Posted on 10/25/2005 10:47:01 AM PDT by Abathar
INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indiana state senator wants to make disorderly conduct a felony if it occurs at military funerals, similar to a proposal being considered in Oklahoma.
Indiana state Sen. Brent Steele said he would propose legislation in response to an anti-gay group's protest at the Aug. 28 funeral for Army Staff Sgt. Jeremy Doyle, who died in Iraq.
Members of the Topeka, Kan.,-based Westboro Baptist Church dragged U.S. flags on the ground and shouted insults at Doyle's wife and other survivors outside a mortuary in Martinsville, Ind.
Church Rev. Fred Phelps said American soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for protecting a country that harbors gays and accepts homosexuality. The church, which is not affiliated with a larger Denomination, is made up mostly of Phelps' children, grandchildren and in-laws.
The church members carried signs and shouted things such as "God hates fags" and "God hates you."
The group has also shown up at funerals in Oklahoma and state Rep. Paul Wesselhoft said he would offer a bill to prohibit any form of protest within 500 feet of any funeral at a home, mortuary, cemetery, church or other place of worship.
Anybody who thinks they are deserving of God's love but claim to know who isn't should seriously reevaluate their position. They usually can't be dealt with rationally, however.
Not to mention how many Freepers would get busted trying to get in line to urinate at Clinton's funeral.
This "church" apparently has not heard that God loves the sinner but hates the sin.
Yea, anyone shouting that God hates gays simply knows nothing of God. While God hate sin, he still loves sinners.
This minister also isn't the head of a church, he's head of a cult made up of mostly his own family.
These people don't deserve to be called a church. They aren't doing God's work.
On the other hand, the government has no business telling people they cannot protest within 500 feet of a church. That simply prevents anyone from speaking their mind on religious issues in a religious setting. What happens when the members of a church decide to hold a rally on an issue and want to do it on thier own property?
Arrest these idiots for disturbing the peace. Let the whole world know about their disgusting actions, and let society shun them.
Yes, the bill's sponsor should add the words "military hospital."
Phelps and several members of his family are attorneys and are very litigious, but since no Phelpser could positively identify any of the attackers, no one was arrested or charged with the assault.
So it seems that some people have found an effective way to get through to at least one Phelpser.
Hmmm. that would stop stuff like this:
I don't believe they are saying you can't protests at a church....only at military funerals and I am all for it.
The protest warriors try to find out where they are going to be and put up a protective shield of people but this can't always be done.
That was very un-Christian of them to do..and I would have been just as un-Christian, after I bloodied and beat as many of them as I could before being hauled off to jail.
"While God hate sin, he still loves sinners."
click my ID for my, shared with better, opinion
Picking on the immediate relatives of a dead soldier (who has nothing to do with homosexuality) to protest homosexuality defies logic. Perhaps a beating of the "Reverend" with a Louisville Slugger is the only sensible option.
no need for new legislation, just dig a couple of extra holes as needed...
I agree with skeptic, this cult knows nothing of God. I'm not a Bible thumper but if you want to get down right scriptural, 1 John 4:8 says ...he that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love...AND yes they do have every right to protest and no one should try to curtail that right in any way unless they disturb the peace. I'm almost glad that they are protesting and exposing themselves as real idiots; but they should change their signs to the truth "I hate homosexuals", not God.
No kidding...advance ticket sales have been described as "brisk".
fred phelps is a mentally deranged publicity hound, who was an al gore supporter in the late 80's and early 90's.
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