These people are ridiculous. They may have some issue that they want to protest but that is not the time and most of all, not the place to perform this protest. They claim they have the right based on freedom of speech, but who defends that right for them. Thats right, the men and women of the military who in this case have given their lives for their right to do this. So give them the common courtesy, and allow their families to grieve in peace.

For as bad as this case is, these protestors are no reason not to attend church and worship God any more than not attending church because someone robbed a bank. We do get punished by God for things but the answer is prayer, not protest.

Maybe someone should start protesting outside their church before services and at their funerals and see how they like it.

Oh ... I think a lot of folk have great plans for Fred Phelps's funeral ... when that glorious occasion finally arrives.

Terrorism:
the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes.
Violence:
an unjust or unwarranted exertion of force or power, as against rights or laws
Definitions compliments of Dictionary.com.
Westboro Baptist Church Protest:
an act of Terrorism and Violence.
Definition compliments of me and hopefully the United States Supreme Court. All americans should have the right to bury their family in peace, do we have to make a law?

FirstTime,

Fred Phelps and his coven of serpents are very careful that nothing they ever do could be defined as (physical) violence.

I do not believe that anyone will disagree that violence does not have to be physical. People's rights have always been determined by the majority. It is my hope that the majority of American people and Supreme Court Justices will find the right to bury ones family in peace, more essential to a civilizied nation than ones right to so called free speech, during such an event. Does the Court allow blatent disruption with protest happen while contemplating rulings? For the ones attending a funeral, the occasion would call for the most important contemplation of life I can imagine. And therefore, a funeral, should be protected from this obsurdity.

FirstTime,

Ah...but there's the slippery slope.

The Courts have been very reluctant to prohibit "hate speech." Christians (and others) who express concern that laws against hate CRIMES will throttle pastors who rail against homosexuality from the pulpit should (at this point, anyway, be assured that hate crimes must be physical in order to be prosecuted. Those pastors' (admittedly sometimes hateful) screeds are protected speech ... just as I suspect the Supremes will find the vile antics of the Phelps klan.

Stay tuned

BankStreet - I agree there is a slippery slope when you discuss prohibiting "hate speech". Part of that is determining what consitututes "hate speech". Although in this case I don't think many would disagree that this qualifies. It's also about as far away from Christ's message as you can get.

As far as prosecuting the Phelps klan, I leave that to the higher power of what's truly decent.
..."ruling that the protests were protected speech and that they did not violate the privacy of the Snyder’s family. The high court will review that decision." (From the story above)
While I do not claim to be an expert, not even well learned, about law, I think this case should be about violating the Snyder's family's privacy. Not the right to free speech. I understand that the sacred "Free Speech" will always be upheld. Could you educate me on which amendment or what laws are applicable to ones right to privacy? Protestors are not allowed in a court room, on the congressional floor, on private property. Could we not PROTECT a families right to a private service?

ravensfan,

And that is the Court's dilemma. I don't think they can rule on a "sliding scale." Protected speech, no matter how vile, is protected speech. If they rule against Phelps, the precedent will open floodgates, allowing subsequent litigants to argue that other instances of speech thought to be offensive will be disallowed. I'm afraid, were, I on the Court, I'd have to find such that Phelps is allowed to continue. Other ways can be found to shut him down.

This video raises a good point about the First Amendment: http://www.newsy.com/videos/supreme-court-to-hear-funeral-protest-case/ While we might not like what they're saying, they do have the right to say it. Hopefully the Supreme Court uses the Hustler test with this one!

FirstTime,

The Constitution contains no "right to privacy," aside from a somewhat strained reading of the Fourth Amendment's protections against "unreasonable searches and seizures."

It has been said that supporters of liberalized access to abortion services (full disclosure: I count myself among those supporters) "created" a theretofore non-existent "right to privacy."

I have some done some additional reading up on this subject. I am dissapointed to find myself sinking into the pool of revenge. These people that find it necessary to use funerals to express their narrow views and do so by hiding behind the constintional right of free speech deserve retribution. I have lived my life leaving these type of thoughts at rest in the back of my mind. Resigned to the knowledge that "what comes around, goes around." If our country cannot protect the ceremony of burying our dead from such abysmal acts of disrespect, then I can't help but hope they get what's coming to them as soon as possible. Lastly, if they were to show up at one of my family members funerals, they better hope God is on their side! Temporary insanity would be my defense.

God only loves his Elect. The entire rest of the world is shooken up for them. A certain type of blaspheme, speaking a word against the Holy Spirit, will not be forgiven. JN 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. JN 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my father will love him, DEU 4:37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; DEU 7:7 The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: ROM 9:13B Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. JER 6:30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them. Amen

I would like to say that SONOFLIGHT can post and quote as many verses as possible but you are being deceitful as to what the Bible truly says. How about John 3:16 where God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that all who believes in Him would have everlasting life? I find it funny how that people quote scripture and yet they are not willing to share the context of the verses they are using to prove their points. If you believe in what the Bible says, than you MUST accept it ALL not in part. How despicable "Christians" are when they use God for their own agendas, like this "Baptist" church. I too am Baptist and proud of it but this is a group who is out to shove their agenda in anyone's face and make themselves into the same type of pharisees who esteemed themselves above the rest. I dare say that this church is more of a cult than the church that God has ordained to worship Him and be that witness and example of His perfect love and mercy. People never cease to amaze me and the fact is that God already has this situation in his Hand. It is sad to me that this Church is not the "light" that shines bright in a dark world but has become the thing that many non-Christians are turned off by. It is so good to know that God still triumphs despite people who falsely declare His Name.

A documentary on this extremist group called "The Significant Minority" and their impact on first amendment rights was recently done! Really great, informative film.

More info here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTrM0L8oMpk

Jesus said:
“Let the dead bury the dead” – Matthew 8:22, Luke 9:60

AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION:

“The right of the people to bury their dead in accordance with their beliefs and traditions may not be infringed by individuals or by government authority.”

STOP WESTBORO BAPTIST CHURCH FROM PICKETING FUNERALS!

First time, Looking at the picture along with this article, the word "HATE" is used on the signs, since it's not speech, I wonder how merciful their God will be when thy have to stand before him. Taking names in vain is still a fundamental "no-no".