Politics

"Burn a Quaran Day" Pastor Profits from Hate

By Anne Landman

Terry JonesTerry Jones, the controversial pastor in Gainsville, Florida who is calling for an"International Burn A Koran Day" on September 11, may have a personal motive for inflaming national hatred of Muslims: lining his own pocket. Jones and his wife Sylvia operate a Web site called Islamisofthedevil.com that sells mugs, hats and T-shirts bearing the words "Islam is of the Devil," as well as copies of a book he authored titled Islam is of the Devil: Know the Spiritual Truths That Will Bring the Christian Church Back to its God-Given Position. The couple also operates furniture business out of their church, the Dove World Outreach Center. Jones' most recent tax return, from 2006, says that program services account for 30.5 percent of the church's expenses, and "Administrative costs" account for 69.5 percent.The Dove World Church building itself is also for sale for $2.9 million. Jones' church lost part of its tax-exempt status this spring, after an appraiser determined the church had to pay property taxes on the 1,700 square feet of the building that Jones uses for his for-profit business.

Full post as published by PR Watch on September 07, 2010 (boomark / email).