Posted on 04/18/2007 9:28:04 PM PDT by El Conservador
he families of those killed in the Virginia Tech massacre may not be able to grieve in peace at the funerals of those they lost. An anti-gay religious group known for protesting at the funerals of American soldiers killed in Iraq is planning on appearing at services for those killed on Monday as well.
The Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), which is not affiliated with any national Baptist organization, announced plans to protest at victims funerals only hours after 32 people were killed in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. They also may protest at other events on the Virginia Tech campus.
The organization, founded and led by Fred Phelps, believes the United States has condemned itself to destruction by accepting homosexuality and other sins of the flesh. Phelps daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, said the Virginia Tech teachers and students who died on Monday brought their fate upon themselves by not being true Christians.
The evidence is they were not Christian. God does not do that to his servants, Phelps-Roper said. You dont need to look any further for evidence those people are in hell.
Cho Seung-Hui, the Virginia Tech student responsible for the killings who took his own life after the shootings, was sent by God to punish those he killed, and America as a whole, for moral decline, said Phelps-Roper, while adding that she believes Cho is also in hell for violating Gods commandment to not kill.
He is in hell, Phelps-Roper said. But he was also fulfilling the word of God.
Because of its virulent anti-gay message and condemnation of Catholics, Jews and other groups, the WBC has been classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and is monitored by the Anti-Defamation League.
Curtis Dahn, the president of Virginia Techs Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance, said he reacted with immediate disgust upon hearing of the WBC's plans. Thirty-three people are dead and theyre using peoples deaths and peoples grief to further their own agenda and its just disgusting, he said.
Dahn was friends with Ryan Clark, a resident assistant in Ambler Johnson Hall, who was among the first people killed on Monday. He said he is working with other university leaders and officials to form a response to the WBC. Ideally, he said, the funerals will be nothing more than a chance for family and friends to mourn in peace.
Part of it is that I dont want the families to be affected by this at all, he said. I dont even want the funerals locations to be public knowledge. I dont want a protest, I dont want a counter-protest. I want people to be able to grieve and have what they want, not be made into public displays and mockeries.
Dahn and others may have the law on their side. In 2006, in response to protests at the funerals of dead U.S. soldiers, Virginia enacted a law that added funerals and memorial services to the states disorderly conduct statute. Other states have adopted similar measures to allow police to keep WBC protesters out of earshot.
By David Miller © MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This is the wrong area to do that kind of thing.
Go ahead, Fred, make Hokies’ day.
Can’t even comment on this...it’s absolutely stunning this group would even think about picketing these funerals...
Phelps uses the Baptist label to demonize the Christian message and trolls for bigots to get $$$$.
His bombastic rantings and actions are only taken seriously by the media, DUmmies, etc. to show how bad that “evil Christian religion” is.
Their madness will only end when a group of victims' family members put them in the hospital, as my family would. Fred, his wife and daughters all deserve to have the living crap beat out of them. Even 20 years ago I can't imagine them escaping a beating anywhere they went. What has happened to this nation that they can do this and not be attacked?
This needs more attention - Freepers can help. We need to keep this at the top of the sidebar if possible.
Bump.
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Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. But heed post 26. Be couragous and yet don't fall prey to evil men and their evil devices!
Pray for the bereaved families and our Country and leaders!
Fred Phelps the Viper: Clues to What's Driving Him-- Al Gore?
I’d really like to see some counter-protesters with signs saying, “Phelps=Satan”, “Phelps ran for Congress as a Democrat”, “Phelps is a disbarred lawyer”, “Phelps does it for the money”, and “Phelps is paid off by the Gay Lobby”. This scam artist has been peddling his baloney for too long without being exposed for the fraud that he is. Baptist, my a$$!
Who needs money for lawsuits when you have the ACLU willing to do your dirty work in court?
Here's a lovely story about how he was disbarred...
