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The '''Westboro Baptist Church''' (WBC) is a [[radical]], self-proclaimed [[Baptist|Primitive Baptist]] church located in [[Topeka]], [[Kansas]], and  receives most of its publicity from its infamous "God Hates Fags" protests. It was founded in 1955, and began picketing in 1991. It consists of a family of lawyers working for the Phelps Chartered Law Firm who reap massive monetary awards from suing those they rile up.<ref name=aol>Stone, A. (2011, May 3). [http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/03/fred-phelps-daughters-may-misread-bible-but-they-know-the-law/ Fred Phelps' Daughters May Misread Bible but They Know the Law]. ''AOL News''.</ref> The "church" is draped with an upside-down [[American Flag]], and is contained within a walled compound housing it and five homes. The [[ACLU]] has filed lawsuits in [[Ohio]] and [[Missouri]] on behalf of Westboro's activities without success.<ref name=fred>''Southern Poverty Law Center''. [http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/profiles/fred-phelps Fred Phelps]. ''Intelligence Profiles''.</ref>   

The '''Westboro Baptist Church''' (WBC) is a [[radical]], self-proclaimed [[Baptist|Primitive Baptist]] church located in [[Topeka]], [[Kansas]], and  receives most of its publicity from its infamous "God Hates Fags" protests. It was founded in 1955, and began picketing in 1991. It consists of a family of lawyers working for the Phelps Chartered Law Firm who reap massive monetary awards from suing those they rile up.<ref name=aol>Stone, A. (2011, May 3). [http://www.aolnews.com/2011/03/03/fred-phelps-daughters-may-misread-bible-but-they-know-the-law/ Fred Phelps' Daughters May Misread Bible but They Know the Law]. ''AOL News''.</ref> The "church" is draped with an upside-down [[American Flag]], and is contained within a walled compound housing it and five homes. The [[ACLU]] has filed lawsuits in [[Ohio]] and [[Missouri]] on behalf of Westboro's activities without success.<ref name=fred>''Southern Poverty Law Center''. [http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-files/profiles/fred-phelps Fred Phelps]. ''Intelligence Profiles''.</ref>   

Westboro was founded as an Independent Baptist church plant of the East Side Baptist Church; [[Fred Phelps]], an associate minister at East Side became its pastor.  Early on his vitriol became apparent; as a result the majority of members who originally joined Westboro to help it become an autonomous congregation returned to East Side or joined elsewhere, leaving only the families of Phelps and Karl Hockenberger and a handful of other persons remaining.  According to Phelps' estranged son Nathan (who after leaving the church became an atheist), Phelps was reportedly [[excommunicated]] right before his death, for supposedly recanting his position on homosexuality (this was confirmed by son Mark, who also left the membership); Westboro refused to confirm or deny the matter.  

Westboro was founded as an Independent Baptist church plant of the East Side Baptist Church; [[Fred Phelps]], an associate minister at East Side became its pastor.  Early on his vitriol became apparent; as a result the majority of members who originally joined Westboro to help it become an autonomous congregation returned to East Side or joined elsewhere, leaving only the families of Phelps and Karl Hockenberger and a handful of other persons remaining.  According to Phelps' estranged son Nathan (who after leaving the church became an atheist), Phelps was reportedly [[excommunicated]] right before his death, for supposedly recanting his position on homosexuality (this was confirmed by son Mark, who also left the membership); Westboro refused to confirm or deny the matter.  Also, no member of his family that had left the church was allowed to visit him in his final days, as confirmed by Megan Phelps-Roger, Phelps' granddaughter who has also left the church.  No fewer than four of Phelps' children and at least two of his grandchildren have left the church; all of them have also renounced Christianity.

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]].

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]].