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• Aug 29, 2006 10:59 pm US/Eastern
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  Controversial Church Group To Stand Trial In Md.

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Controversial Church Group To Stand Trial In Md.

BALTIMORE (WJZ) ― The family of a fallen Maryland soldier is headed to court against a church group known for their controversial protests at soldier funerals.

Members from Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan. travel across the country preaching their beliefs and protesting by holding signs which say such things like "God Hates You," while they sing the song "God Hates America" to the tune of "God Bless America."

"God is punishing the nation and his weapon of choice is sending these children home dead from battle," Shirley Phelps-Roper told WJZ Eyewitness News earlier this year.

The group came to Maryland earlier this year to protest at the funeral of 20-year-old Lance Corporal Matthew Snyder. Despite attempts by friends to shield Snyder's family from the group's message, their family still heard it loud and clear. Now Snyder's father is suing the church.

"Ultimately what anyone wants in a lawsuit is what was taken away from them What was taken away from Mr. Snyder was his one and only chance of a memory of burying his son Matt," Sean Summers, Albert Snyder's attorney told WJZ's Kathryn Brown.

Summers said the group wrongfully intruded on a private funeral and defamed the fallen marine on their website. The website shows pictures of dozens of protests at funerals for soldiers, but this lawsuit marks the first time that one of their families has fought back.

Attorney Jonathan Katz is representing the church group in the case, but only on principle. Katz openly admits he disagrees strongly with their message, but can't deny them their rights.

"The first amendment is here not for popular speech -- we don't need to have popular speech protected -- but to have protection of speech that some of us don't like," Katz said.

"Mr. Phelps' first amendment rights don't trump Mr. Snyder's first amendment rights," Summers said.

Both parties are scheduled to meet in court in mid-September. The leader of the church, Reverend Fred Phelps, has denied any wrongdoing.

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