Kansas church liable in Marine funeral protest

carrie721 · #1 10-31-2007, 10:54 PM

By Jon Hurdle

BALTIMORE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - A jury on Wednesday ordered an anti-gay Kansas church to pay $2.9 million in compensatory damages to relatives of a U.S. Marine after church members cheered his death at his funeral.

The jury in federal court determined that the Westboro Baptist Church based in Topeka, and three of its principals, had invaded the privacy of the dead man's family and inflicted emotional distress when they protested at his funeral last year.

The soldier's death was God's punishment on America for tolerating homosexuality, the church's members said.

Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder died in combat in Iraq in March 2006.

Snyder's father testified that his son was not gay, but the church targeted the military as a symbol of America's tolerance of gays.

The Westboro Church was sued by the father, Albert Snyder of York, Pennsylvania. The case was the first civil suit against the church, which has demonstrated at some 300 military funerals in the past two years.

The church, which is unaffiliated to any major denomination, is headed by Rev. Fred Phelps, who has been waging a one-man war against homosexuality for years. Most members of the church belong to his extended family.

estranged4life · #2 10-31-2007, 11:00 PM

I saw that story earlier and laughed...'bout time someone took those relig-a-tards to court and make 'em fork over the green

darklinensuit · #3 10-31-2007, 11:26 PM

I'm glad to see this verdict, but I cringed at the mention of the father's testimony. Would it have mattered to the jury if the son had been gay?

- Jake

Sarah · #4 10-31-2007, 11:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

I'm glad to see this verdict, but I cringed at the mention of the father's testimony. Would it have mattered to the jury if the son had been gay?

- Jake

I would think he was asked whether or not his son was gay. Not because it would make a difference... but it does further the argument that the church was unnecessarily harassing this family.

Johnny Stew · #5 11-01-2007, 12:10 AM

A follow-up story with even better news.

Church ordered to pay $10.9 million for funeral protest
October 31, 2007

BALTIMORE, Maryland (AP) -- A grieving father won a nearly $11 million verdict Wednesday against a fundamentalist Kansas church that pickets military funerals in the belief that the war in Iraq is a punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

Albert Snyder of York, Pennsylvania, sued the Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified damages after members demonstrated at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.

The jury first awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages. It returned later in the afternoon with its decision to award $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress.

U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett noted the size of the award for compensating damages "far exceeds the net worth of the defendants," according to financial statements filed with the court.

Church members routinely picket funerals of military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, carrying signs such as "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."

A number of states have passed laws regarding funeral protests, and Congress has passed a law prohibiting such protests at federal cemeteries.

But the Maryland lawsuit is believed to be the first filed by the family of a fallen serviceman.

The church and three of its leaders -- the Rev. Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, 46 -- were found liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress.

Snyder claimed the protests intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony and sullied his memory of the event.

The church members testified they are following their religious beliefs by spreading the message that the deaths of soldiers are due to the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

Their attorneys argued in closing statements Tuesday that the burial was a public event and that even abhorrent points of view are protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and religion.

The judge said the church's financial statements, sealed earlier, could be released to the plaintiffs.

Earlier, church members staged a demonstration outside the federal courthouse.

Church founder Fred Phelps held a sign reading "God is your enemy," while Shirley Phelps-Roper stood on an American flag and carried a sign that read "God hates fag enablers."

Members of the group sang "God Hates America" to the tune of "God Bless America."

Snyder sobbed when he heard the verdict, while members of the church greeted the news with tightlipped smiles.

**mylittledemon** · #6 11-01-2007, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carrie721

By Jon Hurdle

BALTIMORE, Oct 31 (Reuters) - A jury on Wednesday ordered an anti-gay Kansas church to pay $2.9 million in compensatory damages to relatives of a U.S. Marine after church members cheered his death at his funeral.

The jury in federal court determined that the Westboro Baptist Church based in Topeka, and three of its principals, had invaded the privacy of the dead man's family and inflicted emotional distress when they protested at his funeral last year.

The soldier's death was God's punishment on America for tolerating homosexuality, the church's members said.

Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder died in combat in Iraq in March 2006.

Snyder's father testified that his son was not gay, but the church targeted the military as a symbol of America's tolerance of gays.

The Westboro Church was sued by the father, Albert Snyder of York, Pennsylvania. The case was the first civil suit against the church, which has demonstrated at some 300 military funerals in the past two years.

The church, which is unaffiliated to any major denomination, is headed by Rev. Fred Phelps, who has been waging a one-man war against homosexuality for years. Most members of the church belong to his extended family.

I dont like what that church is doing. They aren't behaving in a manner according to Christ's teachings.

ANYWAYS...the man actually got awarded MORE money. I think the total came to around 11 million. The jury deliberated and gave more damages I believe. I think it sends a clear message to this "church" to stop doing what they are doing.

DrummerDeanna · #7 11-01-2007, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mylittledemon

I think it sends a clear message to this "church" to stop doing what they are doing.

And yet...I seriously doubt they will.

They truly sicken me...I can't even put it into words.

mikeschmike · #8 11-01-2007, 05:28 PM

I was reading about this, and while the "church" scoffs at the 10.9 million ruling...do they not think this will open the door for a lawsuit from every funeral they protest?

God doesn't hate fags...he hates crazy assholes from Kansas. Actually, make that BROKE crazy Kansas assholes.

carrie721 · #9 11-01-2007, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeschmike

I was reading about this, and while the "church" scoffs at the 10.9 million ruling...do they not think this will open the door for a lawsuit from every funeral they protest?

God doesn't hate fags...he hates crazy assholes from Kansas. Actually, make that BROKE crazy Kansas assholes.

i dunno. god might hate fags. why else would he have appointed bush ~~dictator~~ president for two terms?