[Mb-civic] Church: God Punishing GIs Over Gays

[Jef Bek]

Church: God Punishing GIs Over Gays
 
By BETH RUCKER, Associated Press WriterSun Aug 28,10:16 AM ET

Members of a church say God is punishing American soldiers for defending a
country that harbors gays, and they brought their anti-gay message to the
funerals Saturday of two Tennessee soldiers killed in Iraq.

The church members were met with scorn from local residents. They chased the
church members cars' down a highway, waving flags and screaming "God bless
America."

"My husband is over there, so I'm here to show my support," 41-year-old
Connie Ditmore said as she waved and American flag and as tears came to her
eyes. "To do this at a funeral is disrespectful of a family, no matter what
your beliefs are."

The Rev. Fred Phelps, founder of Westboro Baptist in Kansas, contends that
American soldiers are being killed in Iraq as vengeance from God for
protecting a country that harbors gays. The church, which is not affiliated
with a larger denomination, is made up mostly of Phelps' children,
grandchildren and in-laws.

The church members carried signs and shouted things such as "God hates fags"
and "God hates you."

About 10 church members protested near Smyrna United Methodist Church and
nearly 20 stood outside the National Guard Armory in Ashland City. Members
have demonstrated at other soldier funerals across the nation.

The funerals were for Staff Sgt. Asbury Fred Hawn II, 35, in Smyrna and Spc.
Gary Reese Jr., 22, in Ashland City. Both were members of the Tennessee
National Guard.

Hundreds of Smyrna and Ashland City residents and families of other soldiers
turned out at both sites to counter the message the Westboro Baptist members
brought.

So many counterdemonstrators were gathered in Ashland City that police,
sheriff's deputies and state troopers were brought in to control traffic and
protect the protesters.

The church members held protesting permits, and counterprotesters in Smyrna
turned their backs to Westboro Baptist members until time expired on the
protest permits.

"If they were protesting the government, I might even join them," Danny
Cotton, 56, said amid cries of "get out of our town" and "get out of our
country."

"But for them to come during the worst time for this family ‹ it's just
wrong."