Press Release from the Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.

According to the website of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, Fred Phelps and members of his church will picket various places in North Carolina today and throughout the weekend. The schedule includes Duke University today and Durham School of the Arts tonight. Tomorrow he plans to picket St. Paul Lutheran Church and Durham School of the Arts. Sunday morning he plans to picket Aldersgate United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, First Baptist Church, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Our Savior Lutheran Church, and Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Statement regarding Mr. Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, KS.

Phelps' message of hate is contrary to the doctrine of the churches represented by the Christian Action League of North Carolina and, most importantly, the teachings of Christ.

"Mr. Fred Phelps and his organization do not speak for us," said Rev. Mark Creech, Director of Christian Action League of North Carolina. "God hates sin, but loves all human beings. He loves us so much He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to sacrifice His life to pay the penalty for our sins, so that those who accept Him can enter that sinless place called Heaven. He calls everyone to repentance, and offers forgiveness, salvation, and a transformed life."

Mr. Phelps' so-called church is not affiliated with any legitimate denomination. It is housed in the basement of his home, and its membership consists mostly of members of his own family (see http://www.answers.com/topic/westboro-baptist-church-topeka). The ApologeticsIndex.org web site (run by conventional protestant evangelicals) calls Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church a cult (see http://www.apologeticsindex.org/w20.html).

Phelps' web site (http://www.godhatesfags.com/main/aboutwbc.html) says, "Established in 1955 by Pastor Fred Phelps, the Westboro Baptist Church (WBC) of Topeka, Kansas still exists today as an Old School (or, Primitive) Baptist Church. ... WBC engages in daily peaceful sidewalk demonstrations opposing the homosexual lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth. We display large, colorful signs containing Bible words and sentiments, including: GOD HATES FAGS, FAGS HATE GOD, AIDS CURES FAGS, THANK GOD FOR AIDS, FAGS BURN IN HELL, GOD IS NOT MOCKED, FAGS ARE NATURE FREAKS, GOD GAVE FAGS UP, NO SPECIAL LAWS FOR FAGS, FAGS DOOM NATIONS, etc."

Phelps claims that his church is a Primitive Baptist Church. But Pastor WC Mintz of Little River Primitive Baptist Church, of Little River, SC, said, "That's certainly not an orderly Primitive Baptist. I've never met a Primitive Baptist that would say something like that."

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