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[[Image:20001025 xnjdo FredGoreFiny.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Rev. [[Fred Phelps]] with [[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner [[Al Gore]] at a Westboro Baptist Church event.]]

[[Image:20001025 xnjdo FredGoreFiny.jpg|thumb|240px|right|Rev. [[Fred Phelps]] with [[Nobel Peace Prize]] winner [[Al Gore]] at a Westboro Baptist Church event.]]

The '''Westboro Baptist Church''' (WBC) is a [[radical]], self-proclaimed [[Christian]] church headed by pastor [[Fred Phelps]]. The church is 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 claims to have picketed over 40,000 times since then.<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>

The '''Westboro Baptist Church''' (WBC) is a [[radical]], self-proclaimed [[Christian]] church headed by pastor [[Fred Phelps]]. The church is 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 claims to have picketed over 45,300 times since then.<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 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 /> 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.

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. 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.

While the name implies that the church is affiliated with other mainstream [[Baptist]] churches, the WBC is independent of mainstream Christianity. 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.

==Family Law Firm==

==Family Law Firm==

Fred Phelps designed his church/family as a giant law firm used to sue those angry enough to retaliate against the "church". Eleven of Phelps' thirteen children are lawyers.<ref name=aol />

Fred Phelps graduated from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka in 1962.<ref name=phelps>[http://fredphelps.com/ About Fred Phelps]. ''FredPhelps.com''.<ref name=aol /> designed his church/family as a giant law firm used to sue those angry enough to retaliate against the "church". Eleven of Phelps' thirteen children are lawyers.<ref name=aol />

{{cquote|"'They scrupulously obeyed the ordinance' that kept them and their 'God hates fags' and 'America is doomed' signs away from the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, said Mark Potok, who directs Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project. 'They're good at this,' Potok said, noting that the family has successfully sued many communities for monetary damages after they tried to restrict the family's constitutionally protected protests. 'They understand the First Amendment very, very well. They are not stupid people. They are vile people.'"

{{cquote|"'They scrupulously obeyed the ordinance' that kept them and their 'God hates fags' and 'America is doomed' signs away from the funeral of Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, said Mark Potok, who directs Southern Poverty Law Center's Intelligence Project. 'They're good at this,' Potok said, noting that the family has successfully sued many communities for monetary damages after they tried to restrict the family's constitutionally protected protests. 'They understand the First Amendment very, very well. They are not stupid people. They are vile people.'"

-Andrea Stone, ''AOL News''<ref name=aol />}}

-Andrea Stone, ''AOL News''<ref name=aol />}}

All five of the attorneys for the Phelps Chartered Law Firm, which Fred Phelps founded in 1964, are his children. The Kansas Supreme Court disbarred Fred Phelps himself in 1979 for a lack of ethics. Because the firm represents Westboro Baptist Church in its lawsuits, it can use money from cases it wins to further fund the church.<ref name=spc />  

All five of the attorneys for the Phelps Chartered Law Firm, which Fred Phelps founded in 1964, are his children. The Kansas Supreme Court disbarred Fred Phelps himself in 1979 for a lack of ethics; he agreed to stop practicing law on condition 5 of his children (accused of making false accusations against federal judges) could continue to do so.<ref name=aol /> Because the firm represents Westboro Baptist Church in its lawsuits, it can use money from cases it wins to further fund the church.<ref name=spc />  

{{cquote|"'They have a very well-respected law firm in Topeka,' Sherman says. 'People in town said, Well, we don't like them, but if we want to win a case, we'll go to them.' Church spokeswoman Phelps-Roper says their booming employment and family law practice pays the bills for their travels across the country, when they shout their anti-gay message. They travel in vans to keep down the costs, which she says can add up to $200,000 a year... The protests are in themselves a source of some income, according to Potok. Over the years the Phelpses have filed lawsuits against communities that try to stop them from demonstrating. 'And as a general matter they have won,' he says. 'They know their First Amendment rights very well, and they've been very good at defending them.' When they win, they often receive tens of thousands of dollars in court fees. And their winning streak is likely to continue, now that the Supreme Court has decided that Westboro's right to free speech trumps the right of families to bury their loved ones undisturbed."

