Posted on 03/20/2008 8:41:04 AM PDT by stainlessbanner
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Members of a nationally known church will be picketing outside of several Central Florida churches on Easter Sunday with a message pastors say is more about shock value than God's words.
A group from the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church has announced they will be outside Easter services at St. Luke's United Methodist, First Baptist Church, Calvary Assembly of God and Mary Queen of the Universe churches early Sunday.
Westboro church members said they believe school shootings, 9-11 and solider deaths are "God's revenge" for America's moral decline and tolerance for homosexuality and abortion.
"This nation is awash in sin," Westboro Baptist Church member Stephen Drain said. "The people of Orlando need this preaching more than they need oxygen to breathe and water to drink."
The group has made national headlines by picketing soldiers' funerals, Local 6 reported.
In Orlando, they've printed controversial fliers and sent them to area churches.
"Good Bible sentiments like God hates (expletive)," Drain said. "And God is your enemy and (expletive) church and your pastor is a whore."
St. Luke's United Methodist Church pastor Bill Barnes said his church has prepared ammunition of their own -- counter banners. And, he said they've mailed letters to parishioners.
"It is difficult for me to understand how a group of people can claim to be a church of Jesus and not be a church of love," Barnes said. (They) should not engage in any way with this group when the come and to ignore them and go about worship on Easter Sunday and we also would."
Several churches targeted by the group will have a police presence for traffic control, Local 6 reported.
“Westboro church members said they believe school shootings, 9-11 and solider deaths are “God’s revenge” for America’s moral decline and tolerance for homosexuality and abortion.”
Um...ok.
These people are little more than pond scum.
Coffee after service must be fun with this asshat.
Watch the MSM EXPLODE on this!
Obama supporters.
When will the government pull the tax-exempt status of this bunch of morons????
Hummmmmmmmmmm
In a way they are absolutely correct. But it would be easier to just say Liberalism causes most of our problems.
Moral and economic.
Any reason they chose this church in particular? Or perhaps they’re just on “vacation”...
These Westboro nuts should make their way to the south side of Chicago and square off with the Rev Wright over what really caused 9/11. Wouldn’t that be a hoot?
“It is difficult for me to understand how a group of people can claim to be a church of Jesus and not be a church of love,” Barnes said.
Perhaps he could ask Rev. Wright for some insights.
I doubt it. They hate gays as much as they hate America. There are more in the line of publicity whores.
“Westboro Baptist Church”: proof there’s no cure for stupid.
Yep, Stevie boy, and you and your family are right in there with those you pretend to criticize.
I fully expect these nutjobs to off each other with Kool-Aid some day. The mass suicide notes simply state:
“see”
I have a gay nephew and I just hope and pray that people leave him alone, just as he leaves other people alone. He has no agenda, he never mentions being gay to anyone. It is no one’s business.
Now I would love to see THAT!
ROTFLMAO! Talk about birds of a feather...
Orlando area scramble, please
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TO: 1LT PINGMEISTER, FREEPNORAD OPS CENTER
SCRAMBLE THE FLORIDA PING LIST ASAP. ADVISE ALL UNITS THAT NAPALM IS REQUIRED FOR THIS ENGAGEMENT; SOAP IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE WARHEAD FOR THIS TARGET SET. OPERATION HOLY FIRE IS A GO.
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I wish that someone would tell John Hinckley that Rev Phelps called Jodie Foster a bi+ch.
Scramble and bring plenty of water balloons, or maybe some rotten Easter eggs.
I know nothing of the Methodists, Baptists, and Assembly of God folks that these freaks are planning to assault ...
I do know that the Catholic shrine they are planning to assault is thoroughly orthodox Catholic ... ie pro-life, pro-marriage, etc. Exactly the opposite of what the Westboro freaks are ranting against. I can only conclude that the Westboro folks are idiots.
But we already knew that.
Prayers for all Christians of good will who are under assault by the Westboro Freaks.
Maybe Obama’s church will team up with this hate group now that his own church has been outed as another liberal hate group (Phelps is a Democrat).
They are no different than any other Democrat activist.
Fred Phelps’ group are called Christian because the media finds it worthwhile to do so. I denounce it all as a media ploy by another Democrat activist.
Note that I refuse to use the terms “Christian” or “Baptist” in connection with the Westboro Freaks.
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As a long time member of the Calvary Assembly of God mentioned here, I can assure you that we stand with you on the "Pro-life, pro-marriage stance, among others, and my sister's church, First Baptist, believes the same.
Prayers for all Christians of good will who are under assault by the Westboro Freaks.
Your prayers are much appreciated. I will not let these freaks spoil our Resurrection Day celebration!
Lord God, You alone are King. You alone are Lord. Yours is the ONLY Way and You alone are Truth. Lord God, we pray Your TRUTH into this situation. Call those who You have pre-ordained to stand up against the deceit-cloaked-as-truth these protestors bring with them. Show Yourself Sovereign. Let Your power be with those who are with You. Cause a God-story to come out of this which reveals the Truth of who You are. Be with those who stand up for You that none of them might stoop to the enemy’s tactics of hate, bitterness, resentment, anger, etc. Let the fruit of Your Spirit be evident even as they stand up FIRMLY and boldly for Truth. You, O King, already have the victory. The battle is Yours!.. Lord God, if it be Your strategy for such a time as this, just as in times of David and Jehoshaphat lay on the hearts and minds of those at these churches where the assault by the enemy is planned to have the PRAISERS and WORSHIPPERS be out in front!!! Worship for Your power to invade the atmosphere and cause something wonderful to happen - something beyond our expectations. We wait in joyful hope and trust that whatever happens You will use it for Your glory for You have already won. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
My wife and I attend First Baptist Of Orlando and I am amazed that this group would protest us (well wait a minute, these folks protest military funerals etc, so maybe I’m not that amazed) but none the less our church holds the basic tenets of most churches. Pro life, pro marriage, hate the sin, love the sinner. We are all sinners and no one is worthy in the eyes of God, therefore we are saved by the simple grace of God. I would remind people of the Bible, “Love thy enemies”. Our church was prepared for this group, we had pastors outside ready to minister to these people, we also had cold bottles of water for them as well. I think Mr. Phelps and family should study the Bible a little more closely. James 3: 9-12.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water..Also, on a rather funny note, it turns out that Mr. Phelps and crew got confused and never made it to First Baptist Orlando.
William
I don't think it was Mr Phelps, but someone from his crew did make it to Calvary Assembly. I arrived just as they were getting ready to leave, and managed to take this quick shot of the scene: 
As far as I can tell, there were only three of them: one man, and I assume his wife and child (they are holding hands). All the others in the picture are counter protesters or media. The signs tell the story; I don't think this cretin won over any hearts or minds with his insane rants!
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