Televangelist Defends Spending

Pastor Creflo Dollar Responds To Questions About Possible Financial Misconduct

(CBS/AP)  Congress is looking into the collection boxes of some of the nation's best-known televangelists.

Their tax-exempt ministries take in millions and now Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is asking whether these churches really are non-profits.

Georgia megachurch pastor Creflo Dollar is one of the televangelists who was asked to provide financial information.

"We don't have any problems complying to a valid request," Dollar told CBS News' The Early Show co-anchor Julie Chen.

But he questioned whether it was appropriate for the Senate Finance Committee "to become a tax examiner and to get involved in the information of private, nonprofit organizations when the IRS has already been assigned that responsibility."

Asked about some specific assertions by Grassley, Dollar denied that two Rolls-Royces were purchased by the church for him and his wife.

"That's not true. First of all, we don't have two Rolls-Royces," he said. "And secondly, the one Rolls-Royce that was purchased was purchased by the donors, or the members of the church, and it was a surprise to me. I had no idea they were doing it."

Dollar also responded to claims that he tried to raise $1 million from other ministries to give to fellow evangelists Kenneth and Gloria Copeland to celebrate their anniversary, and that his ministry gave over half a million dollars.

"Also not true," Dollar said. "We didn't give Kenneth $500,000, and we didn't take it from our church. We sent letters to different ministers around the country inviting them to share in honoring Kenneth Copeland's 40th anniversary. It's an opportunity for people to do what they believe, and unless we completely got rid of the First Amendment, that's our opportunity to believe that we can sow into a man of God's life, be a blessing to him and celebrate his 40 years of service in the ministry."

Asked whether there are televangelists who abuse the faith of believers and misuse church funds, Dollar said, "There are some bad apples out there. But we've got to make sure that in our fear to try to locate those bad apples that we don't put everybody in that same bucket and automatically assume because of that fear that everybody is the same."

Others under scrutiny include Copeland, faith healer Benny Hinn and one of the nation's best known female preachers, Joyce Meyer.

Grassley sent letters to a 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.

In a statement, Grassley said he was acting on complaints from the public and news coverage of the organizations.

"The allegations involve governing boards that aren't independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls-Royces," Grassley said.

"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."

Those ministries that responded Tuesday either said they were cooperating or committed to financial transparency and following the law.

The investigation promises to shine new light on the kind of TV ministries that were crippled by sex and money scandals in the 1980s. Experts also say it stands out as an unusual case of the government probing the inner workings of religious organizations.

Most of those under investigation preach a variation of the "prosperity gospel," the teaching that God will shower faithful followers with material riches.

[j_flood]

Where is Reverend Ike when we need him. He made no bones about looking good and spending well - he always God ''wants'' him to look good and live well, in return for all the good works done by Rev. Ike and his followers. But I guess Rev. Ike never worried about claiming not-for-profit status. LOL

[gunownerdan]

It''s sad that there are so many brainwashed people that think by donating money to filthy rich preachers they can somehow buy their way into heaven!

[trumpetstuff]

The Rev. Dollar. Well, his name sure sums it up. :-)

[billpl-2009]

"Oh Lord, why don''t you buy me a Mercedes Benz" -- JJ

[elichez1]

Religion produces emotionally needy, hypocritical bigots. I believe in myself and no stinking GOD!

[chphi]

Televangelists still share their wealth with God, right? They throw all the money into the air and what God can grab is his/hers. The rest goes toward feeding and clothing the needy. Wait! These guys haven''t taken the vow of poverty.

[cryonbrian]

I ain''t mad at you! Do your hustle!

[fstop100]

don''t people realize you can''t buy a ticket to heaven, these guys just prey on all you sinners.

[downtowner97]

We give poor people a tax exemption and what do they do with it? Spend it on these sham ministries. Lotto tickets, people! Buy lotto tickets!!!

[perrycbs1]

I do not have a problem with religious leaders and employees making a good living; and am ashamed by the ones that expect their workers to live at the poverty level. I have a friend who works for her religion full time and has to live in subsidized housing.

I have a problem with many of the current tax exemptions. Originally, religious organizations were the primary provider of social services for the down and out. That was largely transferred to the government, and now religious organizations provide minimal (if any) social services. Why should not the tax exemption have been modified with this shift?

Also, why is the Local YMCA Health Club not a taxable business? They sure compete (and prevent) other taxable business. I can show you a church run %u201Creligious%u201D bookstore that sure competes with other bookstores.

So my feeling is that to qualify for tax exempt status that the church must be meeting a social need beyond just being a religious organization, be paying their employees sufficient so that they do not need government funded social services themselves, and not be competing with normal commercial services.

