Fight on , WBC. A noble cause. All your concerns are noteworthy.

Sad I somewhat agree on this single issue with these incredibly misguided folks. I feel all icky now.

That veteran earned his right to fight for, and defend whatever he wants.

Freedom of Speech.

I just watched the movie titled "Lars and the Real Girl" last night. Lars broke out of his delusion; when will these people do the same???

Why give "Reverend" Fred Phelps any attention? He is an attention whore and one of the most mentally deranged individuals in this country. His followers (which appear to be only members of his family) spend way too much time in the spot light.

It won't do to call Rev. Phred "mentally deranged." Phelps is just the most extreme example of the kind of lunacy that religion always leads to. You have to expect such people among those who believe in an imaginary friend (and, perhaps, Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny). All religious people are lunatics, and some, like Phred, are Dangerous Lunatics.

Still, he makes a point. Where was the Pop -- er, Pope -- when pedophile priests were running amok in American parishes? As second in command to his predecessor, he had to have played a major role in the stonewalling, the shifting of the guilty to new parishes so they could molest anew, and the manipulation of Church assets to avoid paying settlments and verdicts. His recent meeting with victims was a photo op, nothing more, nothing less.

What is more telling: he celebrated his birthday with a man who, as governor of Texas, executed more prisoners in two terms than any other governor in the 20th century. If life begins at conception, as the Church is constantly telling its flocks (and anyone else dumb enough to listen), it must end at the lethal needle. The Pop -- I mean, Pope -- should have just said no to Bush's invitation, and promptly held a press conference to speak out against capital punishment. I'm glad he's finally gone home. Hope the airplane door didn't slap him on the ass when the stewards closed it.

I don't agree with some of your conclusions, but that is not my concern.
At what point does individual responsibility become important?

At least the citizens of NY get to say goodbye to Phelps and his ilk. As a Kansan, I have to live in the same state...

He used to picket our temple (Fag Jews!) in Topeka and still does on occasion. Once, my sister was at a National Education Association meeting and Phelps et al were there. It was a Friday night, so she said, "Hey, aren't you supposed to be picking Beth Sholom tonight?" Heh.