Westboro Baptist Church: Difference between revisions
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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. | 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]. | 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]. 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." | ||
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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.< | 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.<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>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. [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. | 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. | ||
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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 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. | 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. | ||
On May 20, 2013, the church tweeted praising God for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Moore_tornado 2013 Moore tornado] and that they would protest the funerals of the victims. | On May 20, 2013, the church tweeted praising God for the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Moore_tornado 2013 Moore tornado] and that they would protest the funerals of the victims. | ||
===Protests against Jewish institutions=== | ===Protests against Jewish institutions=== | ||
In 1996 Phelps led a protest at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Holocaust_Memorial_Museum United States Holocaust Memorial Museum] in Washington, D.C., proclaiming: | In 1996 Phelps led a protest at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Holocaust_Memorial_Museum United States Holocaust Memorial Museum] in Washington, D.C., proclaiming: | ||
Whatever righteous cause the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism Jewish] victims of the 1930s–40s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi Nazi] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust Holocaust] had (probably minuscule, compared to the Jewish Holocausts against [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Passage Middle Passage] Blacks, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americans African Americans] and Christians—including the bloody persecution of Westboro Baptist Church by Topeka Jews in the 1990s), has been drowned in sodomite semen. American taxpayers are financing this unholy monument to Jewish mendacity and greed and to filthy fag lust. Homosexuals and Jews dominated [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany Nazi Germany] ... The Jews now wander the earth despised, smitten with moral and spiritual blindness by a divine judicial stroke ... And God has smitten Jews with a certain unique madness ... Jews, thus perverted, out of all proportion to their numbers energize the militant sodomite agenda... Jews are the real Nazis. | Whatever righteous cause the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaism Jewish] victims of the 1930s–40s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi Nazi] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust Holocaust] had (probably minuscule, compared to the Jewish Holocausts against [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Passage Middle Passage] Blacks, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Americans African Americans] and Christians—including the bloody persecution of Westboro Baptist Church by Topeka Jews in the 1990s), has been drowned in sodomite semen. American taxpayers are financing this unholy monument to Jewish mendacity and greed and to filthy fag lust. Homosexuals and Jews dominated [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germany Nazi Germany] ... The Jews now wander the earth despised, smitten with moral and spiritual blindness by a divine judicial stroke ... And God has smitten Jews with a certain unique madness ... Jews, thus perverted, out of all proportion to their numbers energize the militant sodomite agenda... Jews are the real Nazis. WBC was present at a 2002 Holocaust memorial dedication in Topeka, proclaiming "God Hates [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Judaism Reform Judaism]". | ||
On May 8, 2009, members of the church protested at three Jewish sites in Washington, D.C., including the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Defamation_League Anti-Defamation League] (ADL) offices, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Holocaust_Memorial_Museum U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum] and the city's largest synagogue. Margie Phelps, daughter of Pastor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Phelps Fred Phelps], led the protest, holding signs stating that "God Hates [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel Israel]", "Jews Killed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus Jesus]", "America Is Doomed", "Israel Is Doomed", and "ADL Jew Bullies". The protest was apparently part of a series of upcoming protests which the church has planned at Jewish institutions in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha,_Nebraska Omaha], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis,_Missouri St. Louis], South Florida and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence,_Rhode_Island Providence]. The group reportedly posted a list of the upcoming protests' locations and dates, along with the statement "Jews Killed the Lord Jesus." | On May 8, 2009, members of the church protested at three Jewish sites in Washington, D.C., including the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Defamation_League Anti-Defamation League] (ADL) offices, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Holocaust_Memorial_Museum U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum] and the city's largest synagogue. Margie Phelps, daughter of Pastor [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Phelps Fred Phelps], led the protest, holding signs stating that "God Hates [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel Israel]", "Jews Killed [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus Jesus]", "America Is Doomed", "Israel Is Doomed", and "ADL Jew Bullies". The protest was apparently part of a series of upcoming protests which the church has planned at Jewish institutions in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omaha,_Nebraska Omaha], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Louis,_Missouri St. Louis], South Florida and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence,_Rhode_Island Providence]. The group reportedly posted a list of the upcoming protests' locations and dates, along with the statement "Jews Killed the Lord Jesus." | ||
