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Edwards funeral to be picketed by controversial church
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40587353/ns/us_news-life/
12/9/10
A church that pickets funerals to protest what it calls American immorality says its members will be picketing the service this Saturday for Elizabeth Edwards, who died of breast cancer on Tuesday.
Based in Topeka, Kan., the Westboro Baptist Church said it would be outside the Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh, N.C., during the funeral for the former wife of one-time vice presidential candidate John Edwards.
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..Westboro members, led by the Rev. Fred Phelps, have also picketed military funerals to make their point that U.S. deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq are punishment for Americans' immorality, including tolerance of homosexuality and abortion.
Signs like "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" have been raised at military funerals, and the church announced its latest action with a press release titled "God hates Elizabeth Edwards."
The church, founded in 1955, has about 70 members consisting mostly of Phelps' children, grandchildren or in-laws. Phelps, 80, and his followers have protested at more than 200 military funerals, according to court documents.
The church has gotten the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court, which last October heard arguments over whether it has a free speech right to picket funerals with its controversial signs.
The justices are expected to rule by mid-2011 in the case brought by the father of a Marine killed in Iraq. He wants a $5 million civil verdict reinstated against members of the church.
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..An appeals court threw out the fine on the ground that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of free speech.
The Supreme Court justices heard arguments in the emotion-laden case of Albert Snyder. His son died in Iraq in 2006, and members of the church protested the funeral.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the question is whether the First Amendment must tolerate "exploiting this bereaved family."
There was no clear answer from the court during the questioning.
Snyder is asking the court to reinstate the lower-court verdict's fine against the Westboro members who held signs outside the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, including ones that read "Thank God for Dead Soldiers, "You're Going to Hell" and "God Hates the USA." The Marine was killed in a Humvee accident in 2006.
The church also posted a poem on its website that attacked Snyder and his ex-wife for the way they brought up Matthew.
The case pits the right of the father, Albert Snyder, to grieve privately against the church members' right to say what they want, no matter how offensive.
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..The members of the small church welcome the attention the protests have brought, mocking their critics and vowing not to change their ways whatever the outcome at the Supreme Court.
"No American should ever be required to apologize for following his or her conscience," said Margie Phelps, a daughter of Fred Phelps and the lawyer arguing the case for the church.
Snyder won an $11 million verdict against the church for intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other claims. A judge reduced the award to $5 million before the federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., threw out the verdict altogether, citing the church's free speech rights under the First Amendment.
For Snyder, the case is not about free speech but harassment. "I had one chance to bury my son and it was taken from me," Snyder said.
Forty-eight states, 42 U.S. senators and veterans groups have sided with Snyder, asking the court to shield funerals from the church's "psychological terrorism."
While distancing themselves from the church's message, media organizations, including The Associated Press, have called on the court to side with church because of concerns that a victory for Snyder could erode free speech rights.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
12/9/10
A church that pickets funerals to protest what it calls American immorality says its members will be picketing the service this Saturday for Elizabeth Edwards, who died of breast cancer on Tuesday.
Based in Topeka, Kan., the Westboro Baptist Church said it would be outside the Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh, N.C., during the funeral for the former wife of one-time vice presidential candidate John Edwards.
Related content Newsweek: Revisiting the Westboro Baptist Church
Newsweek: SCOTUS to hear church free speech case
..Westboro members, led by the Rev. Fred Phelps, have also picketed military funerals to make their point that U.S. deaths in Afghanistan and Iraq are punishment for Americans' immorality, including tolerance of homosexuality and abortion.
Signs like "Thank God for Dead Soldiers" have been raised at military funerals, and the church announced its latest action with a press release titled "God hates Elizabeth Edwards."
The church, founded in 1955, has about 70 members consisting mostly of Phelps' children, grandchildren or in-laws. Phelps, 80, and his followers have protested at more than 200 military funerals, according to court documents.
The church has gotten the attention of the U.S. Supreme Court, which last October heard arguments over whether it has a free speech right to picket funerals with its controversial signs.
The justices are expected to rule by mid-2011 in the case brought by the father of a Marine killed in Iraq. He wants a $5 million civil verdict reinstated against members of the church.
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..An appeals court threw out the fine on the ground that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the right of free speech.
The Supreme Court justices heard arguments in the emotion-laden case of Albert Snyder. His son died in Iraq in 2006, and members of the church protested the funeral.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg said the question is whether the First Amendment must tolerate "exploiting this bereaved family."
There was no clear answer from the court during the questioning.
Snyder is asking the court to reinstate the lower-court verdict's fine against the Westboro members who held signs outside the funeral of Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, including ones that read "Thank God for Dead Soldiers, "You're Going to Hell" and "God Hates the USA." The Marine was killed in a Humvee accident in 2006.
