Down with Fred Phelps!

[ThePhantasm]

I find it rather amusing that he was excommunicated from the church he started. In the end the hate he created was even turned on him.

Feel sorry for his son, though. He doesn't follow his father, he's an athiest, but he seems genuinely sad that his father is dying. I mean, it is his father after all.

 

[Schlosser85]

Yep, and the "church" isn't allowing him to even say goodbye.

 

[KevanG]

You have to feel bad about that but considering how the church is it really isn't unexpected.

 

[Marvolo]

I find it rather amusing that he was excommunicated from the church he started. In the end the hate he created was even turned on him.

Unfortunately that is not why he was excommunicated. It was done for money. See below.

legal crap from what I read, they ex-communicated him means that they can protect the assets of the church at the time of his death. By excommunicating him they remove the responsibility for covering his death bills

Yep that is exactly why he was excommunicated... his daughter is a brilliant lawyer, she may be a disgusting person, but she is a hell of an attorney.

And this just showed up on George Takei's Facebook page:

George Takei
I take no solace or joy in this man's passing. We will not dance upon his grave, nor stand vigil at his funeral holding "God Hates Freds" signs, tempting as it may be.

He was a tormented soul, who tormented so many. Hate never wins out in the end. It instead goes always to its lonely, dusty end.

 

[Hyde]

Couldn't have put it better, Mr. Takei.

 

[DarkSovereignty]

Damn it Tekei, you beautiful son of a b****.

 

[Lantern Venom]

And this just showed up on George Takei's Facebook page:

George Takei
I take no solace or joy in this man's passing. We will not dance upon his grave, nor stand vigil at his funeral holding "God Hates Freds" signs, tempting as it may be.

He was a tormented soul, who tormented so many. Hate never wins out in the end. It instead goes always to its lonely, dusty end.

"Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all." Romans 12:17 NRSV

Takei understands the spirit of the New Testament better than the Phelps' family.

 

[Teelie]

With the irony being God supposedly hates George Takei and loves Phelps. I'm fairly certain that's not how it is going to turn out.

 

[Schlosser85]

My gay atheist college theater professor posted on Facebook about wishing Phelps and his family peace, so....yea.

I can't get behind a belief system that says someone who forgives and wishes peace to his enemies is going to be eternally damned while someone who did nothing but spew hatred is going to Heaven.

 

[KevanG]

SO what is the point of ex-communicating him anyway? I heard it was something about funeral bills or something?

 

[Teelie]

I read that too. Something to the effect of not having to cover the costs of handling his funeral expenses through some kind of legal loophole.

 

[KevanG]

So does that mean they plan to foster his funeral off on the state? Wonder what they're thinking?

 

[Pink Ranger]

Imagine if after Fred's death we all find out that he was secretly a supporter of gay rights, and funneled money to the Matthew Shepard Foundation while acting publicly like a hatemonger to discredit other social conservatives.

Then those of us toasting his demise (like me) would all like "aaaaw ..."

 

[KevanG]

Pretty sure that didn't happen.

 

[Ant-manic]

Imagine if after Fred's death we all find out that he was secretly a supporter of gay rights, and funneled money to the Matthew Shepard Foundation while acting publicly like a hatemonger to discredit other social conservatives.

Then those of us toasting his demise (like me) would all like "aaaaw ..."

but he didn't discredit anyone; just gave voice to their bigotry.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

I find it hard to forgive and take pity on a terrible hatemonger.

But kudos to those who can.

 

[Sawyer]

Yeah, it's lovely if George Takei and the rest of you are willing to put the matter behind you and handle it with grace, but my sole regret in regards to Fred Phelps is that I'll probably never get the opportunity to take a dump on his headstone.

 

[KevanG]

We can make a SHH roadtrip and have a week of it. Fun times will be had.

 

[bored]

One of the other speculated reasons for his excommunication was an internal power struggle. The leaders of the church were trying to determine who would officially head the church once Fred passed away. He pushed for his daughter Shirley, who had been the spokesperson and public face of the WBC for years, but they didn't want to hand official leadership to a woman.

So yes, the country's most notorious homophobe may have been punished for not being a sexist. Just chew that over.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

He chose nepotism over sexism.

But I'm willing to bet he's also somewhat sexist.

 

[cherokeesam]

He chose nepotism over sexism.

But I'm willing to bet he's also somewhat sexist.

I'm willing to bet that if there's an afterlife at all, Rev. Phelps is about to be surprised to discover a flamboyantly gay Satan waiting for this bigot's eternity in Hell with open arms.

 

[bored]

He chose nepotism over sexism.

But I'm willing to bet he's also somewhat sexist.

Well, most of not all of the WBC's members are related to him (either children/grandchildren, or married in), so nepotism is an inevitability. I believe part of the council that excommunicated him included some of his sons.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I'm willing to bet that if there's an afterlife at all, Rev. Phelps is about to be surprised to discover a flamboyantly gay Satan waiting for this bigot's eternity in Hell with open arms.

I know you mean well, but if Satan was flamboyantly gay, wouldn't that give Phelps some comfort in knowing that he was kind of right all along?

 

[Anubis]

Which would suck when he finds out the only reason he's in hell is because the Mormons were right.

 

[Marvolo]

I'm willing to bet that if there's an afterlife at all, Rev. Phelps is about to be surprised to discover a flamboyantly gay Satan waiting for this bigot's eternity in Hell with open arms.

Fred Phelps wakes up on a luxurious bed. The most comfortable bed he's ever laid upon. The room around him is one of tranquility. Pictures of cherubs adorn the walls. Outside the sun is shining and the birds are chirping. Harpsichord are heard on the sweet smelling winds. From outside he begins to hear another sound. Footsteps approaching his door.

"My Lord, is that you? Am I finally home?"

He notices that those footsteps sound unlike any footsteps he's ever heard. And is that a chainsaw he hears? What would God need with chainsaws....unless?

Suddenly the door bursts in and