Televangelists

15,132 Views | 190 Replies | Last: 10 yr ago by AuditAg
kurt vonnegut
How long do you want to ignore this user?

quote:
I'm not hiding anything. I dislike atheists singling out religious scams as being specially bad.


Consider the person that is responsible for something like the 'Nigerian email scam'. This person is attempting to trick someone into giving out personal information or money and providing false hope for a great return. I say that this is 'bad'. Now consider a religious fraud attempting to trick people into giving money. Not only is he/she providing a false hope for a great return, but he/she is also manipulating at another level by with this suggestion that by not giving money, they are turning their back on God. They are taking advantage of a person's very basic desire to do a moral thing to extort money, in many cases, to the point of poverty or bankruptcy. This isn't just 'bad', it is especially bad.

I wholly reject your claim that I cannot be outraged by this. I wholly reject your claim that I cannot find it worse than other kinds of frauds.

EDIT - for the record, I would say that there are other things that fall into the 'especially bad' category other than religious scams. I'm not holding religion to any higher standard. Medical scams, as you pointed out, in some cases probably qualify for this especially bad category - particularly when a child's life or health is involved.

quote:
If you're not religious, like I said, this isn't really your issue.

Bull$#&*! Is it not my issue when a religious authority touches little boys? Is it not my issue if a tax exempt church lobbies for a political candidate? These religious extortionists do not represent all religious groups or persons - and I presume they do not represent you. Why on Earth would you defend their 'right' to not be criticized from 'outside the faith'. Total Bull#$*(!

If the Freedom From Religion Foundation is found to be doing something highly illegal or unethical, does this mean this isn't your issue and you get no say? Of course not! This goes both ways.
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I'm going to address your response to my second quote first. My post was in response to issues with Osteen's theology. As someone that's not religious I don't get your objection to his prosperity gospel. The fraud there is religious in nature. He's selling a false message, claiming it's from God.
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
As to the first quote, many scams like the Nigerian email scam also appeal to sympathy. You are being paid to do a good deed. That is also an appeal to guilt and morals.

Totally apart from that, appeals to guilt and morals are key aspects of many fraud scams. Haven't you run into the woman that's trying to help her friend get away from an abusive husband? They're trying to get you to "do the right thing."
kurt vonnegut
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
I'm going to address your response to my second quote first. My post was in response to issues with Osteen's theology. As someone that's not religious I don't get your objection to his prosperity gospel. The fraud there is religious in nature. He's selling a false message, claiming it's from God.
.
Fair enough. I think I saw Joel Osteen in some of the posts and decided not to read them.
kurt vonnegut
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
As to the first quote, many scams like the Nigerian email scam also appeal to sympathy. You are being paid to do a good deed. That is also an appeal to guilt and morals.

Totally apart from that, appeals to guilt and morals are key aspects of many fraud scams. Haven't you run into the woman that's trying to help her friend get away from an abusive husband? They're trying to get you to "do the right thing."


All I'm saying is that I think it's reasonable to call certain types of frauds worse than others as long as one is consistent in doing so and not labeling unfairly based on bias. I don't see any reason why you should object to an atheist calling this sort of fraud worse than your run of the mill fraud. It's not an attack on you or anything you stand for I don't think . . .
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
quote:
As to the first quote, many scams like the Nigerian email scam also appeal to sympathy. You are being paid to do a good deed. That is also an appeal to guilt and morals.

Totally apart from that, appeals to guilt and morals are key aspects of many fraud scams. Haven't you run into the woman that's trying to help her friend get away from an abusive husband? They're trying to get you to "do the right thing."


All I'm saying is that I think it's reasonable to call certain types of frauds worse than others as long as one is consistent in doing so and not labeling unfairly based on bias. I don't see any reason why you should object to an atheist calling this sort of fraud worse than your run of the mill fraud. It's not an attack on you or anything you stand for I don't think . . .


One reason is because a focus on this will be used to crack down on legitimate churches. Look, you could just as easily run a great piece on very wealthy folks using tax advantages foundations to provide high paying jobs to children's, friends and other family.

But that's not really being done. Really, focusing on religious abuse of the tax code is entirely bizarre. Half the country is ready to elect as President a woman doing basically the same thing with a purportedly charitable foundation. You can't tell me that in general people approach this stuff without bias.

