Televangelists Living Like Kings?

They are the faces of today's televangelists.

Kenneth Copeland boasts a world-wide following.

Bennie Hinn has multiple TV shows.

Paula White is a talk show regular.

Eddie Long received a faith-based grant from the Bush Administration.

Joyce Meyer has written more than 70 inspirational books.

Creflo Dollar's message has been called the "gospel of bling."

Because they run churches they do not have to file tax forms with the IRS. So it's unclear how many millions - or billions - are collected every year.

And it's uncertain how all the money is spent, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports.

"Rolls Royces, Bentleys ... a marble commode in an expensive home: that's a lot of money down the toilet," said Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.

Grassley, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, capped a two-year investigation on Monday by requesting financial records from six top televangelists to see whether they are helping others - or themselves.

Today, five of six denied any wrongdoing to CBS News. One did not respond to calls for comment.

"My goal for reform is not necessarily to pass laws but to make sure the laws are being followed," Grassley said.

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Read more on the probe from the CBS News Investigative Unit

Watch more of Keteyian's interview with Sen. Grassley.

Check out Primary Source, our investigative blog.

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Ole Anthony, director of the Trinity Foundation, has been on a 20-year-crusade to expose TV ministers who abuse the failth of others.

"They live like multi-billionaires off the income from the poorest and most desperate people in our society," he said.

Some of these televangelists preach the so-called "gospel of prosperity."

Now a powerful Republican senator has demanded they all provide financial records by early December - to determine if they are living that gospel as well.

[candide777]

Hey Poor! You don''t have to be poor anymore!! Jesus is here!! Send me a check (give until it hurts), and Jesus will pay you back ten-fold. The Bible tell us this! I guarantee it! If you really give to my ministry until it hurts! Trust Jesus!! Praise the Lord, someone''s going to be rich!!

TV preacher Pastor John Hagee is one of the worst (San Antonio''''s Cornerstone Church). He publicaly documented his pay from his ministry at over $1 million per year. Now he hides his finances under his church, rather than report them as a seperate 501c3 for GETV. His family gets to determine his pay, since his Board of Directors was family-dominated (3 of 4 members are family). More info here:
http://open-letter-for-pastor-hagee.org/

[feathered1]

Jesus was and is not poor. How many homeless men''s coats do soldiers cast lots for in order to not tear them? Judas was Jesus'' accountant. Poor men do not need financial assistants to carry an empty bank account. Does anyone know how much Gold was given to Jesus at birth? LOOK When Mary spends her money in Alpha-Mart, does she later demand an accounting of where the clerk who served Mary spent her money? Who did Mary actually give the money to when the clerk took it? Keep in mind that Mary was not under gun threat to shop at Alpha-Mart in the first place. Taxes are mandatory, giving is not. Regardless of who the clerk is (neighborhood Pastor Charlie, Dr. Creflo Dollar, the Food Bank Volunteer or Joyce Meyer, etc.), any money collected is (in all actuality) given to & belongs to God-- THE OWNER, not the employee. Any one know what kind of sink Oprah or Bill Gates have and how much they spent for it? Did a poor person pay for it? Mary spent her last dollar for a loaf of bread so that the owner of Alpha-Mart could have leather seats. Is that right? Mary was hungry and she gladly paid the price.

[TexasDarla]

I agree with you!You know something in our country is definetly going wrong when the Highest Paid People In the Land of the free,Chase or hit with a bat a stupid ball,or get on our big screens and act. It just seems funny too me that no one has a problem with a football player,basketball player,or actor making more than our soldiers familys standing in the foodstamp line, waiting for daddy or mommy to come home.I mean, they are only the people willing to die for all of our excessive freedom!Its ok to get rich chasin a stupid ball but heaven forbid God Bless one of his Faithful Servants(REALLY?)The faithfull christians out there know what im talkin about.If you have read the bible,you know GOD IS FAITHFUL!. Again if you read just a little bit you also pick up on what God promises those that are FAITHFUL to him. WAKE UP AMERICA! Jesus already was crucified and died for us all. Stop trying too put him back on the cross. Thank you

[koondogswoman]

I am concerned with this for the way it portrays Christians. First, most of these pastors have written books that have brought them much income. If they are spending their money on things they want - how are they different than any American? Without the contributions of Faith-based ministries this country would be a mess. These churches donate alot for the needy in America and all over the world. Jesus was not a poor man- he had Judas-the treasurer. If you have no money- no need for a treasurer. When Jesus was crucified- they cast lots for his robe for the fact it was an expensive cloth. I feel that this country needs to focus on the BILLIONS major oil companies are boasting while the average citizen is struggling to get to work. The credit card and financial institues that charge ridiculous fees and interest and prey on the poor. The medical industry that makes BILLIONS while our elderly have to choose food or life saving meds. We all know that most business small or large use all means to avoid paying taxes with write offs and do not show all income to avoid paying the ridiculous taxes that this nation has placed on the working man. Lord help us to get our priorities in order and focus on true needs of the people of America.

[debo1718]

God gave COUNTRIES to people, Solomons wealth was staggering ! Joyce Meyer ministry supports (fully) 60 orphanages including college educations for every child--benny hinn likewise, Copelands same betcha didn''t hear that on the news

[lukewarmchur]

TO, COUNTINGONU2, Yes you are right, it is YOUR faith that makes you whole. Now I don''t know any thing about the case on Bonnie Parker''s death. SSOIL6327"s. But at the same time if they where TRUE Christians, they should have believed, by faith. But if I understand correct, they sued the Copeland''s, That is a sign they were NOT Christians from the begin with. For as a Christian I can not, and will not sue any body. For God forbids such actions. Christians are to forgive, even our enemies. But as for the Copeland''s, well, what does the scriptures say? Where your treasures are there is your heart also. To much wealth on earth is not of God. For Jesus had not even a pillow to lay his head on. The apostels spend more time in jail and took many beatings. And to this very day in Europe I was persecuted, by none believers. Take a look at the website; luke-warm-church.org. Herman

[wallacrr]

These ministers don''t pay taxes on the millions of dollars they receive. Now everyone is saying that they should be treated like movie stars, rappers, and everyone else with money. these people pay taxes. I pay taxes.

I am very happy in my life! And for all of the people who support such ministries I am not jealous of these people. They are competing against each other to see who can get the most stuff. What happened to standing up for something other than who can get the next private plane.

A lie cannot live.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere
Martin Luther King Jr.

[candide777]

And why in the world would they need or even want a marble commode?
Why do they need 50thousand square foot homes and multiple vacation homes just as large?
Surely they can get by on just 1 mil a year, instead of the obvious multi-hundred millions they squander on themselves BEFORE a dime goes to help the needy...
Posted by DylanXXV at 06:19 PM : Nov 07, 2007

Exactly, these fat cats get on the tube and gay bash night and day, but they seem to forget the Bible''s admonition that it''s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter into heaven. It''s sickening that people actually think these guys are "believers." Any dishonest atheist knows that the easiest way to get rich in this country is to find JESUS!

[candide777]

Besides bitterness and unforgiveness is one of the quickest ways to separate yourself from the love of God.
Posted by countingonu2 at 09:40 PM : Nov 07, 2007

Ummm, are you on drugs? These preachers make themselves rich by preying (no pun intended) on the poorest, most elderly, most vulnerable people in society? Do you really think it''s okay that they are out buying prostitutes while the victims of their fraud are eating cat food? You need to do some more crack. It might bring back around to reality.

[glaswolf]

When christians refuse to do business with non christians, is that blackballing? When religious folk alienate atheists based upon belief and not functional solutions for community activity, is this not blackballing?