In an interview, Margie Phelps said that her church was targeting the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Jews American Jewish community] because church members had "testified" to Gentiles for 19 years that "America is doomed" and that "Now it's too late. We're done with them." She also claimed that Jews were "one of the loudest voices" in favor of homosexuality and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion abortion], and that "[Jews] claim to be God's chosen people. Do you think that God is going to wink at that forever?" Phelps concluded by stating, in an apparent reference to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation Book of Revelation], that all the nations of the world would soon march on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel Israel], and that they would be led by President [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama Barack Obama], whom she called the "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antichrist Antichrist]". | In an interview, Margie Phelps said that her church was targeting the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Jews American Jewish community] because church members had "testified" to Gentiles for 19 years that "America is doomed" and that "Now it's too late. We're done with them." She also claimed that Jews were "one of the loudest voices" in favor of homosexuality and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abortion abortion], and that "[Jews] claim to be God's chosen people. Do you think that God is going to wink at that forever?" Phelps concluded by stating, in an apparent reference to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation Book of Revelation], that all the nations of the world would soon march on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel Israel], and that they would be led by President [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama Barack Obama], whom she called the "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antichrist Antichrist]". | ||
===Other protest activities=== | ===Other protest activities=== | ||
On January 26, 2008, WBC traveled to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacksonville,_North_Carolina Jacksonville, North Carolina], home of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Lejeune Camp Lejeune], to protest the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps United States Marine Corps] in the wake of the murder of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Lauterbach Maria Lauterbach]. Five women protested, stomping on the American flag and shouting slogans such as "1,2,3,4, God Hates the Marine Corps". A group of over 40 counter-protesters arrived and one spat in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Phelps-Roper Shirley Phelps-Roper]'s face. Another counter-protest was held across town, which attracted over 150 counterprotesters. | On January 26, 2008, WBC traveled to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacksonville,_North_Carolina Jacksonville, North Carolina], home of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_Lejeune Camp Lejeune], to protest the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps United States Marine Corps] in the wake of the murder of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Lauterbach Maria Lauterbach]. Five women protested, stomping on the American flag and shouting slogans such as "1,2,3,4, God Hates the Marine Corps". A group of over 40 counter-protesters arrived and one spat in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shirley_Phelps-Roper Shirley Phelps-Roper]'s face. Another counter-protest was held across town, which attracted over 150 counterprotesters. | ||
On May 14, 2008, two days after the deadly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Sichuan_earthquake 2008 Sichuan earthquake], WBC issued a press release thanking God for the heavy loss of life in China, and praying "for many more earthquakes to kill many more thousands of impudent and ungrateful Chinese". | On May 14, 2008, two days after the deadly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Sichuan_earthquake 2008 Sichuan earthquake], WBC issued a press release thanking God for the heavy loss of life in China, and praying "for many more earthquakes to kill many more thousands of impudent and ungrateful Chinese". | ||
On May 29, 2011, the WBC intended to protest in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joplin,_Missouri Joplin, Missouri], at the memorial service for the victims of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Joplin_Tornado May 22, 2011, tornado] that leveled large portions of that town. | On May 29, 2011, the WBC intended to protest in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joplin,_Missouri Joplin, Missouri], at the memorial service for the victims of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Joplin_Tornado May 22, 2011, tornado] that leveled large portions of that town. Those intending to protest the memorial service or President Obama's speech given there, or both, were refused entry into the venue by hundreds of local and regional residents, including a large group of bikers from the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Guard_Riders Patriot Guard Riders]. | ||
On May 30, 2011, the WBC was present at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_National_Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day Memorial Day] services as part of their "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" campaign. A counter protest included members of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan Ku Klux Klan]. | On May 30, 2011, the WBC was present at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arlington_National_Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery]'s [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day Memorial Day] services as part of their "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" campaign. A counter protest included members of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan Ku Klux Klan]. | ||
