Group Plans To Picket Va. Tech Funerals

Anti-Gay Religious Group Known For Protesting At Services For U.S. Soldiers Killed In Iraq

(CBS)  By CBSNews.com's David Miller.

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The families of those killed in the Virginia Tech massacre may not be able to grieve in peace at the funerals of those they lost. An anti-gay religious group known for protesting at the funerals of American soldiers killed in Iraq is planning on appearing at services for those killed on Monday as well.

The Topeka, Kan.-based Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), which is not affiliated with any national Baptist organization, announced plans to protest at victims’ funerals only hours after 32 people were killed in the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. They also may protest at other events on the Virginia Tech campus.

The organization, founded and led by Fred Phelps, believes the United States has condemned itself to destruction by accepting homosexuality and other “sins of the flesh.” Phelps’ daughter, Shirley Phelps-Roper, said the Virginia Tech teachers and students who died on Monday brought their fate upon themselves by not being true Christians.

“The evidence is they were not Christian. God does not do that to his servants,” Phelps-Roper said. “You don’t need to look any further for evidence those people are in hell.”

Cho Seung-Hui, the Virginia Tech student responsible for the killings who took his own life after the shootings, was sent by God to punish those he killed, and America as a whole, for moral decline, said Phelps-Roper, while adding that she believes Cho is also in hell for violating God’s commandment to not kill.

“He is in hell,” Phelps-Roper said. “But he was also fulfilling the word of God.”

Because of its virulent anti-gay message and condemnation of Catholics, Jews and other groups, the WBC has been classified as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center and is monitored by the Anti-Defamation League.

Curtis Dahn, the president of Virginia Tech’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Alliance, said he reacted with immediate disgust upon hearing of the WBC's plans. “Thirty-three people are dead and they’re using people’s deaths and people’s grief to further their own agenda and it’s just disgusting,” he said.

Dahn was friends with Ryan Clark, a resident assistant in Ambler Johnston Hall, who was among the first people killed on Monday. He said he is working with other university leaders and officials to form a response to the WBC. Ideally, he said, the funerals will be nothing more than a chance for family and friends to mourn in peace.

“Part of it is that I don’t want the families to be affected by this at all,” he said. “I don’t even want the funerals’ locations to be public knowledge. I don’t want a protest, I don’t want a counter-protest. I want people to be able to grieve and have what they want, not be made into public displays and mockeries.”

Dahn and others may have the law on their side. In 2006, in response to protests at the funerals of dead U.S. soldiers, Virginia enacted a law that added funerals and memorial services to the state’s disorderly conduct statute. Other states have adopted similar measures to allow police to keep WBC protesters out of earshot.

[diebuchen]

Phelps & Co. is being sued by the father of one of our fallen soldiers. By going to matthewsnyder.com, you can donate to the courageous man who is going against Phelps and his money.

This is a chance to do something concrete for human decency and compassion. You don't have to donate a lot, $1, $2, $5, whatever you can afford will be appreciated.

I am not in anyway connected with Mr. Snyder, and I am making this request without his knowledge. I hear a lot of outrage, and this is one way to put shoes on your anger, and let it walk all over Phelps.

I would suggest all readers go to LOVING GOD'S HATE to read an expose of Rev. Phelps by the Topeka Capitol-Journal.

Though this expose has been on the C-J website for years, Phelps has never sued for libel.

[gmond]

It's a shame Cho wasn't in Topeka.

[bdrlnt4rl]

this is just stupid. get a life and get a job.

[raretodd]

It's amazing to see how people can steadfastly hold on to their faith in the face of such illogical tragedy. I keep reading things like, "Oh, those aren't REAL christians. Real Christians love and care for others and would never hurt anyone!"
Do these same christians read the bible (apparently written by christians) which says that you should be kind to your slaves as well as stone your children from being insubordinant?

Islam ain't an olive branch giver either (obviously). Any religion founded by a "profit" who married a 9-year-old can't be taken seriously.

Why don't you all start trying to make this world better instead of praying for paradise in the next?

No God can save you (or *** you either).

[sheckyodell]

STOOPS!

[mikealford3]

Please do not confuse me with a Christian or any other religion. I am a believer is God and in heaven. I have experiences in my life that lead me to believe what I believe. People fight wars and kill because of religion. People want to know WHY god would allow this. Fact is there is no answer. God does not purposfully cause pain and suffering. Human beings create enough of that on our own. The only person to blame is the idiot that pulls the trigger and kills or somehow causes pain to people. Not God. Why is it hard for religious people to think perhaps all believers are correct. Perhaps the god known as Abraham to some is the same god that is Jehovia to others and Alla to others and Budda and whom ever else. Why is it so hard for people to allow others the right to believe as they wish?

[mikealford3]

jbinthe

I cannot argue with your statement. I agree with some of what you say. What makes this so special? Answer, the media. However the same can be said for many things. Since this happened on Wednesday, nearly 6,000 americans have died as a result of cancer. The media shows the sinsational stuff because it draws ratings and people for some reason love to see misery.

I think what this story is really about is a horrible hate filled group from Kansas that is willing to disrespect the dignity of a family grieving to press their adgenda. The WBC should be ashamed.

