Huge award against Topeka church in funeral lawsuit

[Bob Juch]

$10.9 million damages for kin of Marine killed in Iraq

A federal jury in Baltimore awarded nearly $11 million yesterday to the father of a Marine killed in Iraq, deciding that the family's privacy had been invaded by a Kansas church whose members waved anti-gay signs at the funeral.

It was the first-ever verdict against Westboro Baptist Church, a fundamentalist Christian group based in Topeka that has protested military funerals across the country with placards bearing shock-value messages such as "Thank God for dead soldiers."

They contend that the deaths are punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality and of gays in the military.

Full story

[Appa23]

Meanwhile, the Sarpy County Attorney here in Nebraska has filed charges against Shirley Phelps-Roper, based on an incident where her 10 year-old son jumped up and down on an American flag while protesting at a funeral here.

He is charging her with violating a century-old flag desecration statute, disturbing the peace, misdemeanor child abuse, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The ACLU is paying for her defense.

It is an interesting case because of the Supreme Court's past rulings that flag burnings and other "desecration" is protected speech. The County Attorney is alleging that it is not protected in this matter, under the "fighting words" doctrine. As proof, he notes that counter-protestors broke out a window on the Westboro's group van.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10170321

[earendel]

$10.9 million damages for kin of Marine killed in Iraq

A federal jury in Baltimore awarded nearly $11 million yesterday to the father of a Marine killed in Iraq, deciding that the family's privacy had been invaded by a Kansas church whose members waved anti-gay signs at the funeral.

It was the first-ever verdict against Westboro Baptist Church, a fundamentalist Christian group based in Topeka that has protested military funerals across the country with placards bearing shock-value messages such as "Thank God for dead soldiers."

They contend that the deaths are punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality and of gays in the military.

Full story

As much as I loathe Fred Phelps and his ilk, I have to disagree with this verdict on 1st amendment grounds.

[earendel]

Meanwhile, the Sarpy County Attorney here in Nebraska has filed charges against Shirley Phelps-Roper, based on an incident where her 10 year-old son jumped up and down on an American flag while protesting at a funeral here.

He is charging her with Reckless Endangerment of a Child. The ACLU is paying for her defense.

It is an interesting case because of the Supreme Court's past rulings that flag burnings and other "desecration" is protected speech. The County Attorney is alleging that it is not protected in this matter, under the "fighting words" doctrine. As proof, he notes that counter-protestors broke out a window on the Westboro's group van.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2 ... d=10170321

And I disagree with this ruling also - for the same reason. And also because "desecration" implies that the flag has sacred status, which in a secular society is not the case.

[peacock2121]

I like to follow people's logic, even when their logic is not mine.

I have to take real leaps to follow their logic.

[starfish1113]

First Amendment be damned, this doofus got what he deserved. Boy, is he gonna be shocked when he dies....

[themanintheseersuckersuit]

I believe they came to a private (non-government) church and graveyard and disrupted the ceremony and insulted the parents and then posted the insults on the internet.

Where is the first amendment violation in that?

Congress shall make no law ....abridging the freedom of speech

Would I be protected under the first amendment if I called you a pedophile?

The pleadings are here.

http://www.matthewsnyder.org/Documents.html

[ksbirchtree]

I live in KS, not too far from Topeka. There was a soldier from my town killed, and the Patriot Guard shielded the family from Phelps' group. The local paper ran a survey about Phelps' actions, and the majority of those responding indicated that they are just waiting until Phelps' dies so they can picket his funeral!

Christy

[silvercamaro]

I believe they came to a private (non-government) church and graveyard and disrupted the ceremony and insulted the parents and then posted the insults on the internet.

There is a little black place in my heart that would like to see such disputes settled privately and respectfully. That is, I would respect their actions if the relatives and friends of the buried soldier respectfully picked up shovels from the gravesite and start swinging them toward the private faces of the disrespectful protesters.

Yet again, I will not win the Ghandi Award this year.

[Appa23]

Yet again, I will not win the Ghandi Award this year.

Nor a spelling award.

[silvercamaro]

Yet again, I will not win the Ghandi Award this year.

Nor a spelling award.

That's a given. I originally typed "direpectful" about 19 times. Mr. Gandhi was a forgiving kind of guy, so I won't worry about him.

[PlacentiaSoccerMom]

I vote for you to receive the Miss Congeniality Award.


Who gives a shit about spelling.

[peacock2121]

I believe they came to a private (non-government) church and graveyard and disrupted the ceremony and insulted the parents and then posted the insults on the internet.

