Fred Phelps: "Soldiers Die, God Laughs"

Fred Phelps, head of the Neo-Christian Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas, had one of his supporters hold that sign at the funeral of Marine Cpl. Philip E. Baucus. The soldier's uncle is U.S. Senator Max Baucus. Phelps' group has been touring the country picketing funerals of soldiers killed in Iraq. They have been protesting at various gay events for years including the funeral of Matthew Shepard. Other groups have formed counter-protests and or blocked the blasphemy ala "The Laramie Project."

"That's right. Don't even look at them," yelled Roy Banks, 54, of Helena, a disabled veteran. He was among about 15 people, including other veterans and members of church groups, who gathered to form a peaceful counter-protest to the Westboro Baptist contingent.

Several states have passed laws prohibiting the group from appearing near these funerals but one has already been overturned on free speech grounds. One Pennsylvania family is suing Phelps and his church for picketing their son's last rites.

People who defile Christianity and do this to suffering families have a special place in hell reserved for them.