Did Westboro Baptist Church abuse their freedom of speech?
@prudencemadness (64)
Philippines
November 5, 2007 8:00pm CST
In recent news, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, a radical anti-gay church, was penalized with almost 11 million dollars for picketing during Matthew Snyder's funeral and hurling insulting remarks about him and how his death is a punishment to the U.S. for "being tolerant with homosexuals". The church is appealing the case in court, invoking their constitutional right to freedom of speech.
Personally, I think they went overboard. Protests can be done at the proper time and place, and certainly not during a private funeral. While that they can exercise their rights, they do not have the right to trample upon other people's rights to privacy and self-dignity.
What do you think?
Read the news here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071102/ts_afp/ussocietyreligioncourtgay_071102040843
2 people like this
2 responses
@cdparazo (5765)
• Philippines
6 Nov 07
I can't also take for a church who professes to have Jesus in their midst to show such an appaling lack of sensitivity, compassion and respect for others. What they did is totally not so of God. The God that i know is full of love and is not so lacking in understanding and compassion. They should seek to understand gays than condenm them, help them and uplift their dignity rather than drag them to dirt. God operates on love and not hate and what they did was based on hate.
@susieq223 (3742)
• United States
6 Nov 07
I read about that! I don't know about abusing freedom of speech, but I would have objected to the sermon as presented. I don't want to hear politics from the pulpit--i.e., who to vote or not vote for--I want to hear from the Bible! I think they misused the pulpit and the church to spout personal opinions.
@prudencemadness (64)
• Philippines
6 Nov 07
I'd agree that there should be separation of the state and the church. While that most churches just couldn't help but inject political views in their teachings, the Westboro Baptist Church just way stepped over that fine line. Not only their acts are quite insensitive of the belief of others, but they're also trampling over the rights of other people.
