by Karen on April 9, 2008
Kenneth Copeland, one of the targets of an investigation by Senator Grassley, has apparently requested an audit by the IRS.
Attorneys for Kenneth Copeland Ministries sent a letter to the IRS’ Office of Examinations on Monday saying the church was willing to cooperate with a tax inquiry by the agency. Dallas television station KTVT first reported the North Texas-based church’s request for an IRS audit.
Leaders of the television ministry contend dozens of questions about expenses, executive compensation and amenities asked by Sen. Charles Grassley are similar to those posed in an IRS church tax inquiry. In the letter, attorneys for the ministry say the appropriate procedure would be for Grassley to obtain the information from the IRS after it conducts an audit of the church.
“At the conclusion of a properly conducted church tax inquiry, the Senate Committee on Finance could obtain the information Senator Grassley is seeking from the IRS through a request,” the letter said.
Copeland representatives previously delivered a letter to Grassley reiterating that the IRS, and not a Senate committee, should be dealing with the questions the Senator raised.
The request comes just days after a deadline set by Senator Grassley, whom Copeland declared a “holy war” on, went by without Copeland turning over the requested information.
I personally see this request as a sly move to make it seem like the church is cooperating while insulting both Grassley and the Senate Committee on Finance. If I understood the Wikipedia entry correctly, the finance committee has the authority to investigate the IRS.
If that’s true, Copeland’s latest move is not unlike telling your boss you have no intention of speaking to him regarding your job but you’ve got no problem setting down with his secretary and having the same discussion.
The arrogance is just mind-blowing. Too bad Grassley can’t fire Copeland like your boss could you, eh?
by Karen on February 1, 2008
Kenneth Copeland is claiming that Mike Huckabee supports him in his “holy war” against Senator Grassley and that that during a conversation with Huckabee about the investigation Huckabee literally screamed:
“Are you kidding me? Why should I stand with them and not stand with you? They’ve only got 11 percent approval rating.” And then he said, “Kenneth Copeland, I will stand with you.” He said, “You’re trying to get prosperity to the people and they’re trying to take it away from ‘em.” He said, “I will stand with you any time, anywhere, on any issue.” That settled that right there. I said, “Yeah, that’s my man! That’s my man, right there.”
I find it hard to believe that a Baptist, much less a Southern Baptist such as Huckabee, would support anyone preaching “prosperity” as it’s usually considered to be a corruption of “biblical” Christianity. So, either Copeland is lying (and I don’t think he is) or Huckabee is just another hypocrite who’ll say/do anything to get the support of the faith-heads.
Here’s the video of Copeland making the claim:
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by Karen on January 28, 2008
Last November Senator Grassley of Iowa decided to investigate claims that several prosperity gospel ministers were abusing their tax exempt status by using the loot donations they get via their ministries to fund their near obscene lifestyles.
It’s been an uphill battle since with the targeted ministers suddenly pronouncing their support for separation of church(es) and state.
Today it just took a turn for the funny with Kenneth Copeland apparently declaring a holy war against Senator Grassley (via The Carpetbagger Report):
In a Jan. 22 closed-circuit broadcast of his 2008 Ministers’ Conference obtained by Roll Call, Copeland pledges a holy war against “Brother Grassley” and the Senate for attempting to get a look at the controversial ministry’s finances. Grassley wrote a Nov. 6 letter to Copeland and five other prominent ministers requesting a variety of financial information.
Copeland seems to have practically come unhinged during the video declaring that “It’s not yours, it’s Gods and you’re not going to get it” and going so far as to dare Grassley to come at him with a “death penalty” if he think it’s applicable.
Lesson we should take from this: Never get between a pastor and his bank account.
