[lorris]

His mother, Lydia H. Maloney of Chicopee, said her family does not want to fuel the controversy by responding to the group. "We have no comment at this time," she said yesterday. Maloney's father, John E. Maloney of Holyoke, also declined comment. The group has recently picketed Boston-area communities that they charge have pro-homosexual leanings. A July 11 picket is planned at Dover Air Base, Maryland, where soldiers' bodies return, the group's Web site says. The group drew notoriety for picketing the 1998 funeral of Wyoming's Matthew Shepard, an openly gay college student beaten to death in what authorities said was a hate crime. Fred Phelps, 75, the group's leader, could not be reached for comment yesterday. "Nobody should go through that," said Steven M. Jimmo of Chicopee, vice commander of the state American Legion and commander of Legion Post 438. Soldiers in the Middle East are heroes helping people win freedom, he said. "They're building up a new nation," he said. "There's so much good that they're doing that people don't know about." "The last thing this man did was a humanitarian effort," Jimmo said, noting Capt. Maloney had helped deliver $500,000 worth of badly needed supplies to a Ramadi hospital last month. "Veterans will be at his funeral to show him the proper respect he deserves."

________________________________________________________

I must be pretty naïve. I cannot believe the sickness in these shells of pure evil that call themselves human beings.

I was stunned when I spoke with my parents today and they told me this was going on. I looked up the article and figured that I'd share it with you all.

It's not only that this hero of a man was a friend of mine - it's that this group would picket outside of any person's funeral. And they call themselves members of a church?

My stomach and heart feel sick right now.

[cyborg]

Phelps is a closet, pillowbiting loser and a democrat plant as well. Sounds oxymoronic *lol*

[rimmont]

If there is such a group I am sure they are pro-gay activists in disguise. It would fit the pattern of the activities of militant gay activists in the past. The idea is to discredit anyone who may not agree with them.

[Vicomte13]

"Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., plans to picket funerals of soldiers killed in the Middle East, including that of Maloney's, saying their deaths are God's punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuals."

First Topeka Church of Creeps.

[fatnotlazy]

I heard this from Freepers last week. Sad.

What's that biblical passage: By their fruits, you will know them.

Obviously, this man of the cloth is no man of the cloth.

[SandRat]

"Veterans will be at his funeral to show him the proper respect he deserves."

The protesters are not doing a very smart thing with these vets there. The protesters may hear some rather stinging Serviceman's French from these vets.

[SandRat]

They are at it again,...arrrrrggggg!!!!!!!

[Bahbah]

Phelps is a horrid and sick individual.

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Either this guy is a shill for donks, or he is so stupid and bigoted that he goes out of his way to alienate potential allies.

I'd say a shill, but from bitter experience, I know of those who consider themselves "southern patriots" who alienate sympathisers with their absolute bitter antipathy towards Lincoln.

[bluesagewoman]

The kind Rev. apparently threatened to do the same thing at a soldier's funeral in southern Illinois last week. He FAXed the local media of his intent. His group apparently didn't show up. If that is true, then maybe the 80 or so bikers who belonged to the same motorcyle club as the deceased soldier scared him off.

Additionally, the report on the funeral the next day out of Cape Girardeau indicated that folks lined the Interstate and highways when the body was brought home, and again during the funeral procession. The Rev's plans certainly backfired. I have a feeling that he just sends FAXes around to get everyone upset. I am sure if he starts showing up his face will get rearranged by some locals.

He's a coward!! Don't give him the satisfaction of worrying about him. That's what he wants. Instead, send the word out to the community to gather on the highways with their flags and put their hands over their hearts during the processions to honor the soldier and his family. Good luck!

[Jeff Gordon]

Time for counter action by Topica Freepers. Give 'em hell!

[Ranger]

This group of human trash drove all the way from Topeka KS to Bedford, MA to protest at the John Glenn Middle School when the school bus arrived. Their purpose was to intimidate gay students that are shown tolerance in this small town. These people are for real and they are revolting.

[womcg]

There is a very simple solution to this kind of sick behavior aimed at the funeral of a US Marine KIA. Give the honor guard, and Marines who fire the salute, live ammo. Easy fix and cleans up the gene pool.

[Millicent_Hornswaggle]

This church group does not know God. How in the world can picketing a military funeral be productive in any sense? or any funeral for that matter? While I have no doubt God will judge homosexuals for their sins, as he will all of us, what these people are doing is wrong; wrong event, wrong timing. In their quest of seeking to do ministry, they are so far off. It's garbage like this that give real Christians a bad name. Christ would never have approved of this. The people that die in Iraq are not God's judgement on this country for their tolerance of sin. That's ridiculous. It's war, people die. It would make more sense to say AIDS is God's judgement, however, it's not our place to know how God will judge. Only through the blood of Christ may we know righteousness and salvation. These people are just nuts. The Maloney family has my prayers.

[ozzymandus]

I believe Phelps and his looney bunch are all on the RAT payroll.