CAM, Giving and Financial Integrity

[Grace]

I am honestly shocked that some federal agency hasn't latched on to CAM yet, and taken them down for tax evasion or money laundering, or something of that nature. The stories of them being a tax haven for wealthy Mennonites to astounding. Pennsylvania Dutch version of a Swiss bank account. One would think they should be on someone's radar by now.

I am confused, I always thought a tax haven is a country or place with very low taxs, thus a "haven" for investors to invest their money. Beings CAM is an American based charity, they must abide by all the tax laws of this nation. Yes, the money donated to CAM and any other 501 c charity, can be used as a tax deduction. But that hardly can be termed as a "tax haven". If that would be the case then every charitable organization in this nation would be a "tax haven". And at this point it is not illegal to donate to 501c charities, in this country, so I am confused how that would be evasion.

Also money laundering is a method of making large amounts of money usually by a criminal activity, and then making it appear to have come from a legitimate source. CAM is funded honest by hard working people who earn their money legitimately and not through criminal activity.

Yes, the actions of Jeriah Mast were criminal, and those covering the crime up, could be deemed as an accessory of those crimes. But I hardly think the hundreds of other people who work for them, and the organization as a whole is a large "money laundering, tax evading organization".

[steve-in-kville]

Yes, the actions of Jeriah Mast were criminal, and those covering the crime up, could be deemed as an accessory of those crimes. But I hardly think the hundreds of other people who work for them, and the organization as a whole is a large "money laundering, tax evading organization".

I'm not here to argue. I know what I know. Not everything that glitters is always gold.

[I Timothy]

Also money laundering is a method of making large amounts of money usually by a criminal activity, and then making it appear to have come from a legitimate source. CAM is funded honest by hard working people who earn their money legitimately and not through criminal activity.

Or so CAM wants you to think. CAM is great at getting inheritance money away from beneficiaries. They have it set up so that you can easily donate farms, businesses and house to them. They play on widows emotions, "do you really think it is a good idea to give that much money to your adult child who will waste it." Give it to CAM instead! Of course they will use the money for legitimate expenses like administration, travel, housing and food.

Back in the day, the Anabaptist and protestant fought against abuses like this that Roman Catholic Church tried. The RCC tried to concentrate wealth within it's hands and away from the lay people. The RCC tried to control all of societies wealth - health care, education, laws, taxation, housing, government, law enforcement, etc. There is no authority that allows God given authority to abuse it's authority.

[Grace]

I'm not here to argue. I know what I know. Not everything that glitters is always gold.

I don't want to argue as well. There is no proof or verification that the donors to CAM are evading taxes, using criminally acquired money, etc. Until there is proof, I think we need to be careful in the terminology used.

As for Stanely Fox, I have heard him preach numerous times, and am very disappointed in his actions.

[Grace]

Or so CAM wants you to think. CAM is great at getting inheritance money away from beneficiaries. They have it set up so that you can easily donate farms, businesses and house to them. They play on widows emotions, "do you really think it is a good idea to give that much money to your adult child who will waste it." Give it to CAM instead! Of course they will use the money for legitimate expenses like administration, travel, housing and food.

Back in the day, the Anabaptist and protestant fought against abuses like this that Roman Catholic Church tried. The RCC tried to concentrate wealth within it's hands and away from the lay people. The RCC tried to control all of societies wealth - health care, education, laws, taxation, housing, government, law enforcement, etc. There is no authority that allows God given authority to abuse it's authority.

That may all well be, but in this nation donating inheritance to a charitable organization is not illegal. And yes, they do play on the emotions of people and I am not impressed with that. Our church had a CAM rep. come and do a presentation on how to donate inheritance money to the organization. Call me whatever you want, but it all went in one ear and out the other. Not that we didn't give generously over the years, and will give when our church lifts an offering for CAM, but inheritance (if there is any) is an all together different story.

[mike]

Also money laundering is a method of making large amounts of money usually by a criminal activity, and then making it appear to have come from a legitimate source. CAM is funded honest by hard working people who earn their money legitimately and not through criminal activity.

Or so CAM wants you to think. CAM is great at getting inheritance money away from beneficiaries. They have it set up so that you can easily donate farms, businesses and house to them. They play on widows emotions, "do you really think it is a good idea to give that much money to your adult child who will waste it." Give it to CAM instead! Of course they will use the money for legitimate expenses like administration, travel, housing and food.

Back in the day, the Anabaptist and protestant fought against abuses like this that Roman Catholic Church tried. The RCC tried to concentrate wealth within it's hands and away from the lay people. The RCC tried to control all of societies wealth - health care, education, laws, taxation, housing, government, law enforcement, etc. There is no authority that allows God given authority to abuse it's authority.

I don't see the problem with allowing people to donate an estate to charity if they so choose. How is this abuse? I know people who have let it be known that this is what their plans are for their estate. There was no manipulation or deceit. By advertising that it accepts estates as donations, and also holding seminars giving instructions to those interested, CAM is hardly unique among charities. It's quite common.

As far as playing on emotions. I process my parents' mail, and I get infuriated at the amount of junk mail they get, and how much of it is from charities who prey on the emotions and naivete of the elderly. I think that the elderly in particular are susceptible to emotionally appealing charitable giving requests. I do not however see CAM behaving in ways that are manipulating, controlling, or abusive with its fundraising efforts. Compared to many other charities they seem rather restrained.

[Josh]

I am honestly shocked that some federal agency hasn't latched on to CAM yet, and taken them down for tax evasion or money laundering, or something of that nature. The stories of them being a tax haven for wealthy Mennonites is astounding. Pennsylvania Dutch version of a Swiss bank account. One would think they should be on someone's radar by now.

I can’t think of any laws that have actually been broken. Hiring sociopaths who rip you off isn’t illegal.

[steve-in-kville]

Let me qualify my previous statement a bit: When a wealthy Mennonite business owner needs a quick end-of-year tax write-off, he makes a sizable cash donation to a charitable organization with the understanding that said organization will patronize his business down the road.

Or, a business makes a large donation of product, only to be contacted by the organization's accountants asking the business to fudge paperwork as to increase/decrease the value of donated product.

Maybe not illegal, but not ethical. And yes, I have witnessed the above situations take place.

[Josh]

Let me qualify my previous statement a bit: When a wealthy Mennonite business owner needs a quick end-of-year tax write-off, he makes a sizable cash donation to a charitable organization with the understanding that said organization will patronize his business down the road.

Or, a business makes a large donation of product, only to be contacted by the organization's accountants asking the business to fudge paperwork as to increase/decrease the value of donated product.

Maybe not illegal, but not ethical. And yes, I have witnessed the above situations take place.

Entirely legal, and there’s a massive nonprofit industry that relies on this and makes sure to keep it legal.

With that said, I don’t think believers should be running massive charities like this.

[Elbee]

Maybe not illegal, but not ethical. And yes, I have witnessed the above situations take place.

Just a clarification... you have witnessed these actions coming from the organization that SF works for (CAM)? Or was your statement more general than that?