Producer of religious movies funded by tax-free televangelist millions

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Deep pockets fuel his Hollywood crusade
Tax-free donations from his parents' Trinity Broadcasting Network fund Matthew Crouch's religion-themed movies.
By William Lobdell and Stuart Pfeifer, Times Staff Writers
October 23, 2006

At the recent premiere of "One Night With the King" in Westwood, movie producer Matthew Crouch took a few moments to offer thanks.

"You know what I feel like would be an awesome thing to do right now?" Crouch said during a live broadcast of the opening festivities on "Praise the Lord" on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. "To thank my sweet little mom and dad, Paul and Jan Crouch."...His televangelist parents have authorized more than $32 million in tax-free donor money for the funding of three of his movies, TBN officials say. In addition, $16 million was given to a ministry that funded "One Night."

The movie, which opened Oct. 13 on about 900 screens, took in $4.3 million at the box office on its first weekend, ninth among films in release. Over this last weekend, it dropped to 14th place, taking in $2.2 million. With sumptuous costumes, location shooting in India and cameos by Peter O'Toole and Omar Sharif — their first pairing since "Lawrence of Arabia" — "One Night" tells the biblical story of Esther, who helped save the Jews from extermination in ancient Persia.

Matthew Crouch, 44, could use a box-office hit. Of his first three movies, none has turned a profit, although his 1999 movie, an apocalyptic thriller called "The Omega Code," is credited by some for showing Hollywood the potential of Christian-themed films, leading to such hits as "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "The Passion of the Christ." Crouch's small, publicly traded company is struggling, having lost nearly $3.7 million last year, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Even so, Crouch's ties to his parents' cash-rich ministry — which operates the world's largest religious broadcasting company — may help explain why he never had to take a vow of poverty. He owns a Hollywood Hills mansion. He and his wife, Laurie, have eight vehicles, including a $240,000 Bentley Arnage....

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/cl-et-crouch23oct23,0,3865884,full.story

[Erika]

1. Christ warned about those intent on accumulations

Hey, these people suckered a crowd to give to them.

Don't tell me it's Christian.

[Initech]

5. Two words: false prophets

These people dont care about Jesus, they only care about the almighty dollar. Why else do you think they include the phrase "In God We Trust" on our money?

[SoCalDem]

8. False prophets, raking in REAL profits

as the lonely people in front of their tv, sit at the dinette set, writing checks for their supposed salvation :(

[Initech]

10. To use a quote from one of my favorite bands:

"Selling skin, selling god, the numbers look the same on your credit cards." - Queensryche, Operation:Mindcrime

[NMMNG]

2. Isn't that nice?

I've said it hundreds of times, but religious institutions should no longer be tax-exempt. They are now in every way businesses and should be subject to the same taxation and regulation as all other businesses.

[babylonsister]

3. My stomach hurts after reading that.

So his parents are funding his success by suggesting what kind of movies he makes and then hawking it to the sheeple.
Luckily, I never even heard of this one.

[NMMNG]

4. But--but--

How could you not have heard of a wholesome movie that speaks to mainstream America? You must not be mainstream America! :sarcasm:

[nealmhughes]

6. Paul and Jan are freakin' hilarious, although complete venal hucksters.

Paul looks like a graying thinner version of Wayne Newton and wears diamond rings that Liz Taylor might covet. Jan wears the most hideous wigs that a Pointer Sister, Cher or Dolly Parton would eschew. But the set! It looks like a fin de siecle Parisian whorehouse, all red velvet drapes and gilded faux Louis Quinze furniture meeting Scarlett's dream house in Gone with the Wind.

What a bunch of pathetic people who send them their monies. I don't know why, save collective brain damage or Alzheimers could get anyone, much less a professed Xian to actually stuff their coffers tax free.

Jan frequently goes on crying jags and looks like Tammy Faye Baker with her makeup, and especially mascara smeared from the tears. But she always seems to perk right up and be able to dance about swinging her tambourine.

This is American at its lowest...

[DeepModem Mom]

7. Thanks for the report! nt

[upi402]

9. is that the "Write a love-gift for Jesus and make it out to..." couple?

:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: