Fred Phelps
Introduction
God hates fags! America is doomed and cursed by God! Irreversible! It’s too late to pray for America! It’s a sin! All fags are damned to Hell! Fag eating feces! Fags eat your babies! America is damned to Hell! Fags doom nation! New Orleans is a putrid, toxic, stinking cesspool of fag fecal matter! Any preacher that preaches in anyway is a Hell bound lying false prophet! America is the terrorist! God hates America! The Catholic Church is a fag church run by fag priests and dyke nuns! The Pope is the Godfather of Pedophilia! President George W. Bush is a sodomite! All Catholics and Southern Baptists are feces eaters! God Almighty sent his wrath for persecuting Westboro Baptist Church! A typical so-called sermon from Fred Phelps at Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas.
Anti-homosexuality is the mantra at this “church” and all disasters happened because of acceptance of homosexuality. They think homosexuality is the worst sin and should be a a capital offense. In other words, all homosexuals should be exterminated. They like to protest and they will protest if a soldier dies in Afghanistan or Iraq, a major disaster happens, or crime victims. The signs say, “God Hates Fags”, “Fag Troops”, “Thank God For IEDs” (Improvised Explosive Devices), “Fags Doom Nation”, “Thank God For 9/11”, “AIDS: Kills Fags Dead”, and other vile stuff. Of course their protest attracts backlash from the public. One has to wonder what drove Fred Phelps into a life of extreme hatred and deviant behavior?
Frederick Waldron Phelps
Young Fred and Martha Phelps.
Frederick Waldron Phelps came to the world on November 13, 1929 in Meridian, Mississippi. He was the son of Frederick Wade Phelps and Catherine Idalette Johnston. He also had a younger sister, Martha Jean Phelps (now Martha Capron, who lives in Pennsylvania). His family was highly respected and described as a model citizen by people who knew him as a child. The father was a detective for Southern Railroad, while his mother was homemaker. The elder Phelps was a tall “Southern” gentleman, but temperamental at times. On the other hand, Mrs. Phelps was known for her kindness and opened the windows and play the piano. Despite the Great Depression, the Phelpses lived comfortably.
The Phelps family were Methodist, the father being a fundamentalist, but not the imposing type. His mother died in 1935 at the age of 28 from throat cancer, when he was a child. Her death was a big deal and young Fred was really bewildered. The maternal aunt, Irene Jordan came to raise young Fred and Martha. Fred referred to her aunt as “his dear old aunt” and saw her as a motherly figure. Jordan died in a car accident in 1951. In 1944, his father married Olive Briggs, who was a 39 year old divorcee. Fred Phelps would become an outspoken critic of divorce and people who divorce. In school, he was a popular and respected student, who was very focused and made good grades. Phelps was a boxer in high school and was very good at it. Fred Phelps joined the Boy Scouts and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. When Phelps graduated from high school, he was ranked sixth out of 213 and was the speaker at his commencement in 1946. The American Legion awarded Phelps for courage, leadership, scholarship, and service. He was admitted at the age of 16 to the prestigious West Point, the Army Academy in New York. However, he had to wait before going to West Point due to his age. He attended a local community college.
Bad Blood
By the age of 16, Fred Phelps begin to change, it was a turning point at his life. He went to a Methodist revival with John Capron and perhaps it changed Phelps to what he would become later in the future. Or possibly, it brought a side of Fred Phelps that few would of noticed. He became increasingly combative and vindictive. After all, he was really hysterically when his mother died and his aunt raised him, while his father worked. Also, his fathered married a divorcee, which drove Phelps into the brink of insanity. Fred Phelps was at odds with his own family, especially with his father, stepmother, and sister.
The rift between Fred Phelps and his father grew for many reasons. He did not attend West Point and that really disappointed his father. His father had hoped he attended West Point because he worked really hard to get him into that school. West Point is really hard to get into because you have to be well connected and have a Congressman sponsor you. Once a person gets into West Point, they do not have to pay for anything, other than they have to serve in the US Army for four years as an officer. Since, the Phelps were Methodists, Fred became a Baptist, which created friction among the family. Fred and his father became enemies and estranged from each other. People who knew the Phelpses remember them only talking about their daughter, Martha. They never talked about Fred. The family likely saw Fred as a black sheep and brought shame to them.
The rift even carried on even when he was the leader of Westboro Baptist Church in the 1970s. It was witnessed by Mark and Nate Phelps, who defected from Westboro Baptist Church. The senior Fred Phelps visited his son and told him to come back to Methodist denomination and stop his preaching of hate. Fred Phelps told him to never come back and get out of his life, which made his father cry. Paradoxically, Fred Phelps was overcome with grief when his father died at the age of 84 on October 14, 1977. He attended his father’s funeral.
Relationship with his sister, Martha Phelps Capron was just as bad. Her husband, John Capron went with his wife to visit her brother to reconciliate, which failed immediately upon arrival. She came to visit his brother in Topeka. Fred Phelps’s children never knew they had an aunt, let alone her name. Once Martha came visiting her brother, the rift grew much larger. Fred and Martha got into a nasty argument and left sobbing uncontrollably. Phelps did not want to ever see her sister again. The people no longer part of WBC would find out years later who the name of their aunt and grandfather name after Topeka Capital-Journal reporters did an extensive search about two decades later. In fact, Phelps’s children have never met their own relatives outside of Westboro Baptist Church.
According to Kemper County records, there was a will made by the elder Phelpses, when Fred Phelps Sr. passed away, Olive Briggs gets to control the estate. When Briggs dies, only one-eight of the will to Fred and the rest to Martha. Briggs died on June 29, 1985 at the age of 82. Her obituary only mentions of Martha, the stepdaughter. Fred Phelps was considered the black sheep in his family. Martha got all the estate inherited, which included 75 acres of land, a house, and money. It is very likely that Martha feels ashamed to have a brother who is very hateful and despised by everyone. Of course, she did not choose her family, including brother. Martha currently lives in Pennsylvania and will not not talk of his brother until Fred dies and sees him in the obituary and gets a death certificate.
Conversion
He enrolled at Bob Jones University in Cleveland, Tennessee in 1947. Bob Jones College (now Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina) is a Fundamentalist Protestant University and they were doing missionary work in Utah, which is dominated by Mormons. Fred Phelps converted to Baptist from Methodist in the Summer of 1947. He was very zealot about his conversion. Many newly converts and born against people tend to be zealots, but in Phelps’s case, an extreme zealot. Reverend B.H. McAlister describes Fred Phelps as fiery, eccentric, and devout. He also ordained Fred Phelps as a minister, when he was only 17 years old. Most ministers are ordained in their 20’s.
Phelps would show his belligerent zealot by organizing protests and antagonizing Mormons. One summer night in Utah, there was a tent in Vernal which draws about 25 people on a given night. Also, Ed Nelson ran newspaper advertisement on “What’s Wrong with the Mormon Church?”, which led to 200 people, mostly Mormons. Fred Phelps was doing the sermon and a melee ensued. Many Mormons attacked the podium where Phelps was standing in front of. McAlister and Nelson are anti-homosexual, but wonder about Phelps’s zealotry. Also, they thought Phelps was delusional because he saw himself as “worthy” by God’s grace of going to Heaven. The incident in Utah led the university demanded that Fred Phelps seek psychological help or get expelled from the school. He does leave university after three semesters. He accused the university of being “racist”, which is a rather ironic statement.
He moves to Alberta province in Canada to attend Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills near Calgary, which is for two semesters. Prairie Bible Institute is the Canadian center for Christian oriented higher education. Than he transfers to John Muir College (Present day Pasadena City College) in Pasadena, California in April of 1949 and earned a degree in 1951.
Street Preacher
Fred Phelps started as a street preacher in Southern California the year he graduated. His street preaching got national attention in the June 11, 1951 issue of Time Magazine. Phelps would make his fiery oration to lunch hour crowds about how “sins committed on campus by students and teachers.” The sins he preached of were evil language, profanity, cheating, teachers’ filthy jokes in classrooms, and lust.
His preaching attracted a hostile crowd that the police had remove him for his own safety, which would be his first brush with the police. Once the crowd broke up, he was let go of. Despite the hostile reaction, he continued to preach from a nearby lawn of a sympathizer. His preaching and behavior would be very prophetic.
Fred Phelps meets Margie Marie Simms in Arizona in 1951. Simms was from Carrollton, Missouri. They were married on May 15, 1952. After their marriage, they moved to Topeka, Kansas.
Starting A Family
Fred and Margie Phelps had thirteen children. Their names are:
Fred Phelps, Jr.