I'm not trying to derail the thread. But I do think perspective here is important. This isn't a religious issue. Fraud is fraud. Religion is just one instrument used. The people that really SHOULD object and call it out are religious people. To everyone else, this should be no worse than other tax fraud scams or medical care scams. And there are tons of those.
Emma Chris Todd
How long do you want to ignore this user?
So now to call out or discuss horrendous fraud we must also research and post all other fraud that is on the same level? The Internet is so hard these days.
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
So now to call out or discuss horrendous fraud we must also research and post all other fraud that is on the same level? The Internet is so hard these days.


No. But it's worth acknowledging the basic point. But you can go back in your cocoon if you need to.
Emma Chris Todd
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I'm outraged at all fraud and want to end all tax exemptions. Am I okay or am I violating the laws against christian Internet persecution?
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
I'm outraged at all fraud and want to end all tax exemptions. Am I okay or am I violating the laws against christian Internet persecution?


I look forward to seeing you state the case for the elimination of all charitable tax exemptions. Will you be making the case on the politics board?
Emma Chris Todd
How long do you want to ignore this user?
why would I bring my case to those ignorant mongrels? That's a silly question Jacques dewshsteau

Edit 7:40

No matter how much I like or hate the organization nor how much you like or hate the organization should affect their tax status. None should be tax free or all should be tax free.

I know that's tough for people who love to use govt to push their agenda. Sorry SJW jacques
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
http://listverse.com/2014/12/16/10-of-the-richest-tax-exempt-organizations/


You can start with the Susan G Komen Foundation.

To prove your point, start a thread on politics and make your case.
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
why would I bring my case to those ignorant mongrels? That's a silly question Jacques dewshsteau



Fine. Make it here. Susan G Komen. Then the Smithsonian.
kurt vonnegut
How long do you want to ignore this user?

quote:
One reason is because a focus on this will be used to crack down on legitimate churches. Look, you could just as easily run a great piece on very wealthy folks using tax advantages foundations to provide high paying jobs to children's, friends and other family.

Good point! There is never any concern or outcry about wealthy persons or corporations abusing the tax system (note sarcasm).


quote:
But that's not really being done. Really, focusing on religious abuse of the tax code is entirely bizarre.

Outside of maybe some hardcore atheist organizations, who is focused on this? Abuse of religious tax exemptions is not a nationally discussed topic. Spineless politicians are never going to touch the issue for fear of appearing anti-religion despite the obvious fact that there is potential for abuse.


quote:
Half the country is ready to elect as President a woman doing basically the same thing with a purportedly charitable foundation. You can't tell me that in general people approach this stuff without bias.
Of course we all have a bias, but having a positive bias does not give you exclusive rights to criticism of the object of the bias. And in the same way, having a positive bias towards religion does not give someone exclusive rights to be critical of religion or its institutions.


quote:
I'm not trying to derail the thread. But I do think perspective here is important. This isn't a religious issue. Fraud is fraud. Religion is just one instrument used.

I'm with you 100% here!


quote:
The people that really SHOULD object and call it out are religious people. To everyone else, this should be no worse than other tax fraud scams or medical care scams. And there are tons of those.
And you've lost me. . . . You seem to be saying that unless I am religious, I should have no vested interest in protecting people from religious charlatans. Again, my response is to call Bull#$#%!

I feel like your suggesting that because I'm not religious, I should only focus on non-religious frauds. It reminds me of the Catholic Church telling the world; "Don't worry about the priests that abused little boys - this is an internal matter and we'll deal with it".

I don't know why you are bringing up Susan G. or the Smithsonian. . . Are you questioning mine or ECT's consistency in criticism? I am happy to openly criticize those organizations and more to the point - the tax code that lets them get away with this. What does any of this have to do with being able to criticize an abusive religious organization? How does any of this address my reasons for saying that, all things considered, some frauds are more damaging and devious than others?

Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:

quote:
One reason is because a focus on this will be used to crack down on legitimate churches. Look, you could just as easily run a great piece on very wealthy folks using tax advantages foundations to provide high paying jobs to children's, friends and other family.

Good point! There is never any concern or outcry about wealthy persons or corporations abusing the tax system (note sarcasm).

Really? Please provide me some PROOF that the people that would be concerned about this kind of fraud are concerned about Hillary's fraudulent tax exempt foundation. Actual evidence. Maybe a clip from Jon Stewart. Or this fellow. I'd like some proof from you to. Maybe links to threads you've posted on. I can't just accept your word here after you've gone on and on about this that you care equally.


quote:
But that's not really being done. Really, focusing on religious abuse of the tax code is entirely bizarre.

Outside of maybe some hardcore atheist organizations, who is focused on this? Abuse of religious tax exemptions is not a nationally discussed topic. Spineless politicians are never going to touch the issue for fear of appearing anti-religion despite the obvious fact that there is potential for abuse.

Oh, well...hmm. Is Oliver a hardcore atheist?

quote:
Half the country is ready to elect as President a woman doing basically the same thing with a purportedly charitable foundation. You can't tell me that in general people approach this stuff without bias.
Of course we all have a bias, but having a positive bias does not give you exclusive rights to criticism of the object of the bias. And in the same way, having a positive bias towards religion does not give someone exclusive rights to be critical of religion or its institutions.

Well, see, you can't just care here about religion taking advantage of tax exemptions. That's EXACTLY the concern. That you and people LIKE you are using some examples of fraud by religion to go after it more generally while leaving alone other instances of fraud.

quote:
I'm not trying to derail the thread. But I do think perspective here is important. This isn't a religious issue. Fraud is fraud. Religion is just one instrument used.

I'm with you 100% here!


quote:
The people that really SHOULD object and call it out are religious people. To everyone else, this should be no worse than other tax fraud scams or medical care scams. And there are tons of those.
And you've lost me. . . . You seem to be saying that unless I am religious, I should have no vested interest in protecting people from religious charlatans. Again, my response is to call Bull#$#%!

I feel like your suggesting that because I'm not religious, I should only focus on non-religious frauds. It reminds me of the Catholic Church telling the world; "Don't worry about the priests that abused little boys - this is an internal matter and we'll deal with it".

I don't know why you are bringing up Susan G. or the Smithsonian. . . Are you questioning mine or ECT's consistency in criticism? I am happy to openly criticize those organizations and more to the point - the tax code that lets them get away with this. What does any of this have to do with being able to criticize an abusive religious organization? How does any of this address my reasons for saying that, all things considered, some frauds are more damaging and devious than others?

I can object that these people are abusing what I believe in. You can't. For you, this is no different than HRC's foundation (which you're going to provide me PROOF you care as much about, right?).

I brought up Susan G. Komen and the Smithsonian because Emma Todd said he/she was against ALL tax exemptions. I asked him/her to justify taking down those (mainly to test the veracity of that claim). He/she hasn't done it. I suspect he/she is NOT actually for what he/she said she was. The point is credibility. It's not going to go like this, okay: Let's get rid of the religious tax exemption and fraud...and THEN talk about the other stuff. It's not going to go like that. I know you and others WANT it to. But that's not the way the game's going to be played. You need to demonstrate credibility on the issue. And as long as half the country is willing to vote for someone running a tax free charitable scam, you can't show credibility on this issue.

There are other boards here, other boards in the internet world...maybe somewhere you've posted this much about the Clinton Foundation and it's horrible abuse of the tax system. If not, WHY NOT? Why doesn't THAT abuse draw you out? Isn't it very problematic that a Presidential candidate can get away with abusing the code like that? If they can, then why are we going after religious organizations? It's really not okay at all to target one kind of tax fraud like that while letting the political/elite class get away with it. This is the objection to what the IRS did with Lerner. When you have regulatory law enforcement like that with broad powers it's not appropriate to exercise them just to take down your enemies while you let your friends slide.


kurt vonnegut
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I'm not sure what to say to that nonsense. . . . I'm going to lunch and will respond later.
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
I'm not sure what to say to that nonsense. . . . I'm going to lunch and will respond later.
What is nonsense about this? Who are you going to ask to enforce these tax laws? The IRS, right?

We've just seen how that works. Go after one side, leave your friends alone. That's not happening again. It's not because I want bad guys protected. It's because I don't want bad and good guys on one side harassed while bad guys on the OTHER side walk free.

