November 22, 2006
Cheesy...
Sure it's legal, but tactless as all get-out:
A church that wanted to do something special for Hurricane Katrina victims gave a $75,000 house, free and clear, to a couple who said they were left homeless by the storm. But the couple turned around and sold the place without ever moving in, and went back to New Orleans.
"Take it up with God," an unrepentant Joshua Thompson told a TV reporter after it was learned that he and the woman he identified as his wife had flipped the home for $88,000.
Church members said they feel their generosity was abused by scam artists. They are no longer even sure that the couple were left homeless by Katrina or that they were a couple at all.
"They came in humble like they really needed a new start, and our hearts went out to them," said Jean Phillips, a real estate agent and member of the Temple of Deliverance Church of God in Christ. "They actually begged for the home."
The church was also shocked by an ungrateful interview the couple gave with WHBQ-TV in Memphis.
"I really don't like this area," said Delores Thompson. "I really didn't, and I didn't know anybody, so that's why I didn't move in and I sold it."
More on Katrina scam artists here and here.
I'm sure this congregation will consider their next charitable act a lot more carefully. I'd like to think our government will do the same thing, but I'm doubtful.
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If the government learned anything from Katrina, it was to throw even more of our money to the four winds in an attempt to prevent the media from claiming it doesn't care.
Posted by: Van Helsing at November 22, 2006 01:21 PM