A formal complaint was filed against Fred W. Phelps, Sr. on November 8, 1977 by the Kansas State Board of Law Examiners for his conduct during a lawsuit against a court reporter named Carolene Brady. Brady had failed to have a court transcript ready for Phelps on the day he asked for it; though it did not affect the outcome of the case for which Phelps had requested the transcript, Phelps still requested $22,000 in damages from her. In the ensuing trial, Phelps called Brady to the stand, declared her a hostile witness, and then cross-examined her for nearly a week, during which he accused her of being a "slut," tried to introduce testimony from former boyfriends whom Phelps wanted to subpoena, and accused her of a variety of perverse sexual acts, ultimately reducing her to tears on the stand.[13] Phelps lost the case; according to the Kansas Supreme Court:
In an appeal, Phelps prepared affidavits swearing to the court that he had eight witnesses whose testimony would convince the court to rule in his favor. Brady, in turn, obtained sworn, signed affidavits from the eight people in question, all of whom said that Phelps had never contacted them and that they had no reason to testify against Brady; Phelps had committed perjury.[13] On July 20, 1979, Fred Phelps was permanently disbarred from practicing law in the state of Kansas.[13], but continued to practice in the Federal courts. In 1985, nine Federal judges filed a disciplinary complaint against Phelps and five of his children, alleging false accusations against the judges. In 1989, the complaint is settled, with Phelps agreeing to permanently stop practicing in Federal court, and two of his children suspended for periods of six months and one year.[14] |
According to Wikipedia, "Phelps' stated political views and activities are primarily driven by his view that the United States of America is "A sodomite nation of flag-worshiping idolaters."[21] Phelps' voting registration in Kansas is Democratic.[22]"
Further, "Phelps supported Al Gore in the 1988 and 1992 Democratic Party primary elections.[27] In his 1984 Senate race, Gore opposed a "gay bill of rights" and stated that homosexuality was not a choice that "society should affirm".[28] Phelps has stated that he supported Gore because of these earlier comments.[29] According to Phelps, members of the Westboro Baptist Church helped run Gore's 1988 campaign in Kansas. Phelps' son, Fred Phelps Jr., hosted a Gore fundraiser in his home in Topeka, which Al and Tipper Gore attended, at his home in Topeka,[8][29]. Fred Phelps, Jr. served as a Gore delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention.[29][30] Gore spokesman Dag Vega declined to comment; "We are not dignifying those stories with a response."[31]"
During the 1992 presidential campaign, Phelps protested Hillary Clinton during a campaign speech in support of the Clinton-Gore ticket at the University of Kansas on October 14, 1992. In Bill Clinton's second presidential campaign, Phelps and the Westboro church also opposed Clinton and Gore because of the administration's support for gay rights. The entire Westboro congregation picketed a 1997 inaugural ball,.[32] denouncing Gore as a "famous fag pimp."[33] In 1998, Westboro picketed the funeral of Gore's father, screaming vulgarities at Gore and telling him "your dad's in Hell."[33]
In the aftermath of the election, in an incident that would be repeated years later when Phelps circulated a petition to outlaw homosexual work protection, many of the Kansas Democrats who had cast votes for Phelps came forward to express their distaste for him. They claimed that Phelps had lied about his intentions to numerous constituents, using double-talk and fuzzy language to confuse them; neglected to mention his stances on race, religion, and homosexuality, and campaigned mainly on the platform of a "good ol' boy" Southern gentleman and retired lawyer unfairly prosecuted by the system.[34]
He HAS been awarded monies in lawsuits....
Phelps was first arrested in 1951 and found guilty of misdemeanor battery after attacking a Pasadena police officer. He has since been arrested for assault, battery, threats, trespassing, disorderly conduct, contempt of court, and several other charges; each time, he (along with Westboro and its other members) has filed suit against the city, the police, and the arresting officers. Though he has been able to avoid prison time, he has been convicted more than once:[37][38][39]
Phelps' 1993 convictions stemmed from a raid on the offices of his family's lawfirm, "Phelps Chartered," in which $37,000 worth of equipment was seized as evidence. Phelps later sued the city of Topeka for seizing the equipment and won $43,000 in damages. By the time an appeals court overturned the ruling, the statute of limitations had expired and Phelps was allowed to keep the money.[citation needed] Phelps' 1995 conviction for assault and battery carried a five-year prison sentence, with a mandatory 18 months to be served before he became eligible for parole. Phelps fought to be allowed to remain free until his appeals process went through. Days away from being arrested and sent to prison, a judge ruled that Phelps had been denied a speedy trial and that he was not required to serve any time.[38][39] In December 1996, in the wake of Fred Phelps' assault and battery conviction, two Topeka police officers came forward claiming that then-police chief Beavers had, in 1993, decreed a "no-arrest" policy that actively ignored complaints against Phelps and WBC members unless they were blatantly physically violent and/or witnessed by several persons. Beavers was quoted as saying:[citation needed]
An investigation was launched by the City of Topeka and the Topeka Sheriff's department in 1996. It was determined that Chief Beavers had been allowing Phelps and WBC protesters to commit crimes without arrest, and that Phelps and WBC members had taken advantage of their knowledge of the policy by becoming more abusive towards Topeka citizens; in following years, Topeka citizens formed a loose support group on the Topeka Capital-Journal message board recalling abuse they had suffered from Westboro members during this period, which included threats of sexual assault to women and children; some claimed that they had caught members of Westboro going through their garbage looking for personal information to use against them. Following the findings of the city and Sheriff's office, Beavers was asked to resign, and his successor immediately repealed the "no arrest" policy.[citation needed] |
Right now, in PA, he owes $3150 in court fees...
