Westboro Baptist Church Founder Rev. Fred Phelps Sr. Dies

[DriftingCrow]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/03/20/291909137/westboro-baptist-church-founder-rev-fred-phelps-dies?sc=tw
Mark Memmot, NPR News

The Rev. Fred Phelps Sr., whose tiny Westboro Baptist Church has protested outside the funerals of fallen soldiers and celebrities to spread its views about homosexuality and abortion, has died, according to news reports. He was 84.

As NPR's Nathan Rott reports:

"Phelps made a name for himself by protesting military and high profile funerals. He'd wave hateful signs with members of his Westboro Baptist Church and proclaim that the U.S. was being punished for its tolerance of homosexuality."

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Remember TOS rules against "bashing" apply to people who dislike us.

[Calder Smith]

I'll try to be as "nice" as I can here.

This man was very hateful and very ignorant. I'm half happy he's dead and half feeling bad for his family. Even though he was a terrible human being, you still can't help to feel sad when someone dies.

[Vicky]

In the news I got, his family is worse than he was. His FAMILY IS THE MAJORITY of the "congregation" and their voting dad "off the island" gives you a hint of what they must be like.  Pity, no funeral for the rest of us to picket though.

[Jill F]

Too bad the Westboro Batsh%t Cult didn't die with him.   I assume he will have to be buried in an undisclosed location so his headstone isn't replaced by a toilet.

[VeryGnawty]

Feeling bad for his family?  Why?  A lot of them are worse than he was.

[Paige]

Feeling bad for his family?  Why?  A lot of them are worse than he was.

Not all though.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/18/son-leaves-americas-most_n_580857.html

[gennee]

Fred Phelps is gone but the church is still around to foment more hate.

[Jessica Merriman]

  Sorry! Only picket sign I could find. Kind of appropriate though!

[Anatta]

Kia Ora,

So now the big question...Where's it to be -Fred's final resting place?(or as the saying goes "No rest for the wicked) So heaven or hell ? Was he doing god's work or the devil's ?

BTW I should add....If one "believes" in the devil, god, heaven and hell that is...

Metta Anatta

[MellowMoxxi]

I saw George Takei's comments on Fred Phelps' death earlier and thought they were well said

"Today, Mr. Phelps may have learned that God, in fact, hates no one. Vicious and hate-filled as he was, may his soul find the kind of peace through death that was so plainly elusive during his life."

and

"I take no solace or joy in this man's passing. We will not dance upon his grave, nor stand vigil at his funeral holding "God Hates Freds" signs, tempting as it may be.

He was a tormented soul, who tormented so many. Hate never wins out in the end. It instead goes always to its lonely, dusty end."

[Veronica M]

I think I will be a better person than he was and say "Rest in Peace"... The rest is up to God at this point.

[dalebert]

Feeling bad for his family?  Why?  A lot of them are worse than he was.

They excommunicated him from the church he started for not being mean enough.

I feel like we're all the product of our environments. It's very complicated. People are events just like a sunny day, a hurricane, or a typhoon; albeit we're far more elaborate. We happen, change the world around us in some way, and then end.

I see no point in addressing pain and suffering by causing more pain and suffering. I believe in just trying to stop the bad stuph, whatever that takes. I don't hope he's in Hell, even though I might joke about it (and I have). I don't believe in Hell.

[KatVonDoom]

I wish him all the peace he bestowed upon our brothers and sisters in life.

[Shantel]

A Russian reporter comments on the passing of Fred Phelps. There is something endearing about this woman reporter! 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=815164561831327

[dalebert]

A Russian reporter comments on the passing of Fred Phelps.

Well, we all mourn in our own ways--some of us with a case of the giggles.

EDIT: Someone in the comments who claims to understand Russian (I don't, so can't confirm) says she's actually talking about something else entirely than what the subtitles claim and that the story has nothing to do with Phelps.

[Shantel]

Well, we all mourn in our own ways--some of us with a case of the giggles.

EDIT: Someone in the comments who claims to understand Russian (I don't, so can't confirm) says she's actually talking about something else entirely than what the subtitles claim and that the story has nothing to do with Phelps.

Huh? I wouldn't know either and just take it at face value, in any event it is a riot when taken as it appears.

[Joelene9]

  It is a parody like those Hitler ones found on YouTube.  I believe the commentor tha it is not the prop[er translation.  I found no similar Russian-English words in that report. 

  Joelene