Church wants to post "Santa Claus will take you to Hell" at Capitol

[Joanne98]

A Kansas-based church that has blamed deaths in Iraq on U.S. tolerance of homosexuality has asked Gov. Chris Gregoire’s office to approve a “Santa Claus will take you to Hell” message to display among other religious statements in the Capitol’s third-floor hallway.

The Westboro Baptist Church’s message would be near a Nativity set, three signs mocking atheism, and an atheists’ sign that celebrates the winter solstice, while also taking a shot at religion as “myth and superstition” that enslaves minds, all in the state Capitol’s third-floor hallway.

The first part of Westboro’s proposed message, according to Spokesman-Review reporter Rich Roesler:

“You’d better watch out, get ready to cry, You’d better go hide, I’m telling you why ‘cuz Santa Claus will take you to hell. He is your favorite idol, you worship at his feet, but when you stand before your God He won’t help you take the heat. So get this fact straight: you’re feeling God’s hate, Santa’s to blame for the economy’s fate, Santa Claus will take you to hell.”

Westboro Baptist, led by Fred Phelps Sr., has protested at funerals for gays and at military funerals, blaming the nation’s tolerance for gays for the loss of U.S. military personnel in Iraq. The actions prompted the Washington Legislature to pass House Bill 1168 in 2007, making it a misdemeanor crime of disorderly conduct to disrupt a funeral or protest within 500 feet of a funeral or funeral procession.

http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/694825.html#Comments_Container

[Solly Mack]

1. I could use a vacation

Idiots

[Swamp Rat]

2. Quick!!! Somebody call O'Reilly!!!

[LisaM]

3. While I'm all for freedom of religous expression in the Washington state capitol building

I'm beginning to think it needs to be limited to Washington taxpayers.

[Veritas_et_Aequitas]

7. I'm begining to think we should secularize government owned land.

Generic seasonal decorations only!

[Uncle Joe]

4. Only if you don't leave milk and cookies out for the old geezer. n/t

[hlthe2b]

5. Dear God, isn't it time for a well placed lightening storm?

:eyes: If the good die young, Phelps will be with us forever...

[TomInTib]

6. When I read the subject line, I knew it had to be Westboro.

I wonder what those idiots do in their spare time. What do they talk about at the dinner table?

[RedCappedBandit]

8. Well, neither exists, so.. LOLZ. nt

[RandomThoughts]

9. This makes baptist look bad.

I am not sure if that guy is the right thread for their cloth, but it is not for me to judge.

I might ask him a few questions.

So his church is advocating posting a sign about God and hate?

I thought we were taught that God is about Love? What interpretation of God do they worship? where do they get reference to God ever hating? I thought even God's rod, was for the love of the child.

I Also thought Jesus came to save the world not to condemn it, and I thought hell was a separation from God, his justice, his love, his kindness. A love offered to all his children, even those who might be sinful, especially since we are all sinful at times, and need his grace.

Sir, I might ask you, could you give me the list of people Santa will be taking to hell, so I can speak to them kindly of the love of God, and tell them of the forgiveness Jesus gave us on the cross, so they might have the blessing I received when I was saved by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

And in my belief, I know even when I am not at my strongest, and I put idols up I should not, I still Love God, and he will never leave me nor abandon me, so I will never be in hell. Nor will any other Christian saved by Jesus Christ.

Because he loves me, and he loves you too.

[nichomachus]

10. There is nothing in existence that can make people wackier than religion n/t

[prostock69]

11. This man needs to be locked up in a mental institution along

with every one of his followers. Why are people like him allowed to be out freely in public to spew their delusional hate filled messages? Even if you are a religious person, can you honestly say this man is mentally sound?

[rpannier]

12. And once again fred phelp's and the westboro loons are a parody of themselves

If I didn't know better, I would swear they were some street comedy troupe that was mocking fundamentalist Christianity with their antics.

[thereismore]

13. Don't they know Santa Claus isn't real? How funny. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

14. Hmmm. Where are the impassioned defenders of free Christian expression in the public square, now?

The first put-upon, long suffering, "persecuted" DU Christian who gripes about this gets a "WHY DO YOU HATE RELIGION?!?!?!?! I'M SO SICK OF ALL THE RELIGION BASHING AROUND HERE!!!!" from me.

Let me guess- only "legitimate" expressions of Christian belief by "real" Christians should be endorsed by government...


...right?