Eleven-year-old brain tumor victim Harry Moseley raised £500,000 for charity but Marge Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church criticized his family for not teaching him to "obey God". This comment within a few hours of the boy's death caused great distress to the bereaved. | Eleven-year-old brain tumor victim Harry Moseley raised £500,000 for charity but Marge Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church criticized his family for not teaching him to "obey God". This comment within a few hours of the boy's death caused great distress to the bereaved. | ||
The WBC announced its intent to protest December 19, 2012, at funerals of victims of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]. The online hactivist group [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_%28group%29 Anonymous] and several other groups responded by organizing a human wall to shield the victims' families. The WBC then left the area without engaging in any protests. | The WBC announced its intent to protest December 19, 2012, at funerals of victims of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting]. The online hactivist group [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anonymous_%28group%29 Anonymous] and several other groups responded by organizing a human wall to shield the victims' families. The WBC then left the area without engaging in any protests. | ||
===No shows=== | ===No shows=== | ||
The church has occasionally issued press releases threatening to picket sensitive events such as funerals and memorials without following through. Examples include the funerals of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Paterno Joe Paterno], | The church has occasionally issued press releases threatening to picket sensitive events such as funerals and memorials without following through. Examples include the funerals of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Paterno Joe Paterno], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Bragg#Events_of_note Roy Tisdale], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Susan_Powell Charlie and Braden Powell],<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs Steve Jobs], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitney_Houston Whitney Houston], and victims of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I-35W_Mississippi_River_bridge_collapse I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse].<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>Margie Phelps later claimed over [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter Twitter] to have protested Houston's funeral and uploaded an image showing WBC protestors there. However, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Star-Ledger Star-Ledger] reporters later stated that no WBC protestors had been present, leading to allegations of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photo_manipulation photo manipulation]. | ||
==Church views== | ==Church views== | ||
The Westboro Baptist Church considers membership in most religious groups, such as the Roman Catholic Church or Islam, as akin to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theistic_Satanism devil worship], and states these other churches to be "Satanic frauds preaching [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arminianism Arminian] lies".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-77">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-77 [77]]</sup> All non-Christian entities, non-Protestant Christian churches, and all Protestant Christian churches that do not strongly condemn homosexuality or align their beliefs and practices exactly with that of the WBC are said to be sending their members to Hell.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']</sup> | The Westboro Baptist Church considers membership in most religious groups, such as the Roman Catholic Church or Islam, as akin to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theistic_Satanism devil worship], and states these other churches to be "Satanic frauds preaching [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arminianism Arminian] lies".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-77">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-77 [77]]</sup> All non-Christian entities, non-Protestant Christian churches, and all Protestant Christian churches that do not strongly condemn homosexuality or align their beliefs and practices exactly with that of the WBC are said to be sending their members to Hell.<sup class="Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed citation needed]'']</sup> | ||
===Purpose of protests and church actions=== | ===Purpose of protests and church actions=== | ||
In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC BBC] documentary ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Hated_Family_in_America The Most Hated Family in America]'', filmmaker [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Theroux Louis Theroux] questioned Shirley Phelps-Roper as to whether she had considered that Westboro's technique of protests were more likely to "put people ''off'' the Word of Jesus Christ and the Bible". In response, Phelps-Roper said, "''You'' think our job is to win souls to Christ. All we do, by getting in their face and putting these signs in front of them and these plain words, is make what's already in their heart come out of their mouth." | In the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC BBC] documentary ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Hated_Family_in_America The Most Hated Family in America]'', filmmaker [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Theroux Louis Theroux] questioned Shirley Phelps-Roper as to whether she had considered that Westboro's technique of protests were more likely to "put people ''off'' the Word of Jesus Christ and the Bible". In response, Phelps-Roper said, "''You'' think our job is to win souls to Christ. All we do, by getting in their face and putting these signs in front of them and these plain words, is make what's already in their heart come out of their mouth." Later in the documentary, Phelps-Roper agrees that the $200,000 the church annually spends to fly to funerals to protest was money spent to spread "God's hate". | ||
===Views on homosexuality=== | ===Views on homosexuality=== | ||
The church is noted for its anti-homosexual | The church is noted for its anti-homosexual rhetoric and runs numerous web sites such as GodHatesFags.com, GodHatesAmerica.com, and others expressing condemnation of homosexuality. | ||
