Prosperity Preachers Questioned by Senator for Flashy Spending

News Type: Event — Seeded on Wed Nov 7, 2007 9:12 AM EST

Article Source: The New York Times

Senator Charles E. Grassley, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is investigating six prominent evangelistic ministries to determine whether they have illegally used donations to finance opulent lifestyles.

Mr. Grassley said yesterday that he sent letters to the six Christian ministries on Monday requesting documents to answer a long list of questions about their compensation, housing allowances, checking and savings accounts, cars, airplanes and overseas trips. They have until Dec. 6 to respond.

The inquiry focuses on some of the flashiest preachers now popular on television and the Internet, many of them proponents of the prosperity gospel — that God will reward believers who open their hearts and wallets.

Mr. Grassley, of Iowa, said in a telephone interview: "Jesus comes into the city on a simple mule, and you got people today expanding his gospel in corporate jets. Somebody ought to raise questions about is it right or wrong."

These ministries are being investigated:

¶The Rev. Creflo A. Dollar Jr. and his wife, Taffi, of World Changers Church International, based in College Park, Ga., popular prosperity preachers with churches and homes in New York City and Georgia.

¶Paula and Randy White....

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Public Discussion (6)

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5.0

{"commentId":1164561,"authorDomain":"newsguru"}

newsguru

It's about time.

I refer all to page 5 of this doc.

Maybe the true gospel can be told and acknowledged finally.

{"commentId":1164561,"threadId":"172588","contentId":"1079476","authorDomain":"newsguru"}

2 votes

#1 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 9:21 AM EST

{"commentId":1164745,"authorDomain":"someone"}

someone

They should add Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church to the list.

{"commentId":1164745,"threadId":"172588","contentId":"1079476","authorDomain":"someone"}

2 votes

#2 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 10:15 AM EST

{"commentId":1164929,"authorDomain":"newsguru"}

newsguru

On that site ministrywatch.com they have an article about him as well. First time I've heard of the site but interesting stuff.

{"commentId":1164929,"threadId":"172588","contentId":"1079476","authorDomain":"newsguru"}

2 votes

#3 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 11:03 AM EST

{"commentId":1165042,"authorDomain":"someone"}

someone

ministrywatch.com is a good site. I use it to investigate organizations before making donations. For example, I just looked up Compassion International a couple weeks ago. I had heard that they were a good organization and ministrywatch.com backed that up.

{"commentId":1165042,"threadId":"172588","contentId":"1079476","authorDomain":"someone"}

2 votes

#3.1 - Wed Nov 7, 2007 11:32 AM EST

{"commentId":1174661,"authorDomain":null}

Media Taken In By Cult Leader? The biggest religious secret is that the man whom the media see as the "crusader against religious fraud," especially the kind represented by the televangelists, is himself the leader of a Bible-based cult. Anthony has now captured the attention of Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa. A new book, I Can't Hear God Anymore: Life in a Dallas Cult, raises questions about Anthony's willingness to be accountable for his own practices.

{"commentId":1174661,"threadId":"172588","contentId":"1079476"}

1 vote

#4 - Sat Nov 10, 2007 4:25 PM EST

{"commentId":2325308,"authorDomain":"ivorley"}

Ivor

What about Oprah? I've heard that she is getting in the religion business now! Check the reports out on her.

{"commentId":2325308,"threadId":"172588","contentId":"1079476","authorDomain":"ivorley"}

1 vote

#5 - Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:28 PM EDT

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