Editing Ian Paisley (section)

==Religious career==
When he was a teenager, Paisley decided to follow his father and become a Christian minister.<ref name=newsletter>{{cite web | url=http://www.newsletter.co.uk/life/churches/ian-paisley-s-legacy-is-a-prosperous-fp-church-1-6297355 | title=Ian Paisley's legacy is a prosperous FP church | work=[[The News Letter]] | date=13 September 2014 | access-date=14 September 2014 | author=Kennedy, Bill | archive-date=15 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140915010653/http://www.newsletter.co.uk/life/churches/ian-paisley-s-legacy-is-a-prosperous-fp-church-1-6297355 | url-status=live }}</ref> He delivered his first sermon aged 16 in a mission hall in County Tyrone.<ref name="Obituary: Ian Paisley">BBC News (Sept. 2014) [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16910949 “Obituary: Ian Paisley”] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905025411/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-16910949 |date=5 September 2018 }}, BBC News, 12 September 2014. Retrieved 12 September 2014</ref> In the late 1940s he undertook theological training at the [[Barry, Vale of Glamorgan|Barry]] School of Evangelism (now called the [[Wales Evangelical School of Theology]]), and later, for a year, at the [[Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland|Reformed Presbyterian]] Theological Hall in [[Belfast]].<ref name=newsletter/>

By June 1950 Paisley was preaching at an 'Old Time Gospel Campaign' on waste ground off Moore Street in the lower Ravehill Road area of Belfast.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001kv45/the-house-of-paisley-series-1-1-from-pulpit-to-politics 'The House of Paisley, Series 1: From Pulpit to Politics (04:47–05:01)']. BBC, 3 April 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2024</ref>

A year later a congregation of the [[Presbyterian Church in Ireland]] (PCI) was forbidden by church authorities to hold a meeting in their own church hall at which Paisley was to be the speaker.  In response, the leaders of that congregation left the PCI and began a new denomination, the [[Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster]], with Paisley, who was just 25 years old at the time.<ref name="Obituary: Ian Paisley"/><ref name="FPC_About">{{cite web |url=http://www.freepres.org/about.asp |title=Free Presbyterian Church – About us |publisher=Freepres.org |access-date=20 February 2011 |archive-date=11 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110411215814/http://www.freepres.org/about.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> Paisley soon became the leader (or [[Moderator of the General Assembly|moderator]]) of the Free Presbyterian Church<ref name="Ian Paisley p.5">[[Clifford Smyth]], ''Ian Paisley: Voice of Protestant Ulster'', p.5</ref> and was re-elected every year, for the next 57 years.<ref>{{cite news |title=Church elects new moderator |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7195246.stm |work=BBC News |date=19 January 2008 |access-date=19 January 2008 |archive-date=8 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908015142/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/7195246.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church, Belfast 2018-07-27.jpg|thumb|left|Martyrs Memorial Free Presbyterian Church where he preached]]
The Free Presbyterian Church is a [[Christian fundamentalism|fundamentalist]], [[evangelicalism|evangelical]] church, requiring strict separation from "any church which has departed from the fundamental doctrines of the Word of God."<ref name="FPC_About"/> At the time of the [[United Kingdom Census 1991|1991 census]], the church had about 12,000 members, less than 1 per cent of the [[Demographics of Northern Ireland|Northern Ireland population]].

Paisley promoted a highly conservative form of [[Biblical literalism]] and [[anti-Catholicism]], which he described as "Bible Protestantism". The website of Paisley's public relations arm, the ''European Institute of Protestant Studies'', describes the institute's purpose as to "expound the Bible, expose the Papacy, and to promote, defend and maintain Bible Protestantism in Europe and further afield."<ref>[ianpaisley.org Paisley's web site] Home page</ref> Paisley's website describes a number of doctrinal areas in which he believes that the "Roman church" (which he termed 'Popery') has deviated from the Bible and thus from true Christianity. Over the years, Paisley would write numerous books and pamphlets on his religious and political views, including a commentary on the [[Epistle to the Romans]].<ref>Exposition of the Epistle to the Romans, Ian Paisley, Emerald House Group Inc, 1997</ref> Paisley set up his own newspaper in February 1966, the ''[[Protestant Telegraph]]'', as a mechanism for further spreading his message.<ref>T. Gallagher, "Religion, Reaction, and Revolt in Northern Ireland: The Impact of Paisleyism in Ulster", ''Journal of Church and State'', 23.3 (1981), p. 440</ref>

