What kind of Christian thinks picketing the funerals of people like Matthew Shepard with signs that read "God Hates Fags" is compatible with Matthew 22:36-39 ("Which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.')

One positive note, although it has not actually served to stop this waste of carbon matter. A father, whose son was killed in Iraq took the Church to court for unspecified damages after members demonstrated at the March 2006 funeral of his son, Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder. They held signs at the funeral reading "Thank God for Dead soldiers."

In November, the jury awarded $2.9 million in compensatory damages, $6 million in punitive damages for invasion of privacy and $2 million for causing emotional distress. The church and three of its leaders — the Rev. Fred Phelps and his two daughters, Shirley Phelps-Roper and Rebecca Phelps-Davis — were found liable for invasion of privacy and intent to inflict emotional distress.