Stupid Evangelical Tricks, August '05 Edition

I think this story speaks for itself, and needs no comment from me.


Group to protest homosexuality at military funeral
Thursday, August 4, 2005
By Jon SeidelSpecial to the Daily Southtown
A Baptist group from Kansas has announced it plans to picket Friday at the funeral of Spc. Adam Harting.
Portage, Ind., police learned about the group's intentions by fax Wednesday.
"We're doing everything here to ensure the safety of everyone involved," Chief Cliff Burch said.
The Westboro Baptist Church, based in Topeka, is not specifically targeting Harting, who died in Iraq last week.
It pickets at military funerals all over the country, saying God is killing U.S. soldiers as punishment to America for allowing homosexuality.
The group also has announced plans to picket at military funerals in Minnesota, Alabama and California this week.
It protested in Valparaiso, Chesterton and Gary in 1998 after a gay-awareness poster was allowed in a Chesterton classroom.
Army Sgt. Bob Jaso, military liaison to the Harting family, said the group tries to provoke physical confrontation with mourners.
Because the funeral home and cemetery where Harting will be buried are private property, Jaso said, pickets will not be able to get any closer than the sidewalk across the street.
"Even if they yell something, they're still going to be far enough away that they can be ignored," Jaso said.
At other funerals, Jaso said, people were able to block the group from being seen.
Harting, 21, a 2002 graduate of Portage High School, died July 25 in Samarra, Iraq, from an explosive device.
He was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 42nd Infantry Division, based in Fort Stewart, Ga.
The Post-Tribune of Northwest Indiana