War Protesters: Westboro Baptist Church out of Topeka, Kansas

By Christine Brandt, published Jul 30, 2007
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"They turned America over to fags; they're bringing them home in body bags." (Hudson) Signs displaying this and other anti-homosexual sentiments are ever increasingly splashed across picket signs at the fringe of military funerals. Protestors from the Westboro Baptist Church out of Topeka, Kansas have caused controversy over their belief that God is purposefully killing American soldiers as punishment for our nation's tolerance for homosexuality. At a time when our country faces a steady stream of unfortunate casualties, we face a judgment about our Constitution and the First Amendment; does the right to free speech trump a family's right to privacy at one of the worst moments in their lives? Despite what the ACLU and other First Amendment warriors may think, Westboro's actions are not and should not be protected.

76-year-old Fred Phelps is the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church (Brook A1). Raised in Mississippi, he started his church, which is not associated with the mainstream Baptist Church, in the 1950s (Keen A5). Phelps says his congregation numbers about 100 (Brook A1)- though the New York Times and USA Today put that number closer to 70 (Alvarez A14; Keen A5)- and the majority of the members are relatives of Phelps including his 13 children. Molly McDonough reports that Phelps and most of his children also hold law degrees and most are currently working as lawyers (16).

According to Lizette Alvarez, the Westboro Baptist Church was first launched into the media's spotlight when they picketed at the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was brutally murdered in 1998 (A14). While this brought them publicity, they had already been picketing the funerals of people who died of AIDS complications since 1991. Among other things, they have also protested at memorial services for the West Virginia miners that were recently killed, and they made an appearance in Shanksville, PA - the site of the United Airlines Flight 93 crash - to picket at a commemoration ceremony (Keen A5).

 
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Showing Comments 1 - 13 of 13
 
 
They are Christian Terrorists

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Posted on 02/28/2008 at 10:02:49 AM

 
How can this church call themselves "Christians"? I think it is a slap in God's face for these people to think they are so high and mighty to protest at "Anyone's" funeral. Soldiers, Heath Ledger, etc. Why don't they READ the Word which says to love and pray for one another. We are not to judge........I think it''s appalling!!!!!!

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Posted on 01/24/2008 at 1:01:37 PM

 
CaringChristianMother in KY continued... To violate the funerals during such a time of crisis shows a total lack of compassion and love, Anti-Christ incarnate. If it was your child's funeral, how would you feel? God WILL judge you! Leave these families alone. Read the Bible, Christ felt compassion for the dead & dying. I pray that God's judgment on you will be merciful.

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Posted on 11/03/2007 at 12:11:00 AM

 
The Westboro Baptist Church members are no different than the church leaders that crucified Christ thinking they were doing God's work. They misrepresent the God of the Bible by attempting to force others to believe in the manner they dictate. It is clear they are NOT Christians, and do NOT deserve to carry the name of Christ. If they were Christians, Christ-like, they would treat others the way Christ did. Many of these soldiers are fighting because they are forced to do so, not necessarily believing in the reason, but because they are in the military. Many of these military members are Christians--true believers. Our country has lost many people in wars to protect the Constitution, so you Phelps should thank God for those who have died to give you this right that you so dishonor. To violate the funerals during such a time of crisis shows a total lack of compassion and love, Anti-Christ incarnate. If it was your child's funeral, how would you feel? God WILL judge you! Leave these fami

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Posted on 11/03/2007 at 12:11:00 AM

 
You may not like but we have ti support out troops,gay or not, but when you protest a falle soldier, gay or not, FUCK YOU!!1

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Posted on 10/31/2007 at 10:10:00 PM

 
These people do not serve the same God that I do!!! My God ate with the tax collectors and prostitutes of His day!! He challenges us to love the sinner and hate the sin. Iraq has NOTHING to do with homesexualty. It is a direct cause of disobeying the commandement to NOT COMMIT ADULTERY!! I suggest that this so called, self proclaimed pastor learn his Bible before he goes out and public spuing out this gargabe. HE is no better than the so called religious leaders of Jesus'time, that had to pray and do wonders in public. God will seperate the wheat from the chaff and I feel sorry for this man. He is truly treading on thin ice!!

