Preachers behaving badly -- again

Looks like another televangelist might be in trouble. This time, it's Morris Cerullo who's going on trial for tax evasion.

It's too bad these false teachers can't be tried for blasphemy in the U.S. of A. Instead, the district attorneys have to go after their finances to bring them down. Interestingly, the allegations of the IRS involve the Inspiration Network, the remnants of Jim and Tammy Bakker's PTL ministry which eventually wound up in Cerullo's hands. Namely, he is accused of not reporting about a half million dollars of income. If convicted, Cerullo faces nine years in the slammer.

In a somewhat related matter, Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, the current chief exponents of "positive confession" (the heresy that Jesus died spiritually as well as physically on the cross) have been flying around in a corporate jet thanks to the generosity of their followers. Despite their promises the plane would never be used for personal purposes, the Copelands pulled a Benny Hinn recently and took a "layover" in Maui and Fiji on the way to Australia, then stopped in Honolulu on the way home. Funny no "crusades" happened where they were taking r and r -- or the other places where they just decided to visit a ranch or go skiing.

Look, even preachers are entitled to take a break every now and then. But not on their parishoner's dime and certainly not first class when all the government will allow a deduction for is business class at the lowest available rate (not the rack rate).

The ironic thing is that Jim Bakker eventually renounced the prosperity gospel. His current association with Rick Joyner and the concept of Dominionism is very troubling but at least Bakker was willing to admit he was wrong. Getting these others to admit the error of their ways would be like asking a brick wall to disappear. Given they have friends in high places (namely, Dubya and Karl Rove) expect a very quick pardon if even one conviction is registered.

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