How do you feel about the lawsuit and the damages that the Fundamentalist Kansas Church is going to have pay?

Question

http://www6.comcast.net/news/articles/national/2007/10/31/Funeral.Protests/

"Thank God for Dead Soldiers" Do these people seriously believe that the death of American soldiers is because of the tolerance of blatant homosexuality here?

The Dude- With freedom comes responsibility. You are concenered that their Freedom of Speech was infringed on? They have a right to say what they want, but the location is a different story. And frankly what about the rights of a grieving family, how about a little class and respect? Then again I doubt the Fundamentalist Kansas Church or yourself know anything about class or respect.

The ignorance is multiplying. Do some of you really believe the First Amendment does not have limitations? If so how does slander/libel come into the equation? Your speech can and does have repurcussions.

Answer 1

I hope this buries Phelps and his clan.

The award far exceeds their net worth, but I hope there's some kind of enforcement that requires them to put all of their money into payments to the father who they attacked.
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I think that the "First Amendment" comments are fair enough, but remember that Phelps and his people are in fact not simply stating their opinions, but rather deliberately harassing people. We can't always make a principled distinction, but I think it's crystal clear in this case.

Answer 2

I personally think this was the best possible outcome, with repossession of their church and assets as the icing on the cake. It hasn't happened yet, but they have to come up with the money somehow. I just hope that when they lose the appeal they don't start screaming about how their being persecuted unfairly because they're christians, sounding a rallying cry for all like minded individuals.

Answer 3

Hate speech is not free speech. If you say that this is free speech why are other people not allowed to picket replacing the word f** by whatever they want? Black? Jew?
I am horrified by what they dared do, by their glee for those deaths, and I hope they will have to pay. And that any other family who had to go through their hate filled demonstration while grieving for the loss of a loved one will start suing them too.

Answer 4

I think that the church is downright retarded.

My concern is over the question of free speech. Is the first amendment being ignored in this verdict? Why does free speech not apply to this church under these circumstances?

Let me reiterate though, the church is retarded and I can't imagine how people would actually think what they think, or have acted in the way that they did.

Answer 5

As a Christian, I have to say I am extrememly disappointed in the way this segment of the body of Christ has chosen to voice their convictions.

I think Jesus would most certainly chastise them for their lack of compassion and decency.

How do they know the funeral they protested wasn't because God was judging the soldier who died for my overeating?

Answer 6

I absolutely loathe the message they spread, but at the same time believe in freedom of speech. This is a tossup for me. I think it was a bit high..

Answer 7

I think the amount is too little of a punishment. Besides trampling the rights of those families, they just aren't living out the Gospel message in it's entirety.

Answer 8

I hope they get taken to court more... they have a right to free speech, but should also pay for any damages their freedom's cost others.

Answer 9

As a Christian I'm glad someone is finally shutting these morons up. They have a twisted view of God.

Answer 10

I think it would have been better if they had just allowed a military honor guard to use their rifle butts on the protesters. You would get the same result - the protesters wouldn't come back.