IRS to Tax Televangelists After John Oliver ‘Last Week Tonight’ “Prosperity Gospel” Sketch?

It looks like if you're looking to make some money as a televangelist, you might have to pay taxes – some day. It's being reported that comedian John Oliver's recent segment on his HBO program Last Week Tonight, which mocked "prosperity gospel" and those minsters making money by promoting their religion on television, has actually left many people pressuring the IRS to start taxing televangelists.

In Oliver's 20-minute segment, which you can watch below, he details the still-thriving business of televangelism, which he calls "seed faith." Furthermore, the former Daily Show correspondant showed viewers just how easy it is to create your own church ... by making a one of his own––Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption.

Per a report from CBS News, the Last Week Tonight sketch sparked an immense stir in the televangelism field. The report claims that men and women televangelists could eventually – hopefully, but probably not for a very long time, if at all – be held responsible for all of those Godly things that televangelism brings them.

You know, things like private jets and mansions and plastic surgery.

Religious fraud investigator (which sounds like an amazing job) Ole Anthony claims, "Televangelists are able to receive millions because the IRS has turned a 'blind eye' to their tax-exempt churches."

As to why televangelism is still thriving today, it seems Ole Anthony believes it to be because people want to be healed. Therefore, "they keep trying to send more money..."

Which is exactly where Oliver's Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption comes into play.