"Well, Protestants don't have the idea that their religious leaders should live modestly or aesthetically."

Of course, that's why the tax break helps.

We're not talking Buddhist monks or Catholic priests here. There's no tradition that says they have to live poor"

I don't get why people think Catholic priests take vows of poverty when it is not generally the case.

Damn, Obama must be the best candidate in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD, if all his detractors can come up with is "Uh, some guy Obama knows has a (moderately) nice house".

I say "moderately" because I live in Silicon Valley, where 1.2 million dollars is not exactly the extravagant Super Rich Lair of the Extremely Wealthy that the average Farker seems to believe. You know what you have if you own a 1.2 million dollar house in Santa Cruz? A two bedroom box that happens to be near a beach. Hell, my boss owns a five million dollar home, and the one I'm leasing appraised for 750k. Apparently, most Farkers work the fry station at McDonalds or something, because there's no other way to explain how shocked, shocked I say, so many of you appear to be over a million dollar house.

Tax-free, baby...

Triaxis: Right, because if it were McCain spiritual adviser of 20 years preaching the extreme hate that Wright is, CNN would made it a story for just a day. Right?

I wouldn't have a problem with anyone's adviser "preaching the extreme hate" of the sort spoken of by Wright...

I BLAME THE WHITE MAN

Corpus Delecti: Damn, Obama must be the best candidate in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD, if all his detractors can come up with is "Uh, some guy Obama knows has a (moderately) nice house".

I say "moderately" because I live in Silicon Valley, where 1.2 million dollars is not exactly the extravagant Super Rich Lair of the Extremely Wealthy that the average Farker seems to believe. You know what you have if you own a 1.2 million dollar house in Santa Cruz? A two bedroom box that happens to be near a beach. Hell, my boss owns a five million dollar home, and the one I'm leasing appraised for 750k. Apparently, most Farkers work the fry station at McDonalds or something, because there's no other way to explain how shocked, shocked I say, so many of you appear to be over a million dollar house.

In Detroit a 1 million dollar home is an empty car factory.

Hobodeluxe: pbbbttt

WTF? Is that a visual representation of Hell? I think I'm scared of death now...

Seit_N_Zounde: "Well, Protestants don't have the idea that their religious leaders should live modestly or aesthetically."

Of course, that's why the tax break helps.

We're not talking Buddhist monks or Catholic priests here. There's no tradition that says they have to live poor"

I don't get why people think Catholic priests take vows of poverty when it is not generally the case.


Depends on the church. Most of the Catholic Churches I've seen in smaller cities and rural areas dump large amounts in the communities to help the families in the area on rough times.

The bigger city churches, I expect to see four Harley's and at least a Mercedes in the parking lot for the Pastor.

Corpus Delecti: Damn, Obama must be the best candidate in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD, if all his detractors can come up with is "Uh, some guy Obama knows has a (moderately) nice house".

I say "moderately" because I live in Silicon Valley, where 1.2 million dollars is not exactly the extravagant Super Rich Lair of the Extremely Wealthy that the average Farker seems to believe. You know what you have if you own a 1.2 million dollar house in Santa Cruz? A two bedroom box that happens to be near a beach. Hell, my boss owns a five million dollar home, and the one I'm leasing appraised for 750k. Apparently, most Farkers work the fry station at McDonalds or something, because there's no other way to explain how shocked, shocked I say, so many of you appear to be over a million dollar house.

THIS.

1.2 million dollar house in Chicago? You get a decent house, not much more. If it is a "hot" neighborhood, you may only get 3 bedroom.

I know a few people with 1+ million dollar house. They are far from being scandalously rich.

Of course, the residence of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago is at least five times that. But let's not get outraged over that, shall we?

God damn the country that has allowed him to live this lifestyle.

Neo-fascists are so bloody illeterate: The word FOX was looking for was 'ascetically.'

Tax churches!

Corpus Delecti: Damn, Obama must be the best candidate in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD, if all his detractors can come up with is "Uh, some guy Obama knows has a (moderately) nice house".

