Westboro Baptist Church

Rev. Fred Phelps with Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore on the steps of the Westboro Baptist Church.

The Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas is a radical Christian church headed by pastor Fred Phelps. The church receives most of its publicity from its infamous "God Hates Fags" protests, and is closely monitored by both the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center. The WBC is regarded by the latter as a hate group. While mainstream Christianity rejects homosexuality as sin, following God's example, they love the sinner. In contrast, Westboro Baptist Church 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.

Also See

• Fred Phelps