[v_max-2009]

This deranged group is devoid of any rational or logical thought, unable or unwilling to empathise the loss of a loved one by combat or other tragedy. What a hollow and meaningless
existence they lead. Be it Christian or Islamic,
fundamenatlism is the eternal enemy of mankind.

[jbinthe757]

I think this is a beautiful story, 180 innocent people were killed in Baghdad that same day, and countless others in Africa. Why are those peoples lives any less important than the people in Virgina, anyone of you self serving hypocrtites who claim to be Christian and post your non-sense on this page ought to be ashamed of yourselfs..."white washed tombs..dirtbags!!"

[demosis]

what about the girl columbine who was killed because she was a christain? Jesus was the son of God and he was killed. Christains die all the time, sometimes in terrible ways, it just takes us a while to understand why those people died.

[micma-2009]

This story is a perfect illustration of the insanity that fundamentalist "thinking" engenders.

It robs people of their ability to think rationaly and makes them unable to see the humanity in those that don't subscribe to their system of belief.

If Jesus did return, the fundamentalists would crucify him all over again.

[cfin5]

Hey Newster1. Please post some facts/leads to any show of solidarity by any church that names the name of Christ. I can't find any. Saying that this Jim Jones like cult are 100% baptist is as unfair as saying the killers family is at fault for their sons evil deed. If there are some churches advocating this bunch....SOUND THE ALARM!!!! I see nothing wrong with exposing sin in the body of Christ. Helps us to govern our own house so to speak. But when you make wild claims like you did and don't have any facts backing you up, then all that you are saying becomes equal to that groups total lack of charity (sounding brass,tinkling cymbals). Wise discussion improves understanding. Falsehood breeds its own kind.

[dfv21102]

All the media can do in reporting about Fred Phelps is to add "not affiliated with any Baptist organization." Don't blame the media for doing its job. They are, in fact, helping to warn the victims' families that protests may happen.

And Phelps is not alone: remember what Jerry Falwell said to America after 9-11: "You helped make this happen" (referring to acceptance of homosexuality). Phelps is an extension (albeit a remote one)of what good "Christian" families feel about the rest of society. And while it is sad that religion in this country has always needed someone/something to hate, it uses the media to politicize events like these.

[suttonjo]

What is the world coming to when you have a bunch heathens protesting funerals they have absolutely nothing to do with? If they think the U.S. is condemned by its actions, then I would hate to know what is going to happen to them considering their actions. It's dispicable to know that they are going to protest the funerals of innocent victims, and that someone can actually protest a funeral in the first place.

[ubikvalis2]

If there's one thing I've noticed that liberals, conservatives, people of all races, ethnicities and religious backgrounds agree on: that Fred Phelps and his "gang" are absolutely revolting pieces of human trash, just barely above child molesters.

It's hard to believe anyone could be so far gone and not need to be institutionalized. But, as Ron Jeremy says: "Freedom of speech doesn't protect speech you like, it protects speech you hate".

I really feel for the families at those funerals though ...

Why can't one of those deranged gunmen cut loose on the Phelps family instead? Life isn't fair!

[wolfdreamer2]

I am not in the least but surprised that they are going to VA Tech. they showed up inmy hometown picketting & boycotting a dead soldiers funeral. It was so bad that the family of the soldier had police force to keep those people away. I dont think they think about their actions or what they do to the families of the people they boycott. I think that they are just there for the media so they can have their 15 seconds of fame. If they think that the shooter was really supposed to be in heaven & not hell then they are as crazy as i thought they were. Besides the media needs to focus on the victims, thos injured & their families. Not the man that killed or injured them & definitely not those church nutcases. Why cant the media just focus on the positive & forget about the depressing negative side of it all?

NEWS MEDIA ! DO NOT give these hate mongers any more of your time than this, you feed them and pet them
and make them stronger. Be ashamed, be very very ashamed that they got this far with you.

THINK!

[nothappyatall]

This whole story is a HATE speech, these idiots only pull this krap because they get in the news nation-wide. Just remember- YOUR tax dollars are supporting this NON PROFIT "Charity", THIS is where your tax exempt dollars are being used- for this hate speech KRAP by a bunch of losers and morons who do nothing but spew hate and bizarre twisted krap.
Contact the IRS and demand they YANK this groups' tax exempt status.

[nothappyatall]

"The evidence is they were not Christian. God does not do that to his servants,%u201D Phelps-Roper said."

SURE he does, that's why priests, popes and the like ALL die of accidents, diseases, murder, rapes and the rest like everyone else.


"... was sent by God to punish those he killed, and America as a whole, for moral decline, said Phelps-Roper, while adding that she believes Cho is also in hell for violating God%u2019s commandment to not kill."

LOL, so this all loving forgiving god SET HIM UP deliberately!! as a weapon to kill people at random, then when he does he's condemned for killing- RIIIIGGHHT.



"his group really makes me sick. Their not baptist in any way shape or form. cfin5"

They ARE 100% baptists, and the national baptist church as a whole has NOT condemned this church nor demanded they cease using the name"Baptist"

[ancientromer]

These WBC Medievalists are to Christianity as the Islamist Jihadists are to Islam. They demonstrate the absurdity of literal belief, otherwise known as delusion.