Weekend Plug-in 🔌

Editor’s note: Every Friday, “Weekend Plug-in” features analysis, fact checking and top headlines from the world of faith. Got feedback or ideas for this column? Email Bobby Ross Jr. at therossnews@gmail.com.

(ANALYSIS) Was it just three weeks ago that we were talking about a “racy picture” of Liberty University’s then-president, Jerry Falwell Jr., sparking curiosity and controversy?

Given the allegations that surfaced this week, that infamous deleted photo of Falwell with his pants unzipped, belly button showing and arm around a woman (not his wife) suddenly seems tame.

So does the news — reported earlier this month by Religion News Service’s Emily McFarlan Miller — that Falwell “liked” a handful of Instagram images showing young women in swimsuits.

For anyone who spent the week taking a long nap in a cave without TV or internet (I envy you, friend), here is a Reader’s Digest version of what occurred: On Sunday night, the Washington Examiner’s Paul Bedard broke the news that Falwell said he had “suffered depression caused by a former family friend who had an affair with his wife and who has been threatening to expose it.”

Then on Monday, Reuters dropped a bombshell that seemed to explain why Falwell had sought friendly coverage with a conservative publication the previous day.

“Giancarlo Granda says his sexual relationship with the Falwells began when he was 20,” journalist Aram Roston reported. “He says he had sex with Becki Falwell while Jerry Falwell Jr., head of Liberty University and a staunch supporter of President Trump, looked on.” (In an interview with Washington Post religion reporter Sarah Pulliam Bailey, the Falwells denied the accusation that Jerry was involved in his wife’s affair.)

After Reuters’ story was published, developments happened fast. Falwell, already on an indefinite leave of absence as president of the world’s largest evangelical university, reportedly resigned. Then he insisted he hadn’t resigned. Then he really did resign.

But the headlines didn’t stop: On Thursday night, Politico published an exclusive story by Brandon Ambrosino about a claim, denied by the Falwells, that Becki initiated a sexual act with a student.

And in the wake of Falwell’s departure, Liberty alumni are demanding change and action by the university’s board, report Religion Unplugged’s own Meagan Clark and Paul Glader.

How well did you pay attention to the Falwell news? Let’s try another pop quiz and see. I’ll share the answers at the bottom of this column.

1. What evidence did Reuters offer to back up its investigative report?

2. How many millions did the Liberty board pay Falwell to step down?

3. Did Falwell admit sinful behavior on his part?

4. What famous American did Falwell quote in describing his feelings about his departure from Liberty?

5. What animal tried to enroll in Liberty’s online program and initially got a favorable response?

6. Which religion reporter chose pancakes for dinner after a day of listening to Falwell “waffle” on whether he would resign or not?

7. Now that Falwell is history, where is attention focused at Liberty?

Bonus question: This son followed his famous father as president of a prominent evangelical university. But the son’s tenure was rocky. Eventually, he took an indefinite leave of absence. Finally, he resigned. This happened in 2007. Name the son and the university.

Power Up: The Week’s Best Reads

1. Abortion over immigration: Trump's pro-life policies remain paramount for many Latino Catholics: When it comes to politics and religion, I’m a big fan of stories that focus on real voters. Alejandra Molina, Los Angeles-based national correspondent for Religion News Service, does just that in this enlightening report.

For another interesting read, check out this story by the Washington Post’s Pam Kelley on a Catholic swing voter who doesn’t like Trump but “can’t stomach Biden’s position on abortion.”

Meanwhile, don’t miss this thoughtful commentary by David French, who asks, “Do pro-lifers who reject Trump have ‘blood on their hands?’”

For lots of religion angles related to this week’s Republican National Convention, see Religion Unplugged’s homepage.

2. Can the religious left flip the Bible Belt?: Here we go again, highlighting an exceptional piece of Godbeat journalism by The Atlantic’s uber-talented Emma Green.

This time Green travels to Atlanta to profile Raphael Warnock, a Democrat and progressive pastor campaigning to represent Georgia in the U.S. Senate.

The detail in this paragraph is typical of Green’s eloquent writing style:

Even away from the pulpit, he sported the formal look of a stylish celebrity preacher: a well-pressed suit in 80-degree weather; rimless glasses that were one click short of “Silicon Valley executive.” Purple-striped socks peeked out from his trousers as he settled in for conversation, crossing his legs at the knee and sipping glass-bottled Coca-Cola from a Styrofoam cup. 

3. When COVID-19 closed nursing homes, one husband moved in: This is a simply amazing story by the Wall Street Journal’s Anna Wilde Mathews.

It features a 93-year-old Baptist pastor who refuses to leave his wife, 91, who has Alzheimer’s, alone during the coronavirus pandemic.

Just read it. But grab a tissue first.

