God hates America, soldiers, Catholics, homosexuals, and supporters of gay rights, according to members of the Westboro Baptist Church.
“It is plain to the servants of God, that America is taking a blood bath in Iraq because America is busily persecuting WBC for preaching the Word of God to this evil nation of perverts. God hates America. Her end is near, and approaching fast,” according to the church’s Web site, www.godhatesfags.com.
The Westboro Baptist Church is based in Topeka, Kan., but members have spent little time there since 1991, when they began traveling around the country protesting homosexuality and picketing at the funerals of AIDS victims and soldiers killed in Iraq. The group has gained a considerable amount of attention in light of a recent legal battle, and many are speaking out against its teachings.
“They’re really not a church,” said Joshua Bohinc, a junior in finance and accounting. “They’re a hate extremist group that uses the name of Jesus to promote their own ideas.”
Westboro Baptist uses slogans such as “God hates fags,” and “Thank God for dead troops,” to promote their ideas. American soldiers fall under the church’s category of “fag enablers” because of their service to a country that tolerates homosexuality, and are therefore considered as reprehensible as homosexuals themselves, according to the church.
The group is extremely active. On Wednesday the church protested the funeral of a soldier. Westboro will head to Ohio soon, said congregation member Shirley Phelps-Roper, who is the daughter of the group’s founder, Fred Phelps.
“Well, you have a couple of dead soldiers over there and that dead marine woman who might be buried there so we’ll do that,” she said. “Our job is to be timely and topical … we’re keeping our eyes peeled.”
Mark Williams, a graduate student in social work, is a Eucharist minister and active member of the St. Thomas Newman Center, an on-campus Roman Catholic Church. His interpretation of the Bible’s stance on homosexuality is much different than Westboro Baptist’s.
“The Bible must be interpreted in a historical context. What was relevant to people in the times when the Bible was written is not necessarily relevant today. Context makes all the difference ” he said.
Williams was open about his support of the homosexual community and made a distinction between his perspective of the Bible and the perspective of those he referred to as “Bible thumpers,” or people he claimed skew the Bible to fit their own agenda.
Many people have questioned the agenda of the Westboro Baptist Church. Among those who openly condemn the church’s practices and beliefs are Christians who claim Westboro is not promoting the truth about the religion.
“They have no affiliation with any Baptist organization and are creating a negative stereotype of Christians that is very sad and shameful.” Bohinc said.
Bohinc’s stance on Westboro Baptist’s ideology differs from Williams’ view. Bohinc said that homosexuality is a sin, but the way that Westboro Baptist elevates homosexuality as being worse than all other sins does not line up with the Bible’s teachings.
The church has received public condemnation and opposition for years, but recently, this opposition became more than a question of morality – it became a question of legality and whether or not their funeral protests are protected by the First Amendment.
In October, Albert Snyder, father of deceased Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, brought a lawsuit against the church that challenged its constitutional right to protest at funerals. The case ended in a ruling that ordered the Westboro Baptist Church to pay nearly $9 million in punitive and compensatory damages, and an additional $2 million to Snyder, for causing emotional distress.
Although some find the ruling to be fair and appropriate, others question how it will affect future cases involving the First Amendment.
“If we pass laws and make rulings to prevent them from protesting, then we have to question what implications that would have for everyone else,” said Samuel Bauer, a junior in Arabic.
Phelps-Roper said her church’s protests are beneficial.
“The wrath of God is pouring down on you,” she said. “We’re trying to save you from the rebellious, disobedient, filthy matter of the world you live in.”
Lantern campus editor Mary Dannemiller contributed to this report. She can be reached at [email protected].
Hannah Tyler can be reached at [email protected].
