Westboro Baptist Church: Difference between revisions
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The '''Westboro Baptist Church''' ('''WBC''') is an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States American] unaffiliated [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptist Baptist] church known for its extreme ideologies, especially those [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia against gay people]. | The '''Westboro Baptist Church''' ('''WBC''') is an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States American] unaffiliated [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptist Baptist] church known for its extreme ideologies, especially those [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia against gay people]. The church is widely described as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_group hate group]<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-4 [4]]</sup> and is monitored as such by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Defamation_League Anti-Defamation League] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Poverty_Law_Center Southern Poverty Law Center]. It is headed by [[Fred Phelps]] and consists primarily of members of his large family; in 2011, the church stated that it had about 40 members. The church is headquartered in a residential neighborhood on the west side of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topeka Topeka] about three miles (5 km) west of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_State_Capitol Kansas State Capitol]. Its first [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_service public service] was held on the afternoon of November 27, 1955. | ||
The church has been involved in actions against [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality gay people] since at least 1991, when it sought a crackdown on homosexual activity at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gage_Park,_Topeka Gage Park] six blocks northwest of the church. | The church has been involved in actions against [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality gay people] since at least 1991, when it sought a crackdown on homosexual activity at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gage_Park,_Topeka Gage Park] six blocks northwest of the church. In addition to conducting [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-LGBT_rhetoric anti-gay] protests at military funerals, the organization pickets other celebrity funerals and public events that are likely to get it media attention. Protests have also been held against Jews and some protests have included WBC members [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_desecration#United_States stomping] on the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flag_of_the_United_States American flag]. | ||
The WBC is not affiliated with any [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptist Baptist] denomination, including the two largest Baptist denominations, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptist_World_Alliance Baptist World Alliance] or the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Baptist_Convention Southern Baptist Convention], both of which have denounced the WBC over the years.< | The WBC is not affiliated with any [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptist Baptist] denomination, including the two largest Baptist denominations, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptist_World_Alliance Baptist World Alliance] or the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Baptist_Convention Southern Baptist Convention], both of which have denounced the WBC over the years.<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>The church describes itself as following [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primitive_Baptist Primitive Baptist] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism Calvinist] principles. | ||
==History== | ==History== | ||
The Westboro Baptist Church originated as a branch of the East Side Baptist Church in Topeka, | The Westboro Baptist Church originated as a branch of the East Side Baptist Church in Topeka, established in 1931. In 1954, East Side hired Phelps as an associate pastor, and then promoted him to be the pastor of their new church, Westboro Baptist, which opened in 1956. Soon after Westboro was established, Phelps broke all ties with East Side Baptist. | ||
==Protest activities== | ==Protest activities== | ||
Phelps and his family picket approximately six locations every day, including many in Topeka and some events farther afield. On Sundays, up to 15 churches may receive pickets. | Phelps and his family picket approximately six locations every day, including many in Topeka and some events farther afield. On Sundays, up to 15 churches may receive pickets. By their own count, WBC has picketed in all 50 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state U.S. states]. | ||
The group carries out daily picketing in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topeka,_Kansas Topeka] and travels nationally to picket the funerals of gay victims of murder, gay-bashing or people who have died from complications relating to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS AIDS]; other events related or peripherally related to homosexuality; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_City_Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football football] games; and live pop concerts. As of March 2009 the church claims to have participated in over 41,000 protests in over 650 cities since 1991. | The group carries out daily picketing in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topeka,_Kansas Topeka] and travels nationally to picket the funerals of gay victims of murder, gay-bashing or people who have died from complications relating to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AIDS AIDS]; other events related or peripherally related to homosexuality; [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kansas_City_Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_football football] games; and live pop concerts. As of March 2009 the church claims to have participated in over 41,000 protests in over 650 cities since 1991. One of Westboro's followers estimated that the church spends $250,000 a year on picketing. | ||
