Church member says fear of God, not malice, prompted protests
5:17 p.m. Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Baltimore — A member of a fundamentalist Topeka church being sued by a Pennsylvania man over a protest at his son's funeral says she's motivated by a fear of God, not a desire to harm anyone.
In an opening statement Tuesday, Shirley Phelps-Roper compared members church members to biblical prophets who sought to save doomed nations that had strayed from God.
Phelps-Rogers is a member of the Westboro Baptist Church, which is being sued by Albert Snyder over a protest at the funeral of his son in Maryland.
The protesters at the funeral of Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder carried signs with messages like "God hates fags" and "Thank God for dead soldiers." They say the deaths are punishment for the country's tolerance of homosexuality.
Snyder's doctor says Albert Snyder has health problems and trouble sleeping.
Doctor Scott Mann told a Baltimore jury that Snyder also missed time at work because of problems focusing. His son, Matthew Snyder of Westminster, was killed fighting with the Marines in Iraq.
After the Westboro Baptist Church protested at his son's funeral, Snyder filed an invasion-of-privacy lawsuit against the church. He's also seeking damages for intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The church says it's exercising its free speech rights.
A correction to Ms. Phelps-Roper's name has been made.
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