Margie Phelps
Shirley Phelps-Roper
Jonathon B. Phelps
Rebekah Phelps-Davis
Elizabeth Phelps
Timothy Phelps
Rachel Phelps
Abigail Phelps
Mark Phelps
Katherine Phelps-Griffin
Nathan “Nate” Phelps
Dorotha Phelps (Now Dorotha Bird)
Establishment of Westboro Baptist Church
Westboro Baptist Church
When Fred Phelps arrived in Topeka, his first church was Eastside Baptist Church. The past of Eastside Baptist Church was Leaford Cavin. He was hired as an associate pastor of the church. Members admired Fred Phelps for his fiery speech. The woman members of the church welcomed Margie Phelps. The church decided to open a new church across town. The church raised bonds and bought property on 3701 12th Street, which was named Westboro Baptist Church. The new church had 50 members from Eastside Baptist Church. He made his first sermon on November 27, 1955 after the newly married couples moved to Topeka, Kansas. The church opened formally on May 20, 1956 and Fred Phelps had it all. However, trouble was brewing between Eastside and Westboro Baptist Church.
A long time Eastside member said that Phelps had turned on their own church and not all members were excited about him being a pastor. On one Sunday, when Pastor Cavin was preaching, Mark Phelps, who was 10 months old was crying. Fred Phelps slapped Mark repeatedly right in front of other members. Right after, Phelps slapped Mark, he was confronted by other men to not hit his baby son.
When Fred Phelps got his own church, there was a falling out between him and Cavin. The falling was over God hates the sin, but not the sinner, which Phelps did not believe in. Phelps believed that God hated both the sin and sinner. Pastor Cavin by all accounts was a staunch Baptist, but not staunch enough in the eyes of Fred Phelps. Also, Phelps was a man full of anger and rage, which would become is trademark. Fred Phelps recommended that members who came for marriage counseling to beat on their wife. Not a surprising advice because Phelps was very abusive to his own wife and children. One of his sermons was about how a fine wife a husband can make by beating on her as prescribed in the Bible. Phelps believed that wives should obey and submit to their husbands. If the wife does not submit to their husbands, they should be beaten into submission.
Phelps was struggling and had to meet end’s meet to stay afloat. He had to $32 a week on bonds for the church and no one wanted to give offering to hear a psychopathic minister preaching hate. Phelps had to turn to other ways to get money to pay his mortgage. During the next five years, his church would go door-to-door selling vacuum cleaners, baby strollers, and even insurance. All the door-to-door salesmen who were employed were all sued by Fred Phelps, which would show his litigious nature. During the time, he still had the feud with Pastor Cavin, who tried to rebuild the bridge between him and Phelps.
Pastor Cavin convinced county assessor John Towle to have Westboro Baptist Church taxed as a private residence. Phelps contested the decision before the County Board of Tax Appeals and won. Also, he sued Pastor Cavin and Stauffer Communications for libel, but lost. In the end, Fred Phelps learned to defend his church and bunker. WBC billed itself as a Primitive Baptist. They are not associated with any Baptist organization. It was established as a non-profit organization in 1967.
Eastside members were hoping Phelps would miss the payment, so Westboro gets foreclosed, which never happened. As a way to save money, Phelps decided to move into Westboro Baptist Church and call it home. By that time, Westboro Baptist Church was just made up of his family.
Other people decided to follow Fred Phelps, the Hockenbargers, George Stutzman, Chris Davis, and Theresa Davis. Other people from Eastside Baptist Church would join Westboro Baptist Church, but would later leave after they engaged in controversial activities. A film maker, Steve Drain, would also join Westboro Baptist Church after making a documentary about them. Drain’s whole family would also be members.
Becoming A Lawyer
What got Fred Phelps into becoming a lawyer started with a German Shepard that happen to be near his property. Phelps decides to get his shotgun and blast the dog to death. The dog owner sued Fred Phelps, but Phelps won the case and was covered in the local newspaper. This case could of likely made Fred Phelps become a lawyer. Also, he earned enough money from selling insurance and getting the premiums off of them that he did not need to work. Fred Phelps decides to become a lawyer and enrolls at Washburn University in Topeka.
Fred Phelps was a star at moot court and the editor of Law Review. Faculty remembered Phelps as the most brilliant student they ever had at Washburn. Everyone at the school knew his public life. However, no one knew about his private and dark life he had. When he was studying, he would fly into rages because of noise made by his children. Fred Phelps increasingly became more isolated and confined himself into the bedroom, only to go out for errands. His sexual appetite was extremely voracious and gained 100 pounds. Fred Phelps was getting more obese and volatile.
Volcanic Fred
Mark and Nate Phelps told the world that Fred Phelps is very volatile and abusive to his own children and wife. In fact they showed up to school all bloodied and bruised, but did not speak up out of fear that their father will kill them. The Phelpses were investigated for child abuse, but Fred Phelps threatened the police, social workers, and teachers involved. Fred Phelps even went as far as suing the school for beating Mark and Nate Phelps.
Fred Phelps would often use a leather belt or axe mattock to hit his children. He would often yell at them. He also brutally beat his own wife, Margie. He even threw his own wife down the stairs. Her injuries were chipped bones and broken cartilages. He would force his children to work and if they did not, Phelps would yell and kick them hard until they were lying on the floor. Even when Fred would stop beating on his children and wife and he would go on with a long harangue filled with profanity. His tirade would last for hours. Here is one example of Fred Phelps’s endless venom filled tirade:
Shitass, Goddam, tit-ass, piss-ass Goddam, ass-hole bastard, piece of shit, dick, son-of-a-bitch God forsaken filthy measly-assed piece of fucking shit Goddam horses ass. You’re not worth shit. You’re a no good, no account, God forsaken piss-assed little bastard. Get your ass in there and lean over that Goddam bed, you’re going to get a licken. Bitch. Fucker. Prick, Fucker, Prick, Goddam fucker, Goddam prick, asshole, prick, prick, fucker, fucker, fucker, fucker, fuck you, you Goddam fucking piece of garbage. Go to hell. Fuck you. Go to hell. Prick. Fucker. GODDAMN YOU, you fucker. You worthless piece of shit. Goddam you, you worthless piece of shit of Goddam fucking shit. Fuck you. Go straight fucking to hell you Goddam fucking son-of-a-bitch. God Damn You! God Damn You!!! God Damn You!!! You Goddam asshole son-of-a- bitch. God Damn You! How dare you, you asshole bastard prick turd. You turd. You lying, mother fucking stinking piece of fucking shit. Fuck you, you lying sack of shit, you. Get the fuck out of my face. Go to hell. I hate you, you bastard. I hate you, you asshole. You Goddam prick asshole bastard, dick, piece of fucking rank stinking fucking garbage that’s as full of shit as anyone could ever be. Get the hell out of here, you fucker. Fucker. Fucker. Go to fucking hell you bastard. Piss- ass. Horses ass. Goddam fucker. Fucker. Fucker. Fucker. Fucker. Fucker. FUCKER! FUCKER! FUCKER! Asshole. You bastard. You sick Goddam son-of-a- bitch. You worthless little bastard. You Goddam asshole prick bastard. God Damn It!! God Damn YOU!!! GOD DAMN YOU!!! Fuck you, you bastard. You’re going to hell. You little Tit-ass. Shit-ass. Fucker Tit-ass. You little Shitass. Piss-ass little bastard. You Goddam little bastard, I’m going to teach you. Get the hell up there. Why did you do this to me? Say!! What’s the big idea? What the hell do you think you’re doing, bringing reproach on the church of the Lord Jesus Christ? I’m not going to put up with your sissified wimpy asshole ways. Shut up. God damn it. God damn it. God damn it. Keep those Goddam kids quiet. I’m not going to tell you again. What’s the big idea making all of that Goddam racket? Say! Didn’t I tell you to not make a fucking sound? You think you’re so Goddam smart thinking for yourself, when I told you what the fuck I wanted. Keep those Goddam kids quiet or I’m going to beat the hell out of all of you, you bitch. You bastard. You bitch. Fuck you. Fuck you, God damn it. I’m going to beat the hell out of you; I warned you and now you’re going to catch it. Where do you think you’re going. Get the fuck back over here you son-of-a-bitch and take your beating like a man. Fucking asshole bastard son-of-a-bitch chicken shit piece of crap, no good little bastard. What the hell do you think you’re doing, for Christ’s sake? I’m not going to put up with you, do you understand me? Do you? I won’t tolerate this bullshit. God Damn you!! I’ll beat the living shit out of you. Watch it. I’m warning you. I warned you what I’d do. It’s your own God Damn fault. I warned you, for Christ’s sake. What’s the big idea getting this family in trouble like this? I’ll beat you until you can’t stand up or sit down. God damn son-of-a-bitch, asshole. I told you what I’d do if you didn’t get them Goddam grades up. You little prick. How do you like that? Does that hurt, does it? Goddam it, does it hurt? It better hurt. If it doesn’t I’ll make sure it hurts. Are you fucking crazy? Are you crazy? You must be insane. Jesus Christ, how many Goddam times am I going to have to beat you? When are you going to learn? Say! Say! Is that right? Is that right? When you are going to learn? You no account little bastard. In the old testament they used to take kids like you out and stone them to death. That’s what you deserve. You ought to be taken out and stoned. At least parents in that time had some Goddam solution to