Devout Catholic Robert Oliveri spent almost $40,000 as he crisscrossed the country and paid for meals and gifts to strangers and acquaintances in his evangelical activities, a Tax Court judge said the expenses didn’t count as tax deductible contributions to charity.
After more than 26 years with the U.S. Air Force, Oliveri retired from the service in 1986 and became very active in the Catholic Church. Robert Oliveri ‘evangelizes people he happens to see when he engages in otherwise personal activities, such as when he eats in restaurants, travels, and pilots private planes,’ the decision said. The Annapolis, Md.-area resident paid for people’s meals and coffee, often leaving generous tips. He testified he did that on the hope his waiters would think “God cares for them and they’re very special.
As Oliveri prepared his 2012 taxes, he said his expenses counted as $39,979 in charitable contributions for the Brothers and Sisters of the Divine Mercy and the Catholic Church, including $15,082 for small plane rentals, which Oliveri categorized as “Evangelization: Christian Outreach.” Oliveri testified he liked flying, but it wasn’t “for [his] personal use at all…It’s all for my work for God.”
The evangelist testified that he wants people to know that ‘God cares for them and they’re very special.’ He gave away ornaments, books and videos, and even a $500 Bass Pro Shops gift card. But tax issues and religious views can collide from time to time. For instance, National Taxpayer Advocate Nina Olson, a watchdog within the IRS, is now worried current tax rules are treating the Amish unfairly.
This idiot makes ministry look bad, and all because he doesn't want to obey scripture and give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, he probably twist it around. UGH!
😂