Fred Phelps: Difference between revisions

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Phelps and the WBC began pickting around 1991, in order combat homosexual activities at Gage Park. Although the protests started out small, and gained little attention, the church soon began gaining attention nationwide, the most notable event being the funeral protest of Matthew Shepard in 1998. Around 2003, the WBC began to protest the funerals of soilder killed in Iraq and Afganastan, claiming that they died for a doomed nation. Several laws were soon made to restrain the church protests. While not banning them from picketing, the laws passed made member keep a large distance from the funeral.

The church continues to hold daily pickets, but Phelps however has grown absent from them, mostly due his old age and health issues in his younger years. In recent years the church has shown signs of falling apart, due to fact that several members, mostly younger ones, have either left or were kicked out, a lawsuit that made international news around 2006, that was soon brought to the Supreme Court and other factors, such as Phelps' old age may contribute to the falling apart.

The church continues to hold daily pickets, but Phelps however has grown absent from them, mostly due his old age and health issues in his younger years. In recent years the church has shown signs of falling apart, due to fact that several members, mostly younger ones, have either left or were kicked out, a lawsuit that made international news around 2006, that was soon brought to the Supreme Court and other factors, such as Phelps' old age may contribute to the falling apart. On March 16th, 2014, it was confirmed by Phelps' estrangend son Nathan in a Facebook post that he's father is poor health, stating that he is on the "edge of death", and is currently in a hospice in Topeka. It was later officaly confirmed by church spokesman Steve Drain that the reports are true. Nathan also stated that his father was ex-communicated from the church in August 2013.

==Beliefs==

Fred Phelps describes himself and his church as "Old School Baptist", and they follow Calvinist principles as well. Despite his anti-gay actions, Phelps is a Democrat, and ran for both Kansas state Senator and Governer, both of which he lost. Phelps has also show support for people such as Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who even allowed WBC members to come picket there in the late 1990's. However, after Hussein was executed, Phelps claimed that Hussein was in hell. Phelps and the WBC also believe that President Barack Obama is the Antichrist described in the bible, and that his presidency is a sign of the end of the world.

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 Phelps and the WBC began pickting around 1991, in order combat homosexual activities at Gage Park. Although the protests started out small, and gained little attention, the church soon began gaining attention nationwide, the most notable event being the funeral protest of Matthew Shepard in 1998. Around 2003, the WBC began to protest the funerals of soilder killed in Iraq and Afganastan, claiming that they died for a doomed nation. Several laws were soon made to restrain the church protests. While not banning them from picketing, the laws passed made member keep a large distance from the funeral.
-The church continues to hold daily pickets, but Phelps however has grown absent from them, mostly due his old age and health issues in his younger years. In recent years the church has shown signs of falling apart, due to fact that  several members, mostly younger ones, have either left or were kicked out, a lawsuit that made international news around 2006, that was soon brought to the Supreme Court and other factors, such as Phelps' old age may contribute to the falling apart.
+The church continues to hold daily pickets, but Phelps however has grown absent from them, mostly due his old age and health issues in his younger years. In recent years the church has shown signs of falling apart, due to fact that  several members, mostly younger ones, have either left or were kicked out, a lawsuit that made international news around 2006, that was soon brought to the Supreme Court and other factors, such as Phelps' old age may contribute to the falling apart. On March 16th, 2014, it was confirmed by Phelps' estrangend son Nathan in a Facebook post that he's father is poor health, stating that he is on the "edge of death", and is currently in a hospice in Topeka. It was later officaly confirmed by church spokesman Steve Drain that the reports are true. Nathan also stated that his father was ex-communicated from the church in August 2013.
 ==Beliefs==
 Fred Phelps describes himself and his church as "Old School Baptist", and they follow Calvinist principles as well. Despite his anti-gay actions, Phelps is a Democrat, and ran for both Kansas state Senator and Governer, both of which he lost. Phelps has also show support for people such as Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who even allowed WBC members to come picket there in the late 1990's. However, after Hussein was executed, Phelps claimed that Hussein was in hell. Phelps and the WBC also believe that President Barack Obama is the Antichrist described in the bible, and that his presidency is a sign of the end of the world.