Anybody Know about Fred Phelps?

Well in my humble opinion you should. read on:

Phelps To Erect Matthew Shepard Monument
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: October 3, 2003 5:57 p.m. ET

(Casper, Wyoming) Anti-gay preacher Fred Phelps has announced intentions to erect a monument to Matthew Shepard the gay college student brutally murdered five years ago near Laramie.

But, the monument will be no memorial. Phelps says the monument would be 5 to 6 feet tall and made of marble or granite. It would bear a bronze plaque bearing the image of Shepard and have an inscription reading "MATTHEW SHEPARD, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22."

The monument would be erected in downtown Casper, Shepard's home town.

Phelps has sent details of the monument to the city of Casper city council and there may be nothing the city can do to prevent it.

Phelps said he intends to put up the monument in City Park, already the location of a controversial statue of the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments statue was donated to the city by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in 1965.

After a court battle over a similar monument in the city of Ogden, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that any city that displays a Ten Commandments monument on public property must also allow monuments espousing the views of other religions or political groups on that same property.

Phelps told Casper council in his letter that if it attempts to prevent him from erecting the homophobic monument he's prepared to go to court.

"That is exactly what I said would happen," said Councilwoman Barb Watters. She said she warned the city when it accepted the Ten Commandments statue that the city risked other monuments advocating anti-Semitism and hatred of other minorities.

''I think the hate language will find a very cold reception in this community,'' councilor Paul Bertoglio said. ''I think this community's backbone is going to come up and say 'We are not going to accept it.'''

The city council is looking at several options, one is fighting Phelps in court, another is moving the Ten Commandments out of the park, and yet another proposal would be to sell the land the park is on.

Phelps says he doesn't care what the city decides. If he is unable to put the statue in City Park he said he will find another location in the city.

During Shepard's funeral members of Phelps' Westoboro Baptist Church demonstrated in front of the chapel.

-end of article-

In response a friend of mine made up his own idea for a memorial to Phelps-

Fred Phelps, entered hell *DATE*, in defiance of Jesus' Teaching: 'Do not judge, or you too will be judged.' Matthew 7:1

Every once and a while I wonder why I don't openly tell people about my sexuality, than I things like this come along and remind me the sad truth about our society.

im so glad i live in a country without as many religious lunatics as yours (im not gay, i just dont like fundamentalists)

Sometimes I wish I could just leave. I mean we have the president signing a proclamation to support "Marriage Protection Week" and declaring that "Marriage is a union between a man and a woman, and my Administration is working to support the institution of marriage by helping couples build successful marriages and be good parents,". What can you do against that?? Yeah, we have alot of nuts in this country, every country does, but to make matters worse our president panders to their ever want and desire.

Sometimes I just want to run off to Western Europe or Canada, but than I think, this is my country, I live here, why should I move? I can only hope I outlive these people and their beliefs, that someday things will be better.

i just wanna cry now...or throw up....maybe both...
i should head over to the things that annoy me thread.....PEOPLE WHO JUDGE PEOPLE

for those of you interested, www.workingforchange.com is a great site for activism. they keep you aprised of a lot of the political crap going on, i.e. the federal marriage ammendment. you can even sign up for their email newsletter and they'll send you the calls for action as they come up.

its insane to think that there are people like that out there. what makes em so narrow minded and hateful? also, its not very christian is it? turn the other cheek and all that?

Blimey... Are you saying that many Christians are judgemental and conservative?

Who would have ever thought it.

Well, being a christian myself, I have to apologize for the hateful, condeming attitudes of other christians. As small and insigificant as that might seem, I mean it with all sincerity. The church has been filled with hate and lies because people have instituted their own ideas, and twisted the truth. The church has condemnded its own and if you hate youself you end up hating other people. If everyone would treat each other with love and respect, the world would be a better place. Unfortunatly, hate creates hate and so the vicious circle goes. Anyway, ieuan the preacher will step down now
Love and Shalom to all.

In my opinion ieuan, you have no need to apologize for their actions, because I don't view them as christians. Actions speak louder than words and hate is not a christian value.

i'm a humanist i think.

i think that guy is taking a wrong approach to things, although i may not agree with that kind of lifestyle i would never condem or judge someone like that that's so horrible to do that whole idea about the statue and the attitude that guy has that's just wrong that's all i can say.

I'm personally sickened by the fact that Bush's "Marriage Protection Week" begins on the anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death. It's a cruel joke.

For once I think I am in support of vandalism of public monuments...

I really don't know what to say to this. I am sick of all the anti-gay sentiments in the world. It's enough to make someone want to stop living, especially when you know people who are gay. I am a very open person, open minded, although not overly religious. Despite this, I cannot begin to fathom what ****IN STICK, is up these peoples asses (refering to those with anti-gay ideals, not you nice HOP people) And pardon my french. But I am sickened by Bush, and his, "lets keep marriage sacred" thing. That, and the pope, saying that it is immoral and such for two men or women to get married. I say who are they to decide what the definition of marriage is? If a friend of mine wanted to get married to someone else, and they were both guys, I wouldn't have a problem with it, and neither should anyone else. There is nothing immoral or wrong, about two people loving each other and wanting to be with each other. Its the fanatical morons of the world, who take religion to the extreme, who denouce this as evil, which portray this as evil. It is fine. As the lead singer of Placebo said, heterosexuality isn't normal it's just common. I tend to believe him. There are prolly alot of gay people out there, infact I know there are, and with the sentiments out there they are just afraid to come out. Haha, wouldn't it be ironic if the majority of the world were actually gay? Wouldn't bother me any, but it would certainly bother those assholes out there, who don't know the meaning of the word tolerance.
And shame on you Mr. Bush, and Mr. Pope, and whoever the guy is who is creating that statue. Oh and if that statue is put up, I will personally see to it that it is vandalized, and if possible, destroyed. And, haha, Im not jokin. Thats how pissed off these people make me. Thank you for reading my rantings. Now anyone want to argue me, or support me? Go ahead and post, you have my guarantee Ill check it often.

i'm down with the vandalism. always wanted to check out casper...it's not that far of a drive from here.....anyone up for a road trip??

There we go, thats the right attitude! Total destruction is the way to go! ( I call dibs on his couch by the way.) LOL

fortunately i have been lucky enough not to be born into a specific religion, so i can follow my own path..
I am absolutely disgusted with that statue!! >: (
I am all for gay rights (not being gay myself) and I cant seem to see why people are so stuck in their ways.
Love is love, no matter who it is with.
thats my 2 cents.
ta!
P.S: Id go on the road trip, but Im not currently in London! (wish i was though!)