Anti-gay church protests at soldiers’ funerals

[sincereheart]

Ole Fred again. 

Anti-gay church protests at soldiers’ funerals
Counterdemonstrators in Tennessee chase away members of small church

SMYRNA, Tenn. - Members of a church say God is punishing American soldiers for defending a country that harbors gays, and they brought their anti-gay message to the funerals Saturday of two Tennessee soldiers killed in Iraq.

The church members were met with scorn from local residents. They chased the church members cars’ down a highway, waving flags and screaming “God bless America.”

“My husband is over there, so I’m here to show my support,” 41-year-old Connie Ditmore said as she waved and American flag and as tears came to her eyes. “To do this at a funeral is disrespectful of a family, no matter what your beliefs are.”

The Rev. Fred Phelps, founder of Westboro Baptist in Kansas, contends that American soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for protecting a country that harbors gays. The church, which is not affiliated with a larger denomination, is made up mostly of Phelps’ children, grandchildren and in-laws.

‘God hates you,’ signs read
The church members carried signs and shouted things such as “God hates fags” and “God hates you.”

About 10 church members protested near Smyrna United Methodist Church and nearly 20 stood outside the National Guard Armory in Ashland City. Members have demonstrated at other soldier funerals across the nation.

The funerals were for Staff Sgt. Asbury Fred Hawn II, 35, in Smyrna and Spc. Gary Reese Jr., 22, in Ashland City. Both were members of the Tennessee National Guard.

Large counterdemonstrations
Hundreds of Smyrna and Ashland City residents and families of other soldiers turned out at both sites to counter the message the Westboro Baptist members brought.

So many counterdemonstrators were gathered in Ashland City that police, sheriff’s deputies and state troopers were brought in to control traffic and protect the protesters.

The church members held protesting permits, and counterprotesters in Smyrna turned their backs to Westboro Baptist members until time expired on the protest permits.

“If they were protesting the government, I might even join them,” Danny Cotton, 56, said amid cries of “get out of our town” and “get out of our country.”

“But for them to come during the worst time for this family — it’s just wrong.”

 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9102443/

[nChrist]

Hello Sincereheart,

I've got a folder on this nut case Rev. Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas. The parent folder is labeled "Cults". I actually think that they are far beyond radical - maybe demonic would be a better label for them.

They have gone around the country doing crazy things like this. There might be a way to put them out of business in some jurisdictions. The trick might be for the funeral home to get a permit to hold a "Church Service" at the grave site. Most jurisdictions have very strict laws about disturbing "Church Services", and a permit to disrupt a Church Service could not be issued. If this is not the case in a particular jurisdiction, laws need to be passed to put this idiot Phelps out of business around grieving families trying to bury their loved ones.

Their church in Kansas looks like a bunker, and it has to be because of the horrible things they have done in their home community. Decent, God fearing people become outraged with just about everything this cult does. I must add that them trying to associate themselves with a church is an impossible pill to swallow for any Christian who loves the things of GOD.

Love In Christ,
Tom

Philippians 1:6 NASB  For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

[Soldier4Christ]

The most recent thing that they have done was at the funerals of the coal miners that just died recently in that mine explosion. It is a disgrace to God and all that he stands for. Calling them a cult is putting it mildly.

[sincereheart]

If Wikipedia is even partially correct, the man is definitely problem-ridden, at best.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Phelps

He never ceases to amaze me. I think I've read enough about him and his insanity and then a new one comes up and I'm shocked again. 

Another *new* surprise to me is that there's even a Godhatescanada.com site.

 

[nChrist]

Sincereheart,

Sister, thanks for the link. This gives a really good summary about this hate-filled cult.

I was just thinking about how much damage Fred Phelps is doing to the lost and those who are considering a decision for JESUS right now. Many would look at this idiot and think they wouldn't have anything to do with Christianity or accepting JESUS. This group has a completely twisted and upside-down foundation. We all know that Almighty God hates sin, but HE loved sinners enough for JESUS to die on the Cross for them.

Is there any greater LOVE than our Holy and spotless JESUS dying on the Cross in our place? NO! We were nothing but sinners, but JESUS died for us, all of us, regardless of what bad things we did in the past. The Blood of JESUS washes our sins away and makes us fit for the full inheritance of the children of GOD. This thought is AWESOME and makes me happy every time I think about it. I AM A CHILD OF ALMIGHTY GOD, but only because of the Blood of JESUS!

Thanks be unto GOD for HIS unspeakable GIFT!, JESUS CHRIST, our Lord and Saviour forever!

Love In Christ,
Tom

Romans 11:33 NASB  Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!

[Soldier4Christ]

I am not normally one that considers a persons "looks" but this person shows his hate in his face. He looks as evil as he is.

Amen Brother Tom, that was my exact thoughts and concern the first time I heard about him.

I am sure that there must be many that have been turned away from the Lord by individuals such as this spreading their hate in the name of the Lord.

[Shammu]

What Fred Phelps is doingis a crime. Whats more thern that, the Bible talks about people like this.

Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon ( deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in).

Matthew 19:18 He said to Him, What sort of commandments? [Or, which ones?] And Jesus answered, You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness,

John 6:64 But [still] some of you fail to believe and trust and have faith. For Jesus knew from the first who did not believe and had no faith and who would betray Him and be false to Him.

Galatians 2:4 [My precaution was] because of false brethren who had been secretly smuggled in [to the Christian brotherhood]; they had slipped in to spy on our liberty and the freedom which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might again bring us into bondage [under the Law of Moses].

2 John 1:7 For many imposters (seducers, deceivers, and false leaders) have gone out into the world, men who will not acknowledge (confess, admit) the coming of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) in bodily form. Such a one is the imposter (the seducer, the deceiver, the false leader, the antagonist of Christ) and the antichrist.

But I am not accusing Fred Phelps, thats the Lords work, not mine. Fred Phelps is going to have to answer to Jesus, why he did this.