The father of a fallen soldier is suing the Westboro Baptist church for picketing his son’s funeral.
They wanted their message heard, and they didn’t care who they stepped over,” Snyder testified on Wednesday, according to The Associated Press. “My son should have been buried with dignity, not with a bunch of clowns outside.”
Good for him! I think it is despicable what this man was subjected to by these so called “Christians”. I’m surprised it took this long for someone to sue them.
Here’s what is at stake:
Judge Richard D. Bennett, who is hearing the case, told the nine jurors that there are limits on free speech protection, listing categories that include vulgar, offensive and shocking statements and instructed jurors to decide “whether the defendant’s actions would be highly offensive to a reasonable person, whether they were extreme and outrageous and whether these actions were so offensive and shocking as to not be entitled to First Amendment protection,” according to the AP.
Vulgar, highly offensive, shocking, that pretty much sums up what this “church” has been saying for way too long. I hope this jury sees that this kind of speech needs no protection of the First Amendment. How about the protection of this father who in his grief, had to endure such speech?
I’ll be watching for the verdict which should be sometime next week, I’ll post it here.
Free speech does have limits and I hope that the jury returns a guilty verdict.
posted October 27, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I think these people are dispicable and they are certainly not worthy of the name “christian” as they ignore most of Christ’s own teaching. However, As much as I would want to destroy this group as an entity and heap millions in damages, I have to fear this type of issue being taken to court. When will it be “highly offensive to a reasonable person” just to share that all men are sinners bound for hell unless they believe in the Lord Jesus?When will it be offensive to insinuate that here is only one God, or that God is a trinity?Everyone believes that they are a reasonable person. These Yahoos at Westboro think they’re being reasonable!
posted October 27, 2007 at 3:30 pm
Susan, I have to agree with worship leader ron. When we limit speech by setting up some subjective criteria you just know it will come back to bite you in the tushie and we’ll run the risk of all speech being subjected to the test.
posted October 27, 2007 at 5:35 pm
When we limit speech by setting up some subjective criteria you just know it will come back to bite you in the tushie and we’ll run the risk of all speech being subjected to the test.Are you really advocating that such things as pornography should not have limits on them as it is “free speech?” Are you really saying that speech that is designed to incite a riot is “free speech?” Are you really saying that sexually harassing someone with speech should be protected? Should a person be able to call you on the phone over and over under the guise of “free speech?” The terms and words that the Westboro church members used are not a part of political dialogue; they are designed to hurt, anger and promote a fight. Such speech has not been “protected” for some time – nor should it be.
posted October 27, 2007 at 5:39 pm
You don’t see a day coming when a pastor preaches a sermon against homosexuality might be considered “extreme and outrageous?”
posted October 27, 2007 at 7:11 pm
You don’t see a day coming when a pastor preaches a sermon against homosexuality might be considered “extreme and outrageous?”No, I see a day when “free speech” is not an absolute – like today.The jury in the Westboro case will decide whether the signs, the chanting and the speech of the members is designed to cause a fight, or is a part of political or religious discourse. There is a reason that the members of the church tape the events because they know that their words are designed to inflame and cause a fight. They want the lawsuit. Free speech is like any other right – it comes with limits and responsibilites.
posted October 27, 2007 at 8:52 pm
Just because we have free speech does not mean we are free to say anything we want. Why are the rights of Westboro more important than the father who is trying to bury his own son? What about his right to bury his son with dignity and privacy? worship leader ron, isn’t the gospel already offensive to sinners? Isn’t it already “offensive to insinuate that there is only one God”? Do we embrace their right to say shocking, vulgar things because we are afraid of how it will affect us?I agree with anon.”Free speech is like any other right – it comes with limits and responsibilities.”
posted October 29, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Rather than limits, I’d say free speech is a two-way street – you’re free to talk and I’m free not to listen. The actions of Westboro Church impeded the mourner’s freedom not to listen. Ang was getting at this in her post: offensive material as required reading.
posted November 4, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Thanks for proving my point Reformed Chicks: I noted last week on my blog that the only power Phelps and crew do possess that could be a positive is the ability to unite right/left gay/straight and everyone in between against their vile messages. I don’t agree with TULIP or any of the Calvinist catechisms, but I’m happy to unite against subjects like this – especially when showing at the most somber events of military funerals. http://www.futuregringo.com/index.php/2007/10/31/fred-phelps-bankrupted/Regarding free speech? No, there should not be limits. Pastors preaching against homosexuality should have the same rights as the Larry Flynts of the country. However Phelps lost his case on harassment grounds. In this case the he overstepped his personal and public boundaries, and the victim fought back. I don’t believe there are LIMITS on free speech, but as this case shows when you direct your free speech at a private individual you are RESPONSIBLE for your actions. That’s my take anyway.If you do unfortunately happen to be attending the funeral of a serviceman or woman and don’t care for the despicable visual and audio trash of the Fred Phelps clan – then give the Patriot Guard a call. These guys are saints.All the best from an ex CRC member.