a problem like you. That’s what would cure you. You’ve been nothing but Goddam grief to your mother and I since the fucking day you were born. I wish you were dead. I hate you. Jesus Christ, I hate you. I can’t stand you. I can’t stand the sight of you. You’re sniffing after some whore, for Christ’s sake. You got your dick wet and now you’ve just gone crazy sniffing after that fucking whore. You hot blooded little bastard. Keep your Goddam pants on and keep your fucking dick inside. Horse piss, bullshit, balderdash, crap, lying bastard, son of belial, reprobate. ballamite, Goddam Horses Ass! God damn you God, you lying asshole letting them do this to me. God damn You God, how could you let them do this to me! What the hell do you think you’re doing? God damn you God. You son-of-a-bitch. Hey you bitch, got any good words for me? You better say something or I’m going to kick the living shit out of you. Speak up. Say!!! What the hell good are you? Say, what the hell good are you? What the hell is on your Goddam mind? Speak the hell up. I’ll slap the living shit out of you until you fucking can’t see straight. You pussy whipped little bastard. You horse manure. Fuck you. Go to hell. You’re going to hell. Go to hell. Shitass. Bastard. Bitch. Horses ass. God damn chicken shit bastard son-of-a-bitch little fucker, get the fuck out of my sight. You little chicken shit. You piece of garbage. You’re God damn worthless. You’ll never amount to a God damn thing. You’re a loser and always will be. You go along fine for a while and then you do something like this to fuck it all up. You little asshole. You’ll never amount to anything. You’re a God damn loser. You’ll end up in jail you God damn deadbeat. Shut your big dumb ape mouth, you look like some kind of fucking idiot with your big Goddam dumb mouth hanging open. I’ll beat that foolishness out of you. Look at that foolishness leaving him, I can see it with every hit of this Goddam mattock. It does my heart good to hear those screams and see that foolishness leaving. What’s the big idea doing that to me? Say! Why did you do this to me Say! Say! How could you treat me this way? How could you treat me this way you little bastard? What’s the big idea? Say! I’m not going to put up with this kind of bullshit. You’re going to get a beating. Lean over there Goddam it. You think I’m going to put up with you? You think I don’t know how to deal with the likes of you, you God forsaken little bastard? We know how to deal with asshole kids like you. I’ll beat you. I’ll beat you like the Bible says to beat you and you won’t die. Dammit woman, you know the Bible says that if you beat your child they won’t die, so shut your Goddam mouth or I’ll slap you. Do you want me to beat you fat ass? You Goddam hussy. You fat Goddam hussy. You’d think you could give me some Goddam fucking support instead of always fighting me and causing me all of this Goddam fucking grief. I’m not going to put up with your Goddam sassy mouth talking back to me or telling me what to do, you fucking bitch. I’m telling you; Goddam it; I’m warning you, I’m going to slap the hell of out of you; you’re going to catch it if you don’t shut your Goddam God forsaken mouth and back off. I’m not going to tell you again. The next time I’m going to turn my Goddam attention to you and you’re going to be sorry. I’ll cuff you around and give you a Goddam beating. Don’t interfere with my beating of this Goddam bastard one more time. I want this fat off of that ass. I’m not going to put up with that fat ass. If you don’t lose by tomorrow, you’ll get another beating. I want that fat ass off of you, you fat bitch, you Goddam fat slut, do you get it, you think headed bitch?
Fred Phelps was so volcanic that he also threw every object he could see onto the floor, ranging from dishes to food in the refrigerator. The kitchen was such a mess, it looked like war zone. He would make the wife and children clean the whole mess in the kitchen, while Fred did nothing. Phelps would still fly into a violent rage at his wife and make ugly tirades at her. Also, he would break furniture in a fit of rage.
His anger consumed Phelps that he would wake up with angry fits of fear. His endless anger made him into a drug addict; he was addicted to amphetamines and barbituates. At one point, he pointed a shotgun and shot some insulations. Perhaps it was a suicide attempt by Fred Phelps since he was a hardcore drug addict. The drug use went on for a few years. He hit rock bottom and had to be taken into an ambulance. He weighed in at 265 pounds and vowed to lose weight by fasting. In 47 days, he dropped to 135 pounds. His change from an obese to trim man made him obsessed with exercise. He would force his children to run with him or if they did not, they would get beaten by him. One instance, Phelps took his children to a track field to run on and there was a boy riding his bike. Phelps told the boy to leave, but he refused. Phelps hit the boy and knocked him out of the bike and onto the ground. The boy left to tell his father that Fred Phelps attacked. The boy and his father returned and the father attacked Phelps. Phelps and the children left the track field for home. Once, they got home, for some unknown reason, Fred Phelps severely beat his wife. Also, the father did not take losing well and he would throw ice at his own children. If his family was subjected to abuse, it would spread to outside his family.
Debbie Valgos
Debbie Valgos
Fred Phelps Jr. fell in love with a teenage girl name Debbie Valgos in the Fall of 1970. Valgos was from a disfunctional family and saw Westboro Baptist Church as a safe haven. Sadly, it would later prove fatal for Valgos. She was 15 at the time when she met Phelps Jr. Both of them met when they want on their daily door to door candy selling. He knew his father would not approve of their relationship because Valgos is a Catholic, which Phelps despises. Fred Phelps viewed Debbie as not being good enough for his son. Fred Phelps would introduce his son to Betty, who was a Methodist turned Baptist.
Debbie was subjected to severe abuse by Fred Phelps for not being good enough for his son. She than moves to Junction City to live with a soldier at Fort Riley. She fell into a life of drug addiction and even attempted suicide. Than on the night of April 17, 1972, Debbie Valgos died from drug overdose. Upon hearing the news, Fred Phelps celebrated and danced to her death and called her a “whore”. In some ways, Fred Phelps could of contributed to Valgos’s death. Fred Phelps Jr. was very heartbroken of her passing and had a picture of her in his wallet he carried.
Civil Rights Lawyer To Disbarment
Fred Phelps decides to become a civil rights lawyer and forms the Phelps Charter Law Firm in 1964. He defends Blacks who had their civil rights violated. Phelps would brag that he brought down “Jim Crow Laws” in Topeka. Also, they were branded as “nigger” lovers. In fact, most of Phelps Chartered law firm were civil rights cases. He even sued President Ronald Reagan for appointing an ambassador for the Vatican on grounds it violated separation of church and state. However, it was dismissed by District Court.
Phelps was even given an award by the National Association For The Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Ironically, Fred Phelps is a racist and held prejudices towards Black people, even though he defended them in civil rights cases. Many of Phelp’s racist tirades were recorded on television. To further prove that Phelps was a racist, one of the persons who help form the Phelps Chartered law firm was Charles Hockenbarger, who is a known racist with ties to Christian Identity and other racist groups.
Then in 1977, a court reporter named Carolene Brady filed a complaint against Fred Phelps. She did not have a transcript that Phelps requested, which had no impact on the case. He showed his vindictiveness by suing Brady for $22,000 and put her on the stand. Phelps called Brady a “slut” and being a sex pervert. This made Brady cry on the stand and Phelps lost as a result of this. He was disbarred for good in 1979 and could not practice law in Kansas. He practiced at the federal level, but was kicked out in 1989.
Political Career
Fred Phelps Jr., Tipper Gore, Betty Phelps, and Al Gore
Fred Phelps decides to become a politician. In all his attempted political runs, he runs as a Democrat. His first run was in 1990 in the Democrat Primary for Kansas Governor. He ran in third place with 6.72% or 11,572 votes. Than he runs for the United States Senate in 1992 and loses again with 30.8% or 49,416 votes. He realizes that he lost the Senate, he tries to run for governor of Kansas in 1994 and loses again in the Democratic primary and this time fifth place with 3.36% or 5,349 votes. Despite running fifth place, Phelps runs for governor in 1998 and gets 14.72% or 15,233 votes. Phelps attempted career as a politician has failed.
The Phelpses supported Al Gore, who was making a run for President in 1988. They even provided room for the campaign workers. Fred Phelps Jr. held a fundraiser for Al Gore’s Senate run at their own home. Al Gore eventually became Senator of Tennessee. When Bill Clinton won the 1992 election, Fred Phelps Jr. is invited to inauguration on January 20, 1993. Than in 1998, relationship between the Phelpses and Gores went sour. They protested Al Gore Sr.’s funeral and called him a “fag-enabler”.
Leaving Hateland
As Fred Phelps preached hate, some of his own children decided to leave the church for good. Phelps had this “us vs. them” mentality and if they leave, they are persona non grata. They are disowned by their church and family, like Phelps did to his own father, stepmother, and sister. Despite Phelps’s warning of it, four of the thirteen children decide to leave. Mark, Nate, Dorotha, and Katherine Phelps decide to leave Westboro Baptist Church for good. Mark and Nate Phelps left were among the first to leave their family. They simply had enough with their own family, which was led by an abusive and violent father. All of them had to carry the shame of being associated with Fred Phelps.
