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Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 5709
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 03:18 pm: | 
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Senate Panel Probes 6 Top Televangelists
Nov. 6, 2007
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(CBS) This story was written and reported by Laura Strickler of the CBS News Investigative Unit.
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CBS News has learned Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is investigating six prominent televangelist ministries for possible financial misconduct.
Letters were sent Monday to the ministries demanding that financial statements and records be turned over to the committee by December 6th.
According to Grassley's office, the Iowa Republican is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles.
The six ministries identified as being under investigation by the committee are led by: Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Three of the six - Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar - also sit on the Board of Regents for the Oral Roberts University.
A spokesperson for Joyce Meyer Ministries provided CBS News with an IRS letter to the ministry dated October 10, 2007, that stated: "We determined that you continue to qualify as an organization exempt from Federal income tax." The letter could not be independently verified in time for this story. The ministry also pointed to audited financial statements for the last three years that are posted on the organization's Web site.
In a statement, Benny Hinn's spokesperson, Ronn Torossian, said the ministry was in the process of determining the best course of action in response to the Senate investigation. "World Healing Center Church complies with the laws that govern church and non-profit organizations and will continue to do so," Torossian wrote.
In a statement to CBS News, Creflo Dollar called his ministry an "open book" and said he would comply with any "valid request" from Grassley. But he noted that the inquiry raised questions that could "affect the privacy of every community church in America."
The other three ministries did not respond to requests for comment from CBS News on Monday.
Because they have tax status as churches, the ministries do not have to file IRS 990 forms like other non-profit organizations - leaving much financial information largely behind closed doors.
The letters sent Monday were the culmination of a long investigation fueled in part by complaints from Ole Anthony, a crusader against religious fraud who operates the Dallas-based Trinity Foundation, which describes itself as a watchdog monitoring religious media, fraud and abuse. "We've been working with them for two years," Anthony told CBS News. "We have furnished them with enough information to fill a small Volkswagen."
Anthony said after twenty years of working with media organizations to expose televangelists, he saw little reform. He says that's why he turned to another tactic, going straight to Grassley. He is confident that Grassley's inquiry will be different, "What we hope is that this will lead to reform in religious nonprofits."
The structure of many televangelist organizations - in which the leadership is often concentrated in one person or one family - has itself been the target of criticism. "Churches like these are ruled as a dictatorship," says Rod Pitzer, who directs research at Ministry Watch in North Carolina, which provides advice for donors to Christian organizations.
Pitzer welcomes the Senate committee investigation. Ministries lacking accountability, he says, "give a black eye to churches and Christians who are trying to do things in the right manner."
By Laura Strickler © MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Libralind2
Veteran Poster
Username: Libralind2
Post Number: 967
Registered: 09-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 06:44 pm: |
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I look forward to Creflo explain why you need all dem Rolls and Bentleys
LiLi |
Doberman23
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 1095
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 09:26 pm: |
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ALL televangelist should be shot in the head. they are ALL con-men and women. i can't believe how many black people i see in those crowds ... it just makes me shake my head in disbelief of how dumb black people can be getting caught up in some other cultures spirituality. |
Demonique
Newbie Poster
Username: Demonique
Post Number: 4
Registered: 11-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, November 09, 2007 - 06:43 pm: |
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Anyone who believes televangelists are anything other than a money making racket is in need of professional help |
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