Acting on tips about preachers who ride in Rolls Royces and have purportedly paid $30,000 for a conference table, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee said Tuesday he’s investigating the finances of six well-known TV ministers.
No one noticed the lifetyles of the rich and famous bible-thumpers?
Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa said those under scrutiny include faith healer Benny Hinn, Georgia megachurch pastor Creflo Dollar and one of the nation’s best known female preachers, Joyce Meyer.
Grassley sent letters to the half-dozen Christian media ministries earlier this week requesting answers by Dec. 6 about their expenses, executive compensation and amenities, including use of fancy cars and private jets.
“I don’t want to conclude that there’s a problem, but I have an obligation to donors and the taxpayers to find out more. People who donated should have their money spent as intended and in adherence with the tax code.”
Because the groups have tax status as churches, they are not required to file tax forms open to public inspection.
The critical question is – when will their followers quit being gullible and foolish. Or is that a necessary prerequisite to being a traditional American Christian?
Thanks, KB
#53 – Gosh. Would it be too much to ask for an example of where I’ve ever done that? I don’t recall it.
You do it by attacking their attackers. If you want to call us bigots when we attack the scumbag Reverand Minitwat for diddling 6 year old girls in the underground Olympic sized swimming pool of the $15 million dollar Temple Of Jesus’s Everlasting Erection, Praise Him Brother, then you must think he is deserving of being defended as a loyal follower of the faith.
I’m not attacking your belief in fairy tales. Your belief in fairy tales doesn’t threaten me and my way of life. But the Reverends Bookburn and Creationistbullshit and Pastor Shootabortiondoctors and Father Insertpenisintochildren AND the slack-jawed morons who slide their credit cards across the collection plates mobile wireless CC readers.
And just like churches are SUPPOSED to do good, xenophobic hatemongering, hypocritical neoconservative right-wing kooks are SUPPOSED to do evil. Reading about yet another megachurch preacher who runs on meth and man-ass is about as interesting as reading about a father who pays child support.
Yes. They do evil. And yes, its getting more and more typical… and yet our culture is under attack. Organized, well financed, ferocious attack from the Christian Right so I don’t think ignoring it is a good idea.
The only possible goal in posting every story that comes out about some Dumbya-loving fruitcake with his hand in the cookie jar (or his dick in some underage ass) is to try and paint everyone who has religious beliefs with the same ugly brush.
The other possible reason is to defend ourselves against the slide toward theocracy. I’m telling… the very first time I see a cop whose badge in imbued with a crucifix, I’m buying weapons and ammo.
Anyway, we all know that the only true sin (”original”, if you will”) is putting fruit on pizza. Pineapple on pizza? Ecchhh. What’s next? Strawberries? The End Times are near….
See… I knew you were a reasonable man at heart.
Now the national corporate chains (Pizza Hut, Papa Johns) are the big $$$ evangelical fire and brimstone hatemongers and the small independent pizza shops are the honest faithful servants of God who look after their flock with genuine care and compassion.
I’ve said it before, ‘n I’m a-sayin’ it agin: Believing in a fairytale Big Daddy In The Sky opens the door for believing in any other insanity / stupidity.
#59, ECA,
But, when someone starts getting RICH, thats NOT a good sign…
Thank Crust the Double Cheese (Deep Dish), Northern Synod will never be accused of “getting rich”. In fact, maybe I should have mentioned in my invitation, I ain’t picking up the effen tab.
#62, L. the G.
Sounds like someone doesn’t enjoy pizza.