Megachurch CFO Out

The Crystal Cathedral's chief financial officer is retiring. Fred Southard's role in the church bankruptcy has brought attention to the fact the church gave him a $132,000 tax-exempt housing allowance. He's been the CFO for the Southern California megachurch for more than 30 years. Court documents show the bankruptcy officer says, "There is no justification whatsoever for a housing allowance of this amount. Mr. Southard has failed to explain why such a housing allowance is necessary or appropriate, given this Debtor is in Chapter 11 and suffering financial difficulties." The church gave some $2 million to two dozen insiders, mostly members of the Robert Schuller family in the year leading up to the bankruptcy.