http://www.24hourpreachingnetwork.com/inside-edition-investigates-tv-preachers-living-like-rock-stars/




sorry, don't know how do make this open instantly.


Any comments? 

link to story 

Matthew 19:24

?Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.? 

Why do you care? Do you care that rock stars live like rock stars? Do you care that football players, basketball players live like rock stars? Why are people against people having wealth in this country? 

Benny Hinn has gotta be the worst. I think A-list leading actresses are jealous of the rock on his finger! 

Why do you care?

I don't give a rat's ***. Everyone knows fools and their money are easily parted.
Just pay some f'ing taxes like the rest of us and quit hiding behind your theoretical deity as an excuse for being a tax evader . 

I agree James. These churches are TAX EXEMPT!!! This is absurd!! 

Just wondering - do pastors, such as these, draw a salary from the church? If so, assume that is taxed as income. 

These churches are TAX EXEMPT!!! This is absurd!!

Churches don't make any money so why should they pay taxes? you liberals sure do like to take people's money away from them. 

This has been going on for years. But really what pastor or anyone for that matter needs a fleet of airplanes? And he became VERY defensive when asked about them. Where's there's smoke, there's fire! 

I agree James. These churches are TAX EXEMPT!!! This is absurd!!

Churches are exempt. Their pastors are not. They pay income taxes on their salaries, just like everyone else. 

Where's there's smoke, there's fire!

Concerning what? 

Churches are exempt. Their pastors are not. They pay income taxes on their salaries, just like everyone else

exactly, there is some clause about housing allowance though. I remember hearing about trying to change it but not sure if they did. 

Thanks Sunshine and Fiona - was wondering if that was the case. 

exactly, there is some clause about housing allowance though. I remember hearing about trying to change it but not sure if they did.

I think the church can provide housing ... which is not at all a bad thing for smaller churches where the salaries are really low and which is often done by large corporations, especially on a temporary basis, when they move employees frequently.

In all honesty, yes, there are some very very well paid pastors, but they are a tiny tiny minority. Most pastors are not making bank, and a lot of them are only part-time pastors with miniscule salaries and have other jobs on the side. 

With all of the problems in the world and someone starts a thread about pastors making money.

I am more concerned with Obama acting like a rock star than pastors. Get your priorities straight. 

With all of the problems in the world and someone starts a thread about pastors making money.

I am more concerned with Obama acting like a rock star than pastors. Get your priorities straight.

This is far more concerning. Not only are more than 100 corporations paying no taxes, but the taxpayers are paying them in a lot of cases. Now there's a real problem. Maybe Congress should get on that. 

Old Catholic joke on this topic.

A novice, about to take his vows, was sitting down to a huge dinner to celebrate the feast day of the founder of their order. After stuffing himself with filet mignon, lobster, a few glasses of good wine, and a big desert the novice looked over at one of the elder Priests there and said, "if this is poverty bring on chastity". 

Old Catholic joke on this topic.

A novice, about to take his vows, was sitting down to a huge dinner to celebrate the feast day of the founder of their order. After stuffing himself with filet mignon, lobster, a few glasses of good wine, and a big desert the novice looked over at one of the elder Priests there and said, "if this is poverty bring on chastity".

you joke, but you wouldn't believe what the priests get up to in the city around the Vatican. 

Not only are more than 100 corporations paying no taxes,
Now there's a real problem. Maybe Congress should get on that.


you're right. if we could do an end-run around citizens united, the corporate income tax could be eliminated entirely...

oh well. It's fun to dream. 

Satsuma - are you the same as Perfection??? 

Satsuma - are you the same as Perfection???

Nope. 

Satsuma - are you the same as Perfection???

 

Just wondering - do pastors, such as these, draw a salary from the church? If so, assume that is taxed as income.

Yes, salary is taxed as income. However, they qualify for a number of tax breaks, not the least of which is "parsonage". They can claim part of their cash compensation from the church as the cost of residence, and they claim a very liberal amount. The IRS doesn't touch it, not wanting to get into a dispute over how much is too much in various circumstances. So, a Catholic church or order provides housing for a priest and that's not taxable, so the tax law also allows a minister to exclude church-provided cash that is used for housing to be excluded from income. 

Osteen takes no salary- he makes money from his books, which probably would have done well, had he stay the son of a deceased pastor- 

and they claim a very liberal amount.

They all do this and you know it as a fact? 

These preachers are the biggest shysters that take advantage of the sick and elderly. They live in luxury that is not justified. Using the money given to the church to surround themselves with extreme luxury is a sin. Charitable contributions should be used for charity. These preachers should have ministries reaching out to the sick the poor and the elderly. 

Using the money given to the church to surround themselves with extreme luxury is a sin.

It is funny to see people making definitive statements without seeing the church's books.

Also, please show me where surrounding oneself with extreme luxury is a sin.

These preachers should have ministries reaching out to the sick the poor and the elderly.

And you know for a fact that they don't? 

Satsuma - are you the same as Perfection???

I don't see that connection at all. 

With all of the problems in the world and someone starts a thread about pastors making money.

I am more concerned with Obama acting like a rock star than pastors. Get your priorities straight.

Then start a thread about Obama since you are so concerned. I think this is a great thread to discuss. Interesting and diverse comments. 

This is just my own opinion but if I were a pastor of a large church, I personally would only live in what I could handle. There are only 3 of us in our small family so what do I need with a 10 bedroom house? I personally would feel guilty living to an extreme. That money should go to help others either in the congregation or in other ministries - such as missionary work, feeding the poor and going over seas to church plant and provide education, shots, food etc for people in 3rd world countries. I think these pastors who live over their true means may not have their priorities in the right place. But I don't know, I am not them....I can't claim to know what is in their hearts. 

Warren Peace (Mod) --- 50 min ago - quote - hide comments


Satsuma - are you the same as Perfection???
{GIF}

Nice.
:) 

Just for information purposes here are the general guidelines for Catholic priests ( think this is mostly right)

There are in the main 2 different kinds of priests.

The largest group are diocesan priests, they are ordained in to a particular diocese and work for the bishop. They do not take a vow of poverty, they receive a small income from the parish, and usually housing in the parish rectory. They can have additional income, and can own property. However, as a guideline, diocesan priests should be living in a manner that is equal to their parish. So if you are in a very poor parish, even if you could personally afford it, it would be frowned upon to buy an expensive car.

The smaller group belong to an order, such as the Jesuits. They take vows of poverty, and cannot own property. They live in communities, they can, and many do hold full time paying secular jobs. However all the income they receive is given to the community. The community even technically owns the clothes on their back. They are given a small stipend of a hundred or so dollars a month for personal incidentals. 

If you watch this. Please resist the urge to hate. It isn't good for you or anyone else.

Frontline: Secrets of The Vatican 

Thanks - I saw it when it came out. 

IMHO........... these are not churches. 

But I don't know, I am not them....I can't claim to know what is in their hearts.

Although you just did. 

Thanks - I saw it when it came out.

makes me ill. 

If that minister is living in an 18,000 sq foot mansion, on a lake and has a fleet of jets, he must be raking in some pretty good money. Who sets his salary? Does he do that or there must be a board that decides what he makes. You have to be making a good amount of money to live like that. 

makes me ill.

Much of it, me too.