Southern Voice

Falwell’s son blames gays for ‘smear campaign’
by Rhonda Smith

http://www.southernvoice.com/southernvoice/news/record.html?record=17457

Just weeks after Rev. Jerry Falwell was rebuked for tying the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to gays, his son has made a special fund-raising plea for his father over the recent criticism.
Lynchburg, Va. -- Rev. Jerry Falwell’s youngest son recently distributed a fund-raising letter in which he blamed the media and gay civil rights activists for launching "a vicious smear campaign" against his father for the anti-gay remarks he made after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"My father -- and your friend -- Jerry Falwell needs to hear from you right now," the four-page letter from Jonathan Falwell begins. "Over the past two weeks, dad has been brutalized by the media and by certain radical extremists. Dad needs to hear from his friends right now."

The letter then urges Falwell’s supporters to sign and return a "vote of confidence" card to Jonathan Falwell with a donation of $50 or $100.

"There is space on the card for you to write your own short note of encouragement to dad if you wish," the letter states. "That would be so wonderful and uplifting to him."

Jonathan Falwell, 35, is the youngest of the Southern Baptist minister’s three children. Christianity Today magazine reported in 1996 that he could one day be pastor of Thomas Road Baptist Church, which Jerry Falwell founded in Lynchburg, Va., and where he has served as senior pastor for 44 years.

The elder Falwell also is chancellor of Liberty University in Lynchburg.

In addition to lashing out at his father’s critics, Jonathan Falwell notes in the letter that while his father historically has been able to "shake off every insult, every taunt and every jeer," this time seems different because his patriotism and compassion for people are being questioned.

"I must confess that it hurts me deeply to watch my father assaulted by these people," the letter states. "Sadly, even some Christian friends have remained silent while dad has faced the media wolf pack alone."

Falwell most recently came under fire because of comments he made Sept. 13 on "The 700 Club," a Christian television program hosted by Pat Robertson. During the program, Falwell said the disasters last month took place because God wanted people to become humble.

He blamed the terrorist attacks in part on politically liberal organizations like People for the American Way and the ACLU as well as other groups he said have tried to "secularize America."

"The abortionists have got to bear some burden for this because God will not be mocked," Falwell said. "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle… I point the finger in their face and say ‘you helped this happen.’"

White House officials and numerous individuals and groups nationwide rebuked Falwell for his comments; he later apologized.

In the fund-raising letter from Jonathan Falwell, who became Thomas Road Baptist Church’s administrator in 1995, he notes that donations to his father’s empire have plummeted and that the ministry has lost more than $500,000 in income since the terrorist attacks.

Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of American United for Separation of Church & State, described the letter as "a new low."

"This is truly outrageous," he said. "Falwell has gone from apologizing for his hateful remarks to trying to cash in on them."

Americans United provided Southern Voice with a copy of the letter.

David Scoven, executive director of Virginians for Justice, a statewide gay civil rights group, said Falwell and his son seem to be "testing the waters" to see how much damage his recent comments caused.

"The only people left to support Jerry Falwell now are the absolute diehard true believers," Scoven said. "Everyone else has run for cover. "Not that Liberty University is going to go away. But in terms of looking to him as a moral leader, he has demolished any sort of credibility he once had."

INFO

Rev. Jerry Falwell
www.falwell.com

Liberty University
1971 University Blvd.
Lynchburg, VA 24502
804-582-2000

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The Datalounge

"Liberal Attacks" Spur Falwell Donation Drive
Wednesday, 24 October 2001

http://www.datalounge.com/datalounge/news/record.html?record=17409

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- Although TV preacher Jerry Falwell claims to have apologized for his infamous remarks about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, his ministry has sent a fund-raising letter to donors recasting his statements in a positive light and depicting him as a victim of the news media "wolf pack" and "liberal lies."

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the group which first distributed comments made by Falwell on Pat Robertson's "700 Club" talk show, says that in a written appeal for funds, Falwell Ministries accuses "liberals, and especially gay activists" of launching "a vicious smear campaign to discredit him."

The mailing, which was sent out Oct. 4, says Falwell is "being roundly vilified by the news media for remarks he made in a TV interview while calling for spiritual revival in America."

The letter, signed by Falwell's son Jonathan, compares Falwell to biblical heroes such as the Prophet Jeremiah and Queen Esther and says, "Liberals of all stripes, especially in the media, have seized on this opportunity to trash dad's deeply held Christian beliefs and to literally attack him day and night."

"It seems that Satan has launched a hail of fiery darts at dad recently," writes Jonathan Falwell. "He needs to know you still support him." The mailing includes a request for a $50 or $100 "Vote of Confidence" donation.

Falwell's critics that attempting to capitalize on his disgraceful comments following terrorist attacks on the U.S. was a new low for the televangelist. "This is truly outrageous," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United. "Falwell has gone from apologizing for his hateful remarks to trying to cash in on them."

Just two days after thousands of innocent people were killed in separate attacks on New York and Washington. Falwell appeared on Robertson's program, blaming the attacks on judges who uphold church-state separation, abortion rights activists, gay people, civil liberties activists and others who are "trying to secularize America."

"I point the finger in their face and say, 'You helped this [the terrorist attack] happen,'" said Falwell. Following an explosion of national outrage and criticism for the comments, Robertson blamed the episode on Falwell. Falwell initially tried to explain away the remarks, saying they were taken out of context. He admitted one week later the remarks were "stupid" and "indefensible."

The Falwell fund-raising letter says donations to his ministry have plummeted, saying "we have lost more than $500,000 in income since the terrorist attacks."

The letter complains that "even some Christian friends have remained silent while dad has faced the media wolf pack alone."

The pledge letter concludes with, "Let Jerry Falwell know you don't believe the media distortions being spread about him."

-- Editor

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Jerry Falwell Ministries

http://www.demossnewspond.com/falwell/.htm

Jerry Falwell Apologizes
September 17, 2001

http://www.demossnewspond.com/falwell/releases/falwellapology91701.htm

Last Thursday during an appearance on The 700 Club, in the midst of the shock and mourning of a dark week for America, I made a statement that I should not have made and which I sincerely regret. I apologize that, during a week when everyone appropriately dropped all labels and no one was seen as liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, religious or secular, I singled out for blame certain groups of Americans.

This was insensitive, uncalled for at the time, and unnecessary as part of the commentary on this destruction. The only label any of us needs in such a terrible time of crisis is that of ‘American.’

I obviously did not state my theological convictions very well and I stated them at a bad time. During the difficult weeks ahead there will be much discussion about the judgment of God. It is a worthy discussion for all of us at a time when we are reminded of the fleeting nature of life itself, but it is a complicated discussion.

I do not know if the horrific events of September 11 are the judgment of God, but if they are, that judgment is on all of America—including me and all fellow sinners—and not on any particular group.

My statements were understandably called divisive by some, including those whom I mentioned by name in the interview. This grieves me, as I had no intention of being divisive.

In conclusion, I blame no one but the hijackers and terrorists for the barbaric happenings of September 11.

We know, as Abraham Lincoln anguished in his second inaugural address, that “The Almighty has his own purposes,” but as he said, “The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”

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