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Without Walls Turns Over Financial Documents
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Published: April 1, 2008
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TAMPA - Attorneys for Randy and Paula White, founders of Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries, today turned over financial documents to U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa.
Grassley, ranking member of the Senate's finance committee, is asking the Whites and the heads of five other mega-ministries for financial and business information to make sure they aren't abusing their tax-exempt status.
The Whites submitted a cover letter and a spiral-bound document nearly an inch-and-a-half thick, said Jill Gerber, a Grassley spokeswoman. The cover letter emphasizes confidentiality of the submitted materials, she said.
"Sen. Grassley believes in making the public's business public while being reasonable about sensitive material that could lead to identity theft or other fraud," she said.
The attorneys described the material as the "initial production" of documents, she said. Grassley's office will be in touch with the Whites about the timetable for getting the rest of the documents.
On Nov. 5, Grassley sent letters to six ministries and gave them a month to answer questions about church expenses, use of donations and business practices. He said the church leaders' lavish lifestyles attracted his attention.
Others under review are Joyce Meyer Ministries, Benny Hinn Ministries, Creflo and Taffi Dollar of World Changers Church International, Eddie Long of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, and Kenneth and Gloria Copeland of Kenneth Copeland Ministries.
The Whites and several of the other ministers failed to comply or dragged their feet.
Last month, U.S. Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., joined Grassley's inquiry and gave the ministries until Monday to cooperate. The addition of Baucus, chairman of the committee, raised the possibility of subpoenas for those who don't comply.
Only Meyer has answered most of the questions; Hinn initially answered five of 28 questions, but submitted more documents and data. Attorneys for the Dollars in Atlanta challenged the senator to subpoena the information. Long, another Atlanta-area evangelist, indicated last week that the ministry will cooperate.
Once Grassley's office receives the information, staff will review the material to determine whether the ministries have abused their tax-exempt status.
Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668 or bhelgeson@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( buurt ) on April 1, 2008 at 6:31 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Ugh these people make me sick. No wonder so many people are turned off by Christianity.
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Posted by ( JoeJ ) on April 1, 2008 at 7:23 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
What does Randy or Paula White have to do with Christianity?The behavior of others is irrelevant to your personal relationship with the Son of the Living God. His name is Jesus and he loves you so much he died for you so that you could live eternally with the family of God. Judge Him, and you'll find no flaw in Christianity.
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Posted by ( nprvoice ) on April 1, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I hear you JoeJ...
I don't worship God through other people.
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Posted by ( picogator ) on April 1, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Church Without Walls...or may be a Fiscal Conscience. It is about time the financial records have been surrendered.
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Posted by ( mooshu ) on April 1, 2008 at 7:58 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
“I think that the protections that we enjoy for freedom of worship exist so long as we don’t step over the line. When religious worship and belief cross over into things like fraud, victimization of others and the disruption of the political arena, that protection is no longer appropriate.”
--Robert Goff
Professor Emeritus,UCSC
Please let Occupied Clearwater be next!
When churches are best understood by forensic accountants...
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Posted by ( nykrfan ) on April 1, 2008 at 8:15 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
buurt----as the saying goes--one bad apple doesn't spoil all the others. You pick the damaged one out and the others are left for people to enjoy. If the non-believers had their way all they'd have us believe in was tree hugging. Let's not forget who gave us the trees.
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Posted by ( ohboy ) on April 1, 2008 at 9:34 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
JoeJ - Well said. Jesus said: no one comes to the father except through me.
Those who give their hard earned money to people like Paula and Randy Wright are fools, and are receiving their treasures here.
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Posted by ( blish ) on April 1, 2008 at 11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
why didn't this Senator also go after the Church of Scientology?
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Posted by ( anitarose ) on April 2, 2008 at 1:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Blish---perhaps you should contact the Senator's office and ask that question. I for one would LOVE to see someone investigate the Church of Scientology.
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Posted by ( zteam55 ) on April 2, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
"Specially prepared" financial documents i'm sure.
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Posted by ( Bonsai ) on April 2, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Say what you want about the Church of Scientology but at least they have NOT come trolling my neighborhood or knocking on my door telling me I'll go to hell if I don't repent and go to their church. Can't say that about the Baptists or the ultimate in money-grabbers - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My own church several years ago told me that if I didn't give them 10% of what I had I was no longer welcome. Churches are all alike!
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Posted by ( ohboy ) on April 2, 2008 at 8:02 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Bonsai: Sorry to read of your bad experience at your former church, but I have to say that all churched are NOT alike.
The Bible does say we should tithe, but you shouldn't be asked to leave your church if you don't. That's a very personal decision between you and God.
Try another church.
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Posted by ( buurt ) on April 2, 2008 at 10:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
You guys took what I said the wrong way....I'm a Christian I understand what you guys are saying but if I was NOT a Christian and I see things like this I can see how its a turn off
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Posted by ( dogworld ) on April 2, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
JoeJ, The Whites are Christians running a Christian church. If you'd stop dis-identifying with them and admit this has become the face of Christianity you wouldn't have to preach on this thread.
State your beliefs as YOUR beliefs and not as absolute facts.
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Posted by ( zepplinblu ) on May 2, 2008 at 10:44 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
hey ohboy -- what are you trying to be good and evil at the same time. the problem seems to be you think you have the right to make judgement and declare who is right or wrong. what credentials do you have to make the foolish statements leave your church don't go to P&R. You are a buffoon.
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