Senator to Examine Finances at Ministries of ‘Prosperity Theologists’

Sen. Charles Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, is examining the finances of tax-exempt organizations run by six ministers who preach “prosperity theology,” the claim that wealth is a sign of favor from God, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The ministries were asked to provide details of their assets, spending, compensation arrangements, and business deals.

The investigation was spurred by officials of several watchdog groups, who complained the preachers used money from parishioners for personal gain and avoided taxes on their churches’ for-profit ventures.

So far, Senator Grassley, the senior Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, has only sent letters to the six ministers asking them to detail their churches’ finances. The letters are not formal subpoenas, and the ministers are not required by law to comply.

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