Joel Osteen church cash discovery renews calls to tax churches

The political remaining has renewed its phone calls to tax church buildings following a plumber at Pastor Joel Osteen’s church discovered hundreds of envelopes entire of money.

A plumber referred to as into a Houston radio station KILT-FM on Thursday, according to the city’s KPRC-Television. The caller explained, “There was a unfastened bathroom in the wall, and we taken off the tile. Went to go remove the toilet and I moved some insulation absent and about 500 envelopes fell out of the wall.” 

“I was like ‘Oh wow.’ I got my flashlight, shined up in there,” the caller extra. 

The envelopes were being loaded with funds and checks, according to the caller, who mentioned he claimed the discover to the routine maintenance supervisor.

“I went in advance and contacted the upkeep supervisor that was there, and I turned it all in,” the caller said.

Joel Osteen speaks throughout SiriusXM Joel Osteen Radio City Hall with Joel and Victoria Osteen at SiriusXM Studios on December 16, 2019 in New York Town. (Picture by Bonnie Biess/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

In March 2014, Lakewood Church documented that $200,000 in dollars and $400,000 in checks experienced been stolen, in addition to some credit history card details.

“Early morning Bullpen” host George Lindsey informed the Television set station he was shocked by the caller’s account.

“Good early morning and Satisfied Friday to anyone who agrees that leaders of filthy abundant mega church buildings like Joel Osteen who stuff the walls of their church with $350,000 in funds really should be taxed. In point, tax ALL of the church buildings,” wrote a user named BrooklynDad_Defiant!

“Joel Osteen dragging Jesus into the rest room,” wrote author John Pavlovitz.

“Gonna notify my kids this is Joel Osteen,” wrote consumer who describes himself as “McNeil.” His tweet was appended with an image of fictional meth supplier Walter White displaying his hidden dollars to his son.

“Tax Joel Osteen. Tax ALL church buildings. Who agrees?” wrote actress Angela Belcamino.

Lakewood Church said in a statement that cash and checks ended up uncovered not too long ago in the course of do the job remaining finished on the church, but did not incorporate how substantially revenue was discovered and did not immediately verify what the plumber stated.

“Lakewood right away notified the Houston Law enforcement Section and is aiding them with their investigation. Lakewood has no even further remark at this time,” the church claimed.

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Some associates of Congress have advised taxing churches, this sort of as Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., who tweeted, “If they’re going to politically weaponize religion by ‘rebuking’ Democrats who guidance women’s reproductive selection, then a ‘rebuke’ of their tax-exempt standing may well be in get.”

Fox News’ Adam Sabes and The Connected Press contributed to this report.