Do you feel that this was appropriate action for a church to do to a family of deceased soldier??

Question

I need your input, Why do you think it was wrong / right??
I do not !
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071031/ap_on_re_us/funeral_protests

I am glad my fellow americans can see how UN-American this kind of behavior is! Thank you! I also want to thank our troops out there who are giving us this freedom right now, We love you all!!

Answer 1

That was a horrible thing to do. And what that so called "church" has done is basically spitting on the image of God. Christ came to earth to teach us to love one another and what they have done is just the opposite of that. Who are they to try and speak for God? Are they more powerful that God that they can read his mind and say "God has done this because of this and that", it's wrong and the $11 million is nothing compared to the punishment they'll get when they meet their maker.
RIP to the fallen Marine and strength for his family.

Answer 2

How could anyone consider this appropriate action. It's an outrage. More lawsuits should be filed against some religious fundamentalists and their shocking behaviour based on their skewed beliefs.

Not only did they show a lack of respect for a grieving family, but they brought in issues that had nothing to do with the deceased soldier. That they did so supposedly in the name of God is not only disgusting but terrifying.

Freedom of speech has been taken to extremes when strangers intrude into the lives of others. Their agenda in this case was self-serving not God-serving.

They deserve the judgement made, though I doubt the 'church' will part with a single penny. After all, these individuals can martyr themselves for their 'cause' by serving time in prison. I hope they do just that.

Answer 3

It was completely inappropriate and uncalled for. I hope the family collects on the judgement and I hope it shuts down that church. I also hope the members of that congregation are unable to find another church that will tolerate the level of hate they have displayed.

I think that this judgment is completely justified (albeit a little inflated, to make a point no doubt). It is fine to have your own beliefs, however when you disturb the peace and barge into a funeral of a fallen service man you cross some very thick lines of what is morally, ethically and socially acceptable. Many may say they have the right to free speech which is true, however free speech does not extend to acts of hate, which this was.

Answer 4

This was a despicable demonstration. There is no amount of money that could recompense Albert Snyder, but--hopefully--will make such people think twice before committing such an act again.
What in God's name does the war in Iraq have to do with homosexuality? For those who didn't read the link, (I think you should), it was a FUNDAMENTALIST church. Freedom of speech does not allow such invasion of privacy & emotional distress. Let them spread their messages of hate in a public place, & I wonder how many will leave "intact."
Whatever one thinks of the invasion of Iraq, have respect for those who died there. This is appalling.

Edit: I just got an alert from the AP; $11 million was awarded, & the defendants walked out smiling & promising to picket future funerals with placards, "Thank God for dead soldiers." They will appeal, causing further grief & legal costs. It also says the church & the defendants have less than a million in assets. Is there any solution??

Answer 5

It is abominable. After checking out the whole thing, which is in essence saying Snyder won't get the $11 million, & this practice is NOT going to stop, I'm wondering about the First Amendment in general; freedom of speech shouldn't allow hatred. Touching the First Amendment would create a firestorm, I'm sure. (Although the Consitution laws have been broken often in the last years.) "If" the church can't afford the judgment, I suspect there's no legal precedent for putting them in prison for a very, very long time for this crime, which is kinder than they deserve.

Answer 6

You should attend your friend's brother's wake to share your memories and pay your respects to your friend's family. Since you are not very close to the family member, it wouldn't be very appropriate to attend the funeral. Funerals are for family and close friends and associates. I have been to enough wakes and funerals. I usually attend funerals if I was very close to the deceased and the family, otherwise just attend the wake and pay your condolence and partake in the reception. I am sure that your friend will appreciate your presence at the wake and be great comfort. He will be very busy greeting friends and family members, he probably wouldn't notice if you were not a the funeral.

Answer 7

The Westboro Baptist Church is a bunch of fanatics who hate some people so much that they need to spread their hatred by ruining other people's lives.

It's not appropriate for anyone to do that at anyone's funeral -- the fact that they claim to be a church doesn't given them any special permission to intrude on any family's grief.

They're free to spread their message -- but that is not an appropriate time or place -- as the jury decided.

Answer 8

Just to correct stray.... It said they were Baptists not Catholics!! I just heard of this news a few minutes ago on TV and could not believe it!! Who in the hell do those people think they are?? Freedom of speech is one thing... blatant ignorance is another. It puts me in mind of the time I was at a Birthday party down south. I was sitting by the Grandmother of the Birthday boy and I might as well get straight to the point... She was grossly obese. At least 500 pounds or better. The Grandmother was Pentecostal and through the course of the party asked me what faith I belonged to. I told her I was Catholic. Bad Move!!! She started in on me about how we believe in the Virgin Mary and BLAH BLAH BLAH... I finally stated that there was one lesson that I learned and lived by in my faith and I had to do with the sin of gluttony-- I then got up and walked away. I forgot to mention that the whole time this lecture was going on she was eating quite like it was her first meal in a decade.

Answer 9

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!! This church is the most despicable group of people I have ever heard of. The soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors they are protesting volunteer to give their lives for our freedom and should be the most honored and respected among us.

Answer 10

It was totally disrespectful to all those who have fought and especially those that were wounded or died. There should be laws that allow the right to protest but not at the expense and exploitation of service members and their families.
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