One carried the shame, that Dorotha Phelps changed her last name to Bird, so people will not associate her with Phelps. In addition, she felt how the Phelps behaved professionally was unethical, which prompted her to leave WBC. She would be the last of the Phelps children to defect. In addition, her last name Bird, was meant she was free like a bird. Ironically, Dorotha Phelps was viewed favorably at Westboro Baptist Church. Dorotha talked of frequent abuses from his father and also said he was a real neighborhood menace. She talks of how the boys got it worse than the girls when Fred Phelps abused his own children.
Katherine Phelps-Griffith is ashamed that she will not grant any interviews and lives on welfare because she can longer practice law. She was disbarred by the state of Kansas, like her father for writing 30 worthless checks. It is also known that she suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and remains at the level of subsistence. Ironically, she was one of “daddy’s little girl”, despite the fact, she was often subjected to violent abuse at the hands of Fred Phelps. Katherine also took the brunt of the abuse besides Mark, Nate, and Margie. When Phelps’s children went around selling candy, Katherine would be left behind to be subjected to violent abuse at the hands of Fred Phelps. Both daughters do not like to draw attention to themselves and like to keep a low profile.
However, some have grown outspoken, despite the fact they will be targeted by Fred Phelps. Most notably Mark and Nate Phelps, especially Nate. In fact, he appeared in an article about his father. Nate Phelps is now an Atheist, but was once a devout Christian. Nate Phelps had mix feelings about how the government should deal with WBC. On the other hand, he praised the Patriot Guard Riders and has condemned WBC’s protesting of funerals. He finds it very repulsive and said it was no different from what his father did as a child. Nate feels Fred Phelps is lashing out at the world since his children are now adults. The last time Nate talked to his father was sometimes in the 1990s on a radio show, which ended in a shouting match that lasted a minute.
All of the children who severed ties with their family, left before the cult would become infamous for what they are known for today, their anti-gay campaign. It would become their mantra and would be focus of their numerous picketings at various venues from homes, schools, churches, and even funerals. Their infamous anti-gay campaign started at a nearby park in 1991.
Gage Park Insanity Drive
Fred Phelps picketing.
Fred Phelps picketing.Gage Park is a park established in 1899 and is 160 acres. It is home to Topeka Zoo, miniature train, an outdoor theater, and the Reinisch Rose Garden. The park is popular among the homosexual community who want to go “cruising”, looking for sex. The park is also not too far from Westboro Baptist Church. Fred Phelps claimed in 1989, two gay men accosted their than 6 year old grandson, Joshua Phelps-Roper. One would wonder why the Phelpses did not file a police report if Joshua was accosted. We will probably never know. The Phelpses decided to file complaints against the City of Topeka about the large amount of homosexual sex occurring in the park, in which nothing happened.
As a result, in June of 1991, Fred Phelps launched his anti-gay crusade. He first posted signs warning people that the park of homosexual activity, which attracted a lot of negative attention. He would protest and send anti-gay faxes to network of media outlets, state offices, and individuals. Many people nearby were intimidated by Phelps because he might sue them and make them lose their jobs. This would be his first anti-gay protest, which he would become best known for. In addition, anti-gay preaching would become Fred Phelps’s mantra, which would stick to this very day. Here are his vile anti-gay remarks he has made:
“The same Bible that prescribes the death penalty for murderers, also prescribes the death penalty for those who engage in homosexual conduct. It is a measure of the perversion of our country — our near-total alienation from God — that the masses cannot see this great national hypocrisy.”
– “Homosexuals, also, should have the Death Penalty!” WBC flier, June 14, 1997
“WBC engages in daily peaceful sidewalk demonstrations opposing the homosexual lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth. We display large, colorful signs containing Bible words and sentiments, including: GOD HATES FAGS, FAGS HATE GOD, AIDS CURES FAGS, THANK GOD FOR AIDS, FAGS BURN IN HELL, NO NOT MOCKED, FAGS ARE NATURE FREAKS, GOD GAVE FAGS UP, NO SPECIAL LAWS FOR FAGS, etc… WBC has conducted some 20,000 such demonstrations during the last nine years at homosexual parades and other events (including funerals of impenitent sodomites, like Matthew Shepard). WBC teams have picketed major fag parades in San Francisco, New York, Washington D.C., Miami, San Diego, Dallas, Orlando, Kansas City, etc. The unique picketing ministry of Westboro Baptist Church has received national attention, and WBC believes this gospel message to be America’s last hope.”
– “FAQ,” WBC “Godhatesfags.com” Web site
“The only true Nazis in this world are fags. They want to force you by law to support their filth, and they want to shut you up by law when they hate what you say. They would be perfectly happy to make it a crime to preach that ‘God hates fags’ under the guise of ‘hate speech legislation.’ “
– “FAQ,” WBC “Godhatesfags.com” Web site
“It’s NOT OK to be gay. It will damn the soul, destroy the life, and doom any nation that tolerates such evil. God Hates Fags is a profound theological statement, which America needs more than it needs oxygen or bread.”
– “WBC to picket UC (Tar Heels) graduation and Binkley Baptist Church,” Westboro Baptist Church “News Release,” May 3, 1999
Ironically, Joshua Phelps-Roper is no longer associated with Westboro Baptist Church and is estranged from his own family. Before he left, he was a very prominent protester. His mother, Shirley Phelps-Roper said that Joshua is no longer welcomed in the house and that he is persona non grata to them. This is a pattern that Westboro Baptist Church has, anyone who leaves the church is shunned by them for life. The grandchild who propelled Fred Phelps and WBC to become anti-gay is no longer one of them.
The police started to crack down on prostitution and drug dealings in Gage Park. This was after a local news station borrowed an infrared camera to see what Gage Park was like. As it turned out, it was ridden with gays “cruising” for sex and there was a lot of drug dealing. Despite Gage Park being cleaned up and made a safer place, Phelps’s anti-gay campaign continued and took on a more virulent streak. Their signs would become more vile and they would protest funerals of dead homosexuals, perceived homosexuals, enemies of WBC, and people who died of AIDS. Also, they would send out abusive faxes to people all over Topeka and Kansas. They were a local and state menance in the 1990s and had some national exposure when they protested a gay parade in San Francisco, which appeared in ABC’s 20/20.
Matthew Shepard
Matthew Shepard was brutally beaten and robbed by two men and left handing on a fence along the road near Laramie, Wyoming on October 12,1998. Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church would get international exposure for picketing his funeral. They also attacked his mother, Judy Shepard. Phelps and his group would protest Shepard’s funeral and the trial of his killers. He picketed with signs saying: “Matt Shepard rots in Hell”, “AIDS Kills Fags Dead” and “God Hates Fags”. Phelps went as far as putting a marble monument of Matthew Shepard with a plaque that would say:
“MATTHEW SHEPARD, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God’s Warning: ‘Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.’ Leviticus 18:22.”
The plaque would be denied by the city councils of Casper and Cheyenne. However, that would be the last the public would hear from Fred Phelps and his church. In 2009, the Supreme Court ruled against Fred Phelps in erecting the Matthew Shephard “memorial”
Thank God For 9/11
World Trade Center Attacked
America was attacked on September 11, 2001 in New York, Arlington, and Shanksville. The terrorist attacked claimed 3,000 lives and left America and the world shocked and in a state of grief. Phelps saw it as an act of God’s punishment for accepting homosexuality. He said on his website:
“On September 11, 2001, God Almighty struck the United States of America with the worst terrorist attack in her history.”
“Thank God for September 11th. Thank God for those planes. God ordained and decreed these acts. He determined in eternity to hurl those airplanes, like fiery darts out of the sky. He used the evil followers of Osama bin Laden to punish even more evil people.”
As America was in total shock and grieving, Westboro Baptist Church was celebrating the horrific terrorist attack, like Muslim extremists and radicals were doing. Westboro Baptist Church went to New York and protested the rescue effort near where the World Trade Center once stood. Phelps’s group were taunting victims who were taken from the rubble, shouting profanity at rescue workers, and demanding anyone alive to die under the rubble. Phelps claimed that 9/11 was God’s punishment for America’s acceptance of homosexuals. Phelps’s presence was not something people wanted to see when America was in mourning. Fred Phelps is known to watch the videos of the 9/11 terrorist attack with glee and joy.
WBC faced a lot of backlash from the general public for cheering the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and blaming America, which was befalling other people who blamed America, mostly in academia. In fact, a 19 year old teenager named Jared Dailey. Within two days, 86 people joined the protest against WBC. The slogan was, “Not Today Fred!”, which would be the new slogan used against Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church. The 9/11 terrorist attack made Dailey enlist into the US Army and is now a soldier.
God Hates America
Westboro members protesting.
