When does government step in on church abuses and is Pastor Melissa Scott under investigation?

Question

From former Scott workers they don't observe labor and tax laws any more than other televangelists who have been charged. Churches don't have carte blanche to abuse do they, or do they?

Answer 1

If there is a crime being commited they step in.
http://www.gov.com

Answer 2

Churches are covered under the same laws that any non-profit organization must observe. From a financial point of view, the major concern of the government is that a church would be a for-profit organization and is just getting away with non-profit status because of the religious affiliation.
So as far as that is concerned, it is just like any other organization. There is no exception stating that churches don't have to obey the rules. At the same time, like everyone else, the normal rules apply - you aren't doing something wrong until you get caught. Often the church enviornment can make any abuses (financial or otherwise) easier to ignore, because all the people "in-the-know" often have close long-term relationships. You are much less likely to turn in your close relatives or close friends for tax fraud or whatever than you are to do this when you are in a more "professional" and less intimate enviornment, such as the workplace.

As far as I can tell, Pastor Melissa Scott is not currently under any investigation.

Answer 3

The Jim and Tammy Baker empire was under investigation by the Federal Government for years. The Bakers used million of dollars of donations to fight the Feds and prevent them access to the 'Books'. This tactic was successful in that the lengthy delays in the Courts prevented them from being discovered and imprisoned.

Everyday on their TV show Jim Baker would beg for "Special Donations" so they could fight the "Evil Feds" who was trying to destroy his "church". He got those donations.

What finally stopped the crimes by the Bakers was when the "sexual affair" was revealed. The turmoil forced the Bakers to turn over control of the "Empire". When the financial abuses was discovered the Feds were asked to investigate. This resulted in Jim Baker going to Federal Prison. Tammy didn't go as the result of a "Plea Bargin" by Jim that he would plead guity to all the charges.

The Constitution and Federal Laws does make it difficult for the Federal Government to investigate the crooks in the "Religion Industry". The Bakers taught the "Religion Industry" how to fight the Feds. that still works today.