$50 MILLION Embezzled by the Good Christians at Trinity Broadcast Network

[Ian David]

$50 MILLION Embezzled by the Good Christians at Trinity Broadcast Network

The granddaughter of Trinity Broadcasting Network’s Paul and Jan Crouch has accused the world’s largest Christian broadcaster of unlawfully distributing charitable assets worth more than $50 million to the company’s directors.

The charges are leveled in a federal lawsuit filed by Crouch granddaughter Brittany Koper last week against her former lawyers, who also do legal work for TBN.

“Observers have often wondered how the Crouches can afford multiple mansions on both coasts, a $50 million jet and chauffeurs,” said Tymothy MacLeod, Koper’s attorney. “And finally, with the CFO coming forward, we have answers to those questions.”

<SNIP>

This would hardly be the first scandal to rock the nation’s largest Christian broadcast network. A gay engineer sued Trinity in 2009 after his sexuality was publicly mocked with pornography in the office and accused of having a “fairy man-gina” by Paul Crouch Jr., son of the network’s founder.

More:
http://unicornbooty.com/blog/2012/02/16/50-million-embezzled-by-the-good-christians-at-trinity-broadcast-network/

See also:

Suit says millions diverted to TBN directors
http://www.ocregister.com/news/koper-157707-ocprint-tbn-suit.html

[xchrom]

1. and here i thought that's what trinity broadcast was SUPPOSED to do.

my bad.

[Joe Bacon]

80. I'll never forgive those crooks.

My idiot aunt decided to take all of my grandmother's life savings and "donate" to these crooks.

She said that she was "compelled" to do it after watching Helmet Head Paul demand money on the TV.

My aunt cheated my Dad out of what was rightfully his after Grandma passed away.

And what did Helmet Head Paul and Raccoon Face Jan do with the cash they fleeced from my Aunt? Well, maybe they paid off Paul's gay boyfriend with it.

I HATE THESE PARASITES! TAKE THEM OFF OF WELFARE AND TAX THEM!

[Vincardog]

2. What would Gomer say? "Surprise Surprise Surprise"

[Citizen Worker]

3. Robbing the collection plate to do the lord's work no doubt.

[roguevalley]

32. jan crouch has a face thanks to RX and its amazing to watch her.

[hifiguy]

4. Scratch a televangelist and

find a con man and fraudster. It's as predictable as the sun rising in the east. Every one a grifter.

[Old and In the Way]

11. Fleecing the flock.

It's been that way since the cynics realized there was money to be made using religion to get the rubes to part with their hard-earned money.

[AlbertCat]

46. since the cynics realized there was money to be made using religion

[xtraxritical]

41. What's their secret? I'ld like to sucker some religious zealots ! eom

[d_r]

44. no you wouldn't

when I was 14 my Dad had meningitis and it left him blind and physically impaired. But he loved to go to walks around his rural "neighborhood" (loops of blacktopped and gravel roads), tapping his folding cane, and visit with people. He did it every day. Loop around to pick up the mail to get his library books on tape. Sometimes I'd go with him, probably not often enough, but anyway, one day we were walking and he told me he wanted me to meet someone. We went down a path off a gravel road, near an old church building that hadn't been used in years. There was this little home, made of unpainted plain grey concrete blocks with a tin roof, and we were greeted at the door by a girl in a wheel chair. Even as a teen, though I didn't have words for it, I knew that she had a birth defect, her legs were tiny and shriveled from never having muscles work. Her legs were maybe a foot or so long, with tiny little block feet on the end, and just skin and bone. And she was glad to see my dad and invited us in. It was clear to me that they knew each other, that he walked over here regularly. And she was happy and talking non-stop about the preacher that was on the religious show she watched on the tv. It was an old rabbit ear thing against the wall, covered in cheap knick knacks and they were preaching on it right then. And she watched. She talked about how she didn't have much money but she sent whatever part of her ssi check she could, and she just knew her blessing was coming any time now. She was so happy she could help others as much as she could, and she knew that it was going to return to her. She would sit with her wheel chair right in front of the tv so she could hold out her hands and touch it. And the preacher would say things like "there's someone with cancer, receive your blessing now you are healed." And she was so confident that she would get her turn. She just knew that she was going to get up and walk. She said so. She didn't hide it or keep it a secret dream, she talked about it out loud with English words that were just heart breaking. And you could tell how happy it made her, she was so excited about it.