Again, maybe John Oliver and Jon Stewart and other non-atheists are really as equally hardcore about shutting down foundations run by wealthy New Yorkers for tax benefits. They're very popular. Set it up, get tax free treatment, give your friends and families jobs, hold lavish fundraising parties...heck, John Oliver might have even attended a few of those! They're popular with entertainers, too.
Emma Chris Todd
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I would love for us to end tax exemptions for like Komen, Hilary's crap foundation, the smithsonian, boy scouts, planned parenthood, your church, the local food pantry, etc

Holy crap my phone refuses to type komen
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
I would love for us to end tax exemptions for like Komen, Hilary's crap foundation, the smithsonian, boy scouts, planned parenthood, your church, the local food pantry, etc

Holy crap my phone refuses to type komen

I appreciate you're saying so. I'm sure you mean it. State the case for ending it for Komen and the Smithsonian.
LHoward-2002
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
I would love for us to end tax exemptions for like Komen, Hilary's crap foundation, the smithsonian, boy scouts, planned parenthood, your church, the local food pantry, etc

Holy crap my phone refuses to type komen
The FSM put joel osteen on this earth to take advantage of the mentally weak, stupid and uneducated. Idiots will always be separated from their money.
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Lots of cancer, police and firefighter charities on this list:

http://www.tampabay.com/americas-worst-charities/

It's actually hard to do a great analysis though because so few provide audited statements.
kurt vonnegut
How long do you want to ignore this user?

quote:
Really? Please provide me some PROOF that the people that would be concerned about this kind of fraud are concerned about Hillary's fraudulent tax exempt foundation. Actual evidence. Maybe a clip from Jon Stewart. Or this fellow. I'd like some proof from you to. Maybe links to threads you've posted on. I can't just accept your word here after you've gone on and on about this that you care equally.

I'll see if I can find some clips, though I don't know what you'll consider proof. This seems an odd request - provide PROOF that Jon Stewart, John Oliver, or I care equally about different types of frauds. You might as well ask for me to prove that my favorite color is blue.

This is really the only forum that I post on and most of it is philosophical and religious. You won't find any postings of mine where I condemn the supreme court decision to remove limits on individual donations to political campaigns. But I do! The absence of my condemnation toward HRC does not equal an endorsement of her nor is it reasonable to use in concluding that I think her sham fund is okay. In short, I feel no need to prove what I think to you. My arguments stand on their own independently of who or what I am.


quote:
Oh, well...hmm. Is Oliver a hardcore atheist?
In any given week, some corporation or politician is in the news for tax evasion, embezzlement, or something. How often is religious fraud an issue of national discussion. Religious institutions are very protected. Like I said, no politician or mainstream news agency would dare touch this subject because they fear people like you who will view an attack on one pastor as an attack against all of religion.


quote:
Well, see, you can't just care here about religion taking advantage of tax exemptions. That's EXACTLY the concern. That you and people LIKE you are using some examples of fraud by religion to go after it more generally while leaving alone other instances of fraud.

What did I do or say that suggested I only care about religious abuse of tax laws? You have fabricated some story about me having a Crusade against religious fraud only. You don't know me.

And how have I used this very specific issue to go after religion more generally? I go after religion in a general sense for VERY VERY different reasons. You cannot accuse me of lumping all religious people into the sleezy fraudulent televangelist category because they claim to pray to the same God. Stop making up some story about me or making these assumptions and just ask me what I think.


quote:
I can object that these people are abusing what I believe in. You can't. For you, this is no different than HRC's foundation (which you're going to provide me PROOF you care as much about, right?).

I brought up Susan G. Komen and the Smithsonian because Emma Todd said he/she was against ALL tax exemptions. I asked him/her to justify taking down those (mainly to test the veracity of that claim). He/she hasn't done it. I suspect he/she is NOT actually for what he/she said she was. The point is credibility. It's not going to go like this, okay: Let's get rid of the religious tax exemption and fraud...and THEN talk about the other stuff. It's not going to go like that. I know you and others WANT it to. But that's not the way the game's going to be played. You need to demonstrate credibility on the issue. And as long as half the country is willing to vote for someone running a tax free charitable scam, you can't show credibility on this issue.

There are other boards here, other boards in the internet world...maybe somewhere you've posted this much about the Clinton Foundation and it's horrible abuse of the tax system. If not, WHY NOT? Why doesn't THAT abuse draw you out? Isn't it very problematic that a Presidential candidate can get away with abusing the code like that? If they can, then why are we going after religious organizations? It's really not okay at all to target one kind of tax fraud like that while letting the political/elite class get away with it. This is the objection to what the IRS did with Lerner. When you have regulatory law enforcement like that with broad powers it's not appropriate to exercise them just to take down your enemies while you let your friends slide.



For the first paragraph - do you not agree that fraud has different levels? I make a distinction between unethical use of donated money and the unethical use of donated money obtained by the use of extortion and threat.

