Church directed money to FL gov?

Posted: Friday, April 04, 2008 12:49 PM by Domenico Montanaro
Filed Under: Republicans, 2008, Florida

From the NBC News Investigative Unit
A Tampa megachurch under scrutiny by Senate investigators directed church staffers to make political contributions to Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) when he was a gubernatorial candidate, according to documents obtained by NBC News.

A month-long NBC News investigation also found information indicating that the church's pastor, Randy White, seems to have lied about a business transaction in a deposition made under oath, and misrepresented his religious academic credentials.

Without Walls International, a megachurch founded by televangelists Randy and Paula White, is one of six tax-exempt religious ministries the Senate Finance Committee is examining, amid allegations some of the ministers misused church funds to enrich themselves. Last month, NBC News reported the results of its investigation into some of these allegations.

NBC News obtained an e-mail (some identifying pieces of information in the e-mail have been removed by NBC) in which a Without Walls church staff member reporting to the Whites appears to direct other staffers to make political contributions to Crist when he was a candidate. He who won the gubernatorial race later that year.

Read the full story on the NBC News Investigative blog Deep Background.

EMAIL THIS

Comments

Hopefully it will put a damper on Crist... not Christ.

Paul, Riverside, CA (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 12:59 PM)

Well, it should be interesting to see what shakes out here. I always thought he (Crist) was being fairly disengenuous in his dealings on the whole Florida election mess. But it was just a hunch. I'll be interested to see what falls out.

Lisa, New Britain, CT CT for Obama (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:01 PM)

Mark that one of the potential VP list.

John McCain (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:03 PM)

What else is new with these Florida Churches & Politicians.

sozzi, mamaroneck, ny (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:06 PM)

Sorry, Governor Crist, no VP for you.

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:06 PM)

A televangelist committing fraud to bilk believers, can't be...Siphoning money to a political candidate, no...Being scratched of potential VP list, priceless.

Phred, NH (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:08 PM)

And yet it's Trinity Christian Church that is being investigated by the IRS with an eye toward suspending their tax exempt status. Yes kids, the whole world DOES exist for the express purpose of being used as a Republican political tool.

John B, Des Moines, IA (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:09 PM)

Vote Democratic 2008 -- don't let the corporations and their Republican stooges win again.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:19 PM)

I do not think that any church should receive ANY tax exemption of any kind from the government. This would allow the church to be truely independant from government rules. They could back rush limpbaugh or Crist or any one the wished to. You know seperation of church and state and all that old business.

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca. (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:19 PM)

Another step on the way to Christian Theocracy.
GOP = Gods Own Party

Gary Schear, Bozeman Montana (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:20 PM)

John in Des Moines,

That's naive. Both should be under investigation. As should most televangelists. Plus, last time I checked (concerning Trinity), there are laws on the books that can revoke tax exempt status from a church that spews political rhetoric from a pulpit.

Thursday (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:23 PM)

WHAT ABOUT "MAGICIAN CRIST" = DISSAPEARING HIS BOYFRIEND BEFORE THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION !

L FLORIDA (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:23 PM)

Yet we've figuratively burned at the stake, an ex-marine/navy veteran who served his country for seven years, fed the poor, and sheltered the homeless, etc., because he suffers from post traumatic slavery; jim-crow-oppression syndrome.

That's just wrong. In addition, there are those who think Senator Obama should fry along with him. Very sad. Read your sciptures, and learn about the tenant of mercy.

Pulling for Obama '08

donna, pgh., pa. (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:27 PM)

So, are Trinity United/Irreverent Wright, Rev Meeks and that Catholic priest in Chicago being investigated for promoting politics from the pulpit? And, I do wonder who paid for Irreverent Wright's recent cruise that conveniently came when the scandal about him broke? And, who's paying for Wright's $1 million+ home? Maybe, Rezko got him a deal, too!

