Funeral picketers fined millions

[AlethiaSi]

Originally Posted by MysticCat

I am religious, and always have been. It makes me beyond sick, seeing my religion perverted in this way.

Sorry MysticCat, i shouldn't have put it that way. I suppose those two things don't have much to do with each other (whether i'm religious or not) and I guess I should preface by saying that some people in my family were religious zealots and I was exposed to beliefs that were just bizarre... so I find myself retreating or rejecting religion because of prior experience, when I know that this isn't always the case and I've learning to embrace some things over time.


Either way, its awful that they would be using a funeral to picket for a cause... that doesn't really make much sense in the first place. Those poor families and shame on them!

[nikki1920]

And that is what they really want: publicity.

[ZTABullwinkle]

I heard a phone interview on CNN this morning with the leader of the funeral picketers. Let's just say that the reporter was not objective during it. He finally cut the interview short when the leader wouldn't stop spewing his beliefs and let him ask questions. Sometimes I wonder...

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by fyrnymph

Pulling up white crosses put up as a peaceful protest against abortion - unless the crosses were put up on public land or your yard (!), you are infringing on their protest - perhaps trespassing. It would be the same thing if they tore a pro-abortion sign down from your property - I'd say they were wrong, too.

To clarify....
There was land between a church and a townhouse that I owned. Most people at the church thought the land belonged to them. It was owned by a close family member and I was responsible for cutting the grass and keeping it clean. I could have charged THEM with trespassing, however I chose to make my statement non-destructive. I discussed the situation -- trespassing and their freedom of speach -- with their pastor and also received a formal apology from the church.

Back to the real story.......... $2.9mm was not nearly enough to cover what the Snyders have been through

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AlethiaSi

Sorry MysticCat, i shouldn't have put it that way.

No problem. I didn't really take it as a slam or anything -- I was just offering the parallel viewpoint, so to speak.

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

To clarify....

Thanks for the clarification -- much different situation than what I, at least, assumed. (And yes, I know what it makes of me when I "assume." )

[KSUViolet06]

I'm so incredibly happy that Phelps was fined, I could pee myself. I'm a Christian, and I find how he distorts the religion and spews hatred like this totally sick.

[SigmaNuAlum]

Disgusting!

[KSUViolet06]

To add, it also disgusts me to see CHILDREN holding up his signs and wearing those shirts in that picture. It's sad because they are being FED his awful crap and have no clue how awful it is.

[Tom Earp]

First of, Fred Phelps is from Kansas and this is not normal Mid-West thinking!

It is embaressing to say the least.

He is an idiot along with his family and congregation! His so called church=cult is headquatered in Topeka, Ks.

To degrade the deaths of the valient mem and women who have lost their lives is dispictable!

His legal Lawyer said in the last report that I read is to file against the judgement and will win! BS.

$11 million is just going to be the tip of the ice berg and I hope they are put out of business!

They will never get the money over this suit, but it does set a precident for further law suits against them!

[shinerbock]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

First of, Fred Phelps is from Kansas and this is not normal Mid-West thinking!

It is embaressing to say the least.

He is an idiot along with his family and congregation! His so called church=cult is headquatered in Topeka, Ks.

To degrade the deaths of the valient mem and women who have lost their lives is dispictable!

His legal Lawyer said in the last report that I read is to file against the judgement and will win! BS.

$11 million is just going to be the tip of the ice berg and I hope they are put out of business!

They will never get the money over this suit, but it does set a precident for further law suits against them!

I love legal lawyers.

When I was interning on the hill we got calls/faxes/letters from Westboro on almost a daily basis. Lots of lawyers in that family, which is why they've always skirted by without much interference. The best at combating them thus far is the group Patriot Guard Riders, which form a barrier between the "church" and the mourners. http://www.patriotguard.org/

[SWTXBelle]

It's those illegal lawyers you have to watch out for!

[Educatingblue]

This church was way out of line and what they did showed the utmost disrespect. Everyone has a right to agree or disagree with the war, Iraq, etc., but please show respect to those who have gone over there to preserve our freedom and way of life.

I'm just curious as to who they think will protect the U.S if we don't?!?!?!

I pray that church sees what they are doing is wrong and stop spewing propaganda to impressionable youth.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by Educatingblue

I'm just curious as to who they think will protect the U.S if we don't?!?!?!

They don't want the US protected. They want the US punished, and they think that dead soldiers, diseases, hurricanes, wildfires, etc., are all divine punishment.

[Tom Earp]

The Phelps church if one can call it that was vandalized!

It was painted with "God Hates Phelps" in combat to his tirads about how God hates this and that!

We can only hope more law suits will be filled and he and his is put out of business.

[SWTXBelle]

Hmmm . . .so torn . . . vandalism is wrong.
But in this case, it is so karmaically(?!) perfect . . .