could have sent it to the denomination designated for them, but the shell game explained above is exactly how they operate.
20
posted on
03/10/2016 4:56:57 AM PST
by
xzins
(Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Prayer for Victory is the ONLY way to support the troops!)
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