In this morning's paper (Wheeling, Wv.):
http://www.theintelligencer.net/News/articles.asp?articleID=1768
Funeral Protest Planned
By SHELLEY HANSON
Some members of a Topeka, Kan., church who protested outside of a memorial service for the 12 miners who died in the Sago Mine disaster are planning another protest — this time outside of U.S. Army Sgt. Matthew Hunter’s funeral.
Hunter, 31, of Valley Grove died Jan. 23 in Iraq from a roadside bomb. Born in Wheeling, Hunter was a 1992 graduate of Wheeling Park High School. He received numerous medals during his years of military service.
Shirley Phelps-Roper, an attorney with the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, on Thursday evening said some members of the congregation plan to hold a peaceful protest starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday outside of the West Alexander Presbyterian Church in West Alexander, Pa., which is where Hunter’s funeral service is scheduled to he held at 11 a.m.
Phelps-Roper said the purpose of the protest is to help people “connect the dots,” to help them realize that “America is doomed.”
Westboro Baptist Church members believe God is punishing America’s support of homosexuality.
“We’re going to stand on a public right-of-way with signs,” she said. “It’s going to be peaceful on our side.”
Phelps-Roper said members of her church try to protest at as many memorials and funerals as possible.
She said members of the church believe the wool has been pulled over Americans’ eyes, and that war and mine disasters are God’s way of punishing sinful Americans.
“The nation is Bible ignorant,” she said.
Phelps-Roper said members of the church have protested outside of five funerals this week across the country. She said, if possible, church members also plan to protest outside of the funeral of Coretta Scott King, who is the late wife of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
An officer with the Donegal Township, Pa., police department said his department is aware of the planned protest. He said officers from his department will be at Hunter’s funeral service.