Jerry Falwell on Fox News Channel, Friday evening:
“The fact is that ‘Old Time Gospel Hour,’ or any other ministry with which I’ve been associated has never lost its tax exemption.”
Falwell on CNBC, two weeks ago, when asked if his group had lost its tax-exempt status:
“Never. Never. Never. Not one minute. Not one second. You are wrong…. Never one second did we lose our tax exemption.”
The Associated Press, April 2, 1993:
The Rev. Jerry Falwell’s Old-Time Gospel Hour has agreed to pay $ 50,000 in back taxes for improper political activities in 1986 and 1987.
The settlement reached last month concludes a four-year Internal Revenue Service investigation of organizations affiliated with Falwell.
The IRS said the Old-Time Gospel Hour, the broadcast ministry of Falwell’s Thomas Road Baptist Church, raised funds for political purposes.
The ministry’s tax-exempt status for 1986 and 1987 was revoked. (emphasis added)
I’m not a theologian, but isn’t there a Commandment about about bearing false witness?