‘God’s debt cancellation’ donations help evangelist strike it rich

[LynneSin]

Personally I hope this man rots in hell. Jesus did say it was easier for a camel to go thru the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. I guess that scripture is missing from this person's bible. I am a Christian but am disgusted by people like this idiot who taint our faith. Clearly for this 'reverand' it's all about the money with his phoney schemes.

http://rawstory.com/08/news/2009/05/25/high-flying-evangelical-preacher-comes-under-scrutiny/
‘God’s debt cancellation’ donations help evangelist strike it rich

In a detailed investigation of South Carolina’s Inspiration Network, the Charlotte Observer reports that the network’s on-air promises that viewers can obtain prosperity and “God’s debt cancellation” by donating $200 or more have made its CEO David Cerullo a wealthy man and his cable network “one of the world’s fastest growing Christian broadcasters.”

With a salary that in 2007 amounted to $1.52 million, Cerulla is “the best-paid leader of any religious charity” and earns far more than CEOs of larger non-profits, such as Pat Robertson’s Christian Broadcasting Network. An additional $600,000 was paid in 2007 to his wife and children.

Last year, Cerullo’s network had a budget of nearly $80 million, half derived from donations, much of which is going into building the “City of Light” in northern Lancaster County, SC. According to the Observer, “Taxpayers are also helping to pay for it. Eager to bring jobs to a county with 19 percent unemployment, South Carolina offered the network incentives worth up to $26 million to land the campus — a deal that has been questioned by economic development experts.”

Wall Watchers, a watchdog group which monitors religious charities, has called Cerullo’s salary “outrageous” and issued “a ‘donor alert’ to caution people against giving to the Inspiration Networks.” The Observer notes that “IRS rules prohibit nonprofits from paying ‘unreasonable compensation’ to officials. But the agency examines the returns of fewer than 8,000 of the 1.8 million tax-exempt organizations each year.”

<<<<more>>>>

[CrownPrinceBandar]

1. What do they say?.................

That "its easier to pass a camel through the eye of a needle, than a rich man to enter Heaven"?

Funny how that's lost on these people.

[Ezlivin]

2. Rich men do not need to enter the kingdom of heaven

They're building their own heaven right here on earth. They'll make the poor bastards migrate.

[sharp_stick]

3. I hate these pricks

I almost wish I believed in some kind of Karmic balance that would wipe this asshole off the planet. As it is now I just hope that some guys brakes fail as he's trying to cross a street. If the brakes failing was due to the driver spending his last $200 on a donation to Cerulla I'll revist my lack of belief in a higher power.

[sharp_stick]

4. A second thought on this asshole

My father taught me the line that a fool and his money are soon parted. I have to wonder about the deluded morons that willingly send this guy anything but an envelope filled with dog shit.

[LynneSin]

9. Irony is - his ministry was started on the base of the failed PTL ministries

He bought out the remains of the PTL and built it from there. I'm guessing he didn't recognize why the PTL failed but this guy is on the path to repeating the same mistakes that Jim Bakker made. And no, not diddling the church secretary but using scare tactics to gain donations from those who barely can afford them in order to live a life of wealth. Jessica Hahn was only a small part of what brought down the Bakkers.

[Coyote_Bandit]

5. Wonder if

David Cerullo is related to televangelist Morris Cerullo.....

Don't you know prosperity is a measure of godliness? And yet it is funny how these same money grubbers expect their employees and missionaries to work for substandard wages out of the goodness of their heart....

I'd say these guys give God a bad name - but I figure God should be able to protect his own reputation.

[Frustratedlady]

6. What happened to that investigation by Grassley?

It's time to rein in these "non-profits" and expose them for what they are...money making machines for the greedy "ministers" who prey on their parishioners. It is a crime covered up by amens and glory hallelujahs.

Enough!

[get the red out]

7. Wake up people

Why can't people understand that donating $200 to feed, shelter, or educate people is more in keeping with morality than supporting con men?

It just seems so logical to me!:shrug: But the con men get rich and the charities doing work for those in need are always running short.

[konnichi wa]

8. They re-run a 4 year old program "inspiration ministry campmeeting"

several times a week on the el-cheapo cable channels...and lead people to believe it's live. Scumbag Mike Murdock is one of their shills...he brings in bathtubs full of cash every time some poor shlub who can't sleep from losing his job or an old gal whose family ignores her sees the promises and whips out the Visa.
It really is a shame there is no hell.
:grr: