Westboro Babtist Church protests graduation

Many of Liberty University’s student body and staff remember the death of Dr. Jerry Falwell. Only some may remember when the radical Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) picketed the funeral because, according to the church’s posting on Godhatesamerica.com, Dr. Falwell “spent his entire life prophesying lies and false doctrines like ‘God loves everyone.’”

WBC plans to picket the graduation of 18-year-old Constance McMillen from Fulton, Miss., this year. On March 24, the New York Times featured an article on McMillen when her school district tried to ban her from going to her senior prom because she is a homosexual and wanted to bring her girlfriend to prom. The case went to court, McMillen won and was able to attend a private prom.

“[We] will picket the graduation of Itawamba Agricultural High School to remind the parents, teachers and students of this nation that God said ‘Thou shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind, it is abomination,’” WBC said.

In more recent news, WBC plans to protest at Fort Jackson, South Carolina to “speak words of peace to these brutish, demon-possessed brute military mutts,” according to the church’s web site. The church also plans to protest in Charleston, Myrtle Beach and Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Not only do they protest the military and homosexuals, but they also have plans to protest Bible Way Church of Atlas Road, Shandon Baptist Church and Riverland Hills Baptist Church in South Carolina, according to a South Carolina news site. This seems to be counterproductive for a church, especially since the others are of the same denomination as WBC.

The 70 members of WBC in Topeka, Kan., and their leader, Rev. Fred Phelps, are known for their hatred towards soldiers and homosexuals. WBC first entered the scene in 1998 when it protested the funeral of Matthew Shephard who was murdered for being a homosexual. Church members often protest at soldiers’ funerals because they believe that their deaths are a result of God’s punishment to America for its tolerance of homosexuals.

The lack of discretion and biblical truth that this hate group displays continues to befuddle many, and the fact that WBC hides behind Christianity only pushes them to a further assurance that they should be angry. They have labeled themselves “Baptist” but they could not be further from it. While God does condemn sin, there is no verse that says he hates those who sin. WBC truly believes that God hates America and all people in general. They stand on the grounds of God’s punishment and cast aside love, grace and mercy, the foundations upon which a Christian church should be built.

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves,” Matthew 4:17.