Jehovah's Witnesses and Jimmy Swaggart's case
"The Scriptures justify the 'war strategy' of hiding true facts from the enemy." -THE
WATCHTOWER May 15, 1960, page 295.
Few Jehovah's Witnesses know the truth about The Watchtower Society and Jimmy Swaggart's
day in court and why the Watchtower doesn't ask for a specified contribution price for its
publications since the 1990's.
The Watchtower Society and Jimmy Swaggart team up for a trial :
Why did the Watchtower Society change its literature distribution program in 1990,
eliminating set prices for literature items? JWs believe the Governing Body instituted a
"simplified" arrangement. Few know the change really took place because Jimmy Swaggart
lost his case in court. In a February 21, 1990 letter to congregations, the Society
explained the new policy this way:
By adopting a method of literature distribution based completely on donation, Jehovah's
people are able to greatly simplify our Bible education work and separate ourselves from
those who commercialize religion.
However, this is what really happened:
Early 1980 State of California informs Jimmy Swaggart Ministries that tax is due for
religious books and tapes sold in the state since 1974. Swaggart eventually pays the
tax--$183,000.00--but sues for a refund. The case begins moving toward the U.S. Supreme
Court.
February, 1989 U.S. Supreme Court rules it is illegal for Texas (and 14 other states) to
exempt religious books from sales tax. Some states had been taxing religious books all
along.
Summer, 1989 WT Society gives away "free" books released at U.S. conventions. Witnesses
are instructed to place donations in contribution boxes to cover the cost.
June 22, 1989 Watchtower Society, files amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief with
U.S. Supreme Court in Jimmy Swaggart case. Others filing similar briefs include National
Council of Churches and Society for Krishna Consciousness.
January 17, 1990 U.S. Supreme Court rules against Jimmy Swaggart Ministries, declaring
that the sales tax must be paid.
February 9, 1990 WT Society writes letter to congregations announcing that literature will
no longer be sold at Kingdom Hall and no price will be set in door-to-door
distribution.
February 25, 1990 February 9th letter from Society is read at Sunday meetings of Jehovah's
Witnesses across the United States.
March 1, 1990 New policy of distributing literature without naming a price goes into
effect.
The March 15, 1990, WATCHTOWER magazine and March 22nd AWAKE!--printed earlier--still say
"25 cents (U.S.) a copy" and "$5.00 (U.S.) per year." The April 1, 1990, Watchtower no
longer carries a price.
March 11, 1990 Announcement is made at Kingdom Halls in the U.S. that food will be
available at no cost, on a freewill donation basis, at JW conventions.
Since many JWs refuse to believe the Society actually filed a legal brief in Jimmy
Swaggart's case, we reproduced the pages below as evidence :
Sources :