Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
LGBT
Related: About this forumAnother Phelps Abandons The Westboro Baptist Church – Finds Gays Forgiving
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/another-phelps-abandons-the-westboro-baptist-church-finds-gays-forgiving/news/2014/05/07/86879Zach Phelps-Roper, grandson of the late Fred Phelps, has come out.
No, he hasnt come out as gay. He has come out from behind the walls of the Westboro Baptist Church, where the 23-year-old has lived his entire life. Zach says he started picketing as soon as he was strong enough to hold up a signature Westboro God Hates Fags sign. His mother, Shirley Phelps-Roper, has taken over the leadership of the pseudo-religious group since the death of founder Fred Phelps.
According to CJOnline, Zach moved out of the family compound February 20, and has spent the last weeks sorting through his feelings about his life inside. His conclusion?
I feel like I have unconditional love for every person around the world. The Westboro Baptist Church sees things differently than I do now.
Zach is the fourth of ten siblings to escape the Kansas compound, and though he says he misses his mother, and especially his grandmother, he has been reunited with his three siblings and more than a dozen other family members, who have been shunned by the Westboros since their own departures. All have welcomed him, and so have strangers to his shock and surprise, even gay strangers.
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
5 replies, 1080 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (10)
ReplyReply to this post
5 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Another Phelps Abandons The Westboro Baptist Church – Finds Gays Forgiving (Original Post)
WillParkinson
May 2014
OP
Always a good thing to read stories like this. I wish his peace and happiness in his new found
PeaceNikki
May 2014
#1
"I feel like I have unconditional love for every person around the world."
nomorenomore08
May 2014
#3
he is now an ambassador to the good for the world. blessed be the peacemakers
roguevalley
May 2014
#4
PeaceNikki
(27,985 posts)1. Always a good thing to read stories like this. I wish his peace and happiness in his new found
freedom from the chains of hate.
libodem
(19,288 posts)2. You said it very well
I second your statement.
nomorenomore08
(13,324 posts)3. "I feel like I have unconditional love for every person around the world."
I wish I could be more like that. But good for him.
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)4. he is now an ambassador to the good for the world. blessed be the peacemakers
joeybee12
(56,177 posts)5. Quite frankly, he shouldn't find it surprising that people are forgiving...
If he started protesting as soon as he was old enough to hold a sign, he was clearly brainwashed, and people realize that.