Fred’s Law

You’ve got to give the Rev. Fred Phelps points for originality. In the past, he and his Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., have blamed such diverse things as Hurricane Katrina and U.S. casualties in Iraq on what he considers to be U.S. tolerance for gays, which, in turn, has caused God to smite us in any number of ways.

1) Now Phelps has something new he’s been blaming on homosexuals. What is it?

A) The rising federal deficit
B) Bird flu
C) The West Virginia mining disasters
D) The Kansas City Chiefs’ failure to make the playoffs


2) Those of you who read this space often will recall that one of Phelps’ favorite strategies is to protest at the funerals of fallen U.S. soldiers, blaming their deaths on (again) U.S. tolerance toward homosexuality — despite the fact that the soldiers whose funerals he is protesting at are not gay.

It’s gotten so out of hand that Illinois and four other states are considering what?

A) Refusing to issue Phelps permits for his protests
B) Outlawing all protesting at all funerals
C) Revoking his church’s tax-exempt status
D) Arresting Phelps for disturbing the peace


ANSWERS
1) C: The West Virginia mining disasters

2) B: Five mid-western states are now considering legislation that would ban protests at funerals.