Church to picket Heath memorial

[Christa]

Sydney - An evangelical US church plans to picket any memorials to Australian actor Heath Ledger, who died this week, because of his portrayal of a gay cowboy in the hit Brokeback Mountain, one of its leaders said on Thursday.

Shirley Phelps, of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, told the Sydney radio station 2Day FM that they would also picket any attempt to honour Ledger, 28, at next month's Academy Awards ceremony.

Ledger was found dead in his New York apartment Tuesday. Police have said prescription medications were found in the residence.

"I'm going to stand outside of any public memorial service that he has here," Phelps told 2Day FM, referring to the United States.

"And then the other place I'm going to picket him is when they prop him up to worship his dead, rotting carcass further at the Oscars. I'll be right outside by the red carpet."

More:
http://www.news24.com/News24/Entertainment/Celebrities/0,,2-1225-2108_2257779,00.html

[demnan]

1. Certifiably insane in their hatred of gays.

n/t

[racaulk]

2. OMFG!

Although, seeing this church in action before, I can't say I'm surprised. Those people have absolutely no sense of decency or respect for others. Absolutely disgusting!

:thumbsdown:

[MonkeyFunk]

3. I don't tend towards violence

but I hope a truck loses its brakes at the right moment.

[FredScuttle]

4. TRANSLATION: We may be insane, but we are too chickenshit (or broke) to go to Australia

and get our asses whupped Outback-style when we pitch camp outside of his funeral in his homeland.

[YOY]

5. When Fred dies, I hope his funeral is picketed by a group 100 times the size of his dopey family

n/t

[racaulk]

9. I will definitely be there. n/t

[YOY]

10. They will have a small service out of the publics eye...we won't know about his death until 2 weeks

later.

His grave will be on Phelps private property to prevent defacement...I'll still wager to say that some gay dudes will sneak in and do the nasty over the headstone in "salute".

They wouldn't be treated as they woud treat anyone else...because they're soooooo Christian.

[hyphenate]

6. Ah, the Phelps family!

They are getting marginal on a daily basis now. There might be a lot of them, but I don't think too many people much care about them anymore. The article mentions daughter Shirley, but where is good old Fred himself nowadays?

I think Ledger fans will just look at their gathering and say "what the fuck?" to themselves--Westboro church will be a group they have never heard of before, and perhaps some of the fans will get into the Westboro freaks faces, and punch out a few while they are there. That'll be worth seeing.

[halobeam]

7. Do these people believe soap characters are real too?

Really mentally ill people. They need to be in an institution and heavily medicated. It's bad enough when they spew obsessive hatred for other human beings (pick a reason), now they leap over the line of reality, protesting a fictional character. Somebody, Quick!! Call a doctor!!

[chelsea0011]

8. Does his terrorist "church" organization get non-profit status?

It would be like giving the KKK non-profit status.

[bluestateguy]

11. Will the Patriot Guard be there to deflect them?

Or is that only for soldiers?

[protect our future]

12. If the funeral is well publicized and the Phelpses are exposed to the

nation, the uproar might be so great that this disgusting organization is finally brought down. One can certainly hope, anyway.