Marine Kin Brace For Pickets

The Republican | June 22, 2005 | Etta Walsh

[lorris]

Marine kin brace for pickets Wednesday, June 22, 2005 By ETTA WALSH ewalsh@repub.com The parents of Marine Capt. John W. Maloney, who was killed last week in Iraq, face the possibility that a church group will picket his funeral in an effort to promote its anti-gay agenda. According to their Web site, the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., plans to picket funerals of soldiers killed in the Middle East, including that of Maloney's, saying their deaths are God's punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuals. Maloney, 36, died June 16 in Iraq when a roadside bomb tore through his Humvee. Services are on hold until his body returns to the United States, said a spokesman for Brunelle Funeral Home on Chicopee Street.

[lorris]

His mother, Lydia H. Maloney of Chicopee, said her family does not want to fuel the controversy by responding to the group. "We have no comment at this time," she said yesterday. Maloney's father, John E. Maloney of Holyoke, also declined comment. The group has recently picketed Boston-area communities that they charge have pro-homosexual leanings. A July 11 picket is planned at Dover Air Base, Maryland, where soldiers' bodies return, the group's Web site says. The group drew notoriety for picketing the 1998 funeral of Wyoming's Matthew Shepard, an openly gay college student beaten to death in what authorities said was a hate crime. Fred Phelps, 75, the group's leader, could not be reached for comment yesterday. "Nobody should go through that," said Steven M. Jimmo of Chicopee, vice commander of the state American Legion and commander of Legion Post 438. Soldiers in the Middle East are heroes helping people win freedom, he said. "They're building up a new nation," he said. "There's so much good that they're doing that people don't know about." "The last thing this man did was a humanitarian effort," Jimmo said, noting Capt. Maloney had helped deliver $500,000 worth of badly needed supplies to a Ramadi hospital last month. "Veterans will be at his funeral to show him the proper respect he deserves."

________________________________________________________

I must be pretty naïve. I cannot believe the sickness in these shells of pure evil that call themselves human beings.

I was stunned when I spoke with my parents today and they told me this was going on. I looked up the article and figured that I'd share it with you all.

It's not only that this hero of a man was a friend of mine - it's that this group would picket outside of any person's funeral. And they call themselves members of a church?

My stomach and heart feel sick right now.

[cyborg]

Phelps is a closet, pillowbiting loser and a democrat plant as well. Sounds oxymoronic *lol*

[rimmont]

If there is such a group I am sure they are pro-gay activists in disguise. It would fit the pattern of the activities of militant gay activists in the past. The idea is to discredit anyone who may not agree with them.

[Vicomte13]

"Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., plans to picket funerals of soldiers killed in the Middle East, including that of Maloney's, saying their deaths are God's punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuals."

First Topeka Church of Creeps.

[Dane]

Phelps is a closet, pillowbiting loser and a democrat plant as well

Affiliations with Al Gore and Democratic Party

In the 1980s, the Phelps family were strong political allies with then-senator Al Gore. The home of Fred Jr., Phelps' eldest son, located in the Westboro compound, acted as Gore's campaign quarters for one of his senate races, and the Westboro compound was host to a fundraiser. Numerous photos exist on the internet of Fred Phelps Jr. and his second wife, Betty Phelps-Schurle, posing with Al and Tipper Gore in Phelps Jr.'s home. Phelps also served as a Gore delegate on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta in 1988. (link with photos.)

http://www.lcrga.com/archive/200010251159.shtml

During the 1992 presidential election, Fred Phelps and Fred Phelps Jr. led the members of Westboro in campaigning around the state of Kansas for Bill Clinton and Al Gore; Fred Phelps Sr. would later state in fliers that he did so with the belief that Gore would fall under WBC's political influence should he and Clinton win the election.

In January of 1993, Fred Phelps, his wife Marge, Fred Phelps Jr., and Betty Phelps-Schurle were invited to (and attended) the innagural ball in Washington D.C.

LINK

[fatnotlazy]

I heard this from Freepers last week. Sad.

What's that biblical passage: By their fruits, you will know them.

Obviously, this man of the cloth is no man of the cloth.

[SandRat]

"Veterans will be at his funeral to show him the proper respect he deserves."

The protesters are not doing a very smart thing with these vets there. The protesters may hear some rather stinging Serviceman's French from these vets.

[SandRat]

They are at it again,...arrrrrggggg!!!!!!!

[hoagy62]

Oh, no! These guys from Westboro are the REAL deal...they HATE homosexauls with a passion! Fred Phelps has said that 9/11, the anthrax scare, and pretty much any disaster that has happened to the US in recent years is "God's punishment" because of gays.

They are in NO way pro-gay.

They are also, all of them, a bunch of rabid moonbats.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

Well, browsing through the link you provided says it all. Just reading what's under the heading, "Notable Activities and statements" was quite enough.

[Bahbah]

Phelps is a horrid and sick individual.

[Carillon]

http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/

This is Fred Phelps.

http://www.godhatesamerica.com/

This is Fred Phelps.

Westboro Baptist Church is a hate church, plain and simple. I can only hope that NO political candidate will associate themselves with him.

[lorris]

Thanks for the info on this group. I had no idea these wackos existed.

I believe it's true that these actions of hatred are not going to earn them points with any one who has a soul.

But, it still is one of the saddest things I have heard in a while. Anyone who disrespects our heroes is not human in my book.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Either this guy is a shill for donks, or he is so stupid and bigoted that he goes out of his way to alienate potential allies.

I'd say a shill, but from bitter experience, I know of those who consider themselves "southern patriots" who alienate sympathisers with their absolute bitter antipathy towards Lincoln.

[bluesagewoman]

The kind Rev. apparently threatened to do the same thing at a soldier's funeral in southern Illinois last week. He FAXed the local media of his intent. His group apparently didn't show up. If that is true, then maybe the 80 or so bikers who belonged to the same motorcyle club as the deceased soldier scared him off.

Additionally, the report on the funeral the next day out of Cape Girardeau indicated that folks lined the Interstate and highways when the body was brought home, and again during the funeral procession. The Rev's plans certainly backfired. I have a feeling that he just sends FAXes around to get everyone upset. I am sure if he starts showing up his face will get rearranged by some locals.

He's a coward!! Don't give him the satisfaction of worrying about him. That's what he wants. Instead, send the word out to the community to gather on the highways with their flags and put their hands over their hearts during the processions to honor the soldier and his family. Good luck!

[Jeff Gordon]

Time for counter action by Topica Freepers. Give 'em hell!

[Ranger]

This group of human trash drove all the way from Topeka KS to Bedford, MA to protest at the John Glenn Middle School when the school bus arrived. Their purpose was to intimidate gay students that are shown tolerance in this small town. These people are for real and they are revolting.

[womcg]

There is a very simple solution to this kind of sick behavior aimed at the funeral of a US Marine KIA. Give the honor guard, and Marines who fire the salute, live ammo. Easy fix and cleans up the gene pool.

[laconic]

Yes, these people are just rotten; my cats are better Christians than they are. They picketed outside Ronald Reagan's funeral last year at the National Cathedrar with all sorts of rotten signs filled with hateful slogans that the Reagan family had to see as they entered the Cathedral grounds.

[bluesagewoman]

(Cape Gireadue story)

(link to story prior to funeral)