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Posted on 10/31/2007 at 6:10:00 PM

 
I JUST HAVE ONE THING TO SAY ," STAY AWAY FROM DECATUR,ILLINOIS WITH YOUR DISRESPECTING OF A DEAD SOLDIER OR I PROMISE YOU,YOU WILL BE VERY VERY SORRY LAW OR NO LAW IT WON'T FLY IN THIS TOWN I PROMISE ON MY GRAVE" WE ARE IN NUMBERS AND READY AND WAITING!!!!!! TAKE HEED OF THIS WARNING,YOU HAVE YOUR RIGHTS AND I'LL FIGHT FOR MINE YOU'LL SEE!REMEMBER THE STATE AND THE CITY DECATUR,ILLINOIS. THE TRUE AMERICAN

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Posted on 09/11/2007 at 2:09:00 AM

 
Well, good ole' Phelps just tell it like it is: GOD HATES FAGS AND FAGENABLERS AND WILL DAMN THEM ALL IN HELL! Like it or not.

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Posted on 09/02/2007 at 9:09:00 AM

 
Fred is a real rectal orifice. But freedom of speech does not protect those with whom I agree but those with whom I disagree for what protection of the right to express opinions do those with whom I agree need. Like mother always said ignore the verbal bully as replying only makes them worse.

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Posted on 09/01/2007 at 1:09:00 PM

 
Well I challenged this law in Kentucky and I won hands down. If must think "content neutral". If you wish to make it illegal for Pastor Phelps to hold a sign that says "God Hates Soldiers" then you must also make it illegal for someone to hold a sign that says "God LOVES Soldiers." You cannot legislate based on content. Furthermore WBC acts peacefully. It is the "Freedom Loving Patriots" that act in violent ways, hurting women and children.

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Posted on 08/30/2007 at 12:08:00 PM

 
Ms Brandt and Mr/Ms Diebuch, what other speech would you allow to be controlled? Who would decide what that illicit speech is? The (fair/balanced)government? Sounds like nazism and totalitarian communist fascism to me. How about these forms of speech? Illicit or Permitted? A political convention? Anti-war rally? Civil Rights demonstration? Complained about Youtube videos? Ku Klux Klan demonstration? Web forums? Nazi Party rally? Violent rap music? Abortion Rights rally? Music with objectionable (to someone) lyrics? Anti-Abortion picketing? Would you burn certain books? WHICH ONES? With all due respect, you had better leave freedom of speech alone. There is a reason for it's existence...

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Posted on 08/29/2007 at 4:08:00 PM

 
Restrictions of funeral demonstrations by time and space in no way restricts the 1st Admendment rights of the Westboro Baptist Church or its individual members. The Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church have an obnoxious website where they openly advocate the extermination of every gay American, and rejoice at the death of every US soldier. They are continuously being interviewed via radio and television and have had several documentaries made about them. They freely picket civic and national events, post messages and videos on YouTube.com and other internet sites. They do not NEED to demonstrate at funerals to get their message out; they are already doing that very well, thank you. On the other hand, mourners have just one chance to honor their dead, and they deserve the opportunity to do so with dignity and privacy. They deserve to do so without being at the mercy of protesters defaming their dead or disrupting their services. Since the beginning or our Republic, there have

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Posted on 08/29/2007 at 12:08:00 AM

 
Restrictions of funeral demonstrations by time and space in no way restricts the 1st Admendment rights of the Westboro Baptist Church or its individual members. The Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church have an obnoxious website where they openly advocate the extermination of every gay American, and rejoice at the death of every US soldier. They are continuously being interviewed via radio and television and have had several documentaries made about them. They freely picket civic and national events, post messages and videos on YouTube.com and other internet sites. They do not NEED to demonstrate at funerals to get their message out; they are already doing that very well, thank you. On the other hand, mourners have just one chance to honor their dead, and they deserve the opportunity to do so with dignity and privacy. They deserve to do so without being at the mercy of protesters defaming their dead or disrupting their services. Since the beginning or our Republic, there have

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Posted on 08/29/2007 at 12:08:00 AM

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