Changes

The "church" was founded by [[Fred Phelps]], who was [[excommunicated]] right before his death, reportedly for recanting his position on homosexuality.  

The "church" was founded by [[Fred Phelps]], who was [[excommunicated]] right before his death, reportedly for recanting his position on homosexuality.  

The WBC is closely monitored by both the [[Anti-Defamation League]] and the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]], and is regarded by the latter as a hate group.<ref name=spc>[http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/groups/westboro-baptist-church Intelligence Files: Westboro Baptist Church]. ''Southern Poverty Law Center''.</ref> While mainstream [[Christianity]] rejects [[homosexuality]] as [[sin]], following [[God]]'s example, true Christians [[love]] the sinner. In contrast, WBC demonstrates no love for the sinner, and their attitude is considered to be one of hate. While the name implies that the church is affiliated with other mainstream [[Baptist]] churches, the WBC is independent of mainstream Christianity, and is denounced by even some of the most anti-LGBT  [[Independent Baptist]] churches. The church's members are almost entirely family members and are infamous for their protests and pickets at the funerals of soldiers who died in the line of duty, where they take the opportunity to denounce what they consider to be [[America]]'s acceptance of homosexuality. The name of their website reflects this.  Their antics are denounced across almost all spectra of political and religious thought. Their hatred, and seeking of publicity, goes beyond homosexuality. They also protest military funerals, high school graduation ceremonies, liberal and conservative political rallies, and religious ceremonies, including services at actual Baptist churches. The group even protested the [[Pope]]'s visit, calling him the [[anti-Christ]].

The WBC is closely monitored by both the [[Anti-Defamation League]] and the [[Southern Poverty Law Center]], and is regarded by the latter as a hate group.<ref name=spc>[http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/groups/westboro-baptist-church Intelligence Files: Westboro Baptist Church]. ''Southern Poverty Law Center''.</ref> While mainstream [[Christianity]] rejects [[homosexuality]] as [[sin]], following [[God]]'s example, true Christians [[love]] the sinner. In contrast, WBC demonstrates no love for the sinner, and their attitude is considered to be one of hate. While the name implies that the church is affiliated with other mainstream [[Baptist]] churches, the WBC is independent of mainstream Christianity, and is denounced by even some of the most anti-LGBT  [[Independent Baptist]] churches. The church's membership consists almost entirely of family members and are infamous for their protests and pickets at the funerals of soldiers who died in the line of duty, where they take the opportunity to denounce what they consider to be [[America]]'s acceptance of homosexuality. The name of their website reflects this.  Their antics are denounced across almost all spectra of political and religious thought. Their hatred, and seeking of publicity, goes beyond homosexuality. They also protest military funerals, high school graduation ceremonies, liberal and conservative political rallies, and religious ceremonies, including services at actual Baptist churches. The group even protested the [[Pope]]'s visit, calling him the [[anti-Christ]].

==Phelps Chartered Law Firm==

==Phelps Chartered Law Firm==

==Composition==

==Composition==

Westboro's membership consists of 9 of 13 children of the late Fred Phelps (the others are [[estranged]]), their children and spouses, and a few other families and individuals.<ref name=spc /> Almost all of the church's roughly 100 members are related to Fred Phelps.<ref name=npr>Hagerty, B.B. (2011, March 2). [https://www.npr.org/2011/03/02/134198937/a-peek-inside-the-westboro-baptist-church A Peek Inside the Westboro Baptist Church]. ''NPR''.</ref> All four of Phelps' estranged children asserted in 1993-94 interviews that their father's religious beliefs were either non-existent or have dwindled to virtually nothing, and that Westboro serves rather to sate Phelps' addiction to hatred.<ref name=phelps /> Members of the family and their relationships to Fred Phelps include:

Westboro's membership consists of 9 of 13 children of the late Fred Phelps (the others are [[estranged]]), their children and spouses, and a few other families and individuals.<ref name=spc /> Almost all of the church's roughly 100 members are related to Fred Phelps.<ref name=npr>Hagerty, B.B. (2011, March 2). [https://www.npr.org/2011/03/02/134198937/a-peek-inside-the-westboro-baptist-church A Peek Inside the Westboro Baptist Church]. ''NPR''.</ref> All four of Phelps' estranged children asserted in 1993-94 interviews that their father's religious beliefs were either non-existent or had dwindled to virtually nothing, and that Westboro serves rather to sate Phelps' addiction to hatred.<ref name=phelps /> Members of the family and their relationships to Fred Phelps include:

* Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper, daughter.<ref name=aol /> Spokeswoman for the church, says that they picket funerals to make people angry so people will reject God and be condemned to Hell,<ref name=npr /> effectively making their protests a Satanic ritual. Lawyer for Phelps' law firm.<ref name=capital>Taschler, J. & Fry, S. (1994, August 3). [http://cjonline.com/indepth/phelps/stories/080394_phelps16.shtml Phelps' Law Career Checkered]. ''The Topeka Capital-Journal''.</ref>

* Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper, daughter.<ref name=aol /> Spokeswoman for the church, says that they picket funerals to make people angry so people will reject God and be condemned to Hell,<ref name=npr /> effectively making their protests a Satanic ritual. Lawyer for Phelps' law firm.<ref name=capital>Taschler, J. & Fry, S. (1994, August 3). [http://cjonline.com/indepth/phelps/stories/080394_phelps16.shtml Phelps' Law Career Checkered]. ''The Topeka Capital-Journal''.</ref>