Rev. Falwell Accused of Breaking Tax Rule

[gldstwmn]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ll_politicking

By JUSTIN BERGMAN, Associated Press Writer

RICHMOND, Va. - A religious watchdog group claims the Rev. Jerry Falwell has violated his church's tax-exempt status by endorsing President Bush and urging followers to donate to a conservative political action campaign.

The Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a complaint Thursday with the Internal Revenue Service seeking an investigation.

"We want to demonstrate that even the most wealthy and powerful television preachers are not above the law," said Barry W. Lynn, executive director of the organization.

In a newsletter sent to supporters July 1, Falwell wrote:

"For conservative people of faith, voting for principle this year means voting for the re-election of George W. Bush. This is why I am utilizing this column to urge you to support the Campaign for Working Families, which is headed by Gary Bauer. It is the organization that I believe can have the greatest impact in re-electing Mr. Bush to the Oval Office."

The e-mail appears on the Jerry Falwell Ministries Web site and includes a link to the contribution Web site for the Campaign for Working Families.

Falwell said Friday he was expressing his personal opinion, and that his Web site carried the newsletter as an "op-ed piece." He said he frequently voices his political opinion from the pulpit but always qualifies it as a statement from a private citizen.

"It's a gray area for some people," Falwell said. "They feel that a religious man should neither be for or against anybody, but in reality, most are, and the only times there are complaints is when the person is a conservative like myself."

Jerry Falwell Jr., Falwell's son and church attorney, said the ministries' Web site is registered and paid for by a tax-exempt organization Liberty Alliance, which is legally permitted to do some political lobbying.

In a document sent to officials at the Republican and Democratic national committees last month, the director of the IRS's exempt organizations division, Steven T. Miller, said religious leaders are strictly prohibited from politicking as spokespeople for the church.

"Leaders cannot make partisan comments in official organization publications or at official organization functions, including official church publications and functions," Miller wrote.

The IRS is prevented by law from commenting on pending cases or investigations, said spokesman Anthony Burke.

Falwell has been the subject of such complaints before. In 1993, his television ministry, the Old Time Gospel Hour, agreed to pay $50,000 in tax penalties for political activity in 1986 and 1987.

[dissention]

* is evil, so this comes as no surprise. Maybe this will land his fat ass back onto Hustler's "Asshole of the Month" column again.

[estranged4life]

Rev.JERRY causing more BS, What a big surprise...If anyone is on my Top 5 idiots who no longer need to exist it would be Rev. Jerry "God shall punish you if you ______ (Fill in the blank with your favorite sin)" Falwell


Shouldnt he go back to "fornicating" with his Mother in an outhouse (As stated in the classic "The US vs. Larry Flynt" movie)????

[sparky]

This is excellent news.

[DeeGeMe]

Good luck getting anyone in the * "government" to move on this though. They're too busy locking up Martha Stewart.

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by dissention

* is evil, so this comes as no surprise. Maybe this will land his fat ass back onto Hustler's "Asshole of the Month" column again.

"Reading" a lot these days, are you?

Jerry Falwell is a schmuck.

- Jake

[amber]

Originally Posted by DeeGeMe

Good luck getting anyone in the * "government" to move on this though. They're too busy locking up Martha Stewart.

If i know my politics and public, it won't *move* much - after all, people -Martha S. is a succesful bitchy expert knowledge kinda woman - WHO COULD BE MORE HEINOUS????? and over to Anita Hill for comment ....(I was being sarcastic - the whole thing is predictably ridiculous for me, and so i knew it would happen). OJ is free, EnRonnnies are fine, Scott Peterson's guilt is in question...but, of course, Martha Stewart needs to be put in prison! We'd all be in grave f***ing danger if she was allowed to roam the streets of the Hamptons!!! And I can't believe the gall of putting Michael Jackson on trial!!!I think we all would concur that his 20 million dollar settlement with the last people that accused him of the exact same thing PROVED his innocence without a doubt!
Happy News,
Amber

[dissention]

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

"Reading" a lot these days, are you?

Jerry Falwell is a schmuck.

- Jake

No, I've never bought Hustler, I just thought it was common knoledge that * was the Asshole of the Month for almost every month, especially when he tried to get Hustler banned back in the late seventies and early eighties.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by estranged4life

Rev.JERRY causing more BS, What a big surprise...If anyone is on my Top 5 idiots who no longer need to exist it would be Rev. Jerry "God shall punish you if you ______ (Fill in the blank with your favorite sin)" Falwell

I pray every day that Falwell croaks, but to no avail.

[darklinensuit]

Originally Posted by dissention

No, I've never bought Hustler, I just thought it was common knoledge that * was the Asshole of the Month for almost every month, especially when he tried to get Hustler banned back in the late seventies and early eighties.

I wasn't aware of that, but I'm not the Falwell groupie that you are.

I still haven't seen the Flynt movie. Rented it but didn't watch.

- Jake