Many of you have read this week that the Westborough Baptist Church is again in the news. After getting their pants sued off, the case is before the Supreme Court. Their defense for committing what most of us think is a heinous offense is the First Amendment to the Constitution contained in the Bill of Rights. It is based on the following:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances
The WBC, hereafter called the Church, has the belief that it is their mission to tell anyone not believing the bible the way they do, that they will go to hell if they practice Homosexuality. They think that to tell them they can't, is making a law respecting the establishment of a religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. They further feel that the freedom of speech lets them post their stupid signs. The right to peacefully assemble is their right to stand near a funeral and protest. The case before the supreme court is their redress of a grievance. Word after word from the 1st Amendment seems to support the Church's right to stupid and offensive speech.
It rips my heart to see anyone use soldiers as a bulletin board to post their feelings. The soldiers are a lot like me and feel like I did when I went to Vietnam. We are told to do a job the way the leaders of our country want us to do. We are given laws and regulations to guide us through what is with out a doubt the toughest job to do. To tell us to take a life and here are the legal ways you can do it is almost impossible when the bullets start flying. Soldiers are there to do their duty and to protest their funeral after they die doing their duty is without fail the most horrible thing anyone, let alone a church can do.
It is my hope that when he dies, all the dead soldiers will meet him at the pearly gates with signs that say to Fred, FAIL!
With that said, I think the church will prevail and our Free Speech will stand where it is, was and hopefully will be for as long as it can. One the other hand, while it is illegal to holler Fire in a theater, it is not illegal to shout fire if there is one.
Torn and disgusted - MUD
Well put, MUD.
ReplyDeleteI don't know if this guy Phelps will make heaven or not. I guess it's not up to us to decide anyway.
But, "torn and disgusted" is a good way to put it.
I'm a Christian. I believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world. I believe in the teachings of The Bible, too. But, even if I thought that no one that practices homosexuality would go to Heaven, I certainly would not insult the family of a fallen soldier with such disrespect.
I honestly believe that there is something demonic going on with this Westboro crowd. Heck, I've seen a bunch of fundamentalists that hold their same opinions about the eternal destination of gay folks, that exhibit a true love and caring spirit for them.
And, they certainly don't take it out on families that must be desperately hurting over a loss of a child/father/friend.
Okay...the Westies are going to hell. 'Nuff said.
FP and company have obviously not read their Bibles--not even the context of their most quoted verses from Romans 1. I've wondered if the man is a Christian at all or if he's just someone who has set about to give Christians a bad name and cause strife and division. Well, it's not for me to judge whether or not he is saved. One thing is sure, though; he and his lot are not doing God's work.
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