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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 "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> 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.
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. 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 for Fred Phelps 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. 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. Their hatred, and seeking of publicity, goes beyond homosexuality. They also 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. 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. Their hatred, and seeking of publicity, goes beyond homosexuality. They also protested the [[Pope]]'s visit, calling him the [[anti-Christ]].
* 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. Lawyer at Phelps' law firm.<ref name=powder />
* Rachel Hockenbarger, daughter. Lawyer at Phelps' law firm.<ref name=powder />
* 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 />
* Margie Jean Phelps, daughter. Works for the Kansas' Department of Corrections,<ref name=spc /> and a lawyer for Phelps' law firm.<ref name=capital />
* Margie Jean Phelps, daughter. Works for the Kansas' Department of Corrections,<ref name=spc /> and a lawyer for Phelps' law firm.<ref name=capital />
* Katherine Phelps, daughter (estranged).<ref name=phelps />
* Katherine Phelps, daughter (estranged).<ref name=phelps />
* Dotty Phelps, daughter (estranged).<ref name=phelps />
* Dotty Phelps, daughter (estranged).<ref name=phelps />
* 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 as an office assistant.<ref name=powder />
* Paulette Phelps, daughter in law. Married to Jonathan Baxter Phelps and works at Phelps' law firm as an office assistant.<ref name=powder />
* Megan Phelps-Roper, granddaughter. Daughter of Shirley Lynn Phelps-Roper. Works for Phelps' law firm as a spokesperson.<ref name=heir>Arnett, D. (2011, November 21). [http://www.kansascity.com/2011/11/19/3275645/megan-phelps-roper-an-heir-to.html Megan Phelps-Roper of Westboro Baptist Church: An heir to hate]. ''The Kansas City Star''.</ref>
* Benjamin Phelps, grandson.<ref name=phelpsfour />
* Benjamin Phelps, grandson.<ref name=phelpsfour />
* Jacob Phelps, grandson.<ref name=phelpsfour />
* Jacob Phelps, grandson.<ref name=phelpsfour />
* Karl Hockenbarger, .<ref name=phelpsfour />
* Karl Hockenbarger, .<ref name=phelpsfour />
* Timothy Phelps, .<ref name=phelpsfour />
* Timothy Phelps, .<ref name=phelpsfour />
Members of the family who left the church and their relationship to Fred Phelps Sr. are as follows:
* Nathan Phelps, son. Nathan claims his father abused his children and wife to create an atmosphere of fear and maintain authority.<ref name=spc />
* Mark Phelps, son.<ref name=phelps />
* Katherine Phelps, daughter.<ref name=phelps />
* Libby Phelps, granddaughter. Married to Logan Alvarez.<ref name=heir />
==Protests==
==Protests==