December 10, 2001

ACLU lends a hand to Falwell, though a critic
___LYNCHBURG, Va. (RNS)--The American Civil Liberties Union has offered to support Jerry Falwell--usually a foe of the civil-liberties group--in his challenge to Virginia laws restricting ownership of church property.
___Despite their frequent placement on opposing sides of issues, Falwell's son welcomed the offer.
___Jerry Falwell Jr., one of the lawyers representing his father in the case, said he hopes other groups also will come forward, especially churches.
___"It will make more of a statement if other denominations support us," the younger Falwell said.
___The ACLU offered to file a fried-of-the-court brief in the federal suit against the state and the city of Lynchburg. The suit, filed Nov. 9, stemmed from plans for a new sanctuary at the elder Falwell's Thomas Road Baptist Church. It challenges state laws prohibiting churches from owning more than 15 acres in a city and 250 acres in a county as well as laws prohibiting incorporation of churches and requiring court oversight for their land transactions.
___"We agree with your position that such laws discriminate against religion in both purpose and effect," Rebecca Glenberg, legal director of the ACLU, wrote in a Nov. 27 letter.

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