Again, The fact that I've responded to this abuse does not mean I overlook other abuses. Its simply the only tax related fraudulent issue I've ever addressed in these forums.

I don't need to demonstrate any credibility here. I propose ideas and they stand on their own. My ideas are not more or less useful or true because of who I am. The fact that you think I need to prove my credibility in acting in a non-bias way in order for you to consider my arguments serious is pretty revealing. And with that, I'm done with this discussion. Take my ideas and arguments or leave them - attaching them to my character shows an enormous immaturity in your ability to share ideas in this sort of format.
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I'll respond more fully later but the shirt response is this: if you can't prove to me you'll go after HRC like you will one of these guys you lose my support. I will resist you. And encourage others to resist you.

You can't really get mad I don't believe you. Do I have some obligation to take your word?
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
It's sort of a "fool me once" thing. We know the IRS will come down unfairly, and be used to take down specific enemies. Unless you have a plan to deal with that and the credibility to show you'll insist the IRS be fair, why should I let you start targeting religious groups? We did this before. We know the it's will abuse authority and be biased.
kurt vonnegut
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
I'll respond more fully later but the shirt response is this: if you can't prove to me you'll go after HRC like you will one of these guys you lose my support. I will resist you. And encourage others to resist you.

You can't really get mad I don't believe you. Do I have some obligation to take your word?


I have no clue how I can prove to you what I think about any other sort of tax abuse or unethical use of money by a charity. What a weird and outrageous request! I've already stated that I think the fraud is different and I've explained why. I've also already stated that there are non religious frauds that are as bad or worse than these guys. I have no interest in trying to prove anything to you.

I'll lose your support? I don't want your support. I want you to challenge my position on the merits of that position. I really don't care if you think I'm a hypocrite - address my posts and not my character.

You'll resist me and encourage others to do so also? That is among most childish things I've read on the R&P forum. You want to silence my opinion because you think I have some character flaw? Good grief!

Do you have an obligation to take my word? No! But I'm not asking you to vote for me! I'm not asking you to believe me. Do you not see how blatantly ad hominem these arguments are?
Amazing Moves
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
I'll respond more fully later but the shirt response is this: if you can't prove to me you'll go after HRC like you will one of these guys you lose my support. I will resist you. And encourage others to resist you.

You can't really get mad I don't believe you. Do I have some obligation to take your word?
Delusions of Grandeur much...

An Ag in CO
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I would think that honest doctors should be the most upset about doctors who commit fraud. But honest doctors can also be equally or more or less upset about other fraud.

Same goes for honest folk in any profession for obvious reasons. Guilt by association (hello lawyers and used car sellers!) can detract from all the good that is done by any particular profession.

You would think most Christians would be the most upset about religious fraud committed in the name of their religion while non-Christians probably view it as being on par with other fraud. But the guilt by association is pretty strong and it's not hard to see folks make the leap that all Christian money collection has at least some fraudulent component to it.
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
quote:
I'll respond more fully later but the shirt response is this: if you can't prove to me you'll go after HRC like you will one of these guys you lose my support. I will resist you. And encourage others to resist you.

You can't really get mad I don't believe you. Do I have some obligation to take your word?
Delusions of Grandeur much...




It's not just me. How much do you think people trust the IRS?

See, the problem you have is you want action, right? But to agency set up to do this isn't trustworthy. Do you trust the IRS to be fair? I don't. And a lot of people don't.

So this "we need to go after fraud religion" stuff isn't flying when it's clear that the people calling for it are not all that passionate about other fraud charities.

Get you and several million friends on the left to call for ending scams like the one HRC is running FIRST and you'll get support from the religious.

But right now, all we'd get is the IRS using this like a club to harass innocent churches. That's not going to fly.
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
I would think that honest doctors should be the most upset about doctors who commit fraud. But honest doctors can also be equally or more or less upset about other fraud.

Same goes for honest folk in any profession for obvious reasons. Guilt by association (hello lawyers and used car sellers!) can detract from all the good that is done by any particular profession.

You would think most Christians would be the most upset about religious fraud committed in the name of their religion while non-Christians probably view it as being on par with other fraud. But the guilt by association is pretty strong and it's not hard to see folks make the leap that all Christian money collection has at least some fraudulent component to it.



And yet, the political and wealthy elite class do NOTHING to stem abuse of the tax code with these foundations. You can't have enforcement work this way.
Silent For Too Long
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
quote:
.This is getting attention because using religion to defraud people (a) seems bad to religious people and (b) confirms what a lot of non-religious people think about religion.