The church also posted a poem on its website that attacked Snyder and his ex-wife for the way they brought up Matthew.
The case pits the right of the father, Albert Snyder, to grieve privately against the church members' right to say what they want, no matter how offensive.
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..The members of the small church welcome the attention the protests have brought, mocking their critics and vowing not to change their ways whatever the outcome at the Supreme Court.
"No American should ever be required to apologize for following his or her conscience," said Margie Phelps, a daughter of Fred Phelps and the lawyer arguing the case for the church.
Snyder won an $11 million verdict against the church for intentional infliction of emotional distress, among other claims. A judge reduced the award to $5 million before the federal appeals court in Richmond, Va., threw out the verdict altogether, citing the church's free speech rights under the First Amendment.
For Snyder, the case is not about free speech but harassment. "I had one chance to bury my son and it was taken from me," Snyder said.
Forty-eight states, 42 U.S. senators and veterans groups have sided with Snyder, asking the court to shield funerals from the church's "psychological terrorism."
While distancing themselves from the church's message, media organizations, including The Associated Press, have called on the court to side with church because of concerns that a victory for Snyder could erode free speech rights.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Yes, she did and so did her family. What this church does is shameful. I'm just glad people came out to counter the picketers.
It doesn't matter what she was "comfortable" with; she had a right to a quiet, respectful funeral service and her family has the right to mourn in peace, without a bunch of scumbag fanatics disrupting things.
From what I heard, Elizabeth Edwards was "comfortable" with gay marriage, and that's why they targeted her.
As to why the fallen soldiers, that one still stumps me!
As to why the fallen soldiers, that one still stumps me!
I'm glad they weren't able to disrupt things to much. She deserved a service with dignity...I really admire that lady. I saw a little bit of her daughters eulogy on the news..it was lovely.
With this group from Westboro Church. I understand that are obviously very anti gay. I looked at their website and they seem to be a pretty hate filled group of people, with the gay population being one of their primary targets. And Obama of course. What I do not understand is how picketing fallen soldiers funerals or the funerals of people like Elizabeth Edwards has anything to do with that. They don't even make sense. Then again, hate filled people like that usually don't. But what is the purpose behind doing this?
With this group from Westboro Church. I understand that are obviously very anti gay. I looked at their website and they seem to be a pretty hate filled group of people, with the gay population being one of their primary targets. And Obama of course. What I do not understand is how picketing fallen soldiers funerals or the funerals of people like Elizabeth Edwards has anything to do with that. They don't even make sense. Then again, hate filled people like that usually don't. But what is the purpose behind doing this?
I found this:
(ChattahBox US News)— The Raleigh, NC funeral for Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Democratic Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards, was sullied by a handful of anti-gay protesters from the odious hate group the Westboro Baptist Church on Saturday. But a remarkable event occurred on the rainy street in front of Elizabeth Edwards’ funeral services, orchestrated by the Facebook group, called “Protect Elizabeth Edwards’ funeral from Westboro clan.” An estimated 300 people answered the call to provide a “human buffer” of love to counter the hate of Fred Phelps’ Westboro group. Hundreds of people wearing pink ribbons and carrying signs with messages of hope and love quietly overwhelmed the five Westboro picketers, holding such despicable signs, as “God hates fag enablers.”
The Westboro Baptist Church is notorious for picketing the funerals of soldiers to garner attention for its anti-gay hate campaign that it promotes on the website, God Hates Fags. After announcing it planned to picket Elizabeth Edwards’ funeral, the “Protect Elizabeth Edwards’ funeral from Westboro clan” Facebook page quickly responded and delivered with hundreds of volunteers to form a “Line of Love.”
The Christian Science Monitor reported on the human buffer of love:
“Members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church picketed the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards in Raleigh, N.C. Saturday. But they were vastly outnumbered by a “human buffer” of people who quietly stood in the rain singing Christmas carols and carrying signs reading “God loves Elizabeth Edwards” or simply “Grace” and “Hope.” [...]
“In a 2007 interview, Mrs. Edwards described herself as “completely comfortable with gay marriage,” hence the Westboro protesters at the funeral. But on Saturday just five church members (two of them children) showed up to picket, waving hateful signs about Mrs. Edwards and the United Methodist Church where the service was held.”
A court case challenging the legal right of the Westboro group’s odious protests at the funerals of our fallen soldiers was recently argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. But First Amendment rights are expected to prevail, allowing the hate group to continue to protest at military funerals.