Starting in 2005, Westboro Baptist Church started to protest funerals of soldiers who died in Afghanistan and Iraq. No one in history has ever protested at a funeral. These soldiers died defending America and now they are getting literally spitted on by this group. Their protest of soldier’s funerals made them more infamous. The protest of soldier’s funerals enraged Americans of all races and political leanings. Fred Phelps is virulently anti-military as he viewed soldiers as people who were lazy and incompetent idiots unable to find work elsewhere. Also, he views soldiers as people who were fed that is okay to be a homosexual by the media, schools, and churches. In addition, that all soldiers persecute Westboro Baptist Church. This sentiment would be shared by Michael Crook with his infamous, Forsake The Troops website, which he continues to maintain his anti-military sentiment.
Even fringe groups despised Fred Phelps and WBC. In fact, the Ku Klux Klan (KKK) passed out flyers denouncing Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church. Fred Phelps is known to attack the KKK and Neo-Nazis in his Sunday sermons, by calling them “fags”, “fag lovers”, and “fag-enablers”. The KKK and Fred Phelps go way back when he was a civil rights lawyer. As Phelps was bringing down segregation laws, the KKK grew resentful towards Phelps and wanted to get even with him.
A funeral is a dignified event that calls for remembrance and respect and grieving, not a time to protest. They would protest that soldier’s death are God’s punishment on America for tolerating homosexuality and call soldiers “fags” and “fag-enablers”. Their protesting of funerals would be the start of their angry transgressions. A group called Patriot Guard Riders was formed. It is made up mostly military veterans who come to protect families of deceased soldiers at funerals. The only group that protest military funerals is Westboro Baptist Church.
The “protestation” of soldiers stemmed from an IED exploded at their church compound on August 20, 1995. No one was injured in the bombing. The police determined it was a work of a “mad bomber” because of the bomb characteristics and other areas were targeted. The bombing was not an anti-WBC group. However, Fred Phelps saw it as an act of terrorism by America and that God would retaliate against America for attack his cult.
Tachmonite
Tachmonite Banner
In the main chapel of Westboro Baptist Church, where Fred Phelps preaches his vileness, there is a banner that prominetely says “Tachmonite”. Tachmonite is from the transliteration of “Hachmoni” or “Hachmonite”, which is in the Bible. More specifically in 1 Chronicles 11:11 and 27:32. Here is how those verses go in the Bible:
This is an account of David’s mighty men: Jashobeam, a Hachmonite, was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against 300 whom he killed at one time.
-1 Chronicles 11:11
Jonathan, David’s uncle, was a counselor, being a man of understanding and a scribe. He and Jehiel the son of Hachmoni attended the king’s sons.
-1 Chronicles 27:32
8 These are the names of the mighty men whom David had: Josheb-basshebeth a Tahchemonite; he was chief of the three. He wielded his spear against eight hundred whom he killed at one time.
-2 Samuel 23:8
Apparently, Fred Phelps sees himself as a prophet, like Jesus and is trying to start a new religion. This shows that Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist Church is not Christian at all, but a cult, like People’s Temple or Heaven’s Gate. In fact, they do not call themselves Christians and are known they express hatred towards them, just as much as they do towards homosexuals. It is not surprising because they like to attack Christians and refer to them as “fag churches” that promote the homosexual agenda. He attacks all pastors and preachers as “fags”, “fag-enablers”, and “whores” and churches as “whorehouses”.
Thank God For $11 Million!
One of their protest at the military funeral, which was Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder on March 10, 2006. The family only found out about WBC protest through the media. The father of the deceased soldier, Albert Snyder, decided to sue Westboro Baptist Church, specifically Fred Phelps, Shirley Phelps-Roper, and Rebekah Phelps-Davis. He sued because of emotional distress and invasion of privacy. On October 31, 2007, the jury ruled in favor of Snyder and awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages and additional. Also, the same jury, made WBC pay $6 million in punitive damages for privacy invasion and $2 million for emotional distress.
Snyder sobbed at the verdict, while members of WBC had tight lipped smiles. As usual, they protested outside the courthouse. They planned on appealing the decision and reduced the verdict by half to $5 million, which is still substantial. WBC would be required by the courts to sell their church, homes, and law firm.
Westboro Baptist Church's Days Are Numbered?
The End?
Westboro Baptist Church’s Days Are Numbered?However, they failed to pay their lien on May 6, 2008, which could mean their church could be foreclosed and the sheriff would enforce it. Westboro Baptist Church would cease to exist by then. Also, their truck was not ruled tax exempt on July 25, 2008, which was another setback for them. The garage was struck by fire in the early morning of August 2, 2008. It was probably most likely a member set the fire as an insurance scam or planning mass suicide when their church gets seized for not paying their lien.
Since, they do not meet their court order, the sheriff will come and seize their property. It is possible that they will commit mass suicide than rather live on the streets. However, they said, “Thank God for the Arson.”, which could mean that Doomsday is coming soon for them and that they will be saved. As of today, they continue their protesting, which numbers over 30,000 since 1991, but they seem to only confine it to Kansas, Nebraska, and Maryland. Strangely, they were silent about Hurricane Ike when it ravaged Texas, but made claims they would say something about it in a video blog they release, but he only made a mention of it in his sermon, but seem somewhat restrained. On the other hand, he went ballistic about the Los Angeles train accident that claimed 25 lives. Since it happened in California and he has shown disdain for the state, he was going off on it.
Sources
Westboro Baptist Church’s Website-Enter at your own risk! It is really vile. I do not want to give them attention, but I just linked it as proof.
CJ Online Web In-Depth-Fred Phelps
CJ Online-Phelps at odds with father, sister
CJ Online-The Transformation of Fred Phelps
CJ Online-Fred Phelps versus Topeka
CJ Online-Phelps controlled children’s lives, sons say
CJ Online-Phelps protester supported for his patriotic spirit
CJ Online-Phelps’ son speaks out
Kansas State Historical Society-Protest Sign
Mother Jones-The Man Who Loves To Hate
The Pitch-The New Fred
Fred Phelps Expose’
Rick Ross Institute-Westboro Baptist Church
God Hates Fred Phelps
NNDB-Fred Phelps
Rotten.Com-Fred Phelps
Plattsburgh For Peace-Family Tree
Plattsburgh For Peace-Chapter One
Plattsburgh For Peace-Chapter Two
Plattsburgh For Peace-Chapter Three
Plattsburgh For Peace-Chapter Four
Plattsburgh For Peace-Chapter Five
Plattsburgh For Peace-Chapter Six
Plattsburgh For Peace-Chapter Seven
Plattsburgh For Peace-Chapter Eight
Plattsburgh For Peace-Chapter Nine
Addicted To Hate
The Anti-Defamation League-About The Westboro Baptist Church
The Anti-Defamation League Special Reports-About The Westboro Baptist Church
Find A Grave-Debbie L. Valgos
Anti-Westboro-Debbie Valgos
Apologetics Index-Westboro Baptist Church
City of Topeka-Gage Park
On Petition for a Writ of Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
SPLC-A City Held Hostage
Casper Star-Tribune-Phelps seeks anti-gay marker
You Tube-Sept 13, 2001 rally against Fred Phelps
You Tube-Fred Phelps’s Angry Sermon-You Piece Of Crap
Examiner.Com-Phelps children raised on faith
Our Campaigns-Fred Phelps
BBC-America’s Most Hated Family
CNN-Church ordered to pay $10.9 million for funeral protest
KTKA-Appeals court rules Westboro Baptist Church’s truck isn’t tax-exempt
WIBW-Fire Breaks Out at Westboro Baptist Church
BehaveNet-Narcissistic Personality Disorder
BehaveNet-Anti-Social Personality Disorder
Cleveland Clinic-Paranoid Personality Disorder
Mayo Clinic Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Mayo Clinic Anti-Social Personality Disorder
Hate Mongers Hide Behind God-Westboro Baptist Church
Fact Archive-Fred Phelps
‘Scarborough Country’ for April 11, 2006
Nation Master-Westboro Baptist Church#Quotations from Phelps.27 Sermons
Nation Master-Members of Westboro Baptist Church
Find Law-Albert Snyder v. Westboro Baptist Church, et al.
On Tachmonites
ESV Bible-1 Chronicles 11:11
ESV Bible-1 Chronicles 27:32
ESV Bible-2 Samuel 23:8
The Ubyssey-Running From Hell
Johnny Lee Clary-Racist Hall Of Shame
Local News 8-US Supreme Court ruling favors Casper
My Comments
I spent most of the article on Fred Phelps’s life before his infamous anti-gay campaign because it has been covered extensively. I feel that covering before what he is infamous deserved more attention. Protesting funerals is disgusting, but does not compare at the level of violently abusing children and wife. Child and spousal abuse is a very serious problem and often goes unreported, which sadly was the case with the Phelpses. That being said here is what I think of Fred Phelps.
