Rev. Jerry Falwell dies at 73

[Ryan]

LYNCHBURG, Va. - The Rev. Jerry Falwell was hospitalized in "gravely serious" condition after being found unconscious Tuesday in his office at Liberty University, a school executive said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ron Godwin, the university's executive vice president, said Falwell, 73, was found unresponsive around 10:45 a.m. and taken to Lynchburg General Hospital. Godwin said he was not sure what caused the collapse, but he said Falwell "has a history of heart challenges."

"I had breakfast with him, and he was fine at breakfast," Godwin said. "He went to his office, I went to mine, and they found him unresponsive."

Godwin said Falwell was receiving emergency care. A hospital spokeswoman said she had "no information to release at this time."

Falwell, a television evangelist who founded the Moral Majority, became the face of the religious right in the 1980s. He later founded the conservative Liberty University and serves as its president.

Falwell survived two serious health scares in early 2005. He was hospitalized for two weeks with what was described as a viral infection, then was hospitalized again a few weeks later after going into respiratory arrest. Later that year, doctors found a 70 percent blockage in an artery, which they opened with stents.

Liberty University's commencement is scheduled for Saturday, with former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich as the featured speaker.

[King]

WHO?

[Kwing42]

Even if you did not agree with much of what the man said or stood for (and I did not agree with much of anything he said or did), mocking someone in death is not funny.

[Ryan]

Ummmm....Kwing.....how is he mocking him? Some people genuinely have no idea who he is.

[Kwing42]

ummmm ok

[mateo22]

awe, shucks, NOT. This man was nothing but hate.

[KLN]

I'll happily mock him.

He's just as disgusting to me as someone like Osama bin Laden. I wouldn't be sad if Osama died, and I certainly won't be sad because Jerry died. I do find it sad that he couldn't come to his senses and turn himself into a decent human being before his death... but that's about all.

[Q Steph]

May he rest in peace, but for a man of God, he was filled with hate. It's not maligning to point out how his actions were contrary to the Bible he represented. It would be the height of hypocrisy to shower him with glowing regards simply because of his untimely death. I'm not celebrating in his passing, but Jerry Falwell was who he was. I once equated him to Bin Laden; generating intense polarization with his religious views. In some instances, we are the only Bible people will ever be aware of and I know I would have rather been lost than to be a follower of his.

[RionPassions]

I'm glad he's dead.

[Andre]

Who said it was funny? He was a sad, pathetic man in real life; he is much more bearable and pleasant as a corpse. But still not funny.

[Q Steph]

He's the guy who said the telletubbis were gay. Tinky winky, I think. Among other things.

Tinky Winky

[King]

Ohhh. I vaguely remember that. Anyway, whateva!

[Adam]

He also made some comment how 9/11 was punishment to all the gays, pro-choice people and all that stuff. I do believe he apologized but whatever.... tragedy this is not.

[David_Vickers]

I'm not sad at all. Kwing, there's NO WAY IN HELL that Ryan was mocking Falwell's death. However I will state this and get mad at me if you will, I think it's about time that God strike this false prophet dead and send him to the firey gates of Hell. Amen.

[ReddFoxx]

He was an awful person, he supported the apartheid regime in South Africa, not to mention all his other hateful rhetoric.