They're Baaack: Phelps Clan Picket Funerals of High Schoolers

The Westboro Baptist Church led by Fred Phelps has announced that the funerals of high school and college students killed in tragic circumstances will be targeted for picketing by the group. The funerals are scheduled to take place in several different states. Three separate news releases issued by the church announced the Topeka, Kansas-based congregation’s plans. The group plans to travel to Arkansas to picket at the funeral of two University of Central Arkansas students who were gunned down by a gunman on the school’s campus. "God hates Arkansas," declares the announcement. Another service targeted by the group is the funeral for four cheerleaders who were students at a high school in Tennessee. The students died along with two other victims in an automobile accident.

[Daniel P from Long Island]

How can one explain the insanity and evil of these nuts ?

[nhjeff]

If God is capable of hating, he must hate Fred Phelps, his family, and other members of the West Boro Baptist Church (if there are any other members).

[Resist Ignorance]

Daniel P from Long Island wrote:

How can one explain the insanity and evil of these nuts ?

Money! Money from hate-mongers just like him!

[Mel in MI]

The Westboro Baptist Church should be charged taxes, since the baptist church has nothing to do with them. They are nothing but a bunch of hateful bigots.

[Gail Ann]

I want to know why there is a "Yes on 8" ad on this page.

[Craig]

Gail Ann wrote:

I want to know why there is a "Yes on 8" ad on this page.

I'd like to know that also.

[Daniel P from Long Island]

Gail Ann wrote:

I want to know why there is a "Yes on 8" ad on this page.

Somebody apparently paid for it.

[cross99]

I can't believe that this group can be so full of hatred against their fellow man, whether they are straight or gay. They obviously do not follow the word of God. They should lose their tax exempt status.

And BTW, there are 3 NO on 8 ads and one for the other one while I am writing this.

I've already voted No on 8

[Occono]

Freedom of speech should not be able to let these people get away with this stuff.

[nhjeff]

Because the Yes on 8 campaign has soooooo much money they can afford to advertise EVERYWHERE. I think there will be money left over to spend on initiatives in other states, or perhaps a new anti-gay campaign in California.

NoOn8 desperately needs money to compete. If you haven't stepped up to the plate with a donation of even $10, do so now! If you've already donated, see if you can reach a little deeper.

Donations go on your credit card, so you have a few weeks to save up before the bill is due. Skip lunch out once a week and save $40. Eat spaghetti or beans and rice (they're really good for you and delicious if prepared properly) instead of meat two days a week and save another another $20. Brew your coffee at home instead of stopping at Starbucks and save another $20. Skip that bottle of wine with your romantic dinner to save another $10. Study the grocery store circulars and find another $10 in savings on things you were going to buy anyway.

Yep. You can do it. Give $100 to NoOnProp8.com and/or FloridaRedAndBlue.com and/or arizonatogether.org . And while you're eating those delicious beans and skipping the wine, toast the defeat of the anti-equality amendments with tap water. The taste of our success will be more fulfilling and last much longer than the filet mignon and wine that you gave up!

[Daniel P from Long Island]

Regarding Phelps and his Merry Band Of Whackos, Sometimes Freed Of Speech makes mem sick...

:(

[BEE33]

It's hard to imagine what could wither a human spirit to such a degree that such awful behavior results. Yeah, Mark, you're right. Phelps and his "church" should not have any breaks based on religion. They are a hate group, pure and simple.

[WAW]

May they stick it to him where it hurts the most. Ummmm........yeah, maybe his wallet too!

[SaveUsFromGOP]

Actually, I'm going to defend them on one count. They do indeed have the right to free speech. And technically they have right to peaceful protest.

HOWEVER, even though they may be at the fringe of their rights, they obviously have too often crossed way over the line of civility and are just plain nasty, hateful and rude. Protesting at a funeral is just sick. I just can't think of another word for it.

Usually they protest at funerals of gay people or tie their protests to gay people. Their absurd reason for protesting at soldiers' funerals is that they were punished for fighting for a country that tolerates homosexuality.

Oh... I just thought of another appropriate word... "Twisted".

The article didn't say why they wanted to protest at these student funerals. If the kids were not gay then what new idiotic reasoning have these people come up with to protest at funerals. Maybe all these nutcases have some sort of paraphilia that manifests itself in these utterly insane actions. Oooohhh! "Insane". Another good word to describe them!

[Selecia Jones- JAX FL]

Oh how I wish somebody would drop a house on that one....AKA Wizard of Oz style.

[Ralph]

Idon't agree with violence, but this is a prediction. If they are going to go around protesting at funerals, and they are not citing a specific reason, such as homosexuality, they are going to bring down a lot of violence upon themselves. Now they have moved on from soldiers to innocent children. They are asking for it, and when it comes, I doubt there will be anyone around to defend them.

[Daniel P from Long Island]

Be too bad if there was a fire in Westboro.

[nhjeff]

There already was one. It was pretty minor, but that didn't stop the Phelpses from misoverestimating and whining about the damage.

[engaged voter]

a fire would be good for them... financially. it would confirm that god's reign of fire (annointment) is upon them (this is a good thing in their circles)... and no doubt they're insured, meaning it would be a cash source for better resources for themselves.

I think if something calamitous were to happen, it would be a house falling from the sky.

or even better -- a simply unexplainable accident -- the low key kind that generates no publicity and calls no attention to itself.
let them go out in a whimper.

heartless. those people and their brainwashed kids are heartless.

[Neal]

"SaveUsFromGOP" asked why they were protesting. I am sure they are blaming the deaths on the Gay individuals that live in the respective states. In their twisted minds they think if there were no Gay individuals there would not be any deaths or accidents.