Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Toto · 04-16-2002, 12:17 PM

<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Falwell-Lawsuit.html" target="_blank">Judge Rules on Va. Church Ban</a>

Quote:

In a lawsuit brought by the Rev. Jerry Falwell, a judge has ruled that an 18th-century Virginia law banning churches from receiving corporate charters unconstitutionally restricts the free exercise of religion.

. . .
The ban on church incorporation stems from Thomas Jefferson's 1779 Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom. The General Assembly outlawed corporate charters for churches in 1787 and included the ban in the state Constitution.

. . .
A charter would give Falwell's church added protection from liability lawsuits, the ability to sue as an organization and the power to enter contracts. It also would allow Falwell to include his entire ministry under one corporate umbrella; currently, it is controlled by a dozen or so mini-corporations under separate charters and boards of directors.

Edited to add: <a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20020416/ap_on_re_us/falwell_lawsuit_4" target="_blank">More detailed story</a>

[ April 16, 2002: Message edited by: Toto ]</p>

RufusAtticus · 04-16-2002, 12:57 PM

It's only fair considering that Falwell is running a buisness.

Mageth · 04-16-2002, 01:14 PM

If he wants his church to be treated like a corporation, then it should be taxed! (I bet he'd be the first to cry out against a bill that proposed that particular corporate responsibility).

ohwilleke · 04-17-2002, 06:10 AM

To be honest, the law he's fighting single out religion as opposed to all non-profits and imposes restrictions found no where else in the country. I don't have a problem with his effort to strike it down and the law probably violates the First Amendment.

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04-16-2002, 12:57 PM	#2
RufusAtticus Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: NCSU Posts: 5,853	It's only fair considering that Falwell is running a buisness.

04-16-2002, 01:14 PM	#3
Mageth Contributor Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Deep in the heart of mother-lovin' Texas Posts: 29,689	If he wants his church to be treated like a corporation, then it should be taxed! (I bet he'd be the first to cry out against a bill that proposed that particular corporate responsibility).

04-17-2002, 06:10 AM	#4
ohwilleke Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Denver, Colorado, USA Posts: 4,834	To be honest, the law he's fighting single out religion as opposed to all non-profits and imposes restrictions found no where else in the country. I don't have a problem with his effort to strike it down and the law probably violates the First Amendment.

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