There is a little black place in my heart that would like to see such disputes settled privately and respectfully. That is, I would respect their actions if the relatives and friends of the buried soldier respectfully picked up shovels from the gravesite and start swinging them toward the private faces of the disrespectful protesters.

Yet again, I will not win the Ghandi Award this year.

I love Uday.

[peacock2121]

Yet again, I will not win the Ghandi Award this year.

Nor a spelling award.

Makes me giggle what HoltDad comments on.

[Appa23]

Makes me giggle what HoltDad comments on.

Not so much a comment as a gentle "kidding", which SC understood.

[peacock2121]

Oh

[fuzzywuzzy]

$10.9 million damages for kin of Marine killed in Iraq

A federal jury in Baltimore awarded nearly $11 million yesterday to the father of a Marine killed in Iraq, deciding that the family's privacy had been invaded by a Kansas church whose members waved anti-gay signs at the funeral.

It was the first-ever verdict against Westboro Baptist Church, a fundamentalist Christian group based in Topeka that has protested military funerals across the country with placards bearing shock-value messages such as "Thank God for dead soldiers."

They contend that the deaths are punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality and of gays in the military.

You all are gonna love this...

I have seen Fred & family in person (one too many times)!

However, when I was at Brown for a year that fwh was doing a sabbatical (ten years ago), I of course met all different kinds of people in my job.

One time, met a new person, gentleman asked me where I came from, I said, "Kansas, we are here for a year, then go back to K-State." He looked at me and said, "Oh, yeah, where Fred Phelps is from!" Not the response that I wanted to hear!

Usually I get, "Say hello to Dorothy & Toto!"

fuzzy

[peacock2121]

During the Tawana Brawley thing, I got that when I told people I was from Poughkeepsie. Not what I wanted to hear either.

I usually got "Vassar College?"

[Bob Juch]

During the Tawana Brawley thing, I got that when I told people I was from Poughkeepsie. Not what I wanted to hear either.

I usually got "Vassar College?"

You mean the college named for the guy who gave smallpox infected blankets to the Indians?

[dimmzy]

A Jewish friend lives in Topeka. They have security guards at their synagoe because he protests their services and tells them they're going to Hell ...

[The Lord Jehovah]

$10.9 million damages for kin of Marine killed in Iraq

A federal jury in Baltimore awarded nearly $11 million yesterday to the father of a Marine killed in Iraq, deciding that the family's privacy had been invaded by a Kansas church whose members waved anti-gay signs at the funeral.

It was the first-ever verdict against Westboro Baptist Church, a fundamentalist Christian group based in Topeka that has protested military funerals across the country with placards bearing shock-value messages such as "Thank God for dead soldiers."

They contend that the deaths are punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality and of gays in the military.


Full story

That Medamned Phelps really pisses Me off: he can't get it through his thick skull that I don't hate anyone, not even him. He really does try My patience, and if were the sort to be tempted by anything-- which, of cxourse, I am not-- I would be tempted to do a little smiting in his direction. Just so's you all will know, I let crap like that go on mostly to give the rest of you a chance to show that you're better than that.

And he has the nerve to call his collection of whack jobs a 'church'-- if I didn't know better, that would be enough to turn Me into an atheist.

And I sure as heck don't go around killing US troops or anyone else just because someone else might be doing stuff that-- maybe-- I don't entirely approve of: if I want someone dead, he's dead, believe me; I don't go for collateral damage, and anyone who says I do is just blowing smoke (and he will be blowing a LOT of smoke when the time comes, if you get my drift).

My pal Lucifer has a special place set aside for Phelps and his crowd. I can hardly wait to send him off...

[Oral B Roberts]

Hey! I thought You only spoke to me and Pat Robertson!

[The Lord Jehovah]

Hey! I thought You only spoke to me and Pat Robertson!

I talk to everyone; the problem is that you, Pat Robertson, your brothers Anal and Genital, and the rest like you generally don't listen. When the trumpets blow, though, you'll get the message.

[Satan Dolittle]

My pal Lucifer has a special place set aside for Phelps and his crowd. I can hardly wait to send him off...

I'm still waiting on your promise to deliver me Oral B Roberts.

You might want to hold off a little longer on Phelps. I'm still trying to get the temperature back up to 2,000,000 degrees down here after the Red Sox won that previous World Series...

[Sir_Galahad]

I also read where these, er... people... were going to show up and protest at the funerals of those 7 kids that were killed in the Ocean Beach fire. IMO, they are sick and twisted (or twisted and sick) and hope more people go after them.