Now, I was a cynical teenager anyway, and the whole thing horrified me. Looking back, maybe it was worth it for her to pay for that hope. I don't know. But at the time I knew she was being ripped off and I realized that there were a gazillion more desperate folks out there. I knew right then what that racket was all about. It broke my heart. But I'll never forget her faith. I have such mixed emotions about those memories, tragic and sad and hopeful and excited and faithful. She had no doubt. I knew they were crooks. Not sure now who was better off. Well, actually that is a stupid thing to say isn't it? She had faith and I had cynicism but my luck of the draw has been way better.

Anyway, they are bastards, I'll tell you that. Perfect effing bastards. That's the kind of folks they are preying on. No pun. Anyway, I don't think you'd want to do that.

[Arkansas Granny]

53. Your story shows exactly who they target to support their extravagant lifestyles.

If there is a hell, I hope there is a corner set aside especially for those who prey on people like the girl you met.

[RitchieRich]

78. If I remember correctly

...in reading Dante's Inferno, the deepest, worst level of hell was reserved for those who pervert the word of God.

[Major Nikon]

57. It's not just the televangelists

There's lots of old people trying to buy their way into heaven. The televangelists have just figured out how to streamline the operation and appeal to more of them at once, but make no mistake that small churches to mega churches all over the land are doing this as well.

[guitar man]

73. Mark 12:38-40

“And He said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the market place, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts: Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation”

From the very book those assholes pretend to hold so dear. I'd like to believe they'll get what's coming to them....

[JNelson6563]

75. Touching post. Thanks for taking the time to share that.

[d_r]

83. Thanks all of you for reading that

and I agree with your sentiments of course

[malaise]

55. Ding ding we have a winner

Not one of them has ever stolen a penny of our money.

[Diclotican]

67. hifiguy

hifiguy

I disagree.. My grandfather was an evengalist (this was far before the TV got into the living room) he never go any riches from it - in fact I belive him to be economical poorer after he ended his evangelist time, than before he started to work in that field... But he was allways a honest man, who I at least respected..

But it looks like it is a few con artists and fraudsters who steal and plunder whatever they could, and want.. And it exist to many honest pepole there out, who can be frauded on... To the last penny they have...

And they make everyone with a faith, a bad name..

Diclotican

[JNelson6563]

76. You make an excellent point.

There *are* good ministers/priests/preachers out there and they suffer due to the evils of the bad ones. Yet another injustice perpetrated by these frauds.

Julie

[FSogol]

68. +1 n/t

[Initech]

5. What would Jesus steal?

I live not too far from Costa Mesa, you should see a picture of TBN's monument to excess cathedral here. I'd post a picture but that can't do it justice.

[xxqqqzme]

14. Or the way the place is lit up

during the Christmas season. I swear I could live off what they spend on electricity during that time.

[Initech]

36. One of my favorite hang outs is that way.

Every time I drive by there I really wonder what they spend in electricity every month.

[Frustratedlady]

6. Jim and Tammy revisited?

All I can do with these stories is shake my head in disgust. Do these clowns even READ the Bible? I swear they have turned organized religion and any of its "charities" or industries into a joke. I wouldn't trust these people with my garbage can. They are the scum of the earth and should be treated as such.

[Scuba]

7. Religion: the world's longest-running con.

[gratuitous]

13. No it isn't

But conmen love to use religion as a shield for their shenanigans. Fools the rubes into giving them money, and provides another excuse for others to rest on their sit-upons and not lift a finger to help out. Pretty much a win-win-win unless you're actually doing something.

[roguevalley]

33. +10,000

[tech_smythe]

39. then what is?

even your argument makes it clear religion is the longest running con in history.

