40 COURIER-POST, Saturday, November 30, 1991 Jjp Commentary: Congress should investigate televangelists By MIKE McMANUS For the Courier-Post An award-winning journalist, Mike McManus has been writing extensively on a wide range of religious Issues. His topics Include Individual testimonies, applying Judeo-Christian values In the workplace, healing marriages, racial discrimination and the church. For additional Information on area religious groups, please see Page 5A. billion for education. But the favorite charities of the telefrauds are their own mansions.
The IRS says it has 17 ongoing investigations of "media evangelists" including six "prominent" figures. It will not release their names, nor any con-elusions of their investigations on grounds of privacy. But I am not impressed with the one IRS investigation I know something about on Pat Robertson: Through the Freedom of Information Act, I obtained CBN's tax returns for 1984 and 1985 which showed millions of dollars donated to CBN for its charitable work, was given to the Freedom Council. It organized dozens of "non-partisan" rallies at which Pat was always asked by voices in the crowd, "Are you going to run for President?" Pat's script had him reply coyly, "You tell me. Should I run?" That was greeted by roars of approval.
I reported, "Often 'The Question' was popped by a Freedom Council staffer planted in the crowd, says its last Executive Director, Greg Jackson." These tactics worked in part Robertson spent $4 million in Michigan alone and took over its Republican Party. But should money from CBN fund such political actions of its founder? The IRS had looked into the matter for a year when I wrote in 1987. And IRS interviewed me after my stories appeared. But they had not even interviewed Greg Jackson, the last head of the Freedom Council! Now, four years later, IRS has no conclusion. It's time for a Congressional inquiry.
Lea also claimed he was building a new "spirit-filled church" in Auschwitz, Poland near the famous concentration camp. ABC visited the church and found it had been started two years earlier by local Poles who never heard of Lea until he arrived recently and gave $30,000, "a tiny fraction of what you make in a day," ABC's Diane Sawyer said to Lea. Robert Tilton would not talk with ABC. But ABC obtained figures showing daily cash deposits so large, his income might be $80 million. "Today is a miracle day," Tilton proclaims as he urges people to "make a $1,000 vow of faith," put a "prayer cloth" over whatever part of their body is ill, send it in, and he will pray for their miracle.
ABC found prayer cloths in a dumpster behind the bank where the checks roll in. What's common to these tales? Fake cures, gimmick charities, big money, deceit of trusting people, and several mansions per teleswindler. And what's worse, you and I are subsidizing these slimy creeps. Every dollar donated is tax deductible for the donor. Every dollar not paid in taxes enlarges the deficit, on which we all have to pay interest forever.
Tax deductions are perfectly reasonable for legitimate churches which received $54 billion in 1989. They give genuine service to their members. A study by the Independent Sector revealed that only 54 percent of funds are used for religious services. Eight of ten churches provide counseling and give international relief, two-thirds give to such health programs as hospitals or hospices and 112,000 churches gave $7 It is time for a full-fledged Congressional investigation into the finances of America's televangelists. Four years ago, this column broke the story that the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) "poured a tidal wave of $8.5 million into a group called the Freedom Council" that organized Pat Robertson's bid for the White House in the years of 1984 through 1986.
This came to my mind last week as I watched a stunning investigative report by ABC-TV on "Prime-time Live" of three scandalous TV preachers: Larry Lea, W.B. Grant and Robert Tilton. ABC gave the following evidence of deceit: Grant appeared to cure a crippled old man, who then ran down the aisle as Grant held his cane in the air. ABC showed the cane was taken from the person behind the "crippled man" who told ABC later, "I never had a problem with my leg" but with a sore arm. Grant claimed to aid 3,500 children in 64 orphanages in Haiti run by a "saintly woman" named "Mommy." But she died five years ago.
"He doesn't give us a dime," said the head of one orphanage. ABC did find one orphanage with a few kids run by a fat man who got some aid from Grant. But he told ABC reporters, who posed as as a U.S. send me $25 per month, and you can raise $500 for each child in that month. The way I look at it, the $25 is $25 1 would not have gotten Religion and ethics Can it be legal to raise money for non-existent orphanages, or to siphon off 95 percent of earmarked gifts? 1 Larry Lea claimed to have "saved" Erik Prior from his life as a leader of a pagan cult.
