Hate group can continue its despicable behavior for now
ST. LOUIS — A federal appeals court panel said Friday that Missouri should be barred from enforcing a state law limiting protests near funerals until it can be determined if the law is constitutional.
The same three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis reached the same conclusion last December. But the state of Missouri appealed, saying the judges had used the wrong legal standard.
The court on Friday said Westboro Baptist Church member Shirley Phelps-Roper had met the higher standard and was entitled to an injunction barring the state from enforcing the law.
Westboro Baptist ChurchThe Westboro Baptist Church is a hate group masquerading as a Christian church.Led by Fred Phelps, members of this ‘church’ — who have deluded themselves into thinking that they are followers of Jesus Christ — target homosexuals and others with messages of hate.The Westboro cult is largely known for its despicable practice of picketing funerals.Any group of people can call itself a ‘Baptist church’ even if, as is the case with this hate group, the vast majority of Baptists reject that group’s claims.Theologically, the hate group’s extremist views and despicable behavior mark it as a cult of ChristianitySociologically the group has cult-like elements as well• How various religions and denominations view homosexuality• More articles about the Westboro Baptist Church• Note: For obvious reasons we often file articles about this hate group under the heading of ‘Religious Insanity.’Research resources on the Westboro Baptist ChurchComments & resources by ReligionNewsBlog.comAttorney General Jay Nixon said Friday he would appeal the decision to the full 8th Circuit.
Gov. Matt Blunt said he was “deeply disappointed” in the decision he believes will hurt families and friends of dead soldiers denied a peaceful funeral.
Margie Phelps, an attorney, church member and Shirley’s sister, said Friday she wasn’t surprised.
“We’ve known from the time (various states) started passing these laws, they were stepping way out of bound,” she said. “By passing these laws, they’re trying to shut the message up. You cannot do that in this country.”
Missouri legislators passed a law in 2006 that criminalizes the picketing of a funeral or procession. The law came in response to Westboro Baptist Church members picketing soldiers’ funerals. The Topeka, Kan., church claims God allows soldiers to be killed as punishment for the nation’s sins, including homosexuality, divorce and remarriage, idolatry and greed.
Phelps-Roper filed suit in July 2006, seeking to have the statute declared an unconstitutional infringement on her First Amendment right of free speech. She also sought preliminary and permanent injunctions barring Nixon and Gov. Matt Blunt from enforcing the law.
She appealed after U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan in Kansas City said she had failed to show that she had a strong probability of winning the overall lawsuit and that she would be irreparably harmed if the protest ban continues to be enforced.
The appeals court panel disagreed, saying “there is enough likelihood” that Phelps-Roper will be able to prove that Missouri’s law is overbroad to the point she could win on the constitutionality question.
The panel emphasized it is not considering whether the Missouri law is unconstitutional, only that Phelps-Roper is entitled to a preliminary injunction while Gaitan considers the constitutionality question.