Friday, January 06, 2006
The following article comes from my local paper. My comments are shown beneth the article.
Radicals to protest at funeral Group to demonstrate at services for local soldier killed in Iraq By PHILIP ELLIOTT Courier & Press staff writer 461-0783 or elliottp@courierpress.com January 6, 2006
When Army Pvt. Jonathan Pfender is buried, the sidewalks outside the funeral home will be lined with protesters. The Topeka, Kan.,-based Westboro Baptist Church has long demonstrated at gay funerals, but recently members have taken their anti-homosexual message to military funerals - even when there is no indication the deceased were gay. Pfender, 22, died when a bomb exploded near his vehicle in Iraq last Friday. Ziemer Funeral Home in Evansville is handling the arrangements. The funeral home said Thursday information on services will be published in Sunday's Evansville Courier & Press. His death, church members say, is God's punishment to a country that has turned away from the Bible. "One of (God's) weapons of choice is an (improvised explosive device)," said Shirley Phelps-Roper, the daughter of Westboro Baptist Church founder the Rev. Fred Phelps. "Our forum of choice must be soldiers' funerals. Our job is to show America her abominations. God is punishing America ..." Pfender's mother, Peggy Jo Hammond, called the plan outrageous. "He fought for their freedom and they think they're going to protest my son's funeral?" she said. "Let them show up, because they're going to be sorry they're coming. They're not going to be welcome." The church's past efforts have sparked violence, and The Southern Poverty Law Center labels Westboro Baptist Church a hate group. It enjoys tax-exempt status, and although it uses Baptist in its title, it is not affiliated with any major Baptist organization. Members picketed a Billy Graham's New York revival last year because the Southern Baptist evangelist refused to adopt their "God Hates Fags" message. The group gained its widest exposure protesting during the funeral for Matthew Shepard, a Wyoming teen who was killed because he was gay. But the church in recent years has been expanding its targets. Members demonstrated at Fred Rogers' funeral because, they said, TV's "Mr. Rogers" had a responsibility as a Presbyterian pastor to condemn gays. And last year, the church began a campaign to cause a ruckus at often media-heavy military funerals. On Monday, about 20 members protested a funeral in Wheeler, Texas. Members waved signs that read "God Hates Fag Enablers" and "God Sent the IEDs." Phelps-Roper was among them. "This generation raised a nation that believes it's OK and that God loves everyone," she said. "God doesn't love fags. God hates fags." Westboro Baptist Church, with a membership of about 100, is finding increased scorn now that slain soldiers are targets. The Kansas Legislature passed a law banning picketing at funerals, and Indiana and Oklahoma are considering similar moves to curb the church's activities. Indiana state Sen. Brent Steele has introduced legislation in response to the group's Aug. 28 protest at a Martinsville, Ind., funeral, where six Westboro members dragged U.S. flags on the ground and shouted at the soldier's family. Steele's bill would make disorderly conduct a felony punishable by a three-year prison sentence and $10,000 fine if committed during military funerals. The proposal includes funeral homes, processions and grave sites. "I've got a lot of people signed onto the bill. It looks like it will pass without trouble," the Bedford, Ind., Republican said. "I don't think there will be a bit of trouble." The bill will be heard in committee Jan. 11. Phelps-Roper, a lawyer like her disbarred father, said any measure would be challenged. The church operates Web sites www.GodHatesFags.com, www.SmellTheBrimstone.com and www.PriestsRapeBoys.com that are filled with intentionally incendiary material. For example, church leaders sent a news release celebrating the deadly Nov. 6 Evansville-area tornado. "Thank God for the Indiana Tornado that killed 22, injured 230 ... We humbly pray for many such visitations of God's wrath on Indiana," they wrote. And this week, they lauded the death of the West Virginia miners and announced plans to picket those funerals as well. Phelps-Roper said death is divine retribution for tolerating homosexuality. "America has sinned away its day of grace," she said. "America is doomed."
My Comments...
There is a video of the musical group the Chieftans I have seen in which they are playing a concert in an old, beautiful irish church. As they are playing, there is a sign on a wall behind them that says 'God is Love'. It is this simple message I meditate on when confronted with such hatred as outlined in the above article.
The two greatest commandments, according to Jesus: Love the good Lord God with your All, and Love your neighbor as yourself.
In the above, I don't see either one of these great commandments being followed, and therefore the viciousness that is evidenced is most definitely unchristian.
While I whole-heartedly disagree with this groups philosophy, I suppose their freedom of speech should not be curtailed, as our men are over in Iraq fighting for such democratic principles.
