Jury Asks Falwell About Church Donation

[Algorem]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-falwell-testimony,0,354737.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

By BOB LOWRY
Associated Press Writer

May 19, 2005, 4:38 PM EDT


ROANOKE, Va. -- A federal grand jury investigating the mayor of Lynchburg has questioned the Rev. Jerry Falwell about $32,500 that his ministry gave to the mayor's church.

Falwell said Wednesday that he, his son, Jerry Jr., who is the general counsel for Falwell Ministries, and an accountant appeared voluntarily before the grand jury in February to answer questions about the gift made last year to Trinity New Life Community Development Corp.

The corporation is an arm of Trinity United Methodist Church that Mayor Carl B. Hutcherson, the minister of the church, used to solicit thousands of dollars in donations for the rebuilding of the deteriorating church.

"They wanted to know that we wrote the check and what our instructions were," the elder Falwell said Wednesday of grand jurors. "We said we had no complaints about how he used it."...

[Kerrytravelers]

1. And with that, boys and girls, the church and the state walked off

together, holding hands, into the sunset, looking forward to another fun day tomorrow.

The end.

[CottonBear]

4. I couldn't have said it any better than that. n/t

[LaurenG]

2. Falwell is a slime ball

Though he's mellowed in his old age. He screwed Jimmy Baker (however deservedly) without a kiss first.

It enrages me that a tame Christian denomination like the Methodist would ever get anywhere near Falwell. (I know off subject) Falwell will pay once this lifetime is through, I can't wait until Christ tells him "I never knew ye", after all Falwell has persecuted some of the best human beings I know.

[meppie-meppie not]

3. couldn't have said it any better OB!

[shochet]

5. To see whether or not the mayor / minister loses tax exemption

is the real issue. The status that allows a nonprofit to pay no taxes and offer donors a deduction on theirs is not supposed to be used to further a political candidate.

"Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. Contributions to political campaign funds or public statements of position (verbal or written) made on behalf of the organization in favor of or in opposition to any candidate for public office clearly violate the prohibition against political campaign activity. Violation of this prohibition may result in denial or revocation of tax-exempt status and the imposition of certain excise tax."

[0007]

6. Love to see the IRS goes after Falwell and Robertson....

I won't hold my breath cuz these crooks are probably in bed with the IRS and have the best mouthpieces money can buy.

[patricia92243]

7. Rebuild a deteriorating church? I don't see any problem just because the

Minister is the mayor. If they are taking money for the old church not the mayors campaign - what is the problem?

[newscott]

8. A lot of dicey churches have "building" funds

No buildings get built, but people get nice new automobiles and TV shows etc....

[Erika]

10. States have laws for not paying taxes as required

If a person does not pay his taxes, that person is subjecting himself to prosecution. It is our duty to pay taxes. For a minister and mayor to not pay his due taxes does not speak well of the integrity of that person. Nor does it speak well of someone donating to the causes of that person. The situation, to put it mildly, stinks.

[Erika]

9. Just a bunch of good ole boys doing the Lord's work

Yeah, right. Religious naive innocents give to the likes of Falwell, and never question where their $ go. Falwell and his ilk say the $ are important to doing the Lord's work.

That's blasphemy on the preacher's part and ought to be criminal.