October 31, 2007
Serve's 'em right
The leadership of the hateful Westboro Baptist Church, home of Fred Phelps, has just been found liable to the tune of $11 million for picketing the March 2006 funeral of a fallen Marine. The complaint named the church, Phelps, and his two daughters as defendants. The declared assets of the defendants combined are something less than $1 million, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's rather more than that. Either way, $11 million is probably some multiple of their total assets, meaning that should the verdict be upheld, the church and all three named defendants will probably have to file for bankruptcy. In the case of the church, this almost certainly means the liquidation of their property.
Frankly, I can't be bothered to agree or disagree with their message. Picketing the funeral of a soldier is irredeemably bad form. I don't care what they say they believe: these people are not part of the church, and we should rejoice at their downfall. With any luck, this will put a grinding halt to any further shenanigans.
Ryan:
Your thoughts are solicited.
http://jefflikestorant.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Nat at November 1, 2007 11:57 AMNot really sure I have anything to say to that, except that he seems to be picking a fight with a bit of a straw man. Thinking that Fred Phelps is bad doesn't mean one has to have serious issues with the church in America. I do, but not because of him. Likewise, I wouldn't call myself "evangelical" in the contemporary sense, but that doesn't really serve as a jumping-off point for political rants. I have other reasons to do that.
Posted by: ryan at November 1, 2007 12:59 PM