NO-bama (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:31 PM)

This really got going the first time Bush ran when churchs were telling their members to vote for him. If the churchs want to campaign, let them pay taxes like every body else. They are no different from any other business. Bush has given all these "faith-based" instutions tax payer money so it's only fair that they are taxed like the rest of us.

Connie, Tennessee (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:32 PM)

Religion and politics do not mix.
Religion and politics do not mix.
Religion and politics do not mix.
Religion and politics do not mix.
Never did, never will. All you constitutional "strict constructionists" out there should know that, and probably would, were you not too busy mixing politics with religion.

Pete Caloger Bushkill, PA 18324 (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:33 PM)

GOPers, the party of values. Bet he does not resign; either Gov or Pastor.

Flat-earther, Georgia (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:35 PM)

because he suffers from post traumatic slavery; jim-crow-oppression syndrome.
*******
Donna in Pittsburgh: So that's the excuse now for the Irreverent Wright...mentally ill? I guess it was that those that forced him to swear and simulate sex in the pulpit. I guess that's the things that caused him to lie in the pulpit: the government created AIDS for black genocide; the government sold drugs to blacks to kill them. That's what forced him to saw "The US of the KKK of A".

"That's just wrong. In addition, there are those who think Senator Obama should fry along with him."
********
I do not hold Barry Obama accountable for Irreverent Wright's statements. I DO hold him accountable for sitting in that hate-filled, anti-semitic, hate-filled church for 20 yrs. And, then, he expects us to believe he NEVER heard/saw that. But, then later, he admits he did see/hear some "controversial" things. Then, why the hell didn't he get up and leave???? And, who the hell would take their innocent children to that hateful place? I hold him accountable as a congregant for pledging his first allegiance to Africa, not the US, for 20 years. And, he continued that after he became a sitting US Senator. I do hold him accountable for a very raist statement of "typical white person". Barry is a lying, deceitful person. I believe he has some underlying, deep-seated racial issues to resolve for himself.

NO-bama (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:39 PM)

Pastors, by the way, are able to give political advice to their congregants provided they do so apart from their office hours and off church grounds.

Thursday (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:46 PM)

Never trust anyone with an orange (fake) tan.

http://infogiant.wordpress.com/2008/04/03/comparison-hillary-vs-bush/

mark, austin, tx (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:50 PM)

Oh and also, law doesn't exist apart from morals. Morals don't exist apart from a divine authority. Don't believe me? Consider what law tells us: it tells us right from wrong. Consider what morals tell us: they tell us right from wrong. You can legislate morality. Actually, you must legislate morality. It is necessary to do so, for the sake of the survival of the human race.

Thursday (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:51 PM)

Any church, or tele-wacko that engages in politics should be taxed.

bill, okla (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:51 PM)

Why doesn't this surprise me? Crooked pastors with Republican connections. Hmmmm...where have we heard this before? Rev. Wright never lied under oath, did he?

Class Warior, d.C. (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:52 PM)

When will people of all religions realize that no one should be expected to pay for spiritual growth? I am absolutely sure that the Bible has been doctored (no offense meant to you fundamentalists). When Jesus threw the 'money changers' out of the temple, I'm sure the term should have read, 'money chargers'. Jesus was offended by the money chargers. Remember, nobody, of any religion, need pay money in order to attain a closeness to God! God is not running for office and your money will have no influence with the diety.
Obama '08

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:54 PM)

No-bama: Can you tell us all WHO you are supporting in this election and why, or do you just blog in opposition to Obama?

Diane from Illinois (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:58 PM)

This story is about RAndy and Paula White of Florida.
Yet, look at the way the comments try to turn it into another vendetta against Rev. Wright.

Paula White has moved to San Antonio, Texas after divorcing Randy. She has purchased a house said to be worth over $750,000 in a very exclusive neighborhood. And she seems to be "ministering" to a large mega-church in SA.

I am very suspicious about churches who let their pastors handle the finances of the congregation. In my church, a main-line denomination, the pastor never handles the money. A finance committee administers the funds as allocated by an administrative board's budget. I am thankful that is one tempation I don't have to deal with.