One show had clips of Prior's "marriage." But it turned out Prior was no cult leader, already had a wife from whom he was not divorced, and was under court order to pay child support Further, he apparently was given up to $100,000 by Larry Lea for his testimony. Crossword People ment your overall chances. Dear Abby Memories of ex-wife can't be erased need to get beamed You can increase your chances considerably by playing for a squeeze, up. Just go to Indianapolis for this year's Star Trek Furthermore, you can do this with out relinquishing your chance of a 3 3 spade split. But, to achieve the squeeze, you must time your plays ADirll WAKIDHBCM Actors Nichelle Nichols and ov no un vn i ju 1 1 i i carefully.
Here is what you do: Syndicated Columnist DEAR ABBY: My boyfriend and Trump the diamond lead, play a heart to the queen, trump another diamond, play a heart to the king, and trump a third diamond. The purpose of the two extra diamond ruffs is to try to saddle one player in this case West with the burden of guarding against dummy's last nave Deen seeing eacn other tor a year and three months. We're serious about each other and I plan to move in with him eventually. He's seven years older than me, divorced, and has a daughter I'll call Suzy. He doesn't get to see her much, which really hurts him.
He has pictures of Suzy all over his apartment, which is OK because it's important for him to remember i South dealer. Both sides vulnerable. NORTH 8763 KQ 9852 K42 WEST EAST 105 J942 T75 84 QJ10763 AK4 Q86 1073 SOUTH AKQ VAJ 109632 A95 The bidding: South West North East Pass 3 Pass 4 Pass 5 Pass Opening lead queen of diamonds. Assume you're in seven hearts and West leads a diamond. When dummy appears, your first reaction might be that the outcome depends entirely on finding the missing spades divided 3-3.
You might therefore draw trumps, play the A-K-Q of spades, and hope to discard your club loser on dummy's fourth spade. But you know from experience that the spades are unlikely to split 3-3. In fact, there's only a 36 percent chance of finding them evenly divided. So you start looking for another approach that might supple ner. What bothers me Is the nicture ho rapriAfi in niallot Tt'a nnn nf b.v viMii.D it T.im vile ui Suzy and his ex-wife together.
I could understand it if it was the nnlv MPAnf ninllA ha haI nf Cnvi, v.Aj ivi.uiV III. Iiau UI UUAJ, hut he hflg others nf inat Sii7u that John De Lancle are the guests at the convention, which celebrates the 25th anniversary of the TV series. Nearly 600 Trekkies purchased advance tickets to the fourth Starbase Indy convention. The three-day gathering began Friday. Nichols played Lt.
Cmdr. Uhura in the original series. De Lancie plays from the current "Star Trek: The Next Generation." The original show ran on NBC from 1966 to 1969, but didn't enjoy big success until the 1970s, when it was shown in sydicated reruns. This year's convention is dedicated to Gene Rodden-berry, the show's creator, who died this fall. You know economic times are tough when TV's "Six Million Dollar Man" gets only $4 million for his home in Malibu, Calif.
Actor Lee Majors "was asking $5 million, but this was an extraordinary cash deal," said Mike Silverman, whose Beverly Hills-based real estate firm handled the sale. Other terms weren't disclosed. Silverman said the buyer was a supermarket chain heiress, but he wouldn't identify her. Majors, 51, who has moved to Fort Lauderdale. starred in diamond.
You then play another trump and cash the A-K-Q of spades, producing this position: North 48 9 K4 West East Q86 4J107 South 10 A95 Now you play your last trump. West must keep his diamond, so he discards a club. When you then discard dummy's diamond, East, who must keep the jack of spades, also discards a club. You then win the last three tricks with the K-A-9 of clubs That '8 all there is to it! were taken at the same time. Quite recently, he found some pictures of other guys stashed away in a drawer at my place.
