Church Fined For Military Funeral Protests

US Marine Matthew Snyder's family got the right verdict. A verdict against a church. What kind of church? the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church. Led by Rev. Fred Phelps, this church pickets at funerals of fallen soldiers. Why? Because the US including the military tolerates gays.

The Verdict

A court in Baltimore ordered this church to pay 2.9 million dollars in compensation and 8 million dollars in punitive damages for "mental pain and suffering" to Matthew's father, Albert Snyder. He sued the church after they picketed at his 20-year-old son's funeral.

This Baptist church believes that the deaths of soldiers is a punishment from God for tolerating gays including in the military. The church claims to have picketed more than 30,000 times. However, this Baltimore case was the first time that a funeral protest went to trial.

Snyder's Response

The BBC reported that Albert Snyder sobbed when he heard the verdict. He said, 

"I hope it's enough to deter them from doing this to other families. It was not about the money. It was about getting them to stop." 

Fred Phelps also threatened to protest at the funerals of victims of the Minnesota I35 bridge collapse. The BBC did an expose on Fred Phelps' family and what motivates them.

 

Hat Tip to Cindy Patterson.

Comments

[Janine]

When I saw this article in my local newspaper, I got sick to my stomach. This so-called Baptist church has satan on their side and he is laughing his head off. I couldn't believe how angry I was as I was reading the details of the Phelps' family protests at military funerals. But then I thought, that is what the enemy is hoping for....stirring up hate and anger. I prayed right then and there, that I would do a better job of showing love to my "neighbor" one person at a time. God can use me, just one person, to spread His love to others....and hopefully it will outweigh what a few "bad apples" are trying to spread: hate.

[Henriet]

Janine,
Thanks for your honest and thoughtful response. I'm sure that most of us felt the anger. I pray that we all will follow your example to love our neighbor, one person at a time. I'm proud to know you!

[Jill Dyche]

Wonder how Mr. Phelps and family would answer the question, "What would Jesus do?" Judge not, Mr. Phelps, lest... We all know the rest.

Thanks for this, Henriet.

[Henriet]

I wonder that too, Jill. I'm sure his answer would be different then yours and mine!