Begging for money

Evangelical pastor Rick Warren appealed to parishioners at his California megachurch Wednesday to help fill a $900,000 deficit by the first of the year.

Warren made the appeal in a letter posted on the Saddleback Church website. It begins "Dear Saddleback Family, THIS IS AN URGENT LETTER."

. . . "On the last weekend of 2009, our total offerings were less than half of what we normally receive — leaving us $900,000 in the red for the year," the letter reads.

"It's basically having to do more with less," church spokesman A. Larry Ross said. "The seasonal Christmas offering was down significantly and, commensurately, the need for services the church is expected to provide is up," Ross said. . . .

Warren was named the top newsmaker of the year by the Religion Newswriters Association. He gained attention with his invocation at the inauguration of President Barack Obama and comments in the aftermath of California's Proposition 8, which overturned gay marriage.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-12-31-rick-warren_N.htm

How much do you bet that salaries, benefits, travel expenses, auto allowance and other perqs given to Warren and his family well exceed the $900,000 shortfall?