I knew it bothered him, so I tore them all up in front of him, hoping it would make him realize that he is the only one for me. Now I feel it's his him Ho has nthar nictnraa i nis ex-wue, put tne one in his wallet bothers me the most. The Bridge Table By THOMAS JOSEPH Associated Press Liza in Paris: Entertainer Liza Minnelli laughs as she pushes the button to light up the Champs Elysee Avenue for Christmas in Paris Thursday. She and French singer Charles Aznavour (right) are performing together in the French capital. DEAR BUGGED: Don't ask him to get rid of that picture, and don't pretend it doesn't bother you.
Say nothing for tne time being, and if you and he are ever man and wife, that would be the proper time for you to ask him to please remove the picture of "that other woman" from his wallet Like it or not, she will always be the mother of his daughter, so you can't demand that he erase her from DUPE SriAlLlPlHlA LI R.MC P.IA AP SAY HmTT ORIR EUL ER the 1970s TV series "The Six Million Dollar Man" and the 1980s series "The Fall Guy." Vice President Dan Quayle got awav from Coneress and into the kitchen, helping to serve a Thanksgiving dinner at a church in Wickenburg, Ariz. Quayle, his wife, Marilyn, and their three children. Yesterday's Moves one's tab 42 Church service DOWN 1 Early President 2 King of Judah 3 Soar 4 Blushing 5 Ultimate 6Cleo's killer 7 Nearsighted 8 Adorn 9 Porterhouse, eg. 11 Daydream 17 The Merchant of Venice 20 21 Tucker, 17, Ben, 15, and Cor-rine, 13, took time out from a his memory. DEAR ABBY: Some time ago, you printed a short item about the usage of a "guest towel" in the bathroom, and how it wasn't used but should be.
-MILDRED DEAR MILDRED: The author of the poem is Mabel Craddock of Ventura, Calif. Here it is: A GUEST TOWEL SPEAKS Please use me, Guest; Don't hesitate. carefully 27 Heads for the short vacation to serve turkey and the trimmings to about 100 Answer players Women's quarters, in India Select groups Hit film of 1990 Currents holiday weekend at his parents' vacation home in Wickenburg, 60 miles northwest of Phoenix. Francis Crick, who won a Nobel Prize in 1962 for helping discover the structure of DNA, was named to the Order of Merit by Queen Elizabeth of England. "The Order of Merit is a personal honor of the monarch," said Edwina Iredale, librarian for the British Consulate in Los Angeles.
"They are so distinguished. There are only 24." The 75-year-old Crick, a professor at the Salk Institute in San Diego, was born in Northampton, England. The people who played actor Jon Volght's students in the movie "Conrack" 18 years ago said they weren't surprised to learn he thought it was time for a reunion. "He really cared about us," said Margaret Perry Collier, now a hospital administrator in Augusta, Ga. "Every day on the set, he showed us in his interactions that he cared." The group got together Thursday in St.
Simons Island, for a Thanksgiving reunion. "We were a team," Voight said. "I haven't kept up with any of them we've all been busy with our lives but I still have vivid memories of an area and a people filled with playfulness and loving energy." The 1973 film is about a young white teacher and his black students at a rural school on the South Carolina coast. Today's Birthday's: Athlete Bo Jackson, 30; singer Billy Idol, 36; actor Mandy Patln-kin, 39; and actor Robert Gull-laume, 63. people at First Presbyterian 23 28 29 runway Busy commo Lhurch on Thursday.
"It's nice to see the bigwigs come down and share with the people," said diner Mary Cree-can. "It reminds them they're tions Archer's 31 25 just like everybody else." aid Disen 26 33 Nuisance 36 Teachers' org. Don't turn your back Or vacillate. Don't dry your hands On petticoat, On handkerchief, Orredingote. I'm here to use; I'm made for drying.
