Associated Press
The six prosperity gospel ministries under scrutiny by Republican Sen. Charles Grassley are a tough group to take on. The televangelists are veterans at outmaneuvering opponents, and in this case are even getting support from their critics.
Religious groups who consider the prosperity gospel a rip-off still see the inquiry as a potential threat to church independence if it ends with new tax rules for all ministries.
The investigation also has the potential to alienate Christian conservatives at a time when the GOP can least afford to do so – ahead of a presidential election in which no prospective Republican nominee has shown he can mobilize the Christian right nationwide.
“I was amazed that Grassley took this on knowing this likely will stretch into next year,” said Bill Martin, a Rice University sociologist and author of “With God on Their Side: The Rise of the Religious Right in America.”
Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is looking at whether the televangelists’ salaries and benefits exceed IRS limits for nonprofits. He has spent years reviewing the finances of tax-exempt organizations.
The Iowa senator says he is simply enforcing the existing tax rules. But that’s little comfort for the many Christian conservatives who, like fiscal conservatives, loathe the IRS. Some religious leaders have been trying unsuccessfully for years to overturn IRS restrictions on political activity for their groups.
Long before Grassley announced his inquiry, critics inside and outside the Christian community had been targeting televangelists for how they raise money, then spend what they collect. The prosperity gospel teaches that rewards come in this life to people who are right with God. The more money that followers give to the ministries, the greater the return, according to the philosophy.
Hank Hanegraaff, president of the Christian Research Institute, a well-known evangelical group in Charlotte, N.C., has written and spoken extensively against prosperity teaching. The Trinity Foundation, a ragtag but dogged Christian group in Texas, is so dedicated to taking down the ministries, it dives into their Dumpsters to get evidence against them.
Yet, detractors have failed to slow the groups.
The six ministries under review collectively receive hundreds of millions of dollars in donations each year. While the preachers vary in their personal wealth, they are positioned to hire the best lawyers and public relations advisers in any showdown with the government.
The groups aren’t legally required to provide the documentation the senator requested, and only one – Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo. – pledged full cooperation. Two others – Georgia megachurch pastors Creflo Dollar and Bishop Eddie Long – aren’t complying.
Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Texas, turned over some materials, which the senator is reviewing. The two remaining ministries – Benny Hinn of Texas and Randy and Paula White of Tampa – have had contact with Grassley’s office, but haven’t said whether they will answer all his questions.
Grassley has faced organizations with deep pockets before, but the preachers have another advantage: an unparalleled ability to defend themselves to their constituents.
The ministries broadcast around the country and the world – often daily – and have taken full advantage of the Internet age to communicate with followers. The preachers not only spread religious beliefs, but also a worldview. And from their perspective, Grassley’s investigation can be seen as another instance of persecution in a society that doesn’t accept them.
Paul Crouch Jr., son of the founder of the Trinity Broadcast Network – which is not under review, but broadcasts some preachers who are – has called Grassley’s investigation an “inquisition” that amounts to “spiritual warfare.” Crouch drew a parallel between resisting the senator and fighting off Nazis.
Grassley tried to blunt this kind of criticism by emphasizing his own spirituality, as a dedicated, churchgoing Baptist, but the approach has backfired.
Religious leaders complained that Grassley created a perception that his investigation pits one religious view against another. Some critics noted that Baptists and other evangelicals have deep theological differences with Pentecostalism, which gave rise to the prosperity gospel.
Grassley has repeatedly insisted that his investigation is not about doctrine, but whether the ministries are playing by the rules.
The televangelists insist that they are. But they might never have to prove it.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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posted December 18, 2007 at 4:54 pm
“Crouch drew a parallel between resisting the senator and fighting off Nazis.”
Ooooookay, that might be taking the issue a little too far. That being said, I wish the article would give more information about the alleged allegations against the preachers, and the laws they are believed to be violating. The prosperity gospel, in my opinion, does not make very sound theology, but it’s hard to say if these preachers’ practices break any laws.
God bless.
posted December 18, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Doubtless most of the sheep will remain faithful to these charlatans, but if just a handful realize just how thoroughly they are being taken, then it was worth the trouble.
