Senator Chuck Grassley is apparently not a big fan of those who preach some variant of the “prosperity gospel.” In fact, this form of ministry troubles Grassley so much that this past winter he decided to use his considerable power as the “former chairman and now Ranking Member on the Senate Finance Committee” to launch a full-blown investigation into the operational affairs of six “prosperity-gospel” ministries: Without Walls International Church; World Healing Center Church, Inc./Benny Hinn Ministries; Joyce Meyer Ministries; World Changers Church International; Kenneth Copeland Ministries; and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.Here is the relevant text of the letter Grassley sent each of the foregoing ministries on November 5, 2007:

The Finance Committe has a long tradition of reviewing tax-exempt organizations. It is important that the Congress and public have confidence that public charities, which benefit from very significant tax breaks, are operated in a manner that promotes continued trust and that these charities adhere to guidelines established by the Internal Revenue Service. Historically, Americans have given generously to religious organizations, and those who do should be assured that their donations are being used for the tax-exempt purposes of the organizations.

Recent articles and news reports regarding the possible misuse of donations made to religious organizations have caused some concern for the Finance Committee. Since your organization is not required to file Form 990 with the Internal Revenue Service, I am requesting that you answer the following questions and provide the following information for my review.

Come Again? This is the basis of Grassley’s investigation? ”Recent articles and news reports”? Which ones? Where are the allegations of wrongdoing? What have these ministries done to warrant such scrutiny from Grassley and the Senate Finance Committee? If there really is evidence of serious wrongdoing, then why isn’t the IRS leading the charge against these ministries?  

Look, I understand how Grassley and many folks feel about “prosperity gospel” ministries. Lord knows it’s not my cup of tea. Indeed, I use to subscribe to “The Wittenburg Door” for the sole purpose of reading its blistering (and hilarious) critiques of such ministries.

Nevertheless, I find Senator Grassley’s investigation of these ministries deeply troubling. At no time, has Grassley specified “the reported allegations of wrongdoing,” nor their sources. So, how in the world are these ministries supposed to address vague, unsubstantiated allegations of wrongdoing? Grassley’s letter to the ministries simply states that there are unspecified ”articles and reports” floating around “regarding the possible misuse of donations.” Are you freaking kidding me? This smells like a witch hunt to me, plain and simple.

Indeed, on the day the documents Grassley requested were due, he issued a press release that noted, among other things:

It’s good that some of the ministries are cooperating.  I hope all of them will cooperate in the end.  They have to realize that ministries are no different from any other non-profit organization.  They have to abide by tax laws just like any tax-exempt group.   I’ll be accommodating and give the ministries more time as long as they’re cooperating and indicate that to my office.  If they don’t cooperate, it would be very unusual.  I’ve looked at a lot of non-profit groups over the years, and they’ve all cooperated.  The only possible exception is when I was chairman, and then-Ranking Member Baucus asked for my help in getting a subpoena for charities connected to Jack Abramoff.  That was an extreme case.

Pay special attention to the fourth sentence. There’s absolutely no evidence that any of the ministries are not “abid[ing] by tax laws.” Shouldn’t Senator Grassley have to set forth a concrete basis for investigating these ministries? Or is he simply allowed to sully their reputations on a whim?

So, where do things stand to date?

At least three of the ministries are, understandably, refusing to cooperate or continue cooperating with the Senate Finance Committee’s investigation. Kenneth Copeland Ministries–which actually complied with the original deadline for producing the requested documents–has decided to up the stakes with Grassley by inviting the IRS to undertake a full audit of its operations. The remaining two ministries have apparently placated the good senator for the time being.

But the question still remains? What ails Grassley? Why is he targeting these ministries? Perhaps Senator Grassley has information that he isn’t sharing, but if the point of this investigation is the inform the public of wrongdoing, then lay out the evidence for all to see (including those being investigated). Allow these ministries to defend themselves against charges allegedly “based on presentations of material from watchdog groups and whistleblowers and on investigative reports in local media outlet.” In the absence of such evidence, one is left to wonder whether Senator Grassley’s investigation is motivated by religious bigotry rather than a genuine concern for the public welfare. As David Boaz noted in a recent op-ed for the Dallas Morning News:

Mr. Grassley’s investigation of the televangelists may be his most troubling crusade to date, as the U.S. has a longstanding commitment to the separation of church and state, and politicians simply have no authority to investigate how religious organizations arrange their affairs.