[Arugula Latte]

49. Yes it is.

[hifiguy]

42. Mark Twain hit the bull's eye, as usual:

"Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool."

[Ikonoklast]

8. Every single so-called Christian televangelist is a con man and a thief,

working a cult of petrsonality; how many devolve into family fights over the money after the founder either dies or gets old and feeble, or the earliest converts leave and are not replaced.

If there was no money to be made in organized religion, most would cease to exist within months.

[WCGreen]

21. And it all slushes around and around.....

they should be audited every five years in order to keep their non-tax status.

[Rex]

9. No way!

I am shocked, I tell you!

[Lint Head]

10. The Crouches bought Conway Twitty's estate in Hendersonville, TN. and turned it into TBN.

Conway used to do duets with Loretta Lynn. I knew Conway. He was a fair man. He passed away and did not know of the deal.

Anyway, I had a friend who was threatened with harm because he advocated that musicians should be paid by TBN instead of working for nothing. They also prayed for a lawyer do die who questioned their finances. This was reported in the local media.

These people are cynical crooks that use fear to steal money from people who are vulnerable because they are sick or have problems.

Real Christians should be appalled because these liars are using the name of Jesus Christ to get rich. They are not spreading the idea of living your life like the examples of Jesus such as giving to the poor and truly helping the unfortunate.

If there is a Hell these creeps will be on the front row at Satan's Lake of Fire concert.

[RussBLib]

29. they know there's no hell

These con-men and con-women are smart enough to know there's no hell, but they use the fear of it among the rubes to get rich. It's the world's oldest profession, next to prostitution, but not nearly as honorable.

[saras]

45. There is a hell, just for believers. The lowest circle is for those who threaten others with hell

[Erose999]

74. Wait a minute--- are you saying the musicians who play on the TBN shows aren't making anything?

I mean it doesn't come as a surprise per se but you'd think the douchebag Crouches would at least pay them something. I wouldn't be surprised if there are other professionals in the production side who aren't being paid either.

While the Crotches - er, I mean Crouches live like motherfucking royalty.

[FredStembottom]

12. It was 2 weeks ago.....

...that I commented to a friend: "Gosh, it's been awhile since we had a televangelist scam blow-up".

Honest.

Now, here it is!

[rucky]

66. Careful. You may get blamed for causing this.

[FredStembottom]

82. Crikey!

[LiberalAndProud]

15. The thing is, it is all justified

by faith.

I do not question the faith of the perpetrators. I believe their faith is very real. I believe they have an unshakable belief that God sanctions their actions because they spread the Word of the Gospel.

Either their faith is valid or mine is not. I decided on the rational conclusion. YMMV.

[Lint Head]

18. I do question the faith of the perpetrators.

All you have to do is watch TBN and see the multimillion dollar television sets and equipment and billion dollar wally world in Orlando. All the money to finance this came from people giving their last dime as a "faith seed" and being told if you donate to TBN God will bless you with triple your investment and you will go to heaven. People who are easily led fall for this because they are vulnerable. Has anyone ever considered what all that money could do for people who are dying or in need. If you check out what they consider charity you will discover that they are using the images of starving and orphaned children to raise money for their TV sets, luxury cars and mansions. A very small percentage actually goes to these charities because they take out their expenses first and their expenses are extremely extravagant.

[LiberalAndProud]

20. Perhaps this is the wrong forum.

The question we are asking is, is their faith authentic? Perhaps, perhaps not. I am convinced, though that there are many, many wrong-headed people who hold authentic faith, and some of those people really do believe that God has singled them out for wealth, privilege and social standing because God has deemed them worthy. Self-justification extended to God's justification is not such a great leap. It is part of our human condition.

There is one point on which we don't disagree. These people are thieves. They may be self-deluded thieves or honest thieves, but thieves they are.

[Lint Head]

26. Yep. The original post is reporting the $50 million dollar lawsuit. I agree because

Jesus supposedly said many will come in my name and many will be deceived. I am witness to the many that are deceived.