I say "moderately" because I live in Silicon Valley, where 1.2 million dollars is not exactly the extravagant Super Rich Lair of the Extremely Wealthy that the average Farker seems to believe. You know what you have if you own a 1.2 million dollar house in Santa Cruz? A two bedroom box that happens to be near a beach. Hell, my boss owns a five million dollar home, and the one I'm leasing appraised for 750k. Apparently, most Farkers work the fry station at McDonalds or something, because there's no other way to explain how shocked, shocked I say, so many of you appear to be over a million dollar house.

/claps at this troll effor.

illiterate as well

signaljammer: Neo-fascists are so bloody illeterate: The word FOX was looking for was 'ascetically.'

There's a delicious irony in the way you misspelled "illiterate."

Etchy333

Actually, the Pope just has a nice apartment in there -- rather modest for a European head of state. That, sir, is the headquarters of the largest Christian church; it's reasonable to expect that it might lean towards the ornate.

/Presbyterian.

This is why I only have respect for Buddhist monks and the brothers who declare a simple life to serve God's will.

//is Catholic

omg someone who managed a ton of people/volunteers was paid well because they preformed. Rev White is the only person who is responsible for a large organization to have a nice house and not live in squalor.

My dad is the head pastor at a church smaller that White's and he puts in tons of hours. Meeting after meeting after meeting. YUK.

People are always outraged and shocked that a few Nigerians can dupe a couple of million out of the idiots here in the US. But few of them ever seem to mind the outright sillyness that is tithing 10%, or planting a seed of prosperity, or any of the absurd fantasy bullshiat which they give to every week in the hope that some magical world awaits if they only pony up some cash. I only wish I had the lack of morality to get in on that gravy train. fark the idiots who fund this shiat.

Fluff Girl: They wouldn't report it at all. Surely I don't need to cite Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson's endorsements and advising of G.W. Bush. Nor do I need to post links to their quotes, either. The MSM politely ignored those two hateful sacks of monkey pus. Fortunately for them, they're not spooky, scary black men.

pretty much this. anyone who's gotten riled up by this whole preacher thing is a farking rube.

2nd Corinthians 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

See that Bible is a great book. A verse for every occasion as long as context doesn't matter.

ADubs86: Call me when Fox starts going after Benny Hinn and Peter Popoff's palaces.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Dec04/0,4670,TelevangelistsProbe,00 (new window)

Lots of Fox stories include discussion of Hinn's minestry and it's activities.

Well the "liberal" media should blast this man, after all that endless blasting of McCain's pastor supporter Hagee.

/oh wait...

I think the point is that a man who thinks that the USofA is one long raw deal for the black man, he is doing pretty good. I'm a white guy and I have not had as much success...

I don't have a problem with anyone doing better than I have... just don't do it while claiming that the system is stacked against you...

pvd021: This is why I only have respect for Buddhist monks and the brothers who declare a simple life to serve God's will.




/I understand your point
//Just sayin'
///This hypocrisy of preaching spirituality and non-attachment to materailism while the religious authorities live it up in luxury exists in Buddhism too

Two Cats One Bowl: Corpus Delecti: Damn, Obama must be the best candidate in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD, if all his detractors can come up with is "Uh, some guy Obama knows has a (moderately) nice house".

I say "moderately" because I live in Silicon Valley, where 1.2 million dollars is not exactly the extravagant Super Rich Lair of the Extremely Wealthy that the average Farker seems to believe. You know what you have if you own a 1.2 million dollar house in Santa Cruz? A two bedroom box that happens to be near a beach. Hell, my boss owns a five million dollar home, and the one I'm leasing appraised for 750k. Apparently, most Farkers work the fry station at McDonalds or something, because there's no other way to explain how shocked, shocked I say, so many of you appear to be over a million dollar house.

THIS.

1.2 million dollar house in Chicago? You get a decent house, not much more. If it is a "hot" neighborhood, you may only get 3 bedroom.

