Benny Hinn Raided by Feds and IRS: Will Billionaire Benny Stop Controversial “Canaan Land” Film Expose?
Investigators with the Internal Revenue Service and the U.S. Postal Service served a search warrant Wednesday at the Grapevine offices of televangelist Benny Hinn. A source close to events broke news of a possible “Why?” beyond the raid, revealing that some televangelists threatened independent filmmaker Richard Rossi regarding his controversial new film ‘Canaan Land’ that exposes ‘frauds’ who promise healings for money.
Several media outlets have investigated Hinn, a well-known pastor from Israel who claims that God uses him to miraculously heal people who are sick. He calls it “the anointing.”
He’s been accused of being a con man and criticized for living extravagantly — flying in a private plane and staying in fancy hotels. ‘Canaan Land,’ is a feature dramatic film telling a contemporary story of an Elmer Gantryish evangelist, and is in production. Written and directed by former healing evangelist Richard Rossi, the film contrasts fake healers with the true article, resulting in backlash from televangelists.
“They allegedly used tax-deductible donations to hire PR men to put out defamatory stories about Rossi, falsely, claiming he is a millionaire televangelist to preemptively discredit his film. Also, to use donations to hire ruffians to stop Rossi, that is an egregious misuse of monies, if in fact rumors are true that some well-known healers have done this,” Reverend Alan Anthony, leader of a watchdog group monitoring televangelists said. “It is beyond the fraud and tax evasion now. It is Goliath trying to destroy David.”
“Anyone who knows Richard Rossi knows he lives a simple life in a modest apartment and puts ninety percent of his funds back into his creative and charitable work,” Anthony said. “Televangelists living in mansions have allegedly spent millions to destroy Rossi’s reputation and film, but it is backfiring now. I believe those who are found to be frauds by Feds will be brought down by investigations revealing their misuse of funds and Rossi’s film is more anticipated now than ever.”
Rossi plays a con man preacher who falls in love with a female evangelist, Sister Sara. Many celebrity actresses vied for the part, as well as thousands of unknowns. The casting choice was announced on radio and entertainment TV programs on May 12, 2017, to be Knight Rider star Rebecca Holden.
“The production office received messages to stop the film from going forward from big names in Pentecostal televangelism, because Rossi’s film reveals tricks preachers have used to fool audiences. But for every negative message, we receive a hundred positive from people who see Rossi doing what Jesus did when he cleansed the Temple. The film isn’t a remake of the 1960 film ‘Elmer Gantry.’ It’s a new story based on Rossi’s experiences,” Linda Rivas, a production assistant said.
Rossi’s film on female evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson won Motion Picture Council Awards, and was Academy Award considered. His recent biopic on baseball icon Roberto Clemente was praised by Pope Francis and catalyzed a campaign to consider Clemente’s canonization as reported in the LA Times, Washington Post, Religion News, and Huffington Post.
Rossi wouldn’t say who’s upset over the film, but the GoFundMe site for the film posted a picture of healer Benny Hinn with a quote in which Hinn promises healing for money. “If you come back and make that financial pledge, God will heal your heart tonight,” Hinn said.
“Hinn’s statement is so manipulative I must take a stand,” Rossi said. He removed the Hinn quote because he wants the focus to be on the “positive message of the film. I am not the judge, moralist, or accuser of anyone.”
Followers of Hinn threatened Rossi that God would smite him with sickness. “They appear to take a cue from Hinn who said those that oppose him would be shot with a “Holy Ghost machine gun,” producer Dave Taschner said.
“My film is fiction and will change names,” Rossi said. “There’s a redemptive ending, in which even the narcissistic evangelist running the con is confronted by unconditional love. God loves those who start out with pure hearts and get seduced by money, power, and fame. He wants them to come back to their first love.”
Official Facebook: www.facebook.com/CanaanLandMovie