December 9th, 2010
09:20 AM ET
12 years ago
Westboro Baptist Church says it will picket Elizabeth Edwards' funeral
(CNN) - Members of the Westboro Baptist Church announced Thursday plans to picket Saturday's funeral for Elizabeth Edwards in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Kansas-based Church - monitored by anti-hate groups such as the Anti-Defamation league and the Southern Poverty Law Center - is known for its extremist opposition to homosexuals, Jews and other groups.
The church members also oppose the War in Iraq.
According to the church's website, members will hold a protest from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Edwards, the estranged wife of presidential candidate John Edwards, died Tuesday after a six-year battle with breast cancer.
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Come on let the woman rest in peace for God's sake!
These people are the ultimate example of abuse of both Christianity and the First Amendment.
The more I read about them the more I am convinced that Fred Phelps, the pastor, is a closet homosexual. It's the only explanation for his extreme public anti-gay attitude. He has homosexual urges and he can't deal with it, so he tries to cope by going to extremes.
How disrespectful!!!!!!!! Allow the family thier time to grieve thier family member.
Seriously... who pickets a funeral? Regardless of what this woman or her husband may/may not have done or the beliefs they had (or didn't hold), let them mourn and bury their wife/mother in peace.
What has she done to deserve this? She dosen't even meet their "criteria" of people they hate..oh that's right, THEY HATE EVERYONE. Pigs!
MMM oh yes, I see now... that they are simply prostesting breast cancer..
These people are nut jobs. Don't know how this is freedom of speech. If I were John I would walk over and beat the hell out of as many as I could.
This is more than unacceptable. It is more than disrespectful and it is inhumane. ITt is sad that we as americans have forgotten how to care. There is a time and place for this kind of behavior but this is not it.,
I really hope the Supreme Court doesn't let us down. I hope they uphold the $5M judgment against this "church" (i.e. against this family) to cripple them. There is such a thing as freedom of speech. But when you get into hate rhetoric and harrassment, you need to draw the line. These clowns have been able to operate far too long.
I am an extremely conservative Pentecostal Christian, and I can honestly say that these folks have far too much time on their hands. If they want people to respond to the TRUE Christian message, then they should be about the Father's business. That business is love, compassion, and pointing people to Jesus. However, that business IS NOT disrespecting the loved ones that have lost someone very precious to them, nor the memory of the deceased. This form of antagonistic protest is not Biblical in any way....
How awful!! These people should be classified as a hate group, not a religious organization!!
They should hold the funeral in Oklahoma. They know how to deal with this so-called "church."
This absolutely sickens me. What a horrid group of people.
See what happens when the Supreme Court doesn't deal with a problem when it comes to them? Now they are protesting and non-military funerals. When is it going to stop? There should be limits to some free speech. This is extremely disrespectful to the family of Elizabeth Edwards. I hate to say it, but I hope someone harms this church because this is not representative of Christianity and it must be stopped by any means necessary.
What kind of 'religion' would picket a funeral? Sick, Sick,Sick! Hope the tables are turned on these 'devout' individuals someday!!! Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs but not at the expense of others!!!
Absolutely disgusting!!!
This group of people is doing it for the attention, and we sure are giving it to them. What would be the best way to combat them? IGNORE THEM! They deserve not a name in the news. I know of many people, hard-working, love-filled, volunteering, GOOD-souled people who ought to have a story of their efforts over these hate mongers.
CNN, I BEG OF YOU please, PLEASE stop giving them attention. It is undeserved.
Westboro Hate Church is getting their 15 minutes out this – ugh! I hope someone has notiifed the Honor Guard!
These god-awful people should lose their mother or their children to breast cancer.
What is wrong with these people???? Guess who's going first when Armageddon comes?
Dear Scums of the country, Why?
These guys suck so bad. Wow....
One word. Disgusting.
really not called for"' church should let the edwards family be in peace.
Perfect timing! After 8 years of Bush feeding the military industrial complex, fighting sanctimonious police actions in the quagmire of the middle east. We have a Democrat (more or Less) in office for two years to try and fix the unfix-able and take the blame. We then bring in Mr. Bankruptcy to chapter 13 the US so the GOP can continue to give tax breaks to the billionaires who profited on the the whole thing in the first place... Well played.