Quite honestly, I%u2019d like to see the churches of America (of all faiths) pick up most of the current social welfare programs again to retain their tax exempt status. That would fall under practicing what they preach.

I do note that there are a few religious organizations that do take care of their own: The Mormons and Amish are examples.

[rosevk]

no one is forced to give to these ministries, if you want to and it makes you feel good then do it, if you don''t want to and have your own beliefs then more power to you. Who decided these ministries should be tax exempt, our government (politicians). These preachers have to make a living like you and I, they must be doing a good job to be making millions and I''m sure a majority of people wouldn''t mind being this wealthy in our jobs. On the other hand those politicians who voted to allow these ministries tax exemption are the ones who drive chauffered limousines, live in multi-million dollar homes, have personal security, enjoy fine dining and entertainment all on the tax payers dollar that we ''do'' have to pay. It''s your choice to give or not give to these ministries but it''s not your choice to give or not give to our government to pay for the politicians life of luxury.

[soldat44]

Asked about some specific assertions by Grassley, Dollar denied that two Rolls-Royces were purchased by the church for him and his wife.

"That''s not true. First of all, we don''t have two Rolls-Royces," he said. "And secondly, the one Rolls-Royce that was purchased was purchased by the donors, or the members of the church, and it was a surprise to me. I had no idea they were doing it."

Wow!

[prinzowhales]

Sure, there are a lot of dumb animals who will send their dollars to these con men...but, on September 10, 2001 the Pentagon announced that it was missing over $2 trillion dollars. What is more important to the People of the United States--that these tele-tubby ''evangelists'' are shaking down a few yahoos, or the People''s $2-plus trillions???? What should Grassley and the Senate animals be looking into???? Why aren''t they???

This is just monkey chow for the masses...something to keep them distracted from the rampant criminality and evil that Grassley and his associates serve.

[susanhelit]

People have the right to give to who they like - even a conman. But - if a con is going on (false promises of where the money is going on) - that''s illegal. And if we''re going to call this a non-profit, and let these guys make money tax-free - then they''ve got to be OK with being investigated to see if they really follow non-profit rules.

[realnews]

Propserity teaching:
These ministers believe that God wants his people to propser. They do not teach that you can buy your way to heaven, but rather that if you give generously you will receive generously.

The problem with this investigation is that it is led by a senator of a Baptist faith that disagrees with the doctrine of these ministers. He has selected only leaders of a particular doctrine (pentecostal/charismatic). He has made it public in order to destroy

Hmmm... I wonder if the Pope has a plane?

[newsguy11]

There''s nothing wrong with having churches. It''s the churches with a paid pastor and other paid staff members that are the problem. Take away the paid employees and the mandatory tithings and the problem will cease to exist. It''s the paid parasites and their ignorant church members who are to blame for this problem. These televangelists are not much different from most other paid pastors. They''re just more in the public eye because they''re on TV.

[feelfree1]

Pastor Creflo Dollar?

Could we have a comment from Reverend Taekyer Money?

[gkc99]

Just Bhagwan Rajneesh with Geezis bumper stickers on their Rolls!

[stormsinger1]

Religion Ruled The Dark Ages. Some things never change.

[mennowoman]

I work at a nonprofit org and I can tell you that we are completely open to having our books inspected by anyone who asks. I file form 990 with the IRS every year and issue periodic financial reports to interested parties. We have oversight by our state auditor and attorney general. We are small and by law we could forego such financial disclosures, but secrecy can breed deceipt, so we do everything we can to be open with our donors, clients and the public. I understand that Mr. Dollar is exempt because he is a religious organization, but it may be time for him to be open, to allay all questions about what he does with his money and the monies of his ministry. I find nothing in the bible that would allow such mystery or secrecy among Christ''s followers.

[nolibnoneoco]

well ain''t that a shame , we worry more about this mans life and a rolls made by royce,than the voice that says bring our kids and seasoned solders home from the biggest rip off in the history of man kind.MY God !!! Leave the Dollar alone for my part and end the Shedding of blood and green backs in iraq . our senate and all gov. should be so ingrossed in the ending of this rip off called a war more than all other stuff. our priorities have been a mess for years. that is just the truth.

[imspecter]

Grassley''s comment "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."
What about us taxpayers who would like to have our taxes spent as intended?

[feelfree1]

Related:

"Jewish GW Student Admits Putting Swastikas On Her Door"

"WASHINGTON -- George Washington University officials said a Jewish student who complained about swastikas showing up on her door put them there herself."

www.nbc4.com/news/14516979/detail.html

[prairiefox1]

I WOULD DEFEND SPENDING ALSO IF I WAS SPENDING OTHER PEOPLES MONEY! WOULDN''T YOU?