The pickets have resulted in several lawsuits. In 1995, Phelps Sr.'s eldest grandson, Benjamin Phelps, was convicted of assault and disorderly conduct after spitting upon the face of a passerby during a picket. In the 1990s the church won a series of lawsuits against the City of Topeka and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shawnee_County Shawnee County] for efforts taken to prevent or hinder WBC picketing, and was awarded approximately $200,000 in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attorney%27s_fee attorney's fees] and costs associated with the litigation. In 2004, Margie Phelps and her son Jacob were arrested for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trespassing trespassing], disorderly conduct and failure to obey after disregarding a police officer's order during an attempted protest. In response to pickets at funerals, Kansas passed a law prohibiting picketing at such events. In the autumn of 2007, the father of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_Marines Marine] whose funeral was picketed by the WBC was awarded $5 million in damages. The award was later overturned on appeal by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_Fourth_Circuit Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals] in a decision upheld by the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States Supreme Court] in ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snyder_v._Phelps Snyder v. Phelps]''. In June 2007 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Phelps-Roper Shirley Phelps-Roper] was arrested in Nebraska and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The arrest resulted from her allowing her eight-year-old son to step on the American flag during the demonstration, which is illegal under Nebraska law. The defense contends that the child's actions were protected speech, and that the state law is unconstitutional. The prosecution claimed the demonstration was not intended as political speech, but as an incitement to violence, and that Phelps-Roper's conduct might also constitute [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_abuse child abuse]. Prosecutors later dropped charges against Phelps-Roper. | |||
On two occasions, the church accepted offers for radio air time in exchange for canceling an announced protest. | |||
===Anti-gay picketing=== | ===Anti-gay picketing=== | ||
While being filmed by documentary film-maker [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Theroux Louis Theroux], they picketed a local appliance store because it sold Swedish vacuum cleaners, which the church viewed as supportive of gay people because of Swedish prosecution of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%85ke_Green Åke Green], a pastor critical of homosexuality. | While being filmed by documentary film-maker [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Theroux Louis Theroux], they picketed a local appliance store because it sold Swedish vacuum cleaners, which the church viewed as supportive of gay people because of Swedish prosecution of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%85ke_Green Åke Green], a pastor critical of homosexuality. | ||
The church has picketed, or threatened to picket, productions of ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Laramie_Project The Laramie Project]'', a play based on the murder of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard Matthew Shepard], whose funeral they also picketed. | The church has picketed, or threatened to picket, productions of ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Laramie_Project The Laramie Project]'', a play based on the murder of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard Matthew Shepard], whose funeral they also picketed. | ||
On January 25, 2004, Phelps picketed five churches (three [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic Catholic] and two [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episcopal_Church_%28United_States%29 Episcopalian]) and the Federal Courthouse for what he said was their part in legitimizing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage same-sex marriages] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa Iowa]. A community response was to hold counter-protests and a multifaith service in the municipal auditorium. | On January 25, 2004, Phelps picketed five churches (three [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic Catholic] and two [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Episcopal_Church_%28United_States%29 Episcopalian]) and the Federal Courthouse for what he said was their part in legitimizing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Same-sex_marriage same-sex marriages] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa Iowa]. A community response was to hold counter-protests and a multifaith service in the municipal auditorium. On January 15, 2006, Westboro members protested a memorial for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Sago_Mine_disaster 2006 Sago Mine disaster] victims, claiming that the mining accident was God's revenge against America for its tolerance of homosexuality. | ||
===Funeral pickets=== | ===Funeral pickets=== | ||
The group came into the national spotlight in 1998, when it was featured on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN CNN] for picketing the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a young man from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laramie,_Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming] who was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_bashing beaten to death by two men because of his homosexuality].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-30 [30]]</sup> Since then, the church has attracted attention for many more actual and planned funeral pickets. | The group came into the national spotlight in 1998, when it was featured on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CNN CNN] for picketing the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a young man from [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laramie,_Wyoming Laramie, Wyoming] who was [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_bashing beaten to death by two men because of his homosexuality].<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-30">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-30 [30]]</sup> Since then, the church has attracted attention for many more actual and planned funeral pickets. | ||