[haele]

38. Their faith is probably genuine - but it's Mammon they worship. A prosperity gospel encourages

only lip service to charity, mercy, personal responsiblity or ethical behaviour and encourages all sorts of bullying, lying and cheating to prove that you are a better gatherer of wealth and power than your neighbor.
If your god only shows his or her love by "blessing and elevating you" with wealth and goods over anyone else, then your god doesn't care if you mercilessly prey on your supposedly equal and faithful neighbors the same time you pray to your god - because so long as you get your goodies, no matter how you get them proves that what you do has to be right in your diety's eyes. It's justified. And there's just enough threads of justification for sociopathic or bully behaviour in the KJV that many of the modern "born agains" to think that it's just ducky - that a supposedly merciful creator of all has gratuatously ensured that everything around them was created just for them, individually, to dispose of however they feel.

In my understanding of religious traditions back into the ages that are now considered part of myth, what passes for Prosperity Gospels nowadays, were found in the religious tenets of war gods, not in those of any creator or fertility gods.
Baal and Moloch would approve. On edit, Baal probably wouldn't, Baal didn't look kindly on false oaths and cheating others.

And showing mercy is not something they'd do to anyone who would make excuses for them just because they mouth the words from the same book. There is no excuse for them, their works and lies speak for themselves. They will take any grace one may want to give them and throw it in the trash-heap, thinking that person weak anyway for excusing their behaviour as a brother or sister in religion. They hide behind religion as a thief hides in a dark alley, wrapping other people's belief around them like a coat.

One does not need to think they are judging these people by speaking the plain truth about them. Commenting on or calling out their actions and works is self-protection, not judgements, if that is what one may be trying to avoid.
Excusing their actions as being "mis-guided" only gives them strength.

Haele

[SemperEadem]

48. I completely question their faith

because they're using God/Jesus as a shield for doing wrong... and they know they are doing wrong because they hide their actions from plain view. That they willfully do this knowing what they're doing is wrong means that their faith does not come into play except for getting the con over on desperate people.

[KamaAina]

16. They nearly lost some of their broadcast licenses a few years ago

http://articles.latimes.com/2004/sep/20/local/me-tbnfcc20

In 1995, an FCC judge ruled that National Minority TV was not minority-controlled but rather was a "sham" by which Crouch had tried to sidestep the ownership limit.

Crouch turned to TBN viewers for money.

A five-night telethon elicited $65 million in pledges. Crouch offered that sum as a settlement, and the advocacy groups agreed to accept it.

In 1999, however, the FCC rejected the settlement and refused to renew National Minority TV's license for the Miami station.

He asked his viewers for money?! I'm shocked! Shocked, I tell you!

Sad postscript: A Federal appeals court stacked with Reagan-Bush conservabots reinstated the licenses. The ownership limits, of course, have since gone the way of free maps at gas stations; TBN now has the third-largest broadcast group in the country.

[fasttense]

17. Bunch of thieves and conmen all of them.

[Tallulah]

19. Crouch Jr. has a LOT of nerve

outing anyone.

Old man Crouch got caught diddling young boys on his overseas missions a few years ago. After getting caught, he took a sabbatical and claimed he was in ill health.

Old lady Crouch cries because her husband doesn't like her pink hair and square dance dresses.

Never trust anyone with big hair. Man or woman. Throw the whole bunch in jail.

[Vogon_Glory]

22. Not Surprised. With Right-Wing Theology

Not Surprised. With right-wing Christer-anity (Not to be confused with genuine Christianity or the the actual teachings of the Nazarene), I'm not surprised that someone found a way to confuse God with Mammon.

[NRaleighLiberal]

23. can you say "Hypocrisy"? I am not surprised at all...I expect to read stories like this.

[libodem]

24. All tax free I expect

[RainDog]

25. k&r n/t

[The Genealogist]

27. My shock over this unexpected revelation has sent me reeling!

I just cannot believe it! No matter how hard I try, I just can't! Surely this is not so! Surely all the fancy cars, and waitstaff, and homes, the gaudy, overdone sets and buildings, the tacky clothes and heaps make-up are just blessings right from God Himself!

