CNN wrote:(CNN) -- Fred Phelps -- the founding pastor of a Kansas church known for its virulently anti-gay protests at public events, including military funerals -- has died, the church said Thursday.
The 84-year-old died of natural causes at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, according to church spokesman Steve Drain.
Phelps founded Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, in 1955 and molded it in his fire-and-brimstone image. Many members of the small congregation are related to Phelps through blood or marriage.
In a statement Thursday, the church chided the "world-wide media" for "gleefully anticipating the death."
"God forbid, if every little soul at the Westboro Baptist Church were to die at this instant, or to turn from serving the true and living God, it would not change one thing about the judgments of God that await this deeply corrupted nation and world."
According to Westboro, the church has picketed more than 53,000 events, ranging from Lady Gaga concerts to funerals for slain U.S. soldiers. Typically, a dozen or so church members -- including small children -- will brandish signs that say "God Hates Fags" and "Thank God for Dead Soldiers."
Phelps was often called "the most hated man in America," a label he seemed to relish.
"If I had nobody mad at me," he told the Wichita Eagle in 2006, "what right would I have to claim that I was preaching the Gospel?"
Link: http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/20/us/westbo ... nder-dead/
I was curious to when he would croak. There are members here that are interested in the WBC so I thought I'd post his passing which only got on online news aside from some tickers. I wonder who will take his place as being the pastor? I can't think of any members that would fit the bill actually. There is an odd part of the article about an estranged son putting on Facebook that Fred was excommunicated from the church just days before he died...I don't understand that one at all since he is the least likely of the group to "defect" like many grandchildren-young folk have already done so (watch The Most Hated Family in America: In Crisis for more info). He is the leader, and glue other than Shirley Phelps-Roper who holds everything in place. I remember people saying that when Fred Phelps dies, everyone should picket his funeral by the many thousands but there won't be one which sucks because that would have been interesting.