Well sleuthed, Pericles.

"Income - all sources: $356m" - cripes, that's a lot!

I take back my criticism of Costello a fraction, as I thought the total income would have been much less than that. While I now believe his salary is probably defensible given the total size of the donations, I still don't think it's fair based on what he does (sitting in front of a camera and his desk) remembering that he has/is nothing without the army of volunteers doing the real work underneath him.

BTW, the 90% figure I quoted was the amount for a similar NGO (can't remember which one now)

SteelMan

Did you bother to read what I wrote before pontificating?

Sylvia.

If they pay no taxes they shouldn't get taxpayers' money for their schools and hospitals. They can't have it both ways... or can they?

In any event, there must be total and absolute transparency - including gifts to political parties.

Any organisation that promises eternal bliss, threatens eternal damnation, claims supernatural events and an interventionist deity and unable to substantiate any or all of these claims, is nothing more than a scam and should be treated as such by our laws.

Pericles.. as you already know.. I have as much of a problem with Costello's package as you do.

It doesn't matter RobP how much 'income' World vision receives.. it's all donations and a few more zero's than smaller groups but it doesn't take any more skill to administer a figure with an extra decimal point ...does it?

It's plain silly to mention taxing Church income from donations.. and the piccy theatre illustration? absurd. People "buy" a ticket to see a professionally produced product.. the show..at church we often participate ourselves.. we don't even have a pastor at the moment..we all share the load...for free....

It's just mean spirited people who would want to tax donated money.
Tax those who are given an income FROM it.. no drama there.

Fractelle.. my counselling room is open from 9.00am to 5.00 pm :)

runner: << Don't forget we all benefit from godliness in society. >>

Oh puke. You'd have to be a one-eyed godbothering nutcase to think that constitutes a rational argument... oh wait...

<< Imagine how many more divorces, health bills, social security etc etc >>

You have a point. These insidious phenomena are indeed evident in our society. God hasn't been doing His job - I want my money back.

Fractelle - hear hear! Well said indeed.