Important Ruling on Religious Broadcasting

[Wolfman]

The "Miracle Channel" has just been hit with a decision that it must change its fund-raising practices, or lose its Canadian broadcast license. In the past, they have used such practices as encouraging people to cash in their retirement funds, or to charge their credit cards if they have no cash; and have made claims that people who donated would receive larger amounts of cash in a short time, or have their real estate values increase, etc.

This has led to an ongoing debate on "freedom of religion", and the state's role in monitoring and controlling what a religion can say/do.

This week, Canadian authorities announced that these practices would no longer be allowed; they said that the Miracle Channel must first re-write its own guidelines as to what is 'allowable' and what is not, according to certain standards set by the authorities; and if they subsequently violate those guidelines, their license can be revoked.

While this is an important step forward, I have doubts as to whether or not they will actually have the testicular fortitude to follow through and actually revoke the Miracle Channel's license (which would inevitably lead to a backlash from the Christian community). However, the new 'policy' that the Miracle Network has devised still leaves much to be desired, in my opinion...some examples from the original article:

The channel's revised fundraising policy sets out examples of appropriate statements that can be made on air. Hosts are allowed to make comments such as: "We ask you to consider the best gift that you are able to pledge at this time." They are not allowed to say: "If you don't give today, you are robbing God and could go bankrupt."
The document also states "fundraising appeals must not create unrealistic donor expectations of what a donor's gift will actually accomplish." Allowable phrases include: "We believe that as you give, God will bless you in your area of need." The new policy does not allow statements such as: "Because you gave a gift of this amount, God says you will see your income double this month."

 

[Freethinker]

Amazing that Christians have no moral problem doing this while amoral atheists can see how wrong this is.

 

[BenK]

Well people were complaining to the CBSC(Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council). I personally doubt many Atheists watch The Miracle Channel, it's more likely Christians with their own sense of morals complained.

 

[jimlintott]

While this is an important step forward, I have doubts as to whether or not they will actually have the testicular fortitude to follow through and actually revoke the Miracle Channel's license (which would inevitably lead to a backlash from the Christian community). However, the new 'policy' that the Miracle Network has devised still leaves much to be desired, in my opinion...some examples from the original article:

This is Canada. Backlash means someone will write a letter.

 

[Freethinker]

Well people were complaining to the CBSC(Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council). I personally doubt many Atheists watch The Miracle Channel, it's more likely Christians with their own sense of morals complained.

Well, I was refering to the Christians behind The Miracle Channel.

 

[Wolfman]

Well people were complaining to the CBSC(Canadian Broadcasting Standards Council). I personally doubt many Atheists watch The Miracle Channel, it's more likely Christians with their own sense of morals complained.

Yes, it was Christians who complained...mostly those who sent in large donations that they couldn't afford, and subsequently were not 'rewarded' in the way they'd been promised.

 

[This Guy]

Now if only the FCC would do something like this!

Personally, I question the "Christian" standards of most of these type stations. Trinity Broadcasting is a USA "Christian" network.

They (these "Christian" stations in general) promote Benny Hinn, who has been discredited.

Prosperity preaching, which promises monetary reward for "Planting Seed Money", which is church talk for "send us your money and you'll get rich", while knowing that the only ones getting rich are the ones asking for the money.

Solicit donations for the stations, which is sometimes ( only hesitate to use "Often" because I don't know the percent that do this) hoarded and/or used to line the pockets of the station owners.

Joyce Meyer, who until fairly recently, refused to disclose her "Church's" income, on the voluntary tax forms, for disclosure, which many religious organizations file, just to show their donors where the money goes (http://www.ministrywatch.org/mw2.1/F_SumRpt.asp?EIN=431382734 - Excerpt - "JMM also has made a major change in the ministry’s compensation of Joyce Meyer recently. Previously, the ministry’s board, comprised at the time of mostly family members and others who were closely tied to the Meyer family, awarded salaries as large as $900,000 as well as sizable bonuses to Joyce Meyer. Meyer’s husband was also handsomely compensated and children were on the payroll as well."

And other fine upstanding examples of humanity

In my opinion, these stations are run purely for profit, via fees from these scam artist, or are totally naive, and actually fall for this crap.

I lean more toward the former, than the latter.

For info on Trinity, Ministry Watch has a pretty good run down -

http://www.ministrywatch.org/mw2.1/H_Home.asp

http://www.ministrywatch.org/mw2.1/pdf/MWDA_031805_TBN.pdf -

Excerpt - "The decision by TBN leadership to revert to stonewalling MinistryWatch.com’s attempts to obtain crucial answers to important questions of governance and finances at the ministry just two months after TBN Vice President of Administration Paul Crouch Jr. agreed to answer these questions has caused MinistryWatch.com to again recommend that donors withhold contributions to TBN. Additionally, because of the seriousness of the allegations and governance issues that the Crouches refuse to address, as well as the hundreds of millions of donor dollars involved ($643 million in donations received over the last five years and $341 million of cash and near cash investments on hand), MinistryWatch.com also reiterates its call for the establishment of an independent commission of respected Christian leaders to restore TBN to a place of unquestioned integrity in the eyes of donors."

Or - http://www.ministrywatch.org/mw2.1/pdf/MWDA_031204.pdf

Excerpt - "The salaries for TBN founders Paul and Jan Crouch were $403,700 and $361,000 respectively for 2002 (the last year such numbers are available). This total of $764,700 is considerably higher than the average for executive pay for nonprofits.


Yes indeed, what a fine bunch they are