From the Chicago Tribune: The founder of a fundamentalist church known for picketing military funerals and political events with anti-gay signs was excommunicated last year and is near death in a Kansas hospital, his son said on social media Sunday.
Fred Waldron Phelps Sr., who launched the Topeka-based Westboro Baptist Church in the 1950s, "is on the edge of death at Midland Hospice house," his son, Nathan Phelps, wrote on his Facebook page.
The younger Phelps, one of several members of the family to have parted ways with the church, also said his father was excommunicated by his own church in August, but did not say for what reason.
"I'm not sure how I feel about this," he said. "Terribly ironic that his devotion to his god ends this way. Destroyed by the monster he made."
The Westboro Baptist Church did not respond Sunday to an email seeking confirmation that Fred Phelps had been excommunicated.
Phelps had long been pastor of the church, which is best known for carrying anti-gay signs and picketing events including military funerals, gay rights rallies, political gatherings and mainstream Christian events.
The protests reflect the Westboro church's view that God is punishing America for tolerance of gays and lesbians. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-usa-kansas-westboro-20140316,0,3720753.story
While Phelps view is a bit extreme on homosexuality, it is the way he protested his views. He decided to protest at funerals of people who had no fight between Phelps and gays.
His protests were also all about him and his church and all they wanted was attention from the media and the media was always happy to give him the freedom.
The only ones standing u to Phelps were motorcycle riders who would stay by Phelps and his deranged members of the church and rev their engines to drown out the protests and also put themselves in front of the protestors so the family and friends would not see these evil people.
Sadly, no liberal or gay organizations stood up to these bullies, it took a bunch of military veterans on motorcycles to help silence the bullies.
So, watch out hell, you're going to get one mean bully in few days. Have fun with him.
Eric Hovde: The Ultimate Carpetbagger
3 hours ago
"While Phelps view is a bit extreme on homosexuality"
ReplyDeleteDan, that has got to be the understatement of the century.
And it's quite unfair to say no liberal or gay groups stood up to them. They most certainly did, repeatedly. For example, having people dress with enormous angel "wings" that would block the view of all the protestors, fighting in court, and personal confrontation. Not to mention shining a bright spotlight on their bigotry, helping lead to the point where virtually NO one was on their side.