More Top Reads

• China secretly built a vast new infrastructure to imprison Muslims (by Megha Rajagopalan, Alison Killing and Christo Buschek, Buzzfeed News)

• Police shooting of Jacob Blake prompts calls by faith leaders, governor for reform (by Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service)

• Some Amish practices could contribute to spread of COVID-19 among the community (by Anne Snabes, Indianapolis Star)

• Subjected to anti-Semitism and racism, Jews of color feel 'stuck in the middle' (by Deena Yellin, Bergen Record)

• The Pope, the Jews and the secrets in the archives (By David I. Kertzer, The Atlantic)

• Love hasn't given up for couple who shared their story (by Peter Smith, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

• When the news becomes religion (by Seth Wenig, Columbia Journalism Review)

• Detroit man thought he was a priest. He wasn't even a baptized Catholic (by JD Flynn, Catholic News Agency)

• Jim Bakker gets PPP loans during legal fight on fraud claims (by Sally Stapleton, Associated Press)

• New Zealand gives Christchurch killer a record sentence (by Damien Cave and Amanda Saxton, New York Times)

Inside The Godbeat: Behind The Bylines

The community of journalists who report on religion is a small, generally close-knit group. So what happens when one Godbeat pro critiques a book by another Godbeat pro?

In the case of Christianity Today’s Daniel Silliman offering a not totally positive review of Religion News Service writer Jack Jenkins’ book “American Prophets: The Religious Roots of Progressive Politics and the Ongoing Fight for the Soul of the Country,” there was friendly disagreement.

“The fascinating thing about this review … is that while I deeply disagree w/ his conclusion and think he ignores parts of the book, his argument takes the material so seriously and is made in such good faith that it's hard to be upset,” Jenkins tweeted.

“When the pandemic is over, I want to buy you a beer and argue about it,” Silliman replied. “For now, I really appreciate this response.”

Charging Station: In Case You Missed It

Here is where you can catch up on recent news and opinions from Religion Unplugged.

• Is it news when a U.S. senator claims Catholics are under attack? (by Clemente Lisi)

• RNC recap: on third night, a rabbit, nun, and former NFL player praise Trump (by Timothy Nerozzi)

• Nigerian diaspora calls for military involvement in northern Nigeria (by Dr. Jenny Taylor)

•  Black South Carolina senator Tim Scott inspires during ‘angry’ RNC (by Hamil R. Harris)

• RNC recap: on second night, prayers for Jacob Blake, focus on religious freedom (by Timothy Nerozzi)

•  Liberty University accepts Falwell’s resignation: Here’s a timeline of his scandals (by Meagan Clark and Jillian Cheney)

• Cardinal Dolan opens RNC praying for the unborn, police (by Timothy Nerozzi)

•  The U.K. government to lead the efforts to engage faith and belief leaders in ending sexual violence in conflict (by Ewelina U. Ochab)

• Falwell says wife’s affair contributed to depression (by Christina Darnell)

• Kenyan Muslims grapple with COVID-19 restrictions on burials (by Tom Osanjo)

The Final Plug

Pop quiz answers below:

1. What evidence did Reuters offer to back up its investigative report? Emails, text messages and screenshots of a FaceTime conversation between the accuser and the Falwells were cited. Does that mean the accuser is telling the truth or the whole truth? Not necessarily. But Reuters handled the coverage in a journalistically credible manner and clearly identified its sources.

2. How many millions did the Liberty board pay Falwell to step down? A number of major news organizations, including the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, reported that Falwell will receive a $10.5 million severance package.

3. Did Falwell admit sinful behavior on his part? The News and Advance, the newspaper in Lynchburg, Va., where Liberty is located, reported that Falwell didn’t like it when the university’s campus pastor, David Nasser, apologized to the student body Wednesday for what he called “sinful” behavior on Falwell’s part. "I called Nasser and asked him exactly what sin I committed," Falwell told reporter Richard Chumney. "He couldn't and wouldn't answer. He just hung up and now won't answer."

4. What famous American did Falwell quote in describing his feelings about his departure from Liberty? Earlier, Falwell told The News and Advance’s Chumney that his resignation was a relief: “The quote that keeps going through my mind this morning is Martin Luther King Jr: ‘Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty I’m free at last.’”

5. What animal tried to enroll in Liberty’s online program and initially got a favorable response? That would be a dog. That four-legged tidbit made its way into an in-depth story by Religion Unplugged.

6. Which religion reporter chose pancakes for dinner after a day of listening to Falwell “waffle” on whether he would resign or not? That would be Ian Lovett, national religion reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Read his story and his tweet about his dinner plans.

7. Now that Falwell is history, where is attention focused at Liberty? Many want to know how Falwell’s power went “absolutely unchecked” for so long, as former Liberty professor Karen Swallow Prior put it in a viral op-ed for Religion Unplugged. “Where was the board?” asks Warren Cole Smith, president of the independent charitable giving watchdog MinistryWatch.com. 

Bonus question: This son followed his famous father as president of a prominent evangelical university. But the son’s tenure was rocky. Eventually, he took an indefinite leave of absence. Finally, he resigned. This happened in 2007. Name the son and the university. As reported by the Tulsa World, Richard Roberts, embattled president of Oral Roberts University, resigned in November that year “following nearly two months of allegations that he and his family misused university and ministry resources.”

That enough religion news for one week? Let’s meet back in this same space again next Friday.

Bobby Ross Jr. is a columnist for Religion Unplugged and editor-in-chief of The Christian Chronicle. A former religion writer for The Associated Press and The Oklahoman, Ross has reported from all 50 states and 15 nations. He has covered religion since 1999.