[prairiefox1]

DONATE MONEY TO GOD!

BUT HE FORGOT TO TELL YOU THAT HE CONSIDERED HIMSELF A GOD!

[ov442]

Grassley''''s comment "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."
What about us taxpayers who would like to have our taxes spent as intended?
------------------------------------------------------
Posted by Imspecter at 01:34 PM ===

Good one Imspecter.

Is this guy a joke though? i mean c''mon hes a rich televangelist with the last name Dollar?
and he preaches about making ourselves and him rich too?
God Al''mighty.

[prinzowhales]

ON Alex Jones today, they are saying that the Reverend Hagee preached today that Jesus was not the Messiah. This should be a rude shock to the thousands who listen to him.

[feelfree1]

Related:

"Blumenthal opens the video by interviewing Tom Delay, who when asked how much the "Second Coming" plays into his support for Israel, says, "obviously, it''''s what I live for, I hope it comes tomorrow."

"Delay closed by saying, "we have to be connected to Israel to enjoy the second coming."

www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/58017/

[anitaymoore]

Honestly guys it doesn''t matter if our president has a fleet of planes...he''s not a non-profit organization....churches are, that''s a marked difference. Besides that the President doesn''t OWN the planes he flies on...our country does, and those planes are used by several government officials...as well as preceding presidents and subsequent presidents.

No church leader should be accepting a Rolls Royce as a gift...it''s totally inappropriate. That should have been turned back over to the church, sold...and the money sent out to benefit "ministries". Besides that...if his lifestyle already appears to make a Rolls Royce a "reasonable" gift...then he''s living waaaaaaay too high on the hog....because I can tell you, my lifestyle doesn''t say "she should be driving a Rolls Royce."...a Honda, Grand Am...heck even a Lexus...but definitely not a Rolls Royce.

[logicanada]

Televangelists take the money during ''offering''. In closed chambers after service they throw it all skyward saying, "God will keep what He wants, the rest will fall to earth for me". Crooks one and all.

[adasher1]

While I do not subscribe to the worlds largest hoax, a.k.a. religion, I must say I study the bible, perhaps more then these %u2018evangelists%u2019 because there is a line in there that says %u201CThen Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven%u2026%u2026.Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." Did they simply bypass that line when they read the book, or did they not read the book?

[andor3]

"...preachers have to make a living like you and I, they must be doing a good job to be making millions.."

Do people really believe this? That the success of a religious leader is measured by his income and revenue stream? By that measure, Jesus did not do a good job.

[krenz4]

Isnt it funny that Mr. Dollar has done nothing wrong, but there is his face alongside this article. shame on you Tucker, you have never heard one negative word against this man''s ministry either from the media, or his community, or his followers. He has no *** scandal brewing and he is involved in no cover ups, but you jump in and call him a charlatan. If members of his congregation want to give him an expensive gift with their own money, why not? (Have you seen the popes jewelry collection) I also wanna know, why, when there are 1 or 2 black televangelists out there on this financial scale, would they put his picture next to this article? (to impugn his character of course. Making the "scandal factor'' easier to swallow for you muckrakers out there. Nothing like a black face to make some of us willing to belive the worst!) there are many other evangelists out there that have been caught stealing and cheating their churches and their wirves, why not picture them? And why is the FBI involved in this? HMMM? Here we go on another witch hunt.If there is a black man out there, decent or indecent, with any kind of money, he better look out, cause this country will make him the poster boy for their "new morality" C dollar is a respected Black christian leader who has had no problems in his church or his community. I''ll bet he is not as rich as B. Graham, or some of the other more prominent, well connected Televangelists out there, but yup, here he is front and center with this article.

[awenshok]

This is nothing more than Grassley attempting to preserve the cozy Republican relationship with Christo-fundamentalists by running cover for these rightwing tele-buddies. (Notably absent is Bush''s bud, Joel Osteen. He''s the BIG player in the Lotto-Salvation game.)They''ll come thru with their Rolex''s and Rolls Royces intact and be immune from investigation when the Democrats hold the White House. Just more Congressional smoke and mirrors.

[michellem99-2009]

I don''t watch their programmes, I do not give them money. It is not God''s money. Let the Govt check them out and if they have nothing to fear then they will know. If they be crafty then yes..they will be dealt with.