But the fact is that TV is used to scam people all the time. And scam artists in general tend to manage to evade justice pretty well.

Look at the lives being lived by Jordan Belfort and Danny Porush. Those guys live huge and haven't paid restitution. The feds have chased Kevin Trudeau for 20+years. I think he's in jail now. But his infomercials still run.

Atheists shouldn't be any more upset about this than they would be your typical securities fraud case. This is an issue really only truly religious people have standing to be upset about. For the non-religious, this shouldn't be and isn't different than any other fraud case.
You are correct. I think what pisses people off about televangelists more than just garden variety scam artists is that everyone hates a hypocrite. Televangelists are hypocrites and scum. It reminds me of the incident a few years ago where Joel Osteen and his wife were flying to Aspen, CO (IN FIRST CLASS) and his wife slapped a flight attendant for not cleaning up a spill fast enough. Seems real Christian of them. Of course given what we just watched, maybe the Osteens should be praised for being "frugal" by: 1) Flying on an airline and not on a G6) and 2) Only going to Aspen and not St. Moritz.
That's not actually what happened, according to the Jury.

quote:
The wife of televangelist Joel Osteen did not assault a flight attendant during an angry tirade over a stain on her first-class seat, a jury ruled Thursday.

Jurors rejected Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown's claims that Victoria Osteen threw her against a bathroom door and elbowed her in the left breast while attempting to rush the cockpit because she was angry that a stain on her seat's armrest was not quickly cleaned up.
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2015/08/20/irs-televangelists-john-oliver/

No word on when they'll go after scam foundations. I guess they'll wait till Oliver tackles that issue. Oh well. At least we can count on the IRS to be fair.
ramblin_ag02
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
No word on when they'll go after scam foundations. I guess they'll wait till Oliver tackles that issue. Oh well. At least we can count on the IRS to be fair.
The IRS is not exactly a paragon of justice and impartiality, but it's hard to feel bad for these parasites. They exploit honest Christian faith for personal gain, and maybe just this once the IRS gets to be God's instrument of justice.
Star Wars Memes Only
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Kurt's replies have been incredible in this thread...
Jacques
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
quote:
No word on when they'll go after scam foundations. I guess they'll wait till Oliver tackles that issue. Oh well. At least we can count on the IRS to be fair.
The IRS is not exactly a paragon of justice and impartiality, but it's hard to feel bad for these parasites. They exploit honest Christian faith for personal gain, and maybe just this once the IRS gets to be God's instrument of justice.


It's not the creepy televangelists I'm sorry for. It's all the legit churches the IRS will use this to harass.

This is the problem with the IRS. It's corrupt. It's MORE corrupt and dirtier and more dishonest than the televangelists.
kurt vonnegut
How long do you want to ignore this user?
quote:
quote:
quote:
No word on when they'll go after scam foundations. I guess they'll wait till Oliver tackles that issue. Oh well. At least we can count on the IRS to be fair.
The IRS is not exactly a paragon of justice and impartiality, but it's hard to feel bad for these parasites. They exploit honest Christian faith for personal gain, and maybe just this once the IRS gets to be God's instrument of justice.


It's not the creepy televangelists I'm sorry for. It's all the legit churches the IRS will use this to harass.

This is the problem with the IRS. It's corrupt. It's MORE corrupt and dirtier and more dishonest than the televangelists.
You've got me curious now. . . Please point me in the direction of all of this IRS harassment of legit churches. A few minutes of research proved to be not fruitful. I found an article about a NY church that lost its 501(c)(3) status for taking out a political newspaper ad in 1992 and a subsequent enormous outcry and backlash against the IRS for enforcing a very clear cut case of a violation of what a tax exempt non profit organization can and cannot do. I also found an article where between 500 and 1000 pastors get together every year for an annual 'Pulpit Freedom Sunday' where they submit a video to the IRS with them making political statements during services as a "F U" to the IRS. To my knowledge, none have lost their tax exempt status despite the fact that they are literally filming themselves break the tax exemption rules and mailing it to the IRS.

My google searching skills may be slipping. . . point me to the IRS oppression of the churches. I can't find it. I'm not defending the IRS, but you may have watched too much Fox News and allowed yourself to be brainwashed into thinking there is a mass conspiracy against Christians afoot in this country.

I know, its hard being male, middle-class, white, heterosexual, and Christian. . . . .
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.