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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 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 '''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 "church" is draped with an upside-down American Flag, and is contained within a walled compound housing it and five homes for him and his relatives. 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 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.

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.

==Family Law Firm==

==Family Law Firm==

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> 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> 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. All five of the attorneys for the Phelps Chartered Law Firm, which Fred Phelps founded in 1964, are his children.<ref name=aol /> The firm is located at 1414 S.W. Topeka Blvd. in Topeka, Kansas.<ref name=powder>Fry, S. (2010, October 5). [http://cjonline.com/news/state/2010-10-05/powder_sent_to_phelps_law_firm Powder Sent to Phelps Law Firm]. ''The Topeka Capital-Journal''.</ref>

{{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; 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 />  

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 />}}

* Jonathan Baxter Phelps, son. Lawyer for Phelps' law firm.<ref name=capital />  

* Jonathan Baxter Phelps, son. Lawyer for Phelps' law firm.<ref name=capital />  

* Elizabeth Marie Phelps, daughter. Worked for Shawnee County Sheriff's Department<ref name=spc /> and a lawyer for Phelps' law firm.<ref name=capital />

* Elizabeth Marie Phelps, daughter. Worked for Shawnee County Sheriff's Department<ref name=spc /> and a lawyer for Phelps' law firm.<ref name=capital />

* Rachel Hockenbarger, daughter.  

* Rachel Hockenbarger, daughter. Lawyer at Phelps' law firm.<ref name=powder>

* 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 W. Phelps Jr., son. Works for Kansas' Department of Corrections as a staff attorney<ref name=spc /> and a lawyer for Phelps' law firm.<ref name=capital />

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

* Brent Roper, son in law. Married to Shirley Phelps-Roper, they have 11 children and 9 grandchildren.<ref name=aol />

* Brent Roper, son in law. Married to Shirley Phelps-Roper, they have 11 children and 9 grandchildren.<ref name=aol />

* Betty Joan Phelps, daughter in law. Married to Fred W. Phelps Jr. and a lawyer for Phelps' law firm.<ref name=capital />

* Betty Joan Phelps, daughter in law. Married to Fred W. Phelps Jr. and a lawyer for Phelps' law firm.<ref name=capital />

* Paulette Phelps, daughter in law. Married to Jonathan Baxter Phelps and works at Phelps' law firm.<ref name=powder>Fry, S. (2010, October 5). [http://cjonline.com/news/state/2010-10-05/powder_sent_to_phelps_law_firm Powder Sent to Phelps Law Firm]. ''The Topeka Capital-Journal''.</ref>

* Paulette Phelps, daughter in law. Married to Jonathan Baxter Phelps and works at Phelps' law firm as an office assistant.<ref name=powder>

* Charles Hockenbarger, .<ref name=timeline />

==Protests==

==Protests==

* Victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.<ref name=phelps />

* Victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.<ref name=phelps />

* 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 />

* Jews.<ref name=spc />

* Jews.<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> and the Catholic Church.<ref name=fred />

* AIDS victims.<ref name=spc />

* AIDS victims.<ref name=spc />

* The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons).<ref name=phelps />

* The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons).<ref name=phelps />

* Islam and Muslims.<ref name=phelps />

* Islam and Muslims.<ref name=phelps />

* 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 />

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

* 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 />

* 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 />

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

==Other Activism==

==Other Activism==

The Westboro Church helped run Al Gore's Kansas campaign in 1988. Fred Phelps Jr. was a Gore delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention.<ref name=phelps />

The Westboro Church helped run Al Gore's Kansas campaign in 1988. Fred Phelps Jr. was a Gore delegate to the 1988 Democratic National Convention<ref name=phelps /> and invited to the first Clinton-Gore inauguration in 1993.<ref name=timeline>''Southern Poverty Law Center''. [http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2001/spring/a-city-held-hostage/fred-phelps-timel Fred Phelps Timeline]. Intelligence Report, Spring 2001, Issue Number: 101.</ref>

 

Phelps Sr. ran for Governor of Kansas in 1990 and received 6.7% of the vote. In 1992, Fred Phelps Sr. ran for U.S. Senate and received 30.8% of the ballots cast.<ref name=timeline />

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 />  

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 />