Jerry Falwell is Dead
Del Williams
May 15, 2007
Jerry Falwell, the leader of "The Moral Majority Coalition" was found unconscious in his office at Liberty University. He died shortly thereafter at the hospital The 73 year old was known for having heart problems. He was hospitalized in 2005 several times due to breathing problems which turned out to be Congestive Heart Failure. His arteries were 70% blocked, and stints were used to reopen them. His life was saved several times with heart ventilators. The other issue was that Falwell went to several doctors, and was usually misdiagnosed. The last time, he almost lost his life, because a doctor thought it was pneumonia.
This news of his death spells the end of a legacy. Falwell was known for his strong stand against homosexuality and immorality. He was one of the first to use TV as a medium to spread the message of Christ, but in most recent times, it has been an ad for Liberty University or the New Moral Majority Coalition, which he had taken up again, after leaving it in 1987.
When Jim Bakker of PTL was sent to prison, Falwell scolded him and took his property. He said of this time,
"God sent me there to bring an abrupt end to the immorality and financial fraud of this 'religious soap opera' that had become an international embarrassment to the Christian gospel."
He held the position for 7 months, until he "understood" the magnitude of the financial problems of PTL. Other ministers accused him of wrongdoing for not handing the ministry back to Bakker. The two men have not spoken in years.
Of course, no one can forget when Falwell accused PBS of promoting homosexuality through "Teletubbies" in 1999. His Jerry Falwell's National Liberty Journal stated that "Tinky Winky" was suggestive since the character carried a red purse at times. Further, "He is purple--the gay-pride color and his antenna are shaped like a triangle--the gay pride symbol."
The question of his legacy is up to debate. He did manage to turn the religious right into a political force, but he ruffled the feathers of his own co-laborers. Pat Robertson, on news of his death issued a brief statement, “Jerry has been a tower of strength on many of the moral issues which have confronted our nation."
Falwell was born back in 1933. His life is an example of accomplishment, even if it is a little tarnished by the lack of mercy for the fallen. He has established schools, homes for unwed mothers and alcoholics, and built a movement.
He has been controversial, but he himself has not been accused of immoral behavior, such as some of his peers.
He is survived by his wife, Macel, and three Children.
Even now, there is a controversy since the graduation speaker is Newt Gingrich. The former Speaker of the House that admitted only months ago, that he was sleeping with his own intern while calling for the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.
In 2006, Falwell celebrated 50 years of pasturing at the church he founded with only 35 to start.
Funeral Plans are not available at this time.
Sources:
http://www.wsls.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSLS%2FMGArticle%2FSLS_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031783958485&path=!news!localnews
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070515/ap_on_re_us/jerry_falwell
http://www.moralmajority.us/
This news of his death spells the end of a legacy. Falwell was known for his strong stand against homosexuality and immorality. He was one of the first to use TV as a medium to spread the message of Christ, but in most recent times, it has been an ad for Liberty University or the New Moral Majority Coalition, which he had taken up again, after leaving it in 1987.
When Jim Bakker of PTL was sent to prison, Falwell scolded him and took his property. He said of this time,
"God sent me there to bring an abrupt end to the immorality and financial fraud of this 'religious soap opera' that had become an international embarrassment to the Christian gospel."
He held the position for 7 months, until he "understood" the magnitude of the financial problems of PTL. Other ministers accused him of wrongdoing for not handing the ministry back to Bakker. The two men have not spoken in years.
Of course, no one can forget when Falwell accused PBS of promoting homosexuality through "Teletubbies" in 1999. His Jerry Falwell's National Liberty Journal stated that "Tinky Winky" was suggestive since the character carried a red purse at times. Further, "He is purple--the gay-pride color and his antenna are shaped like a triangle--the gay pride symbol."
The question of his legacy is up to debate. He did manage to turn the religious right into a political force, but he ruffled the feathers of his own co-laborers. Pat Robertson, on news of his death issued a brief statement, “Jerry has been a tower of strength on many of the moral issues which have confronted our nation."
Falwell was born back in 1933. His life is an example of accomplishment, even if it is a little tarnished by the lack of mercy for the fallen. He has established schools, homes for unwed mothers and alcoholics, and built a movement.
He has been controversial, but he himself has not been accused of immoral behavior, such as some of his peers.
He is survived by his wife, Macel, and three Children.
Even now, there is a controversy since the graduation speaker is Newt Gingrich. The former Speaker of the House that admitted only months ago, that he was sleeping with his own intern while calling for the impeachment of President Bill Clinton.
In 2006, Falwell celebrated 50 years of pasturing at the church he founded with only 35 to start.
Funeral Plans are not available at this time.
Sources:
http://www.wsls.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSLS%2FMGArticle%2FSLS_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031783958485&path=!news!localnews
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070515/ap_on_re_us/jerry_falwell
http://www.moralmajority.us/
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