[texas468]

krenz4, get a grip!!! I watched 2 different new channels about this, and I wasn''t even AWARE that Pastor Dollar was even involved! I live in the South too - surprised??? I don''t care who it is, these people - no matter WHAT race - that pocket money "in the name of the Lord" need to be looked at. All of them. And be punished if found they have pocketed $$ from their followers. As another person here mentioned, this isn''t the Lord''s money. These people are creeps......and no, it''s not a "race thing"....

[watcher269-2009]

Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.
~ Denis Diderot

[oscarez]

"If members of his congregation want to give him an expensive gift with their own money, why not?"

It is not OK when these people are using my tax dollar to subsidize their lifestyle. I say tax the whole bunch.

[tina361]

You know sometimes we need to let God handle his business. After all those things which are meant for evil, God can tune to Good!!!!!!!!! Just remember we all have fail short!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[krenz4]

Sigh, some Crackers just wont get it!

[tina361]

You know if you look at the bigger picture Jesus wasn''t excepted by everyone eithr. I think if you trust in the Lord and believe that he willl take care of you then there is nothing to worry about. I pay my tithes and I truly believe that if it''s not used as it should be then a higher power will take care of it. It''s not our jobs to judge it our job to lift the name of Jesus.

[mennowoman]

Amen to everyone who is pointing out that wealth is not a measure of God''s love and that ministers and wealth don''t go together. The original meaning of the word "minister" is "servant" or "waiter." I wonder when was the last time any of these rich tv evangelists served or waited on anyone? It sounds like they are taking all the pampering they can get. On the day before he died, Christ took a towel and a basin and washed the feet of his disciples, an act of loving service to demonstrate how Christians should serve one another. That was a very lowly thing for him to do. He didn''t ask his disciples to pamper him, he did the dirtiest and most horrible job, ususally done by the lowest-ranking servant. Jesus also said that in the kingdom of God, the ones who seek fame and riches are actually the lowest ranking people, and the people who clean the toilets are the highest ranking people. I wonder when was the last time Mr. Dollar cleaned a toilet.

The state of American Christianity sickens me sometimes. Jesus fish and singing Awesome God while totally ignoring Christ''s teachings does NOT make someone a Christian.

[liberalme]

They have the biggest houses, nicest cars-I don''t think they shop much at Walmart for clothes either.

We DO NOT or EVER HAD TO pay to pray!!!

Jesus--God--Allah--Mohammed---they don''t have any need for money--thats what the Bible-Koran or whatever religous reading material is for!

Any and all organized religions will ask for money, and the leaders of those religions live better than any one of us-so obviously--God ain''t getting much of that--perhaps a mighty "thank you" from the church leader!

[liberalme]

I know many people who can quote chapter and verse--but don''t ask them what it means--they have just memorized it.

[cdegolier]

They are all a bunch of crooks. God never asks for money. God doesn''t care if you honor him in your own home or in a church.

[eggy1620]

Jesus fish and singing Awesome God while totally ignoring Christ''''s teachings does NOT make someone a Christian. Posted by mennowoman

Telling other people how to live their lives while you indulge in all the vices against which you preach . . . that is what makes someone a Christian, at least in this country.

[bitanmax]

People you are crazy if you think that these televangelist are for Jesus, Jesus did not even have a place to lay his head, he walked this world preaching and teaching, he was a Servant, not a taker, Joyce Meyer and all her kids live in a Multi-millon dollar mansions, (her daughter did not like hers they tore it down and built her a bigger one) they are gaining this world in the Name of Jesus, They should be ashamed and so should the people that give to them, if you are giving money to get money(expecting it back) then you are just wasting your time, Juanita Bynum said she was born to be a Billonaire, well she is probably living her heaven here on earth, read this link, http://www.inplainsite.org/html/tele-evangelist_lifestyles.html it tells you all about those people!

[bitanmax]

Oh, Yeah I would never go to a church that paid the Minister to Be the Minister, did Jesus get paid, did Paul, Peter, James, John, etc

[gunownerdan]

Gullible people have given their money and lives to rich self righteous religious nuts for centuries ,why would they stop now?

[onelif]

There is a lot of vitriol here towards preachers and churches. Any minister has to pay taxes on his income just like all other Americans. If a Rolls Royce or a Volkswagen is giving to hi by his church, he has to pay tax on the gift as though income. Because these guys (& girls) travel 150,000 miles annually, their corporations sometimes purchase jets which are deductible expenses just as with ANY corporation.

Most universities and hospitals were started by churches. Many still carry name of St. Dominick''s or Methodist, etc. Why the hatred toward Christian churches? And why are only 6 non-denominational leaders selected when the cardinals and bishops of the Catholic Church live here in America in opulence with mansions decorated with artwork costing in the millions?