Fact of the matter is, I don't like how people, especially true-believers who send these people money, are being hoodwinked. My grandmother was among them. Her income was paltry, some Social Security and a little money from babysitting a few hours a week. She bought her clothes from garage sales and sometimes a sale at a store. She had lots of clothes, but at a dime a blouse or pair of slacks, she could afford to collect clothes over a few decades. She lived in senior subsidized housing, and worried each time a staple of her diet went up in price by a few cents. She ate out some, usually a hamburger; she never ate much, a simple burger was more than she would eat in a meal. But she always sent some televangelist money. Her apartment, when I went to clean it out after her death, was full of cheap goo-gaws, mustard seeds, cassette tapes, books, PTL Club Bibles, letters begging for more money, and other stuff they had sent her. I angrily threw it down the trash chute. I gave her PTL Bible to a neighbor who asked for it. I have little more than contempt for televangelists. She gave what little bit she could in her simple life to these people to buy mansions and cars and expensive clothes for themselves. Disgusting. UTTERLY disgusting to me.

[Ron Obvious]

28. Conmen

when I first moved to the US and was first confronted with one of these Televangelist stations while channel hopping, they would just have me in stitches! I first assumed it must be satire, but did think the skits were going on a bit too long.

Not only were they conmen, they were so obviously conmen! The big hair, the wife - under 7 layers of make-up and dressed like little Bo Peep, the talentless son-in-law with the guitar, the gleaming grand kids, the lousy singing and of course all that bloody crying!

It was all beyond satire, really. But why anybody would send these creeps a dime has always been beyond me.

[Arkansas Granny]

30. Big hair? Who has big hair?

[drm604]

47. Holy Crap

How can anyone take that seriously? She looks like she's dressed up for Halloween.

[SemperEadem]

50. Vulgar, obscene, trashy and low born

Nothing... and I do mean nothing... will ever make that woman attractive.

[Rex]

62. They took over for Jim and Tammy

Made it a long ways. Do you think that is her real hair?

[olegramps]

31. Religion has always been a racket that fleeces the ignoramuses.

Out of curiosity, I attended a couple of evangelical services. It was a real eye opening experience. Some of the people were crying, others yelling "praise the Lord" and a chorus of "Hallelujahs" by zombies who appeared to be in some type of trance. Some where uttering pure gibberish. It was truly a mind blowing experience. These charlatans that run these shows know exactly how to work these people into a frenzy that they believe is a mystical religious experience. Having been raised a Catholic where the entire service is very subdued it was like a stepping in into a world that I have never experienced. It is little wonder that these people shell out their hard earned money to these quacks. They appear to have lost all contact with reality and are convinced that the End Times are just around the corner. This same ridiculousness is repeated every century in which there appears to be no lack of suckers to be taken for a ride.

[Tallulah]

34. to get a real feel

about these people, call the 800 number they post and ask for some help. It's about taking, not helping.

If they bring in that much money and operate in the US, that money should stay in the US and should be taxed, heavily taxed.

Do you realize how many Americans could be fed with $50 million ? Why aren't they purchasing food and handing it out from the steps of their churches ?

You know why.

[schmice]

35. The Crouches

I read a long time ago that Jan Crouch refused to appear on TV with Paul because he had been involved in a homosexual scandal of his own. Years later I saw them together with a bunch of other televangelists begging (naturally) for money. Crack is whack.

[spanone]

37. may these teevee charlatans rot in hell

[tech_smythe]

40. THats all?

Relative to the worth of the company that's not very much money.
A mega corp misplaces $50 million in a year as petty cash on executives.
gods.... when did 50 million dollars become a "small" amount of money?!

[OmahaBlueDog]

43. This is why you need auditors

..and why those auditors need to be completely independent from your accountants, your executives, and your Board.

Whether it's a church, a charity, a governmental entity, or a corporation, someone on the Board should always be asking questions like:

What is the justification for the private jet?

What is the justification for any salary more than 20x the median salary for workers at the enterprise?