The prosperity gospel – what a joke. Oh, it’s fine in a “what goes around comes around” sense as an expression, but life doesn’t work that way. Cause and effect is not the same thing as a guaranteed return on your investment. I enjoy a good laugh watching these clowns parade their nonsense on stage when there is nothing else on TV, but it’s bittersweet knowing some poor retired couple will die homeless and penniless because of them, or that children will be left orphans all because some foolish mother stopped getting chemotherapy because Benny Hinn told her she would be healed if she gave enough.
posted December 18, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Religion makes a great way for parting fools from their money, and that’s fine; prayer beware. But they need to obey the tax laws like anyone else. Kudos to Grassley for having the guts to take them on.
posted December 18, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Quote: The televangelists say they are playing by the rules, but they many never have to prove it.
Why shouldn’t they have to prove it?? All the rest of us have to prove we aren’t cheating the IRS, why not them? Why do they hate the IRS as the article says if they aren’t cheating in some corner that hasn’t been discovered yet?
posted December 18, 2007 at 7:04 pm
The article says they may never have to prove they aren’t cheating the IRS. Why wouldn’t they? We have to keep all our tax papers straight, why not them?
posted December 18, 2007 at 10:19 pm
I’m for Grassley and his investigation. If those folks have nothing to hide, then they should open their books…sure! Like that’s going to happen. They have plenty to hide, and has been mentioned above, the suckers will continue to send them money and not worry how it is being spent.
posted December 19, 2007 at 12:19 am
Thee are always hopeful fools willing to shell out for the lastest version of snakeoil – and there are always snakes willing to sell it. These slithery salesmen of knock-off “religion” are simply better at manipulating the unwary. They will work hard at stroking their sympathy. The only good news is that if one of them is already playing the “nazi” card, it means they don’t have much of a hand to work with. So knock the wheels off their creepy creaky carts and make them go back to hustling time-shares over the phone.
posted December 19, 2007 at 10:11 am
Really, I have never understood the attraction of the “mega churches”.
I have also never understood how anyone could follow ministers that live in gated mansions, drive fancy cars and take “business trips” to the Bahamas. I guess this is the American version of Christianity morphed once again. Sad.
I’m not sure on the validity that these churches should be tax exempt.
posted December 19, 2007 at 11:10 am
The title to the article states that “preachers have resources, skills to challenge senator investigating their spending” It should also say that they have the Bush administration and many conservative Republican politicians supporting them as well.
posted December 19, 2007 at 11:39 am
As the saying goes, “birds of a feather flock together”. But if I were a politician, especially one up for re-election, I would not stand too close to these parasites. At best they are like the little birds that feed next to, and even on the back of rhinos. Usually they are magpies and mockingbirds. But there are some days when they are as annoying and noisy as starlings and as congenial as geese.
posted December 19, 2007 at 2:46 pm
I am proud that Senator Grassley is one of my senators. I too, distrust “snakeoil” As the esteemed (by me) Bono relates in song “The God I believe in isn’t short of cash, mister.” (Rattle and Hum Album, Bullet the Blue Sky). I don’t need to pay for salvation.
posted December 19, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Grassley should be examining the practices and ethics of the irs. i’ts been long held by some that the irs is an illegal institution that should have been eliminated long ago
posted December 19, 2007 at 4:52 pm
I once followed Joyce Meyers Ministry during a very difficult period in my life (10 yrs ago). I credit her early morning sermons for helping me through that extremely difficult time. I made one $25 donation to Meyers Ministry in thanks for the hope and strength her sermons gave me during my difficulties and I don’t regard it. However, early this year I started watching the programs of a few TV ministers and I was immediately turned off. My reaction, after watching their sermons, was “When did God’s word become centered around money?” and “When did God start requiring his messengers to wear designer clothes and preach in multimillion dollar churches?”. I would think that if they have nothing to hide then why not provide the senator with the information that he requested. Go ahead prove the Senator wrong!…or maybe the fear is that the Senator is right?
posted December 19, 2007 at 8:15 pm
In the 60′s Hollywood made a movie, “Elmer Gantry”, with Burt Lancaster as the Fundamentalist Evangelist. Some of us remember that I’m sure. I think it’s time for Hollywood to do an updated movie about the present day Elmer Gantry. It’s a study on life that the present day younger generation could use.
posted December 27, 2007 at 9:25 am
I am not opposed to this inquisition because we, the contributers of tithes and offerings, have a right to know if our donations are being used appropriately. By not complying with the request for documents, they might as well hang a banner that says “guilty”.