Some stuff on there membership and other interesting items...
CAST OF CHARACTERS AND PHELPS FAMILY TREE Reverend Fred Phelps: lawyer and Baptist minister; head of the Westboro Baptist Church; 64 years old. Disbarred. Marge Phelps: wife of Fred; mother of his 13 children; 68 years old. WBC member. 1. Fred Phelps, Jr.: lawyer and employee at the Kansas Department of Corrections; 40 years old. Oldest son. WBC member. Betty Phelps (Schurle): wife of Fred, Jr.; lawyer and owner-operator of a day-care home; 41 years old. WBC member. 2. ***Mark Phelps: businessman in Southern California; estranged from the family cult; 39 years old. 2nd son. Luava Phelps (Sundgren): wife of Mark; childhood sweetheart; 36 years old. 3. ***Katherine Phelps: lawyer; suspended from the bar; living on welfare; 38 years-old; oldest daughter. Not in WBC. 4. Margie Phelps: lawyer and employee of the Kansas Department of Corrections; 37 years old; 2nd daughter. WBC member. 5. Shirley Phelps-Roper: lawyer at Phelps Chartered; 36 years old; 3rd daughter. WBC member. Brent Roper: husband of Shirley; lawyer and businessman in Topeka; 30 years old; WBC member. 6. ***Nate Phelps: businessman in Southern California; estranged from family cult; 35 years old. 3rd son. 7. Jonathon Phelps: lawyer; 4th son; 34 years old; WBC member. Paulette Phelps (Ossiander): wife of Jonathon; 33 years old; high school graduate; WBC member. 8. Rebekah Phelps-Davis: lawyer at Phelps Chartered; 32 years old; 4th daughter; WBC member. Chris Davis: husband to Rebekah; 38 years old; raised from childhood in the WBC. 9. Elizabeth Phelps: lawyer at Phelps Chartered; night house manager staff at Sheltered Living, Inc. Topeka; 31 years old; 5th daughter; WBC member. Former counsel for the Shawnee County Sheriff's Department. 10. Timothy Phelps: lawyer and employee of the Shawnee County Department of Corrections; 30 years old; 5th son; WBC member. Lee Ann Phelps (Brown): wife of Timothy; lawyer and employee of Shawnee County Sheriff's Department; 27 years old; WBC member. 11.***Dorotha Bird (Phelps): lawyer practicing independently in Topeka; 6th daughter; not a WBC member; changed her last name to avoid family's notoriety. 29 years old. 12. Rachel Phelps: lawyer at Phelps Chartered; YMCA fitness instructor; 28 years old; 7th daughter; WBC member. 13. Abigail Phelps: lawyer and employee at SRS-Youth and Adult Services, Juvenile Offender Program; 25 years old; 8th daughter; WBC member. |
According to this article, "In 1998, his law firm was awarded $170,000 in attorneys fees from the state. In 1999, he was awarded $47,000 in attorney costs from the city of Topeka."
At Frontpage Magazine it is stated that his lawsuits "often earn the Phelps rich court-awarded penalties from their targets"
If we don’t know where they will be protesting, how can we help?
This guy is sick.
I’m not really into hating people, but I think this guy(Phelp) tops my “dislike” list. No, scratch that, I hate this POS.
Fred Phelps licks toilet seats!
-Eric
I need those details...
How do we know Phelps is being paid off by the gay lobby?
PING!1
What a bunch of jack!$@#$! morons. These freaks absolutely give Christians a bad name. If all Christians were like that, the Christian-haters might have a case.
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