Pastor Accused of Not Giving Communion without Tax Refunds
A Texas pastor has been accused by some of his parishioners of refusing to give them communion if they don’t donate their tax refunds to his church. The pastor, John Goodman of the Houston Unity Baptist Church, denied linking the communion to the donations. However, he told the local Fox News station in Houston that he had made an appeal for donations from tax refunds to help build a parking lot for the church, which would enable the church to keep the property. He said only four or five members of the church donate any money, and he called the rest of them “devils” and demons.”
“I asked if there were any other members, which I know it is, that got income tax money,” he said. “I ask if they would like to contribute it to the new parking lot.”
However, he denied that he had refused communion unless members donated their tax refunds.
