Posted on 03/25/2014 6:27:32 AM PDT by Kaslin
My parents taught me never to speak ill of the dead, but in the case of Fred Phelps, who died last week at the age of 84, I think they would have made an exception.
The man, who will be referred to in this column without the modifier "reverend," because there was nothing reverent about him, defined the word "odious." He and some of his family members constituted the entire membership of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. It was BINO, Baptist in name only. Phelps and some members of his family (though not all) picketed military funerals with signs that read, "God hates fags," "God hates Jews," and "thank God for dead soldiers." Phelps was an equal opportunity bigot.
The father of one dead service member went to court seeking to outlaw picketing outside churches where military funerals were held. He lost because the behavior, though deplorable, was regarded as an exercise in free speech protected by the First Amendment.
The media played a major role in promoting Phelps and his cult-like family. The outrageous, the bizarre, the twisted, especially if these things can be tied to religion, are favorite subjects of broadcast networks and newspapers. Too bad those practicing true religion do not get the kind of coverage Phelps did.
Some years ago I was the object of Phelps' wrath. I was the speaker at the Kansas Prayer Breakfast. It was the first time I had encountered Phelps and his bigotry. I mentioned my surprise at pickets outside a prayer breakfast to then-Governor Kathleen Sibelius, who was seated next to me. She told me not to take it seriously because "they picket everybody."
Phelps claimed to be serving God with his diatribes against people he claimed were God's enemies. But instead of directing hatred toward people, no less a figure than Jesus of Nazareth said, "love your enemies." Real Baptist preachers will tell you it is Satan who hates and God who loves. They will tell you that Satan is a masquerader, a fraud and a liar. Does that sound like Phelps?
If Fred Phelps were a dollar bill, the Secret Service would have arrested him for being counterfeit. His is a counterfeit religion, which bears no resemblance to true faith.
Phelps' language is useful in one sense. He should cause everyone to examine their own words and behavior toward people whose beliefs, lifestyle choices and faith might differ from theirs. Hate never converted anyone to another way of thinking, believing or acting. Hate does, however, give permission to some to behave in evil ways. If even one person is beaten, killed, or otherwise harmed because Phelps' family has encouraged them along such lines, even Baptists would say it is an affront to the real God that Phelps did not represent.
Acts 13:10 contains a verse that is applicable in Phelps' case. Paul, the Apostle, is speaking about a man named Elymas, who he judges to be a fraud: "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?"
Substitute the name Fred Phelps for Elymas and the description fits.
Though Fred Phelps is gone, the kind of hate he preached remains. It is why hate must be opposed no matter which group, faith, ceremony, or individual is the target.
Spoken like a true Christian
It’s okay to mention Sebelius in this column, because this column isn’t about abortion. In a column about abortion, Cal will lambaste Sebelius as a baby-killer.
It’s like Cardinal Dolan or Cardinal Wuerl or Cardinal O’Malley. They will treat pro-lifers like scum, and slobber all over Obama. But if invited to a pro-life dinner, they will give a rip-roaring pro-life speech.
Sorry I must be dense. I do not understand your comment at all
I don’t enjoy learning of a man’s death, but in Phelps case, I did smile reading of his obituary.
Nah, you’re not dense. I didn’t make it clear enough.
They - Pelosi, Sebelius, et al, go to these things, but they’re just pretending. It’s all show. In other words, how can you call yourself a Catholic, going to mass, going to communion, but be totally supportive of and defending abortion?
It’s all show on their part to fool naive dumbasses into voting for them.
Governmental entities all over the US tried to prevent them from ruining a solemn occasion with various kinds of laws. The Phelps people would get arrested, or even just ticketed, and would immediately run to court to sue. They won or settled for a big payment on every case I am aware of. This whole act was all done for money, not religion. They made a living off of people who were disgusted with them. Seems like a hard way to make a living, but they made it work for them.
Agreed.... and it reminds me of when Jimmuh Cahhhhtehhhh was running (and sitting in the oval office). He spent a whole lot of time pointing out how religious he was (and is).
And thanks for the clarification... sometimes my brain doesn’t work as well as it used to
“...sometimes my brain doesn’t work as well as it used to...”
Wasn’t you friend... I re-read it and it didn’t make sense to ME either! Hahah!
RE Carter:
He is a seriously morally deficient, bitter old man. And he’ll be that way right up to the end of his life.
In the position he was in, he COULD have done vast good for the country. But instead he squandered it. As he does now.
I have no use for him.
Phelps would be a 3 dollar bill.
Sebilius is a disaster in many ways besides abortion. We Kansans who knew what a moron she is were stunned when Obama took her to Washington for his cabinet. Proof positive Obama is as clueless as he is arrogant.
When the news first broke out on this event, this was the first thought that crossed into my mind...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iBpJUzz79c
Notice that his early career as a lawyer he was on the side of Civil Rights and so on, involved in the Democratic Party....like a Kansas version of the SPLC. That’s why I think his later hate mongering scam is an act designed to make Christians look bad and nothing else.
According to one article his estranged son has an atheist LGBT promoting group across the road form him... they pretend to oppose one another but there is no teeth in their opposition. Son claims to have been abused by the Dad yet it doesn’t look like he ever pursued damages.
Before the old man died he supposedly made up...
If you ask me they were together all along. The Dad going out to gin up fear and hatred of religion and the son’s group raking in donations to his cause.
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