This is just wrong, and is wrong on more than one level.

$600,000 stolen from Joel Osteen’s megachurch

(CNN) - Talk about thieves in the temple.

Some $600,000 in cash and check donations were stolen this week from Lakewood Church in Houston, according to the city’s police department.

Incredibly, all of the money was from one weekend’s donations, the church says. For many American churches, $600,000 in tithes would be a good month or even year.

The church, which is pastored by bestselling author and preacher Joel Osteen, told congregants the stolen money came from contributions on March 8 and 9.

The theft occurred between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. About $200,000 in cash and $400,000 in checks were stolen from a church safe, said Houston Police Department spokeswoman Jodi Silva.

The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made, Silva said.

Given Osteen’s reputation for extravagance, I wonder how much of that $600K went toward church expenses and actual ministry, and how much of it went toward his family’s multi-million dollar (and almost fully tax-exempt) salaries?

edit: I should also mention that this donation money was fully insured, so Osteen isn’t losing a penny of this.