The group bases its work on the belief expressed by its best known slogan and the address of its primary web site, God Hates Fags, asserting that every tragedy in the world is linked to homosexuality—specifically society's increasing tolerance and acceptance of the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexual_agenda homosexual agenda]. The group maintains that God hates those who engage in homosexual activity above all other kinds of "sinners" | The group bases its work on the belief expressed by its best known slogan and the address of its primary web site, God Hates Fags, asserting that every tragedy in the world is linked to homosexuality—specifically society's increasing tolerance and acceptance of the so-called [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexual_agenda homosexual agenda]. The group maintains that God hates those who engage in homosexual activity above all other kinds of "sinners" and that homosexuality should be a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_punishment capital crime]. | ||
Their views on homosexuality are partially based on teachings found in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testament Old Testament], specifically [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviticus Leviticus] 18:22 and 20:13, which they interpret to mean that homosexual behavior is detestable, and that homosexuals should be put to death. | Their views on homosexuality are partially based on teachings found in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Testament Old Testament], specifically [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviticus Leviticus] 18:22 and 20:13, which they interpret to mean that homosexual behavior is detestable, and that homosexuals should be put to death. | ||
===Views on religions=== | ===Views on religions=== | ||
====Catholicism==== | ====Catholicism==== | ||
Westboro Baptist refers to Catholic priests as "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire vampires]" and "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula Draculas]" and talks of Catholic priests sucking semen out of male children's genitals like vampires suck blood from their victims. In addition, WBC calls [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI Pope Benedict XVI] such [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epithet epithets] as "The Godfather of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedophilia Pedophiles]" and "Pervert Pope". In April 2008 the WBC protested Pope Benedict XVI during a papal visit in New York City. | Westboro Baptist refers to Catholic priests as "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire vampires]" and "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula Draculas]" and talks of Catholic priests sucking semen out of male children's genitals like vampires suck blood from their victims. In addition, WBC calls [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI Pope Benedict XVI] such [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epithet epithets] as "The Godfather of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedophilia Pedophiles]" and "Pervert Pope". In April 2008 the WBC protested Pope Benedict XVI during a papal visit in New York City. | ||
The WBC launched a website called Priests Rape Boys in which they criticize the Roman Catholic Church because of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_sex_abuse_cases Catholic sex abuse scandal], saying, "Every time any person gives any amount of money to the Catholic Church, that person is paying the salary of pedophile rapists." | The WBC launched a website called Priests Rape Boys in which they criticize the Roman Catholic Church because of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_sex_abuse_cases Catholic sex abuse scandal], saying, "Every time any person gives any amount of money to the Catholic Church, that person is paying the salary of pedophile rapists." | ||
The WBC describes the Roman Catholic Church as "the largest, most well-funded and organized pedophile group in the history of man" | The WBC describes the Roman Catholic Church as "the largest, most well-funded and organized pedophile group in the history of man" and goes on to say that, "There are over 1 billion Catholics in the world—that's one out of every six people alive today—and every single one of them will split Hell wide open when they die—period. And there is nothing they can do about it." The WBC also criticizes Catholicism, as it does [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church Eastern Orthodoxy], for [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veneration venerating] the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Mary Virgin Mary], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints Saints], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relics relics], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icons icons]; they accuse the Catholic Church of committing [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idolatry idolatry]. | ||
====Protestantism==== | ====Protestantism==== | ||
Though the main purpose of the Priests Rape Boys website is to criticize Catholicism, the WBC also criticizes several mainline Protestant churches on the website, including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodists Methodists], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterians Presbyterians], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutherans Lutherans], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicans Anglicans], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptists Baptists]. The WBC states that | Though the main purpose of the Priests Rape Boys website is to criticize Catholicism, the WBC also criticizes several mainline Protestant churches on the website, including [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodists Methodists], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterians Presbyterians], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutherans Lutherans], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicans Anglicans], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baptists Baptists]. The WBC states that | ||