In the 1960s, Paisley developed a relationship with the fundamentalist [[Bob Jones University]] located in [[Greenville, South Carolina]]. In 1966, he received an [[honorary degree|honorary doctorate of divinity]] from the institution and subsequently served on its board of trustees. This relationship would later lead to the establishment of the [[Free Presbyterian Church of North America]] in 1977.<ref>[[Ed Moloney]] and [[Andy Pollak]], ''Paisley'', Poolbeg Press, Dublin, 1986, pp.247–9.</ref> His honorary doctorate, along with his political obstinacy, led to Paisley's nickname of "Dr. No".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/ian-paisley-dies-northern-ireland-leader-known-for-anti-catholic-rhetoric/2014/09/12/d02a04ee-5d72-11e1-a729-976314dc4592_story.html |title=Ian Paisley dies; Northern Ireland leader known for anti-Catholic rhetoric |last=Shapiro |first=T. Rees |date=12 September 2014 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=26 November 2018 |archive-date=16 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916151114/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/ian-paisley-dies-northern-ireland-leader-known-for-anti-catholic-rhetoric/2014/09/12/d02a04ee-5d72-11e1-a729-976314dc4592_story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

When [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon|Princess Margaret]] and the [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Queen Mother]] met [[Pope John XXIII]] in 1958, Paisley condemned them for "committing spiritual fornication and adultery with the [[Antichrist]]".<ref>Kyle, Keith. ''Keith Kyle, Reporting the World''. IB Tauris, 2009. p.206</ref> When Pope John died in June 1963, Paisley announced to a crowd of followers that "this Romish man of sin is now in [[Hell]]!". He organised protests against the lowering of flags on public buildings to mark the Pope's death.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/n.ireland/profiles/people/paisley.html |title=Ian Paisley |website=CNN |access-date=July 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219064400/http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2000/n.ireland/profiles/people/paisley.html |archive-date=19 December 2008}}</ref>

In 1988, having given advance warning of his intentions, Paisley interrupted a speech being delivered by [[Pope John Paul II]] in the [[European Parliament]]. Paisley shouted "I denounce you as the [[Antichrist]]!" and held up a poster reading ''"Pope John Paul II ANTICHRIST"''. Other MEPs jeered Paisley, threw papers at him and snatched his poster, but he produced another and continued shouting. He was admonished by Parliamentary President [[Henry Plumb, Baron Plumb|Lord Plumb]], who formally excluded him. He was then forcibly removed from the chamber.<ref>{{cite news|last=MacDonald|first=Susan|title=Paisley ejected for insulting Pope|work=The Times|date=2 October 1988}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Chrisafis|first=Angelique|title=The Return of Dr. No|work=The Guardian|date=16 September 2004|url=https://www.theguardian.com/Northern_Ireland/Story/0,2763,1305503,00.html|location=London|access-date=11 December 2016|archive-date=22 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922232359/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2004/sep/16/northernireland.northernireland|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE7DC1630F935A25753C1A96E948260 "HEADLINERS; Papal Audience"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209090616/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=940DE7DC1630F935A25753C1A96E948260 |date=9 February 2009 }}, ''The New York Times'', 16 October 1988.</ref><ref>David McKittrick, [http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/ulster/article1826297.ece "An amazing conversion? The Big Man makes a long journey"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907134154/http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/ulster/article1826297.ece |date= 7 September 2008 }}, ''The Independent'', 10 October 2006.</ref> Paisley claimed he was injured by other MEPs—including [[Otto von Habsburg]]—who struck him and threw objects at him.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3411419.stm|work=BBC News|title=Paisley's exit from Europe|date=19 January 2004|access-date=4 May 2010|first=Mark|last=Devenport|archive-date=5 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105045454/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/3411419.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnview.com/on_line_resources/billy_grahams_tragic_romeward_run.htm|title=Billy Graham's Tragic Romeward Run|publisher=Cnview.com|access-date=16 June 2010|archive-date=24 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524011312/http://cnview.com/on_line_resources/billy_grahams_tragic_romeward_run.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="freepres.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.freepres.org/paisley.asp?paisley |title=Free Presbyterian Church – Dr. Ian Paisley |publisher=Freepres.org |date=16 October 1988 |access-date=16 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930182819/http://www.freepres.org/paisley.asp?paisley |archive-date=30 September 2011  }}</ref>

Paisley believed the [[European Union]] is a part of a conspiracy to create a Roman Catholic superstate controlled by [[Holy See|the Vatican]]. He claimed in an article that the seat no. 666 in the European Parliament is reserved for the Antichrist.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Paisley |first1=Ian R.K |title=The Vacant Seat Number 666 in the European Parliament |url=http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=666 |website=ianpaisley.org |publisher=EIPS |access-date=13 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506112540/http://www.ianpaisley.org/article.asp?ArtKey=666 |date=22 July 1999 |archive-date=6 May 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