Just hanging here Gets very tiring. ACROSS 1 Not quite shut 5 Cote critters 10 White cliffs locale 12 So far 13 Actor's comment 14 China type 15Woody's love 16 Tub 18 Shooter ammo 19 Glossy fabric 21 Dog's bane 22 Fanciful chair style 24 Dakota 25 Bed choice 29 Colt creations 30 The very thing 32 With it 33 Campaigner 34 Zero 35 Sheepish 37 Muse of love poems 39 Tennis great Monica 40 Tendon 41 Pay every tangle, as football 33 1 he Kev. dim Longstreet said the Quayles let him know about half an hour before the noon meal, offered to the poor and lonely in this town of 5,000. Edge 1 he Quayles are spending the It's Your Birthday 1 2 3 4 8 9 vT 12 il T5 TB-" ST- 73 i frriMMj i-gma 19 20 "21 22 23 1 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 38 39 55 41 42 1 8) Others return favors to you. Many invitations crowd your calendar.
Don't miss any chances to impress the boss; you're in line for special treatment, including a raise. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) Sleep late, if possible; relax with a good mystery story. Busy times are beginning, and you're expected to organize. You'll do beautifully with all the new challenges.
Tribgno Media Sarvtcti By JOYCE JILLSON A sociable Sunday. Parties, family events, sports meets should all be great successes. Conversations are extra stimulating, too. You see solid results from past efforts this week. The new moon Thursday is perfect for holiday organizing.
SUNDAY, DEC. 1 Pressures ease and understandings improve between you and those who are important to your career. Travel this month and in March. Push that big personal project in April. Strengthen partnerships and your marriage in May and July.
Your prestige rises in August, and you have social and leadership obligationc to meet. Next October sees a peak of accomplishment, and you'll set new Make what you already have really solid that includes property and relationships. Insurance, good credit, investments come in handy. Be considerate of your mate this week. GEMINI (May 21-June 21) A talk with someone special restores harmony to the relationship.
Present the facts to advisers this week, and get some advice. You have a new teammate and a new perspective after Thursday. CANCER (June 22-July 22) The entire family should help decide how holiday time will be spent. You encounter an endless tangle of details because you insist on doing everything yourself; do some delegating. You know what you want, and it seems to fall right into your lap.
Finalize holiday arrangements with family members Monday through Wednesday. Kids need you on Thursday. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Family matters and household tasks help the day fly by.
Get an tan') atatt Ofi bus) MuUiluy. math gets settled, and new information solves many problems. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) Expect a pleasant surprise, as someone stubborn gives in to your reasoning.
An invitation that was lost in mail will arrive this week. The new moon Thursday signals several extra-busy weeks ahead. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21) Honesty is the best policy even if other people aren't pleased to hear it.
Step up front and state your case this week. The new moon Thursday is for making resolutions concerning spending habits. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) The loyalty of associates is going to make your dreams come true.
Spend time with friends or shop for them. Finish things up through Wednesday. Start things Thursday, resolve to keep promises. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.
19) You're really in a holiday mood; you keep everyone hopping with all the projects you think of. The first half of the week is for socializing and special gifts to friends. It's the thought that counts. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.
A DIAL YOUR This day in history PERSONALIZED ni TV ijti kl i kt Bt Bawm Bdte 1Mb jm hrtt mt nkr, Ik kite jn I pmnl 44M ratal fcr kh Tim mtmbimfltatnWnAnnjmt On, tmtcn mi Rten pmjmMr Today is Saturday, Nov. 30, the 334th day of 1991. On this date: In 1949, Chinese Communists captured Chungking. In 1954, Elizabeth Hodges of Sylacauga, Alabama, was injured when an 8'2-pound meteorite crashed through the roof of her house. In 1962, Thant of Burma was elected Secretary-General of the United Nations, succeeding the late Dag Hammarskjold.
In 1966, the former British colony of Barbados became independent. Ten years ago: The United States and the Soviet Union opened negotiations in Geneva r.uv.itof weapons in Europe. ahnhrajtyafeiot ARIES (March 21-April 19) You enjoy a jovial beginning to a productive week. Concentrate on finishing what's in the works through Wednesday. The new moon Thursday starts a busy, eipaiisivc tiilit.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) fc A ft ft.