If we take in large sums of cash donations, how are they received, counted, and controlled?

Is someone looking to see that expenses are justified in the course of business?

If we're delivering services to the poor/sick/underpriveleged/veterans/etc., what percentage of what we take in go to those services, and how much is eaten up in administration and overhead?

[valerief]

51. Duh. nt

[craigmatic]

52. You can tell when a political movement is over when it becomes a hustle.

[Justice wanted]

54. Anyone with 2 cents of logic who watches 20 seconds of that channel can tell it is ONE BIG

FREAKIN Scam.

[SoCalDem]

56. These scammers build these empires through their tax-free status

I do not mind tax free status for the footprint of the actual church and its parking lot..but that is IT..

They should also pay taxes on ALL "profit"
.
profit = everything that is not spent on their charities (PROVABLE expenses) and the realistic expenses of running that "business". Preachers always say they are "in the business of saving souls".

Religions/churches should not enjoy tax free status on their "empires"..especially when their "broadcasting" is less about spreading the "good word", than it is about generating funds for the leaders, and vilifying any who do not follow their leader..

[VPStoltz]

59. As that bunch always says, "Charity starts at home."

[davidthegnome]

60. Wow

Multiple mansions on both coasts? I'm thinking about something biblical, something about fitting through the eye of a needle, I think.

These people are worse than thieves... there are no words in the English language quite foul enough to describe them.

[GETPLANING]

61. I have always maintained that the only people more dishonest that the mob were the cops.

Maybe I was wrong.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

63. Jesus is down with taking money from the poor. Read the following alleged words of Jesus:

From the Book of MATTHEW:
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. 25:27

Jesus will give to those who already have and take from those who have nothing. He must've been a Republican. 25:29

The servant who kept and returned his master's talent was cast into the "outer darkness" where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth." 25:30

Ointment for Jesus' head is more important than helping the poor. 25: 6-11

From the gospel of LUKE:
Be content with your wages" -- no matter how unjust they may be. 3:14

Whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have."
Jesus was the first Republican. 8:18

In the parable of the talents, Jesus says that God takes what is not rightly his, and reaps what he didn't sow. The parable ends with the words: "bring them [those who preferred not to be ruled by him] hither, and slay them before me." 19:22-27

Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him." These verses are used by Rethuglicans to justify protecting the rich from taxation. 19:24-26

2 CORINTHIANS:
Paul set an example for televangelists by robbing some churches. 11:8

2 THESSALONIANS:
Those who will not or cannot work should starve to death. 3:10

========
I think the bible is a bunch of ridiculous statements and a sane person would not take illiterate bronze age writings seriously. There is no historical evidence that Jesus actually existed anyway. He's got the same birthday and virginal mother as Mithra, Apollo, Osiris and many other gods.

[Clouseau2]

64. Shock gasp horror

All these guys are just con artists who happen to use religion as their con.

The only difference is how comfortable they are in letting their flock know that they are being fleeced.

Eddie Long, for example, was very comfortable in letting his followers know that he was squeezing them like lemons.

[Politicalboi]

65. Children exposed to pedophiles

In the catholic church doesn't stop followers from going every week. Why would these morons wake up as well. I have no pity for these people. If the Rolex watch on their minister doesn't give them question why should this.

[Figaro78]

69. There is no more a successful whore than a church whore

[drynberg]

70. AHH YES,

thou shall go forth and prosper...Is that wrong? If only someone wouldda told me...

[Fuddnik]

71. "The Devil just got into the computer and messed everything up"

The same thing happened to Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker.

[Javaman]

72. LOL I can't help but keep reading their name as Crotch!

I know, I'm 3 years old. LOL

[eppur_se_muova]

77. Truly, The Lord works in mysterious ways. nt

[Bake]

79. Can you say Elmer Gantry?

I knew that you could!

Bake

[caseymoz]

81. Three! Three huge RW/Christian scandals at once!

At Patrick Buchanan fired, too! WTF, God? Maybe that Mayan calendar is right. Or maybe the wheels are ready to spin off the conservative clown car.