TheScroogeReport

CHURCH AND STATE

Seems like atheists are religiously and systematically filing lawsuits in an effort to take all signs of God from public view. Sometimes they are successful as in the recent case of a former Lutheran pastor-turned-atheist who sued over the Spokane Police chaplains use of the crosses and Christian prayers.

Interestingly, although the cross logo will be taken out of the chaplain badge, they will be allowed to wear religious pins of their choice.

This from SpokesmanReview.com:

Crosses to be removed from police chaplain badges

By KAREN DORN STEELE

Crosses will be removed from badges worn by Spokane Police chaplains under terms of an out-of-court settlement between the city and a former Lutheran pastor-turned-atheist who sued over the government agency’s use of the insignias and Christian prayers.

Additionally, lawyers from the Center for Justice who represented former pastor Ray Ideus will get $1,000.

“It’s a milestone,” said Ideus, who volunteers eight hours a week with the police department. “It’s very important that they’ll have to take that cross off. It’s not a Christian police department. The chaplains have to minister to all faiths – and non-faiths,” Ideus said.

The chaplains’ badges previously contained the city of Spokane seal and a Christian/Latin cross. Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick informed the Spokane City Council of the settlement in a report to the council Monday night.

Ideus, 75, said Tuesday he’s happy about the settlement of his lawsuit, filed in January 2006 in U.S. District Court in Spokane.

His lawsuit claimed that the police department’s use of the Christian cross is an “impermissible incorporation of a particular religious symbol in a government insignia.”

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Prosperity Gospel Preachers Under Fire

Two of the 6 televangelists being investigated by the Senate Finance Committee have refused to meet a Thursday deadline to turn in financial documents.

Only Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo., has provided the detailed financial and board oversight information sought by Sen. Charles Grassley, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee.

This from the Associated Press:

A second Christian ministry is refusing to meet a Thursday deadline for a Senate investigation into preachers’ salaries, perks and travel, The Associated Press has learned.

Benny Hinn of World Healing Center Church Inc. and Benny Hinn Ministries of Grapevine, Texas, said in a statement to the AP on Thursday that he will not respond to the inquiry until next year.

A lawyer for preacher Creflo Dollar of World Changers Church International in suburban Atlanta had said Wednesday that the investigation should be referred to the IRS or the Senate panel should get a subpoena for the documents.

Sen. Charles Grassley, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, sent lengthy questionnaires a month ago to six ministries so he could review whether pastors were complying with IRS rules that bar excessive personal gain through tax-exempt work.

Only Joyce Meyer Ministries of Fenton, Mo., has provided the detailed financial and board oversight information sought by Grassley.

Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said in a Wednesday conference call with reporters that he “can’t be impressed” by the argument from some of the preachers that the IRS already monitors them, because his past inquiries have unearthed information that the IRS never knew.

All the ministries preach a form of Word of Faith theology, known as prosperity gospel, which teaches that God wants believers to reap material rewards for their faith.

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