As a Christian with a missionary mind, where I visit, the average
Christian believer may make $ 2.00
a day. If they have their own
New Testament which costs 30 cents,
they are greatly blessed. Here the
prosperity gospel epicurians are
having a lifestyle of 6 million
Dollar mansion, 20 million private
jet flying around the world, simply preaching the gospel of
prosperity and getting rich beyond
their imaginatilons. God's cleaning of the house will start someday soon,
because all these electronic preachers are misusing the name of God for their prosperity.
Copeland invited an IRS investigation which Grassley should have started this whole thing with. He could obtain all the info he wanted but would be required to keep it confidential. So why not go that route as he would with any other organization? The outcome of this investigation will affect all of us down the road.
Jackson, do you have a link for Copeland's request? I've not heard anything about that and I think that if this were the case, Copeland would be trumpeting that as we type.
http://
www.believersstandunited....legal_docs.html
There is a link to all the documents that have been exchanged. Yes, Copeland HAS invited an IRS investigation. I guess that's another part of the story much of the media is failing to report.
But, Jackson, the flip side is that, I DON'T think voluntary testimony to the IRS could be used by Senate Finance to set new tax policy. I'm pretty sure IRS rules are quite specific on that, and that's why such an offer would be no good to Grassley.
Now, short of subpoena, no, Copeland isn't required to give anything to Grassley. But I can quote Romans on "governing authorities" perfectly well, too.
The MSM did cover the six televangelists' suggestions of an IRS review only; I thought you were referring to a new, more specific restatement of that.
I offer a quote from one news story on Congress vis-a-vis IRS:
"Congress has a legitimate interest in making sure nonprofit rules are followed because confidentiality rules make it hard to track IRS enforcement, said Marc Stern, general counsel of the American Jewish Congress, who advises religious groups on church-state issues."
http://www.foxnews.com/story/
0,2...,315428,00.html
More on the IRS/Congress distinction, from Grassley himself:
Some ministries have said Grassley's inquiries about private planes, oceanside mansions, board oversight and involvement in for-profit businesses should be handled by the Internal Revenue Service, but the latest letters cite the Finance Committee's jurisdiction measuring the effectiveness of tax-exempt policy, saying that role is distinct from the IRS job of enforcing existing law.
'This ought to clear up any misunderstanding about our interest and the committee's role,' Grassley said. 'We have an obligation to oversee how the tax laws are working for both tax-exempt organizations and taxpayers.'
http://www.forbes.com/markets/
fe...afx4765680.html
Next, per an ABC story. Sen. Mark Hatfield suggested a self-accountability organization, and the result:
" The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability was formed in 1979, requiring its members to fully disclose their finances to donors. None of the six televangelists belongs to the group, according to its president, Kenneth Behr."
http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw...=3950020&
page=3
In other words, Kenneth Copeland looks an awful lot like a man trying to hide something. He's ultimately got nobody to blame but himself. Ditto for the others Grassley would like to hear from ; Joyce Meyer has already responded, of course.
You talk a lot of SMACK Gadfly. Come on in the ring with me and I'll smack you down like a gadfly. Get it?
Grassley needs to go ahead and admit his mishandling of this situation. Copeland is obviously going to fight this to the end and his support is growing. Grassley's camp's most recent nepotism angled attack on Copeland is yet another sign to me that they are struggling to fight some solid ground to stand on in this case.
Fake Kenneth, bring it on.
Still... not mishandled at all... read the biblical quotes. Copeland mishandled.
I can't believe this "investigation" has not seen an end yet. Copeland has not backed down, but only gathered support. Grassley obviously didn't find what he expected, and never did enforce the sub peonas he threatened. Let's end this now.
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