Taxation as a Political Weapon
It’s heartening to learn that the U. S. Congress is targeting ministries that it suspects of violating the IRS nonprofit rule. Guess which ones? Trinity United Church of Christ which under Jeremiah Wright cursed America and hustles votes for liberal Democratic candidates? St. Sabina’s under Fr. Michael Pfleger which hits whitey and urges the election of Barack Obama for president? Rev. James Meeks who is both pastor of Salem Baptist church and a Democratic state senator and who regularly mixes political agendas with theological ones?
No. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has launched a probe of six conservative televangelists which, Grassley said, “share the same branch of evangelicism and…promote socially conservative and public policy positions.” Meaning pro-life and anti-homosexual rights.
Last Nov. 6, Grassley, the ranking Republican on Senate Finance, asked for detailed financial information from Paul and Randy White’s Without Walls International Church, Benny Hinn Ministries, Joyce Meyer Ministries, Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Eddie Long’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and Creflo Dollar’s World Changers Church International. Only Joyce Meyer met the original 30-day deadline-but Grassley stiffened the committee’s investigation and got the chairman of the committee, Sen. Max Baucus (D-Montana) to co-sign subpoenas. When the March 31 deadline passed, only Copeland and Creflo Dollar stayed defiant. Copeland has since launched a counter-offensive, demanding an IRS audit under the Church Audit Procedures Act of 1984 (CAPA) which Grassley co-authored.
If Grassley wants information, he said, he should ask the IRS for it. It’s a clever strategy because IRS audits are confidential and take at least five years to complete.
So far Grassley and Baucus and the U. S. Senate see nothing further amiss from the other ministries across the land. Isn’t that comforting?
No … Grassley is mostly interested in the ones where the pastor has a private Jet and gold toilet seats. Don’t use this issue to take a covert swipe at Trinity and Rev. Wright.
I think it is amazing that Grassley, who is known in the Senate as the King of Pork, should be poking his nose into these ministries. In fact, I’ve been watching Grassley’s news articles and am astounded at the number of things he IS poking his nose into. How many staffers does he have, anyway? And who pays for them?
Grassley is as sleazy as they come when you look at senators. This is such a blatant attempt to target churches that have been moving followers from his beleifs to something that seems to suit them better. What do you expect from someone who has made pork barrel legislation a life work?> He has finally gotten to the point where he sees no reason to follow the dictates of pretection of religious groups. He know very well that the power to tax is the power to destroy (which is why religious groups are protected). This is so slimey it should be beneath even a slug like Grassley.
Covert swipe?
I think we are pretty directly taking a swipe at Pfleger, Wright, and Meeks. Non-Profits are prohibited from partisan politics, unless of course the politics suit the regulators. What are we trying to hide?
Grassley asked for PRIVATE DONOR DATA of each of these ministries without any protection for those who wanted to donate to them. Further, Everyone of these ministries gives millions to the homeless and needy around the world – while teaching those who watch them on TV or attend their conferences to NOT CHEAT, LOVE OTHERS and WORK HARD for your employer. Yes! By all means! Let’s go after these ministers each of who have already passed IRS scrutiny. Mind you there is NO outcry from those who give to these ministries. Each of these ministers make millions from their book sales, but I guess that is only ok if you back stab your employer who created your career pretend that as Press Secretary you were in meetings that no one can authenticate.
Grow up people. These ministers aren’t bad people. At least check out the http://www.believersstandunited.com counter argument before making a fool of yourself online.
Answer4U – I have to agree with your comment. While not a follower of Copeland’s, I totally support his stance on this issue. The future implications are scary if Grassley is indeed given power and access to such information. There is NO reason that ANY one Senator should have this kind of authority.
I think it’s also important to remember that currently there is NO form of evidence that these groups have done any thing wrong. Copeland has passed an IRS investigation before, and I would imagine that he will pass it again – since HE requested it. Just as Grassley should have done from the beginning.
Answer4u, I think there is another interesting point that you bring up…NOT one donor has had an issue with Copeland. There have been no complaints and requests for investigation. I would think that if anyone had a reason or right to request for some form of action, it would be the donors themselves. As of now, they are all are continuing to stand behind Copeland as he fights this fight.
Taylor Siluwe ?
Didn’t Trinity BUY the “good” Rev. Wright or provide for his “retirement” an EXPENSIVE mansion for him in TP (that is TINLEY PARK)
Sen. “Buzz” Windrip ummm I mean Sen. Barack Obama and his lobbyist coup ummm campaign manager Sorensen umm Alexelrod.
This has very serious First Amendment implications. Where is the ACLU? For those posting that are not bothered by this because you are not evangelical, or because you assume these targets dont share your political philosophy, think real hard about what is happening. If the IRS and the federal government are going to allow some churchs to be overtly political and not others, than what is happening is that the double standard is tied what political group is helped or hurt by the particular denomination or congregation. The power to tax is the power to destroy. The power to tax some churches while allowing others to operate tax free is a far more aggregious violation of the First Amendment and the “seperation of church and state” than is the feared moment of silence at school. Wake up, this is a very serious matter.
Black Robe – some awesome points you bring up. There are implications here that people are not recognizing or realizing. Thank God Copeland is standing his ground here…
I dare you to stand up and be counted. You of the faith are so brainwashed that you allow the pimping preachers to create a cult of adulation and hypocrisy. How do you reconcile the few who have gained their vulgar wealth at my expense.
Thank “God” my father for slavish and cloying attitudes toward these guru’s of holy ghost scams.Investigate their
non-profit and tax returns. Shame on them for using my concepts and principles for personal gain.
It is true that these ministries have displayed no evidence of wrong doing. I think that it’s ridiculous that Grassley asked for such crazy specifics from these ministries. He has no right and should NOT have the power to call such information. I just wonder what all he had planned to do with it once he received it. Scary, isnt’ it?
Go for the facts. There is a group in Dallas http://www.trinityfi.org The Trinity Foundation whose job it is to try and tear down any ministry that advocates healing. They are the ones providing Grasely with all of his information and he mouths them word for word. The leader has a bad back and for years has never been healed through prayer. He then attacks any ministry that is successful and preaches healing. Ole Anthony is a real mess spiritually and emotionally. He is always quoted as an expert by news organizations. ABC used him as a front to tear down Robert Tilton. This group is a cult by any reasonable definition and their only purpose is to try and destroy other Christian Ministries. They all live on one block in Dallas. Why does’nt Grasely look at how the Trinity Foundation were given Federal funds to run public housing and they use it to destroy ministries. Talk about tax fraud. Don’t take my word for it look it up online. Grasely should really look at the source of his information very carefully before passing judgement.
Texasguy – you bring up another side of things. That is interesting. And I just still have a hard time believing Grassley’s statement that he didn’t know who the groups were he was investigating, but they all just “happened” to be of the same faith? Very odd…Copeland is definitely standing tall in this.
From the sidelines, it looks like Copeland is gathering more support consistently, and hopefully Grassley will be put under control. There are far too many implications and precedents that do not need to be set in this situation.
Have to agree with you few previous posters. There are definitely some serious issues at play here. Copeland is wise to have taken the stance he has. Texasguy – I think you bring up some incredibly interesting points. Not many people are hearing that side of the story…
Texasguy – good comment and interesting points. We are not hearing that side of this issue. I am anxious to see how this plays out and what decisions will be made. Hopefully this will not be a time to set new precedents that do not need to come into being.
Grassley should have gone to the IRS first. Copeland is correct about that. I hope that others will begin to see some of the issues you raise Texasguy. Of course there are some things that need to be looked into on Grassley’s end. So many things just don’t seem to add up.
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