(ChattahBox US News)— The Raleigh, NC funeral for Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Democratic Vice Presidential nominee John Edwards, was sullied by a handful of anti-gay protesters from the odious hate group the Westboro Baptist Church on Saturday. But a remarkable event occurred on the rainy street in front of Elizabeth Edwards’ funeral services, orchestrated by the Facebook group, called “Protect Elizabeth Edwards’ funeral from Westboro clan.” An estimated 300 people answered the call to provide a “human buffer” of love to counter the hate of Fred Phelps’ Westboro group. Hundreds of people wearing pink ribbons and carrying signs with messages of hope and love quietly overwhelmed the five Westboro picketers, holding such despicable signs, as “God hates fag enablers.”
The Westboro Baptist Church is notorious for picketing the funerals of soldiers to garner attention for its anti-gay hate campaign that it promotes on the website, God Hates Fags. After announcing it planned to picket Elizabeth Edwards’ funeral, the “Protect Elizabeth Edwards’ funeral from Westboro clan” Facebook page quickly responded and delivered with hundreds of volunteers to form a “Line of Love.”
The Christian Science Monitor reported on the human buffer of love:
“Members of the controversial Westboro Baptist Church picketed the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards in Raleigh, N.C. Saturday. But they were vastly outnumbered by a “human buffer” of people who quietly stood in the rain singing Christmas carols and carrying signs reading “God loves Elizabeth Edwards” or simply “Grace” and “Hope.” [...]
“In a 2007 interview, Mrs. Edwards described herself as “completely comfortable with gay marriage,” hence the Westboro protesters at the funeral. But on Saturday just five church members (two of them children) showed up to picket, waving hateful signs about Mrs. Edwards and the United Methodist Church where the service was held.”
A court case challenging the legal right of the Westboro group’s odious protests at the funerals of our fallen soldiers was recently argued before the U.S. Supreme Court. But First Amendment rights are expected to prevail, allowing the hate group to continue to protest at military funerals.
This is to be a public funeral service. I hope someone stops these idiots.
Geez, do they never stop? Should have known their hate would rise up again. The devil sure is busy now days, I tell you.
Some day they will be held accountable and will have to stand before God and I sure wouldn't want to be in their shoes on Judgement Day.
I sure wish there was something they could do about these people though! Seriously, it's a cult, they're all brain washed and so full of hate they can't think straight. To me, that means they're dangerous. They seem to have lost all sense of dignity, compassion, and just plain common sense.
There's a motorcycle group called The Patriot Guard Riders who will protect families from picketers at no charge. They line up their bikes to block the picketers from getting too close to the family and funeral and if the protesters start shouting, they'll rev up their engines to drown out the hateful shouts. I know they mainly do military funerals (which is the ones this church usually protests at) but they may also do other funerals too. I just don't know. Still, it's something to look in to and I hope the Edward family will consider them.
You can google their name to find out more. Here's one link: http://www.patriotguard.org/
What this church is doing is about as shameful as you can get and I hope more people like the Patriot Guard Riders will step up to put a stop to this hate.
Everything this motorcycle group does to protect these families in legal and within the law. They are just tired like the rest of us of the abusive and shameful way this church treats people, espeically grieving families who just want to bury their loved ones.
We need more people like this group to stop bullies like the Westboro Church.
Some day they will be held accountable and will have to stand before God and I sure wouldn't want to be in their shoes on Judgement Day.
I sure wish there was something they could do about these people though! Seriously, it's a cult, they're all brain washed and so full of hate they can't think straight. To me, that means they're dangerous. They seem to have lost all sense of dignity, compassion, and just plain common sense.
There's a motorcycle group called The Patriot Guard Riders who will protect families from picketers at no charge. They line up their bikes to block the picketers from getting too close to the family and funeral and if the protesters start shouting, they'll rev up their engines to drown out the hateful shouts. I know they mainly do military funerals (which is the ones this church usually protests at) but they may also do other funerals too. I just don't know. Still, it's something to look in to and I hope the Edward family will consider them.
You can google their name to find out more. Here's one link: http://www.patriotguard.org/
What this church is doing is about as shameful as you can get and I hope more people like the Patriot Guard Riders will step up to put a stop to this hate.
Everything this motorcycle group does to protect these families in legal and within the law. They are just tired like the rest of us of the abusive and shameful way this church treats people, espeically grieving families who just want to bury their loved ones.
We need more people like this group to stop bullies like the Westboro Church.
picketing funerals! ...these people need to get a life! ...a real life!
I googled them...morbid curiosity I guess. It seems at least twice now they have tried to cross the border into Canada to hold their hate pickets here. We wouldn't let them in..haha. Stopped at the border. Thank God!!
I don't think they should be allowed to call themselves a church. They spread nothing but hate. Honestly, everytime I read about them picketing another funeral my blood boils. Is nothing sacred? Isn't there something they can be charged with? What the heck is wrong with these people?
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