In July 2005, the Westboro Baptist Church declared its intention to picket the memorial service of Carrie French in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boise,_Idaho Boise, Idaho]. French, 19, was killed on June 5 in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkuk Kirkuk], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq Iraq], where she served as an ammunition specialist with the 116th Brigade Combat Team's 145th Support Battalion. Phelps Sr. said, "Our attitude toward what's happening with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War the war] is the Lord is punishing this evil nation for abandoning all moral imperatives that are worth a dime." | In July 2005, the Westboro Baptist Church declared its intention to picket the memorial service of Carrie French in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boise,_Idaho Boise, Idaho]. French, 19, was killed on June 5 in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkuk Kirkuk], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq Iraq], where she served as an ammunition specialist with the 116th Brigade Combat Team's 145th Support Battalion. Phelps Sr. said, "Our attitude toward what's happening with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War the war] is the Lord is punishing this evil nation for abandoning all moral imperatives that are worth a dime." | ||
In 2006, Westboro picketed with banners saying "God hates fags" and "Thank God for dead soldiers" at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster,_Maryland Westminster, Maryland], funeral of Matthew Snyder, a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Marine U.S. Marine] who was also killed in Iraq. | In 2006, Westboro picketed with banners saying "God hates fags" and "Thank God for dead soldiers" at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster,_Maryland Westminster, Maryland], funeral of Matthew Snyder, a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Marine U.S. Marine] who was also killed in Iraq. Ruling on a subsequent lawsuit filed by Snyder's father, Albert Snyder, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Supreme_Court U.S. Supreme Court] decided, 8–1, that Westboro's actions constituted protected free speech. | ||
On February 2, 2008, the group picketed during the funeral of former [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints LDS Church] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_Church president] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_B._Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_City Salt Lake City], Utah, displaying picket signs intended to criticize him for being a "lying false prophet" and "leading millions of people astray". | On February 2, 2008, the group picketed during the funeral of former [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints LDS Church] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_the_Church president] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_B._Hinckley Gordon B. Hinckley] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_City Salt Lake City], Utah, displaying picket signs intended to criticize him for being a "lying false prophet" and "leading millions of people astray". The organization also criticized Hinckley for being too accepting of gay people, accusing him of having an ambiguous voice about homosexuality rather than taking a firm stand against it. Police had difficulty determining whether the demonstration met the guidelines of protected free speech. | ||
Westboro picketed the funeral of recording artist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson Michael Jackson] after his death on June 25, 2009.< | Westboro picketed the funeral of recording artist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson Michael Jackson] after his death on June 25, 2009.<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>Members of Westboro have also recorded a song titled "God Hates the World", an adaptation of Jackson's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charity_single charity single] "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Are_the_World We Are the World]". | ||
In May 2010, Westboro picketed the funeral of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_music heavy metal] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer singer] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_James_Dio Ronnie James Dio] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles Los Angeles]. | In May 2010, Westboro picketed the funeral of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heavy_metal_music heavy metal] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singer singer] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronnie_James_Dio Ronnie James Dio] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Los_Angeles Los Angeles]. | ||
