'Baptist Church??' Dis-respects Fallen Servicemembers' Funerals

I would like to make you aware of a situation in the USA right now that
is reprehensible beyond words.

The situation is that there is a man named Rev. Fred Phelps who calls
himself the pastor of the Westboro Baptist church. You may have heard a
little about him. If not let me tell you.

Fred Phelps and his church (made up of his immediate family members) try
to gain attention by protesting at the funerals of American men and
women who were Killed In Action in Iraq or Afghanistan. Not only does he
picket and cause a disturbance at the funerals of these patriots but he
also states on his website that no US Veteran has any honor and he
praises God every time one is killed
(http://www.godhatesfags.com/fliers/n...ates-vets.pdf). He is even happy
when US Soldiers are killed by an IED in Iraq!!

Imagine being at the funeral of one of your loved ones and this group of
hate mongers shows up with huge signs, yelling, screaming and singing
songs.

Why does the Phelps family do this? Is it because they are against the
war in Iraq? No. It is because of he hates gays in the USA and he
believe that all US Soldiers should die since they serve in the military
of a country that allows a person to have the freedom and liberty to be
gay. They even have a website at the address of
http://www.godhatesfags.com/main .

He also praises God for the death and destruction caused by Hurricane
Katrina - http://www.godhatesfags.com/featured...r-katrina.html
and for the death and destruction by tornados in Indiana -
http://www.godhatesfags.com/fliers/n...na-tornado.pdf and he prays that
more people in the USA will be killed or injured by natural disasters!
This is a family full of hate for anyone who does not believe exactly
what they believe. They twist the verses of the Bible in order to spread
hate, they even blame the bombing of the World Trade Center on the
America's homosexual community. If you want to know what these sick
people are all about just read their FAQ -
http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/faq.html . I am sure that you will also
be as disgusted as I was within five minutes.

He does this so that he can get the most attention to spread his gospel
of hate to as many people as possible and because he TRULY believes that
the all US Military and Veterans are hated by God.

But my message to you is not about homosexuals or whether you agree with
their lifestyle. My message is about honoring deceased American Patriots
who have nothing to do with another persons lifestyle choice.

I am sure that you will agree with me when I say it does not matter if
your are for or against the war in Iraq or the current US
administration, and it does not matter if you do not like gay men or
women. It does not even matter if you are a Christian, Muslim, Jewish,
Hindu, Atheist, etc... I am sure that you will agree that American
Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen, and their family's should not
have to endure the reprehensible actions of the Phelps family. The
funerals of these men and women should be a time for their family and
friends to remember and honor the lives and service that their loved one
gave both while in and out of the US Military.

If you find the Phelps family of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka,
Kansas as disgusting and reprehensible as I do then let me tell you what
is happening right now to prevent the families and friends of American
patriots from having to endure the hatred that the Phelps family
attempts to spread at funerals.

Right now there is a grass-roots organization being formed by American
motorcyclists called "Patriot Guard Riders" - www.patriotguard.org .
Here is the Patriot Guard Riders mission statement:

"The Patriot Guard Riders is a diverse amalgamation of riders from
across the nation. We have one thing in common besides motorcycles. We
have an unwavering respect for those who risk their very lives for
America's freedom and security. If you share this respect, please join
us.

We don't care what you ride, what your political views are, or whether
you're a "hawk" or a "dove". It is not a requirement that you be a
veteran. It doesn't matter where you're from or what your income is. You
don't even have to ride. The only prerequisite is Respect.

Our main mission is to attend the funeral services of fallen American
military heroes. Each mission we undertake has two basic objectives.

1. Show our sincere respect for our fallen heroes, their families, and
their communities.

2. Protect the mourning family and friends from interruptions created by
any protester or group of protesters.

We accomplish the latter through strictly legal and non-violent means."

The Patriot Guard Riders are forming groups of people in each State that
believe that the funerals of our American Patriots should be protected
against the actions of the Phelps family and anyone else who would
dishonor the funeral service of our heroes for the sole purpose of
furthering their political agenda.