Finally, this past Friday, the Coalitions for America sent the following letter the Senate Finance Committee, expressing its concerns about the investigation of these ministries:

United States Congress

U.S. Capitol

Washington, DC 20002

 

May2, 2008

 

Dear Senate Finance Committee Member:

 

We write respectfully to let you know of our concerns about the Senate Finance Committee’s investigation into the finances of several churches, all of which share the same branch of evangelicalism, and all of which promote socially conservative public policy positions such as support for the traditional definition of marriage.

 

While we recognize that some evangelical teachings and socially conservative policy positions are controversial, and that these churches have been the subject of sensational investigative journalism, we are nonetheless concerned that this would possibly justify an investigation outside the normal confines of the Internal Revenue Service and established administrative and judicial procedures.

 

Congress passed the Church Audit Procedures Act in 1984 specifically to discourage politically driven audits of churches. The Act prevents the Internal Revenue Service from initiating an investigation into a church’s finances unless a “high level Treasury official” concludes that there is reasonable cause for such an investigation. The Act also protects a church under investigation from politically motivated leaks during the course of the examination.

 

We are unaware of any finding by a high-level Treasury Department official that there is reasonable cause to open an investigation of any of these ministries.

 

We are concerned that the Senate Finance Committee may be setting a dangerous precedent that may be difficult to reverse.  For one thing, controversy will always be a part of religious teaching.  And religious controversy is something the media will inevitably strive to exploit, since the media feed on controversy and have demonstrated a bias against evangelical Christians.  The Committee’s reliance on media reports in targeting subjects for its investigation would therefore only seem to reinforce this unfortunate bias, however unwittingly. 

 

We cannot recall instances in the past where a congressional committee has targeted major ministries under threat of subpoena. The ministries have been asked to produce financial records and internal documents in what appears to be an exercise in disproving their alleged guilt.

 

Congress has a legitimate role to play in oversight of our laws, including tax laws governing churches. And ministries have the obligation to be transparent in their financial accounting. But the targeting of specific ministries by a congressional committee would seem to intrude on the free exercise of religion guaranteed under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. We believe this is why churches are properly exempt from taxation in the first place — to prevent governments from using their power to tax as a way to limit the free exercise of religion.

 

We respectfully ask that investigations into the finances of specific ministries be left with the Internal Revenue Service, overseen and approved by a Treasury Department official who has affirmed that there is reasonable cause for such an investigation, in accordance with the Church Audit Procedures Act.

 

Signed,

 

Paul Weyrich, Chairman, Coalitions for America

Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman, American Family Association

Ken Blackwell, Chairman, Coalition for a Conservative Majority

William Murray, Chairman, Religious Freedom Coalition

Rev. Bill Owens, President, Coalition of African American Pastors

Victoria Cobb, President, The Family Foundation of Virginia

Dr. Gary Cass, Chairman/CEO, Christian Anti-Defamation Commission

Pastor Craig Polston, Kingdom Baptist Church, Fredericksburg, Virginia

Pastor Bob Emrich, The Maine Jeremiah Project, Emmanuel Bible Baptist Church

Dr. Carl Herbster, President, AdvanceUSA

Anthony Verdugo, Christian Family Coalition

Deal W. Hudson, Director, InsideCatholic.com

Rev. Rick Scarborough, President, Vision America

Star Parker, President, Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education

Colin Hanna, President, Pennsylvania Pastors Network

Dr. Danny Forshee, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Lavaca, Arkansas

Sadie Fields, State Chairman, Georgia Christian Alliance

Pastor Jack Knapp, Sandston, Virginia

Larry Cirignano, Founder, CatholicVote

James Martin, President, 60 Plus

George Landrith, President, Frontiers of Freedom

Mathew Staver, Dean and Professor of Law, Liberty University School of Law

Rev. Rob Schenck, National Clergy Council

I could not agree more with the foregoing sentiments. Senator Grassley’s investigation is disturbing on many levels, but especially with regard to the chilling effect it could possibly have on religious speech and free exercise of religion in this country. 

Now, I am not saying Senator Grassley is a religious bigot, mind you. But there are “news reports and articles” floating around on the ol’ world-wide web suggesting that might indeed be the case. And until the good senator provides me with complete access to all of his professional and personal papers, I have no choice but to assume that he is one.

I look forward to receiving your timely response to my inquiry, senator.

(Cross-posted at RedState)