All Things Considered, post 47
No protests at military funerals
In keeping with last week’s column theme, the subject will still be military personnel, but from a different point of view. The funeral is private time for those affected by the loss to grieve in their own way. However, a Supreme Court ruling will decide if a protesters have right to make their message known during military funerals. The ironic twist to all this is that the group doing the protesting is lead by Pastor Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church (Topeka, Kansas) followers. They seek to spread their view that the deaths are God’s punishment for a nation’s tolerance of a gay culture.
With chants and posters that say, “Thank God for Dead Soldiers,” Phelps and his group are going around the country going to military funerals uninvited to state their message, and often the Police are involved to bring calm to the scene. As a trained grief counselor, this is not a good situation for the family and friends of the lost soldier. Tensions and emotions are already at their peak.
I’m sure Phelps and his group have a right to protest, although, as a minister I question if he knows for a fact of God’s true intent. His place of protest is simply the wrong place at the wrong time. The situation also borders the line where a church’s views and politics meet, something of a gray area for the clergy.
When Phelps’ group arrived at a military funeral in Maryland, the father of the deceased, Albert Snyder, sued Westboro, claiming its members had distressed him intentionally and invaded his privacy. A federal court ruled a $5 million settlement in Synder’s favor, however the lower court’s decision was reversed by an appeals court that ruled that Westboro was protected by the First Amendment.
Some legal analysts believe the High Court will find the case in favor of Westboro as a guard against a chilling effect first of pickets, then on the media. The First Amendment has been tested in many cases through the years, each taking a specific circumstance and applying it to general situations. The Westboro’s lawyer is Margie J. Phelps, a daughter of founder Fred Phelps. The case boils down to if a person can sue for damages arising from hurtful messages at a funeral. But life is never that simple.
Peace be you with always,
Rev. Paul Abernathy
“Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” -2 Peter 1:2
Contact Paul Abernathy at paulabernathy@gmail.com.
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