Paisley continued to denounce the Catholic Church and the Pope after the incident. In a television interview for ''The Unquiet Man'', a 2001 documentary on Paisley's life, he expressed his pride at being "the only person to have the courage to denounce the Pope".<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/12/ian-paisley-pope-antichrist_n_5809840.html | title=Watch The Moment Ian Paisley Called Pope John Paul II 'The Antichrist' | work=HuffPost | date=12 September 2014 | access-date=14 September 2014 | archive-date=13 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913233001/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/09/12/ian-paisley-pope-antichrist_n_5809840.html | url-status=live }}</ref> However, after the death of Pope John Paul in 2005, Paisley expressed sympathy for Catholics, saying "We can understand how Roman Catholics feel at the death of the Pope and we would want in no way to interfere with their expression of sorrow and grief at this time."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4405717.stm|work=BBC News|title=NI leaders pay tribute to Pope|date=3 April 2005|access-date=4 May 2010|archive-date=7 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107005713/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4405717.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Paisley and his followers also protested against what they saw as instances of [[blasphemy]] in popular culture, including the stage productions ''[[Jesus Christ Superstar]]'' and ''[[Jerry Springer: The Opera]]'',<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tBoSJFAnKbMC&pg=PA244 | title=A History of Irish Theatre 1601–2000 | author=Morash, Chris | year=2002 | page=244 | publisher=Cambridge University Press | isbn=9780521646826 | access-date=14 June 2015 | archive-date=4 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904094905/https://books.google.com/books?id=tBoSJFAnKbMC&pg=PA244 | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-25961996|title=Banned Bible play: Censorship, or a question of standards? – BBC News|work=BBC News|date=30 January 2014|last1=Purdy|first1=Martina|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=2 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502175229/http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-25961996|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as being strongly [[anti-abortion]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/jun/10/uk.northernireland | title=Clash over new Ulster abortion law change | work=The Guardian | date=9 June 2007 | access-date=14 September 2014 | archive-date=14 September 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914223028/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2007/jun/10/uk.northernireland | url-status=live }}</ref>

===Campaign against homosexuality===
{{Main|Save Ulster from Sodomy}}
Paisley preached against homosexuality,<ref>[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-mar-24-la-ed-paisley24-2010mar24-story.html Ian Paisley and politics of peace], ''Los Angeles Times'', 24 March 2010</ref> supported laws criminalising it and picketed various gay rights events. He denounced it as "a crime against God and man and its practice is a terrible step to the total demoralisation of any country".<ref>Hunt, Stephen. ''Contemporary Christianity and LGBT Sexualities''. Ashgate Publishing, 2012. p.132</ref> Save Ulster from Sodomy was a campaign launched by Paisley in 1977, in opposition to the Northern Ireland Campaign for Homosexual Law Reform, established in 1974.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1977/1020/Pg007.html#Ar00702:2070E82811412471B426D1D119A13A21D19418C1921BC1AF2B51B42DD1D11E12E12012F627056B29258024413D3191962EA1B532C1D129F0EA3491442771B42AC1D11893A61B33BB |title=Paisley campaigns to 'save Ulster from Sodomy' |newspaper=The Irish Times |page=7 |date=20 October 1977 |access-date=7 May 2008 |archive-date=10 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010013618/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1977/1020/Pg007.html#Ar00702:2070E82811412471B426D1D119A13A21D19418C1921BC1AF2B51B42DD1D11E12E12012F627056B29258024413D3191962EA1B532C1D129F0EA3491442771B42AC1D11893A61B33BB |url-status=live }}{{Subscription required}}</ref> Paisley's campaign sought to prevent the extension to Northern Ireland of the [[Sexual Offences Act 1967]], which had decriminalised homosexual acts between males over 21 years of age in England and Wales. Paisley's campaign failed when legislation was passed in 1982 as a result of the previous year's ruling by the [[European Court of Human Rights]] in the case of ''[[Dudgeon v United Kingdom]]''.<ref>Stonewall timeline of Gay & Lesbian history available here [http://www.stonewallcymru.org.uk/information_bank/history__lesbian__gay/89.asp?TextSize=large&] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313223408/http://www.stonewallcymru.org.uk/information_bank/history__lesbian__gay/89.asp?TextSize=large&|date=13 March 2007}}.</ref>