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[[Image:20001025 xnjdo FredGoreFiny.jpg|thumb|right|Rev. [[Fred Phelps]] with [[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner [[Al Gore]] at a Westboro Baptist Church event. The two share a messianic vision of saving the planet from evil: Phelps through a strident anti-[[gay]] message, Gore through attacking the foundations of our economy with [[global warming]].]]

[[Image:20001025 xnjdo FredGoreFiny.jpg|thumb|right|Rev. [[Fred Phelps]] with [[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner [[Al Gore]] at a Westboro Baptist Church event. The two share a messianic vision of saving the planet from evil: Phelps through a strident anti-[[gay]] message, Gore through attacking the foundations of our economy with [[global warming]].]]

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]] Church of Satan masquerading as a [[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.  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.

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.