I know a few people with 1+ million dollar house. They are far from being scandalously rich.

Of course, the residence of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago is at least five times that. But let's not get outraged over that, shall we?

Question is, when the Catholic residence bought and what was it worth back then?

There's a shiat-ton of Catholic property out there bought for pennies back in the day that's just gone through the roof in value. Communities tend to build up around those churches and they tend to build money.

The Church I went to as a kid was in the boondocks and bought at bargain basement for about $100K. It's worth about $5 Mil now.

The Catholic Church has been around for almost 2K years, you don't last that long without being competent in business. They can afford to buy shiat dirt cheap and wait. They know what's happened to all their property in Europe, they're not stupid.

Build church in a pleasant area, some folks move around. Pump cash into the community, it builds. Pretty soon it builds a school, investors flock to the area and build stores, mini-malls, etc... Church property is worth 20x more in twenty years.

TedRaceway: I think the point is that a man who thinks that the USofA is one long raw deal for the black man, he is doing pretty good. I'm a white guy and I have not had as much success...

I don't have a problem with anyone doing better than I have... just don't do it while claiming that the system is stacked against you...

Start a religion.

/If I was just a little less ethical I would

What bugs me about this guy, Obama's so-called spiritual advisor telling him right from wrong, is the hypocrisy. He rails against the man and the system farking over his people but he has no problem with using his congregation to fund a pretty nice lifestyle for himself, a lifestyle probably a lot better than that of the average member of his church.

Doctor Funkenstein: Wait. Is the right criticizing a religious figure for his extravagant lifestyle? Well, damn, nice to finally have you guys on board.

*Charles Foster Kane, clapping slowly with steely determination*

Jeebiz W. Christovsky.

Hosues like that are stacked three feet apart in Highlands Ranch, south Denver.

/ the epitome, by the way, of undeserved whitebread wealth.

Born to Die: /Thanks, idsfa!

My pleasure. Share and enjoy.

I believe we have a stupid religionchristianity trifecta in play now

Nocens: Of course, the residence of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago is at least five times that. But let's not get outraged over that, shall we?

Question is, when the Catholic residence bought and what was it worth back then?

There's a shiat-ton of Catholic property out there bought for pennies back in the day that's just gone through the roof in value. Communities tend to build up around those churches and they tend to build money.

I see what you are saying, but the Archdiocese residence is at the heart of Chicago downtown, just blocks from the Water Tower place. It was certainly bought cheaper than what it's worth now, but it almost certainly was never cheap.

Of course, nothing is preventing the church from selling the property to give something to the poor, and rebuilding a residence for his excellency in a cheaper neighborhood . . . is there?

Befuddled: What bugs me about this guy, Obama's so-called spiritual advisor telling him right from wrong, is the hypocrisy. He rails against the man and the system farking over his people but he has no problem with using his congregation to fund a pretty nice lifestyle for himself, a lifestyle probably a lot better than that of the average member of his church.

...and if he gave it all away, you'd call him a radical Communist.

Befuddled: What bugs me about this guy, Obama's so-called spiritual advisor telling him right from wrong, is the hypocrisy. He rails against the man and the system farking over his people but he has no problem with using his congregation to fund a pretty nice lifestyle for himself, a lifestyle probably a lot better than that of the average member of his church.

But why is it newsworthy? Certainly he's not a particularly bad example of that. As noted earlier, 1.2M house in Chicago is not particularly a big deal.

Man the "million dollar houses aren't that big a deal" tards are out in force tonight. It's 10,000+ square feet! That's a QUARTER ACRE UNDER THE ROOF.

Two Cats One Bowl: Corpus Delecti: Damn, Obama must be the best candidate in the HISTORY OF THE WORLD, if all his detractors can come up with is "Uh, some guy Obama knows has a (moderately) nice house".

