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[[Image:Phelps.jpg|right|thumb|Fred Phelps giving an interview in 2000]]
[[Image:Phelps.jpg|right|thumb|Fred Phelps giving an interview in 2000]]
'''Fred Waldron Phelps''' (November 13, 1929 – March 19, 2014) was the [[pastor]] of the independent [[Westboro Baptist Church]], an extremist organization not affiliated with mainstream [[Baptist]] churches, and a controversial activist against [[homosexual]] behavior. Phelps was noted for rallies displaying signs with highly inflammatory and [[extremist]] statements. This has classified the church as a hate group by various organizations. He is said to hold a "[[Hyper-Calvinism|hyper-Calvinistic]] viewpoint" generally regarded as far outside of mainstream Christianity by most Christian scholars. Most of the congregants of the Westboro Baptist Church, which is located in [[Topeka]], [[Kansas]], are related to Phelps either by blood or marriage.
'''Fred Waldron Phelps''' (November 13, 1929 – March 19, 2014) was the [[pastor]] of the independent [[Westboro Baptist Church]], an extremist organization located in [[Topeka]], [[Kansas]], and a controversial activist against [[homosexual]] behavior. Phelps was noted for rallies displaying signs with highly inflammatory and [[extremist]] statements. This has classified the church as a hate group by various organizations. He was said to hold a "[[Hyper-Calvinism|hyper-Calvinistic]] viewpoint" generally regarded as far outside of mainstream Christianity by most Christian scholars. Most of the congregants of the Westboro Baptist Church are related to the late Phelps either by blood or marriage.
Phelps was a civil rights lawyer, who fought for the rights of African Americans and worked to end many racist policies. However, he also filed several lawsuits against opponents which were later determined to constitute [[malicious prosecution]], and ultimately agreed to permanently surrender his law license as a result.
Phelps was a civil rights lawyer, who fought for the rights of African Americans and worked to end many racist policies. However, he also filed several lawsuits against opponents which were later determined to constitute [[malicious prosecution]], and ultimately agreed to permanently surrender his law license as a result.
In 1992 Phelps supported [[Bill Clinton]] for president, and later became critical of President Clinton's pandering for homosexual voters. Phelps led a
In 1992 Phelps supported [[Bill Clinton]] for president, and later became critical of President Clinton's pandering for homosexual voters. Phelps led a
demonstration at the 1997 Clinton inaugural.<ref name="findarticles.com"/><ref name="frontpagemag.com">http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID={91058469-F6DE-4615-8B2A-73CDF3E8FCAC}</ref>
demonstration at the 1997 Clinton inaugural.<ref name="findarticles.com"/><ref name="frontpagemag.com">http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID={91058469-F6DE-4615-8B2A-73CDF3E8FCAC}</ref>
According to Megan Phelps-Roper, Phelps granddaughter who left the church before his passing, late in his life Phelps repented of the hatred he showed toward the LGBT community, and purportedly was excommunicated from the congregation as a result. He spent his last days in a hospital, seen only by handlers who made sure any of Phelps family that had left the church were unable to visit him in the end. No fewer than four of his children and at least two of his grandchildren would leave Westboro; all of them have renounced Christianity in one form or another.
== Phelps' Criticism of Religious Leaders ==
== Phelps' Criticism of Religious Leaders ==