Posted by
Billy on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 1:40:49 PM
The Supreme Court is entering an emotionally charged dispute between the
grieving father of a Marine who died in Iraq and the anti-gay protesters who
picket military funerals with inflammatory messages like "Thank God for dead
soldiers."
The court agreed Monday to consider whether the protesters' message, no
matter how provocative or upsetting, is protected by the First Amendment or
limited by the competing privacy and religious rights of the mourners.
The justices will hear an appeal from a Marine's father to reinstate a $5
million verdict against the protesters after they picketed outside his son's
funeral in Maryland four years ago. Members of a Kansas-based church have
picketed military funerals to spread their belief that U.S. deaths in
Afghanistan and Iraq are punishment for the nation's tolerance of homosexuality.
The funeral was one of many that have been picketed by Westboro pastor Fred
Phelps and other members of his church. One of the signs at Snyder's funeral
combined the U.S. Marine Corps motto, Semper Fi, with a slur against gay
men.
Other signs carried by church members read, "America is Doomed," "God Hates
the USA/Thank God for 9/11," "Priests Rape Boys" and "Thank God for IEDs," a
reference to the roadside bombs that have killed many U.S. troops in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
(As an American who is a person of faith this whole issues is very upsetting to me. People should have the right not to worry about those who might try to use the death of their love one to make some kind of point if it be political or culture. However what is more troubling is that some might view this group as what Bible based faith in the Lord is all about. This group is not showing people the Lord at all but some man made faith. Read more of the above story Court to rule in military funeral
protest case.)
