# Fred Phelps is dying.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [March 16, 2014, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820 "2014-03-16T05:20:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/1 "2014-03-16T05:20:50Z")
I’m posting this here, because I know that many comments will be…less than kind. Many of you know who Fred Phelps Sr. is. This post is from his son, Nathan Phelps, a Facebook friend of mine, and someone I greatly respect. I saw Nathan speak a couple of years ago, and his obvious pain and contrition for the harm his family has brought to people, especially military people, truly touched me. I also had the opportunity to speak socially with Nathan, and he is a truly kind, peaceful man, who wishes nothing more than to right the wrongs of his family. I know that many will celebrate the death of his father, but I think his post is a good reminder that life is never black and white, and that while others celebrate, there will still be a family that mourns. In the end, Fred Phelps will die and pass into nothingness, as we all do, and it will be up to the people he leaves to make whatever sense they can of his life. My deepest sympathies to Nathan.
“I’ve learned that my father, Fred Phelps, Sr., pastor of the “God Hates Fags” Westboro Baptist Church, was ex-communicated from the “church” back in August of 2013. He is now on the edge of death at Midland Hospice house in Topeka, Kansas.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. Terribly ironic that his devotion to his god ends this way. Destroyed by the monster he made.
I feel sad for all the hurt he’s caused so many. I feel sad for those who will lose the grandfather and father they loved. And I’m bitterly angry that my family is blocking the family members who left from seeing him, and saying their good-byes.”
---
### Author:  [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/2 "2014-03-16T05:26:28Z")
That does suck, but not enough to overshadow the good news.
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### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/3 "2014-03-16T05:28:30Z")
I’m terribly sorry…
I’m terribly sorry that I did not have him on my SDMB death pool list.
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### Author:  [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/4 "2014-03-16T05:38:05Z")
Despite Fred’s ‘contribution’ to this world, I’m glad you posted this **Lucretia**. It behooves us to remember those left behind, especially family members who have not had the opportunity to reconcile the realities of the person they loved vs the person spouting evil hatred. It must be terribly difficult for Nathan and I do wish him well through this last journey with his father.
No sadness from me that Fred is nearly out of this world, but sadness all the same for those left to pick up the pieces.
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### Author:  [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/5 "2014-03-16T05:45:22Z")
Paradoxically, the best thing we can do is not to hate him, but, instead, to show a truer Christian forgiveness than he ever knew how to show.
In death, he will cause no more pain…nor suffer it.
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### Author:  [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/6 "2014-03-16T05:47:01Z")
I wish him peace and his family strength at this time.
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### Author:  [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/7 "2014-03-16T05:49:27Z")
> [@AK84](#):
>
> I wish him peace and his family strength at this time.
I wish him and his family the peace and strength they gave to those whose funerals they picketed.
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### Author:  [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/8 "2014-03-16T06:02:28Z")
> [@Lucretia](#):
>
> "I’ve learned that my father, Fred Phelps, Sr., pastor of the “God Hates Fags” Westboro Baptist Church, was ex-communicated from the “church” back in August of 2013
_needle scratching sound_ Wait, what ? When did that happen, why, how, wherefore ? I thought he was the ironfisted guru telling everyone what to do and applying god’s own coercion and/or shunning on those who refused ?
ETA :
> [@Trinopus](#):
>
> Paradoxically, the best thing we can do is not to hate him, but, instead, to show a truer Christian forgiveness than he ever knew how to show.
That is true. That’ll probably piss him right off.
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### Author:  [@Lucretia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucretia)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/9 "2014-03-16T06:03:48Z")
Nathan himself isn’t sure, and has apparently got more than one story about the excommunication.
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### Author:  [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/10 "2014-03-16T06:09:53Z")
I guess it would be a form of justice if people appeared for his funeral with signs that read “God Hates Bigots!”
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### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/11 "2014-03-16T06:10:43Z")
I don’t remember ever knowing of Fred Phelps except as a bad example and a joke, a universally reviled Worst. Pastor. Ever. whom nobody ever took seriously.
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### Author:  [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/12 "2014-03-16T06:11:47Z")
Where’s the funeral?
Completely unrelated, but is it legal to send shit through the mail?
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### Author:  [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/13 "2014-03-16T06:12:26Z")
People die every day. I’ve got more sympathy for some guy that wasted his life shooting heroin into his veins that this guy.
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### Author:  [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/14 "2014-03-16T06:13:59Z")
If he was excommunicated, why does the church cares who sees him?
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### Author:  [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/15 "2014-03-16T06:19:50Z")
> [@levdrakon](#):
>
> Where’s the funeral?
>
> Completely unrelated, but is it legal to send shit through the mail?
Completely unrelated, but ONLY as medical specimens. As an expression of contempt, no.
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### Author:  [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/16 "2014-03-16T06:24:16Z")
HOORAY!!! More good news to look forward to!
But wait…if he was kicked out of his own church, does that mean W.B.C. will continue picketing after his death? I was really, really hoping their “mission” would end with the end of his life.
(Now, where’s my “God Hates Fred” banner?)
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### Author:  [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/17 "2014-03-16T06:26:42Z")
Last time I saw it, Barney Rubble was borrowing it.
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### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/18 "2014-03-16T06:29:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#):
>
> Last time I saw it, Barney Rubble was borrowing it.
😃
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### Author:  [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/19 "2014-03-16T06:29:41Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#):
>
> I’m terribly sorry that I did not have him on my SDMB death pool list.
He’s on mine, and may score my first points in four years.🆒
---
### Author:  [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2014, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fred-phelps-is-dying/683820/20 "2014-03-16T06:33:43Z")
> [@Oakminster](#):
>
> He’s on mine, and may score my first points in four years.🆒
[shakes a feeble scoreless fist at **Oakminster**] 😉
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