Major Televangelists Evade Senate Fundraising Investigation

Sen. Chuck Grassley has wrapped up his three-year investigation into the fundraising practices of major televangelists. No action will be taken by the government, mostly because the figures being investigated refused to provide financial data.

The report by Sen. Chuck Grassley questions the personal use of church-owned airplanes, luxury homes and credit cards by pastors and their families, and a lack of financial oversight. But Grassley draws no specific conclusions about whether the ministries violated IRS rules that bar excessive compensation for leaders of religious nonprofits. Two of the targeted televangelists -- Joyce Meyer and Benny Hinn -- made changes in response to the inquiry. But Kenneth Copeland Ministries, Bishop Eddie Long, Creflo Dollar Ministries and televangelists Randy and Paula White refused to provide information, while insisting they comply with IRS rules.

Stand by for announcements of God's intervention!

Praying For Failure: Fundie Anoints Sotomayor Hearing Room With Oil

On Monday leading evangelical Rev. Rob Schenck crept into the U.S. Senate's darkened Hart Building to "anoint with oil" the door of the room where the SCOTUS confirmation hearing for Sonia Sotomayor is expected to take place, in order that Congress be struck by the holy spirit and refuse to confirm her.

As I prayed, I touched the doors in three spots, making the sign of the cross. I prayed for God to superintend over the entire confirmation process and mark them with truth because Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life," and He prayed to His Father, saying, "Thy Word is Truth." Of course, in the end, we always pray that God's will be done. There is so much we can do as part of this enormously consequential exercise, including letting our senators know how we feel about this nomination. Nothing, though, is as important as prayer. I invite you to join me in praying as often as you can during the entire hearing process beginning

(Via - Pam's House Blend)

Sex & Money Scandal At ORU

Richard Roberts, president of Oral Roberts University, has requested a leave of absence as allegations from all corners continue to roil his administration. Roberts' wife Lindsey is said to have spent the night in an ORU guest house with an underaged male on nine occasions. She has also been photographed with an underaged male in her sports car 29 times. Lindsey: "I live my life in a morally upright manner and throughout my marriage have never, ever engaged in any sexual behavior with any man outside of my marriage as the accusations imply."

Richard Roberts has been accused of using donations for lavish renovations of their home and for illegal participation in a local political campaign, which would jeopardize the school's non-profit status. Roberts also allegedly had financial records shredded after firing the school's comptroller.

The son of the university's namesake, famous pioneering televangelist Oral Roberts, Richard says that God told him to deny the charges. God: "We live in a litigious society. Anyone can get mad and file a lawsuit against another person whether they have a legitimate case or not. This lawsuit ... is about intimidation, blackmail and extortion." God talks fancy these days.

Mike Jones Tries Again

Mike Jones has managed to get his "Ted Haggard Massage Table" relisted on eBay. And now Rev. Karen Booth, the fundie that got it pulled the first time, in once again calling on her minions to barrage eBay with complaints. From her site, Transforming Congregations:

MEMO TO EBAY

From: Rev. Karen Booth
To: Customer Relations
Re: Offensive Listing

To Whom It May Concern:

I want to draw your attention to eBay item 290092184603 “Ted Haggard Massage Table.”

This item is not only offensive to any person in the eBay community who might be personally connected to Mr. Haggard, but is also highly offensive to Christians, particularly conservative evangelicals. I think it is a violation of eBay’s stated Community Values and I ask you to remove the listing from the eBay website.

I have put an alert on my ministry’s national website and have also informed other national Christian ministries, including the American Family Association. (The auction is also being discussed on several Internet blogs.) If the offensive listing is not removed, I will encourage my supporters to boycott eBay, which I also intend to do.

Rev. Booth is typically fundie-obsessed with homosexuals, check out her "hot topics" under "be informed" Or maybe just send her an email, laden with "Christian love", as I just did, @ transcong@aol.com.
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