The groups that have formed have pledged to use all legal means to block
these protests so that the family and friends of deceased American
patriots can grieve without being hassled or having to endure the
mocking and disturbances of the Phelps family. So that a deceased
American Patriot can be laid to rest with honor and dignity.

The Patriot Guard Riders do this of course with total respect to the
wishes of the family of the deceased American Patriot and legal
non-violent means.

Now all I ask of you is that if you feel that what the Patriot Guard
Riders are doing is right, then please forward this message to everyone
that you know. I know, I know, everyone is tired of being told to
forward chain emails and is tired of SPAM but I just want this message
to get out to as many people as possible as fast as it can so that every
time the Phelps family shows up at a funeral they will not even be
noticed because of all the Patriot Guard Riders that are there to honor
a person who has given his life to because he or she chose to serve the
USA.

Also, more importantly, I would ask that if you are interested in being
involved in this great movement please go to www.patriotguard.org and
sign up! We need your HELP!!!! You don't have to be a motorcyclist and
you don't have to be a veteran. You just have to believe that together
we can stop people and hate groups from dishonoring any deceased
American service member or the family they left behind.

Fred Phelps is a disgusting man.

I first learned about him when he staged a protest outside Fred Rogers (of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood fame)'s funeral in 2003, holding signs up high that Mr. Rogers was going to hell. For those of you who don't know who Mr. Rogers is, he ran a public TV children's show for over 30 years, and was undoubtedly the kindest, most gentle, courteous, good-intentioned person this world shall probably ever see. Among the core of his beliefs he tried to teach young children was that you should love yourself because you're special in your own way, and you should love others for the same reason. In my mind, as well as the millions who were fortunate enough to watch him while he was alive, there is no stronger role model or moral compass than Mr. Rogers.

So what was Fred Phelps's answer for why Mr. Rogers deserved to burn in the hell fires of eternal damnation? ... Because Mr. Rogers didn't use his show to spread the message to pre-school children that homosexuality was an abomination.

Fred Phelps is a disgusting man.

I signed up Leck but I have to wait until I get home and check my home email for my verification code to get logged in.

Rest assured - I will be there if he EVER comes within a 100 mile radius of Fort Lauderdale. I am passing this to all my friends, most of them are bikers, but even to those that are not.

This man, everything he stands for and the way he goes about it, is just so disgusting that he makes my skin crawl.

It gives me heart knowing that people are not sitting back and just letting him do this, I can only hope that their protection extends to all funerals (gay and straight) that he shows up at as he has done this many times - in front of many heartbroken families.

Rose

/

Yes Rose, our protection extends to all Servicemembers not just straight. The fact that he has twisted his hate for gay people into hate for servicemembers is unfathomable to me on any level.

Thanks for joining up and thanks for passing it along.

I have looked at this thread and some of the links within for some time today, and only now am calm enough to collect my thoughts on this issue.

My wife and I are both from families that have proudly offered their men and women to fight for and serve our country, dating back to the American Revolution.

To say that what Fred Phelps is doing bothers us is an extreme understatement. For his group (I refuse to call them a 'church') to abuse the freedoms that so many have died for, only to spit into their faces, is of itself an abomination.

I'm wondering if Mr. Phelp's 'church' has been granted tax-exempt status. If so, perhaps someone at the IRS would be interested to know that they are giving exemption to an organization that is nothing more than a hate group.

I live in an area that is chock full of religious radicals. It's not uncommon for people to put their kids out at stoplights and have them scream 'the gospel' to folks stopped there. Usually I tend to ignore them and that seems to work well.

However, people like Fred Phelps cannot be ignored.

Ride strong Patriot Guard Riders, and know you have allies in North Carolina.

/salute

Phelps has been at this for a while. he regularly protests at the funerals of homosexuals and has, as Lektor says, been increasing his scope.

When he picketed at the trial of the murderer of Matthew Shepard (a young gay man beaten to death in Wyoming) his friends decided to act back.

"a friend of Shepard's created "Angels of Peace ", wherein individuals assembled in a circle around the Phelps group wearing white robes and gigantic wings that literally blocked the protesters (who were confined to a small protest square by police) from the view of passers-by."

