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The church is performing a much needed service so what's your beef?
I don't like all the PPP either but you can't fault them for asking? Look at who approved them for answers.
What service is that exactly? From my perspective (and it's a clear one, since I live nearby,) it's lining Osteen's pockets. I remember during Hurricane Harvey when the small churches opened their sanctuaries to survivors to shelter in. Osteen refused to open his doors. He lied and said Lakewood Church would remain closed because the church was "under construction." Only after being subjected to extreme criticism did he relent and allow floor victims to stay in his enormous megachurch.
What service is that exactly? From my perspective (and it's a clear one, since I live nearby,) it's lining Osteen's pockets. I remember during Hurricane Harvey when the small churches opened their sanctuaries to survivors to shelter in. Osteen refused to open his doors. He lied and said Lakewood Church would remain closed because the church was "under construction." Only after being subjected to extreme criticism did he relent and allow floor victims to stay in his emormous megachurch.
You support a system that upfront states it will redistribute wealth, but it doesnt come with a guarantee it will go to who you want.
Last edited by Frank DeForrest; 12-18-2020 at 08:06 AM..
I don't see the issue. The PPP is the Paycheck Protection Program. The church may not pay taxes on the collections from congregants, but the 350 employees pay federal income tax, and FICA. Those employees are entitled to PPP money as much as anyone.
Why isn't news media talking about this BS?
Churches that don't pay a dime in tax dollars getting millions of tax in Covid relief.
Multimillionaire televangelist Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Texas netted $4.4 million in bailouts through the federal COVID-19 relief program, records show. https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyl...virus-ppp-loan
The Houston megachurch, the largest in the nation with 52,000 weekly congregants, received the forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loan in late July, the Houston Business Journal reported Sunday.
The loan was the third-highest in the Houston area during all of July and August, the outlet noted, citing federal data.
Lakewood’s PPP check went to 368 full- and part-time employees, spokesman Donald Iloff told the Houston Business Journal.
What service is that exactly? From my perspective (and it's a clear one, since I live nearby,) it's lining Osteen's pockets. I remember during Hurricane Harvey when the small churches opened their sanctuaries to survivors to shelter in. Osteen refused to open his doors. He lied and said Lakewood Church would remain closed because the church was "under construction." Only after being subjected to extreme criticism did he relent and allow floor victims to stay in his enormous megachurch.
This church used PPP to continue to pay hundreds of its employees and continue their benefits.
The alternative would have been for the church to lay off employees and have them claim unemployment benefits, including the $600/ week unemployment topper, while it lasted.
Osteen’s wealth is tied to book sales.
Agree it was a seriously bad optic when this church initially declined to open its doors to people impacted by flooding. As I understand it, this decision was reconsidered, after major public pressure.
As of Aug. 4, 2020, 5,136,072 forgivable paycheck protection program (PPP) loans had been approved by the Small Business Administration (SBA). And on Oct. 8, 2020, the SBA revealed a simpler loan forgiveness application for loans of $50,000 or less.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Maryclaire
The church is performing a much needed service so what's your beef?
I don't like all the PPP either but you can't fault them for asking? Look at who approved them for answers.
Which would be what?
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