Phelps to Erect Anti Gay Monument

[Uabassoon]

Phelps To Erect Matthew Shepard Monument
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

Posted: October 3, 2003 5:57 p.m. ET


(Casper, Wyoming) Anti-gay preacher Fred Phelps has announced intentions to erect a monument to Matthew Shepard the gay college student brutally murdered five years ago near Laramie.

But, the monument will be no memorial. Phelps says the monument would be 5 to 6 feet tall and made of marble or granite. It would bear a bronze plaque bearing the image of Shepard and have an inscription reading "MATTHEW SHEPARD, Entered Hell October 12, 1998, in Defiance of God's Warning: 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is abomination.' Leviticus 18:22."

The monument would be erected in downtown Casper, Shepard's home town.

Phelps has sent details of the monument to the city of Casper city council and there may be nothing the city can do to prevent it.

Phelps said he intends to put up the monument in City Park, already the location of a controversial statue of the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments statue was donated to the city by the Fraternal Order of the Eagles in 1965.

After a court battle over a similar monument in the city of Ogden, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that any city that displays a Ten Commandments monument on public property must also allow monuments espousing the views of other religions or political groups on that same property.

Phelps told Casper council in his letter that if it attempts to prevent him from erecting the homophobic monument he's prepared to go to court.

"That is exactly what I said would happen," said Councilwoman Barb Watters. She said she warned the city when it accepted the Ten Commandments statue that the city risked other monuments advocating anti-Semitism and hatred of other minorities.

''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.'''

The city council is looking at several options, one is fighting Phelps in court, another is moving the Ten Commandments out of the park, and yet another proposal would be to sell the land the park is on.

Phelps says he doesn't care what the city decides. If he is unable to put the statue in City Park he said he will find another location in the city.

During Shepard's funeral members of Phelps' Westoboro Baptist Church demonstrated in front of the chapel.

?365Gay.com? 2003

[Uabassoon]

This is horrible! I don't understand how someone who calls themself a Christian can do this. Hasn't Matthew Shepard and his family suffered enough? Matthew Shepard died a horrible death, why can't Phelps just leave it alone. If he thinks homosexuality is wrong then it's his descision, but he should still at least have some respect and compassion for Shepard and his family.

[catland]

The guy is probably a closet-homosexual himself. OK, I know that was mean and an insult to all homosexuals.

Would the city allow a statue of Adolf Hitler with a comment about how wonderful the "final solution" was?

How sad and sick that man is.

[Soledad]

People disgust me. This man is an abomination and I hope he opens his eyes to the hurt he is causing.

[Logan]

This is a "reverend" (and I use that word loosely) that I would not want to be associated with. That is a message of hate, one that the Christianity I practice would not condone.

This makes me very sad.

[babolaypo65]

His behavoir is UNchristian.
His heart is full of hate.

My thoughts are with the Shepard family who once again have to see their innocent boy's memory stained by this evil man.

[aly]

This is utterly disgusting. I am so mad and hurt by this

[babolaypo65]

Has anyone ever visited Phelp's website. He's a pretty messed up, and I think dangerous, man.

[mugsy]

I certainly hope the city of Casper has enough gumption to not allow him to put it up. So much for Christian.....amazing what fanatics will come up with. But, he will probably get his way...he has his right of freedom of expression regardless of how hateful it is.

[Cheshirekatt]

Well if it ever actually gets erected I'd be more than willing to participate in a road trip to go knock it down.

Imagine how this makes the victims family feel. How hateful.

[2kitties]

This absolutely breaks my heart. I can't belive this man calls himself anything other than Nazi, much less a Christian.
Fine, I say put it up. Then put one up of Fred Phelps right next to it. Say "Fred Phelps, will enter Hell, for in Defiance of God's Warning: Judge not, lest ye be judged." Matthew 7:1 The Holy Bible

This man is an *** and all he will do is hurt Matthew Shepherd's family. If Matthew Shepherd loved God, then he sits in Heaven today and hurts because his family will be hurt by this evil, small man.

[RICHARD]

Originally posted by catland
The guy is probably a closet-homosexual himself. OK, I know that was mean and an insult to all homosexuals.

Don't apologize for calling him a CH...

People who yell and scream the loudest are the
biggest hypocrites.

Rush Limbaugh was so anti-drug, always calling for
prison time and such for people who smoked pot, popped pills......look at him..

Senor Phelps is probably trying to work off some indigressions he was a part of. Notice his use of the word "erect"....


Ya gotta love religion!

[babolaypo65]

Indigressions. GREAT word Richard...

Originally posted by RICHARD
Don't apologize for calling him a CH...

People who yell and scream the loudest are the
biggest hypocrites.

Rush Limbaugh was so anti-drug, always calling for
prison time and such for people who smoked pot, popped pills......look at him..

Senor Phelps is probably trying to work off some indigressions he was a part of. Notice his use of the word "erect"....


Ya gotta love religion!

[Pam]

Rev. (and, like Logan, I use the term loosely) Phelps has totally missed the message of Christ if he ever knew it. Aside from this being unbelievably cruel to Matthew Shepard's family, it makes me cringe to think that others will think this is normal behavior for Christians.

[carole]

Phelps is one SICK INDIVIDUAL, IMO, and I agree a dangerous man, I cannot believe what I read, I was totally shocked.

I really feel for the family of the victim, enough is enough, personally I think Phelps is the one going to HELL.

I really was angered and sickened by this story.