In January 2011, Westboro announced that they would picket the funeral of Christina Green, a 9-year-old victim of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Tucson_shooting 2011 Tucson shooting]. In response, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona Arizona] legislature passed an emergency bill to ban protests within 300 feet (91 m) of a funeral service, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucson Tucson] residents made plans to shield the funeral from protesters.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-46 [46]]</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-47 [47]]</sup> The church canceled plans to hold a protest during the memorial at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Arizona University of Arizona] in exchange for air time on radio talk shows. | In January 2011, Westboro announced that they would picket the funeral of Christina Green, a 9-year-old victim of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Tucson_shooting 2011 Tucson shooting]. In response, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arizona Arizona] legislature passed an emergency bill to ban protests within 300 feet (91 m) of a funeral service, and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tucson Tucson] residents made plans to shield the funeral from protesters.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-46">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-46 [46]]</sup><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-47">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-47 [47]]</sup> The church canceled plans to hold a protest during the memorial at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Arizona University of Arizona] in exchange for air time on radio talk shows. According to university officials, between 700 and 1,200 students amassed to counter four WBC picketers who appeared at the campus after the event. Jael Phelps explained to Louis Theroux in her ''America's Most Hated Family in Crisis'' interview that she and the other members of the WBC picketed at the funeral of a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muslim Muslim] man's wife simply because the man had witnessed and scolded them for intentionally [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quran_desecration burning] a copy of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quran Quran] in public a week earlier. | ||
On October 5, 2011, Fred Phelps' daughter, Margie, announced via her [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter Twitter] account that the church would be picketing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc. Apple Inc.] founder [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs Steve Jobs]' funeral. | On October 5, 2011, Fred Phelps' daughter, Margie, announced via her [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter Twitter] account that the church would be picketing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_Inc. Apple Inc.] founder [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs Steve Jobs]' funeral. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS_News CBS News] and ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Washington_Post The Washington Post]'' noted the irony in the fact that Margie used an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPhone iPhone] to create the tweet. | ||
The church announced on December 16, 2012, it would be picketing at the funerals of the victims of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings]. | The church announced on December 16, 2012, it would be picketing at the funerals of the victims of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings]. | ||
On April 6, 2013, the church announced it would picket the funeral of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Ebert Roger Ebert], | On April 6, 2013, the church announced it would picket the funeral of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Ebert Roger Ebert], calling him a "fag enabler". However, Ebert's funeral occurred, as planned, on April 8, 2013,<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>and no one from the church was observed to have been present, or to have protested. | ||
On April 15, 2013, the church posted a press release to its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter Twitter] account in which it thanked God for that day's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon_bombings Boston Marathon bombings], and announced its plan to "picket the funeral of those killed". Pointing out that the federal government is classifying the bombings as a terrorist attack, yet is being unclear about whether it is of a "domestic or foreign nature", the release went on to claim to answer the question with, "Here's a hint — GOD SENT THE BOMBS! How many more terrifying ways will you have the LORD injure and kill your fellow countrymen because you insist on nation-dooming filthy fag marriage?!" By early the next morning, nearly 4,000 people had signed a ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_the_People_%28petitioning_system%29 We the People]'' petition on the White House website asking for the banning of such demonstrations by the church at victims' funerals. Additionally, a posting that same day on a Twitter account affiliated with the hacker group [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_%28group%29 Anonymous] warned that Church leaders would be targeted if they made good on their threat to picket the funerals.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-58">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-58 [58]]</sup> | On April 15, 2013, the church posted a press release to its [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter Twitter] account in which it thanked God for that day's [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon_bombings Boston Marathon bombings], and announced its plan to "picket the funeral of those killed". Pointing out that the federal government is classifying the bombings as a terrorist attack, yet is being unclear about whether it is of a "domestic or foreign nature", the release went on to claim to answer the question with, "Here's a hint — GOD SENT THE BOMBS! How many more terrifying ways will you have the LORD injure and kill your fellow countrymen because you insist on nation-dooming filthy fag marriage?!" By early the next morning, nearly 4,000 people had signed a ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_the_People_%28petitioning_system%29 We the People]'' petition on the White House website asking for the banning of such demonstrations by the church at victims' funerals. Additionally, a posting that same day on a Twitter account affiliated with the hacker group [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_%28group%29 Anonymous] warned that Church leaders would be targeted if they made good on their threat to picket the funerals.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-58">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-58 [58]]</sup> | ||