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FALWELL CONFIDENTIAL Insider weekly newsletter to The Moral Majority Coalition and The Liberty Alliance http://www.moralmajority.us < http://www.moralmajority.us/> From: Jerry Falwell Date: July 21, 2005 MY RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT Lost in the hubbub of this week’s excellent Supreme Court nomination and continued terrorist activity came two important rulings regarding complaints against me and my ministries. First, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) unanimously dismissed a complaint that had been filed against me and Liberty Alliance, one of my affiliate organizations that is dedicated to promoting Judeo-Christian values in the political realm through lobbying efforts. In addition, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) closed the books on a complaint regarding a Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary chapel address wherein I endorsed President Bush’s re-election. The FEC complaint arose after I sent out a July 1, 2004, “Falwell Confidential” column urging people of faith to exercise their vote during the presidential election. In that column, I stated: “For conservative people of faith, voting for principle this year means voting for the re-election of George W. Bush. The alternative, in my mind, is simply unthinkable.” I also urged supporters to contribute to the Campaign for Working Families Political Action Committee, a conservative organization headed by Gary Bauer that seeks to help candidates who defend the biblical values we hold dear. Well, the left went into hysterics over the column. The Campaign Legal Center filed a complaint with the FEC alleging that Jerry Falwell Ministries (JFM) and Liberty Alliance (LA), violated federal election laws by sending out the e-mail that expressly advocated the election of a federal candidate and contained a solicitation for contributions to a PAC.
Mathew Staver, president and general counsel of Liberty Counsel, and his wife Anita, stepped in, arguing that both JFM and LA are covered by the press exemption. Mr. Staver touted the chronicle of my involvement in broadcasting. I am the founder and president of Liberty Broadcasting Network, WTLU television station (Lynchburg, Va.), the Liberty Channel cable network, two radio stations (WRVL-FM and WWMC-FM), and the host of the historic “Old Time Gospel Hour” (broadcast since 1956). Furthermore, my “Falwell Confidential” is carried by WorldNetDaily.com and NewsMax.com, cementing my vocation as a broadcaster and political commentator. I also publish the monthly National Liberty Journal newspaper.
Liberty Counsel’s response also noted that both LA and JFM meet the “qualified nonprofit corporation” status because they are supported by private — rather than corporate — contributions. Liberty Counsel’s response also noted that the cost of disseminating the e-mail was minimal.
The FEC voted 6-0 to dismiss all allegations.
Mr. Staver stated, “Dr. Falwell does not lose his right to personal expression each election cycle. As a member of the media, the media outlets through which he communicates enjoy the protection of the First Amendment, just as much as a newspaper such as The Washington Times.”
Indeed, religious nonprofit groups are not orphans to the First Amendment. I have been expressing my views on politics for five decades and am very pleased that FEC cemented the fact that I maintain a right to speak out on political issues. This is also true of pastors around the country, many of whom have been deceived by leftist organizations that they must keep their pulpits free of political content.
Nothing could be further from the truth!
As for the chapel speech, I offered my personal viewpoint on the November elections, something that I have the right to do. The leftist Americans United for the Separation of Church and State complained to the IRS. Liberty Counsel filed a response to the IRS in December and the agency has subsequently closed its investigation.
Mr. Staver said the IRS has no play in these situations to begin with.
“The IRS should not be eavesdropping and pursuing complaints based upon one citizen or organization forwarding a newspaper account,” he said. (This is how the IRS learned of the content of my address.)
Ms. Staver added that while no church has ever lost its tax-exempt status for engaging in political activity, most Americans — and many pastors — erroneously believe that the IRS will march into churches where pastors mention political issues.
“Pastors and churches, as much as any other private citizen, have the right to express their opinions regarding political candidates,” says Mr. Staver.
These are important rulings for pastors everywhere. We do not lose our rights to speak out on political matters when we step into the pulpit. We maintain our rights to address political issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage. We have the right to point out differences in candidates’ voting records. We can even conduct voter registration drives right in our church sanctuaries or parking lots!
I hope pastors across this nation feel energized by these rulings and will commit to standing up for Christian values and Christian candidates in the 2006 elections and in many elections to come.Jerry, you can say whatever you want - just not on MY dime. |
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