Anyone ever consider megachurches, big ministries as money laundering entities?

[bobbieinok]

[pnwmom]

1. Maybe they are. I read that Russia was promoting connections not just with the NRA

but with conservative churches in the US. Franklin Graham was a name that was mentioned.

Update: I just found this:

https://thinkprogress.org/religious-right-russia-3e80e2ea2e4a/

[GreenEyedLefty]

15. Religion and unscrupulous religious figures seem to run hand in hand.

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/04/the-happy-go-lucky-jewish-group-that-connects-trump-and-putin-215007

[RKP5637]

2. Never, they have a connection to god and heaven, none are to question the authority of the church!

It's the way many Americans are bred. Pathetic, isn't it.

[tanyev]

3. It just occurred to me recently to wonder whether some of these 'ministers' that are so pro-Trump

have been the beneficiaries of some bigly Russian money.

[Demsrule86]

4. There is one in my area...Ohio isn't that big on them...and the family that runs the church lives

like kings.

[alittlelark]

5. Many, many, many times......

[Bradshaw3]

6. That is a hell of a question Bobbie

One that is original as far as I know and very much worth asking. I'd like to see some investigative outfit poke around on that one. We for sure know these "ministers" sold their soul to dump and to the idol of money a long time ago.

[bobbieinok]

19. Began to wonder as I learned how much money they have and how unregulated they are

The 2 women at 'thewartburgwatch.com' blog have been posting articles about many churches around the country for about 9 yrs. They have examined them because of claims of sexual and spiritual abuse. But reading these posts, I've learned how extremely wealthy these churches are. They often have multiple campuses, all watching the preacher on a tv screen.

Eg, Steven Furtick's NC Elevation church - the preacher's salary is set by a group of similar preachers, each heading a large, wealthy church. The members of the congration are not given any info about Furtick's salary. His new house is apparently the largest in NC.

Kenneth Copeland was one of the 6 ministers whose finances Sen Grassley tried to investigate some yrs ago. The investigation didn't go anywhere. There are several expose videos about him and others on youtube (including Furtick).

[Bradshaw3]

20. That is good info

I will check out that blog. As a native Oklahoman - and you live there now it looks like - we know well the role these megachurches play in the state, especially in the metro areas.

[bobbieinok]

22. OK big on SoBaptist and now 'non- denominational' churches. Only mega is in Edmond IIRC

I was in IA 68 to 89, then back to OK (lived here 40 to 57 and then TX and CA for college).

I was stunned in IA in the 80s when they didn't see the churches gaining political power.

Like my brother used to say 'When you see a politician show up at church, grab your wallet and hold on hard.'

The blog 'thewartburgwatch.com' is very informative. It's run by 2 women in NC. Both grew up SoBaptist but now one has left. Many commenters are former Evangelicals providing insight from their own experiences. Most recently Dee and Deb have been discussing the Memphis megachurch sex abuse scandal they helped helped gain national coverage.

I strongly recommend the blog. You can search there for their discussions of Al Mohler, John Piper, Stephen Furtick, Mark Driscoll, the Sovreign Grace Ministries sex abuse scandals, the New Calvinist takeover of the SBC, etc, etc.

[mia]

7. No doubt. They would do it.

Probably through real estate.

[sinkingfeeling]

8. Absolutely.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. Oh, yes.

[underthematrix]

10. Yes.

[Initech]

11. Did you see the asshole who bought a private jet last week with church money?

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100210118296

[wishstar]

12. Also churches' megadonors get tax breaks that they don't get from political contributions

so these tax-exempt rightwing churches can spread their message favoring Repubs and demonizing Dems without having to worry about campaign finance rules.

[brush]

13. If so, how do the launderers get paid back? They don't get real estate they can sell legally later.

They don't get casino chips they can cash in.

How do you think it works, cash in the collection plate or donations to the church?

Money launderers are not looking for church/charity tax write off.

[Bradshaw3]

21. There are probably many ways

Could be buying a junker jet for millions. Could be real estate deals that are hidden by going through offshore accounts. The point is they have access to large amounts of cash that can be funneled in ways that aren't in public view. It doesn't have to go through the church in ways like a charity tax write off. These guys are scumbags who will do anything. I don't know if they are doing this but I wouldn't put it past them and I think it's at least worth looking at.

[kwassa]

14. Too visible. High-end real estate works better.

Which Trump specializes in.

[Kajun Gal]

16. For sure!

[roamer65]

17. Tax religion.

A good IRS audit would do the trick in this case.

[Irish_Dem]

18. Anything is possible at this point. Such a massive takeover of the US govt

required a wide network.