Fred Phelps has to be the sickest and most hate-filled person I have ever seen. He is a pervert with some serious problems and is insanely obsessed with homosexuality. Ask any question to him and he goes on rambling like a psychopath and accuses you of being a “fag” and/or “fag-enabler”. How does he live with himself, so obesessed with homosexuality? He thinks about homosexuality more than homosexuals themselves. It really boggles me. Everything to him is “homosexual” from the church, school, and vacuum cleaner. Phelps even protests sporting events because he thinks they are “homosexual”. He even protested a car dealership in Tennessee and local hardware store selling Swedish made vacuum cleaners because they are “fag vacuums”. Notice also, he rarely pickets places where gays congregate and most targets people who are not gay. I guess he does not picket places where there will be a lot of gays because he is aroused by it and if goes there, he will be outed as a homosexual. It is something he cannot deal with and has to lash out. Ironically when he pickets, he depicts stick figures engaging in gay sex, the very thing he decries. Why do you depict that, when you hate homosexuality so much? What next, Fred, are you going to say that binary stars are “homosexual”? He said that anyone who does not speak out about homosexuality is going to Hell period. He said that about Mr. Rogers, who was an ordained Presbyterian minister and was “morally obligated” to make statements about gays. For Fred Phelps, he thinks Mr. Rogers has “damned” America to perdition and promoted homosexuality. I have watched Mr. Rogers and he NEVER PROMOTED homosexuality. Also, it is a children’s show and that is rather a mature topic. Dude, you’re an old man, make peace with death and just stop being hateful. Than again, he has attacked people who have condemned homosexuality and calls them “fag lovers”.
He has not killed anyone, but he deserves to be on the most evil list and he personifies evil. A man full of irony, insecurity, rage, and hate. He is pot calling kettle black. America’s most hated family, which they deserved to be labeled as, along side with Lori Drew, OJ Simpson, and Osama bin Laden. Westboro Baptist Church is not even a church at all, let alone a cult. They should be called Worthless Bullshit Crap because they are worthless and spew bullshit about how God is punishing the world for accepting homosexuality. Cults like attracting new members. Apparently, they do not like attracting new members. They have 70 members, which are all family and relatives. A church should be made up of all types of people, not just a few inbred families. What a bunch of inbreds if you ask me. Well, I have news for you, Fred Phelps, GOD HATES YOU AND YOUR PATHETIC SO-CALLED CHURCH!!!!!!!
Fred Phelps is no Christian because he attacks all Christians. As mentioned he has that banner that says “Tachmonite” in the chapel, which gives credance that Fred Phelps is trying to form a new religion. Westboro Baptist Church is a cult. The more I know about Fred Phelps he is no different from other cult leaders like Jim Jones and David Koresh. The biggest Christophobe and Christian hater of all is Fred Phelps and WBC. Fred Phelps likes to attack other Christians, particularly Catholics and Episcopals. He also likes to attack ministers, like Billy Graham and the late Reggie White and Jerry Falwell. He accuses Catholics as a bunch of homosexuals and pedophiles going to Hell, which is not just a Catholic problem. I wonder why he does not decry teachers having sex with students at school? Also, he attacks churches for not preaching what Fred Phelps preaches. He calls all preachers “fags”, “fag-enablers”, “fag lovers”, “liars”, and “whores”.
He says all Christians except for Westboro Baptist Church are going to Hell because they are all “fags”, “dykes”, and “fag-enabler”. He calls Catholics, Orthodox, and Protestants “fag churches”. What the hell is a “fag church”? What if WBC is built by contractors and one of them is gay. Is that a fag church, Fred? You decry icons in Catholic and Orthodox churches, yet your chapel has those picket signs that say “God Hates Fags”, “Fag USA”, “Dyke Liberty”, etc and uses the word “fag” like every five words in your sermons. Isn’t that using icons right there? Also, you’re main website is “God hates fags” and that has the word “fag” in it. That to me is a “fag church” right there! Also, it appears that WBC likes to go by King James Version Bible and the author of it is rumored to be a homosexual. If true, I wonder how you will handle that, Fred? What next are you going to say Fred? Jesus is a “fag” and “fag-enabler” because he died for everyone’s sin, not just WBC’s sin. Oh, wait, you say that Christmas is a “fag holiday” and God hates Christmas, which you imply that God hates Jesus.
Phelps is very anti-Semitic and called the Holocaust an act of God. He goes out of the way to accuse Jews of persecuting and exterminating Christians during the Roman Empire. It was the Romans who persecuted Christians, especially under Nero. He says that Jews and homosexuals persecute Westboro and are worse than Nazis. Excuse me, the Holocaust was committed by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. At least 20 million people died in the Holocaust. Well, the Nazis were known for sexual deviance and I wonder what Phelps has to say about that? Also, he likes to attack Islam, which is rather ironic. He thinks Islam is an idolatrous religion ridden with perverts and pedophiles. Many Muslim countries like to persecute and execute homosexuals, like Iran and Saudi Arabia. In many ways, WBC is no different from Muslim extremists.
I think Westboro Baptist Church is funded by the same group(s) that funds the ACLU and other radical groups. Fred Phelps was known to associate with Al Gore and Al Gore Sr. and he is a Democrat even though he turned on them when Gore’s father died. I mean where do they get all the money to operate like this with all the protests. Even if the won $500,000, that would explain the day to day operations of that organization. It is possible that George Soros does fund Westboro Baptist Church. Also, some radical homosexual and/or Atheist groups are involved too. Gay rights groups have not recently protested Westboro Baptist Church. Whatever their goal is, it is to discredit Christianity. Phelps is also a champion of Fidel Castro because in Cuba, being a homosexual is a capital offense. They could be an agent provocateur, except they come and go and they have been in operation since 1955. It could also be a front group for their law firm, Phelps Chartered law firm, since most of them are lawyers and avoid being taxed.
I have heard and seen his angry and hate-filled sermons and I just cannot but laugh how he is insanely obsessed with homosexuality. Must be lashing out at your homoeroctic thoughts and the only way to stop them is to “preach” hate and see yourself as a God. I have seen him preached and he looks like a rabid dog. Well, he is a rabid psychopath addicted to hate. It is his mantra that God is angry and causing disasters for a society that accepts homosexuality. He sounds like a seriously insecure person and is a closeted homosexual. His pickets have stick figures depicting anal sex, the very thing he rails against. If you hate homosexuality so much, why do you bother to depict that? It is known that people who are homophobic tend to be homosexual in the closet. Note to Fred Phelps, “COME OUT OF THE DAMN CLOSET, YOU FUCKING COWARD!!!!!!!” I mean seriously, why he keeps calling everyone else “fags”, “dykes”, and “fag-enablers”. What is a “fag-enabler”? I have never heard of it. Does it mean people enable homosexuality? According to WBC, “fag-enablers” are worse than fags. Than why not call your group “God Hates Fag-Enablers”? What is your major malfunction? This whole anti-gay crusade of Fred Phelps stemmed from his grandson being accosted by two gay men in 1991. He is no longer associated with Westboro Baptist Church. Oh, the irony!
Phelps claims that God is the terrorist and everyone’s enemy, especially towards America. Now, that is blasphemy and heresy right there! Last time I checked, God is NOT A TERRORIST. In Fred’s wacked out world, God enjoys killing people by blowing up soldiers or killing 3,000 people and laughing at them. Sounds so Satanic to me. God is going to be really angry that His name has been smeared as a terrorist by Phelps.
What is even more sickening is he protests at soldier’s funerals, which he started in 2005. This crazy organization thinks soldier’s deaths are God’s punishment for accepting homosexuality and the soldiers are homosexuals. These soldiers never attacked Fred Phelps in any shape or form. No groups that I know of has ever protested at a funeral. A funeral is a dignified event, not a time for politics. Phelps feels so entitled to use his First Amendment rights to protest at a funeral. He sounds like an extreme left or right wing fanatic. Extreme leftists and rightists are in many ways no different from each other.
Before you accuse me of being against the First Amendment, I believe in free speech, but I have to tell you it is NOT absolute. Second of all, it ONLY applies to the government. If it applied to private property, that would be socialism and communism right there. Third of all, free speech does not mean you can trample on someone else’s right, like a funeral or going outside. Trampling one’s freedom is NOT freedom. Lastly, free speech CUTS BOTH ways. They can protest, I can speak out against and protest them. If you do not agree with what I said, than you are an ignoramus and a moron. I think he is actually out to destroy the First Amendment by making people less supportive of it. It is no surprise that people are less supportive of the First Amendment and would be willing to abolish it. It is people like Fred Phelps who abuse free speech for their own self-absorbed insanity and are sabotaging it for everyone else. There is this saying, “The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance.” Schools should teach civics classes and it should be mandatory. There is this old saying, freedom comes with responsibilities and some lack that, like Fred Phelps.
He also likes says it is God’s punishment when disasters happen, ranging from 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, Tropical Cyclone Nargis, or Chinese Earthquake. He comes out and says it is God’s punishment for accepting homosexuality or other wacked out thing. For example, after Tropical Cyclone Nargis ravaged Burma on May 2, 2008, killing more than 100,000 people, he made this statement:
“That’s right, slant-eyed bastards, God hates you and your false gods.”
