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 12, 2008
I’ve written a couple of posts about Kenneth Copeland and his holy war against Senator Grassley’s investigation, but a comment this morning reminded me of something that’s being overlooked in the scam that is the “prosperity gospel”.
What’s been overlooked is how Copeland and the rest get people to give them the money in the first place. As the story goes, the Christian god wants all Christians to have wonderful lives and if they don’t it’s only because they didn’t show enough faith. How does one show faith? By giving money and lots of it.
One such victim is Kristi’s mother Bonnie Parker. Bonnie Parker died in 2004 after refusing treatment for breast cancer (refusal of medical care is not uncommon amongst people who’ve been taught that faith is all you need). She died believing that she had not given Copeland’s empire enough money.
As far as Bonnie’s family can figure, the total amount is in the tens of thousands and possibly in the hundreds of thousands. Copeland’s empire has apparently stated that the total amount is a secret of the empire.
The preachers of the prosperity gospels aren’t just hypcocrites and frauds, they’re immoral, unethical and truly disgusting. Each and every one of them deserves nothing but scorn – at the very least.
by Karen on February 5, 2008
It seems Kenneth Copeland may be sued by Richard Branson for ripping off the name of Branson’s company Virgin Galactic:
Branson, who recently unveiled Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip 2 is claiming copyright infringement. Branson states, “Jesus Galactic is clearly a take-off on the name Virgin Galactic, which is copyrighted. This could clearly lead some people to become confused. Let’s not forget, Jesus’ mother was a virgin. We can also assume that Jesus was a virgin as well, since the Bible does not mention anything about Him, you know… getting down with the ladies. Anyway, our lawyers have assured me we have a good case here.”
Copeland has made the counter claim that it’s Branson who’s ripping off Christians because Christians believe their savior was born of a virgin. In Copeland’s universe this apparently means that the word virgin belongs to Christians and further claimed that:.
“… Richard Branson is a tool of Satan in bringing this frivolous lawsuit against us. Now, instead of focusing on building Jesus Galactic, and the ‘Mission To The Heavens’, we have to divert funds to pay our lawyers. It’s just like Satan to do this.”
The really funny thing is this story is fake, but oh so “true”. You really can imagine a Christian doing something like this, especially these superstar evangelical leaders like Copeland.
