Fred Phelps
Fred Phelps is the founder and pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas who is widely known for his strong anti-homosexual viewpoints. His congregates (of which there are several dozen, most of whom live within Phelps's extended family) often protest military funerals, and almost anything that attracts a large amount of people (past targets include operas, a chess tournament in Lindsborg, Kansas, funerals of school shooting victims, and many other things). His rallies display signs with highly inflammatory statements and language claiming that God hates homosexuals. He holds to a hyper-Calvinistic viewpoint which is generally regarded as far outside of mainstream Christianity by most Christian scholars. Phelps has led protests of military funerals based on his belief that America is a country that harbors homosexuals and is thus evil. As a result, President George W. Bush signed the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes act, which places limitations on military funeral protests.
Phelps has openly denounced the Catholic Church and Episcopal Church and has made claims these religious organizations tolerate and harbor homosexuals and pedophiles.
Before beginning his protests in earnest in the mid 1990s, Phelps was a contributor to the Democratic Party who helped campaign for Al Gore in 1988, when Gore's viewpoints were not as socially liberal. [1] This proved to later be an embarrassment to Gore.
Phelps' Criticism of Religious Leaders
Phelps runs several websites on the internet which preach against homosexuality and immoral living. Phelps espouses a literal interpretation of the Bible and the holy scriptures, and speaks against mainstream religious and Christian leaders who in his view, distort or twist the literal interpretation of the Bible. Phelps also speaks for greater accountability for religious organizations, such as the Catholic Church, and has been vocal in the press and media concerning the abuse of young boys by Catholic Priests and Church Leaders, and practicing homosexuals in the Episcopal Church.
Criticism of Phelps
Phelps has been criticized by both liberals and conservatives. Jerry Falwell has referred to Phelps as "a first class nut". [2]
Fred Phelps is going to hell