After backlash from church-state separation groups — who say PPP loan forgiveness from the U.S. government should not be accepted by religious organizations — Joel Osteen’s megachurch is repaying millions of dollars it borrowed to provide full salaries and benefits to its 370 employees during the pandemic.
Read MoreReligious non-profits lost 10% of their workforce during the pandemic, according to a recent report. Faith-based groups like the Logan Baptist Church daycare and Convoy of Hope say PPP loans allowed them to keep serving essential workers and people in need.
Read MoreThousands of Catholic organizations in the U.S. received over $1.4 billion in small business paycheck protection loans under a religious exemption that qualifies them. The church says the loans have protected more hundreds of thousands of jobs in the social services sector, in which the church is the largest non-government employer.
Read More