I say "moderately" because I live in Silicon Valley, where 1.2 million dollars is not exactly the extravagant Super Rich Lair of the Extremely Wealthy that the average Farker seems to believe. You know what you have if you own a 1.2 million dollar house in Santa Cruz? A two bedroom box that happens to be near a beach. Hell, my boss owns a five million dollar home, and the one I'm leasing appraised for 750k. Apparently, most Farkers work the fry station at McDonalds or something, because there's no other way to explain how shocked, shocked I say, so many of you appear to be over a million dollar house.

THIS.

1.2 million dollar house in Chicago? You get a decent house, not much more. If it is a "hot" neighborhood, you may only get 3 bedroom.

I know a few people with 1+ million dollar house. They are far from being scandalously rich.

Of course, the residence of the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago is at least five times that. But let's not get outraged over that, shall we?

a million bucks isn't scandalously rich... it isn't unimaginable wealth... but it's still a farkload more money than i have.

Nocens
Depends on the church. Most of the Catholic Churches I've seen in smaller cities and rural areas dump large amounts in the communities to help the families in the area on rough times.

The Catholic Church certainly does alot of good by way of charity, if it didn't at this point the pews would be empty.

The bigger city churches, I expect to see four Harley's and at least a Mercedes in the parking lot for the Pastor.

Have to admit I wonder what Rev Pfleger drives.

Many priests pay for their own rides. A pastor can probably get a car for his sole use and of course a parish may have other cars for use by clergy.

Shaggy_C: Befuddled: What bugs me about this guy, Obama's so-called spiritual advisor telling him right from wrong, is the hypocrisy. He rails against the man and the system farking over his people but he has no problem with using his congregation to fund a pretty nice lifestyle for himself, a lifestyle probably a lot better than that of the average member of his church.

...and if he gave it all away, you'd call him a radical Communist.

St. Obama of Assisi

Crystal Cathedral:



Lakewood Church:

JeffTL: Actually, the Pope just has a nice apartment in there -- rather modest for a European head of state.

And he has Castle Gandolfo (new window) for his little getaways.

And he gets to wear a dress.

i see jealous white people.

Ha ha. Black man got a bigger house than you. And he earned it! Ha ha!

We'd all have big houses if it weren't for those welfare queens!

// how many welfare queens equal one Bear Stearns bail out?
// how many welfare queens equal one week in Iraq?
// go watch the "naggers" episode of South Park

burndtdan:
a million bucks isn't scandalously rich... it isn't unimaginable wealth... but it's still a farkload more money than i have.

Any house is going to be worth more than somebody out there . . .

A million dollar house for someone at the retiring age is not exactly outside the reach of the middle class. If you bought a house early, and if it is your third house up, it will probably be close to a million. . .

A million dollar house in Chicago is like Camry with all the options or a cheap BMW. More than what I would pay but not really noteworthy . . .

Befuddled: What bugs me about this guy, Obama's so-called spiritual advisor telling him right from wrong, is the hypocrisy. He rails against the man and the system farking over his people but he has no problem with using his congregation to fund a pretty nice lifestyle for himself, a lifestyle probably a lot better than that of the average member of his church.

some would say that giving 30 to 40 years of your life to ministry is enough to, at some point, retire from that ministry without being guilted into giving away your savings.

pastors get paid a salary like the rest of us.

TedRaceway: I think the point is that a man who thinks that the USofA is one long raw deal for the black man, he is doing pretty good. I'm a white guy and I have not had as much success...

I don't have a problem with anyone doing better than I have... just don't do it while claiming that the system is stacked against you...

This part isn't necessarily so hypocritical...

There are plenty of situations where individual members of minorities did well in a system that was otherwise stacked against them. Exeption. Rule. Etc.

Many Jews did very well in Europe over the centuries. This still doesn't mean that the prospect of regularly being attacked by a mob and set on fire for being who you are because the rest of the population goes pogrom-happy on your ass is a good thing.

The whole thing with preaching anti-materialistic values and spirituality, while simultaneously amassing huge wealth off your followers is a whole other ball of wax though.