Anti-gay radical seeks statue lauding murder Associated Press CASPER, Wyo. - An anti-gay preacher from Kansas wants to erect a monument in a city park celebrating the death of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard five years ago. The Rev. Fred Phelps has led protests in Casper and Laramie on the anniversary of Shepard's death since 1998, when Shepard was lured out of a Laramie bar by two men, kidnapped and beaten into a coma. Shepard, 21, died at a Fort Collins, Colo., hospital five days later. Police have said he was targeted in part because he was gay. His attackers were later convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. In a letter sent to Casper officials Thursday, Phelps said he wanted to erect a stone monument in City Park with a bronze plaque bearing Shepard's face and an inscription reading "Matthew Shepard, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as womankind; it is an abomination.' Leviticus 18:22." Phelps said he wants the monument in Casper because it is Shepard's hometown, where he learned it is "OK to be gay." "(Shepard) was not a hero," Phelps said. "This is a great monster sin against God. It is not an innocent alternative lifestyle. And all that has come down in that one little evil town called Casper, Wyoming. And we can't ignore that." Phelps has proposed putting the monument in a part of City Park officials are considering selling in order to avoid the removal of a Ten Commandments monument that has drawn fire from another religious group. The Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation has threatened legal action if the city does not remove the Ten Commandments monument. Earlier this week, the City Council decided to explore selling the park land rather than removing the monument despite opposition from some councilors, who fear it will draw interest from people like Phelps. "I think (the Ten Commandments monument) should be there, but I am voting to remove it if it has to be for this very reason, for the prevention of people like Phelps," councilor Renee Burgess said. Others said they would not be persuaded by hate to remove the Ten Commandments monument, which has sat in the park since the 1960s. "I think the hate language will find a very cold reception in this community," councilor Paul Bertoglio said. "I think this community's backbone is going to come up and say 'We are not going to accept it.' " Phelps said he was exploring alternate sites if the Ten Commandments monument was removed. "There may be nearby private property that we could buy," he said. "I mean we have to see what turn this takes and how it develops." Copyright © 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2003/10/04/build/wyoming/30-murder-statue.inc
Even if you believe being gay is wrong, which is worse: Homosexuality or Indirectly supporting the murder of people because they love the "wrong" gender? Very, very sad.
The lack of response by conservatives on this board is deeply troubling. I'll wait before assuming that the silence equals support for this horrible person. Oh wait, I thought I was someone else for a minute.
The hypocrisy is almost overwhelming. Aren't all people sinners? Therefore, I guess fred advocates...
Yeah, I completely agree with you guys that this guy is off his rocker. I have my problems with homosexuality, but I also have my problems with hate, greed, self righteousness, etc etc....
I find it difficult to believe anyone - liberal, conservative etc would support such an act of cruelty.
Phelps must be seriously jonesing for some hot man-on-man action. Perhaps he'll have to wait until satan bends him over a burning pile of brimstone.
I went to school at Fort Collins when the whole thing occured. I remember there was some fraternity that created a float for the homecoming parade that had a scarecrow tied to a fence with signs like "I take it up the a**" attached to it. I couldn't believe it! Matthew Shepard was dying in a hospital not 5 miles away and this was going on. Some people just don't understand.
I liked to think I broke new ground in the thread with the suggestion of deity-human butt sex. Did Phelps already mention that option? As for trying to take your comment seriously, let's try this. You are saying that: (1) Phelps claiming that a viciously murdered gay kid is doomed to hell... is equivalent to... (2) My suggesting that a hate-filled man who applauds murder is doomed to hell. I can, uh, really see where you are coming from. For what it's worth, my first post was just a bad joke. I don't believe in "hell" apart from some of things we witness on earth.
B-Bob. It's the same thing. I'm not trying to make an issue out of this, just from a Christian standpoint (which I know you aren't taking but which I do have) condemning anybody to hell is a really ****ty thing to do.
What I don't understand is...does this guy really think that he doesn't need the Cross?? That he doesn't need atonement for his own sins??? I can't understand how one can square this with the Gospel. I find that to be really frustrating. Here's Jesus specifically spending time with society's rejects...and this guy has completely missed it...yet, he's a "reverend." Instead of spending so much time condemning, why don't you spend a day loving...reaching out to the friendless?? This guy REALLY needs Jesus...not that I don't, because I REALLY DO TOO...but man, he better pray for a merciful God instead of spending so much time condemning everyone else. "the jagged rocks...and the heat...my God, the heat!!!" "yeah..it's gonna be rough" (i can't even post something like this w/o a Seinfeld reference!)
Don't be silly. Fred cleary identified it as a "great monster sin" which is different than a sin. The section on "great monster sins" in the Bible begins on page 128 and ends on page 12. You just have to read it backwards and use your secret decoder ring. Oh, wait...your last name is Cohen? You don't get a pretty ring.
I just noticed your excellent word play there. Nice one! And okay, okay. I retract the notion of Phelps being condemned to the underworld. I hereby hope that he find the butt sex he so obviously craves right here in the corporeal world.
