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In the Los Angeles Times report, Richard Maher, USPS spokesman for Southern California, dismissed CRI's claim that local postal officials "took full responsibility" for an extensive delivery mix-up. CRI told CT that it could not furnish contact information for a local postal official who would corroborate its claim.

Eaton says the Office of Inspector General for the United States Post Office "is actively conducting an investigation on this matter" of misdirected mail, at CRI's request. Mike Roberts, a special agent of the OIG, acknowledged to CT an ongoing federal investigation of misdirected mail but said he could not discuss details.

CRI's letter to donors asked those who had asked for a product or made a contribution to call a hotline if they did not hear from CRI. Eaton and Hanegraaff told CT that so far the ministry has received 40 responses from donors, representing contributions ranging from $10 to $4,000.

At CT's suggestion, CRI agreed to ask donors whose contributions had been misdirected to comment on the record for CT. However, Eaton later told CT that none were willing to be contacted for this story.

The ECFA, which sets fundraising standards for Christian nonprofits, has met with CRI officials on the matter. President Paul Nelson told CT that the ECFA reviewed correspondence and other documentation and has concluded that CRI experienced "a precipitous decline in mail volume and income" during the last three months of 2004.

Nelson told CT, "We do not believe CRI violated any ECFA standards."

Hanegraaff claims vindication, saying, "I would have written the same letter today that I wrote then."

Concerning the defamation suit, Alnor, who worked as a private contractor for CRI from 1988 to 1993, told CT he has not yet been served with any papers. He told CT he has fairly reported the story as it has developed. "I think the real issue here is that CRI is trying to punish a whistleblower," Alnor told CT.

CRI said Alnor's repeated attacks have harmed the ministry and must be challenged. In a prepared statement, CRI told CT, "CRI is not opposed to fair and truthful comments or opinions with respect to matters of public debate and certainly honor[s] the constitutional right to express them. However, fabricating malicious falsehoods and then actively circulating them not only belies any profession of Christianity but is defamatory and libelous. Unchallenged, such unjustified accusations ruin reputations, damage ministries, and cast aspersions on the cause of Christ."

On why CRI is taking a fellow believer to court, Hanegraaff told CT that Christians should never do so in an arbitrary fashion, but, "At some point, you have to say, 'Enough is enough.' Truth and justice do matter."

Hanegraaff added, "If you don't respond, people think there may be something to it."

With reporting by Mark Stricherz

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

More about the Christian Research Institute is available on their website.

Earlier coverage of Christian Research Institute and Hank Hanegraaff includes:

Christian Research Institute Accused of 'Naïve' Bookkeeping | Report by whistleblowers to Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability prompts CRI employees to reimburse funds. (July 16, 2003)

Counterfeit Critique | Hank Hanegraaff's long-awaited book relies on old data and leaves false impressions. (Sept. 1, 1997)

Pensacola Outpouring | Apology Follows Hanegraaff Attack (Aug. 11, 1997)

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April (Web-only) 2005, Vol. 49