Louis Theroux: The Most Hated Family in America

[tams2000]

I live in the UK and last night (Sunday 1st April) there was a documentary on the BBC called "Louis Theroux: The Most Hated Family in America". Louis Theroux is a broadcaster for the BBC. He was documenting the lives of the Phelps family from Topeka, Kansas.

It was very distressing to a gay Christian like myself. These people picket the funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq as a protest against an America that tolerates homosexuality. They have slogans "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God for 9/11" with children as young as six!

:pray:
We need to pray for these people as they claim to be Christians but seem to hate all those who do not attend their Baptist Church.

[andrewlittle]

The worse part of Phelps "ministry" is that, when compared to his, many other homophobic conservative ministries seem somehow plausible and moderate to many in the general population. His maniacal message makes "hate the sin, love the sinner" seem like open and affirming, instead of the exclusive and judgmental legalism it really is.

It's nice to a fellow Brit on Soulforce. I am ex-pat, but still a Brit.
Andy

[BruceChris]

The only ones that I've ever met at demonstrations seem to be angry at everybody. We could/should pray for them, but it would be nice if we could just be nice to some of them, sometime.


And say, Andy, you say you're an ex-Pat? You mean you used to be an Irishman? That would explain a lot of things!

Peace and Love, Bruce Chris

[Alecto]

Call me bitter, but the part that really bothers me about people's reactions to the Phelps clan (or klan?) is that people are all kinds of trying to pass laws to protect the funerals of soldiers. They've been protesting funerals for YEARS, but NOW people are starting to pay attention cause it's not just gay folks anymore, it's good, straight (we do our best to make sure!) soldiers. Nothing against military people, of course, but doesn't EVERYONE's family deserve a time of mourning without...THAT on their doorstep?