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[[Image:Phelps.jpg|thumb|Fred Phelps]]

[[Image:Phelps2.jpg|thumb|Fred Phelps]]

'''Fred Phelps''' is the founder and pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, [[Kansas]] who is widely known for his strong anti-[[homosexual]] viewpoints. His congregates (of which there are several dozen, most of whom live within Phelps's extended family) often protest military funerals, and almost anything that attracts a large amount of people (past targets include operas, a chess tournament in Lindsborg, Kansas, funerals of school shooting victims, and many other things). His rallies display signs with highly inflammatory statements and language claiming that God hates homosexuals.  He holds to a hyper-Calvinistic viewpoint which is generally regarded as far outside of mainstream Christianity by most Christian scholars.

'''Fred Phelps''' is the founder and pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, [[Kansas]] who is widely known for his strong anti-[[homosexual]] viewpoints. His congregates (of which there are several dozen, most of whom live within Phelps's extended family) often protest military funerals, and almost anything that attracts a large amount of people (past targets include operas, a chess tournament in Lindsborg, Kansas, funerals of school shooting victims, and many other things). His rallies display signs with highly inflammatory statements and language claiming that God hates homosexuals.  He holds to a hyper-Calvinistic viewpoint which is generally regarded as far outside of mainstream Christianity by most Christian scholars.

== Lawsuits and Litigation ==

== Lawsuits and Litigation ==

[[Image:Phelps2.jpg|thumb|Fred Phelps giving an interview in 2000]]

[[Image:Phelps.jpg|thumb|Fred Phelps giving an interview in 2000]]

Phelps and his congregation were recently sued in US District Court in Columbia by Albert Snyder, the father of a soldier killed in Iraq.  Phelps and his congregation protested the Iraq War at his son's funeral.  The father is suing Phelps for defamation for stating his religious opinion that, ''. Mr. Snyder raised his son for the devil and hell ..'' during the funeral protest and in statements on his website.  This litigation is currently pending.

Phelps and his congregation were recently sued in US District Court in Columbia by Albert Snyder, the father of a soldier killed in Iraq.  Phelps and his congregation protested the Iraq War at his son's funeral.  The father is suing Phelps for defamation for stating his religious opinion that, ''. Mr. Snyder raised his son for the devil and hell ..'' during the funeral protest and in statements on his website.  This litigation is currently pending.