...their preachers have shirked their responsibility to tell people the truth about sin, and instead lie to them about what the Lord their God doth require of them. If these lying, false prophets told people the truth about what God says regarding those who suffer sin upon their neighbor (Lev. 19:17–18), there wouldn't be any butts in the seats when the plate got passed. These preachers are not preachers of righteousness, they are teachers having [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itching_ears itching ears] (2Tim 4:3), and they absolutely count on the abysmal bible illiteracy of their parishioners ... "Priests rape boys" is indeed an air-tight, three word case against all of the mainline "christian" churches – their preachers and members, without exception. They are all going to Hell! | ...their preachers have shirked their responsibility to tell people the truth about sin, and instead lie to them about what the Lord their God doth require of them. If these lying, false prophets told people the truth about what God says regarding those who suffer sin upon their neighbor (Lev. 19:17–18), there wouldn't be any butts in the seats when the plate got passed. These preachers are not preachers of righteousness, they are teachers having [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Itching_ears itching ears] (2Tim 4:3), and they absolutely count on the abysmal bible illiteracy of their parishioners ... "Priests rape boys" is indeed an air-tight, three word case against all of the mainline "christian" churches – their preachers and members, without exception. They are all going to Hell!" | ||
The WBC claims that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Christians Orthodox Christians] are indistinguishable from Roman Catholics. The WBC criticizes the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church Eastern Orthodox Church]'s use of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_icons icons], claiming that they constitute [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idolatry idolatry]. The WBC also criticizes veneration of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Mary Virgin Mary], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theotokos Theotokos], saying, "There is no scripture that supports bowing down to kiss images ... or praying to Mary! She was a human being, who God predestinated to bring forth the Lord Jesus Christ, and to raise him." | |||
The WBC claims that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Christians Orthodox Christians] are indistinguishable from Roman Catholics. The WBC criticizes the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church Eastern Orthodox Church]'s use of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_icons icons], claiming that they constitute [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idolatry idolatry]. The WBC also criticizes veneration of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgin_Mary Virgin Mary], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theotokos Theotokos], saying, "There is no scripture that supports bowing down to kiss images ... or praying to Mary! She was a human being, who God predestinated to bring forth the Lord Jesus Christ, and to raise him." | |||
====Islam==== | ====Islam==== | ||
In response to a ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsweek Newsweek]'' article alleging that American soldiers flushed copies of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur%27an Qur'an] down the toilet at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_X-Ray Camp X-Ray] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detainment_camp Guantanamo Bay], Fred Phelps released this statement: | In response to a ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsweek Newsweek]'' article alleging that American soldiers flushed copies of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur%27an Qur'an] down the toilet at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camp_X-Ray Camp X-Ray] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detainment_camp Guantanamo Bay], Fred Phelps released this statement: | ||
So what if our guys flushed copies of the Quran down the toilet? We hope they did. They probably did; We hope they flush more. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed Mohammed] was a demon-possessed whoremonger and pedophile who contrived a 300-page work of Satanic fiction: The Quran! Like America's own whoremonger and pedophile wangled his own hokey [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Mormon Book of Mormon]!In relation to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War Iraq War], a WBC flyer says "America bombed our church with an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvised_explosive_device IED] made by fag students... In His retaliatory rage God is killing Americans with Muslim IEDs: 'Saying, Touch not my anointed, and do my prophets no harm.' 1 Chron 16:22." | So what if our guys flushed copies of the Quran down the toilet? We hope they did. They probably did; We hope they flush more. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed Mohammed] was a demon-possessed whoremonger and pedophile who contrived a 300-page work of Satanic fiction: The Quran! Like America's own whoremonger and pedophile wangled his own hokey [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Mormon Book of Mormon]!In relation to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_War Iraq War], a WBC flyer says "America bombed our church with an [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Improvised_explosive_device IED] made by fag students... In His retaliatory rage God is killing Americans with Muslim IEDs: 'Saying, Touch not my anointed, and do my prophets no harm.' 1 Chron 16:22." | ||
In the 2011 documentary ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Most_Hated_Family_in_Crisis America's Most Hated Family in Crisis]'' by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Theroux Louis Theroux], Jael Phelps explained in an interview that herself and the other members of the WBC tauntingly and publicly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quran_desecration burned] a copy of the Quran while being scolded by a Muslim man, calling it an "idolatrous piece of trash" and that they were giving it the "proper respect that it deserves" by doing so. | In the 2011 documentary ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America%27s_Most_Hated_Family_in_Crisis America's Most Hated Family in Crisis]'' by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Theroux Louis Theroux], Jael Phelps explained in an interview that herself and the other members of the WBC tauntingly and publicly [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quran_desecration burned] a copy of the Quran while being scolded by a Muslim man, calling it an "idolatrous piece of trash" and that they were giving it the "proper respect that it deserves" by doing so. They picketed the funeral of the Muslim man's wife the following week. Jael Phelps stated that the wife's death was partly due to her Muslim husband having spoken out against the WBC, and therefore rejecting God and bringing His "righteous judgement" down upon him. She also commented that "all those angry little Muslims can just shut their mouths." | ||