It is not only vile, it is very racist of Fred Phelps. What false gods does he refer too? Aren’t you the false prophet yourself, Fred? What a fucking moron! It is ironic when Phelps said Hurricane Katrina was punishment from God because Mississippi was also ravaged really hard by Katrina. Way to throw your own home state under the bus.
What gets even worse is that they protest funerals of young people who are victims of crime and disasters. Take for example Eve Carson, Lauren Burke, and Brianna Denison. They were college students who were kidnapped and murdered. Yet, WBC has the galls to protest their funerals and call them “whores” and say the killers were sent by God for tolerating homosexuality. What would they have to say if the killer was a homosexual? Last time I checked, murder is against the Ten Commandments in Exodus. Do they even know what the Ten Commandments are? Homosexuality is not even in the Ten Commandments. Their families are grieving the loss of a loved one from murder. What a bunch of sick freaks of the worst kind. After four Boy Scouts were killed in a tornado in Iowa, Fred Phelps said it was God’s punishment on the Midwest for persecuting Westboro Baptist Church. That is rather ironic statement because the Boy Scouts do not allow homosexuals and Fred Phelps was a Boy Scout himself. WBC went as far as protesting their funerals. Phelps got a thing for throwing people under the bus.
Fred Phelps believes that God hates nations like China, India, and Mexico. The reason is they celebrated gay pride in the major cities and allow homosexuality. Those nations are not known for being tolerant of homosexuality because of cultural, religious, and political reasons. In China, they used to execute homosexuals and it is still looked down upon. Also, they attack the Chinese government for being sinful and idolatry. If Fred Phelps and WBC had convictions they should go to China and protest that. They will be sent away to a Chinese prison and they are in Hell. At least one good thing would come out of the Chinese government, not that I am a fan of them. In Mexico, homosexuality is considered an abhorrence due to a strong culture of machismo.
Fred Phelps is not very consistent. He calls the Roman Catholic Church a “fag church” and “Church of the Holy Pedophiles”. He claims the Catholic Church is infested with homosexuals and pedophiles. However, when Jessica Lunsford was kidnapped and murdered brutally by John Couey, this is what he said in his vile sermon:
“I’d sooner let John Couey, C-O-U-E-Y, who raped and buried alive little Jessica, I’d sooner let him adopt kids, than turn them over to the fags and dykes! That clear enough for ya?”
In another interview after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, he was interviewed about how children in Southeast Asia were being kidnapped and becoming sex slaves said this:
“Better for them to be sold into lives of sex than to be taught that it’s OK to be gay.”
However, he made this statement after the tsunami, which shows his racism and inconsistency:
“The lands affected by this judgment from God aren’t just full of idolatry; we’re talking about places (think Thailand) that are hot spots where American businessmen travel for the express purpose of fornicating with young Asian children. It is a thriving industry over there; many of these girls are taken into that business when they are seven years old or younger.”
Ironically, after the Indian Ocean Tsunami, he said it was God’s punishment for being sex tourist place. Not surprisingly, he also said it was because of (drums rolling) homosexuality. He seems to condone sex slavery as long they are not gay. Huh? Isn’t sexuality a complex issue of biology and environment. Talk about inconsistency right there! For him, it is okay for pedophiles to adapt children, than some gay person. What a sick fuck! He thinks homosexuals are worse than pedophiles. Well, he thinks homosexuals are the worst people period, even worse than people who commit genocide and mass murder. Phelps thinks homosexuals are beasts and monsters. He said that homosexuality should be a capital offense and all homosexuals should be executed. Gees, I wonder why, because you are a closeted homosexual and homosexuals are still around, you will get outed. It would not surprise me if Fred Phelps is a child molester, pedophile, and into sex slavery. That is why he lashes out constantly.
Fred Phelps also hates America like many moonbat leftists and thinks it should be destroyed. They like to mutilate patriotic songs and the Pledge of Allegiance. Here is their vile version:
You pledge allegiance to the fags
who run all of America
and to all the filth for which they stand
feces-eaters
under Satan
Disease spreaders
Hating liberty
Denying justice to all
You pledge allegiance to the flag Knowing
God hates America
And all the sin for which she stands
God-haters
Under Satan
United in evil
Hating liberty
Denying justice to all
We pledge allegiance only to God
And pray he destroys America
And all the people in the land
More dead soldiers
More lost limbs
Taking vengeance
On the disobedient
Bringing His justice to all
First of all, NO ONE IS PLEDGING ALLEGIANCE TO FAGS!!!!!!!! SECOND OF ALL, THEIR HATRED OF TROOPS IS VILE AND TREASONOUS!!!!!!! Calling for our soldiers to be killed in war is disgusting and vile. They should be tried for treason and lined up to the wall and shot or be impaled on stakes. Also, God is NOT going to destroy America and the world. Why would God hate the world, the world God created. Ever read Genesis, God created the world. God will destroy you Fred and lame ass cult, NOT the world. Here is a mutilated “God Bless the USA” as “Ashamed To Be An American”:
Verse 1:
If tomorrow God came to you, and walked into your house Asked about the lies you told to your children and your spouse He would shut your lying down, “Depart from me,” he’d say. You wrapped yourself inside that flag, so to hell be on your way
Chorus:
I’m ashamed to be an American, where the fags can freely roam They spread their filth around this land, every pervert calls it home So I’ll gladly stand up – with a picket sign – and proclaim God’s word today Cuz there ain’t no doubt about this land – God hates the USA
Verse 2:
From the lakes of Minnesota, where they love to court the fags Across the plains of Texas, where Columbia’s bagged and tagged Detroit down to Houston – New York where they say Even though God showed his wrath to us – his word we won’t obey Repeat Chorus
If you are so ashamed to be an America, than why are you still in America? What did America do wrong to you? Oh wait, because you think it is a “fag nation” and it should be destroyed. America is not the only nation that has homosexuals. You deserve to be persecuted because you are the “fag-enabler”! Yeah, you are just psychos. What nation do you want to go to? You can always go to Cuba because you praised Castro. They also like to mutilate “American The Beautiful”
O wicked land of sodomites
Your World Trade Center’s gone
With crashing planes and burning flames
To hell their souls have flown
O wicked land of sodomites
You’ve reached the bottom rung
On top of all your filthy deeds
You eat each other’s dung
CHORUS 1:
America, America
God showed His wrath to thee
He cursed this land with His own hand
And showed His sovereignty
O wicked land of sodomites
Your army’s full of fags
You’ll never win another war
They’re coming home in bags – toe tags!
O filthy land of sodomites
You sit in Satan’s lap
The US flag belongs in flames
It’s great for wiping crap!
CHORUS 2:
God laughs at your calamity
Against light you rebel
Your pomp is brought down to the grave
You’re going straight to hell
Alright, that really struck a nerve with me in regards to the World Trade Center and 9/11. I am still very saddened about this horrible day. Last time I checked, America is not a fag nation. Their hatred for America is really extreme and no different from moonbats like Noam Chomsky and those Muslim extremists. Seriously, why all the troop hating in this vile mutilation of this great patriotic song. I am proud to be an American. If they do not like America, than GET THE FUCK OUT OF THIS NATION!!!!!! He thinks America is the most repressive nation in the world because he claims they persecute them.
“In our experience, no modern country is more repressive of human rights than the U.S.A. The vaunted First Amendment is nothing but empty words on paper…we will journey to China at our expense, and tell our story of modern American repression of human rights, upon invitation.” — Fred Phelps, writing to the Ambassador to the United States from the People’s Republic of China, February 26, 1997
You like denying and trampling on other people’s freedoms. Pot calling kettle black. Uh, China is very repressive and you do say that God hates China and you were going to protest them.
America has enough screw ups who are ruining this great nation. Take all the moonbats and America hater with you, Phelps. I have news for all at WBC, you are going straight to HELL!!!!!! Seriously, why the obsession with feces? I bet Fred Phelps is into scat and does not want to admit to it. Also, notice they always have the flag upside down, which is the international sign of distress. Sounds like they are the ones in distress. Too many skeletons in the closet and it is bursting at its seems. I guess they need a new closet to move those skeletons, but of course that would reveal what they really are.
One would wonder why Fred Phelps turned out the way he is. People would assume he was abused by his parents or bullied, which neither of it happened. His father showed a lot of attention to Fred, by pulling a lot strings into getting admitted into West Point Academy. Perhaps, Phelps felt his father’s attention was not the attention he wanted. This is despite the fact that his father was rarely around them and him marrying Olive Briggs after his first wife died. Also, people who grew up with Fred Phelps describe him as a model citizen and very popular student. His family had it good considering it was during the Great Depression. Even when his mother died, he had good relationship with his aunt, but not with his stepmother because she was a divorcee, which showed his personality. Also, he was very close to his aunt and saw him less often since his father remarried. Fred Phelps never had a sense of being hated and rejected in life and wanted it so badly. Phelps said he likes being hated and he gets his wish. Phelps has an addiction to lash out, first his family, children and wife, and now anyone who is not a member of WBC. Now, that leads to the next possibility, does Fred Phelps suffer from any mental or personality disorders.
