Falwell Follies.

November 1, 2020 Glen Turpening

A closer examination of Jerry Falwell’s leadership position raises many red flags. (Politico)

Over the last year, as questions about Falwell’s behavior began to bubble up in POLITICO and other outlets, Falwell utilized his close relationship with the executive committee to negotiate a deal that would grant him, Falwell said this summer, $10.5 million in severance if he were to leave the university. That alleged deal was unknown to some members of the board until Falwell’s actual resignation, according to two people who discussed the change with board members. Asked about the severance, a Liberty spokesperson said that Falwell will not receive $10.5 million, but is entitled to two years of his $1 million base salary plus “accrued retirement benefits” over 32 years of employment at the university. The amount of Falwell’s severance is now a subject of his lawsuit.

By MAGGIE SEVERNS, BRANDON AMBROSINO and MICHAEL STRATFORD writing for Politico

Falwell Jr.’s father marched evangelicals into the real of politics starting in the late 1970s, and it has been a sordid tale of greed and betrayal ever since. The moral ‘outrage’ at the growing societal acceptance of homosexuality and divorce, among other things, never extended to their own religious leaders’ sins and the sexual bacchanal that was their private lives. Always forgiven by the ‘everyone falls short’ tag line and usually accompanied by tears. Just ask Jimmy Swaggart and Tammy Faye.