FROM CHURCHLEADERS:
In its statement, Lakewood didn’t indicate why it repaid the forgivable loans. But some other high-profile PPP recipients returned the money after facing intense criticism. For example, the Los Angeles Lakers returned a $4.6 million loan, and the restaurant chain Shake Shack returned its $10 million loan. NOT GOOD: Many small-business owners, meanwhile, said they were overlooked and unable to obtain much-needed loans.
America’s largest megachurch, led by a celebrity pastor who’s the target of frequent criticism, says it has fully repaid $4.4 million in pandemic-related loans. Joel Osteen‘s Houston-area Lakewood Church became a “viral villain” last year for accepting federal funds through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). A spokesperson is now providing bank statements to prove the church has repaid the money, even though that wasn’t required.
Churches, despite being tax-exempt, were eligible for these loans, intended to help institutions and businesses weather COVID-19 shutdowns. Recipients didn’t need to repay the money if it went toward expenses such as salaries and mortgages.
Joel Osteen’s Megachurch Repays $4.4 Million in Pandemic-Relief Loans
