Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) is a Baptist church (unaffiliated with any Baptist organization) which is known for its hate speech, especially against LGBT people (homophobia), Catholics (anti-Catholicism), Muslims (Islamophobia), Jews (religious antisemitism), American soldiers and politicians.[3][4] The church is widely known as a hate group[5] and is monitored as such by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The church has been involved in actions against gay people since at least 1991, when it sought a crackdown on homosexual activity at Gage Park six blocks northwest of the church.[6] In addition to conducting anti-gay protests at military funerals, the organization pickets celebrity funerals and public events.[7] Protests have also been held against Jews and Catholics, and some protests have included WBC members stomping on the American flag and/or flying the flag upside down on a flagpole. The church also has made statements such as, "thank God for dead soldiers," "God blew up the troops," "thank God for 9/11," and "God hates America."[8]
The church is headquartered in a residential neighborhood on the west side of Topeka about 3 miles (5 km) west of the Kansas State Capitol. Its first public service was held on the afternoon of November 27, 1955.[9] The church was headed by Fred Phelps before his death in March 2014, though church representatives said the church had had no defined leader for some time before his death.[10] The church consists primarily of members of Phelps's extended family,[11] and in 2011, the church stated that it had about 40 members.[2]
The WBC is not affiliated with any Baptist denomination, although it describes itself as Primitive Baptist and following the Five points of Calvinism.[1] The Baptist World Alliance and the Southern Baptist Convention (the two largest Baptist denominations) have both denounced the WBC over the years.[12] In addition, other mainstream Christian denominations, such as the Methodist Church, Baptist Church, Reformed Church, and Evangelical Church have condemned the actions of the independent Westboro Baptist Church.[13]
never heard of that church
Ding! Coo-Coo. Ding! Coo-coo.
You haven´t , really ???????
They probably dance around snakes too.
Who knows? It wasn't on the news. I am sure they have not incited any LOVE.
A representative for the fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church told USA TODAY that its members plan to picket Saturday outside the funeral for two of the victims of last Sunday's shooting massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
"It's not about that person, it's about that whole societal phenomenon," Westboro spokesman Steve Drain of Topeka, Kan., said Thursday night in a telephone interview. "It’s never been OK to be gay and it’s never going to be OK to be gay, no matter how much the spirit of the times calls for the popularity of that sin."
The Kansas-based church, through a lawyer, sent a letter to the Orlando Police Department spelling out plans to protest outside the Cathedral Church of St. Luke on Saturday from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. Westboro members are known for protesting outside the funerals of gays and lesbians. Members declare that the Bible stipulates that the LGBT lifestyle is a sin.
In the letter dated June 16, lawyer Rebekah Phelps-Davis wrote that Westboro members are "law-abiding and nonviolent" and requested that police "fulfill their duty to take responsible steps to keep the peace." They also requested information on permits that are required.
About six members will take part in Saturday's protest, Drain said.
A representative for the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida told the Orlando Sentinel that Westboro members can expect some pushback.
The organization has obtained a protest permit to cushion the families of the two victims to be memorialized Saturday, Terry DeCarlo, executive director of the center, told the news organization. "We'll make sure they are not heard," he told the Sentinel.
Staffers at the cathedral could not be reached Thursday night, but the church has been straightforward about its support of the gay and lesbian community.
How do you know? Did you check their credentials? They are cowards who hide just like the KuKluxKlan.
There are a lot of racists out there who swear the KKK has not harmed anyone (recently ) either. You know there are a lot of Westboro Nuts, and you KNOW no one has KILLED anyone? Get real.
Gee, I'll bet the picketing during the funerals of the dead QUEERS was really peaceful too
A representative for the fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church told USA TODAY that its members plan to picket Saturday outside the funeral for two of the victims of last Sunday's shooting massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
"It's not about that person, it's about that whole societal phenomenon," Westboro spokesman Steve Drain of Topeka, Kan., said Thursday night in a telephone interview. "It’s never been OK to be gay and it’s never going to be OK to be gay, no matter how much the spirit of the times calls for the popularity of that sin."
The Kansas-based church, through a lawyer, sent a letter to the Orlando Police Department spelling out plans to protest outside the Cathedral Church of St. Luke on Saturday from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. Westboro members are known for protesting outside the funerals of gays and lesbians. Members declare that the Bible stipulates that the LGBT lifestyle is a sin.
In the letter dated June 16, lawyer Rebekah Phelps-Davis wrote that Westboro members are "law-abiding and nonviolent" and requested that police "fulfill their duty to take responsible steps to keep the peace." They also requested information on permits that are required.
About six members will take part in Saturday's protest, Drain said.
A representative for the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida told the Orlando Sentinel that Westboro members can expect some pushback.
The organization has obtained a protest permit to cushion the families of the two victims to be memorialized Saturday, Terry DeCarlo, executive director of the center, told the news organization. "We'll make sure they are not heard," he told the Sentinel.
Staffers at the cathedral could not be reached Thursday night, but the church has been straightforward about its support of the gay and lesbian community.
This is an example and you are not worth even bothering with, yourself. You do not GET it. Do you? You think this is old? This is COMMON.
Capron,
The ONLY thing old is your views about it.
A representative for the fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church told USA TODAY that its members plan to picket Saturday outside the funeral for two of the victims of last Sunday's shooting massacre at a gay nightclub in Orlando.
"It's not about that person, it's about that whole societal phenomenon," Westboro spokesman Steve Drain of Topeka, Kan., said Thursday night in a telephone interview. "It’s never been OK to be gay and it’s never going to be OK to be gay, no matter how much the spirit of the times calls for the popularity of that sin."
The Kansas-based church, through a lawyer, sent a letter to the Orlando Police Department spelling out plans to protest outside the Cathedral Church of St. Luke on Saturday from 10:15 a.m. to 11 a.m. Westboro members are known for protesting outside the funerals of gays and lesbians. Members declare that the Bible stipulates that the LGBT lifestyle is a sin.
In the letter dated June 16, lawyer Rebekah Phelps-Davis wrote that Westboro members are "law-abiding and nonviolent" and requested that police "fulfill their duty to take responsible steps to keep the peace." They also requested information on permits that are required.
About six members will take part in Saturday's protest, Drain said.
A representative for the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida told the Orlando Sentinel that Westboro members can expect some pushback.
The organization has obtained a protest permit to cushion the families of the two victims to be memorialized Saturday, Terry DeCarlo, executive director of the center, told the news organization. "We'll make sure they are not heard," he told the Sentinel.
Staffers at the cathedral could not be reached Thursday night, but the church has been straightforward about its support of the gay and lesbian community.
Guess so.
