Images courtesy of Pixabay
As Trinity Foundation’s president, I addressed a group of journalists and concerned activists at Transparency International’s annual conference in Washington D.C. on December 15, 2022, about “Dark Money in the Church—Waiting for Christianity’s Wake Up Call.”
But the visible church, unfortunately, is sound asleep. Here’s a little from that presentation: “There is a veil of financial secrecy that shrouds and protects religious organizations.”
“Churches, Synagogues, Mosques, and other religious entities in America do not have to report any financial information either to the IRS, the public, or their own congregations. This is known as “church status” and their financial disclosure is only voluntary.”
“We’ve seen this veil of secrecy lead to massive waste and extravagance, money laundering, bulk-cash smuggling, a tremendous indifference to the poor and downtrodden, and even rape, pedophilia, or sex-trafficking by televangelists, pastors, priests, and other church leaders—all in the name of God.”
Recently, our Pastor Planes project tracked a televangelist jet flying to Jamaica.
So, last Friday’s worrisome report by Transparency International, on 9/20/2024, about the lack of transparency in Jamaica and other governments is not surprising either, “Jamaica’s independent Integrity Commission presented a report to Parliament, raising serious concerns about Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s 2021 financial declarations…”
How does this apply to the religious organizations we investigate? How does this apply to these organizations that regularly solicit and receive money from the public?
Let’s read a bit more from Transparency International: “Public officials must be held accountable for accurately reporting their assets, as mandated by law. Requiring asset declarations, along with effective monitoring and enforcement, is key for identifying conflict of interest and fighting against corruption.”
“as mandated by law.” We challenge our readers to name one law that mandates transparency with religious organizations. Many, if not most, religious organizations make all kinds of outlandish claims about the supposed good work they are doing… and (this is important) they solicit donor money from the public.
“…asset declarations, (i.e. transparency) …is key for identifying conflict of interest and fighting against corruption.” Ordinary human greed for money and power and self-dealing in the highest levels of governments and corporations is commonplace. But for churches and organizations that claim to follow Christ, it should be the exception and not the rule.
Simple solicitation laws could force organizations that solicit donor money to reveal their wealth and where the money goes.
Solicitation laws tied to transparency could help
Solicitation laws could require religious organizations asking for money via television, radio, or over the internet across state lines and receiving over a minimum amount annually, say, over $500,000, to show how the money is spent by filing a version of the IRS form 990. The form needs improvement and in some cases simplification but it’s a step in the right direction.
As the world dives into more and more corruption, we will keep pressing for a wake-up call to more transparency and accountability within churches and related organizations.