Turning the tables on the westboro idiots...

[Gypsy]

I like it. Hit 'em where it hurts...

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news...s=den&psp=news

Marine's Dad Sues Funeral Protesters

POSTED: 1:45 pm MDT June 5, 2006

GREENBELT, Md. -- The father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters from a fundamentalist Kansas church filed an invasion-of-privacy suit against the demonstrators Monday.

It is believed to be the first lawsuit brought by a soldier's family against Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., whose members routinely demonstrate at military funerals around the country. Members' demonstrations in Colorado prompted lawmakers to approve -- and the governor to sign -- a bill banning protests within certain distances of funerals.

Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, is seeking unspecified damages. The younger Snyder, 20, died March 3 after an accident in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. He was buried in Westminster, Md.

"We think it's a case we can win because anyone's funeral is private," Snyder lawyer Sean Summers said. "You don't have a right to interrupt someone's private funeral."

Members of Westboro say the military deaths in Iraq are God's punishment for America's tolerance of gays. They typically carry signs with slogans such as "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God for IEDs," a reference to the roadside bombs used by insurgents.

The church has inspired dozens of state laws banning funeral protests, including a Maryland law that did not go into effect until after Snyder's memorial.

Shirley Phelps-Roper, a spokeswoman for the small congregation, said it is the first time Westboro has been sued by a soldier's family.

"We were exercising our First Amendment rights," she said.

[stone]

And apparently the Westboro clan are now counter-suing Mr. Snyder saying he's infringing on their right to express themselves. As if this man hasn't been through enough with the loss of a son. What a bunch of lunatics.

[Monsoon65]

I heard about this on the news a few nights ago. Good for him!

What I can't understand is how come these asspuppets haven't had their heads handed to them in a "counter-protest" yet.

[MtnGoat]

Originally Posted by Monsoon65

I heard about this on the news a few nights ago. Good for him!

What I can understand is how come these asspuppets haven't had their heads handed to them in a "counter-protest" yet.

Saw this on the news today. WTF These people are some winners!!

Some Counter-protest rallies would be great. Let them come here.

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by stone

And apparently the Westboro clan are now counter-suing Mr. Snyder saying he's infringing on their right to express themselves. As if this man hasn't been through enough with the loss of a son. What a bunch of lunatics.

Hmmm yes evidently freedom of speech is a one way street according to these scumbags.

[jasonglh]

Wouldn't it be fitting for a church built on lawsuits to be destroyed by lawsuits.

[Solid]

Wouldn't it be fitting for a church built on lawsuits to be destroyed by lawsuits.

... That, or a giant bolt of lightening incinerating the entire congregation.

Whose side is God on now, huh?!!

Solid

[brewmonkey]

The sad thing here is that the assholes from Westboro MAKE their living on lawsuits like this. Phelps himself is a disbarred attorney and his daughter is one currently and handles the vast majority of their lawsuits. They know what they are doing and are well versed in this area. They also win very large awards, $250K alone from Shawnee County/Topeka KS, on a freedom of speech case.

However, I hope the dad wins and bankrupts their asses. That would be fricking awesome! While it would not shut them down in the end it would put a serious hurt on them as the whole congregation is basically their family, very few if any outsiders, so it is not like they can just pass the collection plate.

I would love to drive down the road and see their church have a new owner!

[Gypsy]

Originally Posted by jasonglh

Wouldn't it be fitting for a church built on lawsuits to be destroyed by lawsuits.

Yes, yes it would.

The judge ordered the scumbags to pay the family. It's not much monetarily but it's a start...and I like the message it sends.

http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/4...urce=enews&c=y

Topeka Church To Pay Marine Funeral Costs
Reporter: Associated Press
Email: news@kake.com


BALTIMORE (AP) -- A federal judge in Baltimore is ordering Topeka's Westboro Baptist Church to pay more than $3,000 in costs related to the funeral of a Marine the group picketed.

Albert Snyder of York, Pennsylvania, is suing because church members demonstrated at the funeral of his son, Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder. Church members also posted pictures of the protest on their Web site.

Corporal Snyder was killed in Iraq in March.

The lawsuit was filed in June. It says church members violated the family's right to privacy and defamed the Marine and his family at the funeral and on the church's Web site.

Court documents say the church has 30 days to make the payment to Snyder.

[echoes]

Gypsy,

Thanks for updating us. Below is a copy of what I sent them today.

Message Sent
Thank you for your comments!
To: Questions/Comments
From: echoes@att.net (echoes)
Subject: Am curious

I am curious. In reguards to the Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder funeral protest, how and where in the Bible did you gleam that the US Armed Forces are equivalent to homosexuals?

echoes

1 John 3:16
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."

1 Corinthians 13

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 0but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Here is a link to the Message RULES...Gotta check this BS out!
http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/contact.html

Here is the link for their upcoming military funeral protests...yep, it's on their website!

http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/index.html

[moobob]

It's disgusting that there are judges out there that allow these idiots to win lawsuits.

[Kyobanim]

Originally Posted by moobob

It's disgusting that there are judges out there that allow these idiots to win lawsuits.

As much as I agree with your setiment, it would be worse if judges ignored the rule of law and ruled aganst this group, if the group was correct legally.

One way or another, these people will have their asses handed to them in the end. Unfortunately, it's probably going to come at the expense of a lot of distraught families; and probably a few citizens that say enough is enough and take the law into their own hands.

[82ndtrooper]

Ministers, Pastors and Clergymen of different demoninations all interpret the passages of the bible differently. Most influences are from their teaching at their private seminary colleges, and most influences are in fact policital.

I enjoy bible teachings, in fact I dont miss them on Wednesday nights at our church. Most of the time I relize that I am making my own interpretations of passages wrongly, but then there is a fair amount of the time that I cannot agree with our current minister. Promoting hate is not one of the laws of the bible. In this instance, the message is about hate, and it's directed in the wrong way and place. That's two sins for this church, what others are they commiting ?

In the recent past it's been discouraging to see and learn how churches actually work. There is corruption, lust, unforgiveness, adultry, and even pediphilia. It's difficult to say this, but I have a watchful and suspicious eye at my church since the all of the above mentioned sins have been brought into the light. Our former pastor is now serving 36 months for embezzling over $750,000 and he has in fact slept with at least 3 married women from the congregation.

I'm a believer, but not necessarily in the need to be a believer at a church.

[moobob]

Originally Posted by Kyobanim

As much as I agree with your setiment, it would be worse if judges ignored the rule of law and ruled aganst this group, if the group was correct legally.

I would say that purposely trying to instigate people into doing things to you, for the sole purpose of being able to sue them later, is a pretty ridiculous grounds for a lawsuit. If I was the judge and, by the rule of law, I had to rule in favor of the Westboro idiots, I would kindly award them damages of 1/100th of a cent and send them on their merry way.

[echoes]

Originally Posted by 82ndtrooper

Promoting hate is not one of the laws of the bible. In this instance, the message is about hate, and it's directed in the wrong way and place. That's two sins for this church, what others are they commiting ?

82nd, You post is full of thoughtful sentiments, that I too share.
It was when I went to these wackos website, and saw how they are actually PROUD of the planned military funeral protests, that turned my stomach sour.

After all, the brave men & women he is protesting have died to give them thier frredom, right? And here they are spitting on it!

Years ago, I had a family member who was briefly sucked into a cultish church, and with his Petroleum Engineering degree, was sidin' houses for the pastor.
It took hard work, but our family got him out and through.

IMHO, same dog, different fleas.

Holly