Where Most Needed

Virginia Pastor Ministers with an Iron Hand—and Hot Cars

Leading the same congregation for over 30 years, Pastor Star R. Scott left the Assemblies of God, dismissed the church board, and brooks no dissent among his shrunken but still substantial fellowship.

Unusually Large Charity Fraud—in Alaska!

Alaskans are unusually generous—or there's something else going on—for an embezzler to make off with $75,000 from local chapters of two name-brand charities. 

Big Churches, Small Groups

Mega churches concentrate efforts on developing small group leadership skills to keep their members engaged on a personal level.  Perhaps secular nonprofits need to pay attention. 

Trial Spotlights Lapses in Cleveland Diocese Oversight

The first of two federal trials accuses a former assistant treasurer of the diocese of conspiring with the CFO in an overpriced outsourcing arrangement for accounting and computer services that included kickbacks to the CFO.  But when the CFO was found out, he went to work for the Columbus diocese.  The defense claims that these arrangements were business as usual in Cleveland. 

College Accrediting Bodies Want to Cut the Corporate Claptrap

At least one group of watchdog organizations are looking past the arbitrary divisions between for-profit, nonprofit, faith-based, and governmental  organizations. 

Conservative Rabbis to Certify Labor Conditions at Kosher Slaugherhouses

After an exposé of the kosher "Jungle" of processing plants with substandard working conditions, two Conservative jewish associations work jointly to draft rules and enforceable standards for inspection. 

Head of Ex-Gay Group Exodus International Enjoys Tax-Free Lifestyle

The organization takes advantage of a little-known provision in the tax code to exempt over half of its executive director's salary from Federal income taxes.   

Caught! A Tale of Two Churches in Chicago

Sting operations nab a priest and a church secretary in separate incidents, but the one case cost the congregation more and took much longer to uncover than the other. 

Catholic & Jewish Charities Consume the Most Pork

An analysis of the New York Times' data on religious earmarks reveals details that confound stereotypes about faith-based lobbying. 

Canvasback Missions Flips Gift Boats from Uncle Sam

Congress granted the Micronesia mission group a couple of Coast Guard cutters in 1999, but they quickly sold them.  We dive deep into the organization's tax filings and the authorizing legislation for more buried treasures.