(Rev) Conrad from San Antonio (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 2:13 PM)

Mitchell,

The new testament was written in Greek, so that typo is virtually impossible. It was translated correctly. Do the necessary studying to find out what is in the Bible, how it was transmitted (with great care, I might add), and why the books which are in it are in it. You will find most likely what you were not expecting.

The money changers were getting rich off of the poor who were bringing currency from their province or nation in order to pay for an animal to sacrifice as was required under Jewish law. These money changers were charging (as you coincidently pointed out) huge interest on the exchange rates and therefore profiting. Jesus was upset and even said "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers". So in one sense Mitchell, you are right. Jesus didn't believe you should have to pay monetarily for any sort of spiritual blessing. But at least get your facts straight about the Bible before you support your assertions.

Thursday (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 2:15 PM)

NO-bama (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 1:39 PM)

By your logic then, we should hold every Catholic accountable for all the pedophilia perpetrated by some priests.

By your logic then, every Catholic should now leave the church because the current Pope is a former N a z i.

By your logic then, every sermon preached since the death of Pope John Paul II is a hate filled, N a z i, anti-Semitic rant?

Get over yourself -- guilt by association is not guilt.

And for the Record, THE Reverend Wright has receive THREE presidential commendations from THREE presidents -- one of them was Ronald Reagan for patriotic services rendered to the US during a mission to Libya.

As a former marine who served honorably, he probably has more patriotism in his little finger than you have in your whole body.

The dumbing down of America is stunning.

Vote with your head, vote for the economy, vote for jobs.

Vote Democratic 2008 -- don't let the corporations and their Republican stooges win again.

Carol, Long Valley NJ (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 2:34 PM)

"Actually, you must legislate morality. It is necessary to do so, for the sake of the survival of the human race." --Thursday

I consider it immoral and child abuse to raise children to believe in ignorant and brutal religious fairy tales from an unenlightened culture and era that will cripple them intellectually, psychologically and morally for the rest of their lives. According to you legislation is now required.

Friday (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 2:50 PM)

"When Jesus threw the 'money changers' out of the temple, I'm sure the term should have read, 'money chargers'. Jesus was offended by the money chargers."
--Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY

the way I heard it, under Caesar the Jews were allowed to use coins minted without Caesar's image because of their religious objection to 'graven images.' All money spent at the temple to buy goods for sacrifice had to be that money thus the need to change the money. Of course a changing fee was charged.

(not Jewish so apologies to Jews if that explanation is wrong but that is what I learned in my 9 years of Catholic schooling)

nuanced (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 2:57 PM)

I stand corrected in the literal translation and realize that I was making a great leap to cross the different languages. Still, I think the concept of giving money to religious organizations in order to attain grace, is corrupt. Conducting business in the temple was certainly what Jesus was against, but I'm certain that other implications can be inferred as well. But once again, sorry for my offense.
Obama '08

Mitchell Feldman, Vestal, NY (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 3:31 PM)

Another crooked cleric caught in a scandal with another republican. Ho Hum just another day at the office.

BIll, Rochester, NY (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 3:41 PM)

Why can't we have an ARMY of James (The Amazing) Randis out there exposing pious fraud whenever it rears it's ugly head?

Bill,Rochester,NY (Sent Friday, April 04, 2008 3:45 PM)

SEND A COMMENT

PLEASE READ: All comments must be approved before appearing in the thread; time and space constraints prevent all comments from appearing. We will only approve comments that are directly related to the blog, use appropriate language and are not attacking the comments of others.

Message (please, no HTML tags. Web addresses will be hyperlinked):

Your name, city and state (John Doe, Seattle, Wash.):

Your e-mail address (jdoe@msnbc.com):

Your website (it's okay if you don't have one):

Remember me? (We'll keep it private) Remember me?

TRACKBACKS

Trackbacks are links to weblogs that reference this post. Like comments, trackbacks do not appear until approved by us. The trackback URL for this post is: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/trackback.aspx?PostID=859681