Westboro Baptist Church Protests

[kymmyk13]

I was wondering if anyone has witnessed this church protesting a Military Funeral. Our small town lost a soldier last week and his funeral is Tomorrow at our High School. It appears that members from Westboro will be protesting , I feel so bad for this family and just was wondering how bad the protesters will be. I am also afraid of there being trouble, they are coming to a small Alabama town. How do people feel about them protesting? I think it is disrespectful but on the other hand this soldier died for their right to protest.

 

[Deb in IA]

There have been a lot of posts about this group over the years here.

They came here to "protest" at our church on Palm Sunday years ago.

They came here to "protest" at the funerals of a family of 4 kids and their mother, who were murdered by the father who committed suicide.

They "protest" at any emotionally charged events so that they can get attention for what they claim is God's punishment of this country for our tolerance of homosexuality.


They are all extended family members of one person, Fred Phelps. And most of them are lawyers.

They push the bounds of free speech and will try to provoke people into actions against them, and then they will sue.

The best way to handle them is to NOT give them what they crave - attention. JUST IGNORE THEM.



By the way, the US Supreme Court is hearing arguments today about whether the Constitutional protection of free speech also extends to hate speech and deliberate infliction of emotional distress, in the case Albert Snyder v. Fred Phelps.


http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justic...boro-Baptist-Church-protest-military-funerals


In the case that sparked the suit, Albert Snyder won a $5 million suit against Westboro Baptist Church for intentional infliction of emotional distress, but sadly, the decision was reversed in appellate court. And to add insult to injury, Mr. Synder was ordered to pay $136,000 for legal costs to Westboro.

 

[DWGal210]

This "church" (and I use that term very loosly) is beyond out of their minds. What loons.

I agree with Deb - ignore! They want publicity to further their assinine "cause". Makes me sick.

 

[Shmily1]

Yes, I've seen them in person 3 times. Most people understand that yes the soldier died for their right to protest but do believe the soldier's funeral is not the correct place.

We're ride captains for the Patriot Guard Riders that go to the funeral services of soldiers so we've run across them several times. There are rules for protesting at a funeral all of which they follow to the letter since they are lawyers. They post on their website for every soldier's service but rarely show up. Like I stated, out of the many services we've been to, we've only seen them 3 times. Also, Alabama has a very large PGR presence (and some of my friends are members there) so the family should be swarmed with a sea of American flags to focus on and not have to focus on them IF they even show up.

 

[Motherofboys]

Yes, I've seen them in person 3 times. Most people understand that yes the soldier died for their right to protest but do believe the soldier's funeral is not the correct place.

We're ride captains for the Patriot Guard Riders that go to the funeral services of soldiers so we've run across them several times. There are rules for protesting at a funeral all of which they follow to the letter since they are lawyers. They post on their website for every soldier's service but rarely show up. Like I stated, out of the many services we've been to, we've only seen them 3 times. Also, Alabama has a very large PGR presence (and some of my friends are members there) so the family should be swarmed with a sea of American flags to focus on and not have to focus on them IF they even show up.

Thanks for what you do

I support the right to free speech, but I really respect people like the Patriot Guard who protect and honor families in their time of need.

 

[mhsjax]

I really wish they and other people would quit referring to these people as a church. I can assure you that they are not anything close to a church. To label themselves as a church is a slap in the face to the Baptist religion and other christian religions. They are about as far from Christianity as anyone can get.

 

[Robinrs]

There have been a lot of posts about this group over the years here.

They came here to "protest" at our church on Palm Sunday years ago.

They came here to "protest" at the funerals of a family of 4 kids and their mother, who were murdered by the father who committed suicide.

They "protest" at any emotionally charged events so that they can get attention for what they claim is God's punishment of this country for our tolerance of homosexuality.


They are all extended family members of one person, Fred Phelps. And most of them are lawyers.

They push the bounds of free speech and will try to provoke people into actions against them, and then they will sue.

The best way to handle them is to NOT give them what they crave - attention. JUST IGNORE THEM.

 

[Robinrs]

I really wish they and other people would quit referring to these people as a church. I can assure you that they are not anything close to a church. To label themselves as a church is a slap in the face to the Baptist religion and other christian religions. They are about as far from Christianity as anyone can get.

