Is Westboro Baptist Church a hate group?

[eddie]

Some are beginning to think so, especially when Westboro wanted to protest at the funerals of the children killed in Newtown.

I think they can be classified as such.

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012...or-action?lite

[Cybermat47]

If it gets them banned, yes! They pervert the teachings of the Messiah, and just piss everyone else off.

[Takeda Shingen]

I think it's pretty clear that they are a hate group, given that their entire message is about hatred. In fact, hating seems to be just about the only thing they do.

[Herr-Berbunch]

Short answer - yes!

From what I've gleaned, and only from here, but they're nothing but a tight-knit family group with perverse ideology and are only a 'church' for tax benefits.

But I could be out of line here.

[Platapus]

Do we really want to start yanking IRS 501c status because a number of people disagree with what the organization does?

Keep in mind that any decision would have to be equally applied to other 501c organizations.....perhaps even ones many other people like.

That would be a slippery slope indeed.

[mookiemookie]

They're a gigantic money making scam that uses the word "church" as a way to shelter their scam from taxes. They're no more a "church" than I am.

[Takeda Shingen]

Well, here's the definition of hate group:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_group

A hate group is an organized group or movement that advocates and practices hatred, hostility, or violence towards members of a race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or other designated sector of society.

I'd say that this pretty much covers Westboro Baptist. We're not talking about DOMA supporters or Chic-Fil-A here. This is a group that uses hate terminology and engages in disruptive behavior. Seems cut and dry to me.

[eddie]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Short answer - yes!

From what I've gleaned, and only from here, but they're nothing but a tight-knit family group with perverse ideology and are only a 'church' for tax benefits.

But I could be out of line here.

You're not out of line at all!

[razark]

Without a doubt, they are a vile scum sucking hate group.

And as long as they don't break any laws, they have the First Amendment right to say what they want.

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by razark

Without a doubt, they are a vile scum sucking hate group.

And as long as they don't break any laws, they have the First Amendment right to say what they want.

Oh, they absolutely have the right to do what they are doing. But as a hate group they would no longer be considered a church and would lose their tax-exempt status.

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by Herr-Berbunch

Short answer - yes!

From what I've gleaned, and only from here, but they're nothing but a tight-knit family group with perverse ideology and are only a 'church' for tax benefits.

But I could be out of line here.

Yea, it's sad you can start a church, declare yourself a Pastor and get so many tax deduction and benefits. Some past family state this family is just a group of old hippy atheist that have always played church....

[GoldenRivet]

As an East Texan who lives in a town where the only things to do is go to church, put money in the bank and eat dinner out I can pretty easily say that most baptist churches are hate groups.

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

Well, here's the definition of hate group:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_group

One could make the same argument about the Catholic/baptist churchs

They are pretty hostile towards other religions and homosexuals.

That "definition" is fraught with loopholes. To me it should be restricted to acts of violence only.

A government can't really legislate hatred or hostility. Those are thoughts and intentions. It can, and should, only legislate actions.

The WBC is, in my opinion, scum. But until they break the law through action, they have a right to exist. No where does it say that a 501c organization needs to be nice.

[razark]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

But as a hate group they would no longer be considered a church and would lose their tax-exempt status.

Who exactly decides on hate group status for tax purposes? I'm not aware of any government list of hate groups. And how does the government decide exactly what is or isn't a valid church for tax exemption? As far as I have seen, the WBC doesn't push a "political" agenda of the type that would get them in trouble.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

They're a gigantic money making scam that uses the word "church" as a way to shelter their scam from taxes. They're no more a "church" than I am.

I will go one further in that the WBC peddles their political view under the guise of being a church. It really is a political hate group.