But how unfortunate that groups such as these should be allowed such freedoms.
Radicals to protest at funeral Group to demonstrate at services for local soldier killed in Iraq By PHILIP ELLIOTT Courier & Press staff writer 461-0783 or elliottp@courierpress.com January 6, 2006
When Army Pvt. Jonathan Pfender is buried, the sidewalks outside the funeral home will be lined with protesters. The Topeka, Kan.,-based Westboro Baptist Church has long demonstrated at gay funerals, but recently members have taken their anti-homosexual message to military funerals - even when there is no indication the deceased were gay. Pfender, 22, died when a bomb exploded near his vehicle in Iraq last Friday. Ziemer Funeral Home in Evansville is handling the arrangements. The funeral home said Thursday information on services will be published in Sunday's Evansville Courier & Press. His death, church members say, is God's punishment to a country that has turned away from the Bible. "One of (God's) weapons of choice is an (improvised explosive device)," said Shirley Phelps-Roper, the daughter of Westboro Baptist Church founder the Rev. Fred Phelps. "Our forum of choice must be soldiers' funerals. Our job is to show America her abominations. God is punishing America ..." Pfender's mother, Peggy Jo Hammond, called the plan outrageous. "He fought for their freedom and they think they're going to protest my son's funeral?" she said. "Let them show up, because they're going to be sorry they're coming. They're not going to be welcome." The church's past efforts have sparked violence, and The Southern Poverty Law Center labels Westboro Baptist Church a hate group. It enjoys tax-exempt status, and although it uses Baptist in its title, it is not affiliated with any major Baptist organization. Members picketed a Billy Graham's New York revival last year because the Southern Baptist evangelist refused to adopt their "God Hates Fags" message. The group gained its widest exposure protesting during the funeral for Matthew Shepard, a Wyoming teen who was killed because he was gay. But the church in recent years has been expanding its targets. Members demonstrated at Fred Rogers' funeral because, they said, TV's "Mr. Rogers" had a responsibility as a Presbyterian pastor to condemn gays. And last year, the church began a campaign to cause a ruckus at often media-heavy military funerals. On Monday, about 20 members protested a funeral in Wheeler, Texas. Members waved signs that read "God Hates Fag Enablers" and "God Sent the IEDs." Phelps-Roper was among them. "This generation raised a nation that believes it's OK and that God loves everyone," she said. "God doesn't love fags. God hates fags." Westboro Baptist Church, with a membership of about 100, is finding increased scorn now that slain soldiers are targets. The Kansas Legislature passed a law banning picketing at funerals, and Indiana and Oklahoma are considering similar moves to curb the church's activities. Indiana state Sen. Brent Steele has introduced legislation in response to the group's Aug. 28 protest at a Martinsville, Ind., funeral, where six Westboro members dragged U.S. flags on the ground and shouted at the soldier's family. Steele's bill would make disorderly conduct a felony punishable by a three-year prison sentence and $10,000 fine if committed during military funerals. The proposal includes funeral homes, processions and grave sites. "I've got a lot of people signed onto the bill. It looks like it will pass without trouble," the Bedford, Ind., Republican said. "I don't think there will be a bit of trouble." The bill will be heard in committee Jan. 11. Phelps-Roper, a lawyer like her disbarred father, said any measure would be challenged. The church operates Web sites www.GodHatesFags.com, www.SmellTheBrimstone.com and www.PriestsRapeBoys.com that are filled with intentionally incendiary material. For example, church leaders sent a news release celebrating the deadly Nov. 6 Evansville-area tornado. "Thank God for the Indiana Tornado that killed 22, injured 230 ... We humbly pray for many such visitations of God's wrath on Indiana," they wrote. And this week, they lauded the death of the West Virginia miners and announced plans to picket those funerals as well. Phelps-Roper said death is divine retribution for tolerating homosexuality. "America has sinned away its day of grace," she said. "America is doomed."
My Comments...
There is a video of the musical group the Chieftans I have seen in which they are playing a concert in an old, beautiful irish church. As they are playing, there is a sign on a wall behind them that says 'God is Love'. It is this simple message I meditate on when confronted with such hatred as outlined in the above article.
The two greatest commandments, according to Jesus: Love the good Lord God with your All, and Love your neighbor as yourself.
In the above, I don't see either one of these great commandments being followed, and therefore the viciousness that is evidenced is most definitely unchristian.
While I whole-heartedly disagree with this groups philosophy, I suppose their freedom of speech should not be curtailed, as our men are over in Iraq fighting for such democratic principles.
But how unfortunate that groups such as these should be allowed such freedoms.
