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US evangelist Jerry Falwell dies | US evangelist Jerry Falwell dies |
(40 minutes later) | |
The Reverend Jerry Falwell, a leading US conservative evangelist, has died in hospital in Virginia after being found unconscious in his office. | |
Doctors gave Mr Falwell emergency treatment at Lynchburg General Hospital but could not revive him. | |
US President George W Bush paid tribute to Mr Falwell, 73, who he said lived a life of "faith, family, and freedom". | |
Mr Falwell, a leader of the religious right, survived two major health scares and had a history of heart problems. | |
He rose to prominence in the 1980s and founded the Moral Majority and later Liberty University. | |
Dr Falwell is a huge, huge leader here in this area and in the nation at large Ron GodwinLiberty University vice-president class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6659537.stm">Obituary: Jerry Falwell class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/6660057.stm">Jerry Falwell in quotes | |
Mr 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. | As one of the first television preachers, he reached millions on his programme The Old Time Gospel Hour. |
Ron Godwin, executive vice president for Liberty University, said Mr 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." |
Controversial | Controversial |
The Reverend 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 Mr 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. | 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. |
Among them is Senator John McCain - a Republican contender for US president - who described him as "a man of distinguished accomplishment who devoted his life to serving his faith and country". | Among them is Senator John McCain - a Republican contender for US president - who described him as "a man of distinguished accomplishment who devoted his life to serving his faith and country". |
Mr 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. | 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. |