It is a shame that he continues, but his tactics are no longer shocking to me. We've fought this man for some time.

Yes I had forgotten about that Neehai thanks for the reminder. His hate and bigotry eclipses anything I've ever seen.

Numa, I'm not sure about the IRS status of this organization but will look into it. I know this has been brought up before on another forum I belong to which has become active in monitoring and dispatching biker groups to thwart his group. I believe some folks in that area (KC? I think) are petitioning the Baptist Association to look into his status and possibly get him revoked. Incidentally take a look at the entries for him in the wiki. His group also went to Iraq before the war started lambasting this 'message' along with anti-american crap, with full blessings from Saddam. Not necessarily surprising, just more revolting.

I remember seeing them at Matthew Shepards funeral in the news. For me - Don't matter if it's wings or bikes I'm standing next to, I could care less, I'll be in ANY circle that blocks this asshole and the tatics he uses.

Not a lot I can do from the UK but give applause for the Patriot Guard Riders and anyone else who shows respect for the fallen.

I had a run in with this asshole back in 1988. He staged a protest in Dallas with about 30 of his ilk... my was he shocked when close to 500 people showed up to protest him.

Don't worry, I'm in Kansas, and I and pretty much everyone I know thinks that Fred Felps is a psychopathic freak show.

I do not know about those checking him out, but he is headquartered in Topeka, Kansas. (3701 SW 12th St, Topeka, KS 66604 - 785-273-0325)

As a Christian, all I can do is apologize to the world for this monstrosity... This most definitely is NOT what Jesus teaches.

Agreed. This man is a disgrace to humanity.

Stupendous. I've been doing a little checking up on him as well:

His domain DNSes back to 216.173.214.10, which is a box apparently hosted by L7.net. According to their 'Rules and Regulations' page it is a violation for a client to:


Can anybody tell me if I am wrong in my interpretation that both of these rules are being violated by Mr. Phelps?

Finally a person that man woman furry gay straight religious atheist alike can hate

I don't believe the first one is being violated (they some how wrangle permits which is beyond me), but the second most definately!

I've read up on this guy. He's batshit insane and has abused and brainwashed his children (that ended up staying with him) into what he believes.

There's no "church". Its Phelps and his miserable kin. Almost funny how one can become such a slave to their own irrational hate and fear.

Phelps' people have come to Northwest Arkansas where I live quite a few times, picketing some of the Episcopal churches and others it considers "gay friendly."

While I don't often speak about my religious beliefs in SL, I do consider myself to be a believer, and I know a lot about hat the Bible says on almost any topic you could ask.

In my opinion, there will be a lovely, extra toasty place in hell for these hatemongers. They need to learn that "love thy neighbor" does not have the word "IF" attached to it.

P2

Ummmm...okay. So then by his logic, say if each of his eyeballs were to be forcibly replaced by a sock full of marbles, it would be justified since he drinks milk pasteurized in a country that allows gays to exist. And people follow this f*ckwad?

You do need to be careful of this clan though. Most of his church is his family.

Phelps and many of his children are lawyers. They are an extremely litigous bunch.

If you do go to one of these counter-protest events, please follow all the rules and no matter how high your emotions become, do not act out. That is part of their game plan. They will then sue you, they will sue the family, they will sue local law enforcement for letting you get out of control. This is what these people do.

So if you do go to with a biker group or any other, be sure to know what your purpose is and make sure everyone around you knows as well. You can't make anything this man does about you or take it personally.

How many family members does this guy have?

They have protests scheduled all over (as per their upcoming schedule):

1. Oklahoma City, OK
   
2. Lansing, MI
   
3. Carbondale, IL
   
4. Beach Park, IL
   
5. St. Petersburg, FL
   
6. Clearwater, FL
   
7. Port Charlotte, FL
   
8. Tracy, CA
   

*Thumbs up* It's funny because it's so true

Too much of a wuss to ever step inside the Beltway. If he ever comes to DC, he will have his ass handed to him.

I wouldn't be surprised of this is the sort of person Matthew 7:22-23 was written for:

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

Just my opinion.