June 06, 2006
When a Lawsuit is a Good Idea
The father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters from a fundamentalist Kansas church filed an invasion-of- privacy suit against the demonstrators Monday.
It is believed to be the first lawsuit brought by a soldier's family against Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kan., whose members routinely demonstrate at military funerals around the country.
Albert Snyder of York, Pa., the father of Lance Cpl. Matthew A. Snyder, is seeking unspecified damages. The younger Snyder, 20, died March 3 after an accident in the Al Anbar province of Iraq. He was buried in Westminster, Md.
"We think it's a case we can win because anyone's funeral is private," Snyder lawyer Sean Summers said. "You don't have a right to interrupt someone's private funeral."
Members of Westboro say the military deaths in Iraq are God's punishment for America's tolerance of gays. They typically carry signs with slogans such as "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God for IEDs," a reference to the roadside bombs used by insurgents.
The church has inspired dozens of state laws banning funeral protests, including a Maryland law that did not go into effect until after Snyder's memorial.
Shirley Phelps-Roper, a spokeswoman for the small congregation, said it is the first time Westboro has been sued by a soldier's family.
"We were exercising our First Amendment rights," she said.
You know, I'm tired of the First Amendement being invoked as an excuse for bad taste. These families lose their loved ones, only to have their funerals picketed by a bunch of loonies who believe their deaths are connected with homosexual tolerance.
A day of mourning and remembrance is turned into a circus. It isn't right.
You want to protest the war (for whatever reason)? Fine. Go right ahead and make an a** of yourself. But don't exercise your precious First Amendment rights at the expense of grieving families.
I hope Mr. Snyder wins his case.
Show Comments »
I heard about this the other day on the radio and was appalled that people claiming to be Christians could be so openly hateful. The interview I heard was fairly cogent and I could appreciate the stand they wish to take against sin. But their militant stance is non Biblical (except the fact that they think God is a vengeful, hateful god). Maybe some other chuch should boycott THEM with signs saying "God hates hypocrites."
Posted by: reverse_vampyr at June 6, 2006 04:01 PM