====Hinduism==== | ====Hinduism==== | ||
The WBC maintains a ''God Hates India'' webpage where they state "80% of India's population claim to practice [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism]. Nuff said. A country full of idolatry inevitably results in a nation full of fags and fag-enablers, because that's what happens when you depart from the Living God!" | The WBC maintains a ''God Hates India'' webpage where they state "80% of India's population claim to practice [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism Hinduism]. Nuff said. A country full of idolatry inevitably results in a nation full of fags and fag-enablers, because that's what happens when you depart from the Living God!" | ||
The WBC then admonishes Hindus to convert to Christianity saying: "If you would STOP worshipping false gods, being a fag would not be a complex matter. Stop going a whoring after other gods and start serving the Living God in truth!" | The WBC then admonishes Hindus to convert to Christianity saying: "If you would STOP worshipping false gods, being a fag would not be a complex matter. Stop going a whoring after other gods and start serving the Living God in truth!" | ||
====Judaism==== | ====Judaism==== | ||
In the section about Jews, the WBC FAQ states: | In the section about Jews, the WBC FAQ states: | ||
The only true Jews are Christians. The rest of the people who claim to be Jews aren't, and they are nothing more than typical, impenitent sinners ... the vast majority of Jews support fags. In fact, it is the official policy of Reformed Jews to support same-sex marriage. Of course, there are Jews who still believe God's law, but most of them have even departed from that. It doesn't matter if you're a Jew or a Gentile...as long as you believe in Christ.< | The only true Jews are Christians. The rest of the people who claim to be Jews aren't, and they are nothing more than typical, impenitent sinners ... the vast majority of Jews support fags. In fact, it is the official policy of Reformed Jews to support same-sex marriage. Of course, there are Jews who still believe God's law, but most of them have even departed from that. It doesn't matter if you're a Jew or a Gentile...as long as you believe in Christ.<span style="font-size:11px;line-height:0px;"> </span>In 1996, Phelps began a campaign called "Topeka's Baptist Holocaust", whereby he attempted to draw attention to attacks perpetrated against WBC picketers, saying that they were not random but organized attacks orchestrated by Jews and homosexuals. Phelps announced, "Jews killed Christ", and "Fag Jew Nazis are worse than ordinary Nazis. They've had more experience. The First Holocaust was a Jewish Holocaust against Christians. The latest Holocaust is by Topeka Jews against Westboro Baptist Church." | ||
In another statement, he said "Topeka Jews today stir up Kansas tyrants in persecuting Westboro Baptists. They whine about the Nazi Holocaust, while they perpetrate the Topeka Holocaust." | In another statement, he said "Topeka Jews today stir up Kansas tyrants in persecuting Westboro Baptists. They whine about the Nazi Holocaust, while they perpetrate the Topeka Holocaust." | ||
A March 25, 2006 flier regarding a Jewish adversary of Phelps uses the phrase "bloody Jew" four times and the phrase "evil Jew" more than once every 12 sentences. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Defamation_League Anti-Defamation League] has criticized the church and Phelps, | A March 25, 2006 flier regarding a Jewish adversary of Phelps uses the phrase "bloody Jew" four times and the phrase "evil Jew" more than once every 12 sentences. The [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Defamation_League Anti-Defamation League] has criticized the church and Phelps, and keeps a sampling of WBC's fliers regarding Judaism on their website. | ||
The WBC has described the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust Holocaust] as God's punishment on Jews. | The WBC has described the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holocaust Holocaust] as God's punishment on Jews. | ||
===Views on race and nationality=== | ===Views on race and nationality=== | ||
Founder Fred Phelps is a veteran of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Civil_Rights_Movement_%281955%E2%80%931968%29 Civil Rights movement] in the 1960s. | Founder Fred Phelps is a veteran of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Civil_Rights_Movement_%281955%E2%80%931968%29 Civil Rights movement] in the 1960s. The Church's disapproval of racism and the use of physical violence by groups such as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neo-Nazism neo-Nazis] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan KKK] is stated on its website. According to the site's FAQ page, "we don't believe in physical violence of any kind, and the Scripture doesn't support racism. ... The only true Nazis in this world are fags."<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-97">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-97 [97]]</sup> | ||
The Church has previously condemned particular nations, such as Italy, which it described as a nation of "mobster-breeding perverts"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-98">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-98 [98]]</sup> and Australia, which it describes as the "land of the sodomite damned".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wbc-aus_99-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-wbc-aus-99 [99]]</sup> | The Church has previously condemned particular nations, such as Italy, which it described as a nation of "mobster-breeding perverts"<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-98">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-98 [98]]</sup> and Australia, which it describes as the "land of the sodomite damned".<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-wbc-aus_99-0">[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church#cite_note-wbc-aus-99 [99]]</sup> | ||