FALLEN EVANGELICAL HUCKSTERS

Two noted evangelical hucksters fall in one week. It’s probably not a record, especially given the plethora of hucksters out there masquerading as preachers, but it’s worth noting in difficult economic times such as these that the lure for money and power knows no bounds.

Last week, Archbishop Earl Paulk of the Atlanta mega-church, the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church, was exposed as an adulterer…not necessarily big news in this age…but the man he fathered is now the pastor of the same mega-church Archbishop Faulk founded.

Folks thought D.E. Paulk was Archbishop Paulk’s nephew. Turns out he was the Arcbishop’s son…the product of an affair between the Archbishop and his brother’s wife.

The church and the Archbishop are being sued for other instances of alleged sexual-related conduct on the part of the Archbishop as well and the Archbishop faces possible perjury criminal charges for lying about the affair.

And then, there’s Richard Roberts, the son of note televangelist, Oral Roberts. Richard Roberts, the President of Oral Roberts University – until today when he resigned – has been accused of converting millions of dollars from the Oral Roberts University’s endowment to line his own pocket and support his lavish lifestyle. The evidence against him is overwhelming.

The shame in both stories is not just the fall of two powerful men, but the missed opportunities for good work both men left in their wake.

People give millions of hard-earned dollars to charities expecting those funds to be used to better the lives of others in need of assistance. Unfortunately, too often those funds simply enrich the hucksters.

It’s time for the government to be more aggressive in their investigation of charities to insure compliance with tax regulations that require charitable donations to be used for charitable purposes. This is not a freedom of religion issue. This is a tax issue.

Churches and Charitable Foundations that properly used donated funds have no reason to fear. Those who don’t use donations properly should. If the fear of God doesn’t work, perhaps fear of the IRS will.