Petitions urge White House to classify Westboro church as hate group and . . .

by ABibleStudent 6 Replies latest social current

  • ABibleStudent
    ABibleStudent

    FYI the Westboro Baptist Church is in the news again: Westboro Baptist Church article . According to the article there are 5 White House Petitions to either label the Westboro Baptist Church a hate group, ban organizations from holding demonstrating near funerals, and revoking the Westboro Church's tax-exempt status.

    The following White House petitions could spark public debate that might affect the Westboro Baptist Church and other organzations like the Watchtower:

    I hope that 2013 is the year that Congress redefines societal expections for tax-exempt organizations. I would like to see that all organizations be required to stop promoting to their members to shun current and former members and to promote that members immediately report felonious crimes to law enforcement instead of contacting an organization's legal department first.

    What do you want in 2013?

    Peace be with you and everyone, who you love,

    Robert

  • DavePerez
    DavePerez

    Not all petitions are valid, as the people's right to pass laws isn't unlimited. There's checks and balances.

    The SCOTUS recently ruled that WBC protesting funerals is an exercise of their right of free speech and freedom of worship, so good luck to anyone with trying to limit them via petition, as THAT would clearly be unconstitutional.

    I'm all for stripping ALL religious groups of their tax-exempt status: what logical argument can be made for them having that? We have a massive deficit, and cannot afford to allow all of these loopholes to remain open any longer.

  • Tater-T
    Tater-T

  • Eustace
    Eustace

    Of course the Westboro Baptist Church has the right to believe whatever they want under the 1st Admendment to the Constitution.

    Stripping all religious organizations of their tax exempt status would be fine under the 1st Admendment, but only stripping some religions but not others would be a violation of the 1st Admendment.

    I would like to see that all organizations be required to stop promoting to their members to shun current and former members and to promote that members immediately report felonious crimes to law enforcement instead of contacting an organization's legal department first.

    I would too. Both those things should be against the law, the first because it violates the religious freedom of the people being shunned, and the second because it involves being an accessory to a felony after the fact.

    At the same time the Westboro Baptist Church, like the Jehovah's Witnesses, have the right to believe anything under the 1st Admendment.

    It's just a question of not acting out those beliefs in such a way as to violate the religious freedom of others, as with shunning, or the right of people to be protected from criminals, as with the Jehovah's Witnesses and their mishandling of child abuse.

  • Eustace
    Eustace

    Recognize the Roman Catholic Church as a Hate Group 700+ signatories

    While I'm not a fan of the Catholic Church, this petition is silly. Since Vatican II the Roman Catholic Church has been very soft, even saying non-Catholics are fine with God and that there's no need for Jews to accept Christ (raising the question of why God bothered to have Jesus preach to the Jews if they didn't need to accept him anyway).

    They oppose homosexual marriage, but so does almost all the other monotheistic religions. The Muslims are actually much more hateful about it if you ask me.

  • kurtbethel
    kurtbethel

    Being a hate group in America has no legal meaning. Hate is an emotion and you can not legislate against feelings. So far, you have to actually break a law or appear to be planning to break a law before the authories take action. Hate groups are best ignored so they don't get power from inspiring fear. Better yet, mock them and laugh at them.

  • designs
    designs

    Let these groups exercise their Constitutional Rights. Let the public hear their ideologies and decide. The sooner these old religions fade into obscurity the better.

    Remember when the Wt. had the Witnesses going to cemetaries and doing 'Grave-side witnessing'. That not only caused the exodus of more JWs but also solidified in the public's mind how crass and insentive the Wt. Leaders are for ever suggesting such a thing as a 'good opportunity to witness'.

    As hurtful as some things are it can result in a better outcome- exposing further these groups as hateful.

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