Amen. They take the verse WWJD and totally ignore it.

 

[Deb in IA]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39531700/ns/politics/

More about today's Supreme Court hearing.

Interestingly, "while distancing themselves from the church's message, media organizations, including The Associated Press, have called on the court to side with the Phelpses because of concerns that a victory for Snyder could erode speech rights."

 

[horseshowmom]

I really wish they and other people would quit referring to these people as a church. I can assure you that they are not anything close to a church. To label themselves as a church is a slap in the face to the Baptist religion and other christian religions. They are about as far from Christianity as anyone can get.

I agree completely! This is NOT what Christianity is about, and it is sickening behavior. I told my husband last night that if I attended a church in their area I think I would want to organize marches at their church regularly proclaiming their anti-Christian attitudes, but they would probably love the negative attention.

 

[horseshowmom]

Interestingly, "while distancing themselves from the church's message, media organizations, including The Associated Press, have called on the court to side with the Phelpses because of concerns that a victory for Snyder could erode speech rights."

I fully understand the importance of free, but IMHO this falls under the same category as yelling fire in a crowded theater. I can see where this terrible behavior could incite someone to violence. I'm not sure how well I would handle it personally, and I'm pretty calm at heart.

 

[DawnCt1]

I believe that the case against this "church" is before the Supreme Court, either today or this week. I hope that the original $3 Million dollar verdict on behalf of the plaintiffs is upheld.

 

[MomRN]

They were just here last week, protesting a Breast Cancer rally, Catholic church, and Baptist church. There was a counter protest.

They really just want attention. It's ridiculous. I feel sorry for the children that get pulled into this situation.

I've heard of counter protests where people join hands and circle around the military funeral. I think that's about the only counter protest I would participate in.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think they are a "hate group".

Are they any laws for that or can the KKK and other hate groups protest freely as well?

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My favorite is the Comic Con counterprotest.

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/07/22/super-heroes-vs-the-westboro-baptist-church/

 

[robinb]

I don't believe in hell, but if there was there I think would be a very special place for those people. They are beyond repulsive. If there is a hell, I'm probably going and I'll laugh my butt off at them when they get there.

Thank goodness for the Patriot Guard: http://www.patriotguard.org/.

 

[Mermaid02]

Are they just trying to provoke people so they can sue them and get the $$ or do they really believe the crap they are spewing? Seems to me like they just want the money they can make when their "right to free speech" is infringed upon.

I agree- they are a hate group.

 

[browneyes106]

The WBC came to a soldier's funeral near where I live a few years back. Several off duty police officers assisted the Patriot Guard for around mile from the funeral site the WBC got fed up and left.

The WBC are now pretty much protesting anything they think is wrong and several posters here gave examples. A couple of months back I looked at their picket schedules and there were picketing St. Louis Cardinals games. I had a college instructor who was from Lynchburg, Virgnia. When Virginia Tech shootings happend and the WBC was threating to protest the victims' funerals my instructor said back in the 90's and early 00's the WBC went to Lynchburg several times to picket at Jerry Falwell's church the first time a lot of the locals who hated Falwell egged the WBC on and a few members of the Phelps family even told locals that they wanted to gain as much popularity as Jerry Falwell. The WBC also has protested Joyce Meyer events and Joel Osteen events. They will find anything that is popular or some GLBT related to protest.

 

[browneyes106]

Are they just trying to provoke people so they can sue them and get the $$ or do they really believe the crap they are spewing? Seems to me like they just want the money they can make when their "right to free speech" is infringed upon.

I agree- they are a hate group.

They are pretty much hate group/cult. I think they do the stuff they do for attention but they clearly believe what they are spewing.

 

[dodukes]

I didn't realize there as a thread already going and I posted the article i a new one. Yes these people are really not well in the head. I'm glad that the Patriot Guard and other caring people are out there. I feel horrible for teh snyder guy and his family and any other family that has to bury their loved one and had to hear and see these people on top of that. With that being said I would love for them to lose and have to pay Snyder money but I would hate to see what them losing means for our rights to free speech.