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US evangelist Jerry Falwell dies | US evangelist Jerry Falwell dies |
(10 minutes later) | |
Leading US conservative evangelist Rev Jerry Falwell has died in hospital in Virginia after being found unconscious in his office, his assistants said. | Leading US conservative evangelist Rev Jerry Falwell has died in hospital in Virginia after being found unconscious in his office, his assistants said. |
Doctors gave Rev Falwell emergency treatment at Lynchburg General Hospital but could not revive him. | Doctors gave Rev Falwell emergency treatment at Lynchburg General Hospital but could not revive him. |
Rev Falwell, 73, survived two serious health scares in 2005 but had a history of heart problems. | Rev Falwell, 73, survived two serious health scares in 2005 but had a history of heart problems. |
He became a figurehead of the religious right in the 1980s, founded the Moral Majority and later Liberty University. | He became a figurehead of the religious right in the 1980s, founded the Moral Majority and later Liberty University. |
Rev Falwell was regarded as the father of the political evangelical movement. | Rev Falwell was regarded as the father of the political evangelical movement. |
As one of the first television preachers, he reached millions on his programme The Old Time Gospel Hour. | |
Controversial | |
Ron Godwin, executive vice president for Liberty University, said Rev Falwell was found unresponsive in his office at about 1045 local time (1535 GMT) after missing an appointment. | |
Mr Godwin said: "Dr Falwell is a huge, huge leader here in this area and in the nation at large." | Mr Godwin said: "Dr Falwell is a huge, huge leader here in this area and in the nation at large." |
Rev Al Sharpton said he was deeply saddened and was praying for the Falwell family. He said although he often disagreed with the reverend, they had a cordial relationship. | |
The BBC's Vanessa Heaney in Washington says Rev Falwell was a controversial figure who offended many. | |
But his alliance with Republicans in the 1980s was a key help in the elections of Ronald Reagan as president and many political leaders have since continued to seek his support. | |
Rev Falwell was a strong opponent of abortion, homosexuality and many other issues that conflicted with his fundamentalist Christian beliefs. | Rev Falwell was a strong opponent of abortion, homosexuality and many other issues that conflicted with his fundamentalist Christian beliefs. |
His statements on feminism and race issues often outraged liberals. | |
In 2002, he sparked anger across the Muslim world by calling the Prophet Muhammad a "terrorist". He later apologised. | In 2002, he sparked anger across the Muslim world by calling the Prophet Muhammad a "terrorist". He later apologised. |
Shortly after the 11 September 2001 attacks, he said that gays, atheists, civil-rights activists and legal abortions in the US had angered God and "helped this happen". | Shortly after the 11 September 2001 attacks, he said that gays, atheists, civil-rights activists and legal abortions in the US had angered God and "helped this happen". |
In 1999, he denounced the BBC TV children's show The Teletubbies, because he believed one character, Tinky Winky, was homosexual. | In 1999, he denounced the BBC TV children's show The Teletubbies, because he believed one character, Tinky Winky, was homosexual. |