Shirley Phelps gets it in the ass...

[Davydave]

Finally....

God Hates Fags group out $2.9 million

by ALEX DOMINGUEZ, Associated Press Writer
4 minutes ago



BALTIMORE - A federal jury on Wednesday awarded the father of a fallen Marine $2.9 million in compensatory damages after finding an anti-gay Kansas church and three of its leaders liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress for picketing the Marine's funeral in 2006.

The jury was to begin deliberating the size of punitive damages after receiving further instructions, although U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett noted the size of the compensatory award "far exceeds the net worth of the defendants," according to financial statements filed with the court.

Albert Snyder of York, Pa., sued the Westboro Baptist Church for unspecified monetary damages after members staged a demonstration at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder, who was killed in Iraq.

Church members routinely picket funerals of military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, carrying signs such as "Thank God for dead soldiers" and "God hates fags."

A number of states have passed laws regarding funeral protests, and Congress has passed a law prohibiting such protests at federal cemeteries, but the Maryland lawsuit is believed to be the first filed by the family of a fallen serviceman.

Snyder's suit named the church, its founder the Rev. Fred Phelps and his two daughters Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis, 46. The jury began deliberating Tuesday after two days of testimony.

The York, Pa. man claimed the protests intruded upon what should have been a private ceremony and sullied his memory of the event.

The church members testified they are following their religious beliefs by spreading the message that the deaths of soldiers are due to the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.

Their attorneys argued in closing statements Tuesday that the burial was a public event and that even abhorrent points of view are protected by the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech and religion.

The judge said the church's financial statements, sealed earlier, could be released to the plaintiffs.

Earlier, church members staged a demonstration outside the federal courthouse, which is located on a busy thoroughfare a few blocks west of Baltimore's Inner Harbor, while passing motorists honked and shouted insults.

Church founder Fred Phelps held a sign reading "God is your enemy," while his daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper stood on an American flag while carrying a sign that read "God hates fag enablers." Members of the group sang "God Hates America,"' to the tune of "God Bless America."

Snyder sobbed when he heard the verdict while members of the church greeted the news with tightlipped smiles.

[Bobtheicon]

Believe me, I'm in no way condoning her/their position; but I am a bit concerned about what this means to the First Amendment. I would have preferred an assassination to this judgment. I'm afraid it opens the door to other "unpopular" speech being suppressed - and.... well, I'm sure you can see where that can go....

[Davydave]

I understand your point, but she (and her father's group) is so objectionable to me that I was happy to see this report.

[Bobtheicon]

Originally Posted by Davydave

I understand your point, but she (and her father's group) is so objectionable to me that I was happy to see this report.

And therein lies the problem. What is objectionable to you may not be objectionable to me - who decides?

Many people object to gambling and speech about gambling; therefore even our beloved Cappersmall is now at risk.... -- and we've all seen far more objectionable things than just gambling here....

[Davydave]

Originally Posted by Bobtheicon

And therein lies the problem. What is objectionable to you may not be objectionable to me - who decides?

in this case, the Sane.