Fred Phelps to Protest Soldier's Funeral

[thedrifter]

Fred Phelps to Protest Soldier's Funeral
Seatlle Post-Intelligencer (AP) ^ | June 14, 2005

BOISE, Idaho -- A Kansas preacher and gay rights foe whose congregation is protesting military funerals around the country said he's coming to Idaho tomorrow to picket the memorial for an Idaho National Guard soldier killed in Iraq.

A flier on the Web site of Pastor Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church claims God killed Cpl. Carrie French with an improvised explosive device in retaliation against the United States for a bombing at Phelps' church six years ago.

"We're coming," Phelps said yesterday.

Westboro Baptist either has protested or is planning protests of other public funerals of soldiers from Michigan, Alabama, Minnesota, Virginia and Colorado. A protest is planned for July 11 at Dover Air Force Base, the military base where war dead are transported before being sent on to their home states.

Phelps gained national notoriety in 1998 when he picketed the funeral of Matthew Shepard, the gay college student beaten to death in Wyoming.

Since then, Phelps said his church has been the target of hateful words and actions, including a bomb attack six years ago.

Phelps' church has picketed the funerals of AIDS victims for more than a decade.

French, 19, was a Caldwell High School graduate and varsity cheerleader. She was killed June 5 in the northern city of Kirkuk. French served as an ammunition specialist with the 116th Brigade Combat Team's 145th Support Battalion.

Phelps said the fact that French led an all-American life gives him all the more reason to picket her final public tribute.

"An all-American girl from a society of all-American heretics," he said.

"Our attitude toward what's happening with the war is the Lord is punishing this evil nation for abandoning all moral imperatives that are worth a dime," Phelps said.

Caldwell Police Chief Bob Sobba said he cannot bar Phelps from going to the public funeral, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Albertson College of Idaho in that city.

"While we respect Mr. Phelps' right to protest, we would hope that he would respect the family and friends of this young person by not disrupting the memorial," Sobba said.

Idaho Air National Guard Lt. Tony Vincelli, acting as spokesman for French's family, said there were no plans to change the funeral arrangements.

The Rev. Brian Fischer, pastor of Boise's Community Church of the Valley, and himself a past target of protest by the Westboro Baptist Church, decried Phelps' plan.

"What Phelps is doing is a reprehensible thing, to take a funeral and turn it into a photo op for his hate cause," Fischer said.

"We hope everyone will ignore Phelps' group."

In 2003, Phelps demanded that he be allowed to erect an anti-gay monument in a Boise public park. To avoid a lawsuit from his group, city officials voted in 2004 that a Ten Commandments monument be moved out of the park.

Ellie
I don't know what to say, I am shocked and speechless. What a disgusting and vile person this is.
To protest anyone's memorial service is beyond sick.
May God have mercy on Phelps' soul because I care not for it.

[jinelson]

I know what your saying Ellie wow unbelievable

[hrscowboy]

why hasnt someone put phelps in his place like stomping the living hell out of him and telling him to stay home and keep his dang mouth shut or he will be the next one to take the heat of a veteran..

[yellowwing]

They are in it for the money. Check out a somewhat in depth watch report on this Phelps.

Even though he himself has been disbarred from law practice, 11 of his immediate family members are lawyers, continuing to sue people and institutions. Only a few church members are not kin.

[outlaw3179]

what a piece of s*it...regardless of you feel ..you should have respect for some things.

[Nagalfar]

Just another scumbag wanting attention.. we can only hope someday someone provides him with the attention he really deserves..

[jegries]

Just goes to prove that some people have way too much time on thier hands. If that piece of sh*t had the cojones' to picket at my funeral or anyone that I cared about he would be wearing whatever sign he has been waving in a heartbeat. What a waste of space.

[tntmondy]

Ironically enough she died defending his "right" to do exactly what he says he is going to do. I hope that he burns in he** for dishonoring Cpl French, and all of the others that he has and plans to.

[marinefamily5]

All I can say is let him show up here in Ohio some where I will make a special trip just to tell him how it is........Freaky idiots...........

[SSgt Ramsey]

I just wanna see what happens to this douchebag when he's met by a number of the Patriot Guard Riders or another group shielding the family

I belong to the PGR and will attend any military funeral within a 100 mile radii of me...God help anybody who tries to hurt the family or tarnish it is all I'm gonna say

[Petz]

that bomb missed.

[marinemom]

Gotta look at it htis way - he is another bigot who thinks he has the Word of God for himself alone and in his interpretation.

Opening Scene - Judgement Day
Line of souls standing in front of God
Two doors, one on the right, one on the left

This dirtbag heads toward the right, along with his fellow "I speak for God" buffy, Osama Bin-Laden.


Voice over (probably sounding like Charlton Heston) - No, No gentlemen - not that way - take the down elevator and do it now.

[MLMonk]

To think what will happen if he protests a Marine or Corpsman's funeral who died in Afghanistan or Iraq...I think 100+ curb stomps would happen.

This little kid needs to stop going to the extreme in what he believes in, especially in what kind of job he holds, he of all people should know to NEVER disrespect a funeral, whether it is the mourning of military, gay, or or even just a funeral over the loss of a loved one.

And that bomb did miss, think it should have been bigger.

[Petz]

no, small is fine... so long as it was in his back pocket... or man bag.