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Randy
SFN Regular
USA
1990 Posts |
 Posted - 10/22/2001 : 20:55:21
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http://www.au.org/press/pr102201.htm
From Americans United for Separation of Church and State website......
JERRY FALWELL TRIES TO CASH IN ON CONTROVERSY
TV Preacher's Ministry Sends Out Fund-Raising Appeal Exploiting His Controversial Tirade Over Terrorist Attacks
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."
In an Oct. 4 appeal for funds, Jerry Falwell Ministries accuses "liberals, and especially gay activists" of launching "a vicious smear campaign to discredit him." It 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. Please return the enclosed Vote of Confidence Reply Card right away in the envelope I have provided within the next 5 days….And with your card, please remember to include a special Vote of Confidence gift for Jerry Falwell of at least $50 or even $100 along with your signed card."
Falwell's critics say the fund-raising letter is a new low.
"This is truly outrageous," said the Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. "Falwell has gone from apologizing for his hateful remarks to trying to cash in on them.
"I thought Falwell couldn't sink much lower than he did in his vicious remarks after the Sept. 11 tragedy," continued Lynn. "But this fund-raising letter is indeed a new low."
On Sept. 13, Falwell went on TV preacher Pat Robertson's "700 Club" program to discuss the terrorist attacks. With Robertson's concurrence, Falwell blamed the events on judges who uphold church-state separation, abortion rights activists, gay people, civil liberties activists and others who are "trying to secularize America."
Said Falwell, "I point the finger in their face and say, 'You helped this [the terrorist attack] happen.'"
When a wave of intense national criticism erupted, Robertson blamed the episode on Falwell. Falwell initially tried to explain away the remarks, saying they were taken out of context. Finally, however, he issued a full apology, going on ABC's "Good Morning America" Sept. 20 to admit the tirade was "stupid" and "indefensible."
The Falwell fund-raising letter says donations to his ministry have plummeted in recent days and claims "we have lost more than $500,000 in income since the terrorist attacks."
It complains that "even some Christian friends have remained silent while dad has faced the media wolf pack alone." In a P.S., it concludes, "[P]lease let Jerry Falwell know you don't believe the media distortions being spread about him."
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.
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Pathetic.
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James
SFN Regular
USA
754 Posts |
 Posted - 10/22/2001 : 17:12:32 [Permalink]
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Anybody have the number of a retired sharpshooter or any idea as to the location of a very old, but operable, A-bomb? 
Prayer is nothing more than "spiritual masturbation". -theatheistknight |
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Lisa
SFN Regular
USA
1223 Posts |
Posted - 10/22/2001 : 22:14:59 [Permalink]
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So is anyone really surprised? Jerry is whining that anyone who doesn't agree with him is a Satan Spawn. And he has his hand out for cash.
Looks like the world is getting back to normal.
Lisa
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Donnie B.
Skeptic Friend
417 Posts |
Posted - 10/23/2001 : 05:23:10 [Permalink]
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Actually, I find this story somewhat reassuring. Apparently, donations to Falwell have dropped sharply. Could his 700-club statement turn out to be his undoing, ŕ la Jim Bakker?
I'd be interested to know what kind of response this mailing nets him.
-- Donnie B.
Brian: "No, no! You have to think for yourselves!" Crowd: "Yes! We have to think for ourselves!" |
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@tomic
Administrator
USA
4607 Posts |
Posted - 10/23/2001 : 05:37:43 [Permalink]
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Let's face it. Some people will swallow every bit of what Jerry's saying because it's exactly what they think already. Since his letter is going out to previous donors it would not surprise me if a lot of the recipients end up nodding in approval as they read it.
Now that I think of it, it would be funny to start a "Jerry Falwell's junk mail tainted with Anthrax spores rumor" 
@tomic
Gravity, not just a good idea...it's the law! |
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Trish
SFN Addict
USA
2102 Posts |
Posted - 10/23/2001 : 09:01:36 [Permalink]
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quote:
Now that I think of it, it would be funny to start a "Jerry Falwell's junk mail tainted with Anthrax spores rumor"
Hmm, I think you just did.
"Say what you will about the sweet miracle of unquestioning faith. I consider the capacity for it terrifying." ~Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. |
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