Reaction to Jerry Falwell's death

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. evangelist Jerry Falwell, a leader of the religious right who battled in the political arena against abortion and homosexuality, died on Tuesday after collapsing in his Virginia office.

DOUGLAS BRINKLEY, PRESIDENTIAL HISTORIAN

"Here was Rev. Falwell ... saying we don't believe in Roe v. Wade, we don't believe we have to accept all aspects of equal rights for homosexuals. ... He became a leading voice by the time of Ronald Reagan's emergence in 1980 and the whole concept of family values was adopted by the Republican Party.

"His influence in politics was very real because he helped politicize evangelicals and other religious groups, the right side of the Southern Baptist Convention ..."

ELLEN JOHNSON, PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN ATHEISTS

"Jerry Falwell was instrumental in galvanizing millions of American evangelicals into an intolerant, sectarian and authoritarian political movement. Gays, women, secularists, civil-libertarians and other groups who did not fit into his plan to construct 'One Nation Under God' were stigmatized and attacked. Civil liberties were in jeopardy ..."

REV. PAT ROBERTSON, FOUNDER OF THE CHRISTIAN COALITION

"Jerry's courage and strength of convictions will be sadly missed in this time of increasing moral relativism. I join with the tens of thousands of his friends to mourn the passing of this extraordinary human being."

PETER MONTGOMERY, SPOKESMAN FOR LIBERAL ADVOCACY GROUP

PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY

"I think (Falwell) mixed religion and politics in a particularly toxic way ... If you disagreed with him you were standing against God and you were not a good Christian or a good American."

REV. AL SHARPTON, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL ACTION NETWORK

"Though he and I debated much and disagreed often, we shared a very cordial and warm friendship. I visited him in Lynchburg, dined with him, and even talked with him during personal crises. Though we were as politically opposite as two people could be, I truly respected his commitment to his beliefs and our mutual belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ..."

RANDALL TERRY, FOUNDER OF ANTI-ABORTION GROUP OPERATION

RESCUE

"One of Rev. Falwell's great gifts was his ability to have an ecumenical political front; fundamentalists, Evangelicals, Roman Catholics, Orthodox Jews, and biblically sound mainline Protestants work side-by-side for the election of Ronald Reagan, both Presidents Bush, and a host of candidates at the local, state and federal level. His vision and leadership will be sorely missed."

REV. BARRY W. LYNN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AMERICANS UNITED,

A RELIGIOUS LIBERTY WATCHDOG GROUP

"Falwell manipulated a powerful pulpit in exchange for access to political power and promotion of a narrow range of moral concerns. I appeared with him on news programs dozens of times over the years and, while I disagreed with just about everything Falwell stood for, he was a determined advocate for what he believed."