{{cquote|"'They have a very well-respected law firm in Topeka,' Sherman says. 'People in town said, Well, we don't like them, but if we want to win a case, we'll go to them.' Church spokeswoman Phelps-Roper says their booming employment and family law practice pays the bills for their travels across the country, when they shout their anti-gay message. They travel in vans to keep down the costs, which she says can add up to $200,000 a year... The protests are in themselves a source of some income, according to Potok. Over the years the Phelpses have filed lawsuits against communities that try to stop them from demonstrating. 'And as a general matter they have won,' he says. 'They know their First Amendment rights very well, and they've been very good at defending them.' When they win, they often receive tens of thousands of dollars in court fees. And their winning streak is likely to continue, now that the Supreme Court has decided that Westboro's right to free speech trumps the right of families to bury their loved ones undisturbed."

-Barbara Bradley Hagerty, ''NPR''<ref name=npr />}}

-Barbara Bradley Hagerty, ''NPR''<ref name=npr />}}

==Composition==

==Composition==

Westboro's membership is made up of Fred Phelps, 9 of his 13 children (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). [http://www.npr.org/2011/03/02/134198937/a-peek-inside-the-westboro-baptist-church A Peek Inside the Westboro Baptist Church]. ''NPR''.</ref> Most of his children graduated from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka.<ref name=aol /> Members of the family and their relationships to Fred Phelps include:

Westboro's membership is made up of Fred Phelps, 9 of his 13 children (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). [http://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:

* Shirley Phelps-Roper, daughter.<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> 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 />

* Shirley 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 />

* Nathan Phelps, son (estranged). Nathan claims his father abused his children and wife to create an atmosphere of fear and maintain authority.<ref name=spc />

* Nathan Phelps, son (estranged). Nathan claims his father abused his children and wife to create an atmosphere of fear and maintain authority.<ref name=spc />

* Fred Phelps Jr., son. Works for Kansas' Department of Corrections as a staff attorney.<ref name=spc />

* Fred Phelps Jr., son. Works for Kansas' Department of Corrections as a staff attorney.<ref name=spc />

* Margie Phelps, daughter. Works for the Kansas' Department of Corrections.<ref name=spc />

* Margie Phelps, daughter. Works for the Kansas' Department of Corrections.<ref name=spc />

* Abigail Phelps, . Worked in Kansas' Juvenile Justice Authority in staff development.<ref name=spc />

* Abigail Phelps, . Worked in Kansas' Juvenile Justice Authority in staff development.<ref name=spc />

* Lee Ann Phelps, . Worked for Shawnee County Sheriff's Department.<ref name=spc />

* Lee Ann Phelps, . Worked for Shawnee County Sheriff's Department.<ref name=spc />

* Elizabeth Pehlps, . Worked for Shawnee County Sheriff's Department.<ref name=spc />

* Elizabeth Pehlps, . Worked for Shawnee County Sheriff's Department.<ref name=spc />

==Protests==

==Protests==

* Homosexuals, including [[Matthew Shepard]].<ref name=npr />

* Homosexuals, including [[Matthew Shepard]].<ref name=npr />

* Victims of 9/11.<ref name=spc />

* Victims of 9/11.<ref name=spc />

* U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.<ref name=spc />

* U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.<ref name=spc />

* Amish schoolgirls murdered in Pennsylvania.<ref name=spc />

* Amish schoolgirls murdered in Pennsylvania.<ref name=spc />

* The Catholic [[Pope]].<ref>http://www.adl.org/special_reports/wbc/default.asp</ref>

* The Catholic [[Pope]].<ref>http://www.adl.org/special_reports/wbc/default.asp</ref>

* AIDS victims.<ref name=spc />

* AIDS victims.<ref name=spc />

* Celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Sonny Bono, Bill Clinton's mother, and Bob Dole.<ref name=spc />

* Celebrities, including Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, Sonny Bono,<ref name=spc /> Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Fred Rogers, Reggie White, and Jerry Falwell's funeral.<ref name=phelps />

* Political figures, including Bob Dole, Bill Clinton's mother<ref name=spc />, Ronald Reagan, Princess Diana, Supreme Court Justice William Rehnquist, and former Senator David Norris.<ref name=phelps />

* The nations of Sweden, Canada, and Ireland.<ref name=phelps />

 

 

Phelps has strongly supported Fidel Castro and Saddam Hussein in the past. Hussein allowed a group of Westboro delegates to visit Iraq to protest against the U.S.<ref name=phelps />  

==Snyder v. Phelps==

==Snyder v. Phelps==