Fred Phelps is a textbook case of narcissism, anti-social, and paranoid. He is extremely delusional, a megalomaniac, has a volcanic personality, harbors grudges, has an extreme sense of entitlement, feels like a victim, paranoid, and misanthropic. The criteria he meets are in bold.
He meets all nine criteria for narcissism:
1.) Has a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g., exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements).
2.) Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
3.) Believes that he or she is “special” and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people (or institutions).
4.) Requires excessive admiration.
5.) Has a sense of entitlement, i.e., unreasonable expectations of especially favorable. treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations.
6.) Is interpersonally exploitative, i.e., takes advantage of others to achieve his or her own ends.
7.) Lacks empathy: is unwilling to recognize or identify with the feelings and needs of others.
8.) Is often envious of others or believes that others are envious of him or her.
9.) Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes.
Five of the seven for anti-social disorder:
1.) Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest.
2.) Deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure.
3.) Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead.
4.) Irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physical fights or assaults.
5.) Reckless disregard for safety of self or others.
6.) Consistent irresponsibility, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain consistent work behavior or honor financial obligations.
7.) Lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another.
Meets all seven for paranoid personality disorder:
1.)Suspects, without sufficient basis, that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him or her.
2.)Is preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or trustworthiness of friends or associates.
3.)Is reluctant to confide in others because of unwarranted fear that the information will be used maliciously against him or her.
4.)Reads benign remarks or events as threatening or demeaning.
5.)Persistently bears grudges, i.e., is unforgiving of insults, injuries, or slights.
6.)Perceives attacks on his or her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to react angrily or to counterattack.
7.)Has recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding fidelity of spouse or sexual partner.
This is based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) Guidelines. He is clearly a megalomaniac because he sees himself as a voice for God and a messiah. He views himself as the final authority for Christianity and goes out of the way to attack other denominations and religions. He is extremely paranoid because he lashes out at people who he thinks is attacking and persecuting him and Westboro Baptist Church even though he is obsessed with attention. He also likes to think that homosexuals are out to get him and lashes out at America and the world for tolerating them. It usually happens when a disaster happens. For example he said the Minneapolis I-35W Bridge Collapse and Hurricane Rita were a punishment from God for attacking and persecuting Westboro Baptist Church.
Whenever a tragedy happens, he said they deserved to die because they were either “fags”, “dykes”, and “fag-enablers”. He makes it sound like that everyone in America and the world is a homosexual. If everyone was homosexual, than people cannot reproduce. He is misanthropic because some people he supported, protested their funerals. He rails against churches and ministers that preach that homosexuality is a sin and still calls them “fag-enablers” and “whores”. Also, he goes out of the way to hurt his own family, father, stepmother, and sister. Fred Phelps is very volcanic because he has a history of abusing his own children and encouraging other people to abuse their wives. Also, any slighting on Phelps, he takes it really personal and gets extremely enraged. His protestation of fallen soldier’s funerals stem from the bombing in 1995 and is lashing out as a result, which shows he harbors grudges. Conclusion, Fred Phelps is a bad seed mixed with a father who was rarely around them between the age of 5 to 15, and mother who died when he was just a child. Of course, there are many people who are in the same situation as Fred Phelps and turn out fine, like his sister, Martha Capron. It comes to show you that some people are born evil, like Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, and Pol Pot and it just happens Fred Phelps is one of them. To sum it all up, Fred Phelps is a delusional, consumed with extreme hate and self-hate, and paranoid megalomaniac.
It is often assumed that Fred Phelps and WBC are a bunch of “attention whores” and the best way is to ignore them. It oversimplifies what WBC is all about. However, “attention whores” usually come and go and they tend to be forgotten. Good examples are Paris Hilton and Brittney Spears, who got a lot of attention and now they are not in the public’s eye. Fred Phelps has been protesting since 1991. People who lived near WBC have tried to ignore them, but it has failed and in some ways made them even a bigger menace that they are today. WBC has to be dealt with in a harsh and swift manner. They need to be sued and prosecuted because they keep sending faxes to businesses. One way to stop people who send junk mail is to sue the person who is sending them, which those businesses are receiving from WBC.
To say that WBC is an anti-gay group is oversimplifying what they are all about. It is true that they obsess about homosexuality and to a lesser extent abortion and divorce. They are a hate machine that is led by a psychopath who has an extreme addiction to hate. His children who defected from WBC have said that if homosexuals were wiped out, they would find a new group of people to hate. It is increasingly obviously, that they show extreme hatred towards Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, Jews, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Americans, Swedes, Irish, military, Neo-Nazis, KKK, young crime victims, handicapped, and obese people. Here is why I think Fred Phelps likes to hate these people:
Homosexuals-Likely has homosexual tendencies and is trying to deny it by lashing out.
Divorce-Father remarried a divorcee and that drove Phelps into becoming anti-divorce. Had a bad relationship with his father.
Adulterers/Fornificators-Likely engaged in them and is over compensating by lashing out as he does to gays.
Soldiers-Got into West Point, but did not go. Also, his father was a World War I veteran. As pointed out, he had a bad relationship with his father. Even though he claims he misses his father, deep down he hates him still.
Obese People-Was obese in the 1960s and slipped into a life of drug addiction. Many of his children and followers are overweight and obese even as of today.
I think this all his hatred boils down to his own personal problems and failings in life. As I mentioned, I think he is a closeted homosexual and he cannot deal with it. Also, he rarely says things about incest and rumor has it that he might have an incestuous relationship with his daughters. Also, there is rumors that George Stutzman, a member of WBC member not related to the Phelps is having an affair with Abigail Phelps, which is adultery, the very thing he decries.
The attention should really focus on Fred Phelps and WBC on how abusive and violent they are. They have a long rap sheet, ranging from vandalism to assault. In addition, Fred Phelps abused Debbie Valgos, who slipped into a life of drug use and attempted suicide multiple times. She later died from a drug overdose. Also, Fred Phelps is very abusive and violent to his own family and grandchildren. He accused the mayor of Topeka, James McClinton, as a “wife-beating tyrant”. He depicts him as a gorilla dressed like a Nazis. Talk about pot calling kettle black right there! Phelps violently abused his wife and children and he is a hard core racist, even though he adamantly denies it and uses the Bible to make his claim. In many ways, Phelps is more dangerous than racists, like the KKK and Black Panthers because they admit they are racist, unlike WBC. Hell if I was given a choice, I rather be around Neo-Nazis than WBC. The only way to deal with WBC is that they need to be eliminated from the face of this planet. His whole life is pot calling kettle black, especially in regards to Catholics with this vile remark about them:
“They’re mean. Mean as Hell. Headed for Hell. The meanest, most hateful people on Earth.”
Uh, you’re the meanest and most hateful person on the Earth. You’re addicted to hate and you are a human hate machine. You’re the one who is going to Hell. You hatred for Catholics is just as appalling as towards homosexuals and you think the Catholic Church is infested with gays. Trying to cover your own pathetic ass, huh? Call everyone else a “fag”, “dyke”, and “fag-enabler” is not going to cut it with me. You know Fred, back in the Middle Ages, the only Christian denomination that existed was the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox, which you refer to them as “fag churches”. You know what they do to people like you, they burn ya on the stake and consider you a heretic, which you are.
The whole Westboro Baptist Cult are candidates to be exterminated by eugenics. They make me a firm believer in eugenics. WBC is the case for retroactive abortions since they are an abhorrence to humanity. Fred Phelps is the poster child for eugenics and retroactive abortion. Also, they would be a strong argument for why abortions should not be banned, so scum like Phelps do not ruin this world. The world would be better off without Fred Phelps and WBC because they are cancer on humanity. Fred Phelps is another false prophet and pervert like Jim Jones, Charles Manson, and Marshall Applewhite. Fred Phelps is a pathetic and worthless excuse of scum like them. He will face God’s angry wrath and send him off to Hell for eternity along side with Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, and Jim Jones; screw ups and perverts of the lowest denomination. When you get to Hell Fred and WBC, you will find that where you really belong, not Heaven. You keep saying everyone is going to Hell, except for yourself and your wacked out cult of yours. Hell is a cruel and harsh place. Keep saying you are going to Heaven is not the way to Heaven, but a cover up of your OWN DEVIANCE. You will suffer from eternal pain and torment, physically and mentally and you will beg to end this, but you cannot weasel your way out, Fred. There is no parole and pardoning in Hell for you Fred and you keep saying that to other people. God hates scum like you, Fred. God will not put up with charlatans, deviants, fakes, and